13th - 16th May 2022

Monday, 16th May: A mix of white and grey cloud and some warm, sunny intervals in a fresh westerly, with the odd thundery shower ......

Selsey Bill: A Hobby came in off the sea and three Wheatears were on the beach this morning, whilst an Arctic Skua was again chasing terns offshore. Full log below. (SR/KT/AH/AW)

(0635-0905hrs) (WSW, F5)

Gannet - 22E, 3W, 15os

Common Scoter - 16E

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 3W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 29os

Common Tern - 20os

Little Tern - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 2E, 1W

Swift - 2

House Martin - 8

Wheatear - 3

Little Tern (above) & Wheatears at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank was on the pool this morning, along with two Redshanks, eight Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits, but only half a dozen Shelducks, whilst two Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Whimbrel at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was behind the hide this morning, with two pairs of Swallows around the hide and a Wheatear flew across the harbour, but otherwise it was the usual mix, including several singing Blackcaps and Whitethroats.

There were again at least 60 Little Terns in the harbour, with birds visiting both the newer islands, whilst a few Common Terns were among the Sandwich Terns, though waders were restricted to a Bar-tailed Godwit, two or three Whimbrels and Curlews and just a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. (AW/AH)

Later on, a pair of Yellowhammers along the west side were both seen carrying food, whilst two Painted Lady butterflies ere on the thrift shelf. 

Also, the Roseate Tern was back in the harbour before being flushed by fishermen(TG-P)

Also, late this afternoon a Cattle Egret was along the west side near the Long Pool. (BI)

Spotted Flycatcher (AW) (above), Blackcap, Whitethroat, Swallows & Little and Sandwich Terns (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: There was a pair of Shelduck with four young ducklings on the Breech Pool this morning, and a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin flew in, whilst behind the pool, a Marsh Harrier was seem briefly and a Lapwing was over the fields.
Along the wall there were a few Reed and Sedge Warblers along with Reed Buntings, a Common Whitethroat and a very noisy but elusive Lesser Whitethroat.
In Owl Copse a recently hatched Grey Heron was visible in its nest and there were a few Little Egrets showing in the trees, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Buzzard and a Cuckoo were in one of the distant dead trees and a few Cattle Egrets were around the cows.
In the fields there were a number of singing Skylarks and a few Swallows, whilst out in the harbour near high tide there were two Brent Geese, a Whimbrel and six Bar-tailed Godwits. (LP/PC/IH)

Cuckoo and Buzzard (above), Grey Heron & Shelduck family at the North Wall (LP)

North Mundham: A Cattle Egret was seen flying into the fields - the first of the year here - and a Painted Lady was seen this morning, too. (MJ)

West Itchenor: At least three Painted Ladies were seen this morning. (PH)

Painted Lady at West Itchenor (PH)

Sunday, 15th May: A grey and overcast start in a light to moderate east-south-easterly breeze, with thunder developing and, later on, the heaviest rain for many weeks on the Peninsula ......

Selsey Bill: Seven Arctic Skuas, a flock of 11 Arctic Terns, a Black Tern and 31 Kittiwakes east were the most notable birds this morning, though there was a large feeding flock of Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns throughout. Full log below. (JA/SH/B/SR/BI/AH/OM/PJ/GJ et al)

(0530-1130hrs) (NE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 2E, 3W

Gannet - 54E, 15W, 10os

Shelduck - 6E, 2W, 1os

Common Scoter - 58E

Sparrowhawk - 1 (seen taking a House Sparrow)

Oystercatcher - 3E, 1W

Ringed Plover - 1E, 3 present

Sanderling - 18E

Dunlin - 13E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 4E

Whimbrel - 7E

Turnstone -  2E, 4 present

Arctic Skua - 7E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 280os

Kittiwake - 31E, 1W

Sandwich Tern- 107os

Common Tern - 12os

'Commic' Tern - 30E

Arctic Tern - 11E

Little Tern - 6os

Black Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 2E

auk sp - 2E, 1W

Swallow - 10N

(1400-1500hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 24E, 1W

Common Scoter - 25E

Sanderling - 12E

Turnstone - 2E

Arctic Skua  2E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 43os

Common Tern - 1os

(1540-1730hrs) (JA/SR/AH et al)

Gannet - 19E, 7W, 4os

Common Scoter- 19E

Turnstone - 3

Kittiwake - 3os

Arctic Skua - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 32os

Common Tern - 8os

Little Tern - 6os

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 7E

Arctic Skua (above), Kittiwake, Sandwich Terns, Ringed Plovers & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Queen in waiting? Here we see what it takes to win the Pom 'King' title as SR puts in the hours in all weathers whilst her closest rivals are absent! We've never yet had a Pom Queen and perhaps Sarah could alter that; she is currently in runner-up position for this year's title.....but things could yet change...! (OM)

And by contrast, the end of OM's Pom King challenge for another year! (SR)

