Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 4th

Sunday, 6th November: A thoroughly wet and miserable start, with a fresh southerly pushing through almost continuous banks of heavy rain, only easing off late in the morning to leave a cool, grey and breezy day.........

Selsey Bill: There four Great Northern Divers offshore and a couple of Red-throated Divers early on before conditions became unwatchable. Full log below. (SH/BI/MB/IP/SR/IP/AH/JA)

(0650-0830hrs) (SSW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8W

Brent Goose - 2W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 12W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 7W

Razorbill - 1W

A bit later on, two Arctic Skuas were seen and 151 Kittiwakes went west. Full log below. (BI)

(0930-1100hrs) (BI)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 7W

Shag - 2E, 1os

Common Scoter - 7W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2os

Arctic Skua - 1W, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 11W

Kittiwake - 151W

(1300-1500hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 10W

Brent Goose - 20W

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5W

Dunlin - 1E

Turnstone - 11

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W, 3os

Kittiwake - 26W

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Turnstone at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets and two Black-tailed Godwits roosting on the pool this morning, with otherwise just a handful of Shelducks and c30 Teal present, with c50 Lapwings on/over the fields and another 200 or more and c60Golden Plovers flying up further west.

Also, a Swallow flew over and two Fieldfares were in the trees behind the Visitor Centre. (MB/AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A flock of 23 Snipe were flying around over the end of the pool, presumably pushed off by the big tide, and there were also c20 Meadow Pipits and c40 Skylarks equally flighty.

There were also hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, plus at least 50 Shovelers, on the water, with a few Grey Plovers, Curlews, Lapwings and Redshanks tucked in on the last bits of high ground. (AH/MB)

Snipe (above) & Meadow Pipit at the Long Pool (AH)

Birdham: A Lesser Redpoll went over the garden this morning. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A very late first-winter Arctic Tern was feeding over the reserve near the poplars at high tide this morning, and there were also two Dartford Warblers nearby on the banks, along with two Yellowhammers, 15 Redwings were in the trees, a female Marsh Harrier, c300 Golden Plovers and c400 Lapwings were over the reserve and 20 Egyptian Geese were in the fields by the car-park. (S&SaH/AB)

Drayton House Pits: Two Great White Egrets were on the North Pit this morning, along with a dozen Little Egrets, six Grey Herons, a Green Sandpiper and two Egyptian Geese.

Sadly, it does appear that the pit is being drained.....although ironically, the muddy pools and lower water levels look great just at present! (OM)

Great White Egret (with reddish ring/white letters I just cannot decipher), two Great White Egrets in the gloom, the drained pit and water pumps at Drayton House North pit this morning (OM)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Barn Owl was at its usual roost site this afternoon and two Pied Wagtails went over, but that was about it. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were 200 Brent Geese, 50 Wigeon and a few Pintail, Teal and Great Crested Grebes on the very full tide this morning, but no waders to be seen.

Also, a Kingfisher wasn't put off by the rain, catching a fish near the concrete blocks, but the only land-birds seen were a Green Woodpecker and four Jays in the churchyard. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe & the new boardwalk proving its worth at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Merlin was over the field at the end of Church Lane as well as two Sparrowhawks, with 30 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 40 Goldfinches and 200 Starlings present there.

On a big tide there was just a Little Grebe in White’s Creek and further out 70 Brent Geese and 100 Wigeon, whilst a Kingfisher was by the sluice and a Rock Pipit was along the wall.

In the flooded Honer fields there were 30 Canada Geese, 50 Curlew, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Wigeon and a pair of Gadwall while further back a few Cattle Egrets were with the sheep, and a Kestrel and the male Marsh Harrier were also about. At Halsey’s Farm, two Peregrines flew over, and there were two more Kingfishers, a Snipe and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (LP/DH)

Little Grebe (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews and Redshanks at the North Wall (LP)

Saturday, 5th November: A return to mild, wet and windy conditions, with a very overcast, if mild, morning of intermittent heavy showers and prolonged periods of heavy drizzle in a blustery south-westerly......

Selsey Bill: There was some movement this morning, including the first Long-tailed Duck, Eider, Goldeneyes and Goosanders (three of each) of the autumn, together with a Bonxie, two Arctic Skuas, 276 Kittiwakes, a few divers and an unusual amount of Great Crested Grebe activity, including a dozen together on the sea and 20 west.

There was also a Black Redstart on the roof-tops and a Swallow and a Redwing went over. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/SR/AH/P&LH)

(0650-1140hrs) (WSW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 4W

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 20W, 12os

Gannet - 35W

Shag - 1E, 1W, 1os

Brent Goose - 2E, 76W

Shelduck - 2W

Wigeon - 12W

Teal - 1E, 1W

Shoveler - 1W

Goldeneye - 3W

Eider - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E, 3W, 1os

Goosander - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 13W

Oystercatcher - 1

Knot - 20W (in one flock)

Dunlin - 37W

Purple Sandpiper - 1W

Black-tailed Godwit - 1W

Turnstone - 18

Great Skua - 1W

Arctic Skua - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 20W

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 276W

Razorbill - 11W

auk sp - 11E, 2W

Skylark - 3W

Swallow - 1

Meadow Pipit - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Redwing - 1N

Black Redstart - 1

A further watch this afternoon produced the second Sooty Shearwater of the autumn. Full log below. (SH/P&LH)

