Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 19th

Friday, 21st April: Another cool and breezy morning, mostly overcast in the brisk north-easterly......

Selsey Bill: A Ruff dropped in on the beach early on, before heading off east, with 106 Bar-tailed Godwits (including a flock of 48) and 24 Whimbrel also going east offshore, whilst a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea, as did 13 Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear, a Willow Warbler and 25 Meadow Pipits. Full log below. (BI/SR/CN/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0550-0930hrs) (NE F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

diver sp - 1W

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 4E, 16W

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 3E

Gadwall - 4W

Mallard - 1W

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 18E, 12os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W

Ringed Plover - 2W

Ruff - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 106E, 1W

Whimbrel - 24E, 1W

Curlew - 5E

Turnstone - 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 7os

Sandwich Tern - 42E, 22os

Common Tern - 7E, 12os

auk sp - 3W

Short-eared Owl - 1N

Swallow - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 25N

Yellow Wagtail - 13N

Wheatear - 1N

Willow Warbler - 1N

Linnet - 15E

(1340-1500hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Common Scoter - 13os

Arctic Skua - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 54E

Swallow - 7N

Sand Martin - 1N

House Martin - 1N

(1615-1800hrs) (SH/JA/CN/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver -1E

Gannet - 9E, 4W

Common scoter - 4E, 9os

Oystercatcher -4E

Arctic Skua - 3E, 1os

Little Gull - 5E

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 118E, 50os

Common Tern - 33E, 10os

Swallow - 1N

Short-eared Owl with Herring Gulls (above), Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Wheatear & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were at the back of the pool late this morning (T Allen), though earlier there were just eight Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Gadwall, ten Teal, four Shelducks and c20 Shovelers on the pool, with a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap singing nearby (AH).

Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

This evening the Spotted Redshank was was back in the channel, along with a few Black-tailed Godwits, whilst two Whimbrel went over west. (AH/AW)

Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: Oddly, there was not a single gull or tern in the harbour this morning - hopefully they have just postponed nesting due to the cold weather and will return before too long.

Otherwise, the only birds in the harbour were six Whimbrels and a Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Shelducks and the odd Oystercatcher and Curlew, though there were c20 Sandwich Terns offshore and a very distant flock of c12 waders, probably Bar-tailed Godwits, went east.

A steady stream of c30 Swallows, along with half a dozen Sand Martins and a couple of House Martins were heading east, but otherwise it was very quiet, with a female Marsh Harrier, a Sedge Warbler and a few Linnets at the Severals and a handful of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the blackthorn by the Mound the only other birds of note. (AH/P&LH)

This afternoon a female Redstart was along the hedge by the Orchard at Greenlease Farm (SaH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrels, Marsh Harrier, Blackcap & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Two Swifts were over the Free School and Ivy Lake area at mid-day. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - At last, the first Cuckoo of the year was heard calling this morning. (AT)

Also, a Spotted Redshank was on the Stilt Pools briefly before flying off east, calling, and there were two Little Ringed Plovers present, along with 20 Avocets.

Eight Sandwich Terns were sat out with the gulls, while two Greenshank and three Whimbrels were seen in the mud channels opposite. (AW)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Little Ringed Plover at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm and Ham Farm - A Red Kite drifted high east over the sewage works and was last seen heading towards the Ferry, and shortly afterwards a Garden Warbler was singing from a blackthorn bush and seen briefly nearby, and up to 50 Swallows and five House Martins were over the settling tanks.

Common Whitethroats were numerous, with most bushes along the route holding a singing bird, whilst at Ham, a Corn Bunting was singing along the fences near the Viewpoint.

There were also a pair of Kestrels by Porthole Farm, a Sparrowhawk circling high over farmland and a number of Buzzards were present, too.(IP/CN)

North Wall: The Greenshank with the short bill was back in White’s Creek this evening. (LP)

Greenshank at the North Wall (LP)

Thursday, 20th April: A bright, but cool, morning in a fresh and blustery north-easterly......

Selsey Bill: The only things moving east this morning were a few Whimbrel and two Barnacle Geese, though there was a bit of inward migration of passerines, with two Redstarts, two Wheatears, four Yellow Wagtails and a few Swallows seen coming in off the sea. Full log below. (MO-W/ABi/SR/IP/AH/AW)

(0645-0930hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 23E, 30W

Barnacle Goose - 2E

Shelduck - 3E

Eider - 1os

Common Scoter - 3E, 1W, 9os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Dunlin - 3E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Whimbrel - 13E

Turnstone - 11W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Common Tern - 11os

'Commic' Tern - 36E

auk sp - 1E, 6W

Swallow - 21N

Yellow Wagtail - 4N

Wheatear - 2N

Redstart - 2N

Linnet - 2E

Goldfinch - 28N

This evening a Red-necked Grebe and an Arctic Skua went east. Full log below. (SH)

(1650-1750hrs)

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 6E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 41E, 36os

Common Tern - 1E

Redstart (AW), Whimbrel, Barnacle Geese & Sandwich Tern (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Four Green Sandpipers were together along the side of the pool early, and later on the concealed pool, with a fifth bird seen separately to them later, as well.

