14th - 16th January 2022

Sunday, 16th January: Another warm and pleasant day, with a mix of sunshine and light cloud in a light south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Yellow-legged Gull - a surprisingly scarce bird here - was the highlight, though a Long-ailed Duck dropped in offshore and, oddly, 179 Gannes and 179 Kittiwakes went west. Full log below. (JA/BI/SR/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0730-0900hrs) (SW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 11W

diver sp - 3W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 5E, 179W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 4W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Eider - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 11W, 5os

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 5W

Yellow-legged Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 179W

Razorbill - 17W

auk sp - 2E, 77W

(1120-1250hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W

Great crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 5E, 77W, 10os

Common Scoter - 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 16W

Kittiwake - 2W

Razorbill - 7W

auk sp - 51W

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

Ferry Pool: Half a dozen Snipe were in the reeds, whilst at high tide up to 30 Avocets and 20 Black-tailed Godwits were roosting on the pool, along with a few Lapwings, and there were also a Gadwall and lots of Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal about.

Also, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch early on, whilst later, two Spotted Redshanks and the Kingfisher were in Ferry Channel. (AH/IP/GM et al)

Water Rail (above), Kingfisher, Spotted Redshanks (AH) & Avocets (GM) at the Ferry

Church Norton: It was a busy day in the fine weather, with a Yellow-legged Gull perhaps the most unusual bird, though the harbour also held a Merlin on top of the fence on Tern Island and a Spoonbill roosting towards the North Wall, along with a Kingfisher, a Goldeneye, the regular Whimbrel, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers, a dozen Pintail, 100+ Brent Geese, c400 Golden Plovers, c40 Avocets, c1000 Lapwings and lots of the regular wildfowl and waders. 

Offshore was good, too, including the Red-necked Grebe, 13 Slavonian Grebes, the two Long-tailed Ducks, three Eider, a Black-throated Diver, half a dozen Red-throated Divers, a dozen Razorbills, eight Red-breasted Mergansers  and also at least a dozen Gannets went west. 

A Marsh Harrier was over the Severals early on, but there weren't many passerines about, though, beyond a Reed Bunting, a Stonechat and a couple of Meadow Pipits along the west side, another Stonechat on the beach and a Goldcrest in the churchyard. (AH/IP/AB/GM/S&SaH/MRE et al)

Long-tailed Duck (SH), Yellow-legged Gull (BI), Goldcrest (GM), Kingfisher (SaH), Slavonian Grebes, Eider & Whimbrel (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Late this afternoon a Glossy Ibis dropped into Owl Copse, sitting out in the open with at least 20 Cattle Egrets joining it, whilst both Marsh Harriers were out over the Breech Pool and the Barn Owl was again around Halsey's Farm. (S&SaH/AH/AB)

Glossy Ibis (above) & Marsh Harrier at the North Wall (SH)

There were six Greenfinch and two Goldcrests down Church Lane this morning, whilst near high tide there were just a few Brent Geese, Teal and Wigeon on the water with lots of mixed waders further out in the harbour including a large number of Golden Plover.
A Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel were both in bushes behind the Breech Pool, whilst along the wall were three Rock Pipits and a Weasel with prey, whilst in the fields near Marsh Farm there were three Cattle Egrets. (LP)

Rock Pipit (above) & Weasel at the North Wall (LP)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was around again today. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - All of the action today was around the game cover field near Wilson's Farm where, after a bit of searching I came across a Corn Bunting, and surprisingly for January, it was singing. Also present was a flock of c30 Linnets, c75 Reed Buntings and c50 Yellowhammers alongside assorted Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane the Stilt Pool - The two Grey Partridges were still wisely keeping a low profile in their field near the car park, but the walk to the Stilt Pools was largely non-productive, with just a few Stonechats and Skylarks for company and the pools themselves held little of interest beyond half a dozen Dunlin, 20 Lapwing, four Gadwall, ten Shoveler and 20 Tufted Ducks. (SR)
Also, a Marsh Harrier was out hunting this morning, (NB et al), and this afternoon both Barn Owls were out hunting (RP).

Grey Partridges (above) & Tufted Duck at Medmerry (SR)

Saturday, 15th January: A mostly overcast and fairly cool morning in a light south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A few auks and Gannets going west was about it, with a mix of the regular species also present. (JA/PB/BI/IP/SR/P&LH/AH)

(0730-0900hrs) (SSW, F3)

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

Red-throated Diver - 11E, 13W, 3os

diver sp - 1E, 2W

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Gannet - 32W

Brent Goose - 3E, 14W

Eider - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 8W

Kittiwake - 7W

Razorbill - 1E, 35W

auk sp - 7E, 25W

Slavonian Grebe (above), Red-throated Diver & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much out of the ordinary here, with ten Snipe again in the reeds, c500 Lapwing and c150 Wigeon on the field, lots of Shoveler and Teal, plus five Shelducks, on the pool and the Kingfisher in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Church Norton: The pair of Long-tailed Ducks were again offshore today, along with four Eider, at least seven Slavonian Grebes, and possibly as many as ten, and two Sandwich Terns, whilst three Goldeneye, seven Red-breasted Mergansers, 37 Pintail and 42 Ringed Plovers were in the harbour. 

