Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 16th

Tuesday, 18th April: A very blustery morning in a fresh north-easterly breeze - cool and bright early on, slowly clouding up and warming up later...........

Selsey Bill: Eight Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Whimbrels and a few Common and Sandwich Terns were about it for birds moving through, with a further 40 Sandwich Terns fishing offshore over a choppy sea, whilst a single Willow Warbler in the gardens was the only passerine of note on a very quiet morning! Full log below. (OM/SR/HW/AH/ABi)

(0700-1000hrs) (ENE F4-5/6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2E, 1W

Gannet - 3E, 18W, 5os

Shelduck - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Bar-tailed Godwits - 8E

Whimbrel - 21E

Turnstone - 20ob

auk sp - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 40os

Common Tern - 5E

Swallow - 1N

Willow Warbler - 1

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 4E, 4os

Common Scoter - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 39os

Common Tern - 2E, 5os

Great Northern Diver (AW) (above), Whimbrel, Fulmar & Sandwich Tern (AH) at the Bill

This afternoon 12 Grey Plovers, 25 Whimbrel and 60 Bar-tailed Godwits went east. (AW)

Bar-tailed Godwits at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A pair of Little Ringed Plovers were in the creek in the field this morning, with a Common Sandpiper along the pool and the Green Sandpiper was in the concealed pool, with possibly two different birds flying over later.

Otherwise, the pool just held c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Avocets, a pair of Gadwall, six Teal and c30 Shovelers, whilst the two Spotted Redshanks and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite before the tide pushed them off.

Also of note, two Lesser whitethroats were around the Discovery Area.(BFF/SMo/AH/ABi)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank & Black-ailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

This evening both Spotted Redshanks were in the channel and Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls were streaming into he harbour from the west. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Whitethroat, two Blackcaps and a few Linnets, Sedge and Reed Warblers were along the pool, whilst several pairs of Lapwings were around the adjacent fields. (ABi)
Church Norton: An incredible number of Mediterranean Gulls were on the water in front of Tern Island, stretching north well into the harbour, with an estimated count of 2,500 (there may have been more as so many birds were coming and going).

There wasn't too much else, though, beyond four Whimbrel near the benches, a Peregrine over several times, a few Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, plus a Mistle Thrush by the Mound and walking down to the first Several and back via Greenlease Farm the only bird of note was a Green Woodpecker. (BFF/SMo)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Due to tree felling the Chalder Lane rookery is down to 18 nests but there was still plenty of activity, whilst between Marsh and Chalder Farms there were five Blackcaps, two singing Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Pied Wagtail, a Sedge Warbler, two Long-tailed Tits, a Jay, a Kestrel and two Shelducks, with a handful of Skylarks and two Swallows over the fields, but not a single Cattle Egret to be seen. (SR)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - At least half a dozen Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus a couple of Sedge Warblers and Blackcaps were spread along the trail.
There were also several Cetti's Warblers, two of which were engaged in a prolonged sing-off, right out in the open and barely two feet apart, singing continuously and flapping their wings - mostly one at a time - at each other for about ten minutes before they both sped off, one in pursuit of the other.
At Porthole Farm and over the settling tanks there was a good gathering of hirundines, comprising of roughly 100 Swallows, 50 House Martins and 20 Sand Martins, whilst a Marsh Harrier went over and a Red Kite was seen here and at Wilson's Farm, but little else was about beyond three Shelducks on the fields and c200 Mediterranean Gulls going over east. (BFF/SMo/JWo/AH)

Cetti's Warblers (above), Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow & Shelduck at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 17th April: The morning started almost still again, very grey and with poor visibility, but it slowly brightened up as the breeze picked up from the south-east...........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of movement this morning, with 150+ each of Sandwich and 'Commic' Terns and 200+ Common Scoters, plus three Arctic Skuas, two Eider and a few Whimbrel going east, with a steady stream of Swallows, a Wheatear and a Willow Warbler coming in off the sea. Full log below: (OM/JF/SR/MO-W/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0700-1315hrs) (NNE, F1-2 >SE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 5os

