Monday, 3rd February: Overcast, but quite mild in the blustery westerly this morning......
Selsey Bill: Over 250 auks went west, along with a few Gannets this morning, whilst six Slavonian Grebes were on the sea. Full log below.(SR/IP/AH/MO-W)
(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 6os
Gannet - 39W
Brent Goose - 2E, 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4W
Oystercatcher - 2E
Turnstone - 4E
Common Gull - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 6os
Guillemot - 1W
Razorbill - 33W
auk sp - 271W
(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 6os
Gannet - 39W
Brent Goose - 2E, 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4W
Oystercatcher - 2E
Turnstone - 4E
Common Gull - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 6os
Guillemot - 1W
Razorbill - 33W
auk sp - 271W
Red-throated Diver (above), Sandwich Tern & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was just the usual mix of wildfowl this morning, including two Gadwall, 14 Shelducks, c40 Shoveler, c60 Teal and c100 Wigeon. (AH)
Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: Apart from the usual Kestrel at the paddocks, more vocal Cetti's Warblers and an increase of Grey Herons numbers in and around Owl Copse to 13 (where some nest refurbishment was apparent), the Wall was quiet.
And so was the harbour until a Chinook military helicopter chugged across, whereupon the sky was filled with about 3,000 Brent Geese (which landed in the field behind the Breech Pool), Lapwing and every other small wader in the vicinity. Very little was on the Breech Pool except 4 Tufted Ducks, though there were 88 Curlew in the field behind. A Peregrine later caused havoc amongst the Lapwing and a Marsh Harrier was back behind the Breech Pool. The western end of the North Wall footpath is apparently the worst known in recent times, with deep puddles, very muddy and slippery. (IH/JDW)
Runcton: A pair of Coal Tits and a Reed Bunting were in the garden today. (CRJ)
Church Norton: The pair of Peregrines put on a show, hunting down a Stock Dove between them before the big female struck the decisive blow, swooping up from underneath.
And so was the harbour until a Chinook military helicopter chugged across, whereupon the sky was filled with about 3,000 Brent Geese (which landed in the field behind the Breech Pool), Lapwing and every other small wader in the vicinity. Very little was on the Breech Pool except 4 Tufted Ducks, though there were 88 Curlew in the field behind. A Peregrine later caused havoc amongst the Lapwing and a Marsh Harrier was back behind the Breech Pool. The western end of the North Wall footpath is apparently the worst known in recent times, with deep puddles, very muddy and slippery. (IH/JDW)
Runcton: A pair of Coal Tits and a Reed Bunting were in the garden today. (CRJ)
Church Norton: The pair of Peregrines put on a show, hunting down a Stock Dove between them before the big female struck the decisive blow, swooping up from underneath.
Consequently, all the harbour birds were repeatedly airborne, including 300+ Golden Plovers and Black-tailed Godwits, 1000+ Lapwings and probably 1500 Brent Geese, whilst also noted were a Sandwich Tern and a few Mediterranean and Common Gulls, pair of Pintail, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and two Bar-tailed Godwits. (AH/IP)
Peregrines (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Golden Plovers and Lapwings & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)
Selsey Bill: An outstanding total of seventeen wintering Sandwich Terns were moving about offshore and there was a bit of auk movement too. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/SR/AH/IP/RJS/AF/MO-W)
(0730-1000hrs) (wind WSW 6-7)
Red-throated Diver - 4E, 2W
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
diver sp - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 2E, 7W
Brent Goose - 1E, 35W
Common Scoter - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 6W, 1os
Kittiwake - 2E, 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 4os
Common Gull - 6W
Sandwich Tern - 17os
Razorbill - 23W, 1os
auk sp - 1E, 107W, 8os
Kittiwake (above), Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Tern & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: At least five Snipe were down by the road, but otherwise it was the usual wildfowl, including a dozen Shelducks, c40 Teal and Shovelers and c80 Wigeon. (AH)
Snipe on the Ferry (AH)
Selsey, Park Farm: This afternoon there were two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff round the farm, plus two Tufted Ducks on the small reservoir. (SH)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was feeding at the sluice gates this morning, a Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed beds and two Cetti’s Warblers called.
In Honer 3 field, adjacent to Owl Copse, nine Grey Herons sat on posts, after several months of apparent absence, and 120 Curlew fed with a flock of about 100 Starlings. (IH/PC)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was feeding at the sluice gates this morning, a Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed beds and two Cetti’s Warblers called.
In Honer 3 field, adjacent to Owl Copse, nine Grey Herons sat on posts, after several months of apparent absence, and 120 Curlew fed with a flock of about 100 Starlings. (IH/PC)
Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck was eventually located at Dell Quay, on the exposed bank in mid-channel, giving excellent views. More distantly were four Goldeneye, a Red-breasted Merganser and a number of Little and Great Crested Grebes.
Also at Dell Quay were three Mediterranean Gulls and two Greenshanks, whilst earlier one had been at the top end of the creek. Off the Lavant Outfall were 12 Pintail, two more Goldeneye, two Knot and several hundred Black-tailed Godwits and Brent Geese, and the horse paddocks had two Buzzard on the fences. (RW)
Also at Dell Quay were three Mediterranean Gulls and two Greenshanks, whilst earlier one had been at the top end of the creek. Off the Lavant Outfall were 12 Pintail, two more Goldeneye, two Knot and several hundred Black-tailed Godwits and Brent Geese, and the horse paddocks had two Buzzard on the fences. (RW)
Church Norton: A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse along the west side by Reedy Marsh, with two Reed Buntings and a couple of Goldcrests also seen, and a Firecrest was at the bottom of the path to the harbour.
