Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 16th

Friday, 18th November: A bright and sunny morning - if noticeably cooler than of late - in a fresh westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, but with one or two interesting highlights, notably a Red-necked Grebe going west and a flock of 14 Eiders, with five Common Scoters among them going east. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0725-0900hrs) (WNW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-necked Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe -1W, 1os

Brent Goose - 1W

Eider - 14E

Common Scoter - 5E, 9W, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 6W

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Common Gull - 9W

Kittiwake - 3W

Razorbill - 1W

Wood Pigeon - 100W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Red-necked Grebe (above), Eiders and Common Scoters Razorbill & Kestrel at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The water level was even higher this morning, with up to 500 Lapwings, with a couple of Dunlin and Snipe among them the highlight, with c60 Shovelers and c100 Wigeon and Teal widely spread on the water, along with many hundreds of gulls. (AH)

Lapwings (above) & an even more flooded pool and field at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting was back and showing well at the harbour end of the spit this afternoon. (TG)

Church Norton: Two Firecrests and a Goldcrest were in the churchyard this morning, as were a small flock of Long-tailed Tits and a Chiffchaff. (OM)

Later, up to 2000 Brent Geese were feeding in the harbour and along the fields west of the churchyard, whilst offshore a single Great Crested Grebe was on the sea and four Mediterranean Gulls and a lone Sandwich Tern were also present. (BFF/SMo)

Another classic view of a Firecrest....this one in the corner of the Churchyard. (OM)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - A brisk walk this morning from the Coastguard Station the Breach was rewarded with an adult Little Gull in the surf between the rocks groynes, which then relocated to the east side of the breach, giving decent views.

It was joined by a stunning Arctic Tern which flew from the east and joined it, feeding in the breach - certainly the latest Arctic Tern I have recorded (and latest this century. Eds).

Also, around 350 Golden Plover were being harassed over the reserve, and a Grey Wagtail and two Stonechats were also noted. (BFF/SMo)

Later, the Arctic Tern was resting on the shingle in front of a small huddle of gulls - then it suddenly departed and promptly disappeared - but may have gone west over to the reserve. Also, a couple of Stonechats, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and ten Linnets were around the rocks.(OM/SR)

Little Gull (above) & Arctic Tern at Medmerry (BFF)

Chichester Marina: There were at least four Water Rails calling noisily from the reed-bed late this afternoon. (PH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were at least 75 Cattle Egrets spread around the fields by the dairy, but otherwise it was quiet, with just a handful of Chaffinches, a couple of Pied Wagtails and a flock of Long-tailed Tits along the hedges, whilst four Stock Doves were by Church Farm..

It was quiet in the churchyard, too, with just a couple of Goldcrests, a Jay and ten Blackbirds seen. (AH)

Cattle Egrets (above), Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest & Long-tailed Tit around Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

North Wall: There were 300 Golden Plovers along Whites Creek, together with 200 Lapwings, 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshanks and a few Teal and Wigeon, with 12 Pintail and a few Brent Geese further out.

The male Marsh Harrier was active all morning behind the Breech Pool, and a Buzzard and a Kestrel were also about, but the pool contained just 12 Canada Geese and a few Mallards and Coots. A Green Woodpecker flew along the wall and there were 12 Stonechats, four Reed Buntings, three Yellowhammers, 12 Linnets and eight Redwings in the hedgerows.

At Halsey’s Farm, four Cattle Egrets were in the fields and eight Fieldfares and a few more Stonechats were in the bushes. Also, six Pied Wagtails were in the paddock and in the flooded fields further back there were lots more Lapwing, 30 Curlews and 12 Shelduck. (LP/GHi)

Golden Plovers (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit & Stonechat at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - The Barn Owl was out hunting this evening at dusk. (AD)

Barn Owl at Medmerry (AD)

Thursday, 17th November: After yet another night of prolonged and heavy rain, a very bright and very breezy morning in a brisk north-westerly, a little cooler than of late, too, despite the sun........

Selsey Bill: A quiet morning, with just a few of the regular species about. Full log below. (SR/MO-W/AH)

(0735-0905hrs) (WNW, F7)

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 7E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2os

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Sandwich Tern (above) & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Most of the adjacent fields and the rife were underwater this morning, making a spectacular view, even though there were few birds about, with c200 Lapwings the most prominent additions beyond the usual dozen Shelducks, c75 Shovelers and c150 Teal. (AH)

Early this afternoon a ring-tail (presumed) Hen Harrier went north over the Tramway area. (AB)

Lapwings (above) & the extent of the flooding at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were no small birds about in the wind and the harbour just held c50 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers and c400 Dunlin, whilst at least 800 Brent Geese were commuting between the harbour and the arable fields behind the churchyard. (AH)

Grey Plover (above), Knot & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting was reported as present again today at the end of the spit (per CRJ)

North Wall: There was not much on the Slipe Field today, with the best I could do being a Sparrowhawk, two Reed Buntings and a Common Plume Moth. (CRJ)

Common Plume Moth at the North Wall (CRJ)

Wednesday, 16th November: After another night of heavy rain, a blustery morning of prolonged heavy showers and brief, surprisingly warm and sunny interludes in a fresh south-westerly.....

Selsey Bill: A Goosander and 41 Brent Geese went west, and 16 Common Scoters and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose went east. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0735-0935hrs) (SW, F6)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 12W

Shag - 1W

Brent Goose - 3E, 41W

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1E

Teal - 10W

Common Scoter - 16E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Goosander - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1W

Dunlin - 4W

Turnstone - 10

Razorbill - 1W

Later on, the Pale-bellied Brent Goose went back west, whilst 69 Common Scoters, including flocks of 29 and 38, also went west, along with another 40 Brent Geese. (P&LH)

(1010-1140hrs)

Gannet - 23W

Brent Goose - 40W

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 69E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 16os

Kittiwake - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Goldfinch - 15

(1300-1430hrs) (P&LH)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 4os

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 4W

Gadwall - 2W

Common Scoter - 1E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 9os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Stonechat - 1

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c60 Lapwings and a handful of Redshanks on the floods in the field this morning, whilst the pool just held the usual mix, including c60 Shovelers, c150 Teal and eight Shelducks. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Drayton Pit: There were still four Great White Egrets on the North pit this afternoon. (CS)

Runcton: Two Egyptian Geese flew south over the village this morning. (CRJ)

Church Norton: At least 300 Brent Geese were on the mud, along with c400 Dunlin and c80 Grey Plovers, but not much else of note.

A look around the bushes in the brief sunny spells produced a Coal Tit and up to ten Goldcrests around the car par, with another half a dozen of the latter and a few Long-tailed Tits around the churchyard and hide. (AH)