29th - 31st March 2017

Friday, 31st March: Another cool, grey start with a few spots of rain, the wind then backing from south to south-west, but brightening up during the day....

Selsey Bill: There were still a few bits on the move, including another seven Velvet Scoters, 100+ Brent Geese, 40 Sandwich Terns and 80 Common Scoters, plus an unusually large, tight  flock - of 19 - Gannets. Also a dozen Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore, seven Great Northern Divers, plus the Eider, were on the sea and a Wheatear and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were along the beach. Full log below.....

0630-1200hrs: (JA/OM/C&ME/BI/AH/SR)

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Great Northern Diver - 7os

diver sp - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 47E, 6W, 2os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 145E

Shelduck - 2W

Eider - 1os
Common Scoter - 79E, 1W
Velvet Scoter - 7E
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 5W
Common Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 40E, 13os
Common Gull - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 17E
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1ob departed W
Wheatear - 1 ob
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Gannets (above), Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Bill (AH) and Wheatear on the beach (BI)

(1600-1715hrs) (SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
gannet - 10E, 6W
Common Soter - 3E
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2W
Swallow - 1N

Selsey Golf Club:  A Black Redstart was around the clubhouse early this morning. (SR)

Ivy Lake: There were 20 or so Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows over the lake this morning. (PH) Half a dozen Sand Martins were still around at lunchtime and there were six Chiffchaffs along the path, two Cetti's Warblers in the scrub and two Blackcaps near the parking. A Comma butterfly was on the brambles. (BI)

Ferry Pool/Ferry Channel: A pair of Avocets was on the pool, along with the Green Sandpiper and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers first thing, and a Greenshank flew over the Visitor Centre. A Cetti's Warbler was also very vociferous near the roadway.
Also the Spotted Redshank was in the channel early on, as were c30 Black-tailed Godwits later, and a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing from the corner by the Tramway. (AH/OM/BO'D/C Corrigan)

Avocet (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Shelduck around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A male Black Redstart - presumably the one on the beach yesterday - was in the churchyard, though elusive, and a Blackcap and one or two Chiffchaffs were singing nearby, but there wasn't much other evidence of migration. Also a Gadwall was in the marsh by the horse field, and a few Mediterranean Gulls, Brent Geese and Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. Along the Severals were at least three calling Cetti's Warblers and two Chiffchaffs and the two Grey Herons were on the concrete wall. (BI/AH)

Gadwall at Church Norton (AH), above, & Black Redstart in the churchyard, below (BI)

Sidlesham: About 30 Mediterranean Gulls were in with Black-headed Gulls in the paddocks opposite our house on the west of the village, and a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing from the hedgerow. (AH)

Mediterranean Gulls in Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: Late this afternoon there were a Green Sandpiper by the second sluice, 13 Golden Plovers which flew off from the nearby fields, and a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover and lots of Avocets around the Stilt Pool. (IP)

Thursday, 30th March: Generally a very pleasant morning, with a light but chilly south-westerly breeze soon becoming more southerly, and the cloud breaking to give some genuine warmth in the hazy sunshine....

Selsey Bill: There was not masses of eastward movement, but a flock of eight Velvet Scoters was notable, and there were also c300 Brent Geese and 40+ Sandwich Terns, plus a Common Tern moving through. Unusual were the three Canada Geese and three Pochard that also passed through, whilst the first-year drake Eider was still about, up to seven Great Northern Divers were offshore and as many as seven Wheatears dropped in on the beach. Full log below......
0630-1330hrs: (C&ME/OM/AH/IB/BFF/DM et al)
Red-throated Diver - 18E, 1os
Great Northern Diver - 7os
diver sp - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 8E, 3W
Canada Goose - 3os on shingle bar departed E
Brent Goose - 308E
Eider - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Common Scoter - 39E
Velvet Scoter - 8E (0900hrs)
Shoveler - 2E
Pochard - 3E
Common Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 41E, 6W
Common Gull - 2os
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Meadow Pipit - 3N
Wheatear - 7 (most seen arriving N from sea)

Eider (above), Sandwich Tern & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

(above) Not a sight often seen on a Bill sea-watch..... Canada Geese heading east. 

