Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a Merlin close offshore and three Slavonian Grebes on the sea. Full log below. (C&ME/AH/PB/CRJ)
(0730-1030hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1W
Red-throated Diver -1W
Slavonian Grebe - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 13W, 1os
Gannet - 1E, 4W, 2os
Brent Goose - 3E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 28W
Merlin - 1os, then E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 6W
Common Gull - 2W
Kittiwake - 4W
Razorbill - 3W
auk sp - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 19W
Pied Wagtail - 2W
Goldfinch - 15W
Merlin (above) & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were lots of ducks again, including the dozen Gadwall, c30 Shoveler, c100 Teal and c200 Wigeon, plus two Shelducks and 20 Lapwings. (AH)
Later on, a large flighty flock of 450 Lapwing were over and around the pool, and there was also a Green Sandpiper which flew from the back to the area behind the reeds at the front. (CRJ)
Later on, a large flighty flock of 450 Lapwing were over and around the pool, and there was also a Green Sandpiper which flew from the back to the area behind the reeds at the front. (CRJ)
Gadwalls (above) & Lapwing and Teal on the Ferry (AH)
Runcton: A single Stonechat was just south of the village this afternoon. (CRJ)
East Head: There was no sign of any Snow Buntings, despite a good search this morning, though there were half a dozen Reed Buntings, a couple of pairs of Stonechats and plenty of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails about.
There were a few Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers out in the harbour, and a large flock of Brent Geese flew in, but there were few waders about.
Snowhill Creek held a Kingfisher, but not much else beyond the regular Wigeon and Teal, plus a few Lapwings, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits, and later on, a flock of 500+ Brent Geese were out on the fields. (AH/BI)
Later there were three Greenshank in Snowhill Creek. (ARK per SOS)
There were a few Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers out in the harbour, and a large flock of Brent Geese flew in, but there were few waders about.
Snowhill Creek held a Kingfisher, but not much else beyond the regular Wigeon and Teal, plus a few Lapwings, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits, and later on, a flock of 500+ Brent Geese were out on the fields. (AH/BI)
Later there were three Greenshank in Snowhill Creek. (ARK per SOS)
Kingfisher (above), Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Skylark & Brent Geese around East Head (AH)
Pagham Lagoon & East side: Four White-fronted Geese flew over the Lagoon area at about 10:25, circling and gaining height then departing to the west. (LC et al)
As I approached the Village Hall whilst driving, a large flock of several hundred Brent Geese had just risen from the fields subject of the development plans, and they flew high over the road heading in various directions.
At the Lagoon, there were 300 noisy Brent Geese on the water (presumably having just dropped in from the above flock), plus five Wigeon and two drake Goldeneye. Around the hedgerows and footpaths a Water Rail was squealing, and there were two Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff and two Stonechats.
On the East side at low tide, a large gathering of Brent Geese - numbering some 2000+ birds - was stretched across the mudflats and into the channel. I spent a while scrutinising the flock, but alas could find nothing unusual amongst them, apart that is from the odd sight of a group of five Avocets weaving in and out of the geese as they made their way along the channel. (OM)
I made a final check of the Brents as I was about to leave, and this time noticed an odd bird in the flock - it had a white head, face and upperneck and was vaguely reminiscent of a Barnacle, but the rest of the body was apparently D/b Brent Goose. TG who was passing by also managed to see it, but it was often hard to find amongst the crowd and too distant for a photo. Probably just an aberrant/partly albino Brent, but worth a look if you find the flock. (OM/TG)
Brent Geese (above), Goldeneye (centre) and Stonechat (below) at Pagham Lagoon this morning (OM)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank, 20 Pintail, 30 Black-tailed Godwits & 6 Avocets were in White's Creek, whilst a Peregrine gave excellent views chasing down Lapwings unsuccessfully, a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice and a Cetti's Warbler was heard at the Breech Pool. (LC et al)
Selsey Bill: Again, it was pretty quiet. (AH)
(0745-0845hrs)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 3W
Common Scoter - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
(0945-1100hrs:) Then later, it was almost dead...! (OM)
Brent Goose - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W
(and apart from a few Cormorants moving about offshore, that was it!)
(1300-1400hrs): (from Hillfield Rd): (C&ME)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Shag - 1E
Gannet - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 6os
At 13.02hrs a Little Gull was offshore, then west. (GH)
East Head: A single Snow Bunting was present this morning (SR) - this following on from a belated report of two birds at this location on Sunday, 25th Nov (AT, per SOS website).
Wednesday, 28th November: A very blustery and grey morning, after a wet start, but also quite mild....
Selsey Bill: Not much moving this morning! (AH)
(0735-0835hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1W
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Common Scoter - 4E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
(0945-1100hrs:) Then later, it was almost dead...! (OM)
Brent Goose - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W
(and apart from a few Cormorants moving about offshore, that was it!)
(1300-1400hrs): (from Hillfield Rd): (C&ME)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Shag - 1E
Gannet - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 6os
At 13.02hrs a Little Gull was offshore, then west. (GH)
Red-throated Divers at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There large numbers of ducks on the pool, including c40 Shoveler, six Gadwall, two Shelducks, c250 Wigeon and c80 Teal, plus a pair of Mallards and c50 Lapwings. (AH)
Wigeon on the Ferry (AH)
Whilst on the subject of the Ferry, readers will be pleased to know that a small but welcome improvement has been made to the Ferry Hide - or rather to the interior thereof - with the construction of a new box seat (on casters) for use in the disabled access area. It will allow able-bodied observers to use the central viewing windows when disabled access is not needed, and the seat can be easily moved to any position as required. It was constructed by two senior Volunteers - Bernie Forbes and Dorian Mason - and we understand another similar seat is on order! Well done chaps - we're sure it will prove to be a very useful and welcome addition. (Eds)
DM and BFF take turns to proudly wheel the finished product to the Hide.....
