1st - 3rd May 2021

Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd May: A shift back to the south-west for the increasing and blustery wind, with the threat of gales later....which duly arrived by early

evening.

Selsey Bill: There were 100+ Common Scoters and three Arctic Skuas heading east, but most of the activity was of terns going back and forth, whilst a Hobby came in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/PM/IP/MO-W/AH/OM et al)

(0530-1200hrs) (SW, F4) (JA/SH/BI/PM/IP/MO-W/AH/OM/NM et al)

Great Northern Diver – 4os
Red-throated Diver – 1W
diver sp – 1W
Fulmar – 2E, 8W
Gannet – 89E, 140W
Shag – 1E
Brent Goose – 16E
Common Scoter – 142E
Hobby – 1N
Sanderling – 12W
Dunlin – 4W
Whimbrel – 1W
Bar-tailed Godwit – 1W

Arctic Skua - 3E
Kittiwake – 2W
Sandwich Tern – 50os
Common Tern – 21os
Little Tern – 15os
Razorbill – 4W, 2os
Guillemot – 3W
auk sp – 115E, 12W
Swift – 10 N
Swallow – 22N
Yellow Wagtail -1N

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

In the strengthening wind this afternoon a Pomarine Skua went east, along with seven Manx Shearwaters, with another 13 of the latter going west, and an Arctic Tern was among the terns offshore. Full log below.  (SH/JA/PB/AH/AW)

(1300-1700hrs) (SW, F7)

Red-throated Diver – 1E

Great Crested Grebe- 1W

Manx Shearwater – 7E, 13W

Fulmar – 1W

Gannet - 24E, 19W

Common Scoter – 1W

Pomarine Scoter – 1E (1435hrs)

Kittiwake – 6W

Sandwich Tern – 40os

Common Tern – 9os

Arctic Tern – 1os

Little Tern – 4os

Guillemot – 1W

auk sp – 7E, 7W

Swallow – 13N

Manx Shearwater (above), Pomarine Skua, Arctic Tern (AW),  Kittiwake, Little Tern & Common Tern (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The pool held a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, four Redshanks, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Avocets at high tide this morning, but a pair of Teal and six Shelducks were the only wildfowl present. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank and Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon there were two Common Sandpipers on the pool, as well as a Little Ringed Plover. (AW/AH/IP)

Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around the north of the village and the farm this morning there were two Wheatears, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Whitethroats and four Swallows, whilst three Sandwich Terns went over. (S&SaH)

Northcommon Farm: A Spotted Flycatcher was at 'Flycatcher Corner' this morning. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher at Northcommon Farm (AW)

Fishbourne Creek: On the falling tide this morning there were 13 Greenshank , ten Whimbrel and a single Turnstone along the channel, whilst the three Black Swan were off Dell Quay with 117 Mute Swan widely spread, two Brent Geese were mid-channel and two Common Terns were perched on a buoy and then actively feeding.

The usual concentration of gulls at Fishbourne contained six Lesser Black Backed Gulls, whilst two Mediterranean Gulls drifted over. Also, the bushes held five Whitethroats and a Cetti's Warbler was heard at the Lavant Outfall. (RW)

Marsh Farm Sidlesham and Honer Reservoir: In the fields to the immediate east of Marsh Farm there were four Cattle Egrets and 14 Whimbrel, whilst here were at least 12 more Cattle Egrets in various fields north-east of the farm.

Apart from a pair of Tufted Ducks there were only a few Coot and Mallard on Honer reservoir, with a Cuckoo along Pagham Rife. (JDW)

Cuckoo at Pagham Rife (JDW)

North Wall: There were no waders on the flooded fields this morning, with just c20 Shelduck and a few Mallard present, whilst White's Creek just held two Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

The male Marsh Harrier popped up briefly at the back and a Cattle Egret flew out from Owl Copse, but otherwise there was little to report beyond a lot of singing Whitethroats, Reed and Sege Warblers, all keeping low in the wind. (AH)

Later, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were singing in Owl Copse, a Cuckoo and pair of Red Legged Partridges were at Macracarpa Copse and a Garden Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler were at Bremere Bridge Copse.

Marsh Harrier (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel & Shelducks at the North Wall (AH)

Sunday, 2nd May: Less chilly this morning with just a very light northerly breeze to start but becoming variable later, with a mixture of sunshine and cloud and the risk of an occasional light shower....

