1st - 3rd March 2019

Sunday, 3rd March: A fairly miserable day; grey and overcast, with frequent rain and gale-force SW winds, courtesy of an Atlantic storm ('Freya') rapidly heading for the south-west of the UK......

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe heading west was the highlight, (possibly the same bird seen earlier in the year), plus just a trickle of easterly movement suggesting some early passage.....      Full log below:
0640-0930hrs:   (SH/PB/JA/BI)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Red-necked Grebe - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Fulmar - 1E, 8W
Gannet - 5E, 17W
Brent Goose - 53E
Eider - 7E
Common Scoter - 34E
Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 6W, 3os
Razorbill - 2os

Gannets, above, and Common Scoter past Selsey Bill in grim conditions this morning! (BI)

Also, 1245-1430hrs: (SH)
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 8E, 33W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2os
Curlew - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 3os
Razorbill - 1W
Common Seal - 1os


Pagham Spit: The Hooded Crow was again present this morning (viewed from Church Norton) (BI)

Church Norton: The wintering Whimbrel was in its usual area near the benches, whilst a Firecrest was present around the bottom of the path from the car park. In the harbour were a few Wigeon, Teal and Brent Geese and near the mouth were ten Red-breasted Mergansers. A flock of Golden Plover were towards Rectory Lane and three more Red-breasted Mergansers west west offshore. (BI)

Firecrest & Brent Geese at Church Norton (BI)

Hunston: Circa fifteen Cattle Egrets were still in the fields near the substation viewable from the road today. (BI)



Saturday, 2nd March: Bright and breezy; sunny periods but also plenty of cloud and a brisk W/SW wind...

Selsey Bill: Six Fulmars went past this morning but otherwise it was quite quiet, full log below:
0730-0930hrs: (BI/IP) 

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 3W
Great Crested Grebe – 1E,1W 2os

Fulmar – 2E, 4W
Gannet - 11E,11W 6os
Brent Goose - 19E
Common Scoter - 3E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 5W, 5os

auk sp – 2E, 1W

Turnstone – 2E, 7W

Common Gull – 1W
1550-1630hrs: (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 4os
Sandwich Tern - 2os

Brent Geese moving through eastwards off the Bill (BI)

Pagham Spit: The Hooded Crow was still present around the spit this morning and the male & female Goosanders were still around the harbour mouth. (CM/MB)

Church Norton: There were a large number of Black-headed Gulls, as well as a few Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour this morning. Also present were some well scattered groups of Brent Geese, including a ringed bird with a prominent neck patch which provoked much discussion, the male Peregrine on its regular island, a dozen Ringed Plover and the usual mix of Wigeon & Teal. The spit held Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit or two whilst a visiting birder reported the Goosanders (see above) in the harbour from the end along with five Red-breasted Mergansers. (BI/IP)

This afternoon there was a Sandwich Tern on the mud in front of Tern Island...it was a ringed bird but I couldn't read the details. (AW) Also, the two Goosanders were still present near Tern island, whilst a single Slavonian Grebe was offshore and a Chiffchaff was by the second Several. (SH)

Ringed Brent Goose at Church Norton (BI) and ringed Sandwich Tern amongst Black-headed Gulls (AW)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: Generally quiet this morning with most of the activity taking place near the feeding station were there many Starlings & House Sparrows vying for the seed! On the Stilt Pool there were two Avocets, six Gadwall, a Shoveler, four Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret and four Mediterranean Gulls amidst the regular wildfowl. (BI)

Avocets & Wigeon on the Stilt Pool (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: Three Green Woodpeckers were in the horse field this afternoon. (SH)

Friday, 1st March: Dry and fairly mild, with plenty of cloud but also some brighter sunny periods and a moderate W/NW breeze.....on the first day of spring (well, meteorologically at least!) 

Selsey Bill: Predictably quiet in the conditions, with no real highlights, though a handful of Brent moved east and a Slavonian Grebe was offshore briefly. Full log below......
0715-1045hrs: (C&ME/OM/IP et al)
Red-throated Diver - 6E, 4W
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Gannet - 9E,4W
Brent Goose - 26E
Common Scoter - 8E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 9W, 6os
Sandwich Tern - 2 os
Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Chi Marina & Birdham pool: The resident but unmated female Black Swan has nested again this year - on the edge of the canal between the houseboats - and was proudly sitting on her nest early afternoon. I couldn't determine whether or not she has yet produced any eggs, but for the last few years she has laid an infertile clutch so she may yet do so again! 

On the Marina pool and reedbed were 24 Teal and a single Shoveler, plus two Cetti's Warblers, whilst a quick check of the nearby Birdham Pool produced just a dozen Little Grebes, a couple of Tufted Ducks and c.25 Mallard. (OM)

The lonely and unmated female Black Swan on her nest at Chi Marina (OM)

Church Norton: The male & female Goosanders were again at the harbour entrance this afternoon. (C&MMc)

Goosanders at Church Norton (MMc)

Pagham RSPB Visitor Centre area: A search around the Discovery area this morning failed to locate yesterday's Tawny Owl. (OM)

Pagham Spit: The Hooded Crow was present on the Spit and the shingle at low tide, (around 14.00–14.30hrs), and was still there when I left. (IL)

W. Itchenor: A Swallow was flying around the Harbour Conservancy office at 1630hrs. (PH)