 (below) An altogether more regular sight..... AH my esteemed co-editor returning from the beach after another 'photo the Eider' mission! (OM)

1650-1735hrs: (JA) A short watch late afternoon produced....
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Gannet - 12E, 4os
Common Tern - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 4os
Wheatear - 1ob

Coastguard Station to the Windmill: There was just one Wheatear and a few Meadow Pipits along the field, and offshore there were a dozen distant Common Scoter and a Gannet and eight Brent Geese east. (AH)

Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

Northcommon Farm:  A Little Owl was soaking up the sunshine this morning, and there were also two Curlews in the fields, a Green Woodpecker and 49 active Rook nests. (SR)

Little Owl at Northcommon Farm (SR)

Ferry Pool/Tramway: There was a bit of activity around the pool this morning, including the Green Sandpiper, three Little Ringed Plovers, a Grey Wagtail and a Water Rail, along with eight Shelduck , five Shoveler and c20 Teal.
There were at least eight singing Chiffchaffs around the Tramway, plus a Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler, but no other migrants were on offer, though the noisy flock of 50+ Linnets were still in the hedge adjoining Yeoman's Field.. (AH/OM)

Water Rail (above), Grey Wagtail and Little Ringed Plovers, Little Ringed Plovers, Shovelers & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Early this morning the Spotted Redshank dropped into Ferry Channel near the road. (OM)
Later on, there were still three pairs of Little Grebes on the pool, plus at least half a dozen Chiffchaffs, a couple of Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets, but there was nothing beyond c50 Redshank and a few Teal in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Little Grebe on the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A stunning male Black Redstart was present, plus five Wheatears feeding around the old concrete harbour entrance. In the harbour there were the Whimbrel, 30 Mediterranean Gulls, four Sandwich Terns and two Peregrines, plus a Marsh Harrier .(HR/BFF/DM)

Chi GPs - Ivy Lake: The only bird of note was a singing Sedge Warbler. (BFF/DM)

Wednesday, 29th March: A cool and grey day, with a brisk south-westerly breeze and intermittent periods of drizzle....

Selsey Bill: Predictably quieter than yesterday with the change in wind direction, but still c140+ Brent Geese, 60+ Sandwich Terns, a Bonxie and a few Common Scoter heading east, with the two Eider and up to half a dozen Great Northern Divers on the sea. Full log below....

0640-1200hrs: (PB/C&ME/JF/ML/OM/AH et al)
Red-throated Diver - 5E

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os

diver sp - 4E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 28E, 47W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 148E

Eider - 1W, 2os

Common Scoter - 44E, 13W, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 5W, 2os

Pintail - 10E

Curlew - 3E

Sparrowhawk - 1 gardens

Great Skua - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 61E, 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Common Gull - 3W

 

Eiders (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Five Little Ringed Plovers appeared out of the undergrowth at the back, disturbed by volunteers putting up the electric fencing, and earlier on there had been a couple of Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Redshank, 12 Teal and a pair of Shelduck. 

Also, a Kingfisher went over into the harbour, a Grey Wagtail was along the side, a Wheatear was at the back, a Peregrine went over and one of the Cetti's Warblers showed very well by the road.

Visiting birders reported two Whitethroats along the Tramway, and there was also a singing Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs in the vicinity. (AH /OM/JF et al)

This evening two Swallows were feeding over the Discovery area. (AH)

Cetti's Warbler (above) & Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Very quiet again this morning, with just a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush singing, and a pair of Teal in the moat of the Mound, with little to be seen in the harbour on the lowish tide, and just a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a distant Gannet offshore. (AH)

Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Ivy Lake complex: Not much to report from here, though a Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs were singing, several pairs of Great Crested Grebes were displaying and one or two Shoveler and Pochard were still about, plus the Black Swan. (BI/AH)
Later on, c40 Sand Martins were over Triangle Lake and a Willow Warbler was singing nearby, and a Hobby went over at around 5.30pm. (AB)

