20th - 22nd March 2020

Sunday, 22nd March: Another morning of bright sunshine and light cloud,  tempered by a fresh north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Four Gadwall west and two Whimbrel east were the only exceptions to a morning of regular species. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/SR/BI/AH/NM)
(0600-0915hrs) (NE, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 6E, 3W
Shag - 1E
Gadwall - 4W
Common Scoter - 17E
Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 2W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Grey Plover - 1E
Whimbrel - 2E
Common Gull - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1os
Meadow Pipit - 5N
Rook - 1N
Linnet - 5N

Common Scoters (above), Gannet & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets, four Redshank, two Lapwings and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool, along with  a dozen Gadwall, c20 Shelducks, c50 Teal and c80 Wigeon and Shoveler. (AH)

Avocet and Teal (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguard Station to Toe End - The Black Redstart was again around the Coastguard Station and the adjacent beach and houses this morning, whilst another was at Toe End. 
Also, a Red Kite drifted over, heading east, further along 10 Red-breasted Mergansers and four Gadwall were offshore and a dozen Meadow Pipits were spread about.  
Not much was showing on the pools on the high tide beyond Brent Geese, five Black-tailed Godwits, four Dunlin and a Shoveler, although there was a Corn Bunting in the fields opposite, along with five Stock Doves and a few singing Skylarks.(SR/MRe/AH/IP/PB)

Black Redstart (above) & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pools - The two Little Ringed Plovers and c30 Avocets were present this morning. (NM)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A Red Kite went over this morning. (IL)
North Wall: The three Garganey were still present in the Breech Pool this morning, along with c40 Teal and the fields held c30 Brent Geese and 40 Curlew as well as a large flock of Black-headed Gulls. 

There was little else to report other than several Chiffchaffs singing, Cetti's Warblers calling and a few Meadow Pipits flying. 

A look along the east side found several more singing Chiffchaffs and large numbers of commoner waders, including a Spotted Redshank, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, c150 Knot and 100 Grey Plovers, plus a lone Pintail, four Gadwall and c100 Wigeon. (IH/AH/NM)

Garganey and Teal (above), Pintail, Wigeon, Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plover & Brent Geese and Curlews at the North Wall (AH)

Chichester Marina: A pair of Greylags were here this morning. (MR)

Greylag Goose at Chichester Marina (MMR)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: The pair of Garganey was again present on North pit, when a female Marsh Harrier appeared hunting over the lake and scattering wildfowl. 
There were c.60 Shoveler, 40 Pochard and 30 Teal between the two pits, plus 24 Greylag Geese and two Snipe, whilst eight Chiffchaffs, a singing Blackcap, three Reed Buntings and six Cetti's Warblers were also noted. (OM/BI)

Pair of Garganey on Drayton North pit (OM)

Saturday, 21st March: A bright and sunny morning, though still cold in the very brisk north-easterly......

Selsey Bill: Highlight was a Red Kite - still rare at the Bill - that drifted over the houses and out over the sea with a host of gulls in pursuit, before finally shrugging them off and heading off west.
Otherwise there were small numbers of a fair range of species, including ten Sanderling and two Bar-tailed Godwits east. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/IP/BI/SR/MO-W/AH)
(0600-0900hrs) (NE, F6)
Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 3W
Fulmar - 2E, 2W
Gannet - 14E, 11W
Pintail - 3E
Shoveler - 1E
Wigeon - 9E
Common Scoter - 8E, 5W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 5W, 2os
Red Kite - 1W (0740hrs)
Grey Plover - 3e
Knot - 2E
Sanderling - 10E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Common Gull - 4E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 4N
Pied Wagtail - 2N
Chiffchaff - 1
Linnet - 2N

Later on, a Black Redstart was briefly on the Oval Field before disappearing into the houses. (AW)

Red Kite (above), Great Northern Diver, Gannet & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

A text-book example of social distancing at the Bill! (SR)

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 4E
Common Scoter - 15E, 1W
Common Gull - 1E
Chiffchaff - 1

Ferry Pool: Around a busy pool and field this morning there were four Avocets, 47 Black-tailed Godwits, a Curlew, a couple of Mediterranean Gulls, 16 Shelduck, c20 Gadwall, c50 Tealeal, c80 Wigeon and c90 Shovelers. (PB/AH)

Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguard Station - A female Black Redstart was around Land's End Cottage and the adjacent beach this morning. (BI/D&JB/AH/SR/AW)