Ferry Pool: A pair of Shovelers were the only birds beyond the current regulars this morning, which included c80 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Shelducks and a handful of Redshank. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm and North Selsey: There were a few birds about this morning, including a Yellow Wagtail, a Blackcap, two Lesser Whitethroats and four Whitethroats, whilst 21 Swifts, eight Swallows and six House Martins were overhead. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were two Whimbrels, three Curlews and a Peregrine in the harbour today. (PJ/GJ)

Chichester GPs: A Tree-creeper was along Peckhams Copse Lane today. (PJ/GJ)

North Wall and East side: There wasn't much along the wall, but three Stonechats, a Cuckoo and half a dozen Cattle Egrets were at Halsey's Farm, with the Swallows still around the stables.

A very conspicuous Lesser Whitethroat was along the bushes on the east side, with Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs also heard, but there were very few waders in the harbour beyond a Grey Plover, a Whimbrel, three Curlews and Redshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Dunlin and 14 Ringed Plovers, along with a solitary Brent Goose.

Encouragingly, it does look like the Little Terns are embracing the new shingle island, with at least 60 birds coming up from it to see off a Carrion Crow. (AH/IH/LP/SP//PJ/GJ)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Grey Plover, Brent Goose & Little Terns along the East side (AH)

Saturday, 14th May: A very pleasant morning's weather, with lots of warm sun, almost still early on, picking up from the south later ......

Selsey Bill: A Black Tern going east was unexpected on a quiet morning, with a Bonxie and a couple of Arctic Skuas about the only other birds out of the usual. Full log below. (JA/SH/SR/IP/AH)

(0545-0900hrs) (NW, F0-1)

Great Northern Diver - 2E

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 15E, 10W

Shelduck - 1E

Mallard - 6os

Common Scoter - 9E

Sparrowhawk - 2 (both male and female)

Oystercatcher - 2E

Great Skua - 1W

Arctic Skua - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 260os

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 56os

Common Tern - 14os

Little Tern - 2os

Black Tern - 1E

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 1

Pied Wagtail - 1

This afternoon two Pomarine Skuas and an Arctic Skua went east. Full log below. (JA/SH)

(1545-1800hrs)

Gannet - 5E, 2W

Common Scoter - 9E

Pomarine Skua - 2E (1730hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 60os

Common Tern - 11os

Little Tern - 4os

Swallow - 1N

Kittiwake (above), Fulmar & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool again this morning, along with c120 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Avocets, four Redshank and 25 Shelducks, with a couple of Reed Warblers singing at the front. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Selsey: A Red Kite went over the garden this morning, as did six Swifts, whilst a Spotted Flycatcher dropped in briefly before being chased off by a Robin. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Swift in North Selsey (AW)

Park Farm Selsey: A Yellow Wagtail flew over the fields this morning and six Tufted Ducks flew off from the reservoir, whilst a Kestrel was about and the Swallows and House Matins were active around the buildings. (IP)

Church Norton: A Black Tern - presumably the one seen going east off the Bill - dropped in, early on, but didn't linger (BI).

Later, there were just with just a dozen Little Terns and Common Terns seen, whilst waders numbered 13 Turnstones, eight Ringed Plovers, a few Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel and a Curlew. 

A total of 12 Tufted Ducks were on the Second Several (including eight drakes), plus a pair of Gadwall, whilst on the breeding front thee were four quite large Mallard ducklings and for the first time this year, two baby Coots.

A Buzzard was over Priory Wood mobbed by three Crows, whilst lots of birdsong could be heard in Bluebell Wood, with a minimum of 20 Long-tailed Tits noted, too. (IP)

North Wall: A Whinchat was at Halsey's Farm this morning, and was present tis afternoon and evening, whilst later on, a Barn Owl was seen carrying prey over Owl Copse.

There was also a Green-veined White butterfly at Halsey's Farm. (SP/LP/S&SaH)

Green-veined White at Halsey's Farm (SH)

Medmerry: Ham Viewpoint - A Red Kite went over at 1230hrs today. (K Gray)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A singing Dartford Warbler was along the banks, with a probable female nearby, so it is just possible that breeding might occur here.

The other highlight of the morning - the discovery of the first four Avocet chicks of the year - was somewhat tainted by a Carrion Crow Crow carrying two of them away in short order, despite the protests of the 25+ adult birds present.

Otherwise, it was the usual mix of Linnets, Whitethroats and Skylarks along the banks, with a Raven over, a Cuckoo by the poplars, pairs of Stonechats and Meadow Pipits near the Stilt Pool and one or two Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings about, too.

