Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 22nd

Monday, 24th April: A cold and bright start in a brisk north-westerly eventually gave way to overcast skies in a light southerly...........

Selsey Bill: There was predictably little in the conditions, though a Hobby came in off the sea and a first-winter Little Gull and an Eider went west. Full log below. (AW/HW/SR/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0630-0900hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 3W

Brent Goose - 2E

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 6E, 1W

Hobby - 1N

Whimbrel - 1E

Little Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 4W

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

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Common Tern - 28os

Little Tern - 11os

Swallow - 4N

Wheatear - 2

(1640-1740hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 17os

Little Tern - 1os

Hobby (above), Eider & Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A Cuckoo was heard early this morning. (BI)

Later, there were just 12 Avocets, four Black-tailed Godwits, six Teal, six Shelducks and c20 Shovelers around the pool, with the Spotted Redshank again in the channel opposite and a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff singing nearby. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Blackcap at the Ferry (AH)

North Selsey: A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from brambles, early this morning, in the small piece of waste ground along Manor Road, opposite the Selsey Centre. (SH/BI/SaH/IP/MO-W/SR/AH)

North Wall: A Hobby flew in over Owl Point this morning and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees at Halsey’s Farm.

There were a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers along the wall and on the Breech pool there were three Great Crested Grebes and the pair of nesting Mute Swans, with the male Marsh Harrier up briefly over the reeds and two Kestrels hunting along the wall, while in the flooded fields there were four Shovelers and a few Teal with a couple of Swallows overhead.

The Greenshank was again by the sluice, and two Redshanks and two Whimbrels were further out in the harbour, and two Green Woodpeckers were in the paddock. (LP/CT/IH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Great Crested Grebes & Green Woodpeckers at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester Marina: A Cuckoo flew over the reed-beds this morning and at least four Reed Warblers were singing there. (PH)

West Itchenor: At least two House Martins were back at the Harbour Office nest site this morning. (PH)

Later, at Chaldock Copse, a Tree-creeper was active, two Long-tailed Tits were about, a Chiffchaff was seen carrying food and three others were calling, whilst a Swallow came in from the sea, a Whimbrel flew over and two Brent Geese and a Great Crested Grebe were on the water. (SR)

Sidlesham: A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedges in our garden this afternoon. (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report here this morning, with a Wheatear by the concrete blocks, half a dozen Swallows over, a Whitethroat and a singing Sedge Warbler in the first Several and a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Willow Warbler, around the Mound about it for migrant species.

The harbour was quiet, with five Whimbrel, a couple of Curlews and c60 Shelducks about it on the mud, and just a couple of Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls seen, whilst a Cattle Egret was in the horse field.. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Blackcap, Cattle Egret & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguards to Toe End - The walk from the Coastguard Station to the breach produced three Wheatears, five Meadow Pipits, and half dozen Turnstones developing summer plumage. (AW)

Later, four Little Terns were in the tidal area at the breach. (TG-P)

Wheatear (above) & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - This evening there were c200 Swallows, c50 House Martins and half a dozen Sand Martins over the settling tanks, but not much else beyond a Whitethroat and a Pied Wagtail. (AH)

House Martin (above) & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 23rd April: A morning that began cold and murky, with persistent drizzly rain and light winds and ended in a warm, bright and breezy in a fresh westerly.....

Selsey Bill: There was a good selection of species seen heading east over the morning, including, a Bonxie, four Arctic Skuas, a Black-throated Diver, three Velvet Scoters, 147 Brent Geese and good numbers of terns. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/MRB/IP/MO-W/AH/JA et al)

(0535-1230hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3os

diver sp - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 3W

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 67E, 22W

Grey Heron - 1N

Brent Goose - 147E

Shelduck - 4E

Eider - 3os

Velvet Scoter - 3E

Common Scoter - 63E, 13os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Oystercatcher - 4W

Whimbrel - 2E, 3W

Turnstone - 4

Great Skua - 1E

Arctic Skua - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 26E

Common Gull - 4E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 68E, 8os

Common Tern - 289E, 14os

'Commic' Tern - 41E

Little Tern - 29E, 21os

auk sp - 2E

Swallow - 9N

Pied Wagtail - 1

Wheatear - 2N

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 8W

Arctic Skua (above), Common Scoters & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

