Friday, 3rd January: A fairly grey start to the morning, though the sun came out as the westerly breeze freshened..........
The Review of the Year for 2019 is now up and ready and can be accessed from the bar above, as can the newly updated Stats page. (Eds)
Selsey Bill: Three Slavonian Grebes, three Sandwich Terns and a Guillemot were the highlights, whilst 100+ auks went west. Full log below.
0750-0945hrs (wind WSW F4-5) (SR/BI/AH/MO-W/IP/RP)
Red-throated Diver - 10E, 6W
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Slavonian Grebe - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3W, 2os
Gannet - 9E, 30E, 1os
Brent Goose - 1E, 7W
Wigeon - 7W
Common Scoter - 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 7W, 4os
Common Gull - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Guillemot - 1E
Razorbill - 4E, 22W
auk sp. - 10E, 105W
Ferry Pool: There were c30 Shoveler, c50 Teal, c10 Wigeon and c200 Lapwing around the pool and field, whilst the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite and three Skylarks flew over. (AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 22 Cattle Egrets and the four Egyptian Geese around the buildings this morning. (BI)
Fishbourne Creek: Lots of birds on a low tide including a huge mixed flock of gulls , with 7 Goldeneye, 2 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 8 Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail the best I could muster. (JW)
North Wall: The Kestrel was on a post at the horse paddocks at first light this morning but viewing from the sluice gates was not helped by a spaniel racing out towards the assorted Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing sitting contentedly on the mud. The owner at least had the good grace to be embarrassed and promised the use of a lead in future.
Along the Wall a Raven flew over, a Cetti's Warbler called, 79 Curlew were in Honer 3 field and for a short time 62 Brent Geese were in the field at the end of the Wall, whilst 140 Golden Plover were close to White's Creek. There were 22 Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm but I could see no Brent in the usual field between Marsh and Honer Farms, though there were, however, 25 Curlew and about 200 Starlings.
Lots of passerines still feeding in the broccoli field south of Honer reservoir, but just 8 Tufted Ducks were on the reservoir itself. Initially there were 560 Brent Geese close to Bramber Farm but later they moved to the east of Marsh Farm and their numbers had increased to nearly 900. A Marsh Harrier was also quartering the reeds behind the Breech Pool. (IH/JDW)
Hunston: There was a Tree-creeper and a Nuthatch in Wilf's Copse this morning. (BI)
Earnley: There were a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a dozen Redwings near the Butterfly Gardens this morning. (AH)
Medmerry: Old House Farm - A Grey Partridge, a pair of Yellowhammers, a few Meadow Pipits and c150 Fieldfares were around the maize stubble fields along Ham Road this morning. (AH)
Birdham Pool: The female Mandarin was still present at mid-day, tucked in on the right-hand side. (JW)
East Head: A pair of Eider and two Great Northern Divers were in the harbour, off Pilsey Island, viewed from Ella Nore this afternoon. (PH)
Drayton Pits: The Bittern gave a fly around this afternoon and earlier there was also a Firecrest and c.140 Pochard present (all viewed from the gate). (AB/BI/CG)
Thursday, 2nd January: A fairly cool and grey morning after early morning drizzly rain, with a moderate southerly breeze......0750-0945hrs (wind WSW F4-5) (SR/BI/AH/MO-W/IP/RP)
Red-throated Diver - 10E, 6W
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Slavonian Grebe - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3W, 2os
Gannet - 9E, 30E, 1os
Brent Goose - 1E, 7W
Wigeon - 7W
Common Scoter - 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 7W, 4os
Common Gull - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Guillemot - 1E
Razorbill - 4E, 22W
auk sp. - 10E, 105W
Red-breasted Merganser (above) & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were c30 Shoveler, c50 Teal, c10 Wigeon and c200 Lapwing around the pool and field, whilst the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite and three Skylarks flew over. (AH)
Kingfisher (above) & Shovelers, Wigeon and Lapwing around the Ferry (AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 22 Cattle Egrets and the four Egyptian Geese around the buildings this morning. (BI)
Fishbourne Creek: Lots of birds on a low tide including a huge mixed flock of gulls , with 7 Goldeneye, 2 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 8 Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail the best I could muster. (JW)
North Wall: The Kestrel was on a post at the horse paddocks at first light this morning but viewing from the sluice gates was not helped by a spaniel racing out towards the assorted Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing sitting contentedly on the mud. The owner at least had the good grace to be embarrassed and promised the use of a lead in future.
Along the Wall a Raven flew over, a Cetti's Warbler called, 79 Curlew were in Honer 3 field and for a short time 62 Brent Geese were in the field at the end of the Wall, whilst 140 Golden Plover were close to White's Creek. There were 22 Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm but I could see no Brent in the usual field between Marsh and Honer Farms, though there were, however, 25 Curlew and about 200 Starlings.
