28th - 30th November 2022

Wednesday, 30th November: After a grey and murky start, an increasingly sunny, if chill, morning in a moderate north-easterly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety, but no numbers, this morning, with the most unusual bird being a Fieldfare that dropped into the trees at the back of the Oval Field before carrying on east. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0745-0900hrs) (ENE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 1E

Brent Goose - 4W

Wigeon - 2E, 12W

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 6E, 6os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W, 6os

Oystercatcher - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 17N

Fieldfare - 1E

Fieldfare (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was just c80 Shoveler, c40 Teal and four Shelducks this morning. (AH)

Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Firecrest and two Pied Wagtails were around the paddock this morning, with a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were  in Church Lane, a a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and a Rock Pipit were by the sluice, but there were only a few Wigeon and Redshank along White’s Creek.

The Breech Pool held just a few Mallards and behind the pool there were two Marsh Harriers, two Sparrowhawks and a Buzzard. A flock of about 20 Yellowhammers were moving through the bushes along with 12 Reed Buntings and a Jay, four Greenfinches and a Green Woodpecker was at Owl Copse.

Also, a large number of Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew into the harbour from the north fields, estimated somewhere between 1500 – 2000.(LP/CRJ)

Brent Geese at the North Wall (CRJ)

East Side: At the Slipe Field were male and female Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels, two Skylarks and six Reed Buntings. (CRJ)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: The two Snow Buntings were at the end of the spit again this morning, and the Slavonian Grebe was showing well, too, along with a handful of Great Crested Grebes in the channel.

Otherwise, there were a few Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks along the spit, with at least 400 Wigeon, a few Pintail and Teal and up to 1000 Lapwings and 200 Brent Geese out in the harbour.

The Lagoon just held half a dozen Little Grebes and lots of Coots. (AH)

Snow Buntings (above & Slavonian Grebe at Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, whilst two Dartford Warblers were along the banks and 500+ Brent Geese were in the fields west of Marsh Barn. (CG)

Honer Reservoir: There were just a Little Grebe and eight Coots on the reservoir, plus a Grey Wagtail, but the adjacent fields and hedges were quiet beyond a few Curlews and Lapwings. (AH)

Grey Wagtail (above) & Little Grebe at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Tuesday, 29th November: A really dank, autumnal day, with heavy and low grey cloud, distinctly cooler than of late in just a light north-easterly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: Again, very little was on the move, though three Redwings went over very early and a drake Eider went east. Full log below. (AH/IP/M Bravery)

(0730-0900hrs) (NE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 3W, 2os

Eider - 1E, 1os

Common Scoter - 6W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W, 4os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 3W

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Redwing - 3N

Red-throated Diver (above), Eider & Kittiwake at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a couple of dozen Shovelers and Teal on the pool morning. (AH). 

North Wall: At 1000hrs there were three Marsh Harriers over the reeds behind the Breech Pool - two females and a male, before another female was seen approaching from the Church Norton area and joined the original group. Shortly afterwards, a female drifted off towards Tern Island. (JDW)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: Remarkably, the Snow Bunting at the end of the spit was joined by a second bird, whilst the Slavonian Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were on the water, a Kingfisher, a Curlew and a Grey Heron were nearby and 16 Oystercatchers were on the shingle.

Also, a Great Northern Diver was on Pagham Lagoon, whilst the Slipe Field just held a Skylark and six Reed Buntings. (CRJ/AM/GHi et al)

Snow Buntings (GHi, top, CRJ lower four), Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe (CRJ), Great Crested Grebe & Grey Heron (GHi) at Pagham Spit

Chichester Marina: There were three different Marsh Harriers over the reedbeds this morning, with a Kingfisher, a Cetti's Warbler and at least three Water Rails in the vicinity, along with 30 Teal, whilst five Redwings and three Fieldfares went over. (PH)

Birdham: There were two Treecreepers in a garden in the village this morning. (GT)

Fishbourne Creek: An adult and a first-winter Little Gull were still around the Lavant outflow this morning, with a Goldeneye and at least nine Red-breasted Mergansers out on the water, and a Spotted Redshank and two Greenshanks among the many waders present.. (AM/MRu)

Church Norton: The Greenshank was again in the harbour on the low tide, along with c60 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, with at least 600 Golden Plovers and similar of Lapwings further down the west side.

