26th - 28th December 2020

Monday, 28th December: A fairly pleasant morning after a cold, wet and windy start, with the breeze initially brisk and from the south before veering round to north-west as it eased.......

Selsey Bill: It ended up being a very interesting morning, after a slow start, with a new Bill  (and, presumably county) record of 20 Great Northern Divers recorded - 13 going west and seven offshore, along with a high for the autumn of eight Slavonian Grebes (six on the sea together and two west), as well as a Red-necked Grebe drifting west close inshore. Full log later. (SH/JA/AH/BI)

(0745-1045hrs) (SSW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 13W, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 9W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 2W, 6os

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 5W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 12E, 72W

Common Scoter - 27W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 34E, 25W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W, 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 21E, 4W

Razorbill - 9W

Guillemot - 3W

auk sp - 10W

Red-necked Grebe (above), Great Northern Diver, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Merganser & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

King Canute of the Bill (aka JA) holding back the tide! (AH)

Ferry Pool: This morning there were eight Snipe in the reeds, c200 Lapwing and c100 Black-tailed Godwits in the fields, along with two Stock Doves and 50 Wigeon, with 70 more of the latter, c90 Teal and c80 Shoveler on the pool. (AH/RP)

Snipe (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Richard's Pipit was present once again today. (R Grimshaw)

Chichester Marina: A Black Brant was among the large Brent Goose flock this morning between the Marina and Dell Quay, as well as the Barnacle Goose, though there was no sign of the Pale-bellied Brent Goose or any White-fronted Geese.

Also, the Black Redstart was in the paddocks by the nearby farm buildings again. (AW/AB et al)

Black Brant at Chichester Marina (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: A flock of c500 Brent Geese was feeding on the fields, and there were also a Stonechat and a Green Woodpecker about. (IP/S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Goosander and a Great Northern Diver went west offshore this morning, along with nine Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst the male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Severals, where there were also two Stonechats.

Another six Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour, along with the pair of Peregrines and two Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst a Snipe was in the creek by the horse field and c150 Black-tailed Godwits flew up from the far end of the harbour. (IP/S&SaH)

North Wall: On a high tide there was very little on White's Creek, just a few Brent Geese and Wigeon, whilst behind the Breech Pool were 200 Lapwing and three Curlew. Honer 1 field is completely flooded and impassable and only contained two Teal and a Shelduck, whilst Honer 2 held 80 Black-tailed Godwits and nine Redshank. 

The flooded fields north of Welbourne stables contained 1400 Lapwing, 66 Shelduck, nine Dunlin and 200+ assorted gulls.

Also, the western end of the North Wall has become very narrow, muddy and slippery. (JDW) (For info, this has been reported to the Rights of Way Dep't at WSCC for attention - per GHi)

A very flooded Honer 1 field from the North Wall (JDW)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - A Black Redstart was again around the building works by the Oasis Centre, with a pair of Stonechats on the go-kart track and another at Toe End.

The tidal area was very quiet, with the first winter drake Eider the only duck present, with just singles of Curlew, Oystercatcher and Grey Plover the only waders, though c300 Brent Geese were in the fields towards Ham. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Eider & Stonechats at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 27th December: After a very wet and stormy night - alias Storm Bella -  the morning slowly improved towards a bright and breezy conclusion in a fresh and cool north-westerly.......

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of a selection this morning, including a Bonxie, a Velvet Scoter and four Slavonian Grebes, all going west. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2W

Red-throated Diver - 3W

Slavonian Grebe - 4W

Great Crested Grebe - 3W

Gannet - 1E, 40W

Shelduck - 8W

Common Scoter - 2E, 12W, 1os

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 9W, 4os

Bonxie - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Kittiwake 22W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

auk sp - 3W

Great Northern Diver (above), Common Scoter, Gannet & Shelducks at the Bill (AH)

(1400-1545hrs) (WNW, F4)   (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 6W

Gannet - 2E, 20W

Slavonian Grebe - 2E, 1os

Brent Goose - 1W

Velvet Scoter - 1 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 3W, 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 6W

Sandwich Tern - 4 os

Razorbill - 1E, 5W

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 7W

Ferry Pool: At least 500 Lapwings and 100 Black-tailed Godwits were on the fields, along with 100 Wigeon, but the pool itself just held half a dozen Snipe, c30 Teal and c50 Shovelers. (AH) 

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There was no sign of the Richard's Pipit today, though the Glossy Ibis was again present, if distant, and there were still plenty of Cattle Egrets about. (AW)

Cattle Egret at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Chiffchaff was in the hedges, whilst the fields held a Grey Wagtail, a Green Woodpecker, a pair of Mallard and 500+ Brent Geese. (IP)

Church Norton: The highlight of a quiet morning was a Dartford Warbler in the brambles by the path between the Severals, with otherwise, two Cetti's Warblers in the second Several, the Whimbrel and a Peregrine in their usual haunts.

