Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 10th

Sunday, 12th February: A heavily overcast and quite cool morning in a moderate south-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: The Long-tailed Duck was sat on the sea this morning, and 22 Curlews were sat on the shingle bar, but little was moving beyond a few Red-throated Divers. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/SR)

(0710-0910hrs) (SE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 15E, 7W, 2os

diver sp - 1W

Gannet - 20E, 5W

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 10W

Shelduck - 7E

Wigeon - 3E, 5os

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 12os

Curlew - 22

Turnstone - 1

Sandwich Tern - 5os

auk sp - 7W

(1215-1315hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 2os

Great crested Grebe - 1E

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 2E

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets and a couple of Redshanks on he pool this morning, along with c50 Shoveles and c200 Teal, whilst 200 Wigeon and c30 Lapwing flew in, after being disturbed from the fields. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The farm was again devoid of birds, apart from three Skylarks. (IP)

Church Norton: The only birds on the sea were a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst a pair of Shovelers (uncommon here) and a Little Grebe were on the second Several.

The harbour was full of waders and wildfowl, but an Avocet and a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit were the birds apart from the regulars

At Greenlease Farm there were four Stock Doves and five Pied Wagtails feeding amongst a large mixed corvid flock, whilst a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew over the orchard, a Green Woodpecker was in the first Several and a flock of circa 20 Long-tailed Tits in Bluebell Wood was accompanied by a lone Goldcrest. (IP)

North Wall and the East Side: It was quiet along the wall, beyond several calling Cetti's Warblers, with a female Marsh Harrier over the reeds and a pair of Tufted Ducks on the Breech Pool.

The harbour, though, was full of birds, all the way along White's Creek and along the channel, including c1500 Brent Geese, c500 Wigeon, c80 Pintail, c50 Teal, a Little Grebe, a Mediterranean Gull, c20 Common Gulls, c2000 Lapwings - though only c100 Golden Plovers, c300 Black-tailed Godwits, c100 Knot and Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, whilst a big flock of c120 Great Black-backed Gulls were towards the harbour mouth. (AH/RHa)

This evening a Tawny Owl was calling at Halsey's Farm (and was also audible from the parking in Rookery Lane).(BI)

Marsh Harrier (above), Pintail, Mediterranean Gull, Little Grebe and Wigeon & Black-tailed Godwits around the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There wasn't too much going on this afternoon, with just a Dartford Warbler, a Yellowhammer and two Stonechats along the banks, and two Egyptian Geese, a Buzzard, c500 Lapwings and c1000 Golden Plovers on/over the reserve. (S&SaH)

Earnley to Almodington: The Fieldfare flock was feeding in a stubble field this morning, alongside c800 Starlings and c50 Linnets, with a Buzzard watching nearby.

There were also a Kestrel, three singing Skylarks, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, a party of Long-tailed Tits, four Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff, whilst the only birds on the reservoir was a pair of Mallards. (SR)

Long-tailed Tit at Earnley (SR)

Saturday, 11th February: Another fairly still morning, but milder than of late under leaden skies.......

Selsey Bill: A Long-tailed Duck went through east again this morning, whilst a Slavonian Grebe and up to eight Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log later.(SH/JA/PB/BI/NS/P&LH/SR/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Red-throated Diver - 10E, 2W, 2os

diver sp - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4E, 5W, 1os

Shag - 2E, 1os

Brent Goose - 12E

Long-tailed Duck - 1E

Common Scoter - 3E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W, 17os

Oystercatcher - 2

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 8os

auk sp - 1W

(1315-1415hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 7os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Shag - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 18os

Turnstone - 1

Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 11 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with four Snipe, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, a drake Gadwall, c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal. (AH)

Later on, there were 12 Avocets on the pool and the Spotted Redshank was back in the channel opposite. (P&LH)

Avocets (above) & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Sparrowhawk was on a rooftop in Drift Lane, but the farm just held two Meadow Pipits and nothing else. (IP)

Sparrowhawk at Park Farm, Selsey (IP)

East Beach: A flock of 74 Brent Geese went went east over the house early this evening. (SR)

Church Norton: The pair of Long-tailed Ducks few in and settled well offshore this morning, but otherwise there were just wo Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes to e seen.

The highlight in the harbour was a Merlin, sat out on the fencing on Tern Island, but otherwise a tight flock of c30 Avocets in the main channel were the only things of note beyond the usual wildfowl and waders.

