Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 4th

Tuesday, 6th April: A very cold and bright morning, with a brisk north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with no indications of migration. Full log below. (MO-W/IP/AH/SR/HR/DMe)

(0700-0830hrs) (NW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1W
Gannet – 1E, 10W
Common Scoter – 2E, 9W
Red-breasted Merganser – 1E
Turnstone – 4
Mediterranean Gull – 1W
Sandwich Tern – 3E

Great Northern Diver (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 24 Shelducks, c30 Teal and c50 Shovelers, whilst the two Spotted Redshanks and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The only obvious migrants were 12 Swallows over the fields, plus a Blackcap and a handful of calling Chiffchaffs.

Other birds seen included three flocks of Linnets, two Cattle Egrets amongst the herd, three Buzzards, two Kestrels, a Mistle Thrush, two Green Woodpeckers, a Jay, a Cetti's Warbler, four Long-tailed Tits and good numbers of Yellowhammer and Skylark in full song. (SR)

Church Norton: It was quiet here again in the wind, with a couple of Sedge Warblers on the Severals and half a dozen Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the bits of sheltered hedge being the sum of migrants, though a few Linnets were along the beach.

The Whimbrel and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were among the few wades present, though at lest 50 Shelducks were in the harbour, along with 100+ Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls among the vast numbers of Black-headed Gulls. (AH/A&YF/HR/DMe)

Whimbrel (above), Sandwich Tern, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

Ivy Lake: A look round at tea-time today started with warm sunshine as the wind briefly eased, and ended up in a blizzard!

Among birds seen while the going was good were c50 Sand Martins and c30 Swallows over the water, a singing Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs, an Egyptian Goose and at least 30 Pochard and 40 Tufted Ducks, plus four Greylag and 12 Canada Geese. (AH)

Sand Martin (above), Egyptian Goose & Pochard at Ivy Lake (AH)

Easter Monday, 5th April: A fairly dire morning, with a freshening and cold north-westerly under mostly leaden skies, though with the odd sunny spell.......

Selsey Bill: There is still little eastward movement, but there was again a selection of species seen, including the Long-tailed Duck offshore again, a couple of Swallows and Wheatears and a singing Willow Warbler. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/AH)

(0610-0900hrs), WNW, F3-4)
Great Northern Diver – 2os
Red-throated Diver – 1E
diver sp – 2E
Fulmar – 3W
Gannet – 25E, 33W
Shag – 3E
Shelduck – 1W
Long-tailed Duck – 1os
Common Scoter – 36E, 21os
Red-breasted Merganser – 1E, 2W
Grey Plover – 1W
Turnstone – 8E
Mediterranean Gull – 16W
Sandwich Tern – 17E, 6os
Razorbill – 4E
auk sp – 6E, 7W
Meadow Pipit – 7N
Pied Wagtail – 1W
Swallow – 2N
Wheatear – 2
Willow Warbler – 1
Linnet – 13N

Wheatears at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was just the usual mix on the pool this morning, including c20 Teal, c25 Shelducks and c40 Shovelers, along with the pair of Lapwing, whilst in the channel opposite the two Spotted Redshank were showing ell, along with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall and a few Redshank and Teal.

Two or three Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing around the Tramway circuit, but the only other bird of note was a Swallow over. (AH)

Also, the two Little Ringed Plovers were on the pool early on. (A&YF)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Redshank & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Wheatear was by the reservoir this morning, with a Willow Warbler, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, a Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker and two Shelducks also seen. (IP/SR/S&SaH)

Kestrel at Marsh Farm, Selsey (SR)

Selsey: A Pied Flycatcher was present in a Selsey garden at 1630hrs. (SW)

Church Norton: A Pied Flycatcher was at the back of Bluebell Wood early this afternoon, seen from Park Farm. (S&SaH)

Earlier there wasn't too much out of the ordinary, though a Red Kite went over Bluebell Wood, three Wheatears and, oddly, a Golden Plover were along the spit, a couple of Sedge Warblers and half a dozen Linnets were on the Severals and one or two Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were spread about elsewhere.

