20th - 22nd January 2022

Saturday, 22nd January: A cool and mostly grey morning, in a modest northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A Puffin east at just before 9am was the clear highlight, though over 2500 auks went east very distantly, with another 608 heading west. Also, at least 11 Bottle-nosed Dolphins went west. Full log below. (JA/BI/PB/P&LH/IP/SR)

(0735-0905hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 2W, 1os

diver sp - 2W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 7E, 37W

Shelduck - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 7os

Turnstone - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 17E, 1os

Razorbill - 18E

Puffin - 1E (0858hrs)

auk sp - 2521E, 608W

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 11W

Ferry Pool: At least 500 Lapwings and 25 Black-tailed Godwits were around the pool and field this morning, along with c200 Wigeon, c50 Shovelers and c80 Teal. 

Also, at least six Snipe were in the reeds, too, whilst early on the Kingfisher and an Avocet were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocet & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two Pied Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker and a male Stonechat were the best this morning. (IP)

Church Norton: The Red-necked Grebe, at least seven Slavonian Grebes, the two Long-tailed Ducks, three Eider and four Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea, whilst a Great Northern Diver, c20 Red-throated Divers and c40 Gannets went west.

A Ring-necked Parakeet in the Severals and then over the Priory was a surprise, whilst other land-birds included a Chiffchaff near the hide, a Mistle Thrush in the car-park and four Red-legged Partridges at Greenlease Farm, along with up to five Great Spotted Woodpeckers spread about.

A Merlin was on Tern Island early on, and a Kingfisher was on the metalwork, whilst later a Peregrine was about, upsetting the many waders present, that included an Avocet, six Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Golden Plovers and large numbers of Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin. (BI/IP/P&LH/AH et al)

Red-throated Divers (above), Peregrine, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush & Knot and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The male and female Marsh Harriers were both out this morning. (P&LH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, three Stonechats, a Raven and 17 Skylarks were around the banks this morning, with c500 Golden Plovers and c200 Lapwings coming up from out on the reserve.

Also, the first Greenshank seen here this year was on the Stilt Pool, along with 16 Ringed Plovers. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - There were still up to 100 Yellowhammers and 50 Reed Buntings around the cover crop field, along with the odd Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, whilst there were also c70 Stock Doves and half a dozen Song Thrushes present and c200 Golden Plovers and c500 Lapwings went over. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above) & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 21st January: After a bright, crisp start, the morning slowly clouded over in light north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was slow again, though six Eider were about, including two drakes, and four Sandwich Terns were offshore. Full log below. (BI/AH/RP/SR)

(0745-0900hrs) (NW, F2) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 9W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 2E

Eider - 3E, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3os

Turnstone - 11E

Sandwich Tern - 4os

auk sp - 61E

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

Ferry Pool: At least ten Snipe were in the reeds, with the usual Shovelers and Teal, plus a few Black-tailed Godwits around the pool and at least 200 Wigeon were on the fields. (AH)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin was about again this morning, as were the two Grey Partridges, and an Egyptian Goose. (BI)

Chichester Marina: Two Marsh Harriers were hunting over the reedbeds for an hour early this morning, disturbing a large flock of c.100 Teal which had been hidden in the reeds (PH).

Later, at 1315hrs, two cream-capped individuals were hunting over the reedbeds for a short while before drifting away; however later information from PH revealed only one of his was cream-capped, thus at least three birds were involved. A few Teal and eight Mallard were the only ducks visible on the water. (OM)

It was also pleasing to note that an area of reeds has again been cut, opening up the view in front of the hide....well done to those involved! (OM)

Marsh Harrier at the Marina reedbed (OM)

Birdham Pool: The pool was still largely frozen over and what wildfowl were present - a couple of Teal, four Tufted Ducks and 20 Mallard - were huddled along the banks and margins, whilst just a few Little Grebes were visible. A startled Water Rail flushed from the muddy footpath and there was little else of note, except for two Goldcrests and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. (OM)

Fishbourne Creek: The channel was full of the usual waders and regular wildfowl this morning, including two Greenshank, busily feeding, and three Avocets, along with 100 Dunlin and 25 Grey Plover at Fishbourne and 25 Black-tailed Godwit off the Lavant outfall. Several hundred Brent Geese dropped into the creek, while small numbers of Wigeon and Teal were along the shoreline.

