Friday, 12th June: The wind remains resolutely from the north-east and very blustery, though fairly mild beneath heavy cloud cover.........
Selsey Bill: A Brent Goose west and four Pochard east were unexpected, though otherwise it was fairly much as usual. Full log below. (BI/AH/SR/IP)
Selsey Bill: A Brent Goose west and four Pochard east were unexpected, though otherwise it was fairly much as usual. Full log below. (BI/AH/SR/IP)
(0550-0800hrs) (NE, F5)
Fulmar - 4W
Gannet - 6E, 8W, 5os
Brent Goose - 1W
Pochard - 4E
Common Scoter - 5E
Curlew - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 12os
Common Tern - 13E
auk sp - 1E
swift - 4
House Martin - 2
Ferry Pool: It was quiet again on the pool, though a Little Ringed Plover was present early on, along with a Black-tailed Godwit, three Avocets and eight Shelducks.
At least three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and two Whitethroats were singing around the Tramway, whilst three Swifts, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a House Martin went over. (AH)
East Head: A very unseasonal first-summer Red-throated Diver was sitting close inshore from The Strand at West Wittering today. (MR)
Ivy Lake: A total of 102 Greylag Geese were on the lakes, along with similar of Canada Geese and six Egyptian Geese, plus a few Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Common Tern and a lone Swallow were over the water. Also, a Kingfisher was present three days ago, but not today. (CB)
Church Norton: There were plenty of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns in the harbour, particularly feeding at the harbour mouth, but few waders beyond a Curlew, a couple of Ringed Plovers and a handful of Oystercatchers, whilst passerines were restricted to the odd Linnet and Skylark. (AH)
Thursday, 11th June: Another cool and grey morning, with the breeze freshening and back round to the north-east.....Fulmar - 4W
Gannet - 6E, 8W, 5os
Brent Goose - 1W
Pochard - 4E
Common Scoter - 5E
Curlew - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 12os
Common Tern - 13E
auk sp - 1E
swift - 4
House Martin - 2
Pochards (above), Brent Goose, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: It was quiet again on the pool, though a Little Ringed Plover was present early on, along with a Black-tailed Godwit, three Avocets and eight Shelducks.
At least three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and two Whitethroats were singing around the Tramway, whilst three Swifts, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a House Martin went over. (AH)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Buzzard at the Ferry (AH)
East Head: A very unseasonal first-summer Red-throated Diver was sitting close inshore from The Strand at West Wittering today. (MR)
Red-throated Diver at West Wittering (MR)
Ivy Lake: A total of 102 Greylag Geese were on the lakes, along with similar of Canada Geese and six Egyptian Geese, plus a few Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Common Tern and a lone Swallow were over the water. Also, a Kingfisher was present three days ago, but not today. (CB)
Church Norton: There were plenty of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns in the harbour, particularly feeding at the harbour mouth, but few waders beyond a Curlew, a couple of Ringed Plovers and a handful of Oystercatchers, whilst passerines were restricted to the odd Linnet and Skylark. (AH)
Little Terns (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & Little and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
Selsey Bill: A Hobby shooting low over Bill House garden was a surprise, whilst there were also 52 Common Scoter (including a flock of 30) and 25 Gannets going east. Full log below. (SR/MO-W/AH)
(0645-0815hrs) (ENE, F4)
Gannet - 25E
Common Scoter - 52E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Hobby - 1
Oystercatcher - 1W
Sandwich Tern - c20os
Common Tern - 2os
House Martin - 4
(1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 5E, 1W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 16os
Common Tern - 4W, 1os
Ferry Pool: It was very quiet on the pool this morning, with just one Avocet, one Black-tailed Godwit, one Redshank, four Lapwings, a pair of Teal and eight Shelducks seen. (MO-W/AH)
This evening a probable Red Kite went over (SH) and six Shovelers were back on the pool.(AW).
