Saturday, 21st April: A fairly still and hazy/misty morning, with plenty of sunshine but poor visibility before the breeze freshened and the cloud built up.....
Selsey Bill: Another morning with a fair selection of species recorded, but generally only in small numbers. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/IP/CN/AH/JF et al
(0545-0930hrs)Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os
Fulmar - 6E
Gannet - 46E
Canada Geese - 7E
Shelduck - 3W, 2os
Common Scoter - 67E
Whimbrel - 2E
Bonxie - 1E
Common Gull 2E
Mediterranean Gull - 6E
Black-headed Gull - 36E
Little Gull - 9E
Sandwich Tern - 103E
Common Tern - 17E
Commic Tern - 15E
Little Tern - 5E, 5os
Swallow - 4N
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Wheatear - 1N
Rook - 1N
Linnet - 7N
Bonxie (above) & Wheatear at the Bill (AH)
Also 1420-1815hrs: (JA/CN/SH/PB)
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Ferry Pool/Tramway area: There was a Spotted Redshank and six Common Redshank on the pool early this morning, with half a dozen Shovelers and four Shelduck also present.
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 4W
Gannet - 45E, 8W
Fulmar - 2W
Brent Goose - 24E
Common Scoter - 10E
Sanderling - 1 ob
Purple Sandpiper - 1 ob
Arctic Skua - 6E (4 l/p, 2 d/p)
Great Skua (Bonxie) - 2E, 1os
Little Tern - 5E, 5os
Common Tern - 6E
Comic Tern - 14E
Sandwich Tern - 60E
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Common Gull - 3E
Kittiwake - 1E
Swallow - 27N
House Martin - 2N
Ferry Pool/Tramway area: There was a Spotted Redshank and six Common Redshank on the pool early this morning, with half a dozen Shovelers and four Shelduck also present.
A smart male Whinchat and a female Redstart were in Yeoman's Field, along with at least two Lesser Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, whilst there were more Chiffchaffs, another couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats, plus a couple of Blackcaps around the Tramway circuit. (AH/SH/PB)
Whinchat (above) & Redstart in Yeoman's Field, Spotted Redshank & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: There were two Redstarts in the hedges in Park Lane this morning and at least three Wheatears in the fields, with a few Linnets about and at least three Swallows over. (S&SaH/PB/AH/IP/CN/RM)
Redstart (above) & Great Spotted Woodpecker at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)
Church Norton: There were up to four Little Terns in the harbour this morning, along with half a dozen Common Terns and 30+ Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, though not yet back on the island, though the work is now completed. Worryingly, though, there was no sign of the Peregrines again.
A Wheatear was on the concrete slabs and along the Severals there at least two Lesser Whitethroats, four Whitethroats, up to six Sedge Warblers, a couple of Reed Warblers and Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers, whilst a Stoat ran across the path between the Severals.
Also a Common Sandpiper was in the creek by the horse field, a Bar-tailed Godwit was in the harbour, along with at least five Gadwall and a Brent Goose and two Whimbrel went east offshore. (AW/S&SaH/PB/AH/IP/CN/RM)
Little and Sandwich Tern (above), Cetti's Warbler, Whitethroat, Stoat (all AW) & Common Sandpiper (AH) at Church Norton
The newly completed work on Tern Island - let's hope the birds appreciate it! (IL)
North Wall: A lovely morning but fairly quiet, with the only birds on White's Creek being a gathering of 14 Mute Swans, and on the Breech Pool a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes, eight Tufted Ducks, five Gadwall, two Canada and two Greylag Geese, plus a Cormorant, whilst 2 Common Terns were feeding over it.
Anywhere along the wall could be heard a combination of singing Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers and there were also two Wheatears, eight Linnets and a Common Whitethroat along the wall, with a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff singing in Owl Copse. (JDW)
Great Crested Grebe (above) & Greylag and Canada Geese from the North Wall (JDW)
Long Pool: There were a couple each of Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, plus at least five Sedge Warblers singing along the path this afternoon, whilst around Ferry Channel there were a Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, c20 Redshank, c10 Grey Plovers, c10 Whimbrel, four Curlews and c80 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwits & Redshank along Ferry Channel (AH)
Friday, 20th April: Another lovely, warm morning, with uninterrupted sunshine and a light and variable breeze........
