Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 19th

Saturday, 22nd February: Still no sign yet of any change in the weather pattern, with the prolonged succession of westerly gales off the Atlantic coming and going. Generally grey and cloudy today, with the odd shower, a few brief glimpses of the sun and remaining mild, but with with a strong to gale force WSW wind dominating.

Selsey Bill: Almost more birders than birds on this morning's sea-watch in the gales; full log below....!

(0700-0930hrs) (wind WSW8-9) ((SH/BI/SR/IP/MO-W)

Fulmar - 3W

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 1W

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 11W, 6os

Turnstone - 3 ob

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Common Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern, above, Fulmar & Brent Goose at the Bill (BI)

Selsey, Park Farm: There were two Gadwall on the small reservoir, plus three Stonechats and a Green Woodpecker nearby. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A mixed flock of several hundred waders was on the concrete spit and metalwork areas around high tide this morning, consisting of Dunlin, Grey Plover and Knot, interspersed with a few Ringed Plovers.

A Sparrowhawk flew over the Severals, whilst nearby was a Stonechat, with another on the beach 'railway carriage' cottages - perhaps early migrants? (S&SaH)

Hunston: This morning there were c.20 Cattle Egrets near the green barn but later this had reduced to just two although these were accompanied by a Bar-headed Goose, two Egyptian Geese, ten Canada Geese and c.45 Greylag Geese. (BI)

Greylag Geese at Hunston (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt pools - The highlight was a Spoonbill that flew low over the reserve, then dropped into the Flint Barn area but could not be re-found thereafter. A Greenshank was opposite the Stilt pool, but the rest was routine fare, with 50+ Brent Geese near the beach, plenty of Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck and 20+ Gadwall. Passerines logged were a Reed Bunting, two Stonechats and plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. (S&SaH)

North Wall: The partially flooded fields early this afternoon contained large numbers of Wigeon together with about 100 Curlew and a few Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck.

There were 20 Teal in the Breech Pool and about 1,000 Brent Geese in the harbour with a large flock of Lapwing flying above. The wind precluded much else other than a Kestrel at one end of the Wall and a Stonechat at the other. (IH)

West side: I thought I would walk down the west side this afternoon after my shift in the Visitor centre to see for myself the result of the shredder. The general public who I met on the way were all saying what an improvement.

I must admit that the views along the Long Pool have been improved and there were about 10 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. The channel held about a dozen Teal, a couple of Avocets and a large gathering of Black-tailed Godwits with a few Lapwing mixed in. The only living thing on the remaining gorse was a male Stonechat. (RP)

(We are content to publish an opposite view to ours following the recent decimation of the hedgerow. It seems likely that some folks - perhaps cyclists, dog-walkers and general hikers amongst them - might see the opening of the path as an improvement.

It is hard to see how a birder, environmentalist or a nature lover might share the same view however. We suggest a visit to draw your own conclusions.) (Eds)

Stonechat along the West side (RP)

Friday, 21st February: A slightly better morning, but still cool and mostly grey and with a fresh westerly breeze....though thankfully dry!

Selsey Bill: A Slavonian Grebe went west and another was on the sea but it remains generally quiet offshore... Full log below.....
(0725-0900hrs) (WSW, F5) (SR/MO-W/BI)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Brent Goose - 4E
Grey Plover - 1W
Pintail - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 17W, 9os
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1os
Kittiwake - 1E. 3W
Sandwich Tern - 2os
Razorbill - 3W
auk sp. - 1E, 5W

Mediterranean Gull, above, dark-eyed Herring Gull and Red-breasted Mergansers at Selsey Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were four Snipe at the front this morning and c500 Lapwing dropped onto the field, whilst there were still two Gadwall, seven Shelducks, c50 Teal and Shoveler and c150 Wigeon around the pool. (AH)

Later, around the Sidlesham sewage works, there were up to 10 Chiffchaffs of which one appeared notably pale, plus a Marsh Harrier. (R.Pulley)

Snipe (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 800 Brent Geese were widely spread around the harbour this morning, with c500 Black-tailed Godwits in the main channel, whilst most of the many Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers settled at the far end of the harbour after the Peregrine was out on the hunt.
Also, three Red-breasted Mergansers flew west offshore, c20 Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour and a Mistle thrush was in Rectory Lane. (AH)

Peregrine (above), Black-tailed Godwits and Brent Geese & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Stonechats, 2 Song Thrushes and a Kestrel (of course) were at the horse paddocks this morning and 3 Spotted Redshanks were in the Creek. The flooding continues to recede in the fields and so do bird numbers..... present were about 100 Curlew, 2 Shoveler and 100 Black-tailed Godwits, before the Godwits flew back to the harbour to join perhaps 1,000 Brent Geese. (IH)