(1230-1700hrs) (SHo/SH/AW)
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 7E, 3W
Eider - 3os
Common Scoter - 26E
Arctic Skua - 3E
Common Gull - 1E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 20E, 33os
Little Tern - 8os
Guillemot - 2E, 1W, 1os
Razorbill - 1E
Swallow - 31N

Arctic Skua at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The regular Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and five Whimbrel were in the channel early on, though only the latter was present later, whilst on the pool there were 15 Avocets, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Teal, four Shelducks and c20 Shovelers.

Also, a Swift and c50 Swallows were distantly viewable over the sewage works, whilst two Wheatears and a Skylark were on the fields, and there were at least five each of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the Tramway circuit. (AH/PB/MRB et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel & Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Osprey drifted north over Marsh Barn mid-afternoon today. (HB)

Runcton: This evening a very grey and white Willow Warbler was in our Spindle tree, possibly a 'Northern' type bird. (CRJ)

Willow Warbler in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Two Yellow Wagtails were in the horse paddocks just south of the lakes this afternoon. (AB)

Yellow Wagtail at Chichester GPs (AB)

Drayton House pits - The WeBS count today produced 30 Greylags (of which 3 pairs had new broods of young) and 20 Canada Geese, plus two Egyptian Geese. Six Shoveler were still present but otherwise wildfowl numbers were few, with just eight each of Pochard and Tufted Duck.

The solitary Grey Heron nest was still occupied on the South pit, where a broken eggshell caught in the side of the nest surely indicates either predation or hopefully a newly-hatched bird. The regular pairs of Great Crested and Little Grebe were very obvious, but otherwise there was nothing out of the ordinary.

At least seven singing Reed Warblers were present in the much-reduced reedbeds, whilst other passerines included four Cetti's warblers, three Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs. (OM)

Grey Heron on its somewhat precarious nest about a metre above water level at Drayton pits (note broken eggshell) and pair of Greylags with young (OM)

Church Norton: There were two Bar-tailed Godwits and seven Whimbrel in the harbour this morning, along with a couple of Grey Plovers, c40 Dunlin, ten Ringed Plovers and the usual scattering of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, with a lone Gadwall and c75 Shelducks the only wildfowl, but a flock of 14 Mediterranean Gulls going over was the only activity among the hopefully returning residents of the island.

A quick look at the bushes around the Mound produced a Sedge Warbler and several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrel, Mediterranean Gulls, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Cuckoo was behind the Breech Pool and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, while the pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying on the pool and the pair of Mute Swans were by their nest.

Three Wheatears were along the wall, with plenty of Sedge Warblers and a few Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings around, whilst in the flooded fields four Shovelers were with 30 Teal and two Oystercatchers, and at Owl Copse, two Jays were in the trees and a Spoonbill flew over.

At Halsey’s Farm another Cuckoo was calling from the trees, three Canada Geese and two Tufted Ducks were on the rife, and a Swallow and a few Skylarks were overhead.

The Greenshank was in White’s Creek with four Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshank, with 50 Grey Plover further out, and in the paddock four Linnets were collecting the horse’s hair. (LP/MR/DH)

Cuckoo (above), Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Jay & Linnet at the North Wall (LP)

Saturday, 22nd April: After a murky and cool start in a light easterly, a warm and pleasant morning of hazy sun, with the breeze freshening slightly as it shifted to the south-east....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of eastward movement this morning, up until lunchtime, including 21 Little Terns, an Arctic Tern and c120 Sandwich and 140 Common Terns, along with five Velvet Scoters, a pair of Goosander and three Arctic Skuas, plus a few Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst four Eider and five Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PM/PB/SR/IP/JF/OM/AH et al)

(0545-1300hrs) (E, F2 > SE2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 4E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 2E, 2W

Gannet - 8E, 6W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 12E

Shelduck - 2E

Eider - 4os

Velvet Scoter - 5E (inc 3E 0904hrs)