Good news....Ferry Hide is now open to the public! Herewith an update from the RSPB (per Roy Newnham): 'The Ferry Hide is now open for public use. There are still a couple of finishing touches to be completed and as such the windows have been secured shut for H&S reasons. Opening times will mirror our Visitor Centre opening times (10am – 4pm) but the viewing platform is accessible all hours.
Please note, access to the hide is currently from the Ferry Channel end only. The path from the Visitor Centre via the Discovery Zone remains closed as we still have work to do in the Discovery Zone and to the paths before opening them to the public.'
The following is also worth sharing..... Just to let you know that the Visitor centre now has tv pictures from 7 nest boxes including a Kestrel currently on 3 eggs. Worth a peep when you are next passing..... (with thanks to Jerry Goodman, RSPB)
Selsey Bill: Conditions seemed far from ideal for sea-watching, and so it proved, with just a light movement of the regular species, though a Bonxie sat on the spit and three Yellow Wagtails in over the wall together were notable. The still conditions did nothing for the sea-watchers though, and by 0930 all had abandoned the effort....leaving the Wall unattended and eerily quiet on what should be a prime date.....Full log below:
0545-0930hrs: (JA/PB/PM/OM/C&ME/AH et al)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 22E, 3W
Mute Swan - 2W
Shelduck - 3W
Common Scoter - 72E, 14os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W
Whimbrel - 2E
Bonxie - 1E, 1os
Common Gull - 12E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 4W
Sandwich Tern - 21E, 12os
Common Tern - 1E, 26os
'Commic' Tern - 2E
Little Tern - 3os
Swallow - 7N
Yellow Wagtail - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 1p
Meadow Pipit - 4N
Chiffchaff - 2p
Willow Warbler - 1p
1630-1800hrs: (SH/JA/AH)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 11E, 5W
Common Scoter - 4E
Common Tern - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 37E, 3W
Little Tern - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Common Gull - 1E
Swallow - 1N
Wheatear - 1p
Ferry Pool: There were two Redshanks, eight Shoveler, six Teal and a Shelduck on the pool this morning. (AH)
Church Norton: A fairly quick look produced a pair of Wheatears by the bench, a couple of singing Lesser Whitethroats, one of which showed nicely, too, and a pair of Common Terns among the birds in the harbour, with a pair of Lapwings along Rectory Lane. (AH)
Long Pool & Visitor centre: There were 6+ Sedge Warblers singing and showing along the pool margins, with at least one singing Reed Warbler in the reeds. A singing Lesser Whitethroat also showed, as did a couple of Common Whitethroats, whilst the Spotted Redshank was present in the channel with a dozen or so Common Redshank. On the water a pair of Gadwall and a couple of calling Little Grebes were also notable.
Along the tramway and the bushes at the rear of the Visitor centre, several Whitethroats were singing and a Lesser Whitethroat also put in an appearance. Several Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap were also noted, whilst several noisy (presumed) Marsh Frogs could not be ignored. (PB/C&ME/MJ/OM/TR)
This afternoon, a Nightingale was half-heartedly singing from the cycle track behind the Visitor centre (where the species bred a couple of years ago). (IL)
This evening there was no sign of the Nightingale, but there were a surprisingly large number of waders in the harbour from the Tramway, including c20 Whimbrel, 12 Knot, five Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Dunlin and c80 Grey Plovers. (AH)
Bramber Farm/Honer Reservoir: One of the Little Owls was sat out near Bramber Farm this morning, while around nearby Honer Reservoir there were at least three Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Cetti's Warbler, a dozen Yellowhammers and similar of Linnets, plus 20 Mediterranean Gulls over. (BI/AH)
North Wall: Seven Red Kites, loosely together, drifted northwards over the North Wall just before midday, with up to a dozen Buzzards doing likewise.
