1st - 3rd May 2023

Wednesday, 3rd May: Despite the unbroken hazy sunshine, it  was another cool morning in a decidedly fresh easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much on the move again this morning, though 130 Common Scoters and a few Sanderlings, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits went east, plenty of terns were again offshore and a few Swifts and hirundines, plus a Yellow Wagtail, came in off the sea. Full log later. (PB/JA/Bi/JF/OM/KT/RHa/MO-W/IP/SR/AH)

(0530-1400hrs) (ESE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E,, 2os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 166E 16W

Shelduck - 2W

Mallard - 3W

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 130E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 10E

Sanderling - 44E, 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 7E

Whimbrel - 15E

Curlew - 2E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 69E

Common Gull - 4E

Kittiwake - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 320E

Common Tern - 26E

'Commic' Tern - 8E

Little Tern - 45E

auk sp - 5E

Swift - 14N

Swallow - 48N

House Martin - 10N

Sand Martin - 3N

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Linnet - 5E

Swift (above), Common Scoters, Whimbrel, Little Tern, Common Tern & Fox at the Bill (AH)

This evening, at 1715hrs, three Pomarine Skuas went east, quite close in, 55 minutes after they were seen passing Hill Head in Hampshire. 

Also three Arctic Skuas, 35 Bar-tailed Godwits and 38 more Common Scoters went east, too. Full log below. (PB/CRJ/SR/SH/IP/AH/AW)

(1515-1830hrs) (SE., F4) 

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Gannet - 26E, 5W

Shag - 1W

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 38E

Sanderling - 10E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 35E

Whimbrel - 1E

Pomarine Skua - 3E (1715hrs)

Arctic Skua - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 39E

Common Tern - 53E

'Commic' Tern - 16E

Little Tern - 11E

Swallow - 2N

Pomarine Skuas past the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There just six Black-tailed Godwits, five Avocets, ten Shelducks, a drake Teal and eight Shovelers on the pool this morning, with the Greenshank and four Whimbrel in the channel opposite.. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwits & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was plenty of activity around Tern Island this morning, including 100+ Sandwich Terns, a handful of Little and Common Terns and 500+ Black-headed Gulls, but beyond that just half a dozen Whimbrel, a couple of Ringed Plovers and c20 Shelducks were all could be seen, with the odd snippet of Chiffchaff and Blackcap sound from the bushes all that was around on the land. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 2nd May: A cool and grey morning in a fresh breeze, initially north-easterly before veering to the south-east..

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much going on this morning, with just a few small flocks of Common Scoter going east, though there was a large gathering of gulls and terns offshore, a Wheatear on the beach and the first couple of House Martins gathering mud. Full log below. (SR/ABi/OM/JF/AH/JA/IP et al)

(0600-1300hrs:)(NE, F3-4 > SE, F4) 

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 49E, 24W

Brent Goose - 9E

Eider - 3os

Shelduck - 4 over gardens

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Common Scoter - 84E

Mallard - 4 area

Whimbrel - 3E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E

Sanderling - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 75W

Common Gull - 8E, 12os

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Little Tern - 12E, 17os drifted E

Common Tern - 36E, 12os

Sandwich Tern - 143E, 60os (later drifted E)

auk sp - 2E, 3W

Swift - 2

Swallow - 38N

House Martin - 4

Sand Martin - 2N

Wheatear - 1

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

House Martin (SR) (above), Wheatear, Common Scoters, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern & Sandwich and Common Terns (AH) at the Bill

This afternoon, the first two Pomarine Skuas of the spring went east at 1637hrs (well done to JA and CRJ!), but there were no more afterwards, though 80 Bar-tailed Godwits went east, including a flock of 39 with a lone Brent Geese among them, and there were again lots of terns offshore. Full log below. (JA/CRJ/SH/AH/SR)

(1620-1900hrs) (ESE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 13E, 3W

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 4W

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 28E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 80E

Pomarine Skua - 2E(one light-phase, one dark phase together 1637hrs)

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 50os

Common Tern - 1E, 12os

Little Tern - 16os

Swallow - 2N

Eider (above), Red-breasted Merganser & Little Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was quiet this morning, with just four Avocets, one Black-tailed Godwit, one Teal, six Shovelers and two Shelducks present, with two Wheatears in the  fields at the back and just the Greenshank in the channel opposite. (AH/HR/DMe/ABi et al)

Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Marina: A Golden Oriole was reported as near the hide by the reed-beds this morning. (per PH)

Church Norton: A Garden Warbler was singing and showing in the car-park early this morning, before it moved off along the path to the harbour. (HR/DMe)

Later on, the bushes were very quiet in the cold wind, but half a dozen Swallows went over and there was plenty of activity around the islands again, including c100 Sandwich Terns, c20 Little Terns, half a dozen Common Terns and at least 500 Black-headed Gulls, but again very few Mediterranean Gulls.

Most of the waders were tucked away at high tide, though two Avocets flew towards the spit and back along the harbour and a handful of Whimbrel, c30 Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin could be seen, along with two Gadwall and c30 Shelducks.. (AH/ABi/HR/DMe)

Whimbrel (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Three Little Terns were fishing close to the wall on the rising tide and 18 Mute Swans were in White’s Creek, further out a Gadwall was on the water and ten Black-tailed Godwits were on the mud.

