10th - 13th March 2023

Monday, 13th March: A dry but blustery day, with sunshine, some haze and cloud and a gale force south-westerly wind........

Continuing on with marking the blog's tenth birthday, it occurs to me that many readers and contributors may be unaware of the editorial system(s) we use, which have basically evolved with trial and error and stood the test of time. So a few words of explanation here....and just a few pointers on how everyone can help us!

Text colours: Readers will have noticed different coloured texts in the daily reports, and although long-standing regulars will be aware, others may not realise the reason we do this. It's a useful tool for compilers and readership alike, and each colour is assigned to a different Peninsula area, thus -

Blue for Selsey Bill and area, Green for Pagham Harbour and Sidlesham area, Red for Medmerry area, Mauve/purple for the Chichester Gravel pits area and Violet for the Chichester Harbour area and other areas not covered by the above (you may have a different description for the last two colours but you get the idea). Orange is usually used for editorial notes and info.

Photo's: We post quite a lot of photo's on a daily basis. Our aim is to illustrate the text - but with the reality of how it is on each day, even those wet grey days with little chance of any decent photo! We do of course like to add great photo's and we're grateful for such submissions from our readership....but our blog is not designed as a photo portfolio for only the best images and there are other sites to visit if that is your sole objective. Think of our blog as a daily diary, where the odd photographic blunder may occur but the info is solid.

Submissions: A sensitive one here! The editors adopt a strict policy on use of full and proper bird names and one look at any day's blog reports will show the style we use. All reports received are examined and edited to fit this style....and the editorial dream is to receive a report that generally complies with that style, so that it can be 'cut and pasted' and quickly added. 

This means it is 'Black-tailed Godwit' not Black Tailed Godwit or Black-wit and its 'Red-breasted Merganser' not Merg or RBM! Sounds petty? Believe me it's not, when you're tired and it is late and you've a lot to edit, for each minor amendment in a wad of text takes a lot of doing. So take a look at the blog today and see how near you can get to helping us out. We do realise that some are more adept than others and we still welcome all submissions! (OM)

Editorial pressure!  (per Mrs OM)

Selsey Bill: The only things really moving this morning were 229 Brent Geese east and 72 Gannets west. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH/AW)

(0720-0905hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 3E, 72W

Brent Goose - 229E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W

Golden Plover - 6W

Curlew - 3E

Turnstone - 19

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

(1130-1300hrs) (CRJ)

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 11

Sandwich Tern - 11os

Gannet (above), Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Mergansers (AH) & Golden Plovers (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were 17 Avocets, four Lapwings and three Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with two Mediterranean Gulls,14 Shelducks, a drake Gadwall and c50 Teal and Shovelers, with c80 Wigeon on the fields behind. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Gadwall, Shovelers and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Late this afternoon the Spotted Redshank was again in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

North Mundham: A Coal Tit was in a North Mundham garden this morning. (MJ)

North Wall: There were 80 Wigeon and 10 Teal along White's Creek this morning and two Rock Pipits were along the wall, whilst a pair of Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool and the male Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds.

In the field there were 40 Wigeon and 12 Curlew, with four Grey Herons around the edges and at Halsey’s Farm, 200 Wigeon were in the fields by the rife and a couple of Skylarks were singing, but it was generally quiet in the very windy conditions. (LP)

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

Church Norton: There wasn't much going on in the harbour this morning, with c40 Shelducks the only wildfowl seen, whilst waders comprised c200 Knot, c50 Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, plus the regulars, with otherwise just c40 Mediterranean Gulls among double that number of Black-headed Gulls, whilst a couple of Long-tailed Tits, a Green Woodpecker and a few Goldfinches were all the landside had to offer. (AH)

Mediterranean Gulls (above), Grey Plovers and Knot & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 12th March: A milder morning than of late, as the wind shifted to the west, but it was again blustery, with hazy sun early on before clouding over.....

Selsey Bill: After a blank year last year, two White-fronted Geese heading east at 0705hrs were a welcome addition to the year's list, and there was a bit of other activity, too, including 312 Brent Geese and five Eider and two Velvet Scoters east and two Long-tailed Ducks on the sea, a Peregrine over and a Firecrest seen coming in off the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/BI/IP/AH)

(0605-0935hrs) (WSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 1os

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

Gannet - 2E, 5W

White-fronted Goose - 2E

Brent Goose - 312E, 3W

Eider - 5E

Long-tailed Duck - 2os

Velvet Scoter - 2E

Common Scoter - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W, 5os

Peregrine - 1

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 30

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 19os

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Pied Wagtail - 6N

Firecrest - 1

(1315-1430hrs) (SH/P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 6W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Kestrel - 1

