1st - 3rd January 2022

Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd January: Another grey, but mild, morning in a blustery south-westerly......

Selsey Bill: A couple of Slavonian Grebes went west, as did a flock of 13 Pintail, and up to seven Great Northern Divers were around, though not too much was on the move. Full log later. (SH/JA/BI/AH/SR)

(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 7os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 4W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2E, 105W

Brent Goose - 13W

Shelduck - 1E, 2W

Pintail - 13W

Common Scoter - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 13W

Turnstone - 10

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Guillemot - 2W, 1os

Razorbill - 8W, 1os

auk sp - 12W

(1400-1500hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 6W, 20os

Sanderling - 8E

Turnstone - 4

Common Gull - 2W

Razorbill (above), Kittiwake, Pintail & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early on, a pair of Kestrels were sitting on the hedge and the Kingfisher was on the usual perch in the channel opposite.

Later, at high tide, there were two pairs of Gadwall on the pool, along with at least 40 Avocets, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Shoveler and c80 Teal, and c200 Lapwings were on/over the fields. (AH/GSh/RP)

Avocets (above), Shovelers (AH), Kingfisher & Gadwall (GSh) at the Ferry

Church Norton: There was a surprise offshore this morning, in the form of a Black-necked Grebe on the sea - the first on the Peninsula since November 2019. 

Also seen offshore up to five Red-throated Divers, at least ten Eider, and a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers, with a Great Northern Diver, a Sandwich Tern, a Razorbill and half a dozen Gannets heading west.

Two more Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, along with three Goldeneye, at least nine Red-breasted Mergansers, six Little Grebes, the Whimbrel and lots of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers, whilst 670 Golden Plovers were heading west at the far end of the harbour and a Stonechat was by the concrete blocks. (AH/BI/MPr /SH et al)

Black-necked Grebe (above), Red-throated Divers, Red-breasted Merganser, Whimbrel & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier were present this afternoon. (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The Swallow was still over the sewage works this morning. (SR)

Medmerry: Toe End - A Purple Sandpiper was roosting among the Ringed Plovers on the shingle this morning, near the Breach. (BI)

Medmerry: Barn Owls were reported from both Chainbridge field (TG-P) and the Marsh Barn area (T Randall/B Thompson) this afternoon.

Sunday, 2nd January: Another warm morning for the time of year, overcast, though with the odd sunny interval in a moderate south-westerly breeze.....with heavy cloud and rain by afternoon.

Selsey Bill: The Red-necked Grebe popped up again offshore, along with up to five Slavonian Grebes, whilst a few Kittiwakes and Gannets were moving west. Full log later. (SH/JA/IP/OM/MO-W/AH/SR)

(0745-0930hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W, 2os

diver - 5E, 2W

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 4W, 1os

Gannet - 10E, 105W

Brent Goose - 3W

Eider - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 19W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 28W

Guillemot - 2W, 1os

Razorbill - 6W, 2os

auk sp - 38W

Slavonian Grebes (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & SH and OM beating a hasty retreat from the rising tide at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 40 Avocets were roosting on the pool, along with the usual 50+ Shovelers and Teal, whilst 40 Black-tailed Godwits, c300 Lapwings and c100 Wigeon were on the fields. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham churchyard: The Firecrest was still present this morning. (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was in the fields this morning. (S&SaH)

Hunston Copse: A Tree-creeper was present this morning. (BI)

Runcton: A male and female Blackcap were feeding on the spindleberries in our garden today. (CRJ)

Apuldram: A Coal Tit was in the church car-park this morning. (BI)

Church Norton: Eight Eiders were together offshore this morning, along with a at least four Red-throated Divers, three Great Crested Grebes and eight Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst two Great Northern Divers and two Red-throated Divers went west.

The Whimbrel, along with half a dozen Snipe and a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits were among the vast numbers of waders trying to settle on the very high tide, whilst there were plenty of Wigeon, Teal and Brent Geese about, too.

A Stonechat was at the start of the spit, a Cetti's Warbler was in the second Several, a Mistle Thrush, two Jays and two Goldcrests were in Rectory Lane, with two more of the latter between the Severals, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the car-park. (AH/OM/IP/S&SaH)

Red-throated Diver (above), Eider, Snipe, Whimbrel, Jay, Grey Plover & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

New Year's Day, Saturday, 1st January: A fairly bright and mild morning in a moderate southerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe going east, fairly close in, was the highlight, with otherwise just a mix of the regular species. (SH/JA/BI/IP/AB/P&LH/CN/AH/SR/CRJ et al)

(0745-0945hrs) (SSE, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 3W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 22W, 3os

diver sp - 1E, 1W

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 12E, 67W, 25os

Brent Geese - 21E, 3W

Common Scoter - 3E, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 5W, 5os

Peregrine - 1W

Turnstone - 40

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 4E, 12W

Guillemot - 1os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 9W

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

Ferry Pool: At least 45 Avocets and 20 Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, along with c50 Shoveler and Teal, whilst c50 Wigeon were on the field. (AH)

Later, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail were in Red Barn Ditch. (RP)

Also a Raven went over the Knight fencing compound (S&SaH) and then over the Ferry (CN).

Avocet, Black-tailed Godwits and Shelducks (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The four redhead Goosanders reappeared in the harbour mouth this morning, along with a Goldeneye and four Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst a Slavonian Grebe and three Eider were offshore. (IP/CN/S Malcolm et al)

Also, two Dartford Warblers and a Kingfisher were reported from the west side (per RP)

North Wall: The Spoonbill was in the harbour before flying off to roost somewhere in the fields, a Marsh Harrier was seen a couple of times over the Breech Pool and a pair of Stonechats were nearby, whilst a dozen Long-tailed Tits were in Church Lane. 

The tide was very high, with at least 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 2000 Lapwings and probably up to a 1000 Golden Plovers repeatedly flying up, whilst there were many Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal and a few Pintail about (AH/DHi/IP/PM et al)

A total of 56 Cattle Egrets went into roost in Owl Copse late this afternoon, whilst the Spoonbill was back in the harbour, and both the male and female Marsh Harriers were about, along with c200 Golden Plovers, c500 Lapwings and c1000 Brent Geese. (S&SaH)

Golden Plovers (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Brent Geese from the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: The four Goosanders and three Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour, along with at least five Bar-tailed Godwits among a huge mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers, whilst at least six Skylarks were flying about and c80 Mediterranean and c20 Common Gulls were among the gulls

Two female Goldeneye were on the Lagoon, along with ten Tufted Ducks, four Great Crested Grebes and c25 Little Grebes. (AH/BI)

Goldeneye (above) & Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon, Goosanders, Red-breasted Mergansers & Bar-tailed Godwits from Pagham Spit (AH)

Sidlesham Churchyard: A Firecrest was in the churchyard this morning (RHa) and three Mistle Thrushes were there later. (IP)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Easton Lane - The Swallow made it into the new year at the sewage works, for a first ever January record for the species, with three Stonechats, a Buzzard and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose among c500 Brent Geese in the vicinity, whilst the game cover field near Wilson's Farm held c50 Reed Buntings, c100 Yellowhammers, c20 Greenfinches and Chaffinches and a Sparrowhawk. (S&SaH/AB/AH/IP et al)

Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff were along the banks, along with ten Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting, whilst c1500 Brent Geese flew towards Ham. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: At least two Spotted Redshanks and four Greenshanks were in the creek today, along with a dozen Rock Pipits, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and up to 500 Common Gulls. (IP/PM et al)