Thursday, 16th March: After a cool and grey start to the morning, the weather brightened up to be almost spring-like in the fresh southerly..........
Selsey Bill: The most significant movement was almost evading the Bill, with a succession of flocks of Brent Geese picked up heading distantly east and high up, presumably having 'cut the corner' and gone overland behind us.
Otherwise, a Long-tailed Duck, an Eider and a few Common Scoters went east and at least 18 Sandwich Terns were offshore, as was the Harbour Porpoise again briefly. Full log below. (SR/AH/MO-W/OM/AW)
(0710-0925hrs) (SSW, F4-5)
Red-throated Diver - 6E, 2W, 1os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 3E, 21W
Brent Goose - 565E
Eider - 1E
Long-tailed Duck - 1E
Common Scoter - 18E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Turnstone - 16
Common Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 18os
auk sp - 3E, 31W
Chiffchaff - 2 gardens (one singing)
Eider (AW) (above), Fulmar, Sandwich Tern, Brent Geese & Common Gull (AH) at the Bill
Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool again this morning, with the main pool holding 16 Avocets, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c80 Teal, plus a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (OM/AH)
Spotted Redshank (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: A pair of Black Redstarts were in the paddocks this morning. along with three Stonechats, a Pied Wagtail, five Chiffchaffs, six Meadow Pipits, a Green Woodpecker and four Goldfinches, while both male and female Marsh Harriers were behind the empty Breech Pool and a Kestrel was in the bushes, and further back in the fields, there were 32 Shelduck and 100 Brent Geese, and a few Mediterranean Gulls flew over.
A Rock Pipit was along the wall, and in White’s Creek there were 16 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plovers, 12 Redshanks, 48 Wigeon and six Teal, while at Halsey’s Farm a pair of Gadwall were with 200 Wigeon along the rife and a few Skylarks were in the fields. (LP/IH/SP) The Black Redstarts were still present this evening and a Barn Owl was again hunting the reedbeds. (B.Young)
Black Redstarts (above), Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Skylark & Gadwall at the North Wall (LP)
Church Norton: Most of the modest amount of interest was around the Mound and adjoining hedges this morning, where there were four Redwings, a Stonechat, at least a dozen Chiffchaffs and a couple of Goldcrests present, with a dozen Linnets and a couple of Skylarks along the beach, a couple more Chiffchaffs between the Severals and two Mistle Thrushes flying over Rectory Lane being all that was seen elsewhere.
About 60 Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, with half a dozen Ringed Plovers on the beach, but other waders were few, as were wildfowl beyond a few Shelducks, Teal and Wigeon, though there were still 100+ Mediterranean Gulls and 300+ Black-headed Gulls present. (AH)
Redwing (above), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Stonechat, Ringed Plover & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)
Wheatear at Church Norton (AW)
Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Late this afternoon a very smart summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe was on the main lake, just west of the island, with a Lesser Black-backed Gull, half a dozen Shovelers, c20 Tufted Ducks, a handful of Pochard and a pair of Greylag Geese also present. (AB/AH/BI)
Later on the Black-necked Grebe had moved to the north-east corner of the lake, in front of the reeds. (CRJ)
Black-necked Grebe at Ivy Lake (AH)
Wednesday, 15th March: The morning started bright, crisp and almost still, before the breeze picked up from the south-east, bringing plenty of cloud with it..........
And a few more pic's from recent years to raise a smile - and finalise the blog's first decade.......happy birthday.. (OM)
Barry Collins tries out his new specs whilst insisting his eyesight is undiminished!
A winter sea-watch and it looks like Santa has arrived to join the locals...
Not a good spring then, as JA reflects on what was seen elsewhere!
Unless you know him, you wouldn't guess what AH is up to....he's actually watering a dried-up puddle in order to make mud for House Martins during a dry spell.
My latest invention, the two-hat trick to give all-round sun protection! (I think they said trick...!)
The Pom crown trophy came to grief last year, despite being in the safe keeping of AH and his trusty sidekick Boo! Glad to say it's fully restored now.
Sunrise at the Bill on a fine October morning, with BI and SH already in action.
Bernie Forbes tries to work out why his knees look so far away!
A quiet spell finds JA desperate to get nearer the Poms...
And finally, Bernie and Owen - work out who is who.
Selsey Bill: There was nothing really moving, though two Greylag Geese flying in from way offshore was an oddity, but the flat calm sea gave a chance to see how many birds were around, including the pair of Long-tailed Ducks, five Eider and at least eight Great Northern Divers.
There was also a Harbour Porpoise lingering offshore beyond the bar. Full log below. (SR/AH/MO-W et al)
(0700-0900hrs) (N, F1, veering to E, then SE, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 8os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Shag - 1os
Greylag Goose - 2W
Brent Goose - 1W
Eider - 1E, 2W, 2os
Long-tailed Duck - 2os
Common Scoter - 15E, 8W, 9os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W, 19os
Sparrowhawk - 1
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Harbour Porpoise - 1os
Later on, a very early Swift (almost certainly a Common) flew over Grafton Road, but couldn't be refound. Full log below. (P&LH)
(1330-1430hrs)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Brent Goose - 5E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Turnstone - 3
Sandwich Tern - 2os
Swift - 1
Stonechat - 1
Eiders (above), Greylag Geese, Red-breasted Mergansers, Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was again in the concealed roadside pool this morning, whilst the main pool held 16 Avocets, eight Black-tailed Godwits, four Lapwings, 12 Shelducks, c60 Shovelers, c80 Teal and c200 Wigeon.
