7th - 9th April 2022

Saturday, 9th April: Light winds from the WNW and staying dry & sunny...

A note that AH and OM are both currently away, so all reports and pictures to BI at bart.ives@talk21.com today please.

Selsey Bill:  A Great White Egret was tracked moving west offshore this morning before making landfall towards Medmerry and a Wheatear came in off the sea but it remined quiet, especially for "viz-mig". Log below.  (SH/IP/SR/BI)

(0610-0855hrs) (WNW F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Gannet - 5E, 30W

Great White Egret - 1N (0815hrs)

Shelduck - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Common Scoter - 18E, 1W

Turnstone- 4

Curlew - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 8os

auk sp. - 1E

Razorbill - 1os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Wheatear - 1N

Gannet at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Willow Warbler was singing from the lane this morning, the two Kestrels were still present and two Pied Wagtails flew over. (IP/RW)

Church Norton: There was finally a Wheatear on the concrete blocks this morning and a Sedge Warbler was singing at the first Several. A pair of Red-Legged Partridges were present in the field opposite the Orchard at Greenlease, where a Sparrowhawk was also present. Buzzards were plentiful today (for the first time this year) and were seen all over, largely soaring and being mobbed by corvids. 

A female Blackcap was in the bushes between the two Severals. Sixty eight Black-tailed Godwits were in the Harbour, however, apart from that, it was business as usual: Sandwich Terns are now numbering over 100 and a lone Brent Goose was on the mud near to the mouth. A pair of Gadwall (unusual here) were on the Second Several along with a pair of Tufted Ducks, but there was no sign of the recent Garganey. (IP/RW)

A visiting birder reported an Osprey over the harbour and two Glossy Ibis towards North Wall this afternoon (per RP)

For info, the spit at Church Norton is now closed for access to protect ground nesting birds. (Eds) 

Sedge Warbler at the Severals (IP)

Sidlesham Quay: It was very quiet here today with only a Blackcap, a pair of Reed Buntings and a Chiffchaff of note. (BI)

Reed Bunting at Sidlesham Quay (BI)

Chichester Gravel Pits: There were many birders out looking for the Bonaparte's Gull but, as is its regular pattern, there was no sign early on. A Willow Warbler was at New Lake, at least three Blackcaps and Chiffchaff were here as well, several Cetti's Warblers were along the main paths and there were more Chiffchaffs here too. (BI)

Later on, the Bonaparte's Gull was showing on West Trout Lake, albeit distantly, and the drake Red-crested Pochard was on Runcton Lake whilst a surprise Kittiwake was on Vinnetrow Lake.(CRN/PJ/GaJ)

Kittiwake at Chichester GPs (GaJ)

Ferry Pool: The two Avocets were back on the pool today with 11 Black-tailed Godwits, two Tufted Ducks, four Gadwall, two Teal, 35 Shoveler and six Shelduck. Around the car park area was a Song Thrush, a singing Blackcap, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs. (SR)

Chiffchaff at the Ferry (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - The banks remained quiet today, apart from two Chiffchaffs and four Yellowhammers, but there were some raptors in the area including two Marsh Harriers, six Kestrels and five Buzzards. Three Swallows were also noted.

On the Stilt Pools were two Little Ringed Plovers, a Ringed Plover, at least 21 Avocets and 11 Black-tailed Godwits. (SaH/SH)

Earlier in the day, there were three Little Ringed Plovers and Two Redshanks on the pools along with 33 Mediterranean Gulls and a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse nearby. (AHu)

Medmerry Trail: A Willow Warbler was singing between the golf course and the solar farm today. (AW)

Friday, 8th April: Winds from the easterly quarter with heavy showers throughout the morning but clearing later....

A note that AH and OM are both currently away, so all reports and pictures to BI at bart.ives@talk21.com this week please.

