Thursday, 30th November: Despite the more or less unbroken sunshine it was a bitingly cold morning in the fresh northerly breeze.....
Selsey East Beach: I was unable to find the Snow Bunting this morning. A Teal had joined the usual Mallards at the pool, there were two Pied Wagtails and 33 Turnstones on the beach but it was otherwise very quiet. (SR)
Selsey East Beach: I was unable to find the Snow Bunting this morning. A Teal had joined the usual Mallards at the pool, there were two Pied Wagtails and 33 Turnstones on the beach but it was otherwise very quiet. (SR)
Teal on East Beach Pond (SR)
Medmerry: Toe End - There were two Sandwich Terns offshore this morning. (SH)
Ferry Pool: The main pool was still frozen and birdless by late morning, though a couple of Snipe were on the concealed pool and c200 Wigeon and c40 Lapwing were on the field. (AH)
Long Pool: There was not much along the pool beyond half a dozen Reed Buntings and a couple of Song Thrushes, plus a couple of Skylarks over, though there were plenty of birds roosting at the end of Ferry Channel, including c40 Avocets, three Shovelers, a dozen Pintail and lots of Wigeon, Teal, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshanks. (AH)
Church Norton: The Velvet Scoter was still in the harbour this morning, along with a few Little and Great Crested Grebes, whilst offshore there was another half a dozen of the latter, plus a Slavonian Grebe and two Red-breasted Mergansers, and a group of a dozen or so Common Scoters dropped in off the sea a long way out.
The Whimbrel was in its usual haunt, whilst there were a couple of Golden Plovers among c40 Lapwings on Rectory Lane, whilst a female Bullfinch and a couple of Goldcrests were near the hide and a pair of Stonechats were by the concrete wall. (AH/TB/NR)
Chichester GPs: Drayton Pits - Despite the hard frost most of the water was unfrozen, allowing a good check of the pits in sunny conditions. The highlight was a Jack Snipe, and there were also 12 Common Snipe, whilst a total of 105 Shoveler indicated a bit of a cold weather influx, but otherwise there was nothing unusual. Wildfowl included 55 Gadwall, 30 Teal and a reduction of Pochard numbers to 20, plus 280 Coots, 5 Great Crested and 10 Little Grebes. The trees and hedgerows held 4 Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Goldcrests, 20 Long-tailed Tits and a Bullfinch, and at least 3 Cetti's Warblers along the margins. Five Green Woodpeckers, 2 Buzzards, 2 squealing Water Rails and a Jay were also logged. (OM)
Snipe on the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There was not much along the pool beyond half a dozen Reed Buntings and a couple of Song Thrushes, plus a couple of Skylarks over, though there were plenty of birds roosting at the end of Ferry Channel, including c40 Avocets, three Shovelers, a dozen Pintail and lots of Wigeon, Teal, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshanks. (AH)
Avocets (above), Pintail, Teal & Reed Bunting around the Long Pool (AH)
Church Norton: The Velvet Scoter was still in the harbour this morning, along with a few Little and Great Crested Grebes, whilst offshore there was another half a dozen of the latter, plus a Slavonian Grebe and two Red-breasted Mergansers, and a group of a dozen or so Common Scoters dropped in off the sea a long way out.
The Whimbrel was in its usual haunt, whilst there were a couple of Golden Plovers among c40 Lapwings on Rectory Lane, whilst a female Bullfinch and a couple of Goldcrests were near the hide and a pair of Stonechats were by the concrete wall. (AH/TB/NR)
Bullfinch (above), Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Whimbrel, Stonechat, Golden Plovers, Brent Geese & Turnstone at Church Norton (AH)
Chichester GPs: Drayton Pits - Despite the hard frost most of the water was unfrozen, allowing a good check of the pits in sunny conditions. The highlight was a Jack Snipe, and there were also 12 Common Snipe, whilst a total of 105 Shoveler indicated a bit of a cold weather influx, but otherwise there was nothing unusual. Wildfowl included 55 Gadwall, 30 Teal and a reduction of Pochard numbers to 20, plus 280 Coots, 5 Great Crested and 10 Little Grebes. The trees and hedgerows held 4 Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Goldcrests, 20 Long-tailed Tits and a Bullfinch, and at least 3 Cetti's Warblers along the margins. Five Green Woodpeckers, 2 Buzzards, 2 squealing Water Rails and a Jay were also logged. (OM)
Shovelers at Drayton pits (OM)
Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - It would seem that the Drayton Pochards were at this site, today, with c60 on New Lake, along with at least 50 Shovelers and 30 Tufted Ducks, and another 20 or so on Ivy Lake, plus a handful of Gadwall and Shovelers, with 40 Greylag Geese on Copse Lake.