A Marsh Harrier came over from the North Wall before retreating, and two Sparrowhawks were seen, whilst there were plenty of Wigeon and Teal, but few Brent Geese, in the harbour and small birds were confined to a Cetti's Warbler along the harbourside and two Goldcrests in the churchyard. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Golden Plovers & Goldcrest at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 28th November: After yet more overnight rain and some early showers, a blustery grey morning finally gave way to some warm sun as the westerly breeze eased......

Selsey Bill: A Black Redstart on the garden wall of Bill Point House and two Eider, two first-winter Little Gulls and three Pintails heading west were about the only things of note on a quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/ABi/AW)

(0740-1000hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 3W

Brent Goose - 6W

Pintail - 3W

Common Scoter - 4W

Eider - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 2W

Turnstone - 11

Little Gull - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Black Redstart - 1

Black Redstart (above), Eider (AW) & Little Gull (AH) at the Bill

Also, a Sparrowhawk was showing well in a garden along Byways, just behind the Bill. (B Richardson)

Sparrowhawk at the Bill (B Richardson)

Ferry Pool: There were just c40 Teal and Shovelers, three Shelducks and 28 Canada Geese on the pool this morning. (AH)

Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting was still present this morning at the west end of the spit, with three Rock Pipits nearby, whilst the Slavonian Grebe was again in the harbour, along with two Little Gulls and a Kittiwake. (TG/KT)

Kittiwake at Pagham Spit (KT)

North Wall: A Sparrowhawk flew down Church Lane this morning and a Firecrest was in the trees there, a small group of Long-tailed Tits were around the paddock and a couple of Pied Wagtails flew over, whilst a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice. Also, a Rock Pipit, two Stonechats and a few Reed Buntings were along the wall, and a Kestrel was over the fields behind.

In the harbour, a few Wigeon and Teal were along White's Creek, while out on the mud there were 80 Lapwing and 20 Redshank. (LP/CT/JDW)

Grey Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Marsh Harriers were over the reserve this morning, all together at one point, whilst up to four Dartford Warblers were along the banks, together with a dozen or so Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, eight Stonechats, c25 Meadow Pipits and c200 Linnets, whilst a flock of 80 Skylarks were all up high together after the harriers moved through.

The Long-tailed Duck was till on the Stilt Pool, where two pairs of Egyptian Geese had a fierce and prolonged set-to, before one pair retreated, with otherwise c150 Lapwings, six Gadwall, c20 Shovelers, c100 Wigeon and c200 Teal were also present. There were also c800 Brent Geese in the fields just west of Marsh Barn. (AH)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Dartford Warbler, Stonechat and Meadow Pipits, Marsh Harriers & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)

25th - 27th November 2022

Sunday, 27th November: A very grey and murky morning, with early rain giving way to intermittent spells drizzle, though it remains mild and the breeze was quite modest........

Selsey Bill: Two Little Gulls going west was the highlight of a quiet morning. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/P&LH/AH/IP/SR/RJS)

(0715-0930hrs) (SW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Wigeon - 2W

Common Scoter - 4os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W

Oystercatcher - 4

Turnstone - 2

Little Gull - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1W

(1410-1515hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Little Gull - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Little Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just c50 Shovelers and c30 Teal on the pool this mooring. (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was around the buildings and the very wet fields were full of various gulls, c100 Curlew a few Oystercatchers, 30 Pied Wagtails and a similar number of Meadow Pipits. (IP)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting was again showing well this morning and the Slavonian Grebe was still in the harbour, as well as a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers. A Kingfisher was around the lagoon at the end of the spit and a few Meadow Pipits and Stonechats were also about. (LP/BI)

Snow Bunting (above), Kingfisher & Red-breasted Merganser at Pagham Spit (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, whilst a Marsh Harrier and two Kestrels were over the reserve, but the banks were slow, with just nine Stonechats, six Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings, a Cetti's Warbler and a Song Thrush noted (SH)

West Itchenor: An Eider was in the harbour here this afternoon. (HB)

Church Norton: A Short-eared Owl briefly landed on the spit this morning, before being chased off by crows and headed up through the harbour.

