Saturday, 12th January: A cool and grey day, with a fairly brisk south-easterly breeze....
Selsey Bill: Sadly, a Fulmar was offshore, unable to get off the sea, with its legs apparently tangled up in discarded fishing tackle and a group of big gulls circling ominously. Otherwise it was fairly quet, though a flock of 19 Common Scoter were on the sea and over 300 Brent Geese went west, mostly cutting over the houses inland. Full log below: (JA/IP/SR/AH)
(0745-0900hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 2W, 1os
diver sp - 1E
Fulmar - 1os
Gannet - 3E, 6W, 4os
Brent Goose - 323W
Common Scoter - 7W, 19os
Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 6W, 17os
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Razorbill - 6E, 2os
auk sp - 1E
Ferry Pool: There were two Shelducks, two Teal and two Redshanks on the pool this morning. (AH)
Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe was in the harbour early on, before drifting out through the harbour and being lost offshore. Also two Velvet Scoters dropped in on the sea offshore. (R Fairbank/D Buckingham)
Later on, a Bonxie flew right down to the far end of the harbour before returning and first settling in the harbour mouth, and then on the central mudflats, before finally returning to the sea. The Eider was on the far side of the harbour and offshore five Red-thoated Divers flew west together, whilst two others dropped in on the sea, and at least 500 Brent Geese went over, heading west.
There were at least three Bar-tailed Godwits and 100+ Knot among the commoner waders in the harbour, a few Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits were along the spit, a dozen each of Common and Mediterranean Gulls were along the beach, c30 Stock Doves on Greenlease Farm and a Water Rail was under the waterlogged trees between the Severals. (AH/IP/AB/AW/DB et al)
(0745-0900hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 2W, 1os
diver sp - 1E
Fulmar - 1os
Gannet - 3E, 6W, 4os
Brent Goose - 323W
Common Scoter - 7W, 19os
Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 6W, 17os
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Razorbill - 6E, 2os
auk sp - 1E
Fulmar (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were two Shelducks, two Teal and two Redshanks on the pool this morning. (AH)
Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe was in the harbour early on, before drifting out through the harbour and being lost offshore. Also two Velvet Scoters dropped in on the sea offshore. (R Fairbank/D Buckingham)
Later on, a Bonxie flew right down to the far end of the harbour before returning and first settling in the harbour mouth, and then on the central mudflats, before finally returning to the sea. The Eider was on the far side of the harbour and offshore five Red-thoated Divers flew west together, whilst two others dropped in on the sea, and at least 500 Brent Geese went over, heading west.
There were at least three Bar-tailed Godwits and 100+ Knot among the commoner waders in the harbour, a few Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits were along the spit, a dozen each of Common and Mediterranean Gulls were along the beach, c30 Stock Doves on Greenlease Farm and a Water Rail was under the waterlogged trees between the Severals. (AH/IP/AB/AW/DB et al)
Bonxie (top one AW) (above), Red-throated Divers, Wigeon & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)
Chi GPS - Drayton Pits: There were good numbers of Shoveler present - over 200 - plus nearly 100 Gadwall and 75 Pochard, spread across the two pits - but otherwise it was fairly mundane. Five Snipe, a Mistle Thrush and several Green Woodpeckers were the best of the rest! (OM)
Friday, 12th January: A day that started gloomy and still actually deteriorated, as a brisk and chilly south-easterly breeze picked up, bringing some drizzly rain with it....
Selsey Bill: (0745-0850) (JA)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Slavonian Grebe - 1E
Red-necked Grebe - 1os, then flew off east (presumably the one from Pagham Harbour)
Great Crested Grebe - 3W, 1os
Cormorant - 139 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 2os
Turnstone - 1p
(0905-0945) (BI)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Common Scoter - 1E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Auk sp. - 3W
Medmerry: West Sands to the Breach - There was no sign of the Purple Sandpipers early on, and there was nothing on the sea, either, whilst just one or two Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were near the go-kart track and, oddly, a Turnstone was on the roof of the 'Oasis Centre.'.
