10th - 12th April 2021

Monday, 12th April: There was a cold and gloomy start to the day, after a sharp frost, and with even some sleety drizzle in a light north-westerly, before it brightened a little as the breeze freshened.......

Selsey Bill: A Bonxie went west and the Long-tailed Duck and a Great Northern Diver were on the sea, whilst three Wheatears were on the beach, but there was still no eastward movement. (IP/MO-W/AH/SR)

(0720-0820hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver – 1os

Great Crested Grebe – 3W

Gannet – 2E, 3W

Long-tailed Duck – 1os

Common Scoter – 6E

Oystercatcher – 2E, 1W

Sanderling – 2W

Turnstone – 1W

Great Skua – 1W

Wheatear - 3

Wheatear at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were six Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, ten Redshanks and the pair of Lapwings on the pool, along with three Gadwall, c20 Teal and Shelducks and c40 Shovelers, whilst the two heavily moulting Spotted Redshanks were in the channel opposite, along with another dozen Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks in Ferry Channel (AH)

Ivy Lake: There were two Yellow Wagtails, including a bright male, in the horse field just to the south of the lake this morning. (CT)

Warner Lane paddocks: A male Redstart was in the hedges this morning, though very flighty. (AW)

Redstart at Warner Lane paddocks (AW)

North Wall: Late this afternoon there were 18 Cattle Egrets in the fields to the north of the harbour. (TG-P)

Church Norton: A Short-eared Owl flew north over the harbour this morning, and then, not much after, an Osprey drifted eastwards along the beach/spit, pausing a couple of times to hover over the sea.

Other than that excitement, though, it was quiet, with little birdsong beyond the odd Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler and the harbour low on waders, though the regular Whimbrel was present, whilst there were plenty of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls about, as well as five Gadwall. (AH)

Short-eared Owl (above), Osprey, Whimbrel & Gadwall at Church Norton (AH)

West Itchenor: There were at least 300 Mediterranean Gulls, most in full summer plumage, between West Itchenor and Ella Nore, and there were also four Whimbrel present. (PH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail - A House Martin and a dozen Swallows were over the Trail near the sewage works this afternoon. (AW)

House Martin at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A single Wheatear was the only bird about this morning in a fairly quick look. (AH)

Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 11th April: A much brighter day than yesterday, with a lot of white cloud and some sun, but still quite cool in the nagging northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A Short-eared Owl flew in off the sea early on, looking like it would make landfall at Medmerry, but otherwise it was a slow morning, with just the regular species noted. (SH/BI/JA/IP/MO-W/SR/AH)

(0600-0900hrs) (N, F3-4) 
Great Northern Diver – 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Fulmar – 1E
Gannet – 79E, 19W
Shelduck – 2W
Common Scoter – 18E
Whimbrel – 1E
Turnstone – 1E
Great Skua – 2E, 1os
Mediterranean Gull – 6E
Sandwich Tern – 43E
Common Tern – 1E
auk sp – 9E
Short-eared Owl – 1N

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1530-1700hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver – 1os
Gannet – 34E, 20W
Shag – 1E
Common Scoter – 10E
Whimbrel – 2W
Turnstone – 1E
Great Skua – 1E
Mediterranean Gull – 1E
Sandwich Tern – 7E, 18os
Guillemot – 1E
auk sp – 6E, 1W

Ferry Pool: There were just a pair Avocets, a pair of Lapwing, c20 Teal and Shelducks and c40 Shovelers around the pool early on, with c30 Black-tailed Godwits roosting later in the morning, whilst the two Spotted Redshanks and ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit & Shelducks around the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham Churchyard: The first Cuckoo of the spring was in the churchyard early this morning. (A&YF)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail were by the reservoir this morning, with a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards over. (IP)

Church Norton: A Yellow Wagtail went along the beach, where there were two Wheatears, and a Whimbrel flew east offshore, but otherwise there wasn't much evidence of migration.

Three Blackcaps, a Pied Wagtail and a Chiffchaff were at Greenlease Farm, a Blackcap and five Chiffchaffs were in  Bluebell Wood and several more of the latter were in front of the carriage homes beyond the wood, whist there were also a Sedge and a Reed Warbler, plus a pair of Reed Buntings in the Severals and c20 Linnets along the front.

A Common Tern was in the harbour, as were both Peregrines, a lone Brent Goose, a pair of Teal, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, four Knot and 50 Dunlin, whilst c75 Golden Plovers were up high over the west side.(IP/S&SaH)

Wheatear (above) & Knot and Dunlin at Church Norton (IP)

North Wall: It was fairly quiet along the Wall this morning although a Willow Warbler was heard near the Breech Pool and so were at least three Sedge Warblers and a similar number of Cetti's Warblers. 

