28th - 30th April 2018

Monday, 30th April: A truly awful day, with a near gale-force north-westerly wind, persistent heavy rain and unseasonably cold with it......

Selsey Bill: Forty-five minutes from 7.30am produced a bedraggled Wheatear on the beach, a Bonxie west, six Gannets east and 12 Sandwich Terns and 17 Common Terns feeding close offshore. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Bonxie, Common Tern, Gannet & Herring Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1645-1800hrs) (SH)
Manx Shearwater - 2E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 24E, 29W
Tufted Duck - 2W
Common Tern - 2E, 27os
Sandwich Tern - 8os
auk sp - 2E

Ferry Pool: There was no sign of the Spotted Redshank on the pool this morning, though there were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits among the 60 or so Black-tailed Godwits, and there were also four Avocets, four Redshank, seven Gadwall and a pair of Shovelers present, whilst the channel opposite held a Common Sandpiper, three Whimbrel and c40 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)
A very quick look early this evening along Ferry Channel produced the Spotted Redshank, two Common Sandpipers, two Whimbrel and c60 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Whimbrel, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwit & Goldfinch around the Ferry (AH)

Ivy Lake complex: There were 500+ Swallows and 100+ House Martins over the lakes this morning, plus half a dozen Swifts and a dozen Common Terns, whilst unseen in the bushes there were singing Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.Also there were three pairs of Pochard (two on Nunnery Lake, one on Ivy Lake), a pair of Gadwall and three pairs of Great Crested Grebes. (AH)

Swallows (above), Common Tern, Pochard & Mallard family at Ivy Lake (AH)

North Wall: There were six Wheatears along the wall this evening, a Cuckoo was near Halsey's Farm and there were two Whimbrel in White's Creek. (BI)

Sunday, 29th April: A cloudy and cool day but remaining largely dry, with a light NNE wind at first, gradually increasing to a brisk force 5-6 later....and with the threat of heavy rain arriving by evening.

Selsey Bill: An interesting day for the fair gathering of observers present, despite the apparently unpromising conditions, with, at last, the first 'proper' fall of passerines, including Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Garden Warbler, and a selection of passage birds over the sea including some nice flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits. Full log below......
(0520-1200hrs)   (JA/SH/PM/PB/AB/JF/BI/AH/IP/OM/MJ et al)

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Great Northern Diver - 5os

diver sp - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 15W

Manx Shearwater - 27W

Gannet - 84E, 274W

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 8E

Shelduck - 2os

Eider - 2W

Common Scoter - 47E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Mallard - 3 p

Curlew - 2E

Whimbrel - 10E, 7W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 225E

Purple Sandpiper - 2 ob (off Hillfield Rd car-park)

Razorbill - 1E, 4W, 1os

auk sp - 6E, 32W

Little Tern - 16os

Common Tern - 18E

Commic Tern - 1E

Arctic Tern - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 59E

Kittiwake - 3W

Arctic Skua - 1W (d/p)

Great Skua - 1os

Swallow - 28N

Swift - 2N

Yellow Wagtail - 11N

Wheatear - 4ob

Redstart - 1 gardens

Willow Warbler - 40 gardens/area

Chiffchaff - 1

Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Bill House garden

Blackcap - 4 gardens

Garden Warbler - 2 gardens/area

Whitethroat - 8 gardens/area (some seen arriving N)

Arctic Skua (above), Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Purple Sandpipers and Turnstones, Common and Sandwich Terns, Gannet, Garden Warbler & Willow Warbler at the Bill (AH)

Common Seal at the Bill (AB)

Our multi-talented co-editor AH leading a sea-watch outing this morning (OM)

(1530-1715hrs) (SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 16E, 81W
Shelduck - 2p
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 6os
Little Tern - 6os
Common Tern - 1E, 10os
Arctic Tern - 1E
'Commic' Tern - 4E
Swallow - 2N

Northcommon Farm: There were two Spotted Flycatchers near 'Flycatcher Corner,' but other than a Blackcap and several Willow Warblers there was nothing else of note. (AB/OM)

 Spotted Flycatchers at Northcommon Farm, Selsey (AB)

North Wall: An Osprey was over the Wall area at 1320hrs, before drifting over the Harbour towards the west side. 
As the tide came in there was an obliging Common Sandpiper along with 60 Grey Plover (some in lovely black and silver finery of summer), 40 Black-tailed Godwit (these in splendid chestnut garb), three Knot, 80 Dunlin (with black bellies) and 12 Whimbrel, and some 30 Shelduck, too. (ARK per SOS)

A Spotted Flycatcher was in my garden near the North Wall early this evening. (JDW) 

Ferry Pool area: The Spotted Redshank was still showing well this morning. along with two Common Sandpipers (and another in the channel opposite), c100 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Avocets, four Dunlin, six Redshank, nine Gadwall, a pair of Shovelers, a pair of Teal, a few Shelducks, a Buzzard and a dozen Swallows, whilst a Swift went over the channel opposite. 

