Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 16th

Thursday, 18th November: A cool and grey morning in a moderate westerly breeze........

The Selsey Peninsula Checklist - including the totals for the Bill - have been updated and can now be viewed by clicking the tab on the menu bar. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A Velvet Scoter west was the highlight, with two Great Northern Divers and a few Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Guillemots and Razorbills also going mostly west. Full log below. (SR/PM/AH)

(0725-0925hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver- 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 26W, 10os

Brent Goose - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 8W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 19W

Dunlin - c200W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Common Gull - 5W

Guillemot - 8W

Razorbill - 3W, 4os

auk sp - 11E, 104W

Meadow Pipit - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Velvet Scoter (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Razorbill, Guillemots & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still a dozen Snipe at the front, with eight Black-tailed Godwits roosting, too, but otherwise there were just a handful of Wigeon, c75 Shoveler and c120 Teal present. (AH)

This afternoon, a Spoonbill was feeding on the Ferry (IL/SR)

Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Norh Wall and Pagham Lagoon: A Water Rail was at the back of the Breech Pool this morning and the Goldeneye was again on the Lagoon. (TB/NR)

Church Norton: The four Goosanders were well inside the harbour this morning, whilst among the many Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers were a lone Golden Plover, the Whimbrel and half a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst a Snipe dropped into the creek by the horse field, a Peregrine was on its island and there were numerous Brent Geese around the harbour.

There were still two pairs of Stonechats about, whilst the spit held 20+ Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were heard around the hide area. (AH/PM)

Also seen, along the west side, were a Water Rail in Reedy Marsh, three Egyptian Geese and a flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwit flying towards the Ferry, four Skylarks, a briefly glimpsed Dartford Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, three Greenfinches, two Linnets, a Reed Bunting, and a Stoat. (CRJ)

Goosander (above), Snipe, Peregrine & Golden Plover, Grey Plovers, Dunlin and Knot at Church Norton (AH)

West Wittering: Coal Tits are coming into our garden feeders again. (GM)

Coal Tit in a West Wittering garden (GM)

Wednesday, 17th November: After a brief spell of quite dense fog, another bright morning, a little cooler than of late in the light north-westerly breeze....

The Selsey Peninsula Checklist - including the totals for the Bill - have been updated and can now be viewed by clicking the tab on the menu bar. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A Red-throated Diver and a few Kittiwakes and Razorbills west was about it on a quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0720-0820hrs) (NW, F3)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 6W, 10os

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 4W

Razorbill - 12W

auk sp - 14W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Ferry Pool: The flock of a dozen or more Snipe were tucked away in the roadside reed-bed again this morning, with otherwise just a handful of Lapwings and Shelducks and 50+ Shoveler and Teal on the pool and the Kingfisher again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Snipe and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was back on the Stilt Pool today and a marsh Harrier was hunting on the reserve. (NB)

Church Norton: The first-winter Arctic Tern was again around the harbour this morning, whilst the four Goosanders and five Red-breasted Mergansers were near the harbour mouth and a Merlin was on Tern Island.

At least eight Bar-tailed Godwits, the regular Whimbrel and 50 Knot were among the many Grey Plovers and Dunlin, whilst 50+ Ringed Plovers.and Turnstones were along the beach, but the only birds offshore were a Slavonian Grebe, a Red-throated Diver and three Great Crested Grebes. There were eight more of the latter in the harbour, along with 50 Pintail and many Teal, Wigeon and Brent Geese.

Four Stonechats in the horse field and a Green Woodpecker and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipis along the spit were about the only land-birds seen. (AH/CRJ/DM/HR)

Later on, A young Swallow was hawking insects over the Severals. (N&C Peters per SOS)

Arctic Tern (above), Goosanders, Pintail, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Grey Plover, Ringed Plovers & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

Merlin & Dunlin and Grey Plovers (above) & Goosanders at Church Norton (CRJ)

Tuesday, 16th November: A lovely crisp and bright morning early on, slowing clouding over, though the breeze remained light and variable.....

Editorial: Thanks to all of you who have taken the trouble to contact me in respect of the recently updated Birding History of Selsey Bill and I am very pleased that it has been generally well received.

One of those who contacted me with complimentary remarks was Steve Hooper, a Hants birder who has been coming to the Bill for occasional visits over quite a long time and is well known to many. Unfortunately, Steve is now suffering a long-term heart condition that will seriously affect his ability to travel far or be out in the field for very long, but he has asked me to pass on his best wishes to all at the Bill.

I'll use his own words with the following quote from his message, which says it all....."of all the places I've visited over the years, Selsey Bill will always hold the happiest memories - partly for the birds, but mainly because of the wonderful people I met there over the years. So, one final request if you'll forgive me; much as I would have liked to pay a final visit to 'The Bill' to say farewell to all of you in person, I have to be realistic and admit that, barring a minor miracle, it's not going to happen, so please would you pass on my best wishes to all who know me? Many thanks."

Our best wishes to you Steve, and hang on in there! (OM/Eds)

Selsey Bill: Two Great Northern Divers going west and then back east, close in, were the highlights, with much of what activity there was happening way offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/KT)

(0725-0840hrs) (NNE, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, then E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Brent Goose - 6E, 8W

Common Scoter - 1W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 4W, 2os

Turnstone - 18E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 6E

auk sp - 2E, 36W

Pied wagtail - 2

Magpie - 6

Chaffinch - 1W

Great Northern Divers (above) & Mediterranean Gull a the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 15 Snipe were tucked into the roadside reeds this morning, whilst otherwise it was the usual mix of Shoveler and Teal, plus five Shelducks and c30 Lapwings, whilst the Kingfisher was by the sluice in the channel opposite. (AH)

Snipe (above) & Kingfisher around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was in the fields today, whilst two Lapwings went over. (IP)

Church Norton: An apparent first-winter Arctic Tern flew into the harbour at high tide this morning, whilst the four Goosanders were around Tern Island and at least 500 Brent Geese were spread about the area, along with many Teal and Wigeon and a pair of Gadwall.

There were large numbers of roosting waders, all disturbed by something unseen, including two Snipe near the concrete blocks, a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits and c50 Knot, but offshore there were just a Razorbill, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and half a dozen Great Crested Grebes.

Two pairs of Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and a few Linnets were around the start of the spit, whilst further down there were at least a dozen Skylarks and 20 Meadow Pipits.

Also, c40 Lapwings were along Rectory Lane. (AH/IP)

Later, the Goosander count had risen to five in the harbour, the Arctic Tern was still about, a Slavonian Grebe was on the sea, the Whimbrel was in the harbour and a Barn Owl was out hunting over the horse field. (MPr/SR/AB)