Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 13th

Thursday, 15th November: A shift round to the south-east for the breeze brought a fairly murky and grey, if still mild, morning.....

Selsey Bill: At least 60 Brent Geese went west, but there wasn't much else on the move. Then at around 1000hrs some sea mist rolled in, reducing visibility......Full log below:
0730-1000hrs: (OM/AH)
Diver sp - 1E
Gannet - 5W, 10os
Brent Goose - 64W
Common Scoter - 6W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1os
Shoveler - 2W
auk sp - 2E, 1W
Kestrel - 1 area/Oval field
Pied Wagtail - 2E
Goldfinch - 25p

'Sunbeams over the basket' - an early morning view from the Bill (OM)

Selsey East beach: There were just six Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff around the pond. (OM)

Selsey, Northcommon Farm: A single Fieldfare, c.20 Blackbirds, several Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were in the hedgerows, and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the tall trees. (OM)

Ferry Pool: The pool was full of ducks this morning - with four Gadwall, six Shelducks, c40 shoveler, c150 teal and c250 wigeon present, plus 60 or so Lapwings. (AH)

Lapwings (above) & Gadwall, Shovelers, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't too much to report, just a few Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits still in the vicinity of the churchyard, a Bar-tailed Godwit, the Whimbrel, 20 Grey Plovers and 100+ Dunlin on the mud and a couple of groups of Brent Geese dropping into the harbour mouth area from the east. (AH/MJ)

Goldcrests (above), Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plover and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham: A very striking dark Buzzard has been on the telegraph poles near the garage in the middle of the village several times recently, including today. (AW)

Buzzard in Sidlesham (AW)

Wednesday, 14th November: The spell of pleasant weather continues, with another mild and sunny morning, and a moderate south-westerly breeze.....

Ferry Pool: Once again a Green Sandpiper was on the pool, along with the familiar mix of c40 Shoveler, c100 Wigeon and Teal, c50 Lapwing and five Shelducks. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Firecrest and two Chiffchaffs were at the bottom of the path to the harbour, whilst a big mixed flock, including 20 or so Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits moved through.
Out in the harbour a Goosander (possibly a sub-adult male) was with three Red-breasted Mergansers, three Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe, all feeding in the last bit of water near Tern Island, whilst the Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and about 20 Mediterranean Gulls were also about. (AH/AW)

Later on, there were at least two Firecrests around the path to the harbour. (HB)

Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser (above), Firecrest, Chiffchaff & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham churchyard: A big flock of Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits were in the churchyard, along with a pair of Mistle Thrushes, four Song Thrushes and a dozen Blackbirds. (AH)

Goldcrest (above), Long-tailed Tit & Mistle Thrush in Sidlesham churchyard (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Two or three Yellowhammers, a couple of Stock Doves and Jays, plus a few over-flying Skylarks and a couple of Buzzards were along Church Farm Lane, whilst around the farm buildings there were a few Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Chaffinches. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above), Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit & Pied Wagtail around Marsh Farm, Sislesham (AH)

Medmerry: West side - There was nothing too rare along the west side, but there were 14 Corn Buntings, 6-700 Linnets, 100+ Golden Plovers, 500+ Lapwings, two Peregrines and a juvenile-type Marsh Harrier about the reserve.

Also, of interest, Sunday's WeBS count produced 2136 Teal, a site record, with at least 1500 of them on the warer near the poplars on the high tide (HB)

North Wall: Nothing out of the ordinary to report this morning. A Spotted Redshank was busily feeding in White's Creek, amongst the usual wildfowl and Redshanks, whilst a Grey Wagtail went over. Along the Wall were 60 Black-tailed Godwits, about a dozen Goldcrests, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, three Yellowhammers and 10 Reed Buntings. The churchyard was virtually devoid of birdlife today. (OM)

Pagham Lagoon: The now-regular morning gathering of Canada Geese on the Lagoon totalled up to 100 birds, and there were also a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and a squealing Water Rail. The hedges and footpaths were much quieter today though, with a Cetti's Warbler, 10 Goldcrests and a few Long-tailed Tits the only birds of interest. (OM)

West Wittering: An escaped White-cheeked Pintail - a bird of Central and South America - was on a private pond in the village today. (GM)

White-cheeked Pintail at West Wittering (GM)

Fishbourne Creek: A Kingfisher was showing exceptionally well at the top end of the creek this afternoon, and there were also several Rock Pipits about and a flock of Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard. (AB)

Kingfisher (above), Rock Pipit & Long-tailed Tit at Fishbourne Creek (AB)

Tuesday, 13th November: Another very mild, bright and breezy morning, with the wind shifting more to the west.....

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was at the very back this morning, but otherwise it was the usual mix of species, including c40 Shoveler, c80 Wigeon, c50 Teal, five Shelducks, five Black-tailed Godwits and c150 Lapwing. (AH)

Shovelers (above) & Wigeon and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Northcommon Farm: A Chiffchaff and a few Goldcrests were around the White Horse caravan site this morning. (SH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The Little Owl was around the buildings again this evening. (SH)

Church Norton: A Greenshank was in the harbour, along with plenty of Redshanks, c100 Brent Geese and about 20 Mediterranean Gulls. There were relatively few Goldcrests compared to recent days, but an increase to at least 100 Meadow Pipits on the spit, along with around 30 Skylarks, 50 Linnets and 40 Greenfinches. (AH)