The Whimbrel was in its usual area, at least half a dozen Snipe and a Sparrowhawk were in the creek by the horse field and a Bar-tailed Godwit, c200 Golden Plovers, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and c20 Pintail were among the commoner waders and wildfowl in the harbour. (BI/NM/RJS/AF/AH/IP/SHo/P&JW)
This afternoon, a Chiffchaff was in the orchard at Greenlease Farm, whilst 5 Sandwich Terns were offshore and the Peregrine was in its usual area. (S&SaH)
The Whimbrel was in its usual area, at least half a dozen Snipe and a Sparrowhawk were in the creek by the horse field and a Bar-tailed Godwit, c200 Golden Plovers, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and c20 Pintail were among the commoner waders and wildfowl in the harbour. (BI/NM/RJS/AF/AH/IP/SHo/P&JW)
This afternoon, a Chiffchaff was in the orchard at Greenlease Farm, whilst 5 Sandwich Terns were offshore and the Peregrine was in its usual area. (S&SaH)
Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Golden Plovers, Reed Buntings & AF, RJS and friend at Church Norton (AH)
Saturday, 1st February: A bright and breezy morning, quite mild despite the fresh westerly.....with plenty of sunshine early on and cloud developing later.
Selsey Bill: There was a bit more activity this morning, including an Eider and 16 Sandwich Terns offshore and a Fulmar and a Guillemot west. Full log below. (SH/SR/IP/BI/MO-W)
(0730-0930hrs) (WSW, F5-6)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 1E, 4W
Brent Goose - 15E, 8W
Eider - 1os
Common Scoter - 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4W, 4os
Common Gull - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 3os
Sandwich Tern - 16os
Guillemot - 1W
Razorbill - 17W
auk sp - 1E, 39W
Meadow Pipit - 1
(1450-1650hrs) (WSW, F6-7)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
(1450-1650hrs) (WSW, F6-7)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Common Gull - 2os
Mediterranean Gull - 5os
Sandwich Tern - 1W
Ferry Pool: At least a dozen Snipe flew out from the road-side reeds and away into the harbour this morning, whilst four Gadwall were among the regular 40 or so Shovelers, c20 Shelduck and c50 Teal, with c60 Wigeon on the field. (AH)
Gadwall (above) & Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: In the channel from Apuldram this morning 19 Knot and a Greenshank were the best of the waders, and there were also three Rock Pipits about. (JW)
Park Farm, Selsey: Two Stonechats and 40+ Meadow Pipits were around the fields this morning, with five Tufted Ducks on the reservoir.
Later, a Red Admiral was in our garden to the north of the village. (S&SaH)
North Wall: This morning started with a Marsh Harrier (and a second one briefly), the regular Kestrel and a Raven flying over.
Along the Wall, Honer 3 field was packed with probably more than 2,000 Brent Geese, 130 Curlew and at least 60 Black-tailed Godwits, with also a Rock Pipit and two Stonechats present nearby.
Twenty Cattle Egrets were distantly visible at Marsh Farm and the fields at Honer Lane contained large numbers of Meadow Pipits, two Grey Wagtails, perhaps four Pied Wagtails, a Chiffchaff and a few Reed Buntings, but only Tufted Duck occupied Honer Reservoir. (IH/SP)
Park Farm, Selsey: Two Stonechats and 40+ Meadow Pipits were around the fields this morning, with five Tufted Ducks on the reservoir.
Later, a Red Admiral was in our garden to the north of the village. (S&SaH)
North Wall: This morning started with a Marsh Harrier (and a second one briefly), the regular Kestrel and a Raven flying over.
Along the Wall, Honer 3 field was packed with probably more than 2,000 Brent Geese, 130 Curlew and at least 60 Black-tailed Godwits, with also a Rock Pipit and two Stonechats present nearby.
Twenty Cattle Egrets were distantly visible at Marsh Farm and the fields at Honer Lane contained large numbers of Meadow Pipits, two Grey Wagtails, perhaps four Pied Wagtails, a Chiffchaff and a few Reed Buntings, but only Tufted Duck occupied Honer Reservoir. (IH/SP)
Church Norton: Six Sanderling, two Bar-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Ringed Plovers and the regular Whimbrel were the most notable waders, though there were at least 100 Knot and Grey Plovers and 500+ Dunlin out on the mud.
There was a lot of activity at the far end of the harbour, with at least 200 Golden Plovers and 1000+ Lapwings and Brent Geese airborne at various times, though no raptors were noted.
Also, a Marsh Harrier and two Peregrines were near Tern Island, at least nine Snipe were tucked away in the creek by the horse field, a Slavonian Grebe, two Sandwich Terns and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and a scattering of Common and Mediterranean Gulls were seen, too. (AH/S&SaH/IP/RM)
Brent Geese over the harbour and Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
Flying squid at Church Norton! (AH)
Chi GPs – Drayton House pits: Still respectable numbers of wildfowl present – especially Pochard and Shoveler – though I didn’t do a count today. Although quiet, there were a few small highlights, mostly on the North pit, with a flock of 19 Lapwing (now quite irregular here) put up by a Marsh Harrier and 3 Buzzards. Four Water Rails were calling, as were two Cetti’s Warblers, and a Firecrest was in the fir trees at the north end.
Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes - now assuming summer plumage - were showing signs of display, whilst on the South pit a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were present plus six Song Thrushes. (OM)
Great Crested Grebe, Lapwings, Buzzard and Marsh Harrier on Drayton House pits (OM)
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