Monday 10 January 2022

10th - 13th January 2022

Thursday, 13th January: Another beautiful morning, after a frosty start, with more or less unbroken sunshine in a light northerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: Nothing much was moving, though eight Eider, three Slavonian Grebes and eight Great Northern Divers were about this morning. Full log below.(MO-W/P&LH/AH/SR)
(0750-0935hrs) (NNE, F1-2)
Great Northern Diver -  1W, 7os
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 13W, 3os
diver sp - 1W
Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 5W, 1os
Brent Goose - 17W
Eider - 8os
Common Scoter - 34W
Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 13W, 7os
Turnstone - 19
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 3os
auk sp - 8W

Slavonian Grebe (above), Great Northern Diver & Eider at the Bill (AH)


Ferry Pool: Half a dozen Snipe were in the reeds, with 100+ Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler, plus a couple of Shelducks on the pool, whilst the Kingfisher, six Redshanks and c50 Teal were in the channel opposite and two water Rails were in Red Barn Ditch. (AH/RP/P&LH)

Kingfisher (above) & Teal in Ferry Channel (AH)

Marsh and Chalder Farms, Sidlesham: It remains quiet here with around 40 Cattle Egrets dotted about the fields, three flocks of Long-tailed Tits, the usual Pied Wagtails and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
The farmer had seen a large flock of Wigeon and Teal on the marsh and an impressive flock of c1000 Brent could be seen making their way toward the North Wall. (SR)

Church Norton: There were 12 Slavonian Grebes on a flat calm sea this morning, along with two Eider and three Great Crested Grebes, but the only other birds seen offshore were a flock of eight Red-throated Divers heading west.
The Whimbrel was in the harbour again, whilst both Peregrines were about, upsetting the huge flock of waders  -predominantly Dunlin - out on the mud, and there were also 200+ Brent Geese about.
The only passerines of note were a Firecrest, with a few Long-tailed Tits, in the bushes between the Severals and a Chiffchaff and two Redwings in the churchyard. (AH/RP/P&LH)

Firecrest (above), Slavonian Grebes, Red-throated divers & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)




Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn- The two Grey Partridges were once again in the wheat field near the car park this morning, and again this afternoon, whilst both Barn Owls were out hunting late on. (P&LH/GT/AH)


Barn Owl (above) & Grey Partridges at Medmerry (AH)







Wednesday, 12th January: A lovely, sunny winter's morning in just a light northerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: A Slavonian Grebe and a Shag went east, and a few divers were about, though it was generally quiet. (SR/AH/MO-W)
(0800-0930hrs) (N, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Red-throated Diver - 10E, 10W, 2os
diver sp - 1E
Slavonian Grebe - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 8E, 1W
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 12E, 4os
Turnstone - 10
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Razorbill - 4E, 2W, 1os
auk sp - 1E, 12W


Red-throated Divers (above), Shag & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)


Ferry Pool: There were at least 800 Lapwings, 150 Wigeon and 20 Black-tailed Godwits around the fields, with up to six Snipe in the reeds, c100 Teal and Shoveler on the pool and the Kingfisher in the channel opposite. (AH)

Snipe (above), Kingfisher & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)


Fishbourne Creek: There were a pair of Goldeneyes, two female Red-breasted Mergansers, a Kingfisher, three Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank along the creek this morning, along with vast numbers of Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal and the usual waders.
There were also at least 200 Common Gulls among the gull roost, whilst a couple of Rock Pipits were along the strandline, a Sparrowhawk went over and a Coal Tit was singing from Apuldram church car-park. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser & Brent Goose at Fishbourne Creek (AH)




Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A Barn Owl was out hunting this afternoon, whilst a single Egyptian Goose, a couple of Stock Doves and a Stonechat were near the reservoirs.
Also, a helicopter put up at least 500 Lapwings, 200 Golden Plovers, 50 Shelducks and 200 Wigeon from out on the reserve. (AH)


Barn Owl (above), Egyptian Goose, Stonechat & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)



Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The Swallow was still going strong at the sewage works this afternoon and an unseasonal Painted Lady was nearby. (AW) 

Swallow (above) & Painted Lady at Medmerry (AW)





Tuesday, 11th January: Another mild and overcast morning, after a foggy start, with the breeze slight and from the south west.......