The Greenshank and two Avocets were in the harbour, near the benches, with four more of the latter in the central channel, along with c75 Pintail and lots of Wigeon, whilst c80 Knot were on the mud among the many Dunlin and Grey Plovers, and at the far end of the harbour there were c600 Golden Plovers and c800 Lapwings.

Also,  two Red-breasted Mergansers and two Goldeneye, plus two Little Grebes, were around Tern Island, whilst two Sanderlings, 45 Ringed Plovers, 134 Turnstones and 91 Oystercatchers were counted roosting on the beach, with a Great Northern Diver, three Common Gulls and up to five more Red-breasted Mergansers offshore.

Activity was limited on the land-side, though the Snow Bunting could be seen on Pagham Spit from the end of the spit, a Peregrine went over, a Stonechat was along the spit, Dartford Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler were in the brambles opposite the first Several, with a squealing Water Rail, a Great Spotted and two Green Woodpeckers in the vicinity, too, whilst a few Goldcrests were heard/seen, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, six Red-legged Partridges and a Mistle Thrush were along Rectory Lane. (IP/P&LH/AH/RJS)

Greenshank (above), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pintails, Golden Plovers & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Saturday, 26th November: A mix of sun and heavy cloud this morning, in a fresh and blustery south-westerly, though it remains fairly mild for the season.....

Selsey Bill: The second Little Auk of the autumn went west at 0739hrs this morning, and a dozen Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua and three Slavonian Grebes also went west, whilst seven Great Northern Divers and ten Sandwich Terns were offshore and a drake Eider went east. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/PM/BI/AH/IP)

(0710-0900hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 7os

Red-throated Diver - 5W

Slavonian Grebe - 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 7W

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Brent Goose - 3W

Teal - 3W

Common Scoter - 2E, 4W, 4os

Eider - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 7W, 5os

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 2

Turnstone - 27

Arctic Skua - 1W

Little Gull - 12W

Mediterranean Gull - 5W

Kittiwake - 14E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Little Auk - 1W (0739hrs)

Little Gulls (above) & Kittiwake at the Bill (PM)

(1245-1530hrs) (SM/RHa/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 3E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

diver sp - 1E

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 9os

Little Gull - 3os

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Kittiwake - 14E, 3W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 2W

Little Gulls (above), Common Scoters, Kittiwake & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (SM)

Ferry Pool: It was just ducks again this morning, including c100 Wigeon and Shoveler, c250 Teal and eight Shelducks. (AH)

Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The farm just held a Green Woodpecker and a pair of Kestrels, sat together in a tree alongside the building works, whilst the fields held c100 Meadow Pipits and 20 Pied Wagtails. (IP)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting and the Slavonian Grebe were both showing well again this morning, whilst a Kittiwake was among the gulls on the Lagoon. (MB et al)

Sadly, a dead Grey Phalarope was found along Pagham Beach this afternoon (M Burnell)

dead Grey Phalarope found on Pagham Beach (M Burnell)

Fishbourne Creek: There were five Little Gulls by the Lavant outflow again this morning - four adults and a first-winter, and a drake Goldeneye was out on the water. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was again on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Greenshank. (MP)

Church Norton: Two Little Gulls were feeding offshore this morning, before heading off west together, and a Sandwich Tern and up to 30 Common Gulls were also present, whilst c20 Ringed Plovers were in the harbour mouth.

A Greenshank and an Avocet were off the benches, with another 20 of the latter well down the main channel, where there were also a Red-breasted Merganser and a few Pintail.

A huge flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings were at the far end of the harbour and there were many Dunlin and Grey Plovers out on the mud, but no Knot.

Also, a Kingfisher was on the metalwork, whilst a Stonechat and a few Skylarks were along the spit and c50 Linnets came off Tern Island. (AH/IP/PB/MRB/PM et al)

Little Gulls (above), Common Gull, Greenshank, Avocet & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and a Kingfisher were around the sluice this morning and along Whites Creek there were a few Wigeon and Teal, four Little Grebes, 50 Brent Geese and a few Pintails, whilst further out on the mud there were lots of waders, with Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Knot and Redshank all present in large numbers.