Also, a Sanderling was among the waders on the old harbour mouth, a Snipe was in the creek by the horse field and four Red-breasted Mergansers were towards the harbour mouth, with another pair seen going east offshore. (IP/S&SaH) Early in the day, the harbour was full of Brent Geese, c.1500 birds, there were two Firecrests along the front, a minimum of ten Snipe by the horsefield, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers flew out to sea and a Common Scoter flew west offshore. (BI) 

Later, a Firecrest was near the churchyard. (AW)

Firecrest at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall and East side: The wall itself was quiet, save a couple of Reed Buntings, with four Gadwall and four Shovelers on the Breech Pool and the Honer fields all flooded but devoid of life, though 1300 Lapwings and 80 Shelduck were in the fields behind the reservoir.

Presumably the same four White-fronted Geese as yesterday appeared to fly in from the north-east and settled in the middle of the harbour, as did several hundred Brent Geese, whilst at least four Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Pintail and 100+ Wigeon were spread about the harbour.

There were also a lot of roosting waders at the end of White's Creek, including at least 400 Golden Plovers, 1000 Lapwing, 100 Grey Plovers, three Bar-tailed Godwits, and 200 Black-tailed Godwits, plus many Knot and Dunlin. (AH/JDW/PC)

This afternoon a Short-eared Owl and a Marsh Harrier were out hunting. (TG-P)

White-fronted Geese (above), Golden Plovers, Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Gadwall & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (AH)

Sidlesham: Tawny Owls were heard from the garden this evening for the first time in a while. (AH)

Hunston Church - N Mundham - Fisher: A good walk along this route this afternoon produced 18 Redwings, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Jays, a Mistle Thrush, four Goldcrests, two Yellowhammers, six Pied Wagtails and two flocks of Long-tailed Tits. (SR)

Fishbourne Creek: Six Goldeneyes were again present and displaying this afternoon, whilst in the channel there were three Spotted redshank, two Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Duck and goose numbers were much reduced, presumably as wildfowlers were out in the main channel setting up decoys. (HB)

Boxing Day, Saturday, 26th December: A fairly grey and blustery morning, though milder, with the threat of a big storm heading our way later.......

Selsey Bill: There were plenty of Gannets and auks, mainly Razorbills, going west and a few Red-throated Divers going both ways. Full log later. (SH/BI/IP/AH)

(0740-0930hrs) (WSW, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 6W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 4W

Gannet - 50W

Brent Goose - 2W

Wigeon - 7W

Eider - 4W, 1os

Common Scoter - 4E, 14W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 5W

Common Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 1E, 3W

Guillemot - 5W

Razorbill - 2E, 213W

auk sp - 5E, 622W

Red-throated Divers (above), Kittiwake, Common Scoters, Razorbills & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

(1345-1500hrs)  (WSW, F6)  (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Gannet - 36W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 2os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3 os

Razorbill - 3E, 1W

auk sp - 2E

Ferry Pool: A dozen Snipe were in the reeds and c50 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwings were on the fields, whilst at least 200 Wigeon, 150 Teal and 75 Shoveler, plus four Shelducks, were on the field. (AH)

Wigeon on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 500 Brent Geese were on the fields, with a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail by the reservoir. (IP)

North Wall: There were 200+ Wigeon and 16 Pintail on White's Creek, plus good numbers of Brent Geese which were perpetually coming and going. 

A pair of Stonechats were in the Welbourne stable field, whilst in the flooded fields north of the stables were 700 Lapwing, 52 Shelduck, nine Dunlin, three Redshank and a Black Tailed Godwit, with another pair of Stonechats near Shipverling Barn. (JDW)

Church Norton: The first (female) Goldeneye of the winter in the harbour was in front of Tern Island, whilst four White-fronted Geese dropped in on Peregrine Island, where a Peregrine was already residing, and a male Marsh Harrier went over west.

Offshore there were 11 Mediterranean Gulls, with three Razorbills, a Guillemot and two Gannets going west, whilst at least 500 Brent Geese, plus three Little Grebes, five Great Crested Grebes and a few Wigeon, Teal and Pintail were in the harbour and seven Snipe were in the creek by the horse field. (AH/IP)

This afternoon there was a Stonechat on the concrete spit and a Red-breasted Merganser offshore. (SH) 

White-fronted Geese (above), Goldeneye, Snipe, Teal & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler flew across the path into the gorse near Marsh Barn but it was otherwise quiet in the rain and wind this afternoon, though 150 Brent Geese were in the fields. along with three Mediterranean Gulls, beside the path to Earnley car park. 

The Stilt Pool was full of water but lacked birds, though there was approximately 100 Wigeon, 75 Teal, six Gadwall, a Tufted Duck, 75 Lapwings, a Little Egret and a Meadow Pipit present. (SR)