Selsey Bill: The Red-necked Grebe was off Hillfield Road, and there were also six Slavonian Grebes and eight Eider on the sea, whilst a few Kittiwakes and Gannets, followed by a lot of distant auks, started heading west. Full log later. (SR/KT/AH/KJ et al)
(0800-0945hrs) (SSW, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 6W
Slavonian Grebe - 6os
Red-necked Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 36E, 63W
Brent Goose - 2E
Eider - 1W, 8os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W
Kittiwake - 104W
Razorbill - 167W, 11os
auk sp - 107E, 523W

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

Ferry Pool: At least ten Snipe were in the reeds this morning, with the usual Shovelers and Teal on the pool, c150 Wigeon on the field and he Kingfisher again in the channel opposite. (AH) 

Snipe at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - The two Grey Partridges were again in the wheat field near the car park today. (IP)



Monday, 10th January: A murky, but mild, morning with just a light southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A surprisingly interesting morning, with three Velvet Scoters going west and the Red-necked Grebe, up to nine Slavonian Grebes and nine Great Northern Divers around, too. Full log below. (PM/MO-W/SR/IP/RP/AH/TR et al)
(0750-0935hrs) (ENE, veering SSE, F2)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 8os
Red-throated Diver - 4E, 36W, 1os
Red-necked Grebe - 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 8E, 1os
Great crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 6E, 6W, 5os
Brent Goose - 9W
Eider - 5os
Velvet Scoter - 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 17E, 7W, 13os
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 1os
Guillemot - 1E, 1os
Razorbill - 2os
auk sp - 1E, 1W

Great Northern Diver (above), Velvet Scoters & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)


Ferry Pool: Visiting birders reported a Hen Harrier going over west, early on, whilst later at least eight Snipe were in the reeds, c75 Shovelers and c100 Teal were on the pool, c100 Wigeon and c500 Lapwings were on the fields and the Kingfisher was by the pumps in the channel opposite. (AH/TR et al)

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

Fishbourne Creek: A brief visit this morning produced three Spotted Redshanks feeding together in the channel and a Firecrest in the hedgerow near the church.  Several hundred Brent Geese were coming and going and a single Snipe was on the saltmarsh, as was a Rock Pipit, but otherwise it was standard fare. (OM/BFF)

Church Norton: The Long-tailed Duck was offshore again this morning, along with three Eider and a handful of Mediterranean Gulls, Red-breasted Mergansers and Red-throated Divers, with another six of the latter heading west.
At least one Dartford Warbler was around the bushes at the front of the first Several, but there wasn't too much of note in the harbour beyond the regular Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers. (PM/AH/TR et al)

Dartford Warbler (above), Eider & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)


Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - The two Grey Partridges were still in the field near the car park, two Egyptian Geese were near the flint barn, and a Cetti's Warbler was seen in the bushes along with nine Yellowhammers and four Stonechats, whilst two Dartford warblers were heard, but not seen.
The Stilt Pools held two Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 50 Lapwing, a Little Grebe, four Shoveler, ten Gadwall and 20 Brent Geese, along with the usual Tufted Ducks, Teal and Wigeon. (SR/AH)
This afternoon, two Barn Owls were showing well. (AW)

Grey Partridges (AH) (above) & Barn Owl (AW) at Medmerry


East Head: Two Black-throated Divers were off Ella Nore at midday today, and there were also a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, six Razorbills and four Guillemots in the area. (PH)

Black-throated Divers (above), Great Northern Diver & Red-throated Diver at East Head (PH)










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