Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 20th

Tuesday, 22nd March: A vey pleasant morning of warm, if somewhat hazy, sun and a fairly light easterly breeze........though still with a chilly edge in unsheltered spots.

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity again this morning, including a Brambling over and five Little Gulls, two drake Eider, 24 Red-throated Divers, 35 Pintail, 66 Common Scoters and 374 Brent Geese heading east offshore. Full log below. (IP/PM/SR/AH/OM/P&H)

(0615-1030hrs) (E, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 3os

Red-throated Diver- 24E

Gannet - 1E

Brent Goose - 374E

Pintail - 35E

Teal - 2E

Shoveler - 2E

Tufted Duck - 3E

Eider - 2E

Common Scoter - 66E

Red-breasted Merganser - 12E, 4os

Oystercatcher - 4

Lapwing - 1N

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Little Gull - 5E

Common Gull - 6E

Sandwich Tern - 16E

Meadow Pipit - 65N

Rock Pipit - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 2N

Brambling - 1N

Linnet - 6N

Little Gulls (above), Mediterranean Gull (PM), Eider, Pintail & Brent Geese (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Thee were two Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers and a few Teal and Shelducks, whilst ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite. (AH/OM)

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

Chichester Gravel Pits: An adult winter Bonaparte's Gull was on Trout Lake West late this morning, dip-feeding among Black-headed Gulls. Well done to the finder; this is only the second ever for the Peninsula, after one on Pagham Lagoon in March 2002.

Also, a drake Garganey was on Vinnetrow Lake, a drake Goldeneye was on Runcton Lake, the pair of Red-crested Pochards were back in the northeast corner of Ivy Lake and two Egyptian Geese were on Trout Lake East. (SM/PM/KJ/OM/BI/IP/SR/AB/AH/GM et al)

Bonaparte's Gull (PM, top three, GM next two, AH, lower), Red-crested Pochards & Garganey and Tufted Ducks (AH) at Chichester GPs

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A solitary Egyptian Goose was in the field behind the car park, two Green Woodpeckers amongst the dead poplars, and a Cetti’s Warbler was calling from scrub by the first outflow, whilst along the banks were small numbers of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Stonechats and Linnets, with a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel over.

On the Stilt Pool, amongst the usual suspects, were a Pintail and about 20 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst on the first island there were 13 Avocets, with several others in the water, and on the largest island there was a solitary Sandwich Tern, several Mediterranean Gulls and a Great Black-backed Gull. (GT)

West Itchenor: A vocal Brambling was calling actively from birches in the car-park this morning. (PH)

North Wall: This afternoon two Red Kites went over, along with two Marsh Harriers, whilst a Water Rail and a Snipe were on the Breech Pool. (KJ et al)

This evening the Short-eared Owl was out again near the stables and two Glossy Ibises and many Cattle Egrets went in to roost in Owl Copse. (MTh/G Duckworth)

Short-eared Owl (MTh) (above) & Black Redstart (LP) at the North Wall

Church Norton: The pair of Garganey were on the second Several again this morning, showing well at times, but otherwise it was very quiet, with just Linnets and Greenfinches along the front and few birds in the harbour, aside from the throng of gulls, though including 29 Shelducks and 26 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/P&LH)

Garganey (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 21st March: The spring equinox proved to be more of the same this morning, with a frosty start and very hazy skies slow clearing to leave a fine and sunny day, though still with the breeze fresh and from the east.........

Selsey Bill: There was a good eastward movement of ducks this morning, including ten Garganey (five drakes), a new record count of 113 Pintail, seven Shoveler, five Eider and 30 Common Scoter, along with 11 Red-throated Divers, whilst 84 Meadow Pipits came in off the sea. Full log below. (IP/SR/AH/BI)

(0640-1040hrs) (E, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 11E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Brent Goose - 103E

Garganey - 10E

Pintail - 113E

Teal - 9E

Shoveler - 7E

Eider - 5E, 3W

Common Scoter - 30E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 6W

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 10

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2os

Razorbill - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 84N

Pied Wagtail - 10N

Linnet - 12N

Garganey and Pintail (above), Eider (AW), Pintail and Shovelers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Scoters & Gannet (AH) the Bill

Ferry Pool: There was very little to report here beyond c50 Shovelers, c25 Teal and Wigeon, four Shelducks, four Tufted Ducks and six Redshanks. (AH)

Pagham Spit: A White-tailed Eagle flew in from the north and settled for a while on the shingle at low tide, before heading off west. (LP)

White-tailed Eagle at Pagham Spit (LP)

Church Norton: A pair of Garganey in the second several was the highlight, though a Slavonian Grebe offshore from the spit was also noteworthy.