A Water Rail was in the reeds by the sluice at the end of the caravan site, but there were no small birds around at all. Around the breach and adjacent pools there were a Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin, plus c40 Ringed Plovers along the beach, and on the water was a lone Gadwall, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and c200 Brent Geese. (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were nine Shoveler, two Teal, four Redshank and 35 Lapwing on the pool this morning. (AH)
Birdham Pool: A Water Rail was along the path and there were plenty of Tufted Ducks & Mallards on the water but no sign of any Mandarin Ducks. (BI)
North Wall: A Barn Owl was sitting on the fence adjoining the old sluices this evening - 30 feet away and no camera! (JDW)
Thursday, 11th January: A fairly cool day, with a mix of mist and hazy sunshine, initially still before a fairly light northerly breeze picked up....Red-throated Diver - 2W
Slavonian Grebe - 1E
Red-necked Grebe - 1os, then flew off east (presumably the one from Pagham Harbour)
Great Crested Grebe - 3W, 1os
Cormorant - 139 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 2os
Turnstone - 1p
(0905-0945) (BI)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Common Scoter - 1E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Auk sp. - 3W
Medmerry: West Sands to the Breach - There was no sign of the Purple Sandpipers early on, and there was nothing on the sea, either, whilst just one or two Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were near the go-kart track and, oddly, a Turnstone was on the roof of the 'Oasis Centre.'.
A Water Rail was in the reeds by the sluice at the end of the caravan site, but there were no small birds around at all. Around the breach and adjacent pools there were a Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin, plus c40 Ringed Plovers along the beach, and on the water was a lone Gadwall, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and c200 Brent Geese. (AH)
Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Turnstone, Ringed Plovers & Grey Plovers at Medmerry (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were nine Shoveler, two Teal, four Redshank and 35 Lapwing on the pool this morning. (AH)
Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe was still near the harbour mouth this morning, whilst the four Goldeneye were still nearby on the other side of the harbour, along with a few Pintail, but offshore there was just three Common Scoters, two distant Eider and a few Great Crested Grebes. There were plenty of the regular waders and wildfowl in the harbour and there were also three Mistle Thrushes around the car-park. Along Rectory Lane were a covey of 12 Red-legged Partridges. (AH/AW/BI et al)
Red-necked Grebe (above) & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)
Birdham Pool: A Water Rail was along the path and there were plenty of Tufted Ducks & Mallards on the water but no sign of any Mandarin Ducks. (BI)
North Wall: A Barn Owl was sitting on the fence adjoining the old sluices this evening - 30 feet away and no camera! (JDW)
Selsey Bill: (0800-0830hrs) (AH/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Shag - 1E
Common Gull - 2E
Razorbill - 1E
Guillemot - 1W
Great Northern Diver past the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Just a Redshank, a Wigeon and a few Black-headed Gulls on the pool, with c30 Curlew and c100 Lapwing on the fields at the back. (AH)
Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe continued to show well from the spit, towards the harbour mouth, and on the far side of the harbour there were still four Goldeneye and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers. There were just two Slavonian Grebes and three Great Crested Grebes on the sea, with five Common Scoter going west and three Red-breasted Mergansers going east, whilst along the spit there were a dozen Skylarks, c40 Linnets and c60 Greenfinches.
A Peregrine was upsetting the waders in the harbour, including at least 500 Dunlin, and there were similar of Brent Geese present before they drifted off west. There were not many small birds to be found beyond six Jays and a couple of Goldcrests in the churchyard and a Green Woodpecker by the concrete wall. (AH)
Red-necked Grebe (above), Goldeneye, Common Scoter, Wigeon, Skylark, Linnet & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: Nothing unusual about this morning, though seven Avocets were out in the harbour, the two Black Swans flew in, a Sparrowhawk went over and there were still at least 500 Black-tailed Godwits among the waders in the harbour. (PB)
On White's Creek this afternoon were 240 Dunlin and at least 2000 Lapwing were in the near Harbour, whilst a Buzzard and Green Woodpecker were along Pagham Rife. In the flooded field to the west of the Rife were 12 Lapwing, 9 Curlew and 2 Common Snipe, and to the east of the Rife were 2 Black Swans and 53 of their Mute cousins behind Honer reservoir. There was very little on the reservoir itself - just 9 Coot, 2 Gadwall and 2 Tufted Ducks. Behind Honer Cottages was a flock of 420 Brent Geese and in Honer 3 field there were 72 Curlew, whilst late on 3 Kingfishers appeared to come into roost beneath the eastern new sluice. (JDW)
Honer Reservoir: Sadly there was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck this morning, just a few Tufted Ducks, Mallard and Coots and the sad corpse of what looked like a Great Crested Grebe.