A Cattle Egret flew out from the back of the Stilt Pool, where the pair of Egyptian Geese still had their one gosling, a pair of Canada Geese had three goslings, three Little Ringed Plovers, four Black-tailed Godwits, a Dunlin, a Lapwing and an Oystercatcher were the only waders, with a pair of Wigeon and a couple of Swallows also of note. (HB/LP/AH/S&SaH et al)

Dartford Warbler (above), Avocets, Avocets and Carrion Crow, Little Ringed Plover, Whitethroat & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - A WeBS count of the pits today produced joint totals of 22 Greylags, 26 Canada Geese (just one pair with a single gosling) and six Egyptian Geese (showing how they are spreading through the area). Two pairs of Great Crested Grebe so far have young, as do two pairs of Little Grebe and two pairs of Mallard.

There were three Common Terns fishing and displaying over the lakes, whilst a single Common Sandpiper was a bit of a surprise here. Several pairs of Coots now have young, whilst the handful of Pochard present don't (as yet!). As regards the two pairs of nesting/breeding Grey Herons previously reported, it seems that one pair may have abandoned, whilst the original pair seem to be still present at the nest, though breeding success is unknown and difficult to monitor now following the reed growth.

Reed Warblers seem to be singing everywhere and common warblers were also very obvious, together with a couple of pairs of Reed Bunting. The unobtrusive (or elusive) Bullfinch pair also seem to be in situ, with just a brief glimpse of the male today.

Egyptian Geese on Drayton House North pit (OM)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - This evening there were c40 Swifts over the fields and settling tanks, with similar numbers of Swallows and a few House Martins along the wires on Ham Road and c60 Mediterranean Gulls and c20 Stock Doves were on the cultivated fields. (AH)

Swift (above), House Martins and Swallows & Mediterranean Gulls at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 13th May: Another fairly bright and blowy morning of sunshine and cloud, though quite mild in the fresh westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A couple of Arctic Skuas were lingering offshore, harassing the Sandwich Terns, but little was on the move beyond 42 Common Scoters east and three Great Northern Divers west. Full log below. (SR/AH/JA)

(0625-1035hrs) (W, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3W

diver sp - 1W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 18W

Mallard - 4W

Common Scoter - 42E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Sanderling - 6E

Arctic Skua - 2os

Kittiwake - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 80os

Common Tern - 41os

Little Tern - 6os

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 9E, 2W

Swallow - 6N

House Martin - 8

Blackcap - 1

Goldfinch - 3

(1615-1730hrs) (JA/SH)

Gannet - 3E, 1W, 20os

Oystercatcher - 3

Ringed Plover - 1

Whimbrel - 1E

Turnstone - 1

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 8W, 45os

Common Tern - 5os

Little Tern - 3os

auk sp - 2W

Swift - 2N

Arctic Skua (above), Great Northern Diver, Little Tern, Fulmar & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning, a Red Kite was over the pool, being mobbed by crows. (SH)

Later, two Common Sandpipers were on the pool, along with c100 Black-tailed Godwits, five Redshank, two Lapwings, eight Avocets, a drake Gadwall and c30 Shelducks, whilst the Greenshank was again in the channel opposite and a Cattle Egret flew over, heading west. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Cattle Egret & Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm Selsey: There were four Wheatears on the fields this evening. (SaH)

Long Pool: There were plenty of singing Sedge and Reed Warblers this morning, along with a Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats and Reed Buntings, whilst a pair of Little Grebes and a pair of Tufted Ducks were on the pool, but that was about it. (AH)

This evening a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the pool and the Greenshank was in Ferry Channel. (AB)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Little Grebe along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Two Spotted Flycatchers were in the Mound area this morning, but there wasn't much else in the way of migrants beyond the now resident Swallows and Blackcaps.

There appeared to be a lot of Little Tern activity in the vicinity of the newly created island, which would be very encouraging, whilst at least a dozen Common Terns were sat out amongst the Sandwich Terns at high tide, but waders were predictably few, though including a couple of Whimbrel and a few Dunlin, Turnstones and Ringed Plovers. (AH/SR/HW et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Whimbrel & Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were up to three Spotted Flycatchers between the hide and the Mound, whilst  at least 60 Little Terns in the harbour again, and c100 Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plovers and four Whimbrel were out on the mud, and a Sparrowhawk went over. (AH/NM/AW/BI)

    

Spotted Flycatcher (AW) (above), Little Tern, Little and Sandwich Terns, Sparrowhawk & Ringed Plover and Dunlin AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: There was just a pair of Gadwall, three Little Egrets and four Mute Swans in Whites Creek this morning, while further out on the mud there were c60 Dunlin and Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel.

The Breech Pool has almost completely dried out, with just a single Moorhen on it, with a few Sedge and Reed Warblers in the reeds, whilst nearby the pair of Swallows were still active at the stables, along with a dozen Goldfinches, and Cuckoos were heard there and north and south of Halsey's Farm.

Also, at least four well grown Grey Heron youngsters could be seen with their parents in Owl Copse. (LP/C/PC/GHi)

Sedge Warbler (above), Grey Herons and a very dry Breech Pool at the North Wall (GHi)