7th - 9th April 2023

Easter Sunday, 9th April: An increasingly grey and misty morning after early hazy sunshine, quite cool in a moderate south-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: The Red-necked Grebe went east again early on, and there was steady, if unspectacular, eastward movement of Brent Geese, Common Scoters and Sandwich and Common  Terns, but it was generally a bit slow for the good turn-out of watchers, though inevitably five Arctic Skuas went east after most people had left!. Full log blow.

(SH/JA/PB/MRB/AGB/BI/IP/CN/MO-W/OM/RHa/AH/P&LH/RJS/ABi/CS/PG et al)

(0600-1100hrs) (ESE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1W

diver sp - 1E

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet- 15E, 2W, 20os

Brent Goose - 84E

Shelduck - 3W

Tufted Duck - 1W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 216E, 4os

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 3W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 3E, 10W

Sanderling - 3E

Curlew - 2E

Whimbrel - 2E

Arctic Skua - 5E (all d/p - 2 at 1015hrs and 3 at 1025hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 25E

Common Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 125E, 33os

Common Tern - 39E

Meadow Pipit - 4E

Wheatear - 1

Linnet - 11E

Greenfinch - 1E

Chiffchaff - 1

(1315-1415hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 10E

(1500-1615hrs) (SH/JAH)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Eider - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E

Turnstone - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 15E

Brent Geese (above) & a good turn-out at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was just the regular species on the pool this morning, including 14 Avocets, c70 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Lapwings, four Redshank, a Curlew, four Shelducks, a drake Gadwall,15 Teal and 50 Shovelers, with the Spotted Redshank again in the channel opposite. 

A look round the Tramway was very quiet, beyond a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs singing sparingly. (AH/OM/P&LH et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet, Gadwall & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A pair of Yellowhammers flew over this morning, as did a Raven, a Buzzard and c50 Mediterranean Gulls, but there was little to report beyond up to four Sedge Warblers, a couple of Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers and a handful of Linnets along the path, three Skylarks in the fields and a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe and four Tufted Ducks on the pool. (AH/P&LH)

Linnet (above), Reed Bunting, Mediterranean Gull & Buzzard at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A good count of 140 Black-tailed Godwits was in the harbour, along with c50 Dunlin, but not much else could be seen as the banks of fog rolled through.

Also, a Sedge Warbler was calling from brambles in front of the first Several and both a Buzzard and Kestrel were in the general area, whilst four Adders (including the black individual) was reported from the second Several. Also, two Mistle Thrushes were in the gardens along Grange Lane. (IP/CN/PB/AGB/MRB/BI)

The Purple Heron flew in over the trees at the back of the first Several and landed in the reeds at 1235hrs and I sat and waited for it to reappear, which it finally did at 1425hrs, when it flew into the horse field, where it stood towards the back for around ten minutes before it flew off and may have landed in the second Several, although I’m by no means certain of this.

There were also a couple of Adders showing well nearby. (H Knott)

Purple Heron (above) & Adders at Church Norton (H Knott)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm and Ham Farm - There was vrey little to report this afternoon, with c25 Swallows and a lone House Martin over the settling tanks and a singing Blackcap along the trail being about it. (IP/CN) 

Earlier, three Sedge Warblers were along the path. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, two Stonechats and four Cetti's Warblers, plus a couple of Swallows over, was about it along the banks, with a Red Kite, a Buzzard and a Kestrel also seen going over.A flock of 25 Brent Geese went over east and c100 Mediterranean Gulls were about, but the only waders on the Stilt Pool were 20 Avocets and five Ringed Plovers. (S&SaH)

Chichester Canal: There was a reasonable selection this morning, including a newly arrived Reed Warbler showing nicely, c20 Chiffchaffs, five Cetti's Warblers, four singing Skylarks, three Coot families, two pairs of Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Buzzards and a Mute Swan on her nest. (SR)

Reed Warbler at Chichester Canal (SR)

Saturday, 8th April: Another mostly bright and sunny morning after a very misty start, with the breeze fairy light and shifting slowly from east to south...

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of both variety and passage this morning, with what was presumably the same Red-necked Grebe as yesterday going past east again and two Black-necked Grebes and eight Great Northern Divers were on the sea, whilst nine Velvet Scoters (including a flock of six that came in from way out and went initially west), 14 Common Terns and 287 Common Scoters and exactly 100 Brent Geese went east. Full log below.