In the hedgerows there were the occasional Chiffchaff and Blackcap and the partially flooded fields contained about ten Shelduck, 20 Teal and a lone Brent Goose. About 30 Black-tailed Godwits and two Great Crested Grebes were in Whites Creek and six Swallows flew around Owl Copse. (IH/PC/LP)

Birdham: Two Egyptian Geese went south over the garden this evening - the first record here! (AB)

Earlier what were presumably the same birds were on Birdham Pool. (MR)

Egyptian Goose at Birdham Pool (MR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were three Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool this afternoon, with a Willow Warbler along the banks. (HB)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Viewpoint - A couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps around the Chainbridge field, plus a Swallow over,  were the only migrants noted, whilst there were three pairs of Stonechats and plenty of Skylarks and a few Linnets, Goldfinches and Greenfinches along the banks.

Two or three Corn Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers were feeding in the big barley field at Ham, with a couple of Reed Buntings by the viewpoint.

There were no waders in the tidal areas, though c30 Curlews were around the Chainbridge,field, and also a pair of Buzzards were displaying. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Skylark, Linnet, Greenfinch, Buzzards & Curlews at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton pits: Two Marsh Harriers, two Buzzards and a Red Kite were the best on offer this morning, whilst on the lakes there were 60 Greylag Geese and nine Teal, with most of the regular wildfowl species still present in much reduced numbers.

At least three singing Reed Warblers were on territory and other newly arrived migrants included five Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, four Blackcaps and c.15 Sand Martins. Residents included five Cetti's Warblers, two pairs of Reed Buntings and probably five pairs of Great Crested Grebe. (OM)

Male Marsh Harrier (above) and Red Kite at Drayton GPs (OM)

Saturday, 10th April: An unseasonably cold and very grey morning, with heavy cloud cover and a freshening north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: The highlight of a fairly slow morning was undoubtedly the Turtle Dove that was seen to fly in from far out to sea and eventually went right over the observers' heads.

Otherwise, a Bonxie, four Great Northern Divers, the Long-tailed Duck and an Eider were offshore and a Whimbrel, 38 Sandwich Terns, 40 Common Scoters and 109 Gannets went east. (SH/JA/BI/PB/IP/AH/SR)

(0600-0930hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver – 2os

Red-throated Diver – 2E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe – 1W

Fulmar – 4W

Gannet – 109E, 33W

Brent Goose – 1W

Eider – 1os

Long-tailed Duck – 1os

Common Scoter – 40E, 30os

Whimbrel – 1E

Great Skua – 1os

Mediterranean Gull – 31E

Common Gull – 6E

Sandwich Tern – 38E

auk sp – 1E, 10W

Turtle Dove – 1N

Pied Wagtail – 1E

Sandwich Tern (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

(1530-1730hrs) (SH/JA)
Great Crested Grebe – 1os
Fulmar – 1W
Gannet – 76E, 19W
Shag – 1os
Common Scoter – 95E
Turnstone – 19E
Arctic Skua – 1E (d/p)
Mediterranean Gull – 1E, 2W
Sandwich Tern – 20E, 5os
auk sp – 5E, 1W

Ferry Pool: There were just four Avocets, a dozen Teal and Shelducks and c40 Shovelers around the pool, whilst a Spotted Redshank and ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite.

The adjacent hedges also held at least eight singing Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps. (AH/IL)

Spotted Redshank (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Grey Wagtails were present this morning, along with a Swallow, a pair of Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Long-tailed Tit. (IP/S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were three Common Terns among the Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls on the mud and there were also two Whimbrel in the harbour, along with three Brent Geese, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, four Ringed Plovers and six Turnstones, plus the pair of Peregrines on their island, whilst ten Gannets were offshore, too.

A Reed Warbler and two Sedge Warblers were along the Severals, as were several Cetti's Warblers, a pairs of Little Grebes, Tufted Ducks and Gadwall and the pair of nesting Mute Swans, whilst two swallows came in off the sea near Bluebell Wood. (IP)

There were also at least three Bottle-nosed Dolphins offshore late this morning. (IL)

North Wall: Nine Swallows were over the Breech Pool this afternoon, with a pair if Little Grebes, a male Shoveler and a Mallard with five ducklings on the water and a female Marsh Harrier over the reeds.

Along the Wall there were two Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff and a calling Cetti's Warbler, whilst in Honer 2 field there were nine Teal, three Black-tailed Godwits and a Mute Swan.

Also, a Cattle Egret was seen taking nest material into Owl Copse. (JDW)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail and Porthole Farm - The Trail was very quiet, with just a half-hearted Willow Warbler, a few Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps heard singing, whilst over the settling tanks there were c50 Swallows and half a dozen House Martins, with a Pied Wagtail and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls on the tanks among the many Herring and Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

House Martin (above), Swallow & Chiffchaff at Medmerry (AH)