(1245-1450hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Sooty Shearwater - 1W (1350hrs)

Gannet - 49W

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 3E, 2W

Common Scoter - 1E, 2W

Merlin - 1E

Grey Plover - 1W

Ringed Plover - 20E

Arctic Skua - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 53W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 4W

Eider (above), Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Shag, Great Crested Grebes, Teal, Shoveler and Red-breasted Mergansers & Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 15 Avocets on the pool this morning, with more wildfowl than of late, including 15 Shelducks, c40 Shovelers, c60 Wigeon and at least 100 Teal, whilst two Buzzards went over. (AH)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 100 Brent Geese were scattered about the harbour at high tide, along with a Kingfisher, 50 Wigeon, six Little Egrets and eight Great Crested Grebes, but very few waders beyond a few roosting Redshanks

At least 50 Wigeon and 100 Teal were around the creek by the horse field, whilst between the path to the beach and the start of the spit there were up to 20 Stonechats, together with similar of Greenfinches and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (AH)

Kingfisher and Little Egret (above), Brent Geese & Wigeon and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: About 30 Pied Wagtails were back in the field at the end of Church Lane along with a few Meadow Pipits, 20 Goldfinches, 200 Starlings, four Stock Doves, six Curlews and 24 Great Black-backed Gulls, with another six Pied Wagtails in the paddock, along with a Green Woodpecker, and a Marsh Harrier was over the reeds further back.Along the wall there were six Meadow Pipits, four Rock Pipits, two Reed Buntings, two Stonechats, a Yellowhammer and a Kingfisher, while in the now flooded Honer fields there were 42 Curlews, 80 Lapwings, 36 Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Plovers, six Dunlin, two Shovelers, two Shelducks, 60 Wigeon and 40 Teal, with a Jay and a Sparrowhawk also about.

At Halsey’s Farm, 24 Canada Geese were by the rife and a Buzzard was in the trees, but the harbour was quiet around high tide with just a few Brent Geese and Wigeon. (LP)

Yellowhammer (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pi[pit & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Friday, 4th November: A complete contrast to recent days, with a very bright and crisp morning in a moderate northerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including an Arctic Skua east and 95 Brent Geese west offshore, the Purple Sandpiper again on the concrete sea-defences, a Fieldfare in the trees and three Black Redstarts along the front - one by Bill Point House and two together in Bill House garden. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/MO-W/AH/CN/ABi)

(0700-0900hrs) (N, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 2E, 6W

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 7E, 95W

Common Scoter - 2E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 5

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Kittiwake - 7W

Stock Dove - 3W

Wood Pigeon - 201W

Skylark - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Fieldfare - 1

Song Thrush - 1

Black Redstart - 3

Stonechat - 3

Chiffchaff - 3

Long-tailed Tit - 2

Linnet - 11N

Purple Sandpiper (CN) (above), Black Redstarts, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit & Great Northern Diver (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets on a very full pool this morning, along with half a dozen Lapwings, c20 Shovelers and c60 Teal. (AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Five Chiffchaffs and four Jays were around the hide and churchyard area, and a Cetti's Warbler was along the west side this morning. (CRJ)

Late this afternoon there was a Greenshank in the harbour, along with 40 Grey Plovers, 20 Ringed Plovers and 100+ Dunlin, whilst four Stonechats were along the beach. (AH)

Greenshank at Church Norton (AH)

Drayton Pits: A Great White Egret was on the northern pit today. (C Nye)

Warner Lane paddocks: A female Blackcap was in the hedges by the stables this morning, along with a couple of Chiffchaffs, whilst four Stonechats were around the fields. (AH)

Blackcap (above) & Stonechat at Warner Lane paddocks (AH)

North Wall: The highlight of an afternoon at the Wall was the sight of some 60 Cattle Egrets leaving flooded fields for the roost in Owl Copse.

Also seen were two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, one Kingfisher, six Stonechats and about 40 Curlew and a similar number of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the fields. (IH/SP/LP/TG)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The highlight was two Corn Buntings in the 'Yellowhammer Bushes', with three Dartford Warblers nearby, whilst a male Yellowhammer and a dozen or so Stonechats were also along the banks.

Two Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were seen over the reserve, whilst 18 Brent Geese dropped in from offshore, but the Stilt Pool just held a Dunlin and a Lapwing, plus two Gadwall, a Shoveler, aa Shelduck and numerous Wigeon and Teal. (IP/CN)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - The windmill area was very quiet, with just a couple of Meadow Pipits to be found, whilst a Black Redstart and a pair of Stonechats were right in front of the Oasis Centre, with two more of the former and four of the latter around the rocks and banks at the breach.

Also of note, a flock of 20 Barnacle Geese flew west, a long way offshore, at one point looking as if they might come in, before heading away again. Otherwise, a single Red-breasted Merganser went west, too, whilst there were a dozen Brent Geese and plenty of roosting waders around the breach, including c40 Ringed Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers and c80 Dunlin, plus a Greenshank and a few Curlews. (AH)