At the Dell Quay end, four Goldeneye (three drakes) were located, together with six Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Rock Pipit flew up from the saltmarsh and a Sparrowhawk went over. 

Also, a Coal Tit was singing in the Apuldram car park.(OM/RW)

North Mundham: A walk around the area this morning with produced a Common Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker, six Meadow Pipits, three Pied Wagtails, a Song Thrush and a Redwing.

Returning to Runcton along the footpath there were a pair of Herring Gulls, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, six Blackbirds and a Song Thrush, with a Grey Wagtail in the mill stream, (CRJ/MJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There was a better selection of birds than of late, but there was no sign of the Glossy Ibis. 

 Amongst the species seen were a Marsh Harrier that flew distantly toward the North Wall, three Buzzards and two Kestrels, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a pair of Grey Partridges, two Yellowhammers, a pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtails, two flocks of Long-tailed Tits and a vocal Raven in the fields.

The marsh behind the dairy held 30 Shelduck and c75 Curlew whilst 50 or so Cattle and Little Egrets were distributed across a wide area. (SR)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail and a Stonechat were by the stables, and a Rock Pipit was along the wall, whilst White's Creek held at least 300 Wigeon, 100 Teal and 200 Lapwings, but not much else. (AH)

Later the Glossy Ibis flew high over the wall and the harbour. (CS)

Grey Wagtail (above), Wigeon and Lapwings & Brent Geese from the North Wall (AH)

East side and Pagham Lagoon: The harbour was full of Brent Geese - maybe 2500 in total, along with at least 200 more Wigeon and Teal, c50 Pintail, a pair of Avocets and large numbers of Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin out on the mud.

A drake Pochard, six Tufted Ducks and 20 or so Little Grebes were the only birds on the Lagoon. (AH)

Pochard on Pagham Lagoon (above) & Avocet, Wigeon and Grey Plover along the east side (AH)

Thursday, 20th January: A beautiful, crisp and bright morning, after an early frost, in a fairly light northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was unsurprisingly quiet, though three Slavonian Grebes and two Great Northern Divers were offshore, a Sanderling was on the shingle bar and a few very distant auks went west. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/SR)

(0750-0850hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 6E

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 2W, 3os

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 1

Sandwich Tern - 1os

auk sp - 70E

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were six Snipe in the reeds again, and c80 Shoveler and Teal on the pool, whilst a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, at least 500 Lapwings and 150 Wigeon were on the field. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A Firecrest and a Chiffchaff were in the churchyard today and the two Peregrines were in the harbour. (DIS/DM)

North Wall: Late this afternoon, four Marsh Harriers were in the fields behind the stables . (TH)

Earlier, there were 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, three Goldeneye, a Red-breasted Merganser, 400+ Knot and good numbers of Golden Plover in the harbour, with three Marsh Harriers and two Buzzard up over the North Wall. (DIS/DM/ARK et al)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - There seemed to be a few less birds about the cover crops this morning, but there were still up to five Corn Buntings and c50 Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings present, along with a pair of Stonechats, at least 20 Skylarks, four Song Thrushes, c50 Linnets and c50 Lapwings. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet & Song Thrush at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin flew low across the reserve and a Raven put in a couple of appearances, whilst at least two Dartford Warblers and eight Stonechats were along the banks, along with a handful of Skylarks, but not much else beyond c50 Stock Doves.

A Red-breasted Merganser was on the big pool on the reserve and c250 Golden Plovers and c500 Lapwing flew up from further east, whilst four Egyptian Geese were around the reservoirs, with another on the Stilt Pool, where there were also c50 Brent and Canada Geese and plenty of Wigeon, Teal, Shovelers and Tufted Ducks, but five Ringed Plovers were the only waders seen. (AH)

Merlin (above), Raven, Stonechat, Stock Doves, Golden Plovers, Ringed Plovers & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Amongst the usual wildfowl was a pair of Goldeneye, c400 Brent Geese, two Red-breasted Mergansers, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c50 Ringed Plover, c200 Lapwing, c50 Grey Plover, a Kingfisher, a Rock Pipit, a Chiffchaff, and a flock of Long-tailed Tits whilst  a Coal Tit was in the car park at Apuldram again. (SR)

Rock Pipit in Fishbourne Creek (SR)