1st - 3rd January 2021

Sunday, 3nd January: Another cold and grey morning, with a moderate N/NE breeze...........

Just a reminder that the Review of the Year for 2020 is now available by clicking on the title bar above. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, though the first Guillemot and Kittiwake of the year were seen and three Sandwich Terns were offshore. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0745-0930hrs) (NNE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 2W

Gannet - 7E, 4W

Wigeon - 5E, 22W

Common Scoter - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 5E, 1os

auk sp - 63E, 3W

Red-throated Diver (above) & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: About ten Snipe were at the front and a Buzzard and 500 Lapwings were on the field, with a pair of Gadwall among the large numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Shovelers present. Also, the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Snipe (above), Buzzard & Gadwall and Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Marina: The Barnacle Goose and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose were among the big Brent Goose flock towards Dell Quay this morning, and there were two Black Redstarts in the paddock by the farm buildings. There was no sign of either the geese or the Redstarts earlier in the day but surprisingly two Grey Partridges were flushed by a farm vehicle and flew to the left of the buildings. (BI/AH/IP/SR)

Barnacle Goose with Brent Geese at Chichester Marina (BI (above) &AH)

East Head: A Snow Bunting was present at the far end of the head this afternoon, along with a couple of Skylarks, whilst ten or so Sanderlings were along the shore and two Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore.

Also,19 Avocets and 100+ Golden Plovers were at Snowhill Creek. (A Roberts)

Park Farm, Selsey: About 200 Brent Goose were on the fields, along with two Grey and two Pied Wagtails, whilst a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There was little to report today, highlights being a Peregrine in the harbour, a gannet offshore, four Snipe by the horse field and a Cetti's Warbler calling from the Severals. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were among the Brent Goose flock towards Ham again this morning. (SR) Nearby the birds were much the same as yesterday: c.6 Corn Buntings, plenty of Reed Buntings, some Yellowhammers and ten Fieldfares. Also, a Merlin shot through putting up a few Snipe as it did so. (BI)

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Medmerry (SR)

North Mundham to Fisher Crossroads: A Chiffchaff was among a small flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits, and four or five Fieldfares were among about 15 Redwings, whilst there were also two Song Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker seen. (MJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Richard's Pipit was again in its favoured field this morning, along with a pair of Stonechats, whilst two further pairs of were along Church Farm Lane, along with at least 30 Yellowhammers and 20 Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, and a Coal Tit and a couple of Goldcrests were in the churchyard..

The Glossy Ibis was reported by a visiting birder, seen east of the farm buildings, whilst at least 30 Cattle Egrets were spread across the fields and a coupe of Fieldfares, a Redwing, two Grey Wagtails and a Raven were also seen. (AH/IP et al)

Cattle Egret (above), Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Skylark & Wren around Marsh farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguards to Toe End - The Black Redstart was still around the caravans this afternoon, with two seals together just offshore. Under the cliff near the Coastguard ramp there were two Rock Pipits, one of which was ringed (so presumably Scandinavian) (AW) Offshore, the Common Scoter flock numbered 32 birds and the young Eider was towards the breach. (BI)

Black Redstart and Rock Pipit (and enlarged to show rings) at Medmerry  (AW)

North Wall: This afternoon the horse paddocks contained a Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail while along the Wall the arrival of a Marsh Harrier from the direction of Church Norton spooked large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover. 

The high tide prevented much else being visible in the harbour other than a Grey Plover and a few Redshank and the flooded fields also were quiet. (IH)

Late this afternoon and the Marsh Harrier roost behind the Breech Pool was very active, with a minimum of eight - and quite possibly as many as ten - birds coming into roost between 3.30 and 4.30pm.

There were also a Kingfisher, six Snipe, a Sparrowhawk and a calling Water Rail in the vicinity, with a spectacular show of many hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits and Golden Plovers coming up from the harbour. (S&SaH/AH)

Marsh Harriers (above) & Golden Plovers at the North Wall (AH)

Almodington: There were half a dozen Redwings in the fields at the junction with Mapsons Lane this morning. (BI)

Saturday, 2nd January: A fairly still cold and grey morning, brightening up slowly as the north-westerly breeze freshened.......