Chiffchaff (above) & Great Crested Grebes on Ivy Lake (AH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - There were two Little Ringed Plover on the pool this morning, plus the regular Common Sandpiper, though generally it was quiet. (AB) Later, on an evening walk from Easton Lane to the Stilt pool, the Little Ringed Plovers were still present, with two Ringed Plovers. Also logged were 18 Avocets on the first viewpoint and 11 on the pool, 80 Mediterranean Gulls, two Buzzards, two Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a feeding flock of 20+ Yellowhammers. (SH)

Little Ringed Plover on Medmerry Stilt pool (SH)

26th - 28th March 2017

Tuesday, 28th March: After a bright, if hazy start, with a light SSE, the sky quickly clouded over as the wind shifted more south-westerly and increased somewhat......

For those interested in the numbers, for the third year running Common Tern has been the 150th species of the year seen on the Peninsula, though we are currently running five behind last year's total of 156 seen by the end of March. (per IP, our official score-keeper, eds)

Selsey Bill: The benign conditions and light south-south-easterly wind produced some good early passage, including the first five Common Terns of the spring, six Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua, 100+ Sandwich Terns and 400+ Brent Geese going east and four Slavonian Grebes on the sea. However, by 0900 the wind had shifted more to the south-west, increasing in strength as it did so, and just as if someone had turned the tap off, the effects were almost immediate with passage slowing down and almost stopping. Full log below......

0640-1310hrs: (OM/C&ME/AH/JD/DS/DF/BFF/DM et al. The 'et al' this morning included Messrs Self and Brown et al from Seaford, a bit of a surprise given that they were apparently missing stuff flooding by there early on! We were pleased to welcome them, but needless to say they arrived at the Bill when passage had died..... a double misjudgement; better luck next time!)

Red-throated Diver - 7E

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

diver sp - 3E

Slavonian Grebe - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 35E, 10W

Mute Swan - 2E

Brent Goose - 507E

Eider - 2E, 2os

Common Scoter - 140E, 8os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 5W

Mallard - 1E

Common Tern - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 125E, 5W

Little Gull - 6E

Kittiwake - 1E

Common Gull - 7E, 3W

Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p 0916)

Wheatear - 1ob

Pied/alba Wagtail - 1N, 1ob

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Footnote: A fairly distant flock of 8 duck were also picked up heading east, and were considered most likely Tufted Duck or similar (with Scaup considered)....but despite several observers getting onto them, the ID was not fully clinched. I hoped they'd be picked up further east, and sure enough it seems likely they were, with 8 Scaup logged at Beachy/Seaford. Too much of a co-incidence surely, though I doubt they will pass local scrutiny for acceptance! (OM)

(1620-1730hrs) (SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
diver sp - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 6E, 6W
Brent Goose - 137E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 1W

(above) Large flock of Brent Geese passing the Bill - there's about 98 birds here plus a single Mallard tucked in with them -  and (below) two Eider offshore. (OM)

Slavonian Grebes (above), Sandwich Tern, Common Scoter & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

North Mundham: A Red Kite went over this morning. (PLS)

Ivy Lake complex: Two Little Gulls were over Copse Lake this morning and four Sand Martins were over Ivy Lake. (IL) 
At lunchtime the Little Gulls had moved on, but a Common Tern was on Copse Lake, and a couple of Black Swans were nearby. (AH/IL)
A Mediterranean Gull was present on Ivy Lake late afternoon, dip feeding with the Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

Common Tern (above) & Black Swan around Ivy Lake complex (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Kingfisher flew into the harbour early on, but there was little other activity beyond a handful of displaying Redshank and four Shoveler, a dozen Teal, and just a dozen remaining Wigeon on the arable field (AH/OM)

Later there were two Little Ringed Plovers at the back of the pool. (Bob Self)

Nearby, there was an elusive Ring Ouzel around the car park area near the Visitor centre at around 10.30hrs. (BO'D) 

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was not much evidence of migration here, though visiting birders reported the Black Redstart present early on (but not subsequently) and a couple of Firecrests in the churchyard. Otherwise there were a handful of Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers making their presence known, a few Linnets and Reed Buntings along the west side, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and lots of Goldfinches in the churchyard and the Whimbrel, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Knot in the harbour, along with c50 Shelduck and half a dozen Brent Geese. (AH et al)

Whimbrel (above), Goldfinches, Linnet, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 27th March: A hazy start, giving way to another sunny day, with the breeze still from the north-east, but abating somewhat.....and feeling quite warm in sheltered spots.