Fulmar - 4E, 2W

Gannet - 8E, 10W

Brent Goose - 12E

Shelduck - 3E

Eider - 2E, 1os

Common Scoter - 228E, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1W

Oystercatcher - 16E, 2W

Whimbrel - 14E

Turnstone - 3W

Arctic Skua - 3E (all d/p)

Kittiwake - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 151E, 8W

Common Tern - 12E

Arctic Tern - 5E

'Commic' Tern - 171E

Swallow - 105N

Wheatear - 1N, 1ob

Willow Warbler - 1N, onto beach

Eider (above), Swallow, Willow Warbler, Fulmar, Sandwich Tern & Oystercatchers at the Bill (AH)

(1645-1800hrs) (SH/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Eider - 3W
Common Scoter - 30E, 7os
Sparrowhawk - 1
Whimbrel - 3E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E
Turnstone - 1W
Common Gull - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 16os
'Commic' Tern - 69os, then drifting off E
Swallow - 1N

Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much on the pool beyond c50 Black-tailed Godwits, nine Avocets, three Gadwall, a dozen or so Teal and c30 Shovelers, though both Spotted Redshanks, moving quickly into summer-plumage, were in the channel opposite and a Marsh Harrier was over the Long Pool. (MO-W/TG-P/AH)

Spotted Redshanks in Ferry Channel (AH)

Late this afternoon two Whimbrel went over east, calling, whilst the Spotted Redshank was in the channel again, along with two Redshank, a pair of Gadwall and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above) & Gadwall in Ferry Channel (AH)

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch - the first reported this year - could be heard calling from an oak in the car-park just to the west of the main street. Also, a Whimbrel was on he shore by Chalkdock Copse and there was a steady passage of Mediterranean Gulls overhead. (PH)

North Wall: A Common Sandpiper was by the sluice this evening. (SP)

East Beach: A female Blackcap and a Willow Warbler were in the garden this afternoon. (SR)

Blackcap in an East Beach garden (SR)

Church Norton: Two Wheatears were on the beach this morning, with a Yellow Wagtail, a couple of Sand Martins and 20+ Swallows going over east, whilst two or three Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler were in the Severals and half a dozen or so Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were around the Mound.

A female Eider was offshore, but there was very little to see in the harbour on the full tide beyond the vast numbers of Mediterranean Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns, plus a couple of Common Terns. (AH et al)

This afternoon a Red Kite went over. (AW)

Wheatears (above), Willow Warbler & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 16th April: The breeze dropped away to almost nothing, with it initially murky and grey, but slowly brightening and warming up as the morning progressed......

Selsey Bill: There were no great numbers, but there was a bit of variety this morning, including a Black-throated Diver, four Eider, three Little Gulls, four Whimbrel and a few terns east, a Yellow Wagtail in off the sea and a Common Sandpiper going west offshore. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/AGB/BI/IP/AH/RJS/AHu)

(0600-0930hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 4W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 2E, 4W, 3os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 5E

Shelduck - 8E, 1W

Eider - 4E

Common Scoter - 47E, 2W, 23os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 5W, 3os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 6W

Whimbrel - 4E

Curlew - 1W

Common Sandpiper - 1W

Turnstone - 4W

Little Gull - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 (on Oval Field)

Sandwich Tern - 33E

Common Tern - 26E, 8os

'Commic' Tern - 44E

Swallow - 7N

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

A new high count for the year of 14 Great Northern Divers were offshore at lunchtime, and this afternoon, four Bonxies went east. Full log below. (SH/B&MC)

(1300-1715hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 14os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 2W

Common Scoter - 23E, 30os

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

Bar-tailed Godwit - 33E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Curlew - 1W

Great Skua - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Little Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 30E, 11os

Common Tern - 2E

Swallow - 1N

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

Ferry Pool: A male Garganey was at the back this morning and the Green Sandpiper popped up again in the concealed roadside pool, whilst otherwise there were nine Avocets, c120 Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Gadwall, a dozen Teal and c40 Shovelers present.