Selsey Bill:  The first Arctic Skua of the year went east this morning and a Canada Goose, a scarce bird at the Bill, west west. There were also nine Great Northern Divers offshore with another east. Log below.  (SR/IP/AW/BI)

(0610-0855hrs) (WNW F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 9os

Gannet - 14E, 4W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Canada Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 13E, 3W, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W

Turnstone - 3ob

Oystercatcher - 1E, 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 6os

Common Tern - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

LInnet - 4E

Chiffchaff - 1N

(1645-1745hrs) (NW F2) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 8E, 5W

Great Skua - 1E

Common Scoter - 7E, 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4os

Canada Goose at the Bill (BI)

West Selsey: The White-tailed Eagle seen at Church Norton was over Crablands at 1335hrs. (J&BHd)

                

White-tailed Eagle over Selsey (J&BHd)

Chichester Gravel Pits: There were c.12 Swallows over the various lakes today & a KIngfisher flew through but there was no immediate sign of either the Bonaparte's Gull or the Red-crested Pochards. (BI) 

Later in the day, both the Bonaparte's Gull, which now has the beginnings of a summer hood, and the Red-crested Pochards were back, on West Trout Lake and Ivy Lake respectively. The first returning Common Terns were also noted feeding on Ivy Lake. (RN/AW)

Bonaparte's Gull (above) & Common Terns at the lakes (AW)

Church Norton: An Adder was showing well and a Sedge Warbler was singing from the second several this afternoon. (SaH) 

A White-tailed Eagle, also seen further to the west earlier in the day, was over the harbour at 1400hrs. (SP/IH)

Adder at Church Norton (SaH)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: Three Avocets, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshank, eight Lapwings and a Snipe along with 34 Shoveler and a few Shelduck were on the pool and a Spotted Redshank was still at the sluice opposite. 

Two Sedge Warblers were in reeds at the end of the Long Pool but steadfastly refused to reveal themselves, and there were three Reed Buntings, six Linnets and four Long-tailed Tits along the hedge whilst a pair of Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes and the nesting Mute Swans were on the water. 

Further along, out in the channel toward Church Norton, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were performing their courtship dance. (SR)

Avocet (above), Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebes & Long-tailed Tit at the Ferry (SR)

North Wall: Two Marsh Harriers were showing well today and there were also two Brent Geese in the fields, several Cattle & Little Egrets with the Grey Herons and a Little Grebe in the pool. In White's Creek were seven Black-tailed Godwits and also some Teal. (CBy)

Brent Geese (above), Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Little Grebe & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall. (CBy)

Thursday, 7th April: Westerly winds with gusts to F8 forecast for today but staying dry...

A note that AH and OM are both currently away, so all reports and pictures to BI at bart.ives@talk21.com this week please.

Selsey Bill: It was hard work for the seawatchers in the very blustery conditions this morning! Log below. (SR/IP)

(0715-0815hrs) (W F5-6)

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Gannet - 6E, 4 W

Common Scoter - 25E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 3W

Turnstone - 1

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Pied Wagtail - 2N

Linnet - 1N

(1630-1730hrs) (W F5) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Turnstone - 6

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 4os

Also, a Common Gull was with c.100 Mediterranean Gulls on the Oval Field this morning and, early on, a Great Northern Diver went east. (AW)

Common Gull (above), Mediterranean Gulls & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The pool was dominated by c50 Black-headed Gulls with eight Mediterranean Gulls and the only waders noted were six Lapwing and 30 Black-tailed Godwits. Ducks included four Gadwall, 12 Teal and 50 Shoveler. 

A Spotted Redshank and a further 14 Black-tailed Godwits plus the two Great Crested Grebes were opposite, by the sluice. (SR)

Spotted Redshank at the Ferry (SR)

Church Norton: A brief look from the hide at low tide revealed c600 Mediterranean Gulls, c300 Black-headed Gulls and c30 Sandwich Terns but very little else. (SR)

Mediterranean Gulls (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (SR)

North Wall: Another very windy morning along the wall. There were 52 Black Tailed Godwits and a few Teal in the Breech Pool. The three remaining Brent Geese were once again in the Honer 2 field. A couple of Grey Herons and a Cattle Egret went into Owl Copse whilst ten Little Egrets were out on their island in the harbour. 

At Halsey’s Farm there were six Gadwall and a pair of Shelduck with a couple of singing Skylarks. A Greenfinch and a small flock of Goldfinches were the only small birds seen along the wall and a Green Woodpecker was by the stables. (LP)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Brent Geese & Little Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester gravel Pits:  At least three Swallows were feeding over Drayton Pits this morning & the Bonaparte's Gull was again present on West Trout Lake. (BI/RL)

Black-headed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull at West Trout Lake (RL)