Also, a Firecrest and the Whimbrel were about, a Dartford Warbler was along the west side and 40 Avocets were off the end of Ferry Channel.(P&LH/IP/BFF et al)

Long-tailed Ducks at Church Norton (IP)

North Wall: The Barn Owl was showing along the rife this evening and at least 50 Cattle Egrets flew into the roost at Owl Copse. (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was in the fields today. (IP)

North Mundham: Four Cattle Egrets were in the village today. (MJ)

East Head: Three Razorbills and six Great Crested Grebes were off Ella Nore this morning, whilst eight Avocets and a Greenshank were in Snowhill Creek and c80 Golden Plovers, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and c1600 Brent Geese were also in the vicinity. (PH)

Sidlesham: A Raven went west over Cow Lane this morning. (AH)

Raven over Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was again on the Stilt Pool this morning (BI), whilst this afternoon a Barn Owl was out hunting and there were two Dartford Warblers and three Stonechats along the banks. (P&LH/S&SaH et al)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Easton Lane - There were still at least two Corn Buntings among the large numbers of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches present. (PB)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - It was very quiet this morning, with a single Stonechat and c50 Linnets near the windmill being the only passerines noted, and two Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe the only birds offshore.
A handful of Curlews and Oystercatchers were the only waders around the breach, with, otherwise c50 Brent Geese and Shelducks, c100 Teal, c30 Wigeon, five Pintail and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers present. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Wigeon at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 14th January: The spell of fine weather continues, with another crisp and bright morning after a frosty start, with the wind remaining light and from the north-east.....

Selsey Bill: A few Red-throated Divers were going east and west, but little else was on the move, though ten Eider were on the sea before heading off east, as did seven Shags, and a pod of at least seven, and possibly up to ten, Bottle-nosed Dolphins went through east Full log below. (BI/RP/MO-W/AH/SR)

(0745-0930hrs) (NE, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 21E, 39W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 7W

Shag - 7E, 1W

Brent Goose - 15E, 14W

Pintail - 8E

Eider - 10os, then E

Common Scoter - 7E

Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 3W, 1os

Turnstone - 3

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 2os

auk sp - 8E, 3W

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - min 7E

Eider (above), Shag, Red-throated Divers & Bottle-nosed Dolphins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least ten Snipe were in the roadside reeds and c150 Wigeon were on the field, whilst c100 Teal and Shovelers were on the pool and the Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A pair of Long-tailed Ducks were off the beach at midday today. (DC)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool this morning. (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Easton Lane - There was no sign of the Swallow around the sewage works this morning, with otherwise just a couple of Meadow Pipits and c100 Pied Wagtails present.

The cover crop field west of Wilson's Farm was thick with birds - primarily buntings - this morning, with rough estimates as follows - at least a dozen Corn Buntings, a minimum of 100 Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, c50 Chaffinches, c30 Greenfinches and Goldfinches, c50 Skylarks, ten Meadow Pipits, at least five Song Thrushes and c75 Stock Doves. (AH)

Corn Buntings (above), Yellowhammers, Reed Bunting & Stock Doves at Medmerry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were several hundred Brent Geese loafing all morning, 12 Ringed Plover were roosting on the salt marsh whilst later there were 100 Common Gulls at the top of the channel and a Chiffchaff was in the harbourside bushes.

At the Lavant Outfall there were about 100 Black-tailed Godwits roosting on a salt marsh island, with a pair of Goldeneye (and two Red-breasted Mergansers actively feeding out towards the main channel and two Pintail were close to the western shore, in with the many Wigeon and Teal. 

At Dell Quay there were three Greenshank and about 20 Turnstone among the commoner roosting waders, whilst another male Goldeneye was towards Birdham Marina. During the morning there were four sightings of Kingfisher and there were two Mistle Thrushes on the horse paddocks at Apuldram. (RW/SR)

Curlew (above), Kingfisher & Wigeon at Fishbourne creek (RW)

North Wall: This afternoon a Marsh Harrier appeared briefly over the Breech Pool, but other than a Snipe over and lots of Brent Geese coming and going it was very quiet, though two Cattle Egrets were sitting on the top of Owl Copse and a Barn Owl was hunting around Halsey's Farm at dusk. (AH/SP)

Barn Owl (above), Cattle Egret, Snipe & Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)