13th - 15th February 2023

Wednesday, 15th February: A mostly sunny and quite warm morning, after a hazy start, in a light south-westerly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: The Long-tailed Duck dropping in offshore was the highlight of another quiet morning. Full log below. (P&LH/AH/MO-W/SR) 

(0745-0900hrs) (SW, F3)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1os

Pintail - 2E

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 1

auk sp - 2E, 9W

Shag at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were four Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshanks on the pool this morning, along with c75 Shovelers, the drake Gadwall, c50 Teal and c20 Mallards, whilst c100 Wigeon, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard  were in/over the fields and the Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite. (AH/TG-P)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Shoveler and Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Two Marsh Harriers came in to roost in the Severals this evening, where two Water Rails were calling, and a Firecrest was along the path to the harbour. (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: A Firecrest was in Peckhams Copse Lane this morning. (SM)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At least a dozen Chiffchaffs were in the hedges at Porthole Farm, with c100 Pied Wagtails in the fields, along with a pair of Red-legged Partridges, but a large flock of 500+ Brent Geese in the arable fields were the only birds seen along the Medmerry Trail.

There were two pairs of Stonechats along the banks at Ham, with c100 Linnets and c25 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the fields, but there was little else to report beyond the big flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings flying up from the tidal area. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Pied Wagtail & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 14th February: After a light frost and a very misty start, eventually  a warm and sunny morning in a light south-easterly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: It was completely dead this morning, not helped by the poor visibility. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0725-0825hrs) (SE, F1)

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Turnstone - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Common Seal - 1os

Ferry Pool: There weren't many birds on the pool this morning, just three Black-tailed Godwits, four Snipe, a Redshank, 16 Lapwings, c30 Shovelers and c80 Teal, whilst a few Teal and a couple of Redshanks were in the channel opposite and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the saltmarsh. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Black-tailed Godwit and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Greenfinches were around the paddock this morning, and both Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, though the Breech Pool held just the pair of Tufted Ducks, while a Kingfisher shot through and a Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting and a few more Greenfinches were along the bushes.

In White’s Creek there were 80 Teal and just 16 Wigeon, along with a Little Grebe, while out on the mud there were still huge numbers of Lapwing and a few Redshanks.

Two Grey Herons were in Owl Copse, and a single Dunlin was on the mu, along with a few more Redshanks and a pair of Shelduck, while at Halsey’s Farm there were just eight Wigeon and a few singing Skylarks. (LP)

Reed Bunting (above), Grey Heron & Lapwings at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights on the low tide this morning included c500 Brent Geese flying into the creek, ten Pintail off the Lavant outfall, and two Greenshanks and two Spotted Redshanks in mid-channel below it.

There were Greenfinch calling in at least three locations, a Chiffchaff was near the sewage works, a Stonechat was on the salt marsh, a Grey Wagtail by the Lavant and a Jay and a small flock of Linnets were in the wooded strip by the horse paddocks at Apuldram. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Short-eared Owl was out on the reserve, near the Stilt Pool, together with a Barn Owl, this afternoon, with a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel also out hunting, whilst an Egyptian Goose and c300 Brent Geese were about, too.

Also, two Dartford Warblers, a Goldcrest, a Yellowhammer and 11 Stonechats were along the banks, with a Greenshank and an Avocet on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH/SR)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach and Chainbridge - The female Black Redstart and female Stonechat were still around the old go-kart track this morning, whilst eight Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes were the only birds offshore.

A pair of Stonechats were near the breach, along with half a dozen Meadow Pipits, whilst on the mud there, there  were a Greenshank, c20 Grey Plovers, c100 Dunlin and c50 Ringed Plovers, whilst further in there was a huge flock of c1000 Golden Plovers and c2000 Lapwings.

Also, a Water Rail and a Dartford Warbler were along the track to Chainbridge, together with another pair of Stonechats and c30 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Greenshank, Golden Plovers & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 13th February: A cool and mostly hazily sunny morning in a moderate easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A Slavonian Grebe on the sea, two Fulmars west and a flock of 21 Brent Geese east were the most noteworthy birds of another fairly slow morning. Full log below. (KT/AH/IP/SR)

(0700-0915hrs) (E, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 8E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 4E, 1W

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 21E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 8os

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 4

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Pied Wagtail - 1E, 1W

Fulmar (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was in the small roadside pool again this morning, and c150 Wigeon were on the field, but there were less birds on the main pool, comprising c40 Shovelers, c80 Teal, six Avocets and four Lapwings. (OM/AH)

Also, a Dartford Warbler was singing from sea purslane at the harbour end of Red Barn Ditch, with a Water Rail at the opposite end again, and a Marsh Harrier was over the harbour. (TG-P)

Also, at 4.40am this morning, a Barn Owl was out hunting near the farm shop, just to the south. (NH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Avocets & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Snow Bunting was still at the western end of the spit this morning, and a Slavonian Grebe was on the sea, just off the harbour mouth. (LP)

Sidlesham: Remarkably, a Woodcock flew fairly low over our garden at midday, and appeared to drop down towards Keynor Copse, about half a mile to the east. (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - A quick stop at the South pit early afternoon produced a single Great White Egret with two Grey Herons. (OM)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Black Redstart showed briefly at lunchtime on the tyres by the old crazy golf course. (GSh)

Long Pool: A Dartford Warbler and Stonechat were in the hedges at the far end of the pool, with a couple of Long-tailed Tits at the Ferry end, whilst two Stock Doves were on the adjacent fields, but a pair of Tufted Ducks were the only birds on the pool itself.

There were plenty of birds at the far end of Ferry Channel, though, including c1000 Lapwing, c300 Teal, c100 Wigeon, c30 Redshanks and a few Grey Plovers and Curlews. (AH)

Dartford Warbler (above), Stonechat, Long-tailed Tit, Stock Dove, Teal & Lapwings along the Long Pool (AH)

Runcton: I’m really pleased that with regular seed feeding I have brought our local House Sparrows back to 25+, and wonderful to see up to eight of them in the bird bath together this morning. (CRJ)

House Sparrows in a Runcton garden (CRJ)