Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 20th

Wednesday, 22nd December: Another cold morning in a brisk south-easterly breeze, after an early frost, but a little brighter than of late......

Selsey Bill: A Velvet Scoter and four Shags went east, and 30 Sandwich Terns were off the Mile Basket rocks before most headed off west, but there wasn't much on the move beyond a few Red-throated Divers. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0800-0930hrs) (SE, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 8E, 15W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 2E

Velvet Scoter - 1E

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

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Razorbill - 4E

auk sp - 8E

Velvet Scoter (above), Shag & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a handful of Shovelers and Teal on the pool this morning, possibly as a consequence of the shooters being in the adjacent fields, whilst there were just eight Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and five Snipe present, whilst the Kingfisher was in its usual spot in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocets & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Spoonbill was in White's Creek again this morning, along with a total of 178 Golden Plovers. (AW)

Spoonbill (above) & Golden Plovers at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: A Black-throated Diver and five Eider were offshore today, whilst a Sanderling was on the beach. (G Watton per Twitter)

Black-throated Diver (above), Eider & Sanderling at Church Norton (G Watton)

Fishbourne Creek: This afternoon there were 12 Pintail in with the more numerous Wigeon, a Greenshank was roosting with the commoner waders and about 400 Brent Geese flew in from the east, remaining for about 30 minutes before flying off to the east.

A Stonechat was along the fence-line, whilst at the Lavant outfall there were two Goldeneye and six Great Crested Grebes and a Kingfisher was between Apuldram and the boatyard. (RW)

Hunston: Two Cattle Egrets were in roadside fields today. (IL)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Easton Lane - At least one Swallow was still around the settling tanks this morning, though feeding very low down and surprisingly elusive. There were also at least six Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail, c20 Meadow Pipits and c150 Pied Wagtails around the compound, with c50 Stock Doves and c200 Brent Geese on the adjacent fields.

The block of cover crop along the path to Easton Lane was full of birds, including at least 100 Reed Buntings, and similar of Yellowhammers and Chaffinches, c30 Greenfinches and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, plus a pair of Stonechats. Also, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were about. (AH)

Swallow (above), Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Stock Doves, Buzzard & Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 21st December: It remains cool and overcast, with the breeze still from the north-east, though a little lighter...

Selsey Bill: Over 20 Red-throated Divers went west, as did a dozen Sandwich Terns, over 40 Wigeon and a Fulmar, though otherwise it was just the regulars species. Full log below. (AH/IP/MO-W/SR)

(0800-0930hrs) (ENE, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 9E, 25W, 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 14E, 8W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 4W

Wigeon - 43W

Teal - 4os

Shoveler - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Turnstone - 9E, 32W

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1W, 1os

Common Gull - 3E

Kittiwake - 15E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 12W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 6E, 5W

auk sp - 58E, 2W

Common Scoters (above), Red-throated Diver & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were up to 75 Shovelers on the pool this morning, along with c100 Teal and 26 Avocets, with a dozen Snipe in the roadside reeds. (AH)

Snipe (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Late this afternoon, a Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

North Wall: Around Church Barton reservoir there were six Fieldfares and a male Marsh Harrier, whilst the Spoonbill flew into reeds at the back of the Breech Pool and remained out of sight.

In Honer 3 field the five Barnacle Geese were among 270 Brent Geese, with at least 1500 of the latter out in the harbour. There were also six Roe Deer just north of Welbourne stables. (JDW)

Barnacle Geese (above) & Roe Deer at the North Wall (JDW)

Church Norton: There were a minimum of 12 Red-throated Divers offshore this morning, including seven together, briefly, whilst there were also three Slavonian Grebes, five Eider, a Razorbill and two Great Crested Grebes present, along with a few Mediterranean and Common Gulls.

Two Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour, along with 100+ Teal, 40+ Pintail and at least 500 Brent Geese, plus lots of roosting waders. (AH)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Red-throated Divers & Common Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill to Toe End - The two Purple Sandpipers were present again, with one dropping in among a flock of 30 Dunlin and c20 Sanderlings before flying over to the far side, and the other remaining just below the viewpoint, along with another Sanderling, a dozen Dunlin and c30 Ringed Plovers.

There were also two Red-breasted Mergansers in the breach and two Rock Pipits and a pair of Stonechats around the rocks, with another pair of the latter at the windmill end. (AH)

Purple Sandpiper (above), Sanderlings, Sanderlings, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, Rock Pipit & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 20th December: Another cool and grey morning, in a moderate north-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: Just the usual mix of birds moving about, though a Tufted Duck went east with a small flock of Common Scoters. Full log below. (AH/SR/MO-W/IP)

(0800-0930hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 4W, 1os

Gannet - 5E, 8W, 2os

Brent Goose - 4E

Shelduck - 8W

Wigeon - 25W

Shoveler - 1W

Tufted Duck - 1E

Eider - 3W

Common Scoter - 7E

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 6W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Guillemot - 1os

Razorbill - 2E, 2W, 2os

auk sp - 4E, 4W

Guillemot (above), Razorbill & Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 150 Wigeon were around the pool this morning, along with 28 Avocets, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Snipe, c50 Shovelers and c100 Teal, whilst a least 500 Brent Geese went over west. (AH)

Later, a female Marsh Harrier was hunting along the side of the pool. (AB)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The five Barnacle Geese were in the fields at Halsey's Farm this morning and the Spoonbill was again in White's Creek. (TG)

Medmerry: Toe End - Two Purple Sandpipers were among the roosting Ringed Plovers and Dunlin this morning, viewable from the Breach viewpoint. (BI)

Purple Sandpipers with Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Toe End (BI)

Church Norton: There were three Red-throated Divers together and eight Eider (groups of three and five) offshore this morning, along with a few Mediterranean and Common Gulls, plus 50 Turnstones on the beach.

The harbour was quiet, though, beyond a Peregrine on its island, the large feeding flock of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers,c40 Teal, c50 Shelducks and c500 Brent Geese. (AH)