Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 19th

Tuesday, 21st February: A fairly mild, but very murky and occasionally drizzly, morning in just a light south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A pair of Eider going west and a Stonechat by the gardens were the highlights of a slow morning. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/AM)

(0730-0845hrs) (SW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Brent Goose - 9W

Eider - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 11os

Turnstone - 14

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Stonechat - 1

Common Seal - 1os

Later on, two male Stonechats were around the Broadreeds estate. (SR)

Eider (above), Sandwich Tern & Stonechat at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets, seven Lapwings and 22 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers, c60 Teal and a Lesser Black-backed Gull that dropped in, whilst at least 200 Wigeon and c50 Lapwings were on the fields at the back. (AH)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

The Spotted Redshank was showing well in Ferry Channel late this afternoon. (AM/AH)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

Earnley: A Red Kite went over this afternoon, being mobbed by two Buzzards. (SH)

North Wall: There was a good selection of the regular wildfowl and waders in White's Creek this morning, including 50 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, 80 Brent Geese, 12 Shelduck, 10 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, six Black-tailed Godwits and two Grey Plovers, but only 40 Lapwing were in their usual area.

Along the wall there were four Reed Buntings, two Stonechats, six Greenfinches, 20 Goldfinches, 20 Meadow Pipits, two Skylarks and a Buzzard, while in Owl Copse, eight Grey Herons were in the trees and a few Mediterranean Gulls were calling overhead. (LP)

Reed Bunting (above), Stonechat, Buzzard, Grey Heron & Redshanks at the North Wall (LP)

This evening, at least 16 Cattle Egrets came in to roost at Owl Copse. (AM/A Wright)

Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (A Wright)

Church Norton: Six Slavonian Grebes were offshore today. (per Birdguides)

Hunston: Three Cattle Egrets were again in the fields opposite the riding school. (per Birdguides)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - A Short-eared Owl appeared over the tidal area near the breach late this morning, being harassed by gulls, before it retreated inland, whilst the Purple Sandpiper was among the roosting waders - including a Greenshank, c50 Ringed and Grey Plovers and c150 Dunlin - near the breach before it was pushed off by the tide and flew west.

Also, four Red-breasted Mergansers and c30 Brent Geese were in the tidal area, along with just a few Wigeon and Teal, with a further eight Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Crested Grebes on the sea, whilst a flock of 44 Brent Geese going east had the look of birds on the move.

The Black Redstart was again by the go-kart track, but a Skylark and a Meadow Pipit by the Breach Viewpoint were the only other small birds seen. (AH)

Short-eared Owl (above), Purple sandpiper, Black Redstart, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ringed Plovers & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 20th February: A cool and very grey morning in a fairly brisk westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Meadow Pipits that came in off the sea, a Stonechat along the front, and 56 Brent Geese that went east were early hints at spring migration, whilst there was also a steady westward passage of Gannets this morning. Full log below. (MO-W/AH/IP/SR/AM)

(0715-0900hrs) (W, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 47E, 113W, 2os

Brent Goose - 56E

Common Scoter - 2E, 6W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Dunlin - 12W

Turnstone - 12

Common Gull - 3E, 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Razorbill - 11W

auk sp - 1E, 26W

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Stonechat - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Gannets, Brent Geese & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 20 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 35 Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Shovelers and just 30 Teal, whilst the Spotted Redshank was roosting among half a dozen Redshanks in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshanks (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Goosander was at the top end of the creek this morning, and there were also three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a flock of 13 Great Created Grebes present. (AM)

North Wall: At least 27 Cattle Egrets flew in to roost in Owl Copse late this afternoon, whilst earlier there were two Mistle Thrushes at Halsey's Farm. (AM)

Church Norton: A dozen or so Gannets were lingering well offshore this morning, often sat on the water, but the only other birds noted were three Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes.

There were plenty of the regular waders in the harbour before the tide got too high, with c30 Pintail, c50 Brent Geese and Wigeon and c100 Teal also present, along with the huge flock of c500 Golden Plovers and c1000 Lapwing that flew up from the far end.