Dell Quay: There was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck at high tide this morning but there were five Red-breasted Mergansers, a Goldeneye and few Little & Great Crested Grebes present. (BI)

Fishbourne Creek: An early afternoon visit - in blustery conditions - produced the Long-tailed Duck, though it was often difficult to see on the choppy water. Also present were three Red-breasted Mergansers, up to six Goldeneye and the same of Great Crested Grebe. There were at least five Lesser Black-backed Gulls amongst the throng of (mainly smaller) gulls, plus around 500 Brent Geese and 100 Black-tailed Godwits.(OM)

Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck just about visible, and drake Goldeneye at Fishbourne Creek (OM)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: A Bittern - presumably the same wintering bird - put in a brief appearance this morning in the same location as previously on the North pit.
Also present were two Marsh Harriers, two Buzzards, a pair of Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. A Water Rail, four Cetti's Warblers and c.70 Pochards were about the best of the rest. (OM)

Thursday, 20th February: There remains no respite from the dire weather, with another morning of leaden skies, squally showers and a south-westerly freshening to gale-force as the morning progressed.........

Selsey Bill: Three Common Scoters east and three Sandwich Terns and a Great Northern Diver offshore were the meagre highlights this morning. Full log below.....
(0745-0900hrs) (SW, F7) (SR/MO-W/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W
Brent Goose - 4W
Common Scoter - 3E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W, 2os
Oystercatcher - 1W
Kittiwake - 1E
Common Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 3os

Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1550-1650hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Ferry Pool: The usual mix was present this morning, including three Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c50 Teal and Shovelers and c100 Wigeon. (AH)

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Hunston: A Barn Owl was in fields just north of the canal early this morning. (SH)

Sidlesham: A Barn Owl went over the B2145 by Bird Pond Cottage, at the south of the village, at 4.45am this morning. (NH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was over the paddocks this morning and a Peregrine was hunting over the floods, whilst a Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek. (TH)

Fishbourne Creek: The female Long-tailed Duck was still off of Dell quay this morning, along with ten Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst six Goldeneye were up at the far end of the channel, though otherwise wildfowl were restricted to a few Wigeon and Teal, with a pair of shooters blazing away on the far bank.
At least 500 Brent Geese dropped in from the fields at the Fishbourne end, where most of the wadeRs and gulls were roosting, including c100 Common Gulls, c100 Grey Plovers, c50 Knot, c500 Dunlin and c50 Curlews. (AH)

Long-tailed Duck and Wigeon (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Cormorant, Knot and Grey Plovers & Knot, Grey Plovers and Dunlin at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Wednesday, 19th February: Another pretty dismal morning's weather - cold and grey, with a fresh westerly breeze and intermittent squalls of drizzly and, occasionally, heavy rain.....

Selsey Bill: Up to three Great Northern Divers and a lot of Red-breasted Merganser activity was about it this morning. Full log below. (SR/TR/MO-W/AH)
(0730-0900hrs) (W, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os
Gannet - 1E
Brent Goose - 17W
Common Scoter - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 27E, 20W, 16os
Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 5os
Common Gull - 1os
auk sp - 1E

Great Northern Diver (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Mediterranean Gull & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were plenty of wildfowl about - including four Gadwall, 12 Shelducks, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c150 Wigeon - but nothing else. (AH)

Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was hunting behind the horse paddocks at first light this morning, the regular Kestrel was on duty and three Red-breasted Mergansers were visible from the sluice gates.

The flooding in the fields along the Wall has receded a little and so had the amount of bird life. However, there were still substantial numbers of Curlew, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit, as well as Wigeon and Teal, plus a few Shoveler. (IH)

I arrived at the North Wall just as the rain started so didn't linger long. All I can add to IH's report is 3 Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek. A couple I met had seen a flock of Golden Plover on the flooded fields earlier but I could only find good numbers of Lapwing, Curlew, Shelduck, Wigeon, Brent, etc. (SR)

Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek (SR)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail and 20+ Meadow Pipits were about the fields this afternoon and a Sparrowhawk went through. (SH)

Church Norton: A large group of c200 Knot, c150 Grey Plovers and c600 Dunlin on the mud as the tide dropped was about the only thing of note in the harbour this morning, though large flocks of Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits and Brent Geese were distantly viewable over the North Wall.

A few Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls in the harbour and offshore, but there was nothing else on the sea at all. (AH)