23rd - 25th March 2022

Friday, 25th March: Another warm and sunny morning, in a light, though freshening, easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: The quietest morning for a while, though a few Sandwich Terns were about, along with a couple of Great Northern Divers. Full log below. (BI/NS/SR/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0600-0830hrs) (ENE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

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

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 6E, 11W

Brent Goose - 1E, 1W

Pintail - 2E

Common Scoter - 9E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 3os

Oystercatcher - 8E, 11W

Turnstone - 2

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 9os

Stock Dove - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 19N

Pied Wagtail - 5N

Later in the morning, the first Common Tern of the spring was offshore. (RJS)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just the usual mix of c60 Shovelers, c20 Teal and Wigeon, eight Tufted Ducks and 12 shelducks on the pool this morning, plus a lone Black-tailed Godwit, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later on, a Blackcap was singing from the Visitor Centre car-park. (P&LH)

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

Chichester GPs: The Bonaparte's Gull was back on West Trout Lake again this morning, though often only viewable distantly, whilst the pair of Red-crested Pochards were again on Ivy Lake and the Egyptian Geese were still on East Trout Lake. (BI/CRJ et al)

Sidlesham Quay: Two Red Kites went over this morning. (BI)

Church Norton: It was mostly the same birds still present this morning, though a Sedge Warbler was singing from the second Several - the earliest arriving bird this century by three days.

Otherwise the pair of Garganey were still asleep on the edge of the reeds there and there were two female Black Redstarts around the rubble pile at Greenlease Farm, with a Chiffchaff also there and a Red Kite over Priory Wood, where there were also four Buzzards, whilst a visiting birder reported a Firecrest in the churchyard.

Sandwich Terns numbers had risen to 34 in the harbour, where the Whimbrel was also present, along with 88 Black-tailed Godwits, 74 Mediterranean Gulls and 29 Shelducks. (AH/PD/P&LH)

This afternoon, finally, the first Wheatear for Church Norton this spring was on the concrete blocks. (AW)

Black Redstarts (above), Garganey, Red Kite, Buzzard, Whimbrel & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were four Avocets and a pair of Pintail along with a few Wigeon and Teal in White's Creek this morning,

The Breech Pool held 20 Teal and pairs of both Brent and Canada Geese, with a Common Snipe in the reeds, but it was quiet along the wall, with just a few Greenfinches and Reed Buntings about, plus a hunting Kestrel.

Also, a Marsh Harrier was over the back of the pool, a Song Thrush and Green Woodpecker were in the horse paddock, whilst at Halsey’s Farm there were 30 Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall and a few Teal, along with plenty of singing Skylarks. (LP/PC)

Avocets at the North Wall (LP)

West Wittering: A Tree-creeper was briefly in the garden today. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pools - On the quiet side today, with the Stilt Pools holding 14 Avocets, a pair of Little Grebes, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Shoveler, eight Black-tailed Godwits, a small selection of Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese, 18 Lapwing (including one displaying) and two Snipe.

The hedges and banks just held three Meadow Pipits, 12 Linnets, three singing Chiffchaffs and six Yellowhammers, whilst Skylarks were constantly singing overhead and two Buzzards and a Kestrel were over the fields. (SR)

Snipe at Medmerry (SR)

Thursday, 24th March: After a sharp early frost, a warm and pleasant morning in just a light north-easterly breeze, becoming more south-easterly later with sunshine through the day and rather hazy offshore.

Selsey Bill: Five Velvet Scoters going east - a flock of four, followed by one with four Common Scoters - were the highlights of an otherwise quiet morning, though eight Tufted Ducks and a few more Brent Geese went east, too. Full log below. (IP/SR/AH/OM/PC)

(0635-1100hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Brent Goose - 86E, 8W

Shoveler - 2E

Tufted Duck - 8E

Velvet Scoter - 5E

Common Scoter - 12E

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 10os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 10

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 8os

Meadow Pipit - 6N

Pied Wagtail - 2N

Linnet - 1E

Brent Goose (above), Sandwich Tern & Tufted Ducks at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were plenty of ducks on the pool again, including c100 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal, six Tufted Ducks and four Shelducks, whilst the Spotted Redshank and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Redshank & Black-tailed Godwit around the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: There was no sign of the Bonaparte's Gull up to late morning, though the pair of Red-crested Pochards and drake Garganey were again on Ivy Lake. (AHu/JJE)

Church Norton: The pair of Garganey were asleep on the second Several this morning, whilst a female Black Redstart was around the piles of rubble near Greenlease Farm, with two pairs of Mistle Thrushes on the nearby grass..