The Breech Pool remains very full of water, with just a Great Crested Grebe and two Tufted Ducks on it, though there were at least two Reed Warblers and up to five Sedge Warblers singing around the edges, plus a couple of Lesser Whitethroats in the hedges. There were also, two Gadwall, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Herons and two Little Egrets in the fields. (AH/BC)
Also, a Cuckoo was in the bushes on the edge of Halsey's Farm, and a further two Red Kites went over Rose Green at 12.45pm (BC)
Ivy Lake: There were still at least a dozen Common Terns present today. (AH)
A Long-tailed Duck was on the lake this afternoon, but could not be refound later on. (R Billings)
Thursday, 19th April: A very warm, sunny morning, with just a light easterly breeze........0545-0930hrs: (JA/PB/PM/OM/C&ME/AH et al)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 22E, 3W
Mute Swan - 2W
Shelduck - 3W
Common Scoter - 72E, 14os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W
Whimbrel - 2E
Bonxie - 1E, 1os
Common Gull - 12E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 4W
Sandwich Tern - 21E, 12os
Common Tern - 1E, 26os
'Commic' Tern - 2E
Little Tern - 3os
Swallow - 7N
Yellow Wagtail - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 1p
Meadow Pipit - 4N
Chiffchaff - 2p
Willow Warbler - 1p
Bonxie at the Bill (AH)
1630-1800hrs: (SH/JA/AH)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 11E, 5W
Common Scoter - 4E
Common Tern - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 37E, 3W
Little Tern - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Common Gull - 1E
Swallow - 1N
Wheatear - 1p
Wheatear at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were two Redshanks, eight Shoveler, six Teal and a Shelduck on the pool this morning. (AH)
Redshank (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A fairly quick look produced a pair of Wheatears by the bench, a couple of singing Lesser Whitethroats, one of which showed nicely, too, and a pair of Common Terns among the birds in the harbour, with a pair of Lapwings along Rectory Lane. (AH)
Lesser Whitethroat (above), Wheatear & Lapwing at Church Norton (AH)
Long Pool & Visitor centre: There were 6+ Sedge Warblers singing and showing along the pool margins, with at least one singing Reed Warbler in the reeds. A singing Lesser Whitethroat also showed, as did a couple of Common Whitethroats, whilst the Spotted Redshank was present in the channel with a dozen or so Common Redshank. On the water a pair of Gadwall and a couple of calling Little Grebes were also notable.
Along the tramway and the bushes at the rear of the Visitor centre, several Whitethroats were singing and a Lesser Whitethroat also put in an appearance. Several Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap were also noted, whilst several noisy (presumed) Marsh Frogs could not be ignored. (PB/C&ME/MJ/OM/TR)
This afternoon, a Nightingale was half-heartedly singing from the cycle track behind the Visitor centre (where the species bred a couple of years ago). (IL)
Whitethroat along the Long Pool (PB)
This evening there was no sign of the Nightingale, but there were a surprisingly large number of waders in the harbour from the Tramway, including c20 Whimbrel, 12 Knot, five Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Dunlin and c80 Grey Plovers. (AH)
Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin (above) & with Black-tailed godwits from the Tramway (AH)
Little Owl at Bramber farm (above) & Yellowhammer & Whitethroat at Honer Reservoir (AH)
North Wall: Seven Red Kites, loosely together, drifted northwards over the North Wall just before midday, with up to a dozen Buzzards doing likewise.
The Breech Pool remains very full of water, with just a Great Crested Grebe and two Tufted Ducks on it, though there were at least two Reed Warblers and up to five Sedge Warblers singing around the edges, plus a couple of Lesser Whitethroats in the hedges. There were also, two Gadwall, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Herons and two Little Egrets in the fields. (AH/BC)
Also, a Cuckoo was in the bushes on the edge of Halsey's Farm, and a further two Red Kites went over Rose Green at 12.45pm (BC)
Red Kites (above) & Sedge Warbler at the North Wall (AH)
Ivy Lake: There were still at least a dozen Common Terns present today. (AH)
A Long-tailed Duck was on the lake this afternoon, but could not be refound later on. (R Billings)
Common Tern on Ivy Lake (AH)
Fishbourne - Dell Quay; The
highlight was 6 Greenshank together in the main channel, but otherwise it was very quiet. Along the channel
were 40 plus Mute Swans, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Curlew, 4 Dunlin, 3
Oystercatchers and 5 Brent Geese, but otherwise a Blackcap was the only migrant I was able to
locate! (JDW)
Selsey Bill: It was much slower than anticipated on the sea-watch front, but there was just enough to hold the interest in the sunshine, with seven Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and a couple of hundred Commic Terns passing east, whilst a Yellow Wagtail and two White Wagtails dropped in on the Oval Field. Full log below......