The Breech Pool held just a few Mallards but over the reeds behind the pool, two Marsh Harriers were active all morning, and in the fields further back there were lots more Lapwing and Golden Plover, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, a Snipe, 30 Meadow Pipits and 20 Pied Wagtails. (LP)

Marsh Harriers (above), Brent Geese & Wigeon and Teal at the North Wall (LP)

Friday, 25th November: A bright and sunny morning, with the westerly breeze a little lighter than of late.....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much moving, though nine Little Gulls drifted west, a couple of Kittiwakes were lingering closes offshore, a female Eider was about, too, and, unexpectedly, two Lesser Redpolls went over north. Full log below. (BI/AH/P&LH/SR)

(0715-0915hrs) (WSW, F4)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Little Egret - 1

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 2W

Eider - 1E, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 22

Little Gull - 9W

Mediterranean Gull - 12os

Kittiwake 2E, 3W, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 2E

Lesser Redpoll - 2N

Little Gulls (above), Kittiwakes & Eider at the Bill (AH)

Later, there were still four Little Gulls at the Bill (BI/CS) and another off Hillfield Road (CRJ), whilst this afternoon there were still three present at the Bill, with a Black Redstart at Bill Point House (AW) 

(1420-1540hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Brent Goose - 11W

Common Scoter - 5E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 38

Little Gull - 1W, 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 10os

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1W

Little Gull (CRJ above & AW below) & Black Redstart (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were just lots of ducks present this morning, including 100+ Shovelers and Wigeon, 200+ Teal and c40 Canada Geese, but not much else. (AH)

Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Jack Snipe flushed at close range from the path to the beach and a Short-eared Owl along the spit were the highlights this morning, with two Little Gulls, eight Kittiwakes and two Common Gulls along the beach and a female Goldeneye was in the harbour, whilst three Pochard flew over, heading towards the Severals.

A Bar-tailed Godwit and five Snipe were also seen around the harbour, along with 89 Turnstones, 100+ Knot, c300 Black-tailed Godwits and c500 Brent Geese.

Also, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard went over, a Chiffchaff and two Goldcrests were near the car-park, with another Chiffchaff and three Goldcrests between the Severals. (P&LH/CRJ)

Brent Geese at Church Norton (CRJ)

Runcton: A Coal Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were on the feeders this morning. (CRJ)

Coal Tit (above) & Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

Fishbourne Creek: There were still two Little Gulls and a Kittiwake at the Lavant outflow this morning, with three Goldeneye, including a drake, two female Red-breasted Mergansers, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, three Rock Pipits and a Grey Wagtail in the vicinity, too. (SM)

Drayton Pit: There were still two Great White Egrets on the North pit this morning (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was again on the Stilt Pool this afternoon, whilst a Merlin and a Marsh Harrier were over the reserve, where there were several hundred Golden Plovers and Lapwings.

Also, just before dusk, a Barn Owl was hunting along the banks and a Dartford Warbler and a Water Rail were heard. (DY)

Long-tailed Duck at Medmerry (DY)

East side: On a delightful sunny morning with an incoming tide,the harbour was full of wintering ducks, waders and Brent Geese - including an aberrant white-headed bird - with two Rock Pipits along the foreshore and three Red breasted Mergansers and a first-winter Eider on the water. (BFF/OM)

Aberrant white-headed Brent Goose with other Brents, East side (OM)

North Wall: Late this afternoon a Barn Owl, two Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher were around the Breech Pool, whilst 70 Cattle Egrets came into roost in Owl Cope.(LP)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: At the lagoon a female Goldeneye, plus a few Little Grebes were on the water, before the Goldeneye flew into the harbour, with a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff also about.

In the gorse bank along the beach at least six Stonechats, two Rock Pipits and a Dartford Warbler were present, plus a few Skylarks, with a delightful Slavonian Grebe showing well on the flooding tide, and in the shingle by the metal harbour entrance, the wintering Snow Bunting put on a great show, too.

At the harbour mouth the rough sea was breaching the shingle bar into the old lagoon and moving a mass of shingle in the harbour mouth, disturbing the 100+ Knot and many hundreds of Dunlin and Grey Plovers trying to roost, and there were also four Red-breasted Mergansers in the vicinity. (BFF/OM/LP/CT/AH et al)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Goldeneye, Skylark, Red-breasted Merganser (AH), Snow Bunting (upper AH, lower BFF) & views of the ever changing harbour mouth (BFF) at Pagham Spit