Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 22nd

Wednesday, 24th November: Another virtually still morning, but mostly cool, grey and overcast......

Selsey Bill: Three Egyptian Geese went west this morning - a new species for the Bill for all those present, but otherwise little was on the move, though six Great Northern Divers were offshore. Full log below. (PB/PM/SR/AH/IP)

(0715-0930hrs) (NW, F1)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 14E, 2W

Brent Goose - 2E, 1W

Egyptian Goose - 3W

Wigeon - 13W

Common Scoter - 11E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E

Peregrine - 1E

Sanderling - 12W

Dunlin - 10W

Turnstone - 5W

Guillemot - 1E, 1W, 1os

Razorbill - 3E, 3W, 1os

auk sp - 21E, 63W

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 4

Mistle Thrush - 1

Egyptian Geese (above) & Mistle Thrush at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just three Snipe were in the reeds, with otherwise c70 Shovelers and c100 Teal on the pool, whilst the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite, the Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch and 14 Avocets and c400 Golden Plovers were off the Tramway. (AH/PB/PM)

Kingfisher at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were six Slavonian Grebes offshore from the far end of the spit - the first time more than one has been seen this autumn, and there was also a Great Northern Diver on the sea.

There was also a Dartford Warbler along the spit, a Marsh Harrier hunting over the harbour, a Buzzard on the mud, being mobbed by crows, the female Goldeneye, the four Goosanders and six Bar-tailed Godwits near the mouth and 200+ Golden Plovers at the far end of the harbour. (PB/PM/IL/NR/TG-P/AW)

Dartford Warbler (above) & Slavonian Grebe at Church Norton (AW)

East Head: The two Velvet Scoters were still off of Ella Nore this morning. (PH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: No obvious sign of any cold weather influx here, the best counts being 45 Shoveler, c.70 Tufted Ducks and c.80 Pochard. Three Snipe were along the reed edge and Water Rails seemed very vocal today, with at least five different birds involved, whilst a similar number of Cetti’s Warblers matched them in volume. (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This afternoon two Short-eared Owls and a Barn Owl were out hunting over the reserve, and the Spoonbill was again on the Stilt Pool. (JMD)

Fishbourne Creek: There were lots of birds present, but not much variety, with the highlights being singles of Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, four Rock Pipits, five Pintail and 50 Turnstones.

Thee were also 1000+ Brent Geese present, mostly towards the Marina, along with 500+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 50+ Common Gulls, 50+ Grey Plovers, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 200+ Lapwings and innumerable Dunlin. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Pintails, Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Gulls & Rock Pipits at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Tuesday, 23rd November: A lovely, sunny morning, with the north-easterly breeze dropping considerably overnight........

Selsey Bill: There was a lot less activity offshore than yesterday, but a lingering Swallow and two Sandwich Terns complimented the sunshine! Full log below. (AH/SR/KT)

(0725-0855hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Brent Goose - 1E, 1W

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon - 4E

Teal - 4E

Shoveler - 7E

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W

Lapwing - 1os (on bar), then W

Turnstone - 4

Sandwich Tern - 2E

auk sp - 15E, 6W

Swallow - 1

Pied Wagtail - 1

Swallow (above), Sandwich Tern & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Up to 18 Snipe were tucked away in the reeds this morning, though otherwise there were just c50 Shovelers and c75 Teal on the pool. (AH)

Snipe on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were 440 Brent Geese in the field due south of Shipverling Barn and included the white-headed individual that has been recorded during the last two winters, whilst at least a 100 Wood Pigeons and Starlings were feeding in the recently ploughed fields west of Pagham Road, and a charm of Goldfinches and a pair of Stonechats and Green Woodpeckers were around Church Barton reservoir.

It remains quiet along the Wall, though with water levels on the Breech Pool remaining low it had attracted a Jack Snipe and 12 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a brief appearance by a Water Rail . (JDW/MP)

Stonechat (above) & Brent Geese around the North Wall (JDW)

Ivy Lake: A redhead Goosander was on Ivy Lake this morning. (DC)

Church Norton: Two Sandwich Terns, presumably those seen at the Bill earlier, drifted east offshore, whilst an Avocet was on the mud near the benches, but otherwise it was the regular mix of waders, including at least 400 Dunlin together on the mud, with plenty of Brent Geese still about, as well as Pintails, Wigeon and Teal.

The hedges remain very quiet, though the Dartford Warbler popped up briefly along the edge of the horse field and a a couple of Reed Buntings and a dozen Greenfinches were around the start of the spit, with a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits further along. (AH)

Avocet (above), Dunlin, Brent Goose, Pintails, Reed Bunting & Greenfinches at Church Norton (AH)

Later on, there was another Dartford Warbler at the far end of the spit, whilst a Slavonian Grebe was on the sea and the four Goosanders were back in the harbour. (IL)

Dartford Warbler at Church Norton (IL)

Monday, 22nd November: A cold and bright morning, with a brisk north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including two single Goosanders east, a Velvet Scoter that dropped in on the sea, a few Red-throated Divers west and a selection of dabbling ducks moving about in both directions, whilst a few small Starling flocks were also arriving. Full log below.... (AH/OM/SR/IP)

(0730-1200hrs): (NE, f 4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 5 os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 10W, 2os

diver sp - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 32W

Brent Goose - 14E, 32W

Shelduck - 1W

Common Scoter - 5E, 9W

Velvet Scoter - 1 os

Goosander - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 3W

Teal - 11E, 85W

Wigeon - 51E, 7W

Pintail - 23E, 6W

Shoveler - 8E, 7W

Golden Plover - 1E

Turnstone - 25 ob

Oystercatcher - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1E, 3W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 16E, 127W

Starling - 71N

Pied Wagtail - 2

Goosander (above), Red-throated Diver, Common Scoters & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least a dozen Snipe were at the front, with three Shelducks and at least 80 Shovelers and 100 Teal also present, whilst the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Northcommon Farm: Four Swallows were around the farm this morning. (AW)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier was over the wall early this morning. (GHi)

Church Norton: An apparent family group of Bewick's Swans - the first on the Peninsula since 2012 - flew in from the east, went north over the harbour before coming back round, and finally headed off west.

Also the four Goosanders were in the harbour again and there were lots of the regular waders out on the mud. (AW)

Later, at least 500 Dunlin were on the mud and at least 60 Pintail were among the many Wigeon, Teal and Brent Geese in the harbour, and a Mistle Thrush was around the car-park.. (AH/CRJ)