Selsey Bill: A generally slow morning, though there was a bit of variety, including another Hobby in off the sea, a Black Tern lingering offshore and up to seven Great Northern Divers. Full log below. (SH/JA/IP/BI/SR/RDS/AH/CN)

(0530-0930hrs) (N, F2 to E, F3 to SSW, F3-4) 

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Northern Diver - 7 os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 3W

Gannet - 20E, 15W

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 2 os

Mallard - 3

Common Scoter - 24E

Sparrowhawk - 1 area

Hobby - 1N

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Ringed Plover - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 11E, 1W

Common Sandpiper - 1E

Sanderling - 8E, 1os

Dunlin - 1E

Great Skua - 1E

Little Gull - 2E

Little Tern - 8 os

Black Tern - 1 os

Common Tern - 27E

'Commic' Tern - 84E

auk sp - 7E
Swallow - 22N

House Martin - 3N

The undoubted highlight of a slow sea-watch this afternoon was a Cory's Shearwater seen well, albeit fairly distantly, heading east offshore at 1638hrs. Full log below.   

(JA/SH/CN/AH/IP/SR)

(1430-1730hrs)

Red-throated Diver – 1E
Great Crested Grebe – 1E
Cory’s Shearwater – 1E (1638hrs)
Fulmar – 1E, 1W
Gannet – 37E, 18W
Mediterranean Gull – 1os
Kittiwake – 2W
Sandwich Tern – 30+os
Common Tern – 5os
Little Tern – 8os
Razorbill – 1E
auk sp – 3E, 1W

Common Tern (above), Sanderling and Dunlin & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Ten Avocets were on the pool this morning, but otherwise there were just six Shelducks, a pair of Teal and two drake Gadwall present, with a couple of Whimbrel in the channel opposite.

A Cuckoo was by the Small Pool, but a look round the Tramway just produced lots of Whitethroats and the odd Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat & Avocet around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm: A Wheatear and a Swallow were present this morning (SH)

Wheatear (above) & Swallow at Park Farm, Selsey (SH)

Warner Lane Paddocks: The paddocks held a Wheatear, six Linnets, six Greenfinches, two Song Thrushes, a Pied Wagtail, eight Whitethroats and a pair of Swallows were around the stables. (SR)

Church Norton: Early this morning a Cuckoo was at the front of the Severals with a Wheatear on the beach. There were at least 20 Whimbrels among sea-grass on the falling tide and a Yellow Wagtail flew east along the spit. (AW)

There wasn't too much else today, though at least ten Little Terns and a few Common Terns were among the Sandwich Terns, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits and three Dunlin were among the few waders present and a Gadwall was in the harbour.

Several Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were among the many Whitethroats present, whilst both Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing in the Severals and up to a dozen Swallows and a Sparrowhawk went over. (IP/CN/AH/CRJ/RJS et al)

Cuckoo,  Wheatear (AW), Sparrowhawk & Bar-tailed Godwit (AH) at Church Norton 

North Wall: A Wheatear was along the Wall this morning, whilst on or around the Breech Pool were a male Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, three Swifts, three Whitethroats, at least five Cetti's Warblers, five Reed Buntings and the usual prominent and singing Reed and Sedge Warblers.

Around the Honer 1 field and area there was no sign of the drake Garganey (nor indeed the Ruff or Wood Sandpiper), but 12 Greenshanks were present (including the 'short-billed') - with another six on the harbour side - whilst other species recorded included three Black-tailed and six Bar-tailed Godwits, six Whimbrel, 48 Shelduck, a drake Shoveler and a Gadwall.

At Owl Copse c.7 Cattle Egrets were noted - including some carrying nesting material, whilst also noted were three Little Egrets and two Grey Herons. A calling Cuckoo was also in the Owl Copse area, whilst in the wider area what appeared to be three further birds were also heard - so probably a total of four birds were present (including the one on the Church Norton side). (PB/AGB)

The Garganey was re-located mid-afternoon, viewable in the Honer fields from the North Wall, before flying to the back of the Breech Pool, and there were also a Little Ringed Plover and three Greenshank present. (CN)

Long Pool: Two Spotted Redshank were in the middle of Ferry Channel, a pair of Lapwings with two chicks were in the first arable field and a pair of Little Grebes had a couple of small chicks on the pool itself, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedges this evening. (AB/AH)

Lapwings from the Long Pool (AH)

Saturday, 1st May: The new month started with an unseasonably sharp frost, but soon warmed up to leave a pleasantly sunny morning in a light north-easterly breeze, though clouding up by lunchtime....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, but there was still a selection on the move east, including 115 Brent Geese, with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose among them, as well as a Bonxie and an Arctic Skua, with two Hobbies in off the sea and the big pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins showing off their acrobatics again. 

