Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 23rd

Christmas Day, Sunday, 25th December: Another mild but murky morning, with drizzle never far away, in a moderate southerly breeze ......

We'd like to wish a very Happy Christmas to all our contributors and readers. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: An unexpectedly interesting morning, with 117 Red-throated Divers and 387 Gannets west - the highest counts of the autumn, and both dark-phase Arctic Skua and Bonxie seen, too. Full log below. (JA/SH/SR/AH/IP)

(0745-0930hrs) (SSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 19E, 117W

diver sp - 2W

Gannet - 4E, 387W, 30os

Common Scoter - 8E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 16E, 2W, 5os

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 18

Great Skua - 1os

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 1E, 1W

Kittiwake - 15E, 5W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 17W, 7os

auk sp - 97W

Red-throated Divers (above), Gannets & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c50 Shovelers and c150 Teal on/around the pool this morning, with c50 Wigeon on the field and two Redshanks in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later on, a Little Grebe was on the pool and a Chiffchaff was in the Discovery Area. (SR)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There wasn't anything along the pool, with all the interest at the far end of Ferry Channel, including a Spotted Redshank, an Avocet, a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers, c500 Lapwings and Golden Plovers, c40 Shelducks and c100 Teal. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet & Golden Plovers and Lapwings along Ferry Channel (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Marsh Harrier and four Kestrels were over the reserve, with a Black-tailed Godwit, c500 Lapwings and c200 Golden Plovers also present, whilst c1000 Brent Geese were on the fields and five Fieldfares were near the poplars. (S&SaH)

At the Stilt Pool, fourteen Snipe on one of the islands was the highlight, with other birds present including 48 Lapwings, c120 Teal, three Wigeon, 12 Tufted Ducks, 18 Shoveler, two Little Grebes, seven Gadwall, two Stonechats, two Skylarks, a Yellowhammer, a Green Woodpecker and a Dartford Warbler. (SR)

Snipe and Mallard at Medmerry (SR)

North Wall: Two Pied Wagtails and a Green Woodpecker were in the paddock this morning, and a Marsh Harrier was very active over the reeds behind, but it was quiet along the wall with just a Rock Pipit, two Reed Buntings and three Yellowhammers, while on the Breech Pool a pair of Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe were the only birds around.

A Kingfisher was by the sluice at Halsey’s Farm but there were just a few Redshanks on the mud there, though there were lots of birds well out in the harbour, with 1000 Lapwing and 200 Golden Plover in the air at one point, and a steady stream of Brent Geese flying over.

In the field at the end of Church Lane, a couple of Stock Doves were with 40 Curlews, and a Kestrel was also about. (LP)

Marsh Harrier (above), Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit/Lagoon: There was no sign of the Snow Bunting on the spit this morning but there were three Rock Pipits, c.15 Skylarks feeding along the strandline, and a KIngfisher present. Offshore were seven Gannets and the large mixed wader flock was still around the shingle bars. In the harbour were a dozen Great Crested Grebes & a few Wigeon and Teal whilst overhead there were several flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover. The lagoon was quiet bar two Goldeneye, 11 Little Grebes and a flock of Tufted Ducks. (BI et al)

Saturday, 24th December: A fairly mild and overcast day in a moderate southerly breeze ......

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe heading west and a Slavonian Grebe on the sea were the highlights this morning. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/AH/IP/SR/JA)

(09745-0930hrs) (SSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 7W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Red-necked Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 1W, 1os

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter -1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 8W, 6os

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Common Scoter at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a dozen or so Teal and Shovelers on the pool this morning, with c20 Canada Geese and c40 Wigeon on the fields. (AH)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Sparrowhawk went across the pool whilst six Stonechats, four Reed Buntings and a Chiffchaff were along the hedges and two Water Rails were heard calling, whilst a dozen Avocets were among the usual mix of waders and wildfowl in Ferry Channel. (RBe)

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: A Goldeneye was on the Lagoon, with four Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe and 12 Little Grebes, whilst along the spit there were 12 Skylarks and two Rock Pipits, with the Snow Bunting still in its usual spot with a Dartford Warbler nearby.