A Redstart was seen and a Cuckoo heard in the Yeoman's Field area early on (BI/RHa), with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Whitethroats along the Tramway later, whilst out in the vegetation there were up to 20 Whimbrel and out in the harbour there was a large mixed wader flock including c50 Bar-tailed Godwits, c80 Grey Plovers, c20 Knot and c150 Dunlin. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Ivy Lake: There were at least ten Swifts and large numbers of Swallows, Sand and House Martins over the lake this morning. (AB)

Church Norton: There was little of note here in the bleak north-easterly, though there were two Greenshank and a few Whimbrel in the harbour. (IP/AB)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AB)

Saturday, 28th April: A cool and grey, but dry day with just a light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a fair selection of species, including Arctic Skuas, Bonxies, Manx Shearwaters, Hobby and Arctic Tern represented, but numbers were mostly low. Full log below. (JA/SH/JF/IP/AH/C&ME/MO-W et al)

(0600-1000hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Manx Shearwater - 10W
Fulmar - 6E, 8W
Gannet - 310E, 42W
Shag - 1E, 3os

Brent Goose - 2E
Shelduck - 5os
Common Scoter - 67E, 2W
Hobby - 1N
Common Sandpiper- 2p
Dunlin - 12W
Whimbrel - 4E
Arctic Skua - 3E (2 d/p, 1p/p)
Bonxie - 3E, 1os
Kittiwake - 3E, 1W
Sandwich Tern - 20E, 20os
Common Tern - 9E
Arctic Tern - 2E
'Commic ' Tern - 34E
Little Tern - 10E, 13os
auk sp - 1E, 2W, 1os
Swift - 1N
House Martin - 4p
Swallow - 36N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Wheatear - 4N
'Willow/Chiff '- 3N

1545-1830hrs:  (SH/JA et al)
Great Norther Diver - 4os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 27E, 7W
Fulmar - 1W
Manx Shearwater - 10E, 9W
Shag - 1W, 1os
Common Scoter - 1os
Whimbrel - 2E
Great Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 25os
Comic Tern - 15E
Common Term - 21E, 42os
Sandwich Tern - 21E, 16os
Swallow - 4N

Great Northern Diver (above) & Shelducks at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was still on the pool, along with six Dunlin, four Avocets (first thing only), six Redshank, two Lapwing, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Gadwall, four Teal, two Shovelers and three Shelducks, with a Reed Warbler singing near the road..

There were up to ten Whimbrel off the Tramway, with c20 Bar-tailed Godwits, c30 Grey Plover and c50 Dunlin out in the middle of the harbour from there, whilst passerine migrants comprised of a handful of Swallows and a couple each of singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet, Dunlin and Gadwall, Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

Warner Lane and Northcommon Farm: Very little was about early on, with just Linnets at Warner Lane and just a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff at Northcommon Farm. (AH)

Park Lane: There were  Buzzards in the area early evening, plus a Swift, a House Martin and 3 Swallows. (SH)

Church Norton: There were at least half a dozen Wheatears on the spit this morning, with at least ten Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the harbour, plus a Brent Goose, the pair of Peregrines and c40 Dunlin that flew out over the beach, and there were a scattering of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns among the Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls. (IP/RM/AH) This evening two Canada Geese were investigating the anti-predator fence on Tern island, and there were still two Wheatears and a lone Brent Goose present in the harbour, plus 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel (AW)

Wheatear (above), Sandwich Tern & Whimbrels at Church Norton (AH)

Lone Brent Goose and Wheatear at Church Norton early evening (AW)

 

North Wall: This afternoon there were two Cuckoos showing nicely along the wall, a Whinchat at the back of the Breech Pool and a few Yellow Wagtails in the area. (GK) Later in the day found one Cuckoo still showing well in the hedgerows and half a dozen Swallows dip feeding over the water. (BI)

Cuckoo at the North Wall (BI)

25th - 27th April 2018

Friday, 27th April: A cold and grey morning, though mostly dry, with a fresh south-easterly breeze........before the predicted rain arrived in force by early afternoon.