Also there were at least ten Chiffchaffs among a big and fast-moving flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits. (AH)
Also there were at least ten Chiffchaffs among a big and fast-moving flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits. (AH)
Shoveler (above), Pochard, Greylag Geese & Chiffchaff around Ivy Lake (AH)
Selsey Bill: Half an hour of watching from 7.40am produced just two Slavonian Grebes east and a Gannet and an 'auk sp' west. (AH)
East Beach: The Snow Bunting had moved slightly east this morning, it was initially along the sea wall at Lifeboat Green but was very restless and flew around the green, disappearing into Fraser Close on the opposite side of the Kingsway. There was also a Stonechat on the green and another on Selsey Common. (SR)
The Snow Bunting was back on the path west of the Lifeboat station this afternoon, and two Red-throated Divers went west offshore. (AB)
North Wall: A fairly brief visit this morning in chilly conditions. The Breech Pool water level was still suitable for waders and the two Ruff were still present - though inactive whilst I was there - plus c.80 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Snipe, a Water Rail and 50 Teal. A Chiffchaff and several Goldcrests were along the hedges, a couple of Cetti's Warblers were calling and a distant flock of approaching 1000 Brent Geese took flight over the back fields before settling again. (OM)
East Beach: The Snow Bunting had moved slightly east this morning, it was initially along the sea wall at Lifeboat Green but was very restless and flew around the green, disappearing into Fraser Close on the opposite side of the Kingsway. There was also a Stonechat on the green and another on Selsey Common. (SR)
The Snow Bunting was back on the path west of the Lifeboat station this afternoon, and two Red-throated Divers went west offshore. (AB)
Snow Bunting at East Beach (SR)
Coastguard Station to the Windmill: There was nothing at all offshore, but a Rock Pipit was along the undercliff and a Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechats were by the Go-kart track. (AH)
Rock Pipit (above) & Stonechat around the Coastguard Station (AH)
Medmerry: Toe End - The Spoonbill was still in the pool near the breach, and offshore there were 30+ Common Scoters, an Eider, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Sandwich Tern. (SH)
Ferry Pool: There were just a single Redshank and 20 Teal on the pool, with c200 Wigeon on the adjacent arable field. (AH)
Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The Goosander was near the harbour mouth this morning, where there were also six Red-breasted Mergansers, and a pair of Goldeneye were viewable on the far side of the harbour, but there was nothing offshore except half a dozen Great Crested Grebes.
The Velvet Scoter was still in the main channel and at least 1500 Brent Geese dropped into the harbour, but there wasn't too much else beyond the commoner waders.
Small birds were scarce, though a pair of Bullfinches were by the concrete wall and a handful of Skylarks, plus the big Linnet and Greenfinch flock, were along the spit. (AH)
Goosander (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Bullfinch, Grey Plover & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A fairly brief visit this morning in chilly conditions. The Breech Pool water level was still suitable for waders and the two Ruff were still present - though inactive whilst I was there - plus c.80 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Snipe, a Water Rail and 50 Teal. A Chiffchaff and several Goldcrests were along the hedges, a couple of Cetti's Warblers were calling and a distant flock of approaching 1000 Brent Geese took flight over the back fields before settling again. (OM)
Two Ruff and a Common Snipe (rear) with Black-tailed Godwits (foreground) at the Breech Pool (OM)
Selsey Bill: A typically obliging Snow Bunting turned up this morning along the busy path at the top of the beach, about 200m west of the Lifeboat Station, feeding unconcernedly just feet from passers-by and their dogs. (MJ et al)
Snow Bunting at Selsey Bill (top four AH, lower OM)
The Snow Bunting was still showing very well till sunset, immediately west of the lifeboat station. (J-PC)
Snow Bunting at Selsey Bill (J-PC)
Medmerry: Toe End - We were stood at the eastern Medmerry viewpoint (West Sands holiday site) watching a Spoonbill feeding at around 11am, when three Great White Egrets flew towards us very close, then out towards the sea! (HR/DM)
There was no sign of the Glossy Ibis again, but a Spoonbill was near the breach, whilst offshore were an Eider, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe. (SH)
Also two Dartford Warblers were in the gorse and a possible ring-tailed Hen Harrier was seen. (BO'D)
Ferry Pool: There were five Shoveler, 25 Teal and a Redshank on the pool, with up to 500 Lapwing and 200 Wigeon spread about the field. (AH)
North Wall: The water-level was ideal on the Breech Pool and there were plenty of birds on it this morning, including two Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, two Water Rails, up to a dozen Snipe, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and plenty of Teal and Mallard with one Pintail, whilst along the wall there were half a dozen Reed Buntings and a couple of Meadow Pipits over.
There were many hundreds of Brent Geese in White's Creek, along with 50 Wigeon, 50 Golden Plovers and 300 Lapwing, whilst a Kingfisher flew out from by the sluice. (AH/JDW)
Additionally, along Church Lane were at least 14 Blackbirds feeding on hawthorn berries and there were 52 Canada Geese on the grass surrounds to Church Barton reservoir. In the field to the west of the stables were 2 Stonechat and 3 Roe Deer. In Honer 2 field were 360 Brent Geese, 460 Wigeon,48 Black Tailed Godwits and 28 Curlew. (JDW)
Ruffs on the Breech Pool (above AH, lower two JDW)
Spotted Redshank & Water Rail from the North Wall (AH)
East Side/ Lagoon and Spit: Out in the harbour there were ten Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Great Crested Grebes and at least 200 Pintail, with a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits among the numerous Grey Plover and Dunlin.
The Lagoon held just four Pochard and 20 or so Tufted Ducks and Little Grebes, plus a few Wigeon, there were half a dozen Linnets and a couple of Skylarks on the spit, and a redhead Goosander was in one the channels running out from the harbour-mouth. (AH)
Goosander (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Pochard, Wigeon & Linnets around Pagham Lagoon and Spit (AH)
East Head/Snowhill Marsh: A very cold morning birding around East Head; the usual stacks of Sanderling were along the western tide line, but not much was in the main channel beyond eight Great Crested Grebes. Off the northern end of the Head were a single Great Northern Diver and a Red-throated Diver, with 26 Red-breasted Mergansers and 5 Sandwich Terns, whilst in the dunes 4 Stonechats and 30 Linnets were present. In the bushes near Snowhill Marsh there were 2 Firecrests. (BFF/DM)