There were also a Greenshank, the summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, ten Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, together with a pair of Gadwall, eight Teal and c20 Shovelers, whilst a Little Ringed Plover was again in the field and the regular Spotted Redshank, two Redshanks, two Whimbrel and c25 Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite before the tide rose.

Also, a Short-eared Owl was seen out over the salt-marsh from the Tramway. (AH/TS/AB/ABi/P&JW et al)

Green Sandpipers (above), Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A few Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing along the pool, as were a couple of Cetti's Warblers, and there were also at least four Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets about.

A Greenshank was at the far end of Ferry Channel, along with a drake Wigeon, whilst at least half a dozen Whimbrel were in the salt-marsh and two pairs of Lapwings and a pair of Buzzards were over the fields. (AH/ABi)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Sedge Warbler, Linnet & Wigeon at the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Earnley car-park area - The first Swift of the year went over this morning, as did a Yellow Wagtail. (PH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were c100 Swallows and half a dozen House Martins over the fields this evening, but little else beyond a Whitethroat and a couple of Linnets and Yellowhammers. (AH)

Swallows at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 19th April: The breeze remains fresh and from the east, cloudy early on but brightening later......

Selsey Bill: There was a good bit of variety heading east this morning, including the first Little Tern of the spring - two days later than the previous latest this century, 54 Common Terns, two Little Gulls, 323 Bar-tailed Godwits, 26 Whimbrel and 16 Grey Plovers, with 149 Swallows, eight Sand Martins, seven House Martins and a Yellow Wagtail in off the sea and three Wheatears on the beach. Full log below. (PM/MO-W/SR/AH/IP/AW/KJ et al)

(0600-1200hrs) (ENE, F3 > E, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red -throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 23E

Greylag Goose 1E, then W

Shelduck - 7E, 4W

Pintail - 1W

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 3E, 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 16E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 323E

Whimbrel - 26E

Turnstone - 9

Little Gull 2E

Mediterranean Gull - c250 on beach, then E

Common Gull -1E

Kittiwake - 21W

Sandwich Tern - 29E

Common Tern - 54E

Little Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 1W

Swallow - 149N

Sand Martin - 8N

House Martin - 7N

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Pied (alba) Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 3N

Willow Warbler - 1

Linnet - 2N

Goldfinch - 15N

Later, at 1300hrs, an Arctic Skua went east. (RHa)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Eider, Swallow (AW), Little Tern, Whimbrels, Greylag Goose & Wheatears (AH) at the Bill

(1700-1800hrs) (SH/SR/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 2
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 2E, 1W
Common Scoter - 13E, 8os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 8E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 26E, 88os
Common Tern - 10E
Swallow - 9N

Kittiwake at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early on, there were ten Avocets, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, four Teal and 15 Shovelers on the pool, plus a calling Cetti's Warbler, with a Spotted Redshank, two Redshanks and 16 more Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite. (MO-W)

Later on, at high tide, a Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank were on the pool, along with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, and there were two Wheatears in the field at the back. (KJ/AH et al)

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

This evening a Little Ringed Plover was again on the field, a Whimbrel flew over east and a Spotted Redshank and ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Black-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: There were at least 100 Sandwich Terns amid the vast numbers of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls in the harbour on the high tide, but very little else of note beyond a single Whimbrel.

The bushes were equally quiet in the windy conditions, though a Firecrest was singing in the car-park,but otherwise just the odd Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff heard, but not seen. (AH/KJ/SaH/A Smith et al)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were 12 Greenshank along the creek this morning, with two Whimbrel and a single summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit also seen. (AM)

North Wall: There were nine Mute Swans, ten Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshanks in White’s Creek, with 50 Grey Plovers, 42 Shelduck and a handful of Dunlin further out on the mud, whilst both Marsh Harriers were over the Breech Pool and in the reeds there were a few Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers, and on the pool were the pair of Mute Swans and a Great Crested Grebe.

At Owl Copse there was the usual mix of Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets, and a pair of Tufted Ducks were on Owl Water, whilst a At Halsey’s Farm there was just two Canada Geese and a pair of Gadwall along the rife, with three Whimbrels in the fields, a couple of Swallows and a few Skylarks overhead, and two Linnets, two Reed Buntings, a Blackcap and a Whitethroat in the bushes. (LP)

This evening a Lesser Whitethroat was in Bremere Copse. (SP)