A Wheatear and a few Linnets were along the rocks and the usual selection of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Buntings were along the hedges and reeds, whilst the Breech Pool held pairs of Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebes and Tufted Ducks, with the Male Marsh Harrier over the reeds and a Cuckoo calling from further back.

In the channel next to Heron island, a Wigeon was on the water and a Common Sandpiper and a Redshank were on the bank, and at Halsey’s Farm there were five Whimbrel, a couple of Skylarks and lots of Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and Rooks in the fields. A Green Woodpecker was in the paddock and two Swallows were around the stables, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Greenfinches in the adjacent trees. (LP/JDW/GHi)

Little Terns (above), Wheatear, Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper & Whimbrel at the North Wall (LP)

Bank Holiday Monday, 1st May: A fairly grey morning, cool early on, but brightening and warming up later in a moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was predictably quiet this morning, given the wind direction, though two Black-throated Divers and an Arctic Skua went east and three Great Northern Divers were offshore. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH et al)

(0530-1000hrs) (WNW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Black-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 10E, 26W

Shag - 1E

Grey Heron - 1N

Mallard - 3

Eider - 3os

Common Scoter - 44E, 9os

Oystercatcher - 6E, 8W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 17E, 33os

Common Tern - 6E, 20os

Little Tern - 2E, 9os

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 2E

Swallow - 9N

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Wheatear - 1N

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Eider - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 37os

Common Tern - 27os

Little Tern - 6os

Swallow - 3N

Black-throated Diver (above), Sandwich Tern & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A female Garganey was on the pool this morning, with a Common Sandpiper again at the back and , otherwise, four Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and five Shovelers, with the Greenshank and five Whimbrel in the channel opposite, a Chiffchaff singing nearby and a Sparrowhawk, carrying prey, flying over. (AH)

Garganey (above), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Greenshank & Sparrowhawk at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A female Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, two Whitethroats and a minimum of three Swallows were around the farm this morning, whilst a female Sparrowhawk flew over the fields and a Buzzard was also present. (IP)

East Beach: A visiting birder reported an adult Yellow-legged Gull among the Herring Gulls on the beach near the fish shops this morning. (Eds)

Church Norton: A Whinchat was along the spit this morning, and the Spotted Flycatcher was again behind the hide this morning, along with a Whitethroat and a Blackcap, whilst a Cuckoo was calling along the west side, though otherwise passerines were keeping low in the breeze, though Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a few Linnets were all heard. Also, what would appear to be the same two Red Kites as a few days ago were over Greenlease Farm.

Encouragingly, at least 100 Sandwich Terns, half a dozen Little and Common Terns and at least 500 Black-headed Gulls were back in the vicinity of Tern Island, though very few Mediterranean Gulls were about, whilst waders included two Bar-tailed Godwits, a dozen Whimbrel, c40 Grey Plovers and c300 Dunlin. (AH/IP/BI et al)

Later on, there were two Spotted Flycatchers behind the hide. (NR/TB)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Whitethroat, Whimbrel, Common Tern and Sandwich Terns, Little Tern and Sandwich Terns, Dunlin & the path along the west side at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: At Halsey’s Farm this morning, a Dartford Warbler was calling from the gorse and two Wheatears were on the fences, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Whitethroat were in the bushes, and five Canada Geese were with two Gadwall along the rife.

At Owl Copse, two Cuckoos were in the trees and there was the usual activity from the nesting Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets., whilst another Lesser Whitethroat was in the hedgerows along the wall together with a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Buntings. Both Marsh Harriers were behind the Breech Pool, and two Tufted Ducks were on the pool with the regular Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans. (LP/SP)

Later on, ten Gadwall, both Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, a Kestrel, two Sand Martins, two House Martins, two Cetti's Warblers and two Lesser Whitethroats were seen/heard along the wall. (PJ/GJa)

Cuckoos (above), Reed Warbler & Whitethroat at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit and East side: As many as 65 Little Terns were feeding just offshore from the spit today, along with c20 Sandwich Terns and c15 Common Terns, whilst along the east side of the harbour there were a drake Shoveler, a drake Gadwall, 34 Grey Plovers, ten Whimbrel, 27 Bar-tailed Godwits, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Dunlin and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Also, in the Slipe Field there were a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Spotted Flycatcher. (PJ/GJa)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Whinchat was near the funfair this morning. (AW)

Whinchat at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham - A Whinchat, a Stonechat and a Corn Bunting were along the paths this afternoon,, along with ten Whitethroats, a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Reed and Sedge Warblers, and four Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Whinchat, a Wheatear and a Stonechat ere along the banks today, along with 17 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat,, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, three Sedge Warblers, two Reed warblers and three Cetti's Warblers, a Pied Wagtail, seven Reed Buntings and 12 Yellowhammers, whilst three swifts, c30 Swallows and a Kestrel went over.

Also, a pair of Sandwich Terns were displaying on the Stilt Pool, where there were also 17 Avocets, two Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and a Pied Wagtail, and a Little Tern was seen offshore. (S&SaH)

Whinchat (above) & Sandwich Terns at Medmerry (SH)

West Wittering: A Holly Blue butterfly was seem emerging in the garden this afternoon. (GM)

Holly Blue in a West Wittering garden (GM)