Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 19th

Easter Sunday, 21st April: The fine and settled spell continues, with another very warm and sunny day and just a light north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly, there wasn't much on the move, but an Arctic Skua and 50+ Brent Geese went east and there were a Bonxie, half a dozen Great Northern Divers, an Eider and plenty of terns offshore, with a Yellow Wagtail and three Wheatears in off the sea. Full log below.....
Also, four Dolphins (or possibly Porpoises) went west off the west side of the Bill (SR)
(0530-0900hrs) (JA/SH/JF/BI/AH/IP/IB/RJS)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 1os
Fulmar - 2E
Gannet - 19E, 7W
Brent Goose - 60E
Shoveler - 8E
Mallard - 1p
Eider - 4E, 1os
Common Scoter - 70E, 4os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1os
Grey Plover - 2E
Sanderling - 7E
Curlew - 2E
Whimbrel - 10E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 16E
Arctic Skua - 1E (l/p)
Bonxie - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 25E
Common Gull - 26E
Sandwich Tern - 43E
Little Tern - 8os
Common Tern - 4E, 14os
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 11N
Swallow - 4N
Wheatear - 3N

Wheatear (above) & Sandwich Tern (AH)

(1700-1830hrs) (JA/SH)
Great Northern Diver - 9os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 3E
Gannet - 12E, 2W
Shelduck - 2p
Common Scoter - 3os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E
Turnstone - 6E
Whimbrel - 2E
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Bonxie - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 9E, 5W
Common Gull - 9E
Sandwich Tern - 20E, 2os
Little Tern - 5os
Common Tern - 4E, 4os
'Commic' Tern - 3E

Ferry Pool: A female Pied Flycatcher was at the back of Ferry Field - unfortunately, where there is no access - on the BBS count this morning. (IL)
Otherwise, there were a Greenshank, briefly, 12 Avocets, the pair of Little Ringed Plovers, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, ten Redshanks, eight Gadwall and c30 teal around the pool this morning. (AH/IP)

Greenshank (above) & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks there were six Reed Warblers, 20+ Whitethroats, three Wheatears, two Stonechats, four Reed Buntings, three Yellowhammers and three Blackcaps, with a Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin, two Swallows and two Buzzards over.

On the Stilt Pool there were six Little Ringed Plovers, 33 Avocets and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Ham viewpoint - Only bird of note was a Wheatear, though the Marsh Frogs have moved into the ponds and were making a lot of noise. (SH)

Church Norton: There were at least four Little Terns and a couple of Common Terns among the 30+ Sandwich Terns in the harbour, along with 50+ Mediterranean Gulls, but otherwise there were just two or three Teal and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits and Ringed Plovers.
Two Wheatears were on the beach early on, whilst along the Severals there were a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and several Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers, plus two or three Reed Warblers and 20+ Linnets. Bluebell Wood held at least two pairs of Blackcaps and a singing Chiffchaff. (AH/IP/RM/SM)
Along the West side this afternoon a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and showing well. (AB)

Lesser Whitethroat along the west side (AB)

Little Tern (above), Whitethroat, Blackcap, Linnet & Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton Pits: WeBS count day, the highlights being 4 Common Terns at the old Lake pit, the first few broods of Mallard and Greylag and about 14 singing Reed Warblers and 8 Cetti's Warblers around the various pits. (OM)

Greylags with brood at Drayton Pits (OM)

Sidlesham Quay/Mill Lane: A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling here at 2pm and was still present at 3pm. (ESt/BI/AW et al). A video clip (BI) of the bird reeling, but not showing, is below:

North Wall: There were two Garden Warblers present today, as well as Blackcaps, Whitethroats and a few Lesser Whitethroats. (ESt et al)

Saturday, 20th April: Another unseasonably warm and sunny morning, though with a slightly fresher north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much on the move again, though a couple of Arctic Skuas, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwits, a few Whimbrel and eight Eider went east and the offshore feeding flock of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns is slowly increasing. A few incoming passerines were noted, and a Reed warbler was in the gardens. Full log below.
(0530-1100hrs) (JA/SH/PB/JF/BI/IP/AH/OM et al)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 2E, 8W
Gannet - 34E, 14W
Brent Goose - 36E, 2W
Canada Goose - 3W
Eider - 8E
Shelduck - 4os
Common Scoter - 43E, 15W, 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Sanderling - 19E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 136E (inc two flocks of 50+)
Whimbrel - 13E
Arctic Skua - 2E (d/p)
Bonxie - 1E, 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 2W
Common Gull - 35E
Little Tern - 6E, 9os
Common Tern - 16E
Sandwich Tern - 58E
Yellow Wagtail - 7N
Pied Wagtail - 1p
Meadow Pipit - 14N
Swallow - 12N
Wheatear - 1ob
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens
Willow Warbler - 2 gardens
Reed Warbler - 1 Bill House garden