Lots of passerines still feeding in the broccoli field south of Honer reservoir, but just 8 Tufted Ducks were on the reservoir itself. Initially there were 560 Brent Geese close to Bramber Farm but later they moved to the east of Marsh Farm and their numbers had increased to nearly 900. A Marsh Harrier was also quartering the reeds behind the Breech Pool. (IH/JDW)
Hunston: There was a Tree-creeper and a Nuthatch in Wilf's Copse this morning. (BI)
Nuthatch at Wilf's Copse (BI)
Earnley: There were a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a dozen Redwings near the Butterfly Gardens this morning. (AH)
Mistle Thrush at Earnley (AH)
Medmerry: Old House Farm - A Grey Partridge, a pair of Yellowhammers, a few Meadow Pipits and c150 Fieldfares were around the maize stubble fields along Ham Road this morning. (AH)
Fieldfares at Medmerry (AH)
Birdham Pool: The female Mandarin was still present at mid-day, tucked in on the right-hand side. (JW)
East Head: A pair of Eider and two Great Northern Divers were in the harbour, off Pilsey Island, viewed from Ella Nore this afternoon. (PH)
Drayton Pits: The Bittern gave a fly around this afternoon and earlier there was also a Firecrest and c.140 Pochard present (all viewed from the gate). (AB/BI/CG)
Bittern at Drayton Pit (AB)
The Review of the Year for 2019 is now up and ready and can be accessed from the bar above, as can the newly updated Stats page. (Eds)
Also, we are very sad to report that the chapel at Church Norton has suffered what appears to be criminal damage, as the main stained-glass windows were smashed yesterday by stones apparently thrown from inside the building. If anyone has any information whatever or saw anything suspicious, please contact us and we will pass on the information in confidence to the appropriate authority. (Eds)
Selsey Bill: Five Sandwich Terns and a Slavonian Grebe were back offshore this morning, and there were a few more auks and Gannets about. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)
(0800-0930hrs) (SSW, F4)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 10E, 12W, 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Great Crested Grebe -2W, 1os
Gannet - 19E, 29W, c50os
Brent Goose - 1E
Wigeon - 10W
Common Scoter - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 1W, 2os
Oystercatcher - 2E
Turnstone - 1
Common Gull - 1E, 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 5os
Razorbill - 13W, 5os
Guillemot - 4W
auk sp - 2E, 18W
Sandwich Tern (above), Red-throated Diver, Gannet & Great Crested Grebe at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were three Gadwall, seven Shelduck, c25 Shoveler c80 Teal, c120 Wigeon and c300 Lapwing around the pool and field this morning, with a Kingfisher briefly in the channel opposite. (AH)
Gadwall (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)
Birdham Pool: The female Mandarin was still on the pool this morning, swimming with Mallards and several Tufted Ducks for a while. (OM/BFF)
Female Mandarin on Birdham Pool, below with Tufted Duck (OM)
Fishbourne Creek: A Jack Snipe was near the Lavant outflow this morning, but two visits failed to locate yesterday's Water Pipit. However, up to ten Rock Pipits were present, plus a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff, whilst in the channel were several hundred Brent Geese, plenty of Wigeon and the commoner waders, but little else of note. (OM/BFF)
Dell Quay: The tide was well out when we visited thus the seven Goldeneye present were somewhat distant. Several Great Crested Grebes were considerably nearer, but there was little else of note bar two Greenshank feeding on the mudflats. (OM/BFF)
Chi Marina: The reedbed and pool were well flooded and c.120 Teal were at the back; taking flight occasionally when something unseen spooked them, whilst a Cetti's Warbler called a couple of times. In the channel were a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Little Grebes, whilst the mudflats were teeming with feeding Dunlin and c.30 Grey Plover, but nothing much else. (OM/BFF)
Church Norton: A Peregrine was upsetting all the waders this morning, with at least 1000 Lapwings, 200 Golden Plover and 500 Black-tailed Godwits coming up from the far side of the harbour, along with all the Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers.