There were many hundreds of waders out on the new spit at high tide including, Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Turnstones. (LP/BI)

Snow Bunting (above), Goldeneye & mixed waders at Pagham Spit (LP)

North Wall: Both male and female Marsh Harriers were active behind the Breech Pool this morning, and a large flock of 1000 Lapwing along with 200 Golden Plovers were in the fields further back.

There were lots of Wigeon, Teal and a few Shovelers on the flooded Honer fields and along the wall there were three Rock Pipits, two Yellowhammers, four Reed Buntings and three Chiffchaffs, with a Kingfisher along Owl Water.

Plenty of birds were out in the harbour on a rising tide, including two Avocets, 200 Black-tailed Godwits and 500 Lapwings, along with a few Brent Geese and lots of Wigeon. (LP/CT/SP/DH)

Rock Pipit (above), Chiffchaffs & Shovelers at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm - A Marsh Harrier, three Kestrels and a Buzzard were over the reserve, where there was a huge flock of possibly as many as 1000 Golden Plovers and 200 Lapwings, but the banks just held a Dartford Warbler and two Stonechats. (S&SaH)

East Head: There was a huge flock of c2500 Dunlin in the harbour today. (GM)

Dunlin at East Head (GM)

Birdham Pool: The only birds visible on the pool were a Teal, a Grey Heron, two Coots and 52 Mallards, whilst a nearby field held 16 Brent Geese, five Stock Doves, 20 Pied Wagtails, a Goldcrest and a Jay. The harbour, though, just held three Little Grebes, 150 Dunlin, three Grey Plovers, two Great Crested Grebes and 30 Shelducks. (SR)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report this morning, with nothing offshore again and the mudflats quiet, though up to six Avocets and two Kingfishers were seen, along with c30 Knot, 30 Grey Plovers, c250 Dunlin and c80 Teal. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocet & Grey Plover and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Friday, 23rd December: After a very wet night, a grey and rainy start, with the fresh breeze quickly veering from south-east towards the west, though slowly brightening up as the day progressed......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning in the poor conditions, with just a few of the regular species seen, though later in the day the first Guillemot and Fulmar seen in a while were recorded. Full log later. (SH/BI/AH/SR)

(0750-1000hrs) (WSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 8W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 4W, 3os

Gannet - 5W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 3W, 8os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W, 5os

Turnstone - 18

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

(1115-1215hrs) (P&LH/AW)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Slavonian Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 9W

Eider - 1os

Common Scoter - 13E, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Razorbill - 4W

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 3E

(1300-1430hrs) (SH/P&LH)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 6W, 5os

Shag - 1W

Common Scoter - 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 8W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1E, 6W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Razorbill - 2E, 1W

Red-throated Diver (above) (AH), Guillemot, Razorbills & Eider (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were just 50 or so Teal and Shovelers at the back of the pool this morning and a dozen Wigeon on the field. (AH)

Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: This morning in the fields behind Church Barton reservoir and the fields around Shipverling Barn there were 148 Great Black-backed Gulls. (JDW)

Great Black-backed Gulls at the North Wall (JDW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm - Two Marsh Harriers and two Kestrels were over the reserve, with eight Black-tailed Godwits and c500 Golden Plovers and Lapwings on the reserve, 500 Brent Geese on the fields and four Song Thrushes and a Stonechat along the banks. (S&SaH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were just 11 Cattle Egrets spread around the fields this morning, whilst c75 Curlews, c40 Stock Doves, c300 Common Gulls and c1500 Black-headed Gulls were in the fields by Chalder Farm.

A male Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were around the fields towards Bramber Farm, which also held c50 Shelducks and just a few Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Wigeon and Teal, but small birds were scarce beyond a Stonechat and a handful of Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches near Chalder Farm, with nothing at all in the churchyard or along Church Farm Lane. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Cattle Egrets, Stock Doves, Common Gulls & Common and Black-headed Gulls at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Long Pool: A look this afternoon produced nothing along the pool and hedges, but plenty of birds at the far end of Ferry Channel, including c400 Golden Plovers, c1000 Lapwings, c40 Grey Plovers, c200 Dunlin, c50 Redshanks, two Snipe, c30 shelducks and c100 Teal. (AH)