Also, two Spotted Redshanks were in the channel opposite, a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler were calling nearby and a small Grass Snake was in the Discovery Area pond.. (AHu/BI/IP/AH/PB/MRB/AGB et al)

Garganey (above), Spotted Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Reed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and half a dozen Sedge Warblers were along the pool his morning, with a Little Grebe and a Buzzard also about. (PB/MRB/AGB)

This evening the Short-eared Owl reappeared at 1830hrs, being mobbed by gulls as it flew over the salt-marsh, and there was also a Barn Owl along the harbourside of the pool and a Marsh Harrier was about, too. (BI/IP/AW)

Short-eared Owl along the Long Pool (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Willow Warbler and a Swallow were present this morning, along with a Green Woodpecker and three Shelducks. (IP)

Church Norton: Migrants included a Wheatear on the beach, a Yellow Wagtail and three Swallows over, Reed and Sedge Warblers singing in the Severals, with another of the latter in the orchard at Greenlease Farm, and two Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs at Bluebell Wood.

There were also a pair of Reed Buntings at Greenlease Farm and several Cetti's Warblers and a pair of Jays at the Severals. along with a few visible Marsh Frogs where the water level was high, a pair of Little Grebes, a pair of Mute swans and a drake Tufted Duck.

Five Common Terns were among the c200 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, and there were also c70 Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Ringed Plovers seen. (IP/AHu et al)

North Wall: Two Avocets were in the harbour this morning, along with 24 Shelduck, 70 Black-tailed Godwits, two Shovelers, 12 Gadwall, 54 Teal, two Wigeon, two Whimbrels, 87 Grey Plovers, nine Knot, 49 Dunlin, 24 Curlews and lots of Redshank, whilst a Peregrine went over.

Also, a male Redstart was near Honer Farmhouse, a Stonechat was in the paddock and there were a few Greenfinches, Goldfinches, a Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker around the adjacent trees, and there were a Whitethroat,, four Blackcaps and several Cetti’s, Sedge, Reed and Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs in the reeds by the Breech Pool, and on the pool, there were eight Tufted Ducks, along with the nesting pairs of Mute Swans and Great Crested Grebes.

Further back the male Marsh Harrier was about, a Kestrel was hunting, and two Jays flew through, whilst at Halsey’s Farm, five Swallows were over the fields, and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were on the fences. (LP/SP/IH/DH/GJa/PJ)

Avocets and Shelducks (above), Tufted Ducks, Reed Buntings & Greenfinch at the North Wall (LP)

This evening a Short-eared Owl was t Owl Point. (SP/LP)

Short-eared Owl at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit: There were three Wheatears on the spit today, with a Whitethroat on the edge of the lagoon, whilst three Red-breasted Mergansers flew west offshore. (GJa/PJ)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail - A Lesser Whitethroat was in the adjacent lay-by late this morning, and several Whitethroats were along the trail itself. (AW)

Lesser Whitethroat (above) & Whitethroat along the Medmerry Trail (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Whitethroats, two Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and five Cetti's Warblers were along the banks this morning, with three Swallows, two Buzzards and c100 Mediterranean Gulls over, whilst 29 Avocets and two Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool. (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At Porthole Farm, about ten House Martins and 20 Swallows were over the settling tanks this morning, with two or three singing Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Yellowhammers and Skylarks, c30 Linnets and a pair of Reed Buntings carrying nest material in he adjacent hedges and fields, with a few more Yellowhammers and Skylarks along the Medmerry Trail.

Two Corn Buntings were around their traditional field at Ham Farm, with a Merlin sitting out on the fences nearby, whilst there were otherwise a Sedge Warbler, a par of Stonechats, another half a dozen Yellowhammers and plenty of Linnets and Skylarks around the banks, whilst by the houses along Ham Road there were a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, several Chiffchaffs and a couple more Yellowhammers. (AH)