Just a reminder that the Review of the Year for 2020 is now available by clicking on the title bar above. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly quiet, given the wind direction, though a Slavonian Grebe and a few divers were about. Full log below. (SH/JA/AH/IP)

(0745-0900hrs) (NNW, F3)

Great Northern diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 3W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 9E, 8W

Brent Goose - 2W

Common Scoter - 21W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 3W, 2os

Turnstone - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Razorbill - 4E, 1W

auk sp 25E, 11W

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

At lunchtime there were two Slavonian Grebes and six Razorbills on the sea, drifting west with the tide. (AW)

Slavonian Grebe (above) & Razorbill at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were 500+ Lapwings and 100+ Wigeon on the fields, with half a dozen Snipe in the reeds, whilst at least 70 Shoveler and 100 Teal and Wigeon were on the Pool.

Also, Kingfishers were in the channel opposite and Red Barn Ditch, whilst a Black Swan, Marsh Harrier was seen from the tramway,, along with a handful of Avocets and large flocks of Golden Plover, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits towards the North Wall. (AH/IL)

Kingfisher (above), Black Swan & Wigeon around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: The five White-fronted Geese were in the arable fields at the far end until a Grey Heron disturbed them, whilst the regular Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Chanel, along with lots of Redshank and Teal.

There wasn't much along the hedges beyond a Song Thrush and half a dozen Meadow Pipits and perhaps a dozen Reed Buntings. (AH)

White-fronted Geese (above), Spotted Redshank, Song Thrush & Teal around the Long Pool (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Richard's Pipit was in its usual field this morning, whilst the Glossy Ibis dropped into the fields near the barns before flying back off east.

At least 20 Cattle Egrets were still about, along with two pairs of Stonechats, a Yellowhammer, two Sparrowhawks and a Buzzard, whilst a large flock of Lapwings and Golden Plovers could be seen coming up distantly over the harbour. (S&SaH/AW) 

Also, a pair of Coal Tits were in the churchyard this morning along with a few Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits. (BI)

Glossy Ibis at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AW)

Drayton Pits: There was a good selection here this morning, including a Woodcock, a pair of Coal Tits and several Bullfinches. (BI)

Hunston:  A Treecreeper was at Wilf’s Copse today. (BI)

Chichester Marina/Fishbourne Creek: The Black Redstart was still in the sheep field by the farm buildings, along the Salterns Way, early this afternoon. (SR) 

At Dell Quay there were c.nine Goldeneye on the water and four Spotted Redshanks and three Greenshanks in the wader roost. (BI)

There were two White-fronted Geese in Fishbourne Creek before relocating to the fields by Dell Quay, among the Brent Geese and later the Pale-bellied Brent Goose was also with them. Also a Rock Pipit was by the Lavant outfall. (AW)

White-fronted Goose (above) & Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Brent Geese & Rock Pipit at Fishbourne Creek (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: The big Brent Goose flock was still present, along with two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, three Pied Wagtails, c30 Meadow Pipits and a Sparrowhawk. (IP/RM/S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were a lot of waders in the harbour this morning, including five Avocets and a flock of Ringed Plovers, whilst both Peregrines were on their island, a Red-breasted Merganser was near Tern Island and six Snipe were near the horse field.. Also, the Black Swan was seen flying over the harbour.

Offshore there were five Gannets, 14 Razorbills, including ten that landed on the sea, and several flocks of Wigeon, totalling c80 birds, but the only passerines noted were a Mistle Thrush at Greenlease Farm, a Goldcrest and a flock of Long-tailed Tits in Bluebell Wood and two calling Cetti's Warblers. (IP/RM)

Later on, the five White-fronted Geese were sharing the island with a Peregrine, whilst two Slavonian Grebes were offshore, 400 Brent Geese and two Kestrels went over and a Gannet flew right over Bluebell Wood! (S&SaH/RP et al)

White-fronted Geese and Peregrine at Church Norton (SH)

North Wall: At least four Marsh Harriers were behind the wall just before dusk this evening. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler was opposite the Stilt Pool whilst a Pintail was in the usual mix of wildfowl (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were a lot of birds around the cover crop fields this morning, including a minimum of six (and probably up to ten) Corn Buntings, c20 Reed Buntings, c75 Yellowhammers and c250 Linnets, plus a few Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits, whilst 100+ Pied Wagtails were around the settling tanks.

Also, half a dozen Fieldfares and c30 Stock Doves were scattered about, a Marsh Harrier went over west of Greenwood Farm and the 300 or so Brent Geese, including the two Pale-bellieds, were still on the wheat field. (AH)

Corn Buntings (above), Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Fieldfare, Stock Doves, Meadow Pipit, Linnets & Yellowhammers at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, New Year's Day, 1st January: After a foggy start, a cold, grey and fairly still day to start the year.....

Happy New Year to all our contributors and readers!

Just a reminder that the Review of the Year for 2020 is now available by clicking on the title bar above. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A bit of a dead loss early this morning, with visibility down to 100m at times, though two Sandwich Terns and 25 Common Scoters went west, and there was a bit more activity later, including an Eider and a few divers. Full log below.