Selsey Bill: A much-anticipated morning with a fresh south-easterly sadly failed to live up to expectations, although there was some movement, including six Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies, a Velvet Scoter among 100+ Common Scoters, and at least one Arctic Tern among the Sandwich Little and Common Terns moving in moderate numbers. 

Sea-watching covered most of the daylight hours before conditions became too dire; full log below........ 

0530-1800hrs: (JA/SH/PB/AB/AH/BI/OM/MJ et al)
Red-throated Diver - 14E, 1W
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Gannet - 424E, 52W
Fulmar - 4E, 8W
Manx Shearwater - 1E, 2W
Little Egret - 1E
Shelduck - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W
Common Scoter - 236E
Velvet Scoter - 1E
Curlew - 1E
Whimbrel - 13E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 40E
Grey Plover - 3E
Sanderling - 6E
Dunlin - 2E
Kestrel - 1S
Great Skua - 1E, 2os
Arctic Skua - 7E (3 l/p, 4 d/p)
Little Tern - 85E, 25os
Common Tern - 75E, 44os
Commic Tern - 107E
Arctic Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 151E, 7os
Razorbill - 9E, 3W
Guillemot - 1E
auk sp - 3E, 5W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Kittiwake - 1E, 7W
Swallow - 50N
Meadow Pipit - 5E
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Wheatear - 1 ob
Linnet - 13E

Arctic Skuas (above), Red-throated Divers, Velvet and Common Scoters, Sandwich Terns, Whimbrel & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Selsey Bill in the rain.....and by early afternoon there were just two of us left to hold the fort! Umbrellas became essential equipment and here PB puts on a brave face as the watch continues. (OM)

Early this evening there was a large gathering of mainly Common Terns (plus a few Little and Sandwich Terns) off Hillfield Road, with plenty of displaying going on despite there being very few back in the harbour as yet. (AH)

Common Terns (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: The Spotted Redshank was still present, as were 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, six Dunlin and Gadwall, two Shovelers, four Teal and ten Redshank.

There were at least two Reed Warblers and half a dozen Sedge Warblers, plus a Lesser Whitethroat in a quick look along the Long Pool. (AH/AB) There were 23 Whimbrel on the saltmarsh at the end of the Tramway early evening. (BI)

Spotted Redshank, squabbling Black-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Gadwall & Sedge Warbler around the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham - There were two Whimbrel, a Little Tern and 18 Grey Plovers in the tidal area, six Wheatears, five Corn Buntings, three Cetti's Warblers, a Lesser Whitetrhroat, up to 15 Whitethroats, two Reed Warblers and four Sedge Warblers along the banks and adjacent hedges and reeds, with a Sparrowhawk and a steady trickle of 30+ Swallows over. (J Palmer)

Chichester Marina Reed-bed: At least 30 Swallows were feeding over the reeds today. (PH)

Thursday, 26th April: Another bright and windy day, with a distinct early chill to the strong westerly....

Selsey Bill: Even quieter than yesterday, with a coasting Hobby the only highlight beyond a few locally moving Gannets, Fulmars and terns. Full log below..... 
0630-0930hrs:  (C&ME/TR/RS/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Fulmar - 3W
Gannet - 43E, 34W
Common Scoter - 1E, 2W
Hobby - 1W
Grey Plover - c.60W
auk sp - 4E, 2W
Little Tern - 18os
Common Tern - 12os
Sandwich Tern - 21os
Kittiwake - 1W
Common Gull - 2W
Swallow - 9N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Wheatear - 2N

(1645-1745hrs) (JA/SH)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Gannet - 14E, 14W
Mallard - 3E
Common Tern - 1E, 1W
Little Tern - 18os

Fulmar (above), Little Tern & Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was still about, as were 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, and there were also c60 Dunlin, eight Redshank and four Lapwings around the pool, along with large numbers of Black-headed and a few Mediterranean Gulls.

