17th - 19th March 2022

Saturday, 19th March: A bright, but very blustery morning, warm in the sun, chilly in the strong easterly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, though a Slavonian Grebe and three Great Northern Divers were about. Full log below. (JA/BI/SR/IP/AH)

(0610-0810hrs) (E, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 3W, 1os

Gannet - 19E, 7W

Tufted Duck - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 4W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 3E, 1W

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 13E, 6W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 2os

auk sp - 1E

Stock dove - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 10N

Pied Wagtail - 4N

Linnet - 4N

(1600-1745hrs) (SH/JA)

Gannet - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 2os

Dunlin - 29E

Sanderling - 4E

Turnstone - 6E

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 14os

Ferry Pool: Early this afternoon the male Marsh Harrier from the North Wall (with a ragged wing) went over west, as did a Snipe.

Early on, the usual mix included six Tufted Ducks, 14 Shelducks,, c40 Teal and c60 Wigeon and Shovelers, whilst two Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite and at least three Chiffchaffs were around the Tramway. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The only bird of note today was a Raven that alighted in the field behind the horse paddocks. (IP)

Church Norton: It was very quiet in the harbour this morning, with a Bar-tailed Godwit, six Black-tailed Godwits and a few Ringed Plovers and Turnstones the only waders of note, though a male Peregrine was sat out on the mud.

Also, c150 Golden Plovers were seen flying up from along the west side. (IP)

This afternoon two Sandwich Terns were among the gulls on Tern Island, whilst two Mistle Thrushes, three Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Green Woodpeckers were around Greenlease Farm. (S&SaH)

Ivy Lake: The pair of Red-crested Pochards were very elusive this morning, though both were showing well again in the north-east corner early this afternoon. (AB et al)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The Green Sandpiper was again in the flooded areas of the maize stubble field south of the sewage works. (BI)

North Wall and East side: The redhead Goosander flew up the harbour this morning, landing in White's Creek, before drifting back down the east side again, whilst the male Marsh Harrier, with an obviously ragged left wing was airborne a couple of times.

The wall was very quiet beyond a Rock Pipit and a calling Cetti's Warbler, plus a pair of Gadwall over, but White's Creek was quite busy, including a dozen Pintail, c20 Brent Geese, c50 Wigeon, c25 Teal and Shelducks, a couple of Snipe, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and plenty of Redshank.

Out in the main channel on the rising tide there were large counts of 50+ Bar-tailed Godwits and c400 Grey Plovers, as well as c100 Knot, c200 Dunlin and c50 Turnstones, along with three Common and two Mediterranean Gulls. (AH/P&LH et al)

Goosander (above), Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Pintail, Snipe & Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover around the North Wall (AH)

Friday, 18th March: Very similar to yesterday, with a bright and sunny morning after early frost, though with the fairly modest breeze coming from the north-east...........

Selsey Bill: Six Great Northern Divers were on the sea, seven Bar-tailed Godwits went east and a visiting birder reported the Black Redstart from the gardens again, but it was generally very quiet. Full log below. (JA/BI/IP/SR/AH/AW)

(0615-0830hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Shag - 1E

Eider - 3E

Common Scoter - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 7E

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Black Redstart - 1

(1630-1730hrs) (JA)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 4E

Shelduck - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 4os

Bar-tailed Godwits at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: Four Snipe and a couple of Redshank were along the northern bank, but otherwise it was the usual mix of c75 Shovelers, c30 Teal and Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall, six Tufted Ducks and five Shelducks. (AH)

Later on, a male Marsh Harrier and a flyby Jack Snipe were seen over the harbour from the Tramway. (BFF)

Ivy Lake: A fine pair of Red-crested Pochards were at the back of lake this morning (having been seen yesterday (DMe/HR)), and were seen apparently displaying and even mating, with the drake bringing up weed for the duck to eat.

Otherwise, there were up to ten Pochards, four Gadwall, a Black Swan, a new family of four Coot chicks and a few Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese on the water and a couple of singing Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers along the edges. (HR/AH/BI/SR/AH/OM/LP et al) 

There were also two Egyptian Geese on East Trout Lake. (BI)

Red-crested Pochards (SR, top, LP & then AH, lower three), Pochard & Black Swan (SR) at Ivy Lake

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool and beach - A Black-throated Diver was seen on the sea off the Stilt Pool this morning (BFF) and a possible White-tailed Eagle went over, mobbed by Buzzards (RS).

Otherwise it was very quiet, with just a Dartford Warbler, a handful of Yellowhammers and Greenfinches among plenty of Skylarks seen along the banks.