0545-1300hrs: (PB/OM/C&ME/MO-W)/BFF/DM et al)
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Gannet - 40E, 11W
Brent Goose - 4E
Shelduck - 4E, 1N
Common Scoter - 133E, 50os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1 along beach
Whimbrel - 18E
Arctic Skua - 7E (4d/p, 3 l/p)
Great Skua - 2E
Little Tern - 11E
Common Tern - 149E
Commic Tern - 54E
Sandwich Tern - 98E
Kittiwake - 1E
Black-headed Gull - 149E (inc flock 75)
Common Gull - 12E
Mediterranean Gull - 8E
Pied Wagtail - 1N
White Wagtail - 2 Oval Field (inc one seen arriving N)
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Oval Field
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Gannet - 40E, 11W
Brent Goose - 4E
Shelduck - 4E, 1N
Common Scoter - 133E, 50os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1 along beach
Whimbrel - 18E
Arctic Skua - 7E (4d/p, 3 l/p)
Great Skua - 2E
Little Tern - 11E
Common Tern - 149E
Commic Tern - 54E
Sandwich Tern - 98E
Kittiwake - 1E
Black-headed Gull - 149E (inc flock 75)
Common Gull - 12E
Mediterranean Gull - 8E
Pied Wagtail - 1N
White Wagtail - 2 Oval Field (inc one seen arriving N)
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Oval Field
Yellow Wagtail on the Oval Field (DM)
Two White Wagtails on Oval Field... Above (DM) probable female bird? whilst below (OM) probable male? (poor record shot) with sharper cut-off border of black nape onto pale mantle.
A little cameo from this morning's sea-watch - Mr Forbes tries to use binoculars and wonders why everything looks so small....should've gone to Specsavers! (OM)
1300-1430hrs: (IL)
Gannet - 3E
Purple Sandpiper - 1E along beach
Great Skua - 1E
skua sp - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Common Tern - 1E
Sandwich tern - 7E
1600-1800hrs: (SH/JA)
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 7E, 2W
Whimbrel - 3E
Little Tern - 2E
Commic Tern - 9E
Common Tern - 16E
Sandwich tern - 21E
Arctic Skua - 1 os (d/p)
Common Gull - 4E
Ferry Pool: At 4.50am, a Barn Owl flew across the B2145, just south of the Ferry. (IP)
Later on, there were five Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Redshanks and a couple of Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with half a dozen Teal and Shovelers. (AH)
Ferry Pool: At 4.50am, a Barn Owl flew across the B2145, just south of the Ferry. (IP)
Later on, there were five Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Redshanks and a couple of Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with half a dozen Teal and Shovelers. (AH)
Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: A pair of Little Owls were sunning themselves near Bramber Farm and Swallows were back in residence at the end of Summer Lane. Around Honer reservoir were 9 Yellowhammers, 2 Common Whitethroats and a Blackcap, but the long staying Long-tailed Duck appears to have moved on, leaving only 4 Tufted Ducks on the reservoir itself. (JDW)
A Cuckoo was along the wall this evening. (IB)
Church Norton: Early on there was a pair of Gadwall in the harbour along with at least 50 Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Shoveler were on the old horse-field and a Wheatear was along the shingle opposite the first Severals, where a Sedge Warbler was showing well along with a Reed Bunting, a couple of Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Linnets. A Buzzard was nearby and near Greenlease Farm there was a Kestrel with prey which was attracting the flies! (AW)
Wheatear (above), Kestrel (AW), Linnet, Willow Warbler & Blackcap (AH) at Church Norton
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The only migrants noted were two Wheatears on the beach, two Swallows over, a singing Willow Warbler near Marsh Farm and five Whimbrels that dropped in the reserve.
On the Stilt Pool there were 60+ Avocets (with another 30+ scattered about the reserve), three or four Little Ringed Plovers and a lone Dunlin, a selection on Shovelers, Teal, Gadwall and Tufted Ducks and at least 50 Mediterranean Gulls, but the banks held nothing beyond the usual Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits, plus four Buzzards together overhead. (AH)
This morning, at the Earnley end, there were a pair of Red Kites circling in the sky. (E Brewster)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Dunlin, Avocets, Wheatear, Mediterranean Gull, Whimbrels, Buzzard and Carrion Crow & Skylarks at Medmerry (AH)
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