Selsey Bill: An air of anticipation this morning, with a fair turn-out of observers along the wall, including one or two of the older (ir)regulars taking in their first spring sunshine like basking adders! In the event it was fairly standard fare for late March..... a few Sandwich Terns and Red-throated Divers were moving, and a few ducks, but not too much else. There were plenty of arriving Meadow Pipits to keep the counters busy, and a few Swallows and Sand Martins also came in off the sea, whilst a Chiffchaff and a couple of Wheatears dropped in on the beach. Full log below......
0635-1230hrs: (GH/C&ME/AH/TR/RS/SR/OM/B&MC et al)
Red-throated Diver - 8E, 1os
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 35E, 5W
Brent Goose - 76E
Eider - 2os
Common Scoter - 37E, 6W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 2W
Shoveler - 18E
Pintail - 14E
Curlew - 2E
Sparrowhawk - 1 gardens
Sandwich Tern - 11E, 5W
Common Gull - 11E
auk sp - 4E
Pied/alba Wagtail - 4N
Meadow Pipit - 464N
Sand Martin - 7N
Swallow - 5N
Wheatear - 2N, onto beach
Chiffchaff - 4 (3 gardens, 1N onto beach)
Goldcrest - 1 gardens

Sandwich Tern (above) & Chiffchaff at the Bill (AH)

Newly arrived Wheatear on the Bill beach (BI)

Coastguard station to the Windmill: Four Wheatears were on the beach from the Windmill this morning, c20 Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail and a Greenfinch came in off the sea, and 17 Brent Geese and a Sandwich Tern went east. (AH)

Wheatears (above) & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Selsey: to the north of the town there were a Firecrest, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff in the observer's garden! 
To round off a good garden day we had a sand Martin over and there were several Chiffchaffs around the estate, and probably the same Firecrest in a conifer on waste ground at Ocean Air. Also, two Lapwings were displaying at Park Farm.(S&SaH)

Ferry Pool: Just a Kingfisher in the channel of note, plus the usual Black-tailed Godwit, two Shoveler and a handful of Teal and Redshank this morning.(TR/OM)
Later, an Osprey was reported from the Tramway - heading into the harbour at 13.10hrs, (reported by visitor to Barry O'Dowd - the summer warden - to whom we extend a warm welcome - Eds).
Later on, two Spotted Redshanks were in Red Barn Ditch, one coming into summer-plumage, and a Raven went over the Visitor Centre. (TG-P)

Church Norton: The Black Redstart was in the churchyard again, two Ravens were about, seemingly gathering nest material, a Wheatear was on the beach, and the Whimbrel, a Sandwich Tern and c20 Brent Geese were in the harbour, Also there were two pairs of Lapwings on the lettuce field in Rectory Lane and there were a couple of Green Woodpeckers and Jays about. (AH/A&YF/MP et al)
Later on there were two Peregrines, two Buzzards, 10+ Chiffchaffs and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits about. (S&SaH)

Raven & Black Redstart (AF) (above), Black Redstart, Sandwich Tern, Lapwing & Green Woodpecker (AH) at Church Norton

Sidlesham: A Blackcap was singing in our garden on the west of the village this morning. (AH)

North Wall: On White's Creek there was an Avocet and a Spotted Redshank which was showing the first signs of breeding plumage, but there were just a few Teal, Mallard and Tufted Ducks on the Breech Pool along with 50+ Black-tailed Godwits roosting at the back, many in breeding plumage. 
Chiffchaffs were singing everywhere and Cetti's Warblers were heard at four locations. On Honer reservoir there were 10 Tufted Ducks and 8 Shovelers, a lone Sand Martin was hawking the surface water and there were 6 Yellowhammers in nearby bushes, whilst in the wet sunken field behind Owl Copse there were 4 Curlew and 2 Common Snipe, and there was an abundance of wildflowers along Honer Lane. (JDW)