Grey Plover - 2W

Turnstone - 21

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 1W, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Meadow Pipit - 9N

Firecrest (above), Peregrine & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 11 Avocets on the pool this morning, but otherwise there were just six Shelducks and c40 Shovelers and Teal, whilst the Spotted Redshank and four Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above) & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Peregrine flew across the fields, a Grey Wagtail flew over Drift Lane as I arrived and the Meadow Pipit flock or c50 birds were still in the eastern end of the fields this morning, whilst a Jay was screaming from the opposite treeline, three Reed Buntings were around the footpath and up to six Skylarks were singing and displaying there. (IP)

Church Norton: On the low tide early this morning, the harbour was dominated by the calls of gulls, c300 Mediterranean and c175 Black-headed, whilst along the spit Skylarks were singing, there was a flock of 25 Linnets and the Ringed Plovers were becoming territorial.

Also seen were seven Grey Plovers, eight Turnstones, c40 Dunlin, three Pintail, 150 Brent Geese and 20 Teal, whilst the hedges held a party of Long-tailed Tits, two Goldcrests, a Song Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee was in the churchyard. (SR)

Later on a Kingfisher zipped through the southern part of the harbour and there were still c200 Golden Plovers in the harbour, along with 650 Brent Geese, five Teal, three Pintail and c30 Wigeon, plus the regular waders, whilst offshore there were at least five Sandwich Terns, but nothing else.

A Chiffchaff flew in off the sea and briefly fed in the brambles before flying into Bluebell Wood and later starting to sing, but otherwise there were just a Reed Bunting at Greenlease Farm, a Cetti's Warbler in the first Several, a Green Woodpecker in the horse field and three Shovelers and a Sparrowhawk at the second Several. (IP)

Ringed Plover (above) & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at Church Norton (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Marsh Harriers, two Buzzards and two Kestrels were over the reserve this morning, whilst three Avocets and a Greenshank were near the poplars and 18 Brent Geese were on the fields.

The banks were quiet in the wind, with just eight Yellowhammer, four Reed Buntings and a Cetti's Warbler noted, whilst the Stilt Pool six Avocets, six Ringed Plovers, five Snipe and 13 Black-tailed Godwits, along with five Brent Geese and two Pied Wagtails. (S&SaH) 

Earlier, six Sanderling were on the beach and c150 Brent Geese were on the Stilt Pool along with a Pintail. (BI)

North Wall and East Side: All the activity from the wall was in Honer 2 field, where there were c500 Brent Geese, c300 Wigeon, four Shovelers, c30 Teal, c120 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Curlews, with a snippet of Chiffchaff song the only passerine interest.
Highlight in the harbour was a female Merlin that shot through, going east over the Slipe Field, whilst the channels were full of wildfowl, including another c500 Brent Geese, with the Pale-bellied Brent Goose among them, c40 Pintails, c300 Wigeon and c50 Teal, with a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few Mediterranean Gulls present, too, but wader interest was restricted to c100 Dunlin and a few Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Redshanks. (AH)

Merlin (above), Pintails, Black-tailed Godwit, Pale-belled Brent Goose & Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Saturday, 11th March: Another cold morning, mostly overcast, though dry, in a fairly brisk south-easterly breeze.....

Today is officially the 10th anniversary of the first ever post on the Blog - we have come a long way from that first entry, and we would like to thank all the contributors and readers for their support over these last ten years. As mentioned yesterday, there are a few items  that will be included here over the next couple of days to mark the occasion...and here's to the next ten years! (Eds) 

This time, we start with a few more portraits (taken last spring by CRJ) that show the blog editorial team in action, so to speak....(OM)

Andy House (AH) looking pensive at the Bill, but as ever his camera is at the ready as he eyes up the next shot. Andy now deals with most of the day-to-day reports submitted by various observers.

A cold sea-watch and Bart Ives (BI) is under there somewhere. Bart is our go-to 'techy' and also deputy editor when AM and OM are absent....and he has to work for a living too!

No he's not asleep; in fact Justin Atkinson (JA) is sea-watching and you can bet he misses very little. JA keeps the official Selsey Bill sea-watching Log; an onerous task requiring plenty of commitment and we are all very grateful that we can rely on him so we don't have to do it!!

Yours truly on a sea-watch, although it would be fair to say my eyes are not what they once were, so I'm grateful to be part of the team effort. I've even been alleged to have nodded off on the odd occasion, but I don't believe it. When I started the blog in 2013 I could not have foreseen that it would develop into the monstrous success (or perhaps just monster) that it is today....but I pay tribute to AH for his enthusiasm and support throughout that has made it all possible. I have already eased back somewhat, but my request to retire and find a younger replacement has thus far been rejected... and apparently there is a 10-year notice period!