West Itchenor: A minimum of nine, and probably ten, House Martin nests were found to be occupied around the Harbour Office today. (SR)
Donnington: Early on, a Red Kite was seen over the same area as yesterday morning's bird. (SH)
North Wall: A Stonechat and a Green Woodpecker were in the horse field at Welbourne, whilst on White's Creek there were a pair of Great Crested Grebes and on the Breech Pool 20+ Mallard and a pair of Tufted Ducks, along with a Common Tern successfully fishing there.
The usual cast were present along the Wall, but keeping down in a fresh north-easterly breeze, whilst there lot of activity in and around the Owl Copse heronry.
Water levels have dropped considerably in Honer reservoir where there were 12 Tufted Ducks present, and Blackcaps were feeding young close to Honer Cottages. Also, a Cuckoo was calling along Pagham Rife - I have heard them here consistently since April 12th, which is probably bad news for the many Reed Warblers that can be heard along the Rife! (JDW)
A late lunchtime and, at times, rather wet walk produced 12 Swifts, three House Martins and a Common Tern over the Breach Pool as well as Common Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, calling Reed Warblers and a few returning Lapwings.(IH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was fairly quiet in the windy conditions, though a Cuckoo and four Swifts went over and there were a few more Yellowhammers about than of late, along with the usual Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks, whilst a pair of Stonechats with at least two juveniles were at the Stilt Pool.
A Greenshank was heard on the reserve, whilst a Little Ringed Plover flew out from the Stilt Pool, where there were also two Lapwings and ten Avocets, along with a dozen Gadwall and 15 adult Canada Geese and three family groups. (AH)
Chichester Marina: Sadly there are indications of another swan accident, feathers between canal and road coupled with a public notice seem to suggest this. On a brighter note, there was good number of Southern Marsh Orchids along the canal bank and Sedge Warblers were singing in reeds so tall it's impossible to see into the canal itself until you reach the lockgate.
At the lockgate itself, a Grey Wagtail was feeding from the lily pads and a Kingfisher went by, whilst from the hide overlooking the marsh there were five Reed Buntings and a Common Tern. (SR)
Birdham Pool: In the furthest corner I was treated to the sight of a pair of Great Crested Grebes doing their courtship dance, whilst five Little Grebes were about, a Reed Warbler was singing, a Little Egret was hunting, a Coot sat on her nest and a Mallard had managed to accrue 12 well grown ducklings. (SR)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were at least 100 Swifts again this evening, along with a similar number of House Martins, but only a couple of dozen Swallows, whilst two Yellowhammers, two Skylarks, two Whitethroats and a handful of Mediterranean Gulls were also about. (AH).
(0645-0815hrs) (ENE, F4)
Gannet - 25E
Common Scoter - 52E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Hobby - 1
Oystercatcher - 1W
Sandwich Tern - c20os
Common Tern - 2os
House Martin - 4
Common Scoter (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
(1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 5E, 1W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 16os
Common Tern - 4W, 1os
Ferry Pool: It was very quiet on the pool this morning, with just one Avocet, one Black-tailed Godwit, one Redshank, four Lapwings, a pair of Teal and eight Shelducks seen. (MO-W/AH)
This evening a probable Red Kite went over (SH) and six Shovelers were back on the pool.(AW).
Teal and Avocet (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)
West Itchenor: A minimum of nine, and probably ten, House Martin nests were found to be occupied around the Harbour Office today. (SR)
Donnington: Early on, a Red Kite was seen over the same area as yesterday morning's bird. (SH)
North Wall: A Stonechat and a Green Woodpecker were in the horse field at Welbourne, whilst on White's Creek there were a pair of Great Crested Grebes and on the Breech Pool 20+ Mallard and a pair of Tufted Ducks, along with a Common Tern successfully fishing there.
The usual cast were present along the Wall, but keeping down in a fresh north-easterly breeze, whilst there lot of activity in and around the Owl Copse heronry.