Black Redstart at Medmerry (AW, above & AH)

North Wall: The three Garganey were still present in the Breech Pool this morning, 29 Shelduck occupied the field beyond and there were a number of singing Chiffchaffs to be heard.  
A Sparrowhawk and a Goldcrest were at the path through Owl Copse, a Wheatear patrolled the rocks along the Wall, grey Herons were nest-building in Owl Copse and a Green Woodpecker flew across the horse paddocks.  (IH/TG/GHi)

Garganeys (above) & Grey Heron at the North Wall (GHi)

Church Norton: A Red Kite went over the first Several this morning, whilst a Wheatear was along the spit, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was in the harbour and the two Peregrines were on their island, but it was otherwise quiet. (IP/RM)
Later there were four Chiffchaffs and a Brimstone butterfly at Greenlease Farm and two Wheatears on the concrete spit. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: Not much to report late this morning beyond c150 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Knot and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, (IP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - Early this morning the pair of Little Ringed Plovers were showing well at the front of the Stilt Pools. Also, at least three Wheatears were along the fence line and the Avocets were showing obvious signs of courting. (AW)

Wheatear (above)& Little Ringed Plovers at Medmerry (AW)

Chi GPs - Drayton pits: A pair of Garganey were tucked in near the main island on North pit (opposite Brick Kiln nursery); also 60 Shoveler and 20+ Teal. Nearby at Drayton Lake (Shopwhyke) were a Marsh Harrier and a Black Redstart. (C.Nye)

Friday, 20th March: It remains cold and grey, though largely dry, with the wind having freshened considerably and swung round to a chilly north-east......

Selsey Bill: Two Long-tailed Ducks east at 8am were the highlight, whilst otherwise it was similar to recent days, with just a slight improvement in numbers; 10 Red-throated Divers and 60+ Common Scoter going east and small numbers of Gannets and a few Sandwich Terns offshore. Full log below.....
0640-1200hrs:  (wind NE 5-6)  (BI/AH/OM/P&LH/SR)
Red-throated Diver - 10E
Great Northern Diver - 4 os
Fulmar - 1E, 6W
Gannet - 21E, 24W
Common Scoter - 67E, 4W, 9os
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 4os
Long-tailed Duck - 2E (0800hrs)
Shoveler - 4E
Oystercatcher - 2E
Turnstone - 12 ob
Red-legged Partridge - 1 gardens/area
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4os
Kittiwake - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 3 os
auk sp - 1W
Pied/alba Wagtail - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 28N
Chiffchaff - 3
Linnet - 1N

Fulmar (above), Gannet & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

A reminder of the perils of migration - a Chiffchaff seen on a fishing boat eight miles south of Selsey (per AW)

Chiffchaff on a boat off of the Bill

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets and four Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool, with up to four Snipe in the roadside reeds, whilst there were still c60 Shovelers, c20 Teal, c50 Wigeon, ten Shelucks and four Gadwall present. (AH)

Snipe on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Early this morning the three Garganey were showing well on the Breech Pool, a Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek along with 200 Black-tailed Godwits and a single Bar-tailed Godwit, and a Barn Owl and a Marsh Harrier were both out hunting.

Along the Wall were two Wheatears and a singing Blackcap, with a Green Woodpecker in the paddocks and a Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe were also on the Breech Pool. (AW/IH/BI)

Garganey (above), Wheatear, Spotted Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (AW)

Ivy Lake: A pair of Egyptian Geese plus at least three goslings were near the house in the middle, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were singing nearby and half a dozen Pochard were among the 30+ Tufted Ducks present. (AH/HR/DMe)

Pochard at Ivy Lake (AH)

Westhampnett Pit: There were c.20 Sand Martins present today as well as hundreds of Black-headed Gulls. (NBd/BI)

Fishbourne Creek: It was generally quiet here, with just two Red-breasted Mergansers, eight Great Crested Grebes, a few Teal and 100+ Wigeon on the water, and few waders beyond c60 Knot, similar of Redshank and Dunlin, and at least 300 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls and a few Common Gulls were among the roost. (AH/JW)

Red-breasted Merganser (above), Knot & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Park Farm and North Selsey: Two Wheatears were on the fields at Park Farm this afternoon and both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing in our garden nearby. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: This afternoon there were at least 25 Bar-tailed Godwits among the Knot and Grey Plovers in the harbour. (AW)

Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AW)