The Little Ringed Plovers couldn't be seen on the Stilt Pool, with just a single Ringed Plover present, along with 14 Avocets that were settling in on the newly fenced island, c20 Back-tailed Godwits, a pair of displaying Lapwings, c20 Mediterranean Gulls  and a scattering of Wigeon, Teal and Tufted Ducks. (AH/BFF)

North Wall: There was no Short-eared Owl or roosting Glossy Ibises this evening, though one of the latter dropped into the channel in the harbour opposite Owl Copse.

A redhead Goosander flew around the the Breech Pool and off over the harbour, whilst a Water Rail and 20 Teal were in the Breech Pool, with more of the latter and a few Wigeon in the fields and a male and two female Marsh Harriers were active just before dusk. (AH/TG/LP/CT/SR et al)

Goosander (above), Water Rail & Marsh Harriers at the North Wall (AH)

Thursday, 17th March: After a frosty start, a fine and bright morning, with lots of sunshine in a moderate westerly breeze...............

That's it - this archive material from the last photo album brings this feature to an end, so hopefully it has brought back memories for some and interest to most others.

I should have perhaps qualified my comments yesterday on photographing birds; I'm not at all anti-photo, but waiting around to get the perfect shot is just not for me, though just occasionally I may fluke one! Nowadays I actually carry a bridge camera at most times and frequently use it, but only for record shots or to prove a scarcity sighting, or record an event. The point I make is that info and images are instant nowadays - and that also covers shots of birders in action and locations - so you never know when you might appear in the blog (!) which let's face it, is already tomorrow's archive....(OM)

Spring 2005 and Ads Bowley (left) gives advice to Chris Janman on how to clean the latter's somewhat ancient scope; ah - now how does it go back together Chris!?

May 2005 sees Hants birder Pete Gammage nodding off on parade. Normally keen-eyed, Pete is usually a good omen with a knack of picking the right day for Pom passage.

May 2005 again and Poms are awaited. Closest to camera is Chris Northwood, whilst next is Justin Atkinson. The somewhat rotund gentleman in the pale jacket and stood in the gap in the Wall is I think none other than my esteemed blog co-author!

12th November 2007 with a White-billed Diver present offshore, showing to many admirers who have travelled to the Bill to see it. Amongst them were Barry and Margaret Collins - and having seen it Barry certainly let things go to his head!

The last photo of the Bill in the Archives albums. The date is 3rd May 2008 and the Wall is packed with regulars and visitors alike, all hoping for some Pom passage. (Incidentally, I checked my diary for this day, only to discover it was one of those days, with no Poms at all seen at the Bill but c.40 further east along the coast....that's how it goes sometimes!)

Selsey Bill: A female Black Redstart was showing well in the gardens along the front, and ten Eider went east, in an otherwise quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/MO-W/AW/PC)

(0630-0830hrs) (WNW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Brent Goose - 11E

Eider - 10E

Common Scoter - 2E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 16

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Black Redstart - 1

There was a bit of eastward movement this evening, including 335 Brent Geese, three Eider and a flock of 52 Wigeon. (SH/JA)

(1700-1800hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Brent Goose - 335E

Wigeon - 52E

Eider - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 5W

Lesser Back-backed Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Black Redstart (SR top & AH, lower two) & Eider (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were just the usual mix of ducks - c75 Shoveler, c50 Wigeon, c20 Teal, four Tufted Ducks and four Shelducks - on the pool, whilst a least three Chiffchaffs were singing around an otherwise quiet Tramway circuit. (AH)

Later on, a Red Kite went over the Visitor Centre. (RP)

Chiffchaff (above) & Wigeon around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was again quiet here, with a couple of calling Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, a Reed Bunting and four Linnets along the front the only birds of note.

Half a dozen Pintail and c25 Wigeon and Teal were in the harbour, along with vast numbers of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, but waders were few, beyond an Avocet, c30 Black-tailed Godwits  and the odd Dunlin and Grey Plover. (AH)

Avocet (above), Reed Bunting, Teal & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Short-eared Owl was out hunting at the back of the Breech Pool this evening, whilst a male Wheatear was along the wall and three Glossy Ibises and 30 Cattle Egrets were sitting out on Owl Copse. (TB/NR)

Chichester GPs: The first two Sand Martins of the year were over Ivy Lake today, and there were also a pair of Red-crested Pochard present, too, whilst what was presumably a 'Knepp' White stork went over. (DMe)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - What was presumably the long-staying, if elusive, flock of c40 Fieldfares dropped in briefly this evening, whilst two Barn Owls were out over the field towards Wilson's Farm.

There were also half a dozen Yellowhammers about, including one singing, along with a female Stonechat apparently gathering nesting material, a couple of Chiffchaffs and c30 Mediterranean Gulls. (AH)

Fieldfares (above), Yellowhammer, Stonechat & Barn Owls at Medmerry (AH)