28th - 30th April 2020

Thursday, 30th April: A very blustery morning that began with squally rain and a strong south-westerly, which then shifted to south as the weather eased to a mix of sunshine and cloud........before heavy rain returned by early afternoon.

Selsey Bill: One Manx Shearwater, seven Fulmars, an Arctic Skua and four Kittiwakes went west this morning, with a distant Bonxie and ten Little Terns, along with lots of Sandwich Terns and Gannets offshore.
(0615-0830hrs) (SW, then S, F6-7)
Manx Shearwater – 1W
Fulmar – 1E, 7W
Gannet – c75E, c50W, c40os
Common Scoter – 9E
Whimbrel – 1E
Artcic Skua – 1W (d/p)
Great Skua – 1os
Kittiwake – 3E, 4W
Sandwich Tern – 40E, 12W, c20os
Common Tern – 2W
Little Tern – 10os
Wheatear - 1

A mid-afternoon look produced an Arctic Skua, a Bonxie and a Red-throated Diver east.
(c1530-1630hrs)
Red-throated Diver – 1E
Arctic Skua – 1E
Great Skua – 1E

Kittiwake (above), Arctic Skua, Fulmar, Little Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was an impressive count of 106 Shelducks on and around the pool and field this morning, along with six Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshank, 11 Tufted Ducks, 14 Gadwall and c20 Mallards, whilst the channel opposite held at least a dozen Whimbrel and up to five Curlews.

Gadwall (above), Shelduck & Whimbrels at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A lone Bar-tailed Godwit and half a dozen Whimbrel were the only waders about, whilst at least 50 Sandwich Terns were among the many Black-headed Gulls out on the mud and a handful of Gannets were offshore.
A family of four Mistle Thrushes were near the hide, but aside from a few Linnets, most  of the passerines present remained hidden in the windy conditions, though Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Sedge Warblers could all be heard.

Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel (above), Whimbrel, Mistle Thrush & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek-Dell Quay: There were 2 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Shelduck and a single Brent Goose along the creek with 2 Oystercatchers and a Lapwing flying over, whilst off Dell Quay were 2 Common Terns and 2 Great Crested Grebes. 
The bushes held 7 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Yellowhammers; a Cetti's Warbler was by the Lavant Outfall, a Sparrowhawk flew over the reedbeds there and a Reed Warbler was at Fishbourne reedbeds.

Wednesday, 29th April: A morning that began with a murky flat calm, before the breeze picked up, went briefly south-east and then swung south-west as it continued to freshen, bringing rain by midday........

Selsey Bill: Two Black-throated Divers went east this morning, along with a Red-throated Diver, two Pomarine Skuas, eight Arctic Skuas, 35 Common Scoter, 19 Brent Geese, five Canada Geese, 170 Gannets, 95 Sandwich Terns and 16 Little Terns.
(0610-1030hrs) (SE, then S, F2 to F4 later)
Great Northern Diver – 1os
Black-throated Diver – 2E
Red-throated Diver – 1E
Gannet – 170E, 12W
Brent Goose – 19E
Canada Goose – 5E
Common Scoter – 35E
Oystercatcher – 11E
Dunlin – 5W
Whimbrel – 2W
Arctic Skua – 8E (4 l/p, 4d/p)
Pomarine Skua – 2E
Great Skua – 1E
Sandwich Tern – 95E, 7W
‘Commic’ Tern – 4E
Little Tern – 16E, 3os

Pomarine Skuas (AW) (above), Arctic Skua, Black-throated Diver, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Scoters, Brent Geese & Gannets at the Bill (AH)and Peregrine over Broadreeds estate (SR)

Late this afternoon, four Bonxies and 35 Gannets went east, two Fulmars, two Little Terns and 27 Sandwich Terns went west and a Peregrine went north over Broadreeds estate.
(1645-1745hrs)
Fulmar – 2W
Gannet – 35E, 8W
Peregrine – 1N
Great Skua – 4E
Sandwich Tern – 4E, 27W
Little Tern – 2W

Fulmar (above) & Peregrine at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Five Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with three Redshank, ten Gadwall, the lone drake Wigeon, c20 Mallards and c50 Shelducks.

Avocet (above) & Mallard on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool and west side: Plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing along the path this morning, though a lone Lesser Whitethroat and two Linnets were the only other birds noted, whilst on the pool itself were two pairs of Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe.
A couple of Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats, Linnets and Chiffchaffs were around the Reedy Marsh area, but otherwise it was quiet, whilst out in the harbour there were at least a dozen Whimbrel and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls.

Sedge Warbler (above), Whimbrel & Little Grebe around the Long Pool (AH)

Tuesday, 28th April: A thoroughly wet and miserable morning, with spells of heavy rain interrupting the persistent drizzle, though the north-easterly breeze was fairly light....

Selsey Bill: Two Bonxies were on the sea before one flew off east, but otherwise it was slow, though 91 Gannets, two Common Terns and 39 Sandwich Terns went east, mostly in one brief respite from the rain.
(0540-0810hrs) (S, F2)
Gannet – 91E, 9W
Oystercatcher – 2E
Turnstone – 2E
Great Skua – 1E, 1os
Sandwich Tern – 39E, 8W
Common Tern – 2E

Bonxie (above), Gannets & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon three Bonxies, three Arctic Skuas and eight Brent Geese went east, a Fulmar went west and two Wheatears were along the front.
(1630-1730hrs) 
Gannet – c30os
Fulmar – 1W
Brent Goose – 8E
Great Skua – 3E
Arctic Skua – 3E
Sandwich Tern – 10E

Bonxie (above) & Arctic Skua at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets were on the pool, along with the first Wigeon in a while, ten Tufted Ducks, 14 Gadwall, c20 Mallard and c50 Shelducks, with at least five Whimbrel in the channel opposite.

Wigeon on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Only a dozen Sandwich Terns, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, a Curlew, two pairs of Gadwall and up to ten Whimbrel were of note in the harbour, whilst the bushes were generally quiet, save the occasional burst of song from the odd Whitethroat, Blackcap or Chiffchaff, and there were also three Mistle Thrushes in Rectory Lane.

Whimbrel (above), Gadwall, Shelducks & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall & Pagham Lagoon: Very little was happening along the Wall this morning and on the Breech Pool were just 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Ducks and a male Shoveler. Surprise of the day was seeing 3 Cuckoos flying, noisily, together across Pagham Lagoon.

Chichester GPs: Westhampnett Pit - A dozen Common Terns were feeding over the water this morning, along with a single Sand Martin and 20 or so House Martins and Swallows.

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Up to 40 Swifts were high over the lake this morning, and there were at least 200 Swallows and 50 House Martins present, along with two Common Terns and c20 Pochard and Tufted Ducks, whilst several Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were singing along the path.

Swift (above), Swallow, Chiffchaff & Pochard at Ivy Lake (AH)