Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 29th

Monday, 31st January: A cold and blustery morning of sunshine and cloud, with the freshening wind varyingly either side of north-west........

Selsey Bill: There was a massive movement of auks (presumably, virtually all Razorbills) this morning, with over 5000 birds heading west in two hours, accompanied by 852 Gannets and 539 Kittiwakes. Full log below. (AH/IP/MO-W/SR)

(0750-0950hrs) (varying between WNW and NNW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 3W, 3 os

Red-throated Diver - 8E, 13W

diver sp. - 2E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 21E, 852W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 15W

Turnstone - 4

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 539W

Razorbill - 6E, 395W

Guillemot - 3W

auk sp - 196E, 5051W

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

Ferry Pool: Around 40 Avocets and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool at high tide, along with four Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and Teal and at least 250 Wigeon, with at least 400 Lapwing o the field. (AH)

Lapwings (above) & Avocets and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Later, a Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel and two Chiffchaffs were along the Tramway. (SR)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (SR)

Church Norton: There wasn't too much in a very and full windy harbour, though the Whimbrel and a handful of Snipe were among the roosting waders, and a Red-breasted Merganser, two Little Grebes, c50 Wigeon and Teal and at least 500 Brent Geese were on the water.

Offshore there were four Slavonian Grebes on the sea, plus the Red-necked Grebe, whilst two Razorbills and three Red-breasted Mergansers flew east, c30 Gannets and a few Kittiwakes were distantly feeding and a few Mediterranean and Common Gulls were along the beach. (AH)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Mediterranean Gull, Brent Goose, Whimbrel & Whimbrel, Curlew, Snipe and Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The six Glossy Ibises left the roost at 0800hrs this morning and landed in Honer 2 field for a couple of minutes before taking flight and heading north towards Honer Farm.

I then found them again at 0945hrs, just north west of Marsh Farm where they were in flight, they then settled east of the farm. Just after 1000hrs they then headed north and went down in a field at the junction of Fisher Lane where it meets the cycle path. (GHi)

Glossy Ibises around the North Wall (GHi)

This evening, the six Glossy Ibises flew back in, first into Honer 2 field, then the field west of Owl Copse, before eventually flying in to roost with c30 Cattle Egrets at about 1700hrs.

Also, the Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm, again. (CRJ/JW/LP/AH)

Glossy Ibises at the North Wall (CRJ above & AH lower two)

Sunday, 30th January: A beautiful crisp and clear winter's morning, with just a light north-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much on the move this morning, though a Shag went east and 41 Razorbills, 11 Pintail and 11 Red-throated Divers went west. (JA/BI/IP/MO-W/AH/SR)

(0720-920hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 11W

diver sp - 4E, 7W

Gannet - 35W

Shag - 1E

Shelduck - 2W

Wigeon - 1W

Pintail - 11W

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 21W

Turnstone - 2

Common Gull - 3E

Kittiwake - 1E

Razorbill - 7E, 41W, 11os

auk sp - 99E, 115W

(1100-1230hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 6W, 2os

diver sp - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 2W

grey goose sp - 4W (distantly at 1153hrs)

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Turnstone - 4

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 3E

auk - 4E

Great Northern Diver (above), Shag & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper flew into the concealed pools behind the reeds this morning. (MP)

Also, half a dozen Snipe were in the reeds, 41 Avocets and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were roosting on the pool, where there were also c50 Teal and Shovelers, whilst c200 Lapwings and c100 Wigeon were on the field. (AH/TG-P)

Later, a Jack Snipe was seen along the northern bank. (BFF)

Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Raven dropped in briefly on the poplars this morning, whilst a Grey Wagtail and a Green Woodpecker were in the paddocks. (IP)

Grey Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey (IP)

Church Norton: There was a bit offshore again this morning, including two Goosanders, the Red-necked Grebe and the two Long-tailed Ducks, 12 Slavonian Grebes and four Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea, whilst three Gannets and two Red-throated Divers flew west.

Three female Goldeneyes were in the harbour, along with a few Pintail and 100+ Brent Geese, whilst 13 Bar-tailed Godwits, six Snipe, the Whimbrel and two Knot were among the Dunlin and Grey Plovers and 100 Golden Plovers flew up over the far end.