It should also be mentioned that one of the more recent developments to have come along and improved our birding experience is the formation of a Peninsula WhatsApp group, so that news and sightings can quickly be disseminated to everyone in the group. The driving force behind it was Ian Pitts (IP) - now ably assisted by techy BI - a very good combination. IP  happens to be our very own 'statto' - keeping all that stats up to date for us. His accountancy training makes him perfect for the job and he regularly updates the blog. (OM)

Our statto and WhatsApp Admin Ian Pitts (IP) (centre) - flanked by JA (left) and OM (right).

Selsey Bill: Despite the south-easterly breeze, little appeared to be on the move, though there were quite a few birds about, including two Velvet Scoters east and three Long-tailed Ducks, ten Great Northern Divers and 15 Sandwich Terns offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/PM/IP/BI/AH/SR)

(0615-0900hrs) (ESE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 9os

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

Gannet - 17E, 12W, 20os

Long-tailed Duck - 3os

Common Scoter - 5W, 4os

Velvet Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 1W, 16os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Dunlin - 4

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 8os

Common Gull - 1E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 15os

auk sp - 1E, 64W

Meadow Pipit - 1E

(1430-1600hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 

Gannet - 6E, 1W

Velvet Scoter - 2os

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 2W, 5os

Turnstone - 7

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

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

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back on the concealed roadside pool late this morning, with otherwise 12 Avocets, eight Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and Teal and just a handful of Wigeon present, whilst the Spotted Redshank and four Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AH/NR/TB/PB/PM et al)

Green Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshank & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The eastern end of the fields held a flock of c50 Meadow Pipits and two female Stonechats were also present. (IP)

Church Norton: Wildfowl numbers continue to drop in the harbour, with only two Pintail seen and Wigeon/Teal numbers were low, too, though a flock of c200 Golden Plover were still present, along with at least 500 Dunlin and reasonable numbers of the other regular waders.

Passerines were staying very low in the wind, though half a dozen Linnets and Skylarks were on the Spit, whilst a pair of Mergansers and a Red-throated Diver were on the sea, and three Shovelers were on the second Several. (IP/P&LH)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - There wasn't much to report this morning, with just a pair of Stonechats by the go-kart track and a few Meadow Pipits near the breach, with no small waders at all in the tidal areas. (BI/AH)

Stonechats at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Four Dartford Warblers were along the banks this morning, along with three Stonechats and two Chiffchaffs, whilst a Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels and nine Buzzards were over the reserve.

The Stilt Pool was quite busy, with a dozen Avocets, five Snipe, six Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin and 25 Black-ailed Godwits present, along with c150 Brent Geese. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm area - There were up to 20 Chiffchaffs in the sheltered bits of hedge around the sewage works, including an obviously pale 'Siberian' type one, whilst the fields held a dozen Linnets, c50 Skylarks, c20 Meadow Pipits and c100 Pied Wagtails, with at least 200 more of the latter around the settling tanks, and there were also two Buzzards and two Sparrowhawks about.

The cover crops at Wilson's Farm were completely dead again, with most of the other interest along Ham Road, where the maize stubble fields and adjacent hedges held c20 Fieldfares again, along with five Yellowhammers, c100 Linnets and c50 Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. (AH)

Fieldfare (above), Sparrowhawk, Skylarks, Linnets, pale-looking Chiffchaff & Chiffchaff at Medmerry (AH)

Pagham Spit, Lagoon and East side: A Kingfisher was on the Lagoon today, along with seven Little Grebes, whilst a Cetti's Warbler, a Stonechat and a Rock Pipit  were around the periphery, with another Stonechat, five Linnets and seven Skylarks on the spit, and three Skylarks, eight Yellowhammers and c100 Linnets on the Slipe Field.

Among the birds in the harbour there were 26 Bar-tailed Godwits - the best count this winter by a distance, 210 Grey Plovers, 23 Turnstone, 28 Curlews, c200 Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 93 Great Black-backed Gulls, 11 Mediterranean Gulls and ten Common Gulls, along with 27 Shelducks, 74 Pintail and 160 Teal. (GaJ)

North Wall: There were four Marsh Harriers behind the Breech Pool this morning and a Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were also about, whilst a pair of Stonechats were in the paddock along with two Reed Buntings, six Goldfinches and four Pied Wagtails. Also, a Firecrest was in the hedge bordering the Slipe Field, a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice and three Rock Pipits, two Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers and 30 Meadow Pipits were along the wall.

