Thursday, 31st March: Despite a bit of sun and white cloud, a cold and very windy morning in a near gale-force north-easterly.......
Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with nothing on the move. Full log below. (SR/RP/AH)
(0725-0840hrs) (NNE, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 8E, 15W
Oystercatcher - 2W
Common Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 9os
Gannet (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Two Avocets were again present, whilst c80 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to roost on the banks.
There were still plenty of wildfowl about, including six Tufted Ducks, six Shelducks, c20 Teal, c40 Wigeon and c70 Shovelers. (AH)
Avocets (above) & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)
Runcton: A Glossy Ibis was seen in flight just south of Runcton Farm Shop late this morning. (ESt)
Chichester Canal: Two Little Ringed Plovers and two Egyptian Geese were in the flooded arable field this morning, together with five Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelduck and ten Mute Swans, but there was no sign of the Ruff. (OM/CS)
North Wall: There were 36 Black-tailed Godwits in White's Creek this morning, together with 24 Redshanks, 30 Wigeon, six Pintail and a few Teal, while a Peregrine was stood further out on the mud.
Later, near high tide, a Goosander was out on the water with a Great Crested Grebe and 17 Shelduck.
A Water Rail was in the reeds on the Breech Pool and two Marsh Harriers were seen behind the pool, while in Owl Copse, four Grey Herons, at least 10 Cattle Egrets and two Little Egrets were up in the trees.
At Halsey’s Farm there were a pair of Gadwall and a few Teal and Wigeon, together with some singing Skylarks. (LP/CT)
Goosander (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks at the North Wall (LP)
Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - The pair of Red-crested Pochards were still on the lake this morning, but otherwise there were just half a dozen Pochard, a Black Swan and a couple of Chiffchaffs about. (SR)
Red-crested Pochards on Ivy Lake (SR)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm - The only bird of note this evening was the Green Sandpiper which flew out of the stubble field and into the sewage works compound. (AH)
East Beach: Two Blackcaps were in the garden today, feeding on Ivy berries. (SR)
Blackcap at East Beach (SR)
Wednesday, 30th March: A decidedly chilly start to the morning, before the overcast conditions gave way to hazy sunshine, though the wind remains from the north-east.......
Selsey Bill: A decidedly slow morning, with 16 Brent Geese and 12 Wigeon east the only hints of migration. Full log below. (SR/TR/AH/P&LH/MO-W)
(0715-0900hrs) (NNE, F3)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 4E, 2W
Brent Goose - 16E
Wigeon - 12E
Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 1W, 9os
Oystercatcher - 1W
Turnstone - 8
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 6os
Meadow Pipit - 2N
(1300-1430hrs) (P&LH)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os
Gannet - 5E, 1W
Common Scoter - 15E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3os
Turnstone - 18
Sandwich Tern - 8os
This evening a Wheatear and a Meadow Pipit were along the beach. (SR)
Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet, Mediterranean Gulls & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Two Avocets were at the back this morning, though otherwise the pool just held the usual c75 Shoveler, 20 or so Teal and Wigeon, four Tufted Ducks and six Shelducks.
The Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite, before the tide rose, whilst a Blackcap and at least three Chiffchaffs were singing round the tramway circuit. (AH/NR/TG-P)
Chiffchaff (above) & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)
Chichester Canal: The two Ruff were again on the flooded arable field this morning, along with a Little Ringed Plover and two more Ringed (or possibly Little Ringed) Plovers and seven Black-tailed Godwits. (SR/GM)
Ruff and Little Ringed Plover (above), Ruff & Young Coot at Chichester Canal (GM)
East Beach: A male Blackcap, an uncommon bird for here, was feasting on ivy berries in the garden this afternoon. (SR)
Blackcap at East Beach (SR)
Church Norton: There were at least 60 Sandwich Terns and 211 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour this morning, along with 25 Back-tailed Godwits and similar of Wigeon and Teal.
The land-side was very quiet, though at least three different pairs of Jays were seen, though otherwise a couple of calling Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, plus a Blackcap round the Severals and a few Linnets and Greenfinches along the beach was about it. (AH/TR/P&LH)
Linnet (above), Jay, Black-tailed Godwits & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: The Short-eared Owl was out around the Breech Pool again this evening, as were both the male and female Marsh Harriers, whilst a Water Rail, a Snipe, a Sparrowhawk and c50 Teal were on the pool itself.
Also, a total of 58 Cattle Egrets - many starting to attain breeding plumage, nine Little Egrets and six Grey Herons were sitting out in Owl Copse and a Jack Snipe was inadvertently flushed from the wet grass at Halsey's Farm. (AH/SP/S&SaH)
Short-eared Owl (above), Cattle Egret & Marsh Harriers at the North Wall (AH)
Tuesday, 29th March: A cool and grey morning, with a few spells of persistent drizzly rain late on, in a fairly light north-easterly breeze....
Just a quick note to say farewell and all the the best for the future to Alan and Yvette Ford - two (very!) long-standing regulars at both the Bill and Church Norton - who are moving to Suffolk this week. So, good luck and good birding to you both from all on the Peninsula. (Eds)
Selsey Bill: After a slow start, there was a very good selection in the murky conditions, including four Garganey, four Little Gulls, a Black-throated Diver, a dozen Red-throated Divers and 178 Common Scoters going east and a Swallow and over a dozen Wheatears arriving in off the sea. Full log below. (SR/IP/OM/AH/JF)
(0715-1300hrs) (NE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Black-throated Diver - 1E (1132hrs)
Red-throated Diver - 12E
diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 40E, 3W
Brent Goose - 6E,1W
Garganey - 4E
Pintail - 8E
Teal - 1E
Shoveler - 10E
Common Scoter - 178E
Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 6W, 3os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Curlew - 3W
Turnstone - 10
Little Gull - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 28E
Skylark - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 5N
Swallow - 1N
Wheatear - 4N, 9 present
Chiffchaff - 1
Newly-arrived and weary Wheatears at the Bill (OM)
Wheatear (above), Swallow, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Gannets & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just ducks on the pool this morning, including c20 Teal and Wigeon, eight Shelducks and c75 Shovelers. (AH)
Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)
Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - It was very quiet here this morning, with the only passerines being a single Stonechat and a handful of of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Linnets, with six Red-breasted Merganser offshore.
The only birds in the tidal area were three Brent Geese and a few Wigeon, along with c30 Ringed Plovers, c20 Dunlin and a few Turnstones and Curlews. (AH)
Meadow Pipit (above), Ringed Plover & Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Medmerry (AH)
Chichester Canal: A check of the partly-flooded field behind the canal path between Donnington and Hunston paid dividends early afternoon when two Ruff (presumed male and female) were found, together with four Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, four Shelduck and eight Mute Swans.
Also, nearby a Black Redstart was present at Bridge Courtyard Barn. (OM et al)
Later, a Little Ringed Plover also appeared with the Ruffs (SM).
Black Redstart (above) & Ruffs at Donnington (OM/BI)
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