26th - 28th December 2021

Bank Holiday Tuesday, 28th December: A mild and mainly cloudy day with the odd brighter period and a blustery south-westerly wind, driving through frequent showers during the morning....

Selsey Bill: Gannets were passing through in both directions, whilst Red-throated Divers did likewise, a couple of Tufted Ducks went west and up to nine Eiders were logged, but otherwise it was standard fare. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/AH/CRJ/P&LH/KT/AW)

(0740-1000hrs)  (SW, F5)

Red-throated Diver - 16E, 6W, 1os

Great Northern Diver - 1E

diver sp - 3E

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Gannet - 89E, 67W

Tufted Duck - 2W

Eider - 3E, 6os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 7W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 8E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 1 os

Razorbill - 8E, 5W, 1os

Guillemot - 1 os

auk sp - 16E, 2W

Later, there was some further movement and also a Black-throated Diver offshore. (P&LH/SH)

(1240-1500hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 8W, 2 os

Black-throated Diver - 1 os

Gannet - 10E, 19W

Brent Goose - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 2 os

Common Gull - 1 os

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Razorbill - 1E, 1W

auk sp - 3E

Guillemot (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Sandwich Tern off the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were 47 Avocets roosting at the back this morning, though only a handful of Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings and no Snipe, whilst wildfowl included c50 Shovelers and c80 Teal. Also, the Kingfisher was briefly in the channel opposite. (AH/PB/AGB et al)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were three Marsh Harriers over the Breech Pool this afternoon, whilst three Greylag Geese were at Halsey's Farm. (AW)

Marsh Harriers (above) & Greylag Geese at the North Wall (AW)

Church Norton: A flock of at least 60 Gannets were feeding close inshore this morning, but a Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be seen on the sea.

The regular Whimbrel was in the harbour, along with a Red-breasted Merganser and three Little Grebes, whilst the two Peregrines were upsetting the many Knot, Grey Plovers and Dunlin present. (AH/P&LH/PB/AGB et al)

Gannets (above), Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

Bank Holiday Monday, 27th December: A pretty horrible, wet morning in a moderate south-easterly breeze........

Selsey Bill: A Bonxie went east this morning, along with five Slavonian Grebes and three Eider, whilst there were lots of Gannets close inshore. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/AH)

(0745-1000hrs) (SSE, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 11E, 12W, 10os

Slavonian Grebe - 5E

Gannet - 97W, 26E

Shag - 1E

Eider - 3E

Common Scoter - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 8W, 5os

Great Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 18E, 20W

Razorbill - 1E, 32W, 23os

auk sp - 40E, 31W

Bonxie (above), Shag, Red-throated Diver & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were six Avocets on the pool again this morning, along with c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c50 Lapwings, whilst half a dozen Snipe were in the reeds and the Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Church Norton: From the hide at low tide early this afternoon there were a Red-breasted Merganser, an Avocet, a Little Grebe, three Brent Geese, six Pintail, c60 Wigeon, c20 Teal, the regular Whimbrel, c300 Dunlin, c300 Knot, c200 Grey Plover and a Kestrel, whilst the churchyard held another Kestrel, a Mistle Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (SR)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (SR)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The Swallow was still around the settling tanks this morning, along with a Stonechat, a Buzzard and four Pied Wagtails, whilst c50 Fieldfares, eight Redwings, two Mistle Thrushes and  c100 Brent Geese were in the nearby fields, along with two more Buzzards.. 

There were also lots of birds around the game cover field west of Wilson's Farm again, including c100 Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers and c50 Chaffinches and Greenfinches. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: There wasn't much to report this morning beyond a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank, along with c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c500 Lapwings, c200 Black-tailed Godwits and c500 Dunlin. (AH/BI)

Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit & Dunlin at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Boxing Day, Sunday, 26th December: A mild, but murky morning, with heavy cloud and spells of drizzly rain in a light southerly breeze......

Some sad news to impart I'm afraid....I have very recently learned of the Covid-related passing of Eric Standing (from Littlehampton) on 23rd December. Eric may not have been known to many of the more recent observers as he spent a great deal of his time around his local patch at Climping. However he also made many visits to the Peninsula over the years, especially favouring the Pagham Harbour area. He was not one to criticise others and was invariably the same whenever you met him.... a thoroughly decent guy and a reliable observer. I am still in shock and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.(OM)

Selsey Bill: The Red-necked Grebe was offshore briefly before drifting off east, and there were also seven Slavonian Grebes about, too. Full log below. (SH/SR/BI/AH/CRJ/IP/CN)

(0745-0930hrs) (S, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 19E, 6W, 7os

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2E, 5os

Gannet - 94E, 10W

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 3W, 6os

Grey Plover - 1W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 5E, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Guillemot - 1os

Razorbill - 5E, 1W, 4os

auk sp - 6E, 3W

Red-throated Diver (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were six Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c40 Shoveler and c60 Teal, whilst a least six Snipe were in the reeds, c150 Wigeon dropped into the field, c80 Lapwings went over into the harbour and the Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocets & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were at least four Slavonian Grebes, an Eider and eight Red-throated Divers on the sea this morning, with two Sandwich Terns, six Mediterranean Gulls and c30 Teal going west and a big, but distant, flock of 100+ Gannets feeding well offshore.

The harbour held the usual mix of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers, whilst a huge flock of c500 Golden Plovers and c2000 Lapwings went up from the north of the harbour. (AH)

Eider (above), Red-throated Diver, Teal, Lapwing and Golden Plovers & Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were quiet this morning, with just two Yellowhammers, two Pied Wagtails and a Cetti's Warbler noted, with 31 Brent Geese, 100+ Lapwings and a Peregrine on/over the reserve.

There was nothing of note on the Stilt Pool, though a Red-throated Diver and four Gannets were offshore. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The one remaining Swallow was still around the settling tanks this afternoon, along with a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Chiffchaffs, whilst c120 Stock Doves and c180 Brent Geese were in the adjacent fields. (AH)

Swallow (above), Grey Wagtail & Stock Doves at Medmerry (AH)