Otherwise, though, it was very quiet, with a few Linnets along the beach and c20 Sandwich Terns and c50 Black-tailed Godwits in the harbour the only other species of note. (AH/A&YF/TB/NR)

Black Redstart (above), Garganey, Mistle Thrush, Linnet & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon a female Black Redstart was showing well in the churchyard. (JJE/SR)

Black Redstart at Church Norton (SR)

North Wall: It was quiet in the harbour this morning with just 20 Wigeon and 12 Teal present, along with two Black-tailed Godwits and 16 Redshank.

The Cetti’s Warbler was again noisily patrolling the rife behind the sluice whilst along the wall there were numerous Reed Buntings and Greenfinches. Three Herons were sitting out in Owl Copse and at Halsey’s Farm there were a few singing Skylarks and 60 Wigeon in the fields, while the rife contained a Little Grebe, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Shelduck and a few Teal.

On the Breech Pool were three Brent Geese and a pair of Mute Swans, with a Water Rail and a Common Snipe amongst the reeds, and a Red Kite and two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds behind. In and around the horse paddock were both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves and a Buzzard. (LP/CT/TG/SP)

Water Rail (above), Grey Herons, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Buzzard at the North Wall (LP)

Late this afternoon, a Blackcap was singing in Church Lane, (JDW), whilst the Short-eared Owl and at least two Marsh Harriers were showing well around the Breech Pool, where there was also a Water Rail and a couple of Snipe.

Two Glossy Ibises came in to roost at Owl Copse just before dusk and there were already in excess of 50 Cattle Egrets, along with a few Grey Herons and Little Egrets, sitting out enjoying the late sun. (S&SaH/LP/SP/IH/AH  et al

Short-eared Owl (top SH, lower two AH), Marsh Harrier, Snipe & Little Egrets (AH) at the North Wall

 

Wednesday, 23rd March: Another bright and sunny morning, warm after a chill start, in a moderate easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of eight Garganey went east early on, with another pair soon after, but beyond a few Brent Geese and Common Scoters, it was quiet compared to recent mornings. Full log below.(IP/SR/AW/CN/AH et al)

(0625-0920hrs) (E, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 3E, 4W

Brent Goose - 122E

Shelduck - 2E

Garganey - 10E

Common Scoter - 52E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 4E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 13E

Rock Pipit - 1

Meadow Pipit - 30N

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 2

Goldfinch - 3

Rock Pipit (AW) (above), Sandwich Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit & Brent Geese (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were just ducks on the pool this morning, namely c60 Shovelers, c30 Teal, ten Wigeon, six Tufted Ducks and eight Shelducks. (AH)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: The Bonaparte's Gull was again on West Trout Lake this morning, whilst the pair of Red-crested Pochards were again on Ivy Lake, along with a drake Garganey that appeared briefly before disappearing into the reeds. 

There was also a singing Blackcap here.(TB/BFF/DM/CS/PJ et al)

Bonaparte's Gull at Chichester GPs (DM)

Hunston: A Red Kite went over the village this afternoon. (PJ)

North Wall: A pair of Garganey were on the Breech Pool early on, before flying off into the harbour, whilst later on a Water Rail was on the pool. (LP/SP/TB et al)

The Short-eared Owl was out over the back of the Breech Pool, along with a Marsh Harrier, this evening, whilst a Water Rail was in the reeds and a Little Egret was feeding in the channels. (GHi)

Short-eared Owl (above), Water Rail & Little Egret at the North Wall (GHi)

Long Pool: A Spotted Redshank was at the end of Ferry Channel along with 20 Redshanks and similar of Wigeon and Teal.

A Reed Bunting was the only bird along the hedges, whilst a handful of Lapwing and Mediterranean Gulls were in the sprayed off fields nearby. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Reed Bunting, Lapwing & Mediterranean around the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: The pair of Garganey were still on the second Several this morning, though often elusive, whilst at least 20 Sandwich Terns were among the Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls around Tern Island. 

Otherwise, it was quiet, though the Whimbrel was still present, along with c20 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Teal in the harbour and a few Linnets were along the beach. (CN/AH/P&JW/MRE/BFF/DM et al)

Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls (above), Teal & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Later on, two Black Redstarts were at Greenlease Farm. (BFF/DM), and they were still present, feeding around a small tree close to the farmhouse this evening, whilst a pair of Mistle Thrushes were on the landing strip nearby. (AH)

Black Redstart (above) & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)