Arctic Skua (above) & Shelducks at the Bill (AH)

Eiders passing the Bill (OM)

It's behind you! A very tame Jackdaw at the Bill (AH)

(1645-1830hrs) (SH/JA/IL)
Great Northern Diver - 7os
Gannet - 7E, 4W
Pintail - 3E
Common Scoter - 4os
Eider - 5E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 11E
Arctic Skua - 2E (1 l/p, 1 d/p)
Common Gull - 17E
Kittiwake - 4W
Sandwich Tern - 30E
Little Tern - 1E, 1os
Common Tern - 11E
Swallow - 1N

Medmerry: Windmill area - Two smart Whinchats were around the go-kart track and adjacent fences this morning, along with a couple of Wheatears and a few Meadow Pipits, plus a Lesser Black-backed Gull. (AW/AH/OM et al)

Whinchat (AW top & AH), Wheatear & Lesser Black-backed Gull (AH) at Medmerry

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A male Whinchat was around the first pool from the car-park this afternoon and a female Dartford Warbler was in the gorse near Marsh Barn.
Also, a male Stonechat was nearby, two Cetti's and at least two Reed Warblers were calling, five Common Scoters were sitting offshore, two Little Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, a male Wheatear was along beach fence.and a Yellow Wagtail was seen in flight near the car-park, whilst two Greenshank and up to four Whimbrels were around, too.(AB)

Dartford Warbler (above), Stonechat & Greenshank at Medmerry (AB)

Warner Lane paddocks: There was no sign of the Ring Ouzel this morning, though there was a Yellow Wagtail, two Wheatears and plenty of Linnets about. (AW/AH/OM)

Yellow Wagtail (AW), Wheatear & Linnet (AH) at Warner Lane paddocks

Halseys Farm: A Cuckoo was calling towards the North Wall this morning and in the hedges were a few Whitehroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and, by Owl Copse, two or three Blackcaps. On the way back, ten Cattle Egrets flew over heading south from the Marsh Farm area. (BI)

Chichester Marina Reed-beds: Birds seen this morning included Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, a pair of Long-tailed Tits with nesting material, the Black Swan with its Mute Swan mate, and a pair of Swallows. (GT)

Ferry Pool: There was nothing unusual this morning, though there were still two Little Ringed Plovers, six Avocets and c80- Black-tailed Godwits present, along with ten Gadwall and 25 Teal. (AH)
Later, at 11am, three Greenshank flew in. (SA)

Avocet (above) & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Blackcap was in the hedges and a Buzzard, a Sand Martin, two House Martins and four Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were nine Little Terns, two Common Terns and 30+ Sandwich Terns in the harbour and two Sparrowhawks, two Buzzards and two Swallows went over.
Four Wheatears were on the concrete slabs, with another on the beach, and at least five Blackcaps, three Sedge Warblers, a Willow Warbler and four Chiffchaffs were along the Severals.
Also, an Adder was at the Severals and the Marsh Frogs have become very vocal.(SH/IP)

Sedge Warbler (above), Marsh Frog & Adder at Church Norton (SaH)

North Wall: I started with two male Blackcaps in my Pagham garden and another along Church Lane. On Breech Pool was a female Mallard with 8 ducklings, 53 Black-tailed Godwits and 37 Teal, whilst 2 Sedge Warblers were around the Pool and 2 Reed Warblers were along Pagham Rife, towards the Summer Lane end.

On Honer reservoir were 3 pairs of Tufted Ducks and 2 Gadwall, and I was accompanied down Honer Lane by a Brown Hare, where I recorded 4 Whitethroats, 3 Yellowhammers and a Blackcap, with 2 calling Whimbrel passing overhead going NE. From Bremere Bridge I could see a very large cattle herd NE of Marsh Farm, where Cattle Egrets were amongst the cattle - it was difficult to count but I did manage to see 5.
The flooded field SE of Honer reservoir is rapidly drying up; today there were 2 Lapwing, 2 Canada Geese and surprisingly 2 Mediterranean Gulls, with a single Little Ringed Plover in the area. (JDW)

North fields drying up and a friendly Brown Hare (JDW)

Good Friday, 19th April: A very warm and sunny morning, with just a light north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much moving offshore, but there was a bit of inward migration, including a Redstart, two Wheatears, 14 Yellow Wagtails and a few hirundines. Full log below.....