There were also two Dartford Warblers along the beach, two Reed Buntings in the first Several, three Redwings and two Mistle Thrushes at Greenlease Farm and a drake Gadwall in the second Several. (S&SaH/IP/BFF et al)

Goldeneyes (SH) (above), Goosander (SH upper, IP lower) & Slavonian Grebes (IP) at Church Norton

Fishbourne Creek: Three male and at least one female Goldeneye were off the Lavant outfall this morning, along with two Rock Pipits, and there were plenty of birds about, including the usual Brent Geese, Shelducks, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Turnstones, Redshank, Wigeon and Teal in good numbers.

Also, a Carrion Crow caught a vole in the shallows but struggled to swallow it. (RBe)

Goldeneyes and Coots (above) & Carrion Crow with vole at Fishbourne Creek (RBe)

Runcton: The male and a female Blackcap were on the Spindleberries in the garden this afternoon. (CRJ)

North Wall: There wasn't much to report from here on the high tide, though a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk went over, as did a Snipe, whilst a Grey Wagtail was in the paddocks, a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool and plenty of Lapwings and Golden Plover flew up from the west.

At least 1000 Brent Geese were in the harbour, but there wasn't much with them beyond a few Wigeon and Teal. (AH/DHi)

Marsh Harrier (above), Snipe & Grey Wagtail at the North Wall (AH)

This evening a remarkable six Glossy Ibises flew in, initially landing in Honer 3 field, before flying about again and presumably going into Owl Copse to roost.

There were also two Marsh Harries, a Sparrowhawk, a Snipe and eight Cattle Egrets in the vicinity and a Barn Owl was again at Halsey's Farm. (SH/CRJ/NM/AT et al)

Glossy Ibises (top three CRJ, lower SH) & Barn Owl (SH) at the North Wall

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse at the far end of the spit, with three Rock Pipits and half a dozen Meadow Pipits and Skylarks along the strandline, whilst a female Goldeneye, a female Red-breasted Merganser and two Little Grebes were in the harbour, along with vast numbers of waders and a few Wigeon and Teal.

The two Goosanders could be seen off the end of Church Norton Spit, with a Red-breasted Merganser, but otherwise just seven Slavonian Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be found, with a dozen Little Grebes the only birds of note on the Lagoon. (AH)

Dartford Warbler (above), Rock Pipit, Skylarks, and Goldeneye at Pagham Spit & Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin was seen several times this afternoon, whilst the Spoonbill was out on the reserve.

Also, two Ravens went over the Earnley car-park, a Sparrowhawk was along the path there, a Greenshank was out on the reserve and a few Yellowhammers were along the banks. (HB/BFF/LP et al)

Saturday, 29th January: A mild, fairly bright and distinctly breezy morning in a moderate westerly......

Selsey Bill: The first Bonxie of the year went west at 0755hrs, whilst there was also a steady stream of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks moving west. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0745-0915hrs) (WSW, F5)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 84W

Pintail - 2E

Eider - 1E, 1W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 11W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 5

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Common Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 175W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 82W

auk sp - 154W

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

Ferry Pool: There were 42 Avocets roosting on the pool this morning, but otherwise there were just a handful of Snipe in the reeds, five Shelducks and c50 Teal and Shoveler on the pool and c80 Wigeon on the fields. (AH)

Avocets and Shelducks (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Glossy Ibises came in to roost in Owl Copse again this evening. (BFF)

Church Norton: There wasn't much out of the ordinary again this morning, with just a single Red-breasted Merganser flying west offshore, and at least 800 Brent Geese, a few dozen Wigeon and Teal, six Little Grebes and lots of Dunlin and Grey Plovers, with just a few Knot among them, in the harbour. (AH)

Little Grebes (above) & Dunlin and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Drayton Pits: A Woodcock was flushed from a small adjacent patch of woodland this morning. (IP)

Chichester Canal: A female Bullfinch was seen, with another (presumed male) also heard this morning, whilst there were also three Grey Herons, a Pied Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk seen. (IP)

Runcton: The male Blackcap was back eating the dwindling supply of Spindleberries today, and there were also 16 House sparrows present. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Wilson's Farm - The Swallow was still over the settling tanks, where there were still 100+ Pied Wagtails, but not much else, whilst a Mediterranean Gull and c40 Stock Doves were around the fields.

Numbers seem to be dropping around the cover cop field by Wilson's Farm, but there were still c50 Reed Buntings, c30 Yellowhammers and similar of Linnets present this morning, though not much else beyond a handful of Greenfinches. (AH)