A Water Rail and the pair of Great Crested Grebes were again on the Breech Pool, with three more of the latter and a Little Grebe in the harbour, and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose was in with c800 Brent Geese in the fields along with 965 Wigeon, two Shovelers, seven Gadwall, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Curlews and 12 Teal, while out in the harbour there were 60 Grey Plovers, 40 Dunlin and plenty of Redshanks. (LP/ GaJ)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Brent Geese and Wigeon (GaJ) (above), Brent Geese, Brent Geese, Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and Dunlin, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail & Kestrel (LP) at the North Wall

Friday, 10th March: A cold and very windy morning, with a mix of sun and cloud in a very blustery north-westerly breeze.....

Editorial: Following on from yesterday's blog birthday update, I'd now like to focus on the decade in question, rather than the times past and our absent friends, as this has already been well covered (e.g. see the Birding History of the Bill by clicking the link on the title bar). So I thought it might be interesting to add a few of the more recent snippets.....and I start with a few black-and-white portraits of some of the regulars, kindly provided by Bill veteran Chris Janman (CRJ) in early spring last year..... (OM)

John Faithfull  - one of the 'Hants boys' - and a double Pom King title holder to boot!

Paul Matson - from the north of the county with a lengthy journey to the Bill - but usually there before me!

Paul Bowley - another veteran with a longer journey to the Bill than mine - but always there ages before me. I'm sure he'd also like me to mention he is a Pom King title holder!

Sarah Russell - a dedicated regular and Selsey resident. I'm pleased to say we have a number of females amongst our ranks who are very much part of the 'team'.

This milestone of a million page hits was reached on 2nd June 2019 - a period of about six years and three months since the blog started. We currently stand at well over 1.9 million but won't quite make the two million by tomorrow! Even so, this second million should arrive in a few months, meaning that this should be achieved in about four years, so considerably quicker than the first. 

The number of daily page hits varies somewhat depending on the season and the number of scarce/rare/interesting birds around, but a rough average would perhaps be 600-750 daily, whilst a good rarity might see that figure jump to near 2000. (OM)

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, though the two Long-tailed Ducks dropped in again and a few Kittiwakes and Gannets were moving well out to sea. Full log below. (BI/IP/SR/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NNW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 38E, 12W, 2os

Long-tailed Duck - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W, 5os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 13

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Meadow Pipit - 1N

There was a bit more interest this afternoon, as the wind eased, including six Slavonian Grebes east, plus two on the sea, with three Long-tailed Ducks seen, too. Full log below. (SH)

(1540-1655hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Slavonian Grebe - 6E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3os

Gannet - 15E, 5W

Long-tailed Duck - 2E, 1os

Common Scoter - 1E,

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Sandwich Tern (above) & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 14 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 12 Shelducks, c150 Wigeon, c60 Teal and c40 Shovelers. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A flock of 11 Redwings in the trees in the corner of the churchyard were unusual, but otherwise there was little to report, with at least 300 Knot, 100 Grey Plovers and 800 Dunlin spread around the mud, but only c50 Brent Geese, c30 Shelducks and c20 Teal were seen, and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls among a dozen Black-headed Gulls were the only other things of note. (AH)

Redwings (above), Knot & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall/Pagham Lagoon: A Kestrel was around the paddock, and a Marsh Harrier was further back over the reeds, but it was quiet in White’s Creek with just 16 Redshank, six Pintail, eight Wigeon and a Grey Wagtail by the sluice.

The pair of Great Crested Grebes were on the Breech Pool, two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and in Honer 2 there were 250 Wigeon, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Curlew and a few Teal, with eight Grey Herons in and around Owl Copse. There was little on the lagoon apart from six Mediterranean Gulls and a few Tufted Ducks. (LP/SP/CT/BI)

Rock Pipit (above), Great Crested Grebe, Black-tailed Godwits & Grey Herons at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A Barn Owl was out hunting the otherwise very quiet banks this evening, with c600 Brent Geese in the nearby arable fields and c40 Linnets and c20 Stock Doves in the stubble fields about the only other birds seen.

Also, about 20 Fieldfares and a Yellowhammer were in the hedges west of Ham Road. (AH)

Barn Owl (above) & Fieldfares at Medmerry (AH)

Westhampnett Gravel Pit: There were plenty of gulls present today including c.300 Black-headed Gulls, c.20 Herring Gulls, c.10 Common Gulls and a single Lesser-black Backed Gull, however  the only wildfowl noted were two Pochards and ten Tufted Ducks. (BI)