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Tuesday, 10 April 2018

10th - 12th April 2018

Thursday, 12th April: A fairly cool and grey morning, though dry and with just a light north-easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was a very quiet morning for the time of year, with just a few Sandwich Terns and Fulmars about, though three Swallow came in off the sea. Full log below......
0630-1145hrs:  (C&ME/PB/OM/AH/MJ)
Red-throated Diver - 5E
Great Northern Diver - 4 os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Fulmar - 2E, 4W
Gannet - 105E, 26W
Brent Goose - 16E
Shelduck - 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 10E
Common Scoter - 26E
Shoveler - 2E
Curlew - 1W
Common Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 32E, 2os
Common Gull - 3E, 1W
Swallow - 3N
Meadow Pipit - 7N
Pied/alba Wagtail - 3N
Chiffchaff - 3 gardens

Fulmar (above), Gannet & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)



(1630-1730hrs) (JA/SH)
Great Northern Diver - 8os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 11E, 1os
Comoon Scoter - 200os
Common Tern - 2E

North Selsey: There were 10+ Willow/Chiffs around the hedges of Park Lane and Manor Lane, with  the two Shelducks on the balancing pool again. (SH)

Warner Lane paddocks: There were at least 40 Redwings in the fields and hedges this morning. (OM)

 Redwings at Warner Lane paddocks, Selsey (OM)

Chichester Marina Reed-bed: A Reed Warbler was singing here this morning. There were also 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap, whilst on the pool were a Little Grebe, 4 Tufted Ducks and 5 Shelduck. Two Sandwich Terns were also patrolling the margins of the marina, overflying the Hide and the reed-bed edge. (PH/OM)

Drayton Pit: There was also a Reed Warbler singing here. (BI)

Ivy Lake: There were three House Martins, six Sand Martins and 30+ Swallows over the lake, late this morning. (PB)

North Wall: A female Black Redstart was around the paddocks/Salthouse area this morning. (PC/BI)

A Spoonbill was reported early on (later appearing at Church Norton). The Black Redstart was in the garden of Smugglers Cottage and along the Wall were 2 singing Sedge Warblers and 3 Cetti's Warblers. At Owl Point there were 170 Black-tailed Godwits, and at Owl Copse it was very noisy with several pairs of Little Egrets busily nest building. At Bremere bridge was another Cetti's Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs plus a Water Vole, whilst at Macracapra Copse there were Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a pair of Buzzards and 8 Roe Deer. (JDW)


 Black-tailed Godwits, Buzzard and Roe Deer at the North Wall (JDW)


Also, a Marsh Harrier has been around Owl Point over the last couple of evenings and the Barn Owl was about earlier in the week. (IB)
Ferry Pool: There were just two Gadwall, eight Teal and 18 Shoveler on the pool, plus a Lapwing, with two Redshanks in the creek in the field. (AH)

Church Norton: A walk up the west side of the harbour found a dozen Linnets, a calling Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, and a couple of Long-tailed Tits. Flying over were a Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, as well as a Spoonbill. On the receding tide were a smart pair of Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Egret and a large flock of Grey Plovers flew over. (AW).
Earlier on the Whimbrel was in the harbour, as were c30 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Gadwall, but there were just a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap in the bushes. (AH)


Spoonbill (above), Little Egret, Mediterranean Gulls, Long-tailed Tit (all AW), Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwit (AH) at Church Norton






Medmerry East: The Spoonbill (later seen at Church Norton) was earlier reported flying over the breach area. (per RBA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was generally quiet here, but there were at least 75 Avocets on the Stilt Pool and a further 30+ on the mud by the poplars, where a Greenshank was heard, but not seen and there were also c40 Teal and 20 Redshanks.
There were no Ringed or Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool, though a Common Sandpiper (presumably our wintering one) briefly popped up on the big pool opposite.
There were lots of Yellowhammers, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits (one of which was gathering nesting material) along the banks, but not much else of note besides a couple of Chiffhcaffs and Reed Buntings. (AH)




Yellowhammers (above), Linnet, Meadow Pipit & Avocets at Medmerry (AH)




Little to report this afternoon other than a Raven near the car park, a Little Egret down on the beach, and a Buzzard over Greenlease Farm, whilst there were two female Blackcaps near the mound. (AW)

Raven (above) & Buzzard at Church Norton (AW)


Highleigh: ASwallow was perched on overhead lines in Highleigh this afternoon. (AW)


Swallow in Highleigh (AW)



Wednesday, 11th April: After a very wet night and a misty start, finally a pleasantly warm and sunny spring day emerged, with just a light easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: After a very slow start there was a little bit on the move, including seven Canada Geese (unaccountably scarce on sea-watches) east, along with 375 Common Scoters, nearly 50 Sandwich Terns and a few Red-throated Divers, whilst a newly arrived Redpoll circled overhead calling, before dropping into the back of a large garden. Full log below.... 
0645-1230hrs: (OM/C&ME/TR/PK et al)
Red-throated Diver - 5E
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Great Crested Grebe - 5E, 1os
Fulmar - 2E, 1W
Gannet - 53E
Grey Heron - 1E
Canada Goose - 7E
Brent Goose - 2W
Shelduck - 2 os
Common Scoter - 379E, c.200os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Shoveler - 4E
Oystercatcher - 7E
Commic Tern - 6E
Sandwich Tern - 49E
Common Gull - 4E, 4W
Pheasant - 1 ornamental garden
Swallow - 3N
Meadow Pipit - 7N
Greenfinch - 2 gardens
Goldfinch - 8 gardens
Lesser Redpoll - 1N over car-park, then dropped into large garden
Chiffchaff - 8 gardens
Willow Warbler - 3 gardens
Blackcap - 1 ornamental garden


