23rd - 25th May 2021

Tuesday, 25th May: The unsettled weather goes on, with another cool and blustery day, with the wind from the west, though with a bit more sunshine and less showers than yesterday...........

Selsey Bill: Three Arctic Skuas passed through the big Gannet and tern flock well offshore, stopping to mug the Sandwich Terns as they went, but generally it was quiet this morning. Full log below. (SR/MO-W/IP/AH)

(0700-0845hrs) (W, F5-6)

Gannet - 7E, 7W, c105os

Common Scoter - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 1W

Whimbrel - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p), 2os (l/p)

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - c30os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 6os

auk sp - 1E

Swallow - 5

House Martin - 6

Linnet - 1

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 2E, 7W

Sandwich Tern - 46os

Common Trn - 1os

Little Tern - 3os

auk sp - 1W

Kittiwake (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just four Avocets, a Lapwing, a Redshank, four Gadwall, two Tufted Ducks and c30 Shelducks on and around the pool this morning. (AH)

Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Early this morning a Yellowhammer was along the hedges - a scarce bird here, given how numerous they are a mile or so to the west at Medmerry, whilst at least six singing Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Sedge and Cetti's Warblers and up to ten Reed Warblers were also along the path and reed-beds, along with a handful of Linnets and a Reed Bunting.

A Little Grebe and a pair of Gadwall were on the pool, with another pair of the latter on Ferry Channel, along with eight Avocets and two Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a flock of eight Knot and a flock of c60 Dunlin went over, heading west. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above), Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Knot, Avocet, Little Grebe & Gadwall around the Long Pool (AH)

Chichester GPs: A Hobby, a Buzzard and pair of Pochard were around New Lake this morning, with a single male Pochard on Ivy Lake and about 20 Swifts feeding in the area. (MJ)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were two Lesser Whitethroats in the vicinity today. (IP)

Church Norton: The Spotted Flycatcher was again present, though elusive in the oak trees, but a couple of Swallows over were the only other migrants seen, with a Curlew in the harbour, plus six Turnstones, four Dunlin and several Oystercatchers. 

There were still a couple of pairs of Little and Sandwich Terns passing fish and displaying, but most were settled on the island or on the mud. Sixteen Little Terns were also feeding close inshore from the Spit.  (AH/IP)

A Spotted Flycatcher was in Bluebell Wood, where a pair of Jays and a Green Woodpecker were also present, whilst three Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were over Priory Wood and the second Several held five Gadwall and a dozen Tufted Duck  - all bar one of which were males. (IP)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Eleven Cattle Egrets were among two herds of cattle, a Cuckoo was calling from the direction of Owl Copse and c20 Swallows and Swifts were over the meadows, whilst small birds - heard rather than seen - included numerous Skylarks, four Yellowhammers, five Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler.

Also, a Jay was in the hedges and five Shelduck and a Grey Heron were seen along, with a Brown Hare and a rather bedraggled Painted Lady butterfly. (SR)

Cattle Egret (above) & Brown Hare at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Monday, 24th May: Yet another cool and windy day, with a fresh south-westerly pushing through belts of heavy squally rain.......

Selsey Bill: Three Great Northern Divers went west this morning, along with seven Manx Shearwaters, whilst a few Kittiwakes and Gannets were going in both directions, with a big but distant feeding flock of the latter, too. Full log below.  (AH/MO-W/SR)

(0645-0830hrs) (SW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 3W

Manx Shearwater - 7W

Fulmar – 1E, 1W

Gannet – 45E, 17W, 70 (distantly) os

Common Scoter - 9E, 8W

Kittiwake - 5E, 7W

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Common Tern - 6os

Guillemot - 1E, 3W

auk sp - 1E

Swallow - 3W

Later in the morning, 25 Manx Shearwaters went west, including a flock of 16, and three Arctic Skuas went east...

(1100-1220hrs) (SSW, F6) (BI/SR)

Manx Shearwater - 25W

Gannet – 2E, 5W

Arctic Skua - 3E (2 d/p together, 1 l/p)

Kittiwake - 17W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Common Tern - 2os

Guillemot - 2W

auk sp - 1W

Swift - 1N

(1630-1745hrs) (SH)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 2E, 18W
Kittiwake - 5W
Sandwich Tern - 30os
Common Tern - 2os

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

Ferry Pool: A Ruff and a Little Ringed Plover were in the concealed pool this morning, along with an Avocet, a Lapwing and a pair of Redshank with two chicks.

Another five Avocets were on the main pool, along with four Gadwall, three Tufted Ducks and 30 Shelducks, whilst two Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Gadwall were in the channel opposite. (AW/TG-P/AH)

Ruff (above), Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit & Gadwall around the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: West side - There was an amazing report of a Long-eared Owl seen in flight at 1719hrs this afternoon. (per S. Elliott on Facebook)

Long-eared Owl at Medmerry (S Elliott)

Church Norton: There were up to a dozen Sanderling, half a dozen Ringed Plovers, two Turnstones and c120 Dunlin around the harbour this morning, whilst 20 Common Terns and similar of Little Terns were among the Sandwich Terns sitting out.