Also, the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (TG-P/AH et al)
Shoveler (above) & Avocets and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)
Pagham Spit: A Dartford Warbler was on the spit again this morning. (JDW)
North Wall: A pair of Stonechats, a Song Thrush, eight Long-tailed Tits, and six Goldfinches were around the stables this morning and a Rock Pipit was along the wall.
In the Honer fields there were 20 Meadow Pipits, four Pied Wagtails and a Green Woodpecker, with two Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Yellowhammer and a Greenfinch along the hedges, and a Kestrel and a Marsh Harrier further back. At Halsey’s Farm there were 200 Wigeon along the Rife, and a few Skylarks were over the fields. (LP)
Medmerry: Windmill area - The female Black Redstart was still around the go-kart track, but there was nothing else about beyond a Wren! (AH et al)
Black Redstart & Wren at Medmerry (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Wheatears along the beach by the Stilt Pool appeared new in, whilst on the pool itself the two Little Ringed Plovers were still present, along with three Ringed Plovers (including a displaying pair), 14 Avocets, six Black-tailed Godwits, four Lapwings, a Common Gull, a Pied Wagtail and a few Tufted Ducks and Teal.
A flock of c40 Fieldfares flew into the poplars from the west before quickly moving on, but the banks just held the usual mis, including up to six Stonechats, a few Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Stock Doves and plenty of Skylarks and Linnets, plus a Buzzard on the barn roof at Marsh Farm.
Also, a flock of 38 Brent Geese went east offshore, with another flock of 20 dropping in on the Stilt Pool before carrying on east. (P&LH/AH/et al)
Wheatear (above), Little Ringed Plover and Teal, Fieldfares, Ringed Plovers, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Buzzard & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)
Later on, one Wheatear and one Little Ringed Plover were still about, whilst two Marsh Harriers and a Red Kite went over and c30 Fieldfares flew back into the poplars. (AB)
Wheatear at Medmerry (AB)
Tuesday, 14th March: After a bright start, a cold, grey and blustery morning in a very fresh and blustery north-westerly.....
On the lighter side and in no particular order, a few pic's mainly taken by me over the last few years, to round things off and perhaps raise a smile as our blog's 10th birthday passes into history.....(OM)
All smiles at Halsey's Farm as the Squacco Heron is safely ticked. Aug 2019
Awaiting Poms at the Bill - with a good contingent of Hants birders present; note especially Pete Gammage (green coat, centre) - always a good omen as he has an uncanny knack of seeing them! May 2018
An impromptu gathering of the Blog committee at Fishbourne 2019
Social distancing - remember that? Bill locals carrying out a bit of sea-watching in 2020 whilst trying to obey the rules.
Sam Hill (right) at a Pom party receiving the runners-up trophy from John Faithfull. This trophy was originally the official winners trophy before being superseded by the present one, which commemorates the late Barry Carter.
I never quite did understand what Paul Bowley was actually trying to do here! May 2019
Selsey Bill: A very slow morning, with just a few of the regulars species, mostly well offshore. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)
(0715-0830hrs) (WNW, F6-7)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 10E
Shelduck - 1W
Common Scoter - 9E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E
Turnstone - 13
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Common Gull - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 4os
This afternoon there were two Long-tailed Ducks and four Great Northern Divers offshore. (per Birdguides)
Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A total of 18 Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Shelducks, c40 Shovelers and c75 Teal, plus a Great Black-backed Gull, four Mediterranean Gulls and c100 Black-headed Gulls, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Avocet at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The harbour was dominated by a big, noisy gathering of c200 Mediterranean Gulls and c400 Black-headed Gulls, but otherwise it was very quiet, with almost no waders about and wildfowl comprising seven Brent Geese, a pair of Pintail and c40 Teal and Shelducks. (AH)
Mediterranean Gull (above), Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls & Teal at Church Norton (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: In the chilly north-westerly breeze there were few small birds showing, with Cetti's Warbler singing at Fishbourne Meadows and Apuldram sewage works being of note, with a Red Kite flying over at the latter site.
In the harbour there were 200+ Brent Geese and plenty of Wigeon and Teal, whilst 23 Pintail were at the Lavant Outfall. In amongst the commoner gulls were two Mediterranean Gulls and singles of Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gull.
Wader numbers seem reduced, though there were still many Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks and Curlews, but just singles of Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank being the only species seen. Also, a few Great Crested Grebes and a Red-breasted Mergansers were visible from Dell Quay. (RW)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White’s Creek this morning, along with 16 Redshank, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, three Dunlin, 48 Wigeon, 16 Teal and six Pintail, whilst two Grey Wagtails were by the sluice and a Rock Pipit was along the wall.
Two Stonechats were in the paddock and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, but there was just the pair of Great Crested Grebes on the Breech Pool. Also, there were still c200 Brent Geese moving between the fields and the harbour, and c300 Wigeon were spread around the fields. (LP/CT)
Spotted Redshank (above), Marsh Harrier, Grey Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe & Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Honours for the first Wheatear of the spring go to the visiting birder who saw one near the Earnley Viewpoint early this afternoon. (per Birdguides), see below for the locations and dates of the first Wheatear since the start of the blog:
Later on, the first two Little Ringed Plovers of the year were on the Stilt Pool, a Short-eared Owl was nearby and a Barn Owl was beyond the poplars, whilst a Greenshank and five Gadwall were in the tidal area there, along with 40 or so Teal.
Also, a pair off Stonechats were along the banks, together with a few Yellowhammers and 50+ Linnets. (AW/S&SaH/AH)
Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover (AW) (above), Short-eared Owl (SaH), Barn Owl, Greenshank, Linnets & Gadwall (AH) at Medmerry
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