1st - 3rd December 2022

Saturday, 3rd December: Another cold and grey morning, in a moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Lesser Redpoll flying over, calling loudly, was a surprise on an otherwise quiet morning. Full log below. (BI/AH/IP/SR/P&LH)

(0730-0930hrs) (ENE, F4-5)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 4E, 5W, 11os

Brent Goose - 12W

Wigeon - 4E

Common Scoter - 9E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 8os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W, 1os

Razorbill - 1E

Lesser Redpoll - 1N

Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A flock of c200 Wigeon were feeding on the field until disturbed, with c80 Shoveler and c50 Teal on the pool, along with two Black-tailed Godwits, whilst c50 Lapwings went over into the harbour. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: The first Swallow since early November went over the spit this morning and a Woodcock was flushed, whilst the Slavonian Grebe and a Snow Bunting were still at the far end. (MB et al)

Park Farm, Selsey: There was a flock of circa 80 Pied Wagtails flying over the fields early morning along with two Grey Wagtails. A Kestrel was on the telegraph wires near the farm and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits were in the gardens at the seaward end of Park Lane. (IP)

Church Norton: Two different Marsh Harriers were hunting over both Severals this morning at different times, whilst a Snow Bunting was viewable on Pagham Spit across the harbour mouth.

There were a lot of waders and duck in the harbour, but nothing out of the ordinary, apart from a lone Snipe that flew into the saltmarsh at the southern end, five Avocets and a Little Grebe were in the main channel and up to 100 Pintail among the Wigeon and Teal..

Also, a Peregrine was sat on the sign next to its' Island for some time, then, when taking off, it scattered everything in the harbour, and large numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing were at the far end. (IP/P&LH)

Fishbourne Creek: There wasn't much to report this morning, beyond a drake Goldeneye and nine Red-breasted Mergansers on the water. (BI)

Runcton: A Coal Tit came to the feeders in the garden this morning. (CRJ)

Honer Reservoir: A Grey Wagtail, a Little Grebe and five Coots on/around the reservoir, with a Kestrel, some Long-tailed Tits and two Stonechats nearby was about it this morning. (SR).

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was still on a quiet Stilt Pool this morning, with otherwise four Little Grebes, thee Gadwall, four Tufted Ducks, two Snipe and c80 Lapwings present, with most of the several hundred Wigeon and Teal, plus c40 Shovelers, spread around the reserve.

A sub-adult male Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were hunting around the Marsh Farm area and at least 1500 Brent Geese, with more arriving, were on the cropped fields to the west, but the banks and hedges were quiet beyond a couple of heard-only Dartford Warblers, two pairs of Stonechats, just a couple of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and big flocks of c200 Linnets and c80 Stock Doves, put up by the harrier. (AH)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Snipe, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit & Stock Doves at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 2nd December: A distinctly cold morning, grey early on, but slowly brightening up in a freshening northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet again this morning, with just a few of the regulars present. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP)

(0735-835hrs) (NNE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

auk sp - 2E, 11W

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Ferry Pool: Seven Black-tailed Godwits, two Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c30 Teal, c30 Wigeon and c20 Shovelers were on the pool this morning. (SR)

Also, a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour, seen from the Tramway, that put up at least 600 Golden Plovers and 300 Lapwings. (AH)

Golden Plovers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A male and two female Marsh Harriers were up together behind the Breech Pool this morning, with both females hunting over the harbour, too.

A Kingfisher flew along White's Creek, where there were 500+ Brent Geese, including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, before they headed off inland, along with similar of Wigeon, Lapwings and c50 Golden Plovers, plus c20 Snipe that were flying about, along with a few of the regular waders, but there was nothing of note on the Breech Pool, whilst a Rock Pipit and a Meadow Pipit were along the base of the wall. (AH/IH)

Marsh Harriers (above), Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Brent Geese & Lapwings and Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Slavonian Grebe was still in the channel this morning, along with several Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Snow Bunting eventually appeared along the west end of the spit.