There was not too much around the Tramway circuit beyond a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Whitethroats, plus handful of Chiffchaffs. (AH/CMJ/TR/RS)

Spotted Redshank (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was very quiet here again, with a Cuckoo calling early on, a brief snatch of Willow Warbler song and a Sand Martin and a Swallow over being the only hints of migration. A couple pf Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing sparingly and a female Reed Bunting was gathering nest material, whilst offshore a pair of Gannets and a pair Little Terns were all that was seen, whilst, sadly, a dead Razorbill was on the beach.
Up to ten Whimbrels and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, plus a pair of Gadwall, whilst there were just 20 or so Sandwich Terns among the large numbers of Black-headed and a Mediterranean Gulls. (AW/AH)
Later in the morning there were two Wheatears around the concrete blocks and nine House Martins and 14 Swallows came in. (P&JW)

Gannet (above), Reed Bunting (both AW), Little Tern, Whimbrel & Linnet (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Quite cool and blustery despite the sunny start and it soon became apparent that the conditions would not be conducive to any birding excitement this morning. Sedge and Reed Warblers were present all along the wall, with several Whitethroats proclaiming their territory, but it was all rather run-of-the-mill stuff.... several Cetti’s Warblers, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff or two, 3 Blackcaps and a pair of Reed Buntings, whilst the Breech Pool held 4 Gadwall, several Tufted Duck, a pair of Great Crested Grebes and a single Black-tailed Godwit. A look around the stable fields area drew a complete blank other than several recently arrived Swallows making themselves at home.

White’s Creek held 15 Redshank and 36 Shelduck, 3 Grey Plover flew over and up to a dozen Whimbrel were dotted about on the mudflats, whilst two Common Terns were fishing in the channel and another Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedgerow.

The nearby Pagham churchyard failed to produce a single migrant and I realised it was just one of those days, so took the decision to go home and get on with something useful! (OM)

Ivy Lake: There were still a dozen Common Terns on the lake today, plus a couple of Pochard and eight Great Crested Grebes, with c20 Swifts, c20 House Martins, c50 Swallows and c50 Sand Martins dropping in briefly as a large squall went through. (AH)

Common Terns (above) & Pochard on Ivy Lake (AH)

Wednesday, 25th April: A bright and blustery day, warming up after a chilly start, but with a brisk and freshening westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Predictably quiet again on the migration front, save a lone Bonxie that came off the sea, but 17 Manx Shearwaters went west, along with a Red-throated Diver, a few Kittiwakes and Gannets and one or two Fulmars, with a couple of Wheatears on the beach.  Full log below..... (PB/C&ME/MO-W/AH/MH/PC)
(0545-1230hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 78E, 44W
Fulmar - 4W
Manx Shearwater - 20W (inc a flock of 13)
Eider - 1W (female)
Common Scoter - 7E, 9os
Grey Plover - c150W
Dunlin - 12W
Whimbrel - 9W
Bonxie - 1E
Kittiwake - 6W
Sandwich Tern - 15os
Common Tern - 14os
'Commic' Tern - 12E
Little Tern - 28os
Razorbill - 2W
auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 26N
Wheatear - 2p

Wheatear (above), Fulmar & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Still no Poms! (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was still down near the road and there were c120 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Gadwall, four Redshank and six Teal also present, with a Common Sandpiper in the channel opposite.

A Cuckoo was calling from the north end of Yeoman's Field, but the Tramway circuit produced just the usual scattering of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus two Lesser Whitethroats - all keeping low, whilst a total of 32 Whimbrel were in the harbour around the main channel. (AH/AB)

Spotted Redshank (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper & Whimbrels around the Ferry (AH)

Ivy Lake: There were 150+ Swallows and Sand Martins, plus a few Swifts, over the lake this morning. (BI)

North Wall: There were plenty of Sedge Warblers, plus a couple of Reed Warblers singing this morning, but notably not from the main reed-beds which are still more or less under water. There was little else to report beyond a couple of Whimbrels in the harbour, four Lapwing and two Black-tailed Godwits, plus a Shoveler, on the fields, two Sand Martins west and a couple of Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats along the hedges. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)

This afternoon there were two Common Sandpipers in White's Creek and another two on Pagham Lagoon. (AB)

Church Norton: The first Black-headed Gull pair have laid on Tern Island, and the new electric fencing is now up and running.... (per Ivan Lang, Warden)

A fairly quick look produced a Wheatear on the beach and a couple of Gannets offshore, three Whimbrel in the harbour and the usual mixed mass of gulls and terns, all disturbed by the RSPB team and their boat paying a visit to the island. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Gannet, Mediterranean Gull and the RSPB boat at Church Norton (AH)

Just after 7am there was a group of four Dunlin in the harbour, whilst along the Severals there was a singing Sedge Warbler and on the beach there were three Wheatears. Also three Little Terns were diving in the sea nearby. (AW)

Little Tern (above), Wheatear & Sedge Warbler at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were c50 Swallows and House Martins, plus a dozen or so Sand Martins over the settling tanks this evening. (AH)

House Martin (above) & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)