(0530-1100hrs) (JA/SH/JF/OM/C&ME/AH/BI/IP/CRJ et al)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 34E, 23W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 15E

Shelduck - 2E

Shoveler - 2E

Common Scoter - 62E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E

Kestrel - 1E

Ringed Plover - 1E, 1W

Sanderling - 4E

Whimbrel - 16E

Mediterranean Gull - 12E

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 67E

Little Tern - 9E, 3os

Common Tern - 30E

auk sp - 1E

Yellow Wagtail - 14N

Meadow Pipit - 31N

Swallow - 16N

Sand Martin - 13N

House Martin - 6N

Wheatear - 2 ob

Redstart - 1 gardens

Willow Warbler - 2 gardens

Chiffchaff - 2 gardens
Blackcap - 1 Broadreeds

Wheatear at the Bill (OM)

Sandwich Tern (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH), Redstart (BI)

Also 1600-1700hrs: (S&SaH/JA)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Gannet - 5E, 1W
Dunlin - 7E
Little Tern - 5os
Common Tern - 8E, 2os
Sandwich Tern - 10E
Also, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flew east along beach

Warner Lane paddocks: A Ring Ouzel was present late afternoon, and there were also two Wheatears and up to three Redstarts present. (SR/SH/AB et al)

Ring Ouzel at Warner Lane paddocks (SH above & AB)

Ferry Pool: The three Little Ringed Plovers were present early on, and later, on the high tide, there were 110 roosting Black-tailed Godwits, with a Whimbrel and two Dunlin among them, along with ten Gadwall, ten Lapwings and c30 Teal. (AH)

A Green Sandpiper was present at the back of the pool at 6.45pm this evening. (AB)

Little Ringed Plovers (above), Avocets & Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel and Dunlin on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: The Cuckoo could be heard distantly again this morning, and there were lots of warblers again, including two Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, half a dozen Sedge Warblers and up to ten Reed Warblers. (CRJ)

This evening a Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel. (AW)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AW)

North Fields: A Cuckoo was present around Honer reservoir this morning (JDW)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Grey Wagtails, half a dozen Swallows, two Jays, a Meadow Pipit and a couple of Skylarks were all seen or heard, with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel over. (AH/IP/CN/SH)

Grey Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A beautiful morning to walk from Easton Lane car park to the breach and back. Lots of Linnets, Yellowhammers and Skylarks on the banks, at least 5 Whitethroats and 2 Corn Buntings singing, plus 2 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers. There was a general Whimbrelyness about the place, although I never saw more than 2 at any one time - lots of calling heard and birds seen in at least 5 different locations - and a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper were the other passage waders.

I heard 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Tree Pipit over the beach and a few Swallows went through. At least 8 Wheatears were around the rock armour by the stilt pools and a couple more further on the beach. I found the group of 8 on my way back, suggesting they had just dropped in. A Willow Warbler was singing from a scrap of scrub on the edge of the saltmarsh - evidently just arrived too. The stilts pools themselves held Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers, a few Dunlin and a single Black-tailed Godwit. There was a Red Kite over Earnley on the way back. 64 species in total. (PH)

Medmerry: East side - Early this evening a Whinchat was along the fences between Chainbridge and Ham (SR)

Whinchat at Medmerry (SR)

Earlier, between Oakhurst Farm and Ham viewpoint: Whitethroats were plentiful with at least 8 present, plus 7 Wheatears in the field between the viewpoint and the breach. Also, 140 Stock Doves were in the newly sown field NW of viewpoint, with singles of Corn Bunting, Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. (CN)

Later between Porthole Farm and Ham there were three or four Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a couple of Swallows over, a Kestrel, a dozen Linnets and at least, 20 Yellowhammers, mostly on one of the newly drilled fields. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Yellowhammer, Linnet & Kestrel at Medmerry (AH)

Church Norton: There were six Little Terns back among the c50 Sandwich Terns, c50 Mediterranean Gulls and the host of Black-headed Gulls on Tern Island this morning, whilst waders included three Whimbrel, a flock of 22 Ringed Plovers, a couple of Grey Plovers and 20 or so Black-tailed Godwits..

A Red Kite toured the west side (and was seen over the Visitor Centre), but migrants were fairly thin on the ground, though a Lesser Whitethroat was between the Severals, a Wheatear was on the spit, a few Swallows went over, a couple of Sedge Warblers were on the first Several. (AH/IP/CN/BI/MB et al)