Three Brent Geese were in the harbour, along with 40+ Black-tailed Godwits and a few Sandwich Terns, Curlews and Redshanks, whilst a Mistle Thrush, five Stock Doves and c50 Mediterranean Gulls were along Rectory Lane, with a Swallow going over. (AH/IP/A&YF)

Golden Plover (IP), Sedge Warbler, Linnets, Black-tailed Godwit, Stock Dove, Mistle Thrsh and Mediterranean Gulls (AH) at Church Norton

Ivy Lake: A White Wagtail was in the horse field just south of Ivy Lake and at least 20 Swallows and Sand Martins feeding over the water. (AW)

White Wagtail (above) & Swallows at Ivy Lake (AW)

Sidlesham: A couple of Swallows were over the garden this afternoon and Mediterranean Gulls were constantly present. (AH)

Mediterranean Gull over Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A pair of Grey Partridges were in the company of a pair of Red-legged Partridges in the wheat field this evening, but there were no hirundines over the settling tanks, with a handful of Stock Doves, a couple of Skylarks the only other birds of note. (AH)

Grey Partridge (above) & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)

Easter Sunday, 4th April: Finally an easing of the wind, as it shifted north and then westwards, leaving a bright and sunny day.....

Selsey Bill: The elusive Red-necked Grebe was seen going east early on and the Long-staying Long-tailed Duck was offshore again, but otherwise there was little evidence of migration. Full log later. (JA/SH/BI/IP/AH/CN)

(0615-0930hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os
Red-throated Diver – 1E
diver sp – 1E
Red-necked Grebe – 1E (0707hrs)
Great Crested Grebe – 2E
Gannet – 7E, 22W
Shag – 5E
Brent Goose – 3E
Long-tailed Duck – 1os
Common Scoter – 87E, 6os
Red-breasted Merganser – 8os
Turnstone – 15W
Mediterranean Gull – 6E
Common Gull – 2E
Sandwich Tern – 22E, 8os
Common Tern – 2E
Green Woodpecker - 1
Meadow Pipit – 2N
Pied Wagtail – 3N
Chiffchaff – 1
Goldfinch – 3N

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1615-1800hrs) (SS, F5) (SH/JA)
Gannet – 4E, 7os
Shag – 1os
Brent Goose – 12E
Mallard – 1
Long-tailed Duck – 1os
Mediterranean Gull – 2E
Common Gull – 1E
Sandwich Tern – 4E, 7os
Guillemot – 1W
auk sp – 1E, 3W

Ferry Pool: The pool was quiet this morning, with just two Avocets, two Lapwings, a dozen Teal and 20 or so Shovelers and Shelducks present, whilst the Discovery Area just held a couple of singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. (AH)

A Marsh Harrier was seen flying between the Ferry and the sewage farm from the Medmerry Trail this morning. (CN)

The Spoonbill was visible from the Tramway this afternoon before flying up the harbour and the two Spotted Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Swallow was over the buildings, and a Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker and a Pied Wagtail were also present. (IP)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill was feeding in the main channel this morning. Also, a Coal Tit was at Greenlease Farm and Reed and four Sedge Warblers were singing from the Severals.

There were also four Swallows about, whilst a Willow Warbler was in Bluebell Wood and there were also a couple of Blackcaps and plenty of Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers about.

A Water Rail was heard and a Snipe seen at the Severals, whilst offshore there were a pair of Shovelers, a Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, with four more of the latter in the harbour along with 12 Brent Geese, seven Teal and three Gadwall.

Waders included 40 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Turnstones and four Ringed Plovers among the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers, whilst raptors comprised of a Sparrowhawk and three Buzzards. (MRE/IP/CN/S&SaH)

The Spoonbill was seen by a visiting birder to fly west out of the harbour at c1630hrs. (Eds)

Spoonbill at Church Norton (MRE, above & SH)

Drayton House Pits: There was a surprise on the pits this morning in the form of a 1st-winter type White-fronted Goose on the North pit. Please note that there is no public access (and additional signage to this effect has now appeared)....although viewing outside from the fenced-off gate or through the hedgerow is still possible.

Around 60 Greylag Geese and 20+ Canada Geese were also around the pits and adjacent fields, whilst a number of Pochard and Tufted Ducks still remain and a Marsh Harrier was also seen. Migrants included six Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers and three Blackcaps, whilst resident species included five Cetti's Warblers, a Bullfinch and a pair of Reed Buntings. (OM/BI)

White-fronted Goose (with Canada Goose and Tufted Ducks) at Chi GPs Drayton House (OM)

North Wall: It was quiet here, though c30 Sand Martins and half a dozen Swallows went over early on, with otherwise just two or three Sedge Warblers and up to five Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings along the wall, plus a couple of Chiffchaffs, with another at Halsey's Farm.

A Marsh Harrier popped up briefly, but beyond a lone Brent Goose and a few Shelduck and Teal there were few wildfowl about, whilst waders were restricted to a few Curlews in the fields and a few Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit in White's Creek. (AH/CRJ/TG-P)