(0730-0900hrs) (NNW, F2) (JA/AH/PB et al)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Wigeon - 1os

Common Scoter - 25W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1os

Turnstone - 10

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2W

(1145-1345hrs) (SH/JA)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 8W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Gannet - 4E, 11W

Wigeon - 1E, 24W, 21os

Eider - 1E

Common Scoter - 8E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Turnstone - 20E

Razorbill - 5W, 8os

auk sp - 18E, 8W

Lesser Black-backed Gull (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 500 Lapwings were on the fields with 200 Wigeon, whilst the pool held ten Snipe, c80 Shoveler, c100 Teal and another 50 Wigeon, plus half a dozen Shelducks.

Also, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch, the Kingfisher and two Gadwall were in Ferry Channel and a Marsh Harrier and 35 Avocets were seen from the Tramway. (AH/PB/IP/AW)

Kingfisher in Ferry Channel (AW)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Richard's Pipit continued to perform well in its favourite field, with a dozen Yellowhammers and a couple of pairs of Stonechats, plus a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks in the vicinity.

The Glossy Ibis also reappeared, later on, whilst at least 30 Cattle Egrets were spread around the fields and a Brambling popped up among the Chaffinch flock just beyond the path to Chalder Farm. Also, a Firecrest and three Goldcrests were in Sidlesham churchyard. (AB/BI/OM/IP/SR/AH/TG-P et al)

Glossy Ibis (SR) (above), Richard's Pipit, Cattle Egret & Yellowhammer (AH) at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham 

North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers were seen this afternoon, and a Rock Pipit was also present. (TG-P/TH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just 400 Brent Geese on the fields this morning. (S&SAH)

Church Norton: This morning, five Slavonian Grebes and a Red-throated Diver were offshore, where four Common Scoter also went west, whilst in the harbour the two Peregrines were present, an Avocet was by the concrete spit and a Marsh Harrier was out hunting. 

Also, a Cetti's Warbler was on the first Several and a Great spotted Wood[pecker was drumming from the Priory. (S&SaH)

This afternoon, the Whimbrel, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot and lots of Dunlin and Grey Plover were in the harbour, along with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Little and Great Crested Grebes, whilst a few Linnets and Reed Buntings were about too. Also, three Slavonian Grebes were still offshore, along with four Gadwall . (AH/IP)

The five White-fronted Geese were in the main channel, viewable from the west side this afternoon, whilst a Marsh Harrier was about, too, a Dartford Warbler was at the end of the Long Pool and a Grey Partridge was in the fields. (S&SAH)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Whimbrel & Kingfisher at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A juvenile White-fronted Goose and the Black Brant, plus a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, were among a huge Brent Goose flock along the road to Dell Quay this morning.

Also, a Jack Snipe, up to ten Rock Pipits, a Kingfisher, eight Goldeneyes (three drakes), a pair of Red-breasted Merganser and three Spotted Redshanks were along the creek - often best viewed from Dell Quay - with a large number of Dunlin present and a number of Grey Plovers and Lapwing, Wigeon and Teal. 

A pair of Coal Tits was also in Apuldram church car-park. (OM/BI/IP/AH et al)

White-fronted Goose (above), with Brent Geese, Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Brent Geese & Brent Geese at Dell Quay (AH); White-fronted Goose & Coal Tit (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler was the highlight today, along with plenty of Yellowhammers and other regular species. (AW)

Dartford Warbler (above) & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - A Black Redstart was among the caravans today, with pairs of Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits at Toe End and the windmill area, whilst in the tidal areas by the breach there was the immature adult Eider, a Greenshank, a few redshanks and Curlews and a few wigeon and Shelducks.

Also, offshore, there were a couple of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, at least 30 Common Scoter, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Wigeon and nine Great Crested Grebes, plus a Gannet west. (AH/IP et al)

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

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Late this afternoon at least 50 Fieldfares and 40 Linnets were in the maize stubble and a handful of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were in the bushes.

Also, the two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were in a flock of c300 Dark-bellied Brent on the arable fields. (AH)

Fieldfare (above) & Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: The usual wildfowl were well represented - including Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Ducks and (more unusually) six Wigeon plus a pair of Egyptian Geese that dropped in, whilst two Water Rails were squealing from the reeds. Highlights were a Woodcock which flew up from damp woodland on the North pit and a flock of five Bullfinches and several Redwings along the hedgerows. (OM)

Egyptian Geese at Drayton House GPs (OM)