Water levels have dropped considerably in Honer reservoir where there were 12 Tufted Ducks present, and Blackcaps were feeding young close to Honer Cottages. Also, a Cuckoo was calling along Pagham Rife - I have heard them here consistently since April 12th, which is probably bad news for the many Reed Warblers that can be heard along the Rife! (JDW)
A late lunchtime and, at times, rather wet walk produced 12 Swifts, three House Martins and a Common Tern over the Breach Pool as well as Common Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, calling Reed Warblers and a few returning Lapwings.(IH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was fairly quiet in the windy conditions, though a Cuckoo and four Swifts went over and there were a few more Yellowhammers about than of late, along with the usual Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks, whilst a pair of Stonechats with at least two juveniles were at the Stilt Pool.
A Greenshank was heard on the reserve, whilst a Little Ringed Plover flew out from the Stilt Pool, where there were also two Lapwings and ten Avocets, along with a dozen Gadwall and 15 adult Canada Geese and three family groups. (AH)
Cuckoo (above), Little Ringed Plover, Swift, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Whitethroat & Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)
Chichester Marina: Sadly there are indications of another swan accident, feathers between canal and road coupled with a public notice seem to suggest this. On a brighter note, there was good number of Southern Marsh Orchids along the canal bank and Sedge Warblers were singing in reeds so tall it's impossible to see into the canal itself until you reach the lockgate.
At the lockgate itself, a Grey Wagtail was feeding from the lily pads and a Kingfisher went by, whilst from the hide overlooking the marsh there were five Reed Buntings and a Common Tern. (SR)
Grey Wagtail (above) & Southern Marsh Orchids at Chichester Marina (SR)
Great Crested Grebes at Birdham Pool (SR)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were at least 100 Swifts again this evening, along with a similar number of House Martins, but only a couple of dozen Swallows, whilst two Yellowhammers, two Skylarks, two Whitethroats and a handful of Mediterranean Gulls were also about. (AH).
Swifts (above), House Martins & Skylarks at Medmerry (AH)
Wednesday, 10th June: Another cool and grey morning, with the shift to the west of the breeze bringing some light drizzly rain and the prospect of more later. ....
Selsey Bill: It was as quiet as might be expected, though two Fulmars and a very distant Little Egret went west. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/SR)
(0640-0810hrs) (WSW, F3)
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 3E, 6W
Little Egret - 1W
Common Scoter - 6os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sandwich Tern - c20os
Common Tern - 1os
Little Tern - 2os
auk sp - 4W
Swift - 5
House Martin - 6
Whitethroat - 1 (in gardens)
Fulmar (above), Little Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & House Martins at the Bill (AH)
East Beach: A Sparrowhawk carrying food flew over the garden at lunchtime, heading north. (SR)
Ferry Pool: There were just nine Avocets and nine Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just nine Avocets and nine Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)
Avocet at the Ferry (AH)
East Head: An update on the Avocets at Snowhill Creek - there are still a minimum of 18 chicks/juveniles present in seven broods (4x3, 3x2) with just possibly another brood out of sight.
A minimum of 13 adults were present and I would class eight of the juveniles as fledged now, with another three very close. (PH)
Donnington: A Red Kite flew low over road heading south west this morning. (SH)
Donnington: A Red Kite flew low over road heading south west this morning. (SH)
North Wall: Cuckoos went over the harbour and Halsey's Farm this morning, with another calling further inland, whilst a Barn Owl was out early on, a Common Tern was over the Breech Pool, a Green Woodpecker was in the paddocks and a Sparrowhawk shot through.
There were plenty of small birds about, though mostly keeping low, including a family of Long-tailed Tits, a pair of Reed Buntings carrying food, one or two Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Linnets and numerous Reed Warblers, plus two pairs of Skylarks and a pair of Stock Doves at Halsey's Farm. (AH/IH/PC)
Reed Warbler (above), Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylarks, Stock Dove (AH) & Green Woodpecker (IH) around the North Wall
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