There were 20+ Mediterranean Gulls present again, and a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Severals, but passerines were few, with a Grey Wagtail along the boardwalk by the hide, and a few Long-tailed Tits nearby, the only noteworthy ones seen. (AH)

Gannet (above), Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull, Grey Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - There were 13 Redwings around this evening, along with six Song Thrushes, four Stonechats, four Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting.

Also, a Greenshank was near the poplars, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk went over and two Egyptian Geese and c250 Brent Geese were about, too. (S&SaH)

Sunday, 19th February: A dry and fairly mild day with plenty of sunshine at first, though becoming hazier later, with a moderate westerly breeze.

Selsey Bill: Two Velvet Scoters and 20 Common Scoters went east this morning, with a drake Eider heading west and reasonable mix of the regular species were about, too. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/BI/IP/AH/SR)

(0650-0905hrs) (WNW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W, 2os

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 10E, 2W

Brent Goose - 1W

Eider - 1W

Velvet Scoter - 2E

Common Scoter - 20E

Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 23W, 8os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Turnstone - 10

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 2W

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 6E, 33W

(1405-1535hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Gannet - 1W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Eider (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 16 Avocets and 36 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal, with c150 Wigeon in the fields and the Spotted Redshank again in the channel opposite. (AH)

SpottedRedshank (above), Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House Pits - I started by making a fairly lengthy search of suitable areas, but despite our best efforts failed to find any Woodcock, with a singing Mistle Thrush being the only bird of any note.

Moving on to the WeBS count, there was a big flock of feral geese on the fields adjacent to the South pit, consisting of 98 Greylags and 35 Canadas, plus a flock of eight Barnacle-types and two Egyptian Geese. Eventually the whole lot took off with much noise and commotion, heading for the pits, with most finally setting on South pit.

These apart, the highlights were a single Great White Egret on South pit and 102 Pochard, two Egyptian Geese, five Grey Herons, a Grey Wagtail and a Coal Tit on North pit. (OM/IP)

Egyptian Geese (above), Great White Egret & feral Barnacle-type Geese at Drayton House pits (OM)

Park Farm and North Selsey: A Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and two Buzzards were over the farm this morning, with another Buzzard over the Selsey Centre in Manor Road - just about as far south as they ever come over the village! (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A single Slavonian Grebe was offshore this morning, with otherwise just two Great Crested Grebes and four Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea, with three more of the latter flying west.

A Dartford Warbler was in the first Several and up to ten Skylarks were along the spit, but the harbour was quiet on the full tide, though c20 Knot and similar of Turnstones were among the Dunlin and Grey Plovers roosting on the metalwork and small numbers of Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal were on the water nearby.

Also, at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls and a few more Black-headed Gulls were hanging around, being very noisy, as they begin to reclaim the harbour. (AH/S&SaH et al)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Skylark, Mediterranean Gulls, Brent Geese & Knot and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham Churchyard: A number of Goldcrests were in the southern part of the churchyard, but no sign of any Firecrests in a brief visit. (IP)

Fishbourne Creek: A female Marsh Harrier flew west over the creek mid morning, and a dozen Rock Pipits were along the shoreline, whilst a pair of Green Woodpeckers and a Jay were in Apuldram churchyard and a Coal Tit was in the car park there. (IP)

North Wall: The pair of Marsh Harriers were over the reeds this morning, two Kestrels were hunting nearby, and three Buzzards were soaring much higher up, whilst out in the harbour there were lots of Brent Geese on the water along with a few Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, and further out there were still large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plovers, plus a few groups of Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin.

At Owl Copse, six Grey Herons were in the trees along with a single Cattle Egret while another Grey Heron was on its island and a flock of 28 Cattle Egrets came up from the fields. At Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was on the sluice, a Chiffchaff was in the bushes, a Little Egret was in the field and a couple of Skylarks were singing. (LP/DH)