At least 15 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, though there were just four Brent Geese about, along with the Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 16 Black-tailed Godwits, but the only other migrants were a coupe of Chiffchaffs. (IP)

Garganey at Church Norton (IP)

North Wall:The Short-eared Owl and two Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds behind the Breech Pool this evening and two Glossy Ibises and 52 Cattle Egrets flew in to roost at Owl Copse. (LP)

Chichester GPs: Runcton Lake - The pair of Red-crested Pochards were on the lake again this morning. (TG)

West Itchenor: The Nuthatch was again calling from the Chalkdock Copse area his morning. (PH)

Apuldram: A Red Kite went over this morning. (RP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - Four Garganey and a Pochard were briefly on the reservoirs opposite the poplars. (TG-P)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - It was very quiet here, with a dozen flighty Meadow Pipits the only possible migrants, and the only other passerines being eight Corn Buntings flying around the caravans and a pair of Linnets.

A Sandwich Tern and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, whilst in the tidal area thee were a Greenshank, a dozen Ringed Plovers, c40 Dunlin, a few Curlews, c20 Brent Geese and similar of Wigeon and Shelducks. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Mergansers & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 20th March: Another bright and blustery morning, cool early on, but warmer later as a little light cloud came in, but still with a fresh easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A total of 163 Brent Geese and 73 Common Scoters went east, along with five Pintail and three Shovelers as a little migration took place. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/IP/PM/SR/BI/AH)

(0600-0900hrs) (ENE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 4E

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose- 163E, 4W

Pintail - 5E

Shoveler - 3E

Common Scoter - 73E

Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 3os

Sanderling - 2E

Curlew - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 6E

Sandwich Tern - 24E, 3os

auk sp - 1E

Stock Dove - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 12N

Pied Wagtail - 3N

Rook - 1

Linnet - 9E

Brent Geese (above), Common Scoters & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Wheatear was at the back late this morning, a Snipe went over and the Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite, but otherwise it was c60 Shoveler, c40 Wigeon, c30 Teal, five Shelducks and four Tufted Ducks around the pool. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Spotted Redshank at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: Runcton Lake - The pair of Red-crested Pochards seem to have relocated to Runcton Lake, which is north of New Lake and the scrap yard on Peckham's Copse Lane. There were also a few calling Cetti's Warbles and Chiffchaffs in the vicinity. (C Nye/GM)

Also, a Goldeneye was present, too. (D Boon)

Red-crested Pochards at Chichester GPs (GM)

Church Norton: The male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Severals this morning and the redhead Goosander could be seen from the spit with two Red-breasted Mergansers towards the east side of the harbour mouth.

There were very few waders about, including the Whimbrel, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and just eight Dunlin, whilst 11 Brent Geese were noted, though at least four Sandwich Terns were flying around and calling over Tern Island.

Also, three Roe Deer were at Greenlease Farm and a couple of Peacock butterflies were on the wing.(IP)

Marsh Harrier at Church Norton (IP)

North Wall: The Short-eared Owl was out and showing well again this afternoon, whilst two Glossy Ibises, 56 Cattle Egrets, three Little Egrets and five Grey Herons came in to roost at Owl Copse and two Chiffchaffs were in the hedges at Halsey's farm. (S&SaH/JJE)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin was hunting near the Stilt Pool this afternoon and a Red Kite went over north of the poplars. (HB)

Also, a male Wheatear was present this afternoon. (M&L Hunt)

Earlier on, a female Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, three Kestrels and six Buzzards were over the reserve, but a single Stonechat along the banks was the only bird of note.

A flock of c40 Brent Geese went east offshore, whilst the stilt Pool held 19 Avocets, six Ringed Plovers and 25 Black-tailed Godwits. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm, Ham Farm & Wilson's Farm - No migrants were noted, though there was lots of spring activity, including singing/displaying Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Stock Doves and Buzzards, whilst pairs of Stonechats were at Porthole Farm, where there were also c50 Linnets, and Ham Farm, where up to three Chiffchaffs were singing.

Also, in the fields along the Medmerry Trail there was a flock of a dozen Brent Geese and a few Mediterranean Gulls, whilst in the cover crop field by Wilson's Farm there were still at least 30 Reed Buntings and 20 Yellowhammers, plus a few Linnets, Greenfinches and Chaffinches. (AH)