Common Scoter - 188E, 12os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1os

Goosander - 2E (pair, 1245hrs)

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 7E, 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 19E

Whimbrel - 18E

Turnstone - 4

Arctic Skua - 3E

Kittiwake - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Common Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 123E, 30os

Common Tern - 143E, 12os

Arctic Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 21E, 6os

Swallow - 41N

House Martin - 3N

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Also at least 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins os

This afternoon there was a Bonxie lingering offshore and nine Arctic Skuas went east, along with a flock of ten Little Gulls and 72 Brent Geese, including a flock of 60. Full log below. (SH/JA/CN)

(1300-1800hrs) (SSE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 20E, 8W

Brent Goose - 72E

Common Scoter - 40E, 30os

Great Skua - 1os

Arctic Skua - 9E

Sanderling - 2E

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 3E

Little Gull - 10E

Mediterranean Gull - 105E

Black-headed Gull - 329E

Common Gull - 30E

Sandwich Tern - 106E

Common Tern - 71E, 21os

Little Tern - 4E

Swallow - 1N

Velvet Scoters (above), Eider, Common Terns, House Martin & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were at the back this morning, with 15 Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Gadwall, eight teal and c20 Shovelers also present.

Also, the regular Spotted Redshank and four Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH/PM)

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

Park Farm, Selsey: A surprise Hooded Crow - the first since the long-staying bird of winter 2018-19 - was among the Carrion Crows on the newly cultivated fields towards Greenlease Farm this morning, whilst visiting birders reported a Hobby in the nearby trees there.

Also, a Wheatear was in the fields, six Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs were in the lane and two Jays were in the hedges. (IP/S&SaH/PB/AH/OM/CN/SR et al)

Hooded Crow (top two IP, lower two AH) at Park Farm, Selsey

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Wheatears were along the banks this morning, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, nine Whitethroats, a Stonechat, a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, four Cetti's Warbler, two Reed Buntings and ten Yellowhammers, with four Swallows, four Buzzards and c50 Mediterranean Gulls going over.

A dozen Avocets were on the Stilt Pools, but otherwise there were just two Ringed Plovers', a Dunlin and ten Sandwich Terns there. (S&SaH/PB)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were bathing on Ivy Lake, and along the path there were a single male Yellow Wagtail, three Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, two Cetti’s Warblers, two Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. (CRJ)

Yellow Wagtail at Ivy Lake (CRJ)

Church Norton: There were again no birds on the island, though a number of Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns were in the vicinity, whilst c40 Dunlin, a dozen Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel were feeding on the mud, with the most numerous species being the c50 Shelduck loafing about.

Also, three Jays flew across the first Several and one was then chased by a Sparrowhawk. (IP)

This afternoon the first Little Tern was back in the harbour and there were also a couple of Whimbrel present. (AW)

Little Tern (above) & Whimbrels at Church Norton (AW)

Long Pool: A Whitethroat and a couple of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were singing along the pool, but a couple of Reed Buntings and half a dozen Linnets was about it, otherwise, with a Whimbrel and a couple of Redshanks all that were in Ferry Channel. (AH/PM)

Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)

Honer Reservoir: Two Cuckoos were audible from the reservoir this morning and there were plenty of Whitethroats on the lane towards the North Wall. (BI)

West Itchenor: A quick visit mid-morning found a singing Garden Warbler on the edge of the copse at Chalkdock but it seemed otherwise quiet. (BI)

North Wall: A Cuckoo was calling from behind the Breech Pool this morning and both Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel were over the reeds, whilst on the pool there were four Tufted Ducks along with the pairs of Mute Swans and Great Crested Grebes.

Along the wall there were seven Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, three Cetti’s Warblers, three Whitethroats, two Linnets, two Reed Buntings, a Blackcap and five Greenfinches, with two Sand Martins and a few Swallows going over.

In Owl Copse, the first young Grey Herons could be seen in their nest, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Greylag Goose flew over and six Teal and two Gadwall were along the rife, and in White’s Creek, the Greenshank was by the sluice and four Black-tailed Godwits, three Grey Plovers and four Redshank were along the channel. (LP/SP)