Shovelers (above) & Black-tailed Godwits around North Wall (JDW)

Medmerry Breach: No sign of any Corn Buntings this morning but there were plenty of Meadow Pipits on the rough ground and passing overhead as well as a good number of Skylarks. Offshore there was still the Common Scoter flock numbering around 50 birds and there was a Wheatear on the sea defence rocks. (BI)

Sunday, 26th March: A bright, clear and sunny spring day, but with the brisk E/NE breeze persisting......

Selsey Bill: Still not much moving on the sea, though there was a distant Arctic Skua, a few Sandwich Terns, 14 Shoveler and 11 Tufted Duck going east and over 500 Meadow Pipits in off the sea. (JA/IP/PB/AH/AF/RJS/SR)
(0615-1015hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Fulmar - 2E, 3W
Gannet - 62E, 47W
Shelduck - 2E
Wigeon - 2E
Shoveler - 14E
Tufted Duck - 11E
Common Scoter - 11E, 4os
Eider - 2os
Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 7W, 2os
Oystercatcher - 1W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E
Turnstone - 2p
Arctic Skua - 1E
Common Gull - 20E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 6E
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 4W
Swallow - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 553N
Pied Wagtail - 10N
Goldfinch - 3N

A walk around the Bill at 10.15 didn't produce much.... 79 Meadow Pipits N, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers E, 5 Gannets W and 17 Turnstones in the car park (SR)

Sandwich Tern (above), Eider & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

(1500-1700hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 4E

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 13E, 1W

Brent Goose - 4E

Wigeon - 4E

Shoveler - 15E

Pintail - 1E

Common Scoter - 12E

Grey Plover - 13E

Dunlin - 24E

Sandwicxh Tern - 6E

Meadow Pipit - 10N
Wheatear - 1N

Coastguard Station to the Windmill: There were a Great Northern Diver and a couple of Gannets offshore, but just 20 or so Meadow Pipits in the field and a Chiffchaff by the houses. Also a Fox was on the beach. (AH)

Meadow Pipit (above) & Fox by the Coastguard Station (AH)

West side: A bit of visible migration this morning at Pagham Harbour, with an Osprey northwards over the North Wall at around 10.00 and also 135 Meadow Pipits over the west side in half an hour. (IL)

Ferry Pool: There were two Avocets on the Ferry, but otherwise just six Shelduck and eight Teal. (IL/AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry Breach: A Corn Bunting was singing near the viewpoint this morning. (AF/RJS)

Medmerry - West side: An afternoon visit to the Stilt Pools produced 53 Avocets, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and 120 Black-headed Gulls. Offshore 2 Eider were on the sea, but then they flew off towards the Bill, as did a Sandwich Tern. (IL) 

Church Norton: The Black Redstart was still in the churchyard, and there were a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests singing nearby, three Wheatears along the beach and the Firecrest showing well again in the Bluebell Wood.

There were also three Sandwich Terns, two Red-breasted Mergansers and a Gannet offshore and two Peregrines, five Avocets, the Whimbrel,  two Knot, 20 Dunlin and 80 Grey Plover  in the harbour. (S&SaH/IP/PB/AH)

Black Redstart (above), Chiffchaff & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Not much today, though a Sparrowhawk went over and 50+ Meadow Pipits were in the fields. (S&SaH)

Ivy Lake: Particularly quiet on the water this morning with nothing on the first half of the lake in the biting wind although further down it was slightly more productive with a scattering of Pochard and Tufted Ducks, a Gadwall trio and a lone Sand Martin at the chalet end. Up to six Chiffchaffs were along the path with a Green Woodpecker in the trees opposite the stables. (BI)

Chiffchaff at Ivy Lake (BI)