(SH/JA/PB/BI/IP/RW/RAI/ABi/MO-W/AH/SR et al)

(0600-0930hrs) (E, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

diver sp - 2E

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Black-necked Grebe - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 4E, 2W

Shag - 1E

Greylag Goose - 1E

Brent Goose - 100E

Shelduck - 5E

Pintail - 4E

Gadwall - 2E

Shoveler - 3E

Velvet Scoter - 9E

Common Scoter - 287E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 8E, 4W, 8os

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Avocet - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 144os

Common Gull - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 86E, 20os

Common Tern - 14E

auk sp - 1E

Swallow - 3N

Meadow Pipit - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Highlight of a quiet afternoon watch was a flock of 25 Little Gulls going east. Full log below. (SH/JA)

(1500-1700hrs) 

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 7E, 1W, 10os

Brent Goose - 12E

Common Scoter - 17E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Little Gull - 27E (including a flock of 25)

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 4os

Pintail (above), Brent Geese, Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just one Ruff was present today, being elusive at the back, with the Green Sandpiper behaving similarly, whilst there were also ten Avocets, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshanks, four Shelducks, a dozen Teal and c60 Shovelers present.

A Wheatear and a Pied Wagtail were in the field at the back,whilst a Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs were singing in the bushes, whilst the regular Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite. (AH/SR/ABi/IP/RW et al)

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

Medmerry: Stilt Pools - A very unexpected Bittern flew west over the fields just to the west of the Stilt Pools late this afternoon. (IC)

Long Pool: A Great White Egret flew over, heading towards Church Norton early this morning. (AW)

Later on, the first two Reed Warblers of the year and up to ten Sedge Warblers were along the pool, whilst the Spotted Redshank in more advancd moult was at the far end of Ferry Channel. (IP/RW)

This evening a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard went over, with a Spotted Redshank and two Snipe in Ferry Channel and three Sedge Warblers and two Reed Buntings along the pool. (S&SaH)

Great White Egret over the Long Pool (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: Three Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and a pair of Buzzards was it this morning. (S&SaH/PB)

North Wall: Two Little Egrets were in the paddock this morning and along White’s Creek there were 16 Redshank and six Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Great Crested Grebe and four Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool and a Lapwing, and a few Curlews were in the fields.

Along the hedgerows were eight Linnets, 12 Reed Buntings, ten Greenfinches and a Cetti’s Warbler, while two Green Sandpipers and two Swallows flew over and a Red Kite drifted west overhead. Also, at Halsey’s Farm, two Shovelers were on the rife with four Gadwall and six Teal, and a few singing Skylarks were over the fields. (LP/SP)

Red Kite (above), Cetti's Warbler, Linnet, Shovelers & Little Egret at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: The Purple Heron was seen in the Severals and then flew into trees early this morning, and there was also a Marsh Harrier present, too. (S Reading)

It was all pretty quiet later on, with two or three Swallows over, two Sedge Warblers in the Severals and the odd singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff being about the only migrant activity noted, along with a couple of Reed Buntings, a Jay and a few Linnets..

At least 150 Sandwich Terns and 300 Mediterranean Gulls were among the mass of birds round the island,, but otherwise there were just a couple of Grey and Ringed Plovers, c50 Dunlin, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Teal around the harbour, though a Sparrowhawk and upto six Buzzards were seen. (AH/TB/NR/S&SaH/PB et al)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

East Head: The WeBS count today produced a smart adult Yellow-legged Gull and a few Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, with a Wheatear nearby and in the fields there were a pair of Red-legged Partridges. (SM)

Yellow-legged Gull (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at Est Head (SM)

Good Friday, 7th April: Bright and sunny early in a moderate northerly, clouding up later on, as the breeze shifted to the west...

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe, three Eider and two Common Terns went east, with seven Great Northern Divers on the sea, a Wheatear, a Swallow and a Willow/Chiff came in off the sea, and a Peregrine went out to hunt, but there was still little evidence of eastward passage. Full log later. (SH/JA/BI/SR/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0615-0915hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

diver sp - 1E

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 6E, 8os

Little Egret - 1W, 1 on beach

Brent Goose - 21E, 3W

Shelduck - 6E

Eider - 3E

Common Scoter - 28E, 8W, 9os

Red-breasted Merganser - 9os

Peregrine - 1os

Oystercatcher - 8E, 4W

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 15W

Mediterranean Gull - 11os

Common Gull - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 24E, 18os

Common Tern - 2E

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 1N

Willow/Chiff - 1N

(1600-1700hrs) (SH/JA)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

diver sp - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 5E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 10os

auk sp - 1W 

Red-necked Grebe (above), Common Scoters & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Four Ruff, in a variety of plumages, were on the pool late this morning, with the Green Sandpiper again present, along with seven Avocets, c120 Black-tailed Godwits, six Redshanks, a pair of Gadwall, a dozen Teal, four Shelducks and c60 Shovelers.