Also, a female-type Marsh Harrier came out of the reeds at the Severals, heading west, and there were also a male Reed Bunting and a squealing water Rail in the vicinity. (IP)

Later on, the two Long-tailed Ducks were still offshore, along with four Slavonian Grebes, four Common Scoters, eight Red-breasted Mergansers and a Mediterranean Gull, whilst a Marsh Harrier headed for the Severals an hour before dusk. (P&LH/B&MC/AH)

Marsh Harrier at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Around the paddock this morning there were 12 Long-tailed Tits, eight Goldfinches, six Greenfinches, 20 Reed Buntings, four Chiffchaffs, a Jay, the lone Brent Goose, and a Green Woodpecker, whilst a Little Grebe was in White’s Creek, along with 140 Wigeon, 30 Teal, six Pintail, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and out on the mud, 2000 Lapwing and 500 Golden Plover.

As many as 2000 Brent Geese were regularly moving between the harbour and the fields around Honer farmhouse, but the pair of Tufted Ducks were again the only birds on the Breech Pool, though both male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds. (LP)

Later on, two Snipe and a Water Rail were on the Breech Pool, with the male Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard nearby, with c100 Black-tailed Godwits, c100 Golden Plovers, c40 Pintail and c1000 Brent Geese were in White's Creek.

At dusk, 18 Cattle Egrets, six Little Egrets and a Grey Heron went in to roost at Owl Copse. (P&LH/S&SaH)

Golden Plovers and Lapwings (above), Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Windmill area - The female Black Redstart was again near the old crazy golf course today. (B&MC)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were around five Dartford Warblers along the banks this morning, along with at least eight Stonechats, three Redwings and a dozen or so Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, with at least 50 Skylarks and Linnets in the fields.

Also, two Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards were about, with up to 500 Brent Geese coming and going, and an Egyptian Goose, two Golden Plovers and c600 Lapwings around the reserve.

Two Sandwich Terns were offshore, whilst the Stilt Pool held a Greenshank, two Avocets, four Snipe, a Dunlin, c50 Lapwings, a handful of Gadwall and Tufted Ducks and plenty of Wigeon and Teal. (AH/PB/S&SaH)

Dartford Warblers (above), Yellowhammer, Stonechat and Linnets, Greenshank, Snipe & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 10th February: After a light frost, a sunny and almost flat calm start to the morning, before the breeze freshened from the west and a few clouds appeared.......

Selsey Bill: A Long-tailed Duck and a few Red-throated Divers went east this morning, with eight Great Northern Divers spread about the sea. Full log below. (BI/AH/MO-W/SR)

(0730-0900hrs) (WNW, F1)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 8os

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 4W 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Long-tailed Duck - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 8W, 17os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Long-tailed Duck (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were seven Avocets and c120 Lapwing on the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal, with a similar number of Wigeon on the field, whilst a Goldcrest was in the nearby hedges. (AH/RS)

Avocets (above), Lapwings, Teal & Jackdaw at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - The pair of Black Redstarts were still around the old crazy golf course this morning, whilst the Purple Sandpiper was again showing well near the breach and four Ravens went over. (TB/NR)

North Wall: A couple of Greenfinches, a Meadow Pipit and eight Wrens were around the paddock this morning, and both male and female Marsh Harriers, plus a Kestrel, were further back.

Along White’s Creek there were 200 Wigeon and a few Teal while out on the mud there was the usual huge number of Lapwings, along with a few Dunlin and Redshanks. There was a steady movement of Brent Geese from the harbour towards the Marsh Farm area and back again, and at Halsey’s Farm there were three Buzzards around, and 180 Wigeon were along the rife.

Also, a pair of Grey Herons were in the trees at Owl Copse, and a Rock Pipit was along the wall, but on the Breech Pool there was just a pair of Tufted Ducks. (LP/CT)

Rock Pipit (above), Wigeon, Buzzard & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: This morning c500 Brent Geese flew from the field by Apuldram Church into the creek, whilst off the Lavant outfall there were 16 Pintail, c200 Black Tailed Godwits, 15 Ringed Plovers and two Greenshank, with a Cetti's Warbler calling from the reedbed.

On the adjacent salt marsh there were two Stonechats, and two unidentified pipits dropped in, whilst a Kingfisher flew along the creek before perching on one of the moored boats. Downstream of Dell Quay there were eight Great Crested Grebes and a number of Goldeneye. (RW)

Chichester Marina: At least a dozen Redwings were around the trees along the road to the Marina, but otherwise it was very quiet, with just a few of the commoner passerines in the hedges and Salterns Copse.

At least five Goldeneye and up to ten Great Crested Grebes were distantly viewable off Dell Quay, and c2000 Brent Geese flew in to settle on the far side, where there were many Dunlin, Redshanks and a few Shelducks, but the near shoreline just held a few Grey Plovers and Curlews. (AH)