When the dust had settled there were a minimum of 34 Avocets in the central channel, but a look along with west side didn't add much else beyond a couple of Meadow Pipits, though a Raven cronking from the pine in the car-park before it flew off was a surprise. (AH/IP)
Raven (above), Peregrine, Avocets, Dunlin & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: An early afternoon visit produced only 4 Cattle Egrets for us near the dairy buildings (OM/BFF) although later the flock was re-located in the field next to the donkey (SR)
We would like to wish a Happy and bird-filled New Year to everyone! (Eds)
The Review of the Year for 2019 is now up and ready and can be accessed from the bar above, as can the newly updated Stats page. (Eds)
Selsey Bill: A Long-tailed Duck, first east then back west, was the highlight of a fairly slow start to the New Year. Full log below. (SH/PB/AB/IP/BI/SR/AH/JA)
(0800-0930hrs) (ESE, F2)
Great Northern Diver - 2E, 4os
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 3E, 3os
Gannet - 22E
Brent Goose - 39W
Shelduck - 2E, 7W
Wigeon - 14E, 2W
Teal - 2E, 1W
Common Scoter - 2E, 1W
Long-tailed Duck - 1E, then W
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 4W, 1os
Common Gull - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 7E
Razorbill - 2W
Common Scoters and Wigeon at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool and Long Pool: The Ferry held little beyond two Gadwall and a few Shoveler and Teal, though a Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite and c40 Avocets were at the far end of Ferry Channel. (RP/RHa/SHa/IP/AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 24 Cattle Egrets near the dairy buildings today, along with four Egyptian Geese, whilst a Merlin was seen nearer Honer Farm and a Chiffchaff, a Mistle Thrush and a pair of Stonechats were along Church Farm Lane. (AB/PB/BI/AH/IP/S&SaH/KF et al)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 24 Cattle Egrets near the dairy buildings today, along with four Egyptian Geese, whilst a Merlin was seen nearer Honer Farm and a Chiffchaff, a Mistle Thrush and a pair of Stonechats were along Church Farm Lane. (AB/PB/BI/AH/IP/S&SaH/KF et al)
Cattle Egrets (above), Egyptian Geese & Stonechat at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)
Apuldram: A Firecrest was in the church car-park this morning. (AB/PB)
Birdham Pool: A female Mandarin was on the pool, along with a Grey Wagtail, ten Little Grebes, c30 Teal, c20 Tufted Ducks and a Grey Heron. (BI/AH/IP)
Birdham Pool: A female Mandarin was on the pool, along with a Grey Wagtail, ten Little Grebes, c30 Teal, c20 Tufted Ducks and a Grey Heron. (BI/AH/IP)
Mandarin at Birdham Pool (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: The Water Pipit was again around the Lavant outflow this morning, along with at least half a dozen Rock Pipits and a Grey Wagtail, plus a single Jack Snipe.
There was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck at Dell Quay, though there were eight Goldeneyes and a Kingfisher there, plus a fly-over Mistle Thrusah, an unexpected Whimbrel that flew through, whilst along the channel there were three Greenshank, c200 Black-tailed Godwits, a handful of Gadwall, lots of Wigeon, Brent Geese and the commoner waders, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull and at least 200 Common Gulls were in the roost. (BI/AH/iP/SR/PB/AB et al)
There was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck at Dell Quay, though there were eight Goldeneyes and a Kingfisher there, plus a fly-over Mistle Thrusah, an unexpected Whimbrel that flew through, whilst along the channel there were three Greenshank, c200 Black-tailed Godwits, a handful of Gadwall, lots of Wigeon, Brent Geese and the commoner waders, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull and at least 200 Common Gulls were in the roost. (BI/AH/iP/SR/PB/AB et al)
Water Pipit (above), Rock Pipit, Kingfisher & Greenshank at Fishbourne Creek (AH)
Medmerry: Toe End round to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin at Easton Lane and a couple of Dartford Warblers were the highlights, whilst among other birds seen were a Great Northern diver off the beach, 13 Stonechats, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 100+ Meadow Pipits, two Peregrines, four Kestrels and a Buzzard. (S&SaH/TB/NR)
Later, c40 Fieldfare went over Ham Road and a Linnet was at Easton Lane car-park. (IP)
Later, c40 Fieldfare went over Ham Road and a Linnet was at Easton Lane car-park. (IP)
Drayton Pits: A Bittern flew over the north pit this afternoon before dropping into the reeds, whilst a male Bullfinch was in the hedges. (IP)
Ivy Lake complex: An adult Egyptian Goose was seen, and also six young goslings were reported,though other than six Greylag Geese it was quiet. (RHa/SHa/IP et al)
West Wittering: Two Ravens were between West Wittering and West Itchenor today. (GM)
Sidlesham: A female Bullfinch was near Sidlesham Common this afternoon, (IP), whilst later, a Tawny Owl was calling to the west of the village. (AH)
Church Norton: About 20 Gannets were feeding well offshore and three Common Scoters flew west, whilst in the harbour there were a Peregrine on its island, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, the regular Whimbrel, lots of Grey Plovers, Curlew and Dunlin, plus a few Knot and half a dozen Pintail. At dusk at least 1000 Brent Geese dropped into the harbour, too.
Also a Roe Deer swam out from the west side (doubtless disturbed by the shooting taking place), swam to Tern Island then across the harbour mouth to the Spit, before running back along the top. (AH/RHa/SHa/RP/IP)
Whimbrel (above) & Roe Deer at Church Norton (AH)
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