29th - 31st March 2022

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)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - There was still a Dartford Warbler present near the Stilt Pool this afternoon. (TG-P/NR)

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)

26th -28th March 2022

Monday, 28th March: A cooler morning in hazy sunshine, with a fairly light north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was quiet again, though a Common Tern, a couple of Shags, 12 Brent Geese and 17 Common Scoters went east, a Wheatear dropped in briefly and there was also an early Hummingbird Hawk-moth present. Full log below. (AW/SR/IP/P&LH/AH)

(0645-1015hrs) (NE, F3)

Gannet - 3E, 3W

Shag - 2E

Brent Geese - 12E

Common Scoter - 17E, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Peregrine - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 19

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 2W

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Wheatear - 1

Linnet - 6N

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - 1

(1330-1430hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 4E

Teal - 52E

Eider - 2E

Common Scoter - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 4E

Meadow Pipit - 47N

Grey Seal - 1os

Common Tern (AH) (above), Peregrine, Shags, Common Scoters & Hummingbird Hawk-moth (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets were at the back and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were on the bank, but otherwise it was the usual wildfowl, including six Tufted Ducks, 11 Shelducks, c30 Teal and c80 Wigeon and Shoveler. (AH)

Later, a Blackcap was singing in the Discovery Area. (SR)

Avocets (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: The Bonaparte's Gull was reported as again present on West Trout Lake today. (per Birdguides)

Park Farm, Selsey: A drake Mandarin flew into the farm reservoir, but was gone a few minutes later. There were also a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and a Kestrel in the area.(IP)

Church Norton: The pair of Garganey were still on the second Several, though elusive, but otherwise it was quiet, with a briefly singing Sedge Warbler at the aforementioned site, and a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff near the Mound the only migrants noted, though there were plenty of Linnets and Greenfinches along the front

A female Pintail, a single Brent Goose, three Red-breasted Mergansers, c60 Wigeonand a few Teal were in the harbour, along with 60+ Sandwich Terns and 107 Mediterranean Gulls, but few waders on the high tide beyond the Whimbrel and 30 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/KF/P&LH)

Aso, two Long-tailed Ducks were on the sea this afternoon. (RJF)

Blackcap (above), Linnet, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An early evening walk produced a Short-eared Owl near Marsh Farm, but not much else beyond a dozen Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Tufted Ducks on the Stilt Pool. (AH)

Short-eared Owl (above) & Avocet at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 27th March: Another bright and breezy morning, with a fresh easterly keeping a bit of chill in an otherwise warm morning.....

Selsey Bill: It was pretty slow, though a Wheatear popped up, a Black-throated Diver went east and a Grey Heron flew in from far offshore. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/BI/AH/A&YF/RHa)

(0630-0930hrs) (ENE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 9E, 14W, 10os

Shag - 1E

Grey Heron - 1E

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 9E

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 9W

Turnstone - 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 25E, 1os

auk sp - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Wheatear - 1

Linnet - 1E

Goldfinch - 4N

Later in the morning there was a reasonable amount of “viz-mig” with c.100 Meadow Pipits heading north, 35 Siskins heading east along with 30 Linnets, and there were also three Wheatears on the beachfront. (BI) 

Great Northern Diver (above), Fulmar, Red-breasted Merganser & Grey Heron at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An Avocet and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, along with a Common Gull, the drake Pochard, six Tufted Ducks, eight Shelducks, c40 Wigeon and Teal and c80 Shovelers, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was fairly quiet this morning, with just a Chiffchaff and lots of Linnets and Skylarks along the banks, with a Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and three Kestrels overhead.

A total of 30 Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, along with Black-tailed Godwits and seven Wigeon.(S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: The Bonaparte's Gull was again present on West Trout Lake today and the Red-crested Pochards were again on Ivy Lake.. (TS/GSh/IP/RM et al)

Red-crested Pochards at Chichester GPs (GSh)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - I had a couple of brief glimpses of a female-type Marsh Harrier just the other (Drayton Lake) side of the railway line, low over the vegetation, but things were not helped by the appearance of a drone high over the Lake for some while. An active pair of Buzzards was also present.