There were plenty of other birds around the area, though, including 6 Stonechats, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Yellowhammer, 8 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 43 Mute Swans, 28 Shelduck and 4 Cettis Warblers, whilst feeding in the fields was a flock of c300 Lapwing, c50 Meadow Pipits, 3 Curlew and 8 Pied Wagtails. (SR)
Stonechat at Honer Reservoir (SR)
Medmerry: West Sands - Two Purple Sandpipers were on the sea defence rocks opposite the windmill this morning, along with a Turnstone. Also a Red-breasted Merganser was offshore and a Stonechat and two Meadow Pipits were by the go-kart track. (SR/AH/BI)
Purple Sandpipers (above) & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)
Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe was still in the harbour, off Tern Island. There were also several hundred Brent Geese present and plenty of the commoner waders, but there was nothing offshore. (AH/Ga&RH/C&JM et al)
Later on, a Goosander was off the spit and two Rock Pipits were on it, but there was no sign of the Red-necked Grebe and an aeroplane was flying ridiculously low over the harbour. (AB et al)
Later on, a Goosander was off the spit and two Rock Pipits were on it, but there was no sign of the Red-necked Grebe and an aeroplane was flying ridiculously low over the harbour. (AB et al)
Red-necked Grebe (above) & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)
Red-necked Grebe (above) & Knot at Church Norton (CM)
Low-flying aircraft disturbing all the birds in the harbour (AB)
Ferry Pool: There were just two Shelduck, four Wigeon and ten Lapwing on the pool this morning. (AH)
Wigeon over the Ferry (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Ravens went over eastwards early this morning, a Greenshank was near the poplars, with it or another calling opposite the Stilt Pool, and a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse opposite Marsh Farm.
There were at least three pairs of Stonechats, a Fieldfare, 20+ Yellowhammers, a few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings, plus at least 60 Stock Doves along the banks and a Peregrine went over.
The Common Sandpiper was still on the Stilt Pool, along with a Dunlin, c50 Lapwing, 25 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, two Tufted Ducks and plenty of wigeon and Teal. (AH)
Raven (above), Dartford Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Shoveler & Dunlin and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)
Pagham Spit/Lagoon: There were three Goldeneye on the lagoon today, with a Goosander in the harbour mouth and three Slavonian Grebes offshore from the spit. (TB/NR)
South Mundham/Honer: Honer Lane - 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 35 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 pr Stonechat, 3 Yellowhammer, 4 Reed Bunting.
Honer Reservoir - 2 Mute Swan, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 1 Long-tailed Duck. In the field NE of reservoir 39 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron,1 Sparrowhawk.
Fisher Lane to Chalder Farm - 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 12 Guinea Fowl, 8 Mallard, 2 Jay, 1 Fieldfare.
Black Dog Nursery - where there were 35 Redwing on Sunday, only 1 today, plus 9 Blackbird. (CRJ)
Long-tailed Duck on Honer Reservoir (AH)
North Wall: Not too much unusual, though a Kingfisher was busy in White's Creek, a Black-tailed Godwit and 100+ Curlews were on the fields, a Greylag, 25 Canada Geese and c30 Teal were on the Breech Pool, a Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail called from its edges and the harbour was full of birds, all disturbed by the low-flying plane. (AH/TK/TB/NR et al)
Kingfisher (above), Greylag Goose, Teal & Canada Geese from North Wall (TK)
Fishbourne Creek: A Jack Snipe was present this morning, as were two Rock Pipits, and also a Greenshank was feeding in the channel at low water. (BI)
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