A coupe of Rock Pipits and half a dozen Skylarks were about, whilst a Snipe flew over and out in the harbour there were a Red-breasted Merganser, 50 Black-tailed Godwits and 2-300 Wigeon and Lapwings, together with plenty of the regular waders. (AH/IH/BI)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Skylark & Black-tailed Godwits at Pagham Spit (AH) & Snow Bunting (BI)

West Wittering: A Firecrest flitted around in the ivy outside my home office this morning. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was again on the Stilt Pool this morning, and at least 500 Brent Geese were on the fields behind Marsh Barn, though, unfortunately, they have now put in scarers. (BI)

&

Long-tailed Duck (above) & Brent Geese put to flight by bird scarers at Medmerry (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Wilson's Farm - Half a dozen Fieldfares were again near Wilson's Farm this morning, whilst 200+ Brent Geese were in the fields south of Porthole Farm. (BI)

Drayton Pits: There was still one Great White Egret, along with three Little Egrets, on the North Pit, viewable from the road, this morning. (AH)

Great White Egret at Drayton Pits (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look this afternoon produced the Greenshank and two Avocets, plus at least 50 Teal, near the benches and large numbers of Dunlin and Grey Plovers out on the mud. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Greenshank and Redshank & Avocets and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 1st December: A lovely, late autumn morning, cold but bright in a light north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Despite the shift in wind direction, it remains very quiet, with just small numbers of the regular species recorded this morning. Full log below. (P&LH/AH)

(0745-0900hrs) (NE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 1E, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just he usual mix of c50 Shovelers and Teal, plus c20 Wigeon and six Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

Pagham Spit: There was just one Snow Bunting at the end of the spit this morning (see below), whilst the Slavonian Grebe was again in the channel nearby. (AB)

Church Norton: A Snow Bunting - presumably one from the other side of the harbour - was at the end of the spit this morning, with a Kingfisher and 18 Greenfinches also along the spit 

There were lots of birds in the harbour, though nothing unusual, including three Avocets, c500 Golden Plovers and Lapwing, c50 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers and c800 Dunlin, with lots of Wigeon and Teal, pus a dozen Pintail along the main channel.

Two widely spaced Dartford Warblers were along the west side, together with a handful of Reed Buntings, whilst two or three Goldcrests were in the churchyard, with six Red-legged Partridges in the field behind and a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk in the vicinity, whilst at Greenlease Farm there were another Red-legged Partridge, two Green and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. (AH/P&LH)

Goldcrest (above), Reed Bunting, Avocet & Golden Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl was hunting behind the Breech Pool late this morning, and two Marsh Harriers were also about, whilst four Rock Pipits were along the wall and in the bushes, there were four Yellowhammers, six Reed Buntings, a Song Thrush and a few Dunnocks and Wrens.

A Kingfisher was around the sluice and a Little Grebe, two Grey Plovers and a pair of Pintail were in White's Creek, along with a few Wigeon and Teal. Also, two Pied Wagtails were in the paddock, and a Firecrest and a Goldcrest were in the adjacent trees, while overhead 1000 Brent Geese were in and out of the harbour all morning.

At Halsey’s Farm a pair of Stonechats and a Green Woodpecker were on the fences, and a Buzzard and a Fieldfare were in the trees further back, while in the harbour there, a Dunlin was with the Redshank out on the mud. (LP,CT)

Short-eared Owl (above), Rock Pipit, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - An adult Little Gull was with a couple of Black-headed Gulls in the flooded arable fields near the car-park this morning, with c50 Meadow Pipits, c30 Skylarks, a handful of Reed Buntings and two pairs of Stonechats around the adjacent hedges and banks, along with a Dartford Warbler in very atypical habitat of brambles and bushes beside a flooded field.

The cover-crop field at Wilson's Farm was very quiet - possibly still a bit green and lush for buntings - though six Fieldfares were in the trees towards Oakhurst Farm, and there were 13 Snipe and a Little Egret in other wet fields.. (CRJ/AH)

Little Gull and Black-headed Gull (CRJ) (above), Little Gull, Fieldfares & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

West Itchenor: There were few birds in the woodland and hedgerows except fora single Firecrest in Chalkdock Wood. In the channels from Horse Pond, around 12 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen, along with c50 Knot and several Bar-tailed Godwits among the commoner waders, whilst out on Stakes Island an adult Peregrine was on duty. (BFF et al)

Fishbourne Creek: Out in the Fishbourne channel amongst the mass of feeding waders there were two Spotted Redshanks and three very active Greenshanks, with a squealing Water Rail  heard from the stream adjacent to the footpath, whilst at Apuldram Church there were three Firecrests and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker. (BFF et al)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Long-tailed Duck was still on the Stilt Pool at lunch time today, and a Marsh Harrier was terrorizing the Lapwings. (GSh)

Long-tailed Duck (above) & Marsh Harrier at Medmerry (GSh)