 Male Pheasant and Greenfinch at the Broadreeds estate ornamental garden, Selsey Bill (OM)

Northcommon Farm: A smart male Redstart was at Flycatcher Corner this morning, and a Fieldfare was out on a lonely bush guarding a small branch full of berries, but there wasn't too much else beyond a couple of Chiffchaffs to be found in the hedges. (AH/SH)



Redstart (above), Fieldfare & Wren at Northcommon Farm (AH)



Ferry Pool: There were just three Gadwall, eight Shoveler and six Teal on the pool, with a couple of Shelducks and Lapwings on the fields.
A Whitethroat was singing from the Tramway circuit, as were a Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs, whilst a Whimbrel and c30 Redshank were out in the main channel. (AH)


Whitethroat (above), Chiffchaff, Whimbrel & Shoveler around the Ferry (AH)




Church Norton: A Sedge Warbler was singing and showing in the first Several, a Swallow was feeding over the second Several and there were a scattering of Linnets, Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs about, plus a pair of Blackcaps near the Mound.
There were still plenty of Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, plus a couple of Gadwall and Shovelers, a Knot, a Grey Plover and a few Black-tailed Godwits. Also, a Raven was picking at a dead fish on the beach. (AH/AW et al)

This afternoon, a Black Redstart was on the barn at Greenlease farm (Pigeon House Lane) (AW)

Sedge Warbler (above), Sandwich Tern, Reed Bunting & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)




Raven (above), Swallow, Blackcap, Grey Plover & Knot and Black Redstart at Church Norton (AW)










Tuesday, 10th April: Yet another gloomy and grey day, though with sea-fog rather than drizzle to contend with and a freshening easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There were five Arctic Skuas, a steady trickle of Sandwich Terns and a couple of Common Terns east, whilst 10 Eider went west before the fog set in, a few Swallows arrived and a  Wheatear and up to ten Willow/Chiffs were along the beach. Full log below.....
0630-1130hrs: (PB/OM/AH/C&ME/DF/DS)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 3E, 1os
Fulmar - 2E, 1W
Gannet - 19E, 3W
Eider - 10W
Shelduck - 2E
Common Scoter - 18E, c.250 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Mallard - 2 area/gardens
Shoveler - 4E
Guillemot - 1os
Arctic Skua - 5E (all d/p)
Common Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 57E
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Common Gull - 12E
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 9N
House Martin - 1N
Swallow - 10N
Wheatear - 1 ob
Linnet - 12E, 4N
Willow/Chiff spp - 5 unidentified, plus..
Chiffchaff - 2 gardens/ob and 1N
Willow Warbler - 2 gardens/ob

Wheatear (above), Willow Warbler, Common Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)




(1630-1730hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 12E
Common Scoter - the big flock of c250 flew off east
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Common Gull - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 19E 

Selsey, Northcommon Farm: A male Redstart was at the far end of Golf links Lane this afternoon. (DS/DF)
Earlier on there was a Firecrest again near Flycatcher Corner, with both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers also present. (SH)

North of Selsey: There were six Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs in the hedges in Manor and Park Lanes. (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Gadwall, eight Shovelers and 14 Teal on the pool this morning. (AH)

Gadwalls on the Ferry (AH)


Church Norton: Very little evidence of migration again today, with just a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the Mound and churchyard and another couple of each round Greenlease Farm, plus three Stock Doves, but not much else.
There were still plenty of Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, along with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, and a pair of Shoveler were still with 20 Teal in the creek by the horse field. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Stock Dove, Shovelers & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)





Chichester Marina pool/reed-bed: No sign of any Bearded Tits this morning, but there were 3 Cetti's Warblers, a pair of Reed Buntings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a singing Blackcap. Towards the back of the reed-bed was a pair of Canada Geese, a Little Grebe, 3 Shelduck and 3 Grey Herons, whilst over the back fields a pair of Buzzards was displaying. A Sandwich Tern also put in an unexpected appearance at the very edge of the marina by the reed-bed, and a pair of Mute Swans has nested on the adjacent canal, right beside the roadway and opposite the car-park. (OM/CRJ)

Not exactly well concealed....the Swan's nest right beside the road and car-park. (OM)


Pagham/North Wall: On Honer reservoir the long staying Long-tailed Duck was still present, plus 2 pairs of Tufted Duck.

It was very murky along the Wall this morning and the fields are still difficult to navigate; Honer 1 is still impassable as are parts of the footpath along Pagham Rife.

On an ebbing tide there were just 14 Redshank and a pair of Great Crested Grebes in and around White's Creek. On an overflowing Breech Pool were 8 pairs of Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little and Great Crested Grebes plus a pair of Mute Swans, who were nest building. Along the Wall were 3 calling Cetti's Warblers, 4 Linnets and 4 Reed Buntings. In the nearby bushes was a mixed flock of Yellowhammers, Linnets and Reed Buntings and, in the field south of the reservoir were 2 Grey Partridges. In the large field NW of Bremere bridge were 68 Curlew. The first Little Egrets were spotted in Owl Copse. (JDW)



A Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs were in my Pagham garden and 2 Stock Doves in the nearby churchyard. (JDW)


 Long-tailed Duck on Honer Reservoir and Little Egret in Owl Copse (JDW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The pair of Garganey were again present, on the Stilt Pool, skulking a lot of the time in vegetation but occasionally coming out.There were  also six Bar-tailed Godwits, three Dunlin, four Mediterranean Gull, plus the usual Little Ringed Plovers, Avocets and assorted wildfowl present. (C Barfield)
Also, four Little Gulls went east along the shoreline late this afternoon, when the Garganeys were still present, and a Whitethroat was singing near Marsh Barn. (BO'D)


Garganeys (above), Little Ringed Plover & Bar-tailed Godwit at Medmerry (C Barfield)







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