29th - 31st March 2020

Tuesday, 31st March:The spell of fresh north-easterlies continues, cold out in it, warmer in the sheltered spots, and having effectively stopped all north-bound migration......

Selsey Bill: Another very quiet morning!
(0720-0920hrs) (NNE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 17E, 25W

Brent Goose - 1W

Pintail - 5E

Common Scoter - 4W, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W

Pheasant - 1

Turnstone - 2E

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Chiffchaff - 2

Rook - 1E

Chaffinch - 1

Linnet - 2N

Later, a Raven went over.

Selsey: A Firecrest was with a couple of Goldcrests in a garden in Paddock Lane at lunchtime today. 

Ferry Pool: The four Avocets were still present, with one pair displaying, whilst a Spotted Redshank and ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite.

Wildfowl numbers were broadly similar to recent days, including four Gadwall, 16 Shelduck, c40 Teal, c60 Wigeon and c70 Shovelers.
Also, at least eight Snipe were flushed from Yeoman's Field late in the afternoon.

Avocets (above) Spotted Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits around the Ferry (AH)

Halsey's Farm and North Wall:  The three Garganey were tucked in (and asleep!) in the channel by the sluice, in the company of a dozen Teal, with another 40 of the latter on the Breech Pool, along with eight Gadwall and seven Tufted Ducks.

The two Spotted Redshanks - one in markedly more advanced moult than the other - were in White's Creek, along with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank, a Brent Goose and a few Teal and Wigeon.

The fields held 20+ Shelduck and a few Wigeon and Teal, whilst at least 150 Knot, 50 Grey Plovers and 200+ Dunlin were out in the harbour, off of Owl Point.

Paserines were few and far between, though a Blackcap sang briefly at Halsey's Farm, a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the wall and about half a dozen widely spread Chiffchaffs were heard.

This afternoon the three Garganey had returned to the Breech Pool in company with 20+ Teal, eight Tufted and two Shoveler, whilst 15 Brent Geese were in the field behind and a Marsh Harrier was quartering the reeds. 
Wellingtons are still needed to cross Honer 1 field but the footpath from Honer to Pagham pumping station is now  passable with sturdy footwear. The last field to the west is partially flooded but only contained Shelduck and a lone Redshank.

Spotted Redshanks (above), Garganey and Teal, Reed Bunting, Teal, Grey Heron & Shelducks around the North Wall (AH)

N. Mundham: A Treecreeper was watched nest-building this morning, whilst a Coal Tit and three Chiffchaffs were also present.

Church Norton: This morning there were two Jays and a Green Woodpecker in the churchyard with a Buzzard over, and there were two Red-legged Partridges behind the hide and there are lambs in the adjacent field. 

There were 30 or so Black-tailed Godwits and 10 Ringed Plovers in the harbour, but few other waders and there were good numbers of gulls but no sign of any terns, whilst five Brent Geese were seen from the spit with a few more over towards Pagham church. 

Apart from a few Skylarks, Linnets and Greenfinches there was little else about in the stiff easterly wind.

Ringed Plover (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Geese, Red-legged Partridge & Greenfinch at Church Norton

Monday, 30th March: Another cold and bright morning, after overnight frost, but  more pleasant than yesterday with the north-easterly having abated considerably.....

Selsey Bill: Five Knot east were the highlight of another slow morning. Full log below.
(0710-0900hrs) (NNE, F4)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 9E, 5W
Brent Goose - 1W
Common Scoter - 5e, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 4os

Ringed Plover - 2E
Knot - 5E

Turnstone - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Chiffchaff - 3
Blackcap - 1

Linnet - 1

Blackcap (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (SR)

East Beach: The Firecrest was still in the pond-side willows this morning.

Selsey: A Red Kite went over the church, to the north of the town, heading northwards, early this afternoon. 

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was near the reservoir this afternoon.

Northcommon Farm area: There were 51 nests in the Rookery and the only other birds were a Chiffchaff and a Green Woodpecker.

Red Kite over Selsey (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were still four Avocets on the pool, along with a six Gadwall, ten Shelducks, c40 Teal, 84 Shoveler, c80 Wigeon, a pair of Lapwings, a Redshank, four Mediterranean Gulls and three Black-tailed Godwits, with six of the latter also in the channel opposite.

Shelduck (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers actively displaying on/over the Stilt Pool this morning, along with 21 Avocets, five Dunlin, two Snipe, seven Black-tailed Godwits and four Mediterranean Gulls, with wildfowl including five Brent Geese, c30 Teal, ten Gadwall and eight Tufted Ducks. 

Also, a pair of Ringed Plovers were on the beach and two Great Crested Grebes and a Common Seal were offshore.The banks were fairly quiet, though,with just the odd Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer seen, along with ten Stock Doves, 20+ Linnets, mostly in pairs, and c40 Skylarks.

Little Ringed Plover (above), Snipe, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Stock Dove, Skylark & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: White's Creek was like a wind tunnel and only held a Wigeon and two Redshank. 
On the Breech Pool the three Garganey were resplendent in the sunshine but were on view only for a couple of minutes before disappearing into reeds, whilst also on the Pool were 28 Teal, four Shoveler and two Gadwall and in Honer 3 field were 16 Brent Geese and seven Curlews. 

Church Norton:  From the Hide were 16 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel, whilst on the Severals there were four Shoveler and two Gadwall.

Sunday, 29th March: A bright morning, but chilly and uncomfortable in the blustery north-easterly, touching gale force at times.....

Selsey Bill: Another slow morning - with five Canada Geese - surprisingly rare at sea-watching sites - going west, then back east the highlight. Full log below.
(0700-0830hrs) (NNE, F6-7)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 4E, 9W
Canada Goose - 5E
Common Scoter - 7E, 3os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 4os
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Linnet - 1N

Canada Geese (above) & the view to Culver Cliff at the Bill (SR)

East Beach: A Firecrest was in the pond-side willows this morning whilst a Sandwich Tern was sat on a buoy offshore from the Lifeboat Station nearby.

Firecrest (above) & Sandwich Tern at East Beach (SR)

Medmerry: Coastguard Station to Toe End - A Black Redstart was at Toe End this morning, six Meadow Pipits were along the Medmerry Cliff and two Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, but generally it was very quiet.

Ferry Pool: Four Avocets were on the pool this morning and two Mediterranean Gulls went over west whilst a count of wildfowl present comprised of 14 Shelducks, six Gadwall, four Mallards, 43 Teal, 48 Wigeon and 78 Shovelers.

Ferry Channel held c60 Black-tailed Godwits and another c40 Wigeon, plus at least ten Redshank, five Curlews and a Grey Plover, whilst two Snipe flew over.
The Tramway circuit was predictably quiet, with a lone singing Chiffchaff, a couple of Linnets and a Little Egret the only species of note.

Avocets (above), Mediterranean Gulls, Chiffchaff, Shelduck and Gadwall, Teal and Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 2 Gadwall were at the first Several, whilst 20+ Brent Geese, a Grey Plover and 3 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour.