Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 25th

Tuesday, 27th April: The wind finally eased to leave a lovely, warm and sunny morning - after another cold and frosty start - with the light breeze varying from NE to SW and all stages in-between!

Selsey Bill: A Pomarine Skua went east at 0652hrs, whilst three Bonxies, an Eider, c30 Bar-tailed Godwits and c50 Whimbrels also went east and a Manx Shearwater went west. A Garden Warbler was in the gardens and another was singing before finally showing in the hedgerow of the Oval Field and a couple of Wheatears were along the beach. Full log below......

(0530-1230hrs): (wind NE - SW, light F2) (PB/PM/JF/A&YF/IP/OM/AH/CRJ et al)

Red-throated Diver - 4E

Great Northern Diver - 2 os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 36E, 10W

Manx Shearwater - 1W (1120hrs)

Canada Goose - 7W

Brent Goose - 20E

Eider - 1E

Shelduck - 2E

Common Scoter - 27E

Long-tailed Duck - 1 os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 5E, 1W

Whimbrel - 52E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 31E

Grey Plover - 13E

Sanderling - 28E

auk sp - 2E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0652hrs)

Great Skua - 3E, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 10E

Sandwich Tern - 75E (including 60 os which later drifted E)

Common Tern - 30 os which later drifted E

Little Tern - 10 os which later drifted off E

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 101N

House Martin - 1N

Wheatear - 2 ob

Garden Warbler - 2

Chiffchaff - 2

(also 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins W)

(1715-1900hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver – 1os
Manx Shearwater – 2W
Gannet – 13E, 2W
Whimbrel – 1E
Arctic Skua – 4E (2 l/p, 2 d/p)
Mediterranean Gull – 6os
Sandwich Tern – 75os
Common Tern – 10E, 20os
Little Tern – 4os

Garden Warbler at the Oval Field (above), Whimbrels & early-morning moon! (PM)

Common Tern, Wheatear, Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover, Brent Geese and Fox at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: On the high tide late this morning, a Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and two Spotted Redshanks were on the pool, whilst earlier there were 12 Avocets, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Teal.

A Bar-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and three Whimbrel were in the channel opposite earlier on, whilst around the Tramway circuit there were numerous Blackcaps and Whitethroats, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat and two Reed Warblers. (CS/AH)

This afternoon, a Common Sandpiper was on the pool, along with the Little Ringed Plover and 18 Avocets. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Avocet, Blackcap & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A mixed flock of c.20 Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel were over Park Farm this morning, whilst a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also present. (IP)

North Wall: Two Whimbrels and three Greenshank were out in the harbour this morning, a Snipe flew over, a Kestrel sat in the trees on the East Side, while in the reeds there were Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, the occasional call of a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Buntings.

A pair of Gadwall, a Shoveler, two Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe were on the Breech Pool, with a calling Cuckoo, male and female Marsh Harriers and three circling Buzzards to the north.

At least two Common Whitethroats and two Blackcaps were in the hedgerows while a Green Woodpecker flew across the horse paddocks where, apparently, a Common Redstart was seen yesterday. (IH/NR/LP/JDW/AT)

Honer Reservoir: There was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck today, with just a Common Sandpiper of note, along with a pair of Gadwall and three pairs of Tufted Ducks. (JDW)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: At least 11 Cattle Egrets were in the fields north-east of the farm this morning, whilst Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroat and Yellowhammers were singing along the concrete road south of the farm (JDW)

Church Norton: A Common Sandpiper was along the spit this morning and the Cuckoo was showing well near the first Several. There were c.20 each of Common and Little Terns in the harbour, whilst 30 Bar-tailed Godwits and a couple of Turnstone and Dunlin were also present

and sixteen Whimbrel flew east along the shoreline.A Wheatear was opposite the first Several in the gorse plus at least one pair of Reed Buntings and lots of calling Reed, Cetti's and Sedge Warblers. At least two Lesser Whitethroats were also in the bushes and several Common Whitethroats were displaying and singing everywhere. A Garden Warbler was singing from the back of the second Several plus it or another in Bluebell Wood. (IP)

Cuckoo at the Severals, Church Norton (IP)

This evening at least 30 Bar-tailed Godwits and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel were spread about the harbour and beach, whilst at least 50 Mediterranean Gulls were around the harbour. (AH)

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Bar-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were three Black Swans in the creek this morning. (RP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were three Greenshank in the gully near the poplars, and the gorse was alive with Linnets, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats, but the pools were empty of waders except for twenty-two Avocets, although three Whimbrel flew over. (AW)

Greenshank (above), Avocet & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to the Breach - There were lots of Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler and a scattering of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Reed and Sedge Warblers around the hedges at Chainbridge, with at least a dozen Skylarks, half a dozen Meadow Pipits, two pairs of Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and a few Linnets along the banks this morning, whilst at least 20 Swallows went over.

At least 40 Bar-tailed Godwits were in the tidal areas, along with three Whimbrel and eight Dunlin, but that was about it. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Swallow, Skylark & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 26th April: Yet another cold, bright morning in a brisk north-easterly .....

Selsey Bill: A Serin that flew in off the sea at 0845hrs was the highlight this morning, though the Whinchat was still in the gardens and a Black-throated Diver, three Arctic Skuas together and a flock of Arctic Terns went east. Full log below......

(0530-1600hrs): (wind NE5-ENE4) (JA/BI/JF/IP/OM/A&YF/AH/SR/CRJ et al)

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Great Northern Diver - 2 os

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet- 144E, 19W

Mute Swan - 1 os drifted W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 8E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Hobby - 1N

Whimbrel - 19E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 84E

Grey Plover - 2E

Sanderling - 3E, 1ob

Turnstone - 1E, 4 ob

Arctic Skua - 6E

Great Skua - 3E, 2os

Kittiwake - 14E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Little Tern - 15E

Arctic Tern - 7E

Common Tern - 69E

Sandwich Tern - 152E, 35 os

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 8E, 4W

Swift - 5N

Swallow - 10N

House Martin - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Whinchat - 1 gardens

Wheatear - 1 ob

Serin - 1N

(1615-1830hrs) (SH)
Gannet – 37E, 7W
Bar-tailed Godwit – 54E
Eider – 2os
Great Skua – 9E
Mediterranean Gull – 2E, 1os
Sandwich Tern – 16E, 8os
Common Tern – 5E, 8os
Little Tern – 2os

Little Terns (above), Common Tern, Arctic Skua, Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Red-breasted Merganser, Grey Seal & Fox at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were ten Avocets on the pool again this morning, along with eight Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshank, a pair of Teal and 15 Shelducks, whilst a Spotted Redshank and three Whimbrel were in the channel opposite early on, and later two Greenshank were there.

At least two Lesser Whitethroats were calling around the Tramway, along with plenty of Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus the odd Chiffchaff, whilst a Raven and three Swifts and a couple of Swallows went over. Also, a pair of Stonechats were seen carrying food at the back of Ferry Field. (AH/TG-P/AT)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshanks, Whimbrel & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo was calling continuously from the Priory this morning, whilst Lesser Whitethroats were calling at the Severals and Greenlease Farm, but other warblers were keeping low, including numerous Blackcaps and Whitethroats and a couple of Chiffchaffs and Sedge Warblers, whilst half a dozen Swallows went over.

There wasn't too much out of the ordinary in the harbour besides a handful of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst a pair of Mistle Thrushes were in the churchyard. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Chiffchaff & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were 10 Cattle Egrets around the North fields and a Lesser Whitethroat in the hedgerows. (TG-P)

Medmerry: Around the Toe End area there were five Corn Buntings this afternoon, with 85 Bar-tailed Godwits in the tidal area. (TG-P/AW)

Corn Bunting (above) & Bar-tailed Godwits at Medmerry (AW)

Sunday, 25th April: Another bright morning, but still cool in the very fresh north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly, a much quieter morning than yesterday, though there were still some bits moving, including a few Arctic and Common Terns and a couple of Bonxies were lingering offshore, whilst a Whinchat was in the gardens and a few Swifts and Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/PB/AB/IP/AH/OM/CRJ/CBC&MaC et al)

(0515-1300hrs) (E, F5-6)

Red-throated Diver - 2E
Great Northern Diver - 2 os
diver sp - 2E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1 os
Fulmar - 4E, 5W
Gannet - 154E, 26W
Shag - 1E
Shelduck - 3W
Common Scoter - 35E, 7W
Shoveler - 2 os
Teal - 2 os

Buzzard – 1 area

Grey Plover - 2E
Ringed Plover - 3W
Oystercatcher - 3E, 1W
Whimbrel - 58E, 1W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 95E
Turnstone - 2E
Arctic Skua – 3E, 1 os
Great Skua – 1E, 2 os
Little Gull – 8E
Kittiwake – 3E
Common Gull – 6E
Mediterranean Gull – 3E, 3W
Little Tern – 12E
Arctic Tern – 18E
Common Tern – 142E
‘Commic' Tern – 41E
Sandwich Tern – 123E

Guillemot - 1E
auk sp – 32E, 6W

Swift – 10N
Yellow Wagtail – 4N
Swallow – 25N
Whinchat – 1 gardens
Wheatear – 1N, 3 ob
Chiffchaff – 1 gardens

Whinchat (AB, above), Bonxie, Little Tern & Common Tern (AH) at the Bill

Two more Pomarine Skuas went east this afternoon, along with two Bonxies, an Arctic Skua and 82 Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst a Hobby came in off the sea. (SH/JA/SR/SHo)

(1415-1730hrs)

Great Crested Grebe – 2E

Gannet – 41E, 4W

Long-tailed Duck – 1os

Common Scoter – 2E, 8os

Hobby – 1N

Peregrine – 1os

Bar-tailed Godwit – 82E

Whimbrel – 6E

Great Skua – 3E, 1W, 1os

Pomarine Skua – 2E (l/p 1555hrs)

Arctic Skua – 1E (l/p)

Mediterranean Gull – 2os

Lesser Black-bcked Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern – 6E, 37os

Common Tern – 3E, 1os

‘Commic’ Tern – 9E

Little Tern – 3os

Swift - 2N

Swallow - 2N

Ferry Pool: There were just ten Avocets, six Shelducks and a Lapwing on the pool, with a Whimbrel and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank in the channel opposite. (AH)

Also, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler were singing in a bush on the cycle path to the harbour , with several Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs near by. (A&YF/RJS)

Later on, a male Cuckoo flew across the Ferry Channel and perched up by the Long Pool this morning - it called briefly, but didn't seem to hang around.

Also on the pool there were a single Bar-tailed Godwit, a few Black-tailed Godwits, two Spotted Redshanks, a Snipe and two Teal, with a Wheatear on the field behind. (HB)

Avocets (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and three Whitethroats were around the waste ground by Ocean Air, unusually, there were six Whimbrel at the small balancing pool on Manor Lane.

At Park Farm itself there were three Wheatears, a Stonechat, a Lesser Whitethroat, four Whitethroats and three Willow Warblers, with two Swallows and three Swifts over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo was calling from the Priory, a Swift and two Swallows went over, two Wheatears were on the beach and a Peregrine and 20 Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour.

There were also plenty of warblers about, including six Sedge Warblers, two Reed Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats, four Whitethroats, six Blackcaps and two Chiffchaffs, plus a Reed Bunting around the Severals and two Whitethroats and four Blackcaps, plus the pair of Mistle Thrushes, at Greenlease Farm. (S&SaH)

North Wall: There were plenty of Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers head along the wall, but most remained unseen in the strong breeze, though two Gadwall were on the Breech Pool and the male Marsh Harrier was briefly up at the back.

A look from the end of White's Creek on the high tide produced c60 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrel, the oddly short-billed Greenshank back again, c150 Grey Plovers, c100 Dunlin, a handful of Knot and a lone Brent Goose, all put up by a big female Peregrine. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin, Greenshank, Peregrine, Brent Goose & Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Ham Farm - A Cuckoo was heard calling to the north of the trail, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat was by the bend on the concrete road, three Willow Warblers and plenty of Whitethroats in the sheltered hedges and five Swifts were among the hirundines over the water treatment works.

Also, a Corn Bunting and two Stonechat were near Ham Viewpoint. (IP)

This evening at Porthole Farm there were half a dozen Swifts among c200 Swallows and c50 House Martins over the fields. (AH)