A Spotted Flycatcher was in the big oak at the bottom of the path to the harbour during a heavy squall, but couldn't be re-found, whilst otherwise there were a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats about, with a Skylark singing from the spit, and there were seven Great Crested Grebes in the harbour, too.. (AH)

Dunlin (above), Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone, Whitethroat, Little and Sandwich Terns & Common and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Just about the only wader seen this evening was a summer-plumaged Knot, whilst there were sill lots of terns about. (AH)

Knot with Black-headed Gulls (above) & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 23rd May: Another cool and very blustery day, with a strong south-westerly breeze, mostly heavy cloud and the odd shower....

Selsey Bill: There was still a bit of variety on a slow morning, including 47 Common Scoters east and 23 Kittiwakes, nine Fulmars, seven Sanderling and two Guillemots west. Full log below. (SH/JA/PB/AH/BI/MO-W/SR)

(0515-0830hrs) (SSW, F5)

Fulmar – 9W

Gannet – 19E, 11W

Common Scoter – 47E, 15os

Sanderling – 7W

Kittiwake – 23W

Sandwich Tern – 30os

Common Tern – 15os

Little Tern – 3os

Razorbill – 1E

Guillemot – 2W

auk sp – 1E

Swift – 4N

Swallow – 1N

House Martin - 7

(1400-1600hrs) (SH)
Manx Shearwater – 1W
Fulmar – 6W
Gannet – 5E, 16W
Kittiwake – 9W
Sandwich Tern – 77os
Common Tern – 4os
Little Tern – 4os
Razorbill – 1W
Guillemot – 2W
auk sp – 1W
Common Seal – 1os

Fulmar (above), Common Scoters & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning a lone Avocet was the only wader on the pool, with just three Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Ducks and a dozen Shelducks the only other birds present, along with a Whitethroat in the hedge of opposite. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

It was a lot more interesting later this morning, with a Ruff, a Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and three Avocets present, plus a Peregrine over. (CRJ)

None of the interesting waders were present this evening, though two Egyptian Geese dropped in and the Avocet count had risen to nine. (AH)

Egyptian Geese on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Flycatcher was along the hedge behind the stables this morning, whilst 30 Swifts and a handful of Swallows were over the Breech Pool and a few Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing from deep in the reeds.

The male Marsh Harrier popped up a couple of times and a Cuckoo called from Halsey's Farm direction, but there were no waders at all and the only wildfowl were a handful of Shelducks and Tufted Ducks around the Breech Pool. (PC/CT/DHi/AH)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Swift at the North Wall (AH)

Honer Reservoir: Around 30 Swallows and 20 Swifts were feeding over the reservoir, which also held four Shelducks and eight Tufted Ducks, but that was it beyond a calling Cuckoo, a Whitethroat and a pair of Linnets. (AH)

Swallow (above), Swift & Linnet at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Church Norton: This evening there were six Sanderlings, with 80 or so Dunlin and 20 Ringed Plovers, out on the mud in front of the hide. (AW)

Sanderlings at Church Norton (AW)

Chichester GPs: Vinnetrow Lake - A pair of Greylags with three well-grown goslings were along the road to the caravan park, whilst at least 100 Swifts were over the lake. (AH)

Greylag Goose family at Chichester GPs (AH)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - The most obvious feature on arrival was the number of Swifts feeding over the pits - a conservative estimate of 200+ with a dozen or so House Martins mixed in. 

A Cuckoo was singing well and showing briefly, no doubt taking an interest in the many singing Reed Warblers present, whilst other passerines noted included Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits and Song Thrushes. A pair of displaying Buzzards and a male Marsh Harrier were also noted.

On the water were a dozen or so of Pochard and Tufted Duck, a few Gadwall, several Great Crested Grebes - including the first pair with young - several Little Grebes, two pairs of nesting Mute Swans and another (the third) pair of Greylag Geese with small young. (OM)

Male Marsh Harrier (with Swift), Great Crested Grebe with young and Swifts over Drayton House GPs (OM)

Chichester Canal - Crosbie Bridge to the sea: Reed Warblers were very much in evidence, and there was a Reed Bunting and two Cetti's Warblers calling along with three Blackcaps. Two large families of Long-tailed Tits were in the willows, three Whitethroats were about along with two Little Grebes, two pairs of Tufted Duck, a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard. 
One pair of Swans had three cygnets whilst another pair was still on eggs. Two Coots were still sitting whilst 12 pairs had young, and two Swifts, six House Martins and four Swallows flew over the water. (SR)

Long-tailed Tit at Chichester canal (SR)