The new seat is just the thing and it can be moved to any position; here DM & BFF prove it's well constructed and can hold plenty of weight!
.... and a male model shows how to make full use of it! (photos IL)
Honer Reservoir: There was virtually no water and no birds on the reservoir itself, but two Grey Partridges were in the adjacent ploughed field and along the hedges there were a Green Woodpecker, and a couple of Redwings and Fieldfares among half a dozen Song Thrushes and 20 Blackbirds. (AH)
Grey Partridge (above), Redwing & Green Woodpecker at Honer Reservoir (AH)
Pagham Lagoon: Two drake Goldeneyes were on the lagoon - one at each end, but otherwise there was very little beyond a Great Crested Grebe, a handful of Little Grebes, c80 Canada Geese and a Greylag Goose, whilst 50 Brent Geese went over west. (AH)
Goldeneye (above) & Brent Geese on Pagham Lagoon (AH)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek, along with 50 Wigeon, 20 Redshank and 20 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst at least 1000 Lapwing were spread along the creek and into the harbour, bringing up 150 or so Golden Plovers when they all took off. also, a couple of Goldcrests and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were along the track from Church Lane. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above), Lapwings & Golden Plovers at the North Wall (AH)
Earlier (at 9.30am) 2380 Brent Geese were on the proposed development fields behind the church hall, though they had dispersed later when various people were out in the field. (JDW)
Brent Geese in Pagham village (JDW)
Church Norton: An hour spent watching from the hide was not very productive. Four Red-breasted Mergansers were barely visible in the channel at low tide, whilst on the mudflats were 35 Knot, 250 Dunlin and perhaps 40 Grey Plover. The regular wildfowl were also present, including a nice flock of Wigeon, but there was otherwise little to report. (OM)
Wednesday, 28th November: A very blustery and grey morning, after a wet start, but also quite mild....
Advance Notice: “On Monday 3rd December the Church Norton Car Park will be closed for us to carry some hedge trimming in the Car Park and down the path to the beach. We will put notices and bollards up at the entrance on Sunday evening, so if people could vacate the car park by 09.00am Monday morning it will be much appreciated. The Car park will re-open as soon as the trimming has finished. The footpath will remain open.” (Ivan Lang, Warden)
Selsey Bill: Not much moving this morning! (AH)
(0735-0835hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1W
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Common Scoter - 4E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Razorbill - 4E
Ferry Pool: There were just 20 or so Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon, plus a Shelduck, on the pool this morning. (AH)
This afternoon an Avocet was on the pool. (AB)
North Wall: A very damp and murky morning along the Wall. In
and around White's Creek were 580 Lapwing, 38 Redshank and a pair of Little
Grebes, whilst on Breech Pool there were 44 Mallard, 27 Canada Geese and 4 Cormorants.
Along the Wall were just 2 Reed Buntings, a Green Woodpecker and a Fieldfare, plus a flock of some 600 Wood Pigeons in the fields behind Honer Cottages.
Chi GPs - Drayton pits: A brief look this morning produced 50 Pochard, a Water Rail, 2 Cetti’s Warbler , a Green Woodpecker, a Jay and c200 Coot. (CRJ)
Ferry Pool: There were just 20 or so Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon, plus a Shelduck, on the pool this morning. (AH)
This afternoon an Avocet was on the pool. (AB)
Shovelers, Wigeon and Teal on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There were two Firecrests among half a dozen Goldcrests and 20+ Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits at the bottom of the path to the harbour this morning, and at least six Jays were around the Mound/hide area.
There wasn't too much of note in the harbour, though there were three Red-breasted Mergansers, a handful of Mediterranean Gulls and 50+ Brent Geese and Wigeon present, along with a couple of Great Crested and Little Grebes. Also, the 1000+ Lapwing at the far end of the harbour went up a couple of times, sending large mixed flocks of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plover across the harbour before retreating again. (AH)
There wasn't too much of note in the harbour, though there were three Red-breasted Mergansers, a handful of Mediterranean Gulls and 50+ Brent Geese and Wigeon present, along with a couple of Great Crested and Little Grebes. Also, the 1000+ Lapwing at the far end of the harbour went up a couple of times, sending large mixed flocks of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plover across the harbour before retreating again. (AH)
Firecrests (above), Mediterranean Gull, Brent Geese & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)
Early on there was a flock of
1240 Brent Geese on the fields west of Pagham Road, where developers hope to
build 400 plus houses. Yesterday there were 2300 geese at the same location. (JDW)
(Despite the assertions of the developers to the contrary, we all knew that the Brent have traditionally used these fields for feeding and resting - Eds)
(Despite the assertions of the developers to the contrary, we all knew that the Brent have traditionally used these fields for feeding and resting - Eds)
Brent Geese on the Pagham site being considered for development......can the Planning Dep't really be serious!? (JDW)
Chi GPs - Drayton pits: A brief look this morning produced 50 Pochard, a Water Rail, 2 Cetti’s Warbler , a Green Woodpecker, a Jay and c200 Coot. (CRJ)