The North pit held a dozen Pochard, with several more on South pit, whilst 14 Greylags and a dozen Canada Geese were spread between the two pits, but wildfowl numbers were low. Four Grey Herons were also seen, including a pair mating just inside a reed-bed. At least one Bullfinch was present and three Cetti’s Warblers and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing (OM)

Church Norton: There was a bit of vis-mig activity today, with a Hawfinch briefly in the big tree on the Mound before flying into the Priory the clear highlight (P&JW), whilst also, the first Swallow of the spring, at least 14 Siskins and a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits went east over the Severals/harbour.

Remarkably, two Glossy Ibises dropped in on Tern Island, where there were at least 50 Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, though the harbour held jus a few Ringed Plovers and Black-tailed Godwits, plus the Whimbrel and two Brent Geese.

Also, the pair of Garganey were still skulking in the reeds on the second Several for their sixth day and at least two Black Redstarts were still at Greenlease Farm, along with a Sparrowhawk. (IP/RM//AH/RJS/RAI/P&JW/A&YF et al)

Glossy Ibises (above), Garganey (GSh), Whimbrel, Sparrowhawk & Linnet (AH) at Church Norton

This evening there were two Chiffchaffs in the churchyard, a male Blackcap among the blossom around the mound, and at least three Siskins in the tree tops near the priory. (AW)

Blackcap (above) & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: The Short-eared Owl was out and showing well this evening, with up to three Marsh Harriers also about, whilst three Water Rails and at least 50 Teal were on the Breech Pool.

Later, a Glossy Ibis and at least 50 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse. (AH/LP et al)

Short-eared Owl (above), Marsh Harrier & Teal at the North Wall (AH)

Saturday, 26th March: The spell of fine weather continues, with another warm and sunny morning in a moderate easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was very slow this morning, though a Ring-necked Parakeet circled round several times before heading east in the company of an female Lord Derby's Parakeet (an escape and native of India). 

It appears that this unlikely couple had been resident in the Shoreham area together since last December, last seen on 23rd March by RJF. (Eds)

Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/RW/MO-W/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (ENE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 6E, 33W  

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 7E

Common Scoter - 7E, 8W

Red-breasted Merganser - 17E, 4W, 4os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Knot - 1E

Turnstone - 6

Black-headed Gull - 20E

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 5os

Ring-necked Parakeet - 1E

Lord Derby's Parakeet - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Linnet - 8E

(1500-1630hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E

Turnstone - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 17E, 3os

auk sp - 2E

Sandwich Tern (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-necked and Lord Derby's Parakeets & Lord Derby's Parakeet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A drake Pochard was on the pool this morning, along with eight Tufted Ducks, three Gadwall, c100 Shovelers, c50 Wigeon and c25 Teal.

The Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite again, starting to get the first vestiges of summer plumage, along with c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c25 Wigeon, whilst a Blackcap was again singing from the Visitor Centre car-park and at least three singing Chiffchaffs were around the Discovery area. (AH/RW)

Later, two Spotted Redshanks were in the channel together. (AW)

Spotted Redshank (above), Pochard, Gadwall & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: The popular Bonaparte's Gull continued its stay on West Trout Lake today, whist the pair of Red-crested Pochards were still on Ivy Lake and a pair of Egyptian Geese and at least eight Greylag Geese were on East Trout Lake. (TG-P/lAH/MJ/PG/MGi/B&MC et al)

Bonaparte's Gull (above), Red-crested Pochards & Egyptian Geese at Chichester GPs (AH)

Church Norton: There were as many as four - all female-type - Black Redstarts around the piles of rubble at Greenlease Farm this morning, with four Redwing in the vicinity, too.

The pair of Garganey were still on the second Several, a Sedge Warbler was singing from the first Several, a Lesser Redpoll was seen along the path between the Severals and a Blackcap was singing in the churchyard, with several singing Chiffchaffs widely spread..

At least 40 Sandwich Terns and a similar number of Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour, along with a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull, twenty Black-tailed Godwits and a flock of thirty Bar-tailed Godwits which were on the mud and then flew east out of the harbour with eight Grey Plovers.

The small numbers of wildfowl included three Brent Geese and a male Pintail, whilst a Peregrine flew over high and both Kestrel and Buzzard were also present.

Also, four Adders were seen along the Severals.(IP/RW/PG/MGi et al)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with three Ringed Plovers, 22 Avocets and six Mediterranean Gulls, whilst a Dartford Warbler was along the banks. (AHu)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (AHu)