There was also a curious goose among one flock that superficially looked  like a White-fronted Goose, but may possibly have been a curious-looking possible Brent x White-front hybrid that was later seen at Seaford. Unfortunately, from the distant pictures below it is not entirely certain!  Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/IP/MO-W/BI/SR/AH/OM)

(0515-0930hrs) (E, but variable, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver – 4os

diver sp – 1E

Fulmar – 1E, 2W

Gannet - 30E, 14W

White-fronted Goose or possiblr hybrid - 1E

Brent Goose – 115E

Pale-bellied Brent Goose – 1E

Shelduck – 2W

Common Scoter – 9E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Hobby – 2N

Oystercatcher – 4E, 1W

Ringed Plover – 4

Sanderling – 8E, 4W

Dunlin – 7E, 2 present

Turnstone – 15

Great Skua – 1E

Arctic Skua – 1E (l/p)

Sandwich Tern – 36os

‘Commic’ Tern – 20E, 30os

Little Tern – 18E, 14os

auk sp – 1E, 1W

Swift – 1N

Pied Wagtail – 1N

Swallow – 3N

House Martin – 2N

Bottle-nosed Dolphin – c14E

(1400-1700hrs) (SH/JA)
Great Northern Diver – 4os
Red-throated Diver – 1E
Fulmar – 1E
Gannet – 21E, 6W
Common Scoter – 6E
Great Skua – 1os
Sandwich Tern – 40os
Common Tern – 10os
‘Commic’ Tern – 65E
Little Tern – 7os
Razorbill – 1os
auk sp – 2W
Swallow – 9N

White-fronted (or possibly hybrid) and Brent Geese (above), Brent Geese, Hobby, Swift & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 12 Avocets, a pair of Lapwings, five Black-tailed Godwits and six Shelduck on the pool this morning, though two Spotted Redshanks and two Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Also, a female Ring Ouzel was seen briefly along the cycleway, but could not be relocated. (IL)

Spotted Redshanks (above) & Whimbrel in Ferry Channel (AH)

North Wall: The drake Garganey was again in Honer 2 field this morning, whilst a Wheatear was along the wall. (NR/JDW)

Church Norton: A Hobby went over this morning, whilst a Common Sandpiper was near the spit and there were also a Knot, a Whimbrel, eight Grey Plovers, nine Dunlin and two Ringed Plovers in the harbour, along with three Brent Geese and plenty of the regular warblers singing well around the place. (IP).

This evening there were five Whimbrel, four Dunlin and eight Turnstones in the harbour, with eight Common Terns among the many Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls coming and going. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - A Garden Warbler and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats were in the hedges, along with lots of Whitethroats and Blackcaps, whilst a few Swifts were among the hirundines at Porthole Farm. (BI) 

Also, a Cuckoo was at the back of Ferry Field. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was generally quiet this morning, though two Greenshank and a Whimbrel were in the creek by the poplars and the White-fronted Goose was again on the Stilt Pool, along with two Brent Geese, two Egyptian Geese and ten Canada Geese, but a dozen Avocets were the only other waders seen.

A couple of Cuckoos were making their presence known, whilst Whitethroats and Linnets were in all the banks of gorse, one or two Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers were in the pools and a few Swallows went over but there were few other passerines about. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, White-fronted and Canada Geese, Egyptian Geese, Brent Goose & Fox at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: There were nearly 40 Greylag and 16 Canada Geese spread between the two pits this morning, with two pairs of each showing off the first broods of the season. Wildfowl numbers have now dwindled, as expected, but a small number of Pochard and Tufted were still to be found, plus a pair of Gadwall, a few Mallard and several Great Crested Grebes.

A mini survey revealed no less than 29 singing male Reed Warblers around the North pit, with at least another ten on an incomplete count of the South pit. Other species logged included a Marsh Harrier, a pair of Buzzards, a Lesser Whitethroat, several Common Whitethroats, six Blackcaps, a few Cetti's Warblers and two Reed Buntings. (OM)

The first broods of Canada Geese (above) and Greylags at Drayton House GPs (OM)