Also, the two Spotted Redshanks were again in the channel opposite and a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal in the vicinity. (AB/MB/DB/IP/AH/MO-W/P&LH/HR/DMe et al)

Also of note, three Grass Snakes were in the pond in the Discovery Area. (P&LH)

Ruff (above), Ruffs, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits, Ruffs, Gadwall and Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Blackcap was down the lane this morning and a Swallow was over the paddock, a Kestrel was in a nearby tree, the female Marsh Harrier was over the reeds and high overhead were three Buzzards. 

On the Breech Pool were a pair of Mute Swans, two Canada Geese, a Great Crested Grebe, two Teal and a Grey Heron, with c50 Curlews in the field behind, and along the hedgerows a Sedge Warbler was singing, and a Willow Warbler, five Blackcaps, four Cetti's Warblers and a few Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs were also about.

There was the usual activity in Owl Copse, with the mix of Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets but it was quiet in the harbour with just a Black-tailed Godwit, four Curlews, eight Shelducks and a few Redshank. (LP/SP/CT/CRJ)

Cattle Egret (above), Little Egret, Grey Heron (LP) & Reed Bunting (CRJ) at the North Wall

This afternoon a Purple Heron was seen flying over Owl Copse and across the harbour (see below, too).

Also around the wall area were a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler, four Cetti's Warblers, three Blackcaps and ten Chiffchaffs, with six Cattle Egrets in owl Copse and the male Marsh Harrier, four Buzzards and fa Sparrowhawk over. (GaJ/PJ/BrJ)

Purple Heron at the North Wall (PJ)

Long Pool: A Lesser Whitethroat was singing intermittently at the Ferry end this morning, with a Sedge Warbler singing further up. (AB/MB/DB)

Later, a Jack Snipe and two Snipe were in the fields, with a dozen Lapwings present, too, and,up to three Sedge Warblers and a handful of Swallows were also about. (P&LH/IP/BI et al)

This afternoon the Purple Heron, seen over the North Wall, was seen flying alongside the Long Pool, but there were no further sightings of it. (LP)

Purple Heron at the Long Pool (LP)

Pagham spit and east side: A Red-breasted Merganser went east offshore, with three more in the harbour, along with two Brent Geese, 48 Shelducks, 17 Teal, nine Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Grey Plovers, eight Ringed Plovers, 86 Dunlin, 30 sandwich Terns, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 71 Mediterranean Gulls. whilst 75 Linnets were around the Slipe Field. (GaJ/PJ/BrJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 18 Cattle Egrets in the area today. (GaJ/PJ/BrJ)

 

Church Norton: Two Sand Martins and two Swallows went over this morning, as did a Cattle Egret, whilst two Blackcaps and eight Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard area and four Reed Buntings were along the front.

Two Snipe were in the horse field, but the harbour was quiet, with 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Grey Plovers, a Ringed Plover and four Teal about it beyond the regulars. 

There were also a 'Black' Adder at the second Several, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on the polyanthus in the churchyard. (P&LH)

Chichester Canal: There was plenty of life along the canal this morning, with highlights including five Mediterranean Gulls on the flooded field at Hunston, a Sand Martin and a Swallow by the Marina, four singing Cetti's Warblers and Blackcaps and a Reed Bunting. (RBe)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - It was all standard fare with little to cause any excitement this morning. A Grey Heron was on its low nest overhanging the lake on the South pit, as the first brood of Mallard swam underneath and a single Little Egret roosted nearby. 

There were joint totals of c15 Pochard and 20 Shoveler on the lakes, plus five pairs of Great Crested Grebes, 18 Canada Geese and c25 Greylags, whilst a pair of Mute Swans is nesting on each lake. 

The reeds and hedgerows held two Willow Warblers, five Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and three Cetti's Warblers. (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were three Dartford Warblers along the banks this morning, along with four Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, a Yellowhammer, two Reed Buntings and two Stonechats, with three Swallows, a Kestrel and six Buzzards over.

Also, a Little Ringed Plover was on the stilt pool, along with three Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin and 18 Avocets. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm and Ham Farm - A Sedge Warbler was singing along the Trail, a female Merlin was east of the sewage farm and two Swallows went over, whilst at Porthole Farm a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing.

It was generally very quiet, though, with almost nothing between the farms, and a Ham there were just a pair of Stonechats, a handful of Skylarks, a Chiffchaff, two Ravens, c50 Linnets and a couple of Sparrowhawks and Kestrels over. (AH/SR/BI et al)

Sparrowhawk (above), Stonechat & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)