23rd - 25th May 2023

Thursday, 25th May: A very mixed morning that began cool and grey under heavy cloud cover in a light north-easterly, before the bank of cloud moved away south and the breeze shifted south to leave a warm and mostly sunny day..,..........

Selsey Bill: A flock of nine Brent Geese that flew in from the east and settled on the bar were a surprise, whilst a flock of ten Sanderlings that dropped in on the beach before heading off east and a close Fulmar livened up an otherwise quiet morning. 

Also, one of the local residents heard, and saw, a Cuckoo, going over the houses heading north-east - presumably this had newly arrived this morning.  Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0650-0850hrs) (NE, F3)

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 4E, 3W

Brent Goose - 9os

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 6W

Sanderling - 10E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Common Tern - 2os

Cuckoo - 1N

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 2N

House Martin - 12

Common Seal - 1os

Brent Geese (above), Sanderlings, Fulmar, Sandwich Tern & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were again five Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c120 Black-tailed Godwits, six Mallards and c25 Shelducks, whilst three Cattle Egrets were among the cows in the back fields. (AH)

This evening the Tawny Owl was visible in the box in the Discovery Area. (S&SaH)

Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Four Whimbrel were unexpected in the harbour this morning, though it was otherwise quiet, with just a couple of Curlews and a handful of Dunlin, Ringed and Grey Plovers seen, along with a Sandwich Tern and at least 20 Little Terns.

A Reed Warbler singing from the hedge by the hide was probably a new arrival, whilst a tail-less Whitethroat and a Blackcap were singing nearby, but it was otherwise quiet, with a Cattle Egret in the horse field and a couple of Skylarks and a handful of Linnets long the beach being about it. (AH/P&LH)

Whimbrels (above) & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Cuckoos were behind the paddock this morning, and three Marsh Harriers and a Swift were higher up, the Swallows were around the stables and a Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff were in the trees, whilst a Cetti’s Warbler was by the sluice and there were lots of Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers in the reeds.

On the Breech Pool there were a pair of Shovelers along with four Gadwall, nine Mallards, a Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Tufted Ducks and the nesting Mute Swans, with a lone Curlew in the field behind. At Owl Copse the juvenile Grey Herons were still around their nest and a Jay was in the oak tree, while at Halsey’s Farm, two more Cuckoos were in the trees, a Reed Bunting and a couple of Linnets were along the bushes and a few Skylarks and a Lapwing were over the fields. (LP)

This evening there were two male and  female Marsh Harrier behind the Breech Poo, with the female seen to drop in with prey before flying back our shortly afterwards, and there were also two Cuckoos about, with plenty of Cattle Egret activity around Owl Copse. (S&SaH)

Marsh Harriers, Cuckoos, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Jay & Shovelers at the North Wall (AH)

Wednesday, 24th May: The breeze finally eased back this morning, with a shift to the north-west, leaving it pleasantly warm in a mix of sun and white cloud..........

Selsey Bill: Five Bar-tailed Godwits were on the shingle bar before heading off east, and there were again six Sanderlings on the bar, too, but otherwise it was quiet. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0655-0810hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Shelduck - 1W

Sanderling - 6

Bar-tailed Godwit - 5E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 1os

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 6

Bar-tailed Godwits (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There ere at least eight Cattle Egrets among the cows this morning, but the pool just held the usual mix of five Avocets, c120 Black-tailed Godwits and an increase to 42 Shelducks, whilst the drake Wigeon and the pair of Mute Swans and six cygnets were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Cattle Egret (above),Wigeon & Orange-tip at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out hunting this evening. (AD)

Barn Owl at the North Wall (AD)

Chichester Canal: There was a good selection of dragonflies along the canal today, including a Norfolk Hawker, about ten Hairy Dragonflies, an Emperor Dragonfly, two or three Downy Emeralds and hundreds of the commoner damselflies. (PH)

Medmerrry: Ham Viewpoint - Three Cattle Egrets were in the fields behind the viewpoint this morning, and a Cuckoo flew over. (MW)

Medmerrry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - At least four mobile and widely spread Cattle Egrets were present this morning and both a male and a female Marsh Harrier were over the reserve, whilst 26 Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, though only a couple of birds looked like they might have been sitting on eggs, with a Lapwing and a Little Ringed Plover the only other waders present.

There were plenty of the regular species along the banks, but not in great numbers, including a Dartford Warbler, up to ten Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, four Reed Buntings, the pair of Stonechats by Marsh Barn, a dozen Skylarks, three or four Reed and Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Swallows and 50+ Linnets. 

Also, a Cuckoo was briefly in the poplars, three pairs of Lapwings were on the barley fields, and a pair of Canada Geese had six goslings with them. (AH/GT)

Marsh Harriers (above), Cattle Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Avocets, Whitethroat, Linnet & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 23rd May: Another morning of bright sunshine and light cloud, tempered by a brisk north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Six Sanderlings flew in from well out and landed on the bar, and four Skylarks flew over together, but not much else was about. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0700-0830hrs) (NE, F4)

Gannet - 3E, 1os

Shelduck - 1E

Mallard - 1E

Common Scoter - 16E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 6

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 14os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 2os

auk sp - 1E

Skylark - 4N

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 6

Linnet - 1E

Little Tern (above) & Sanderlings at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c120 Black-tailed Godwits and 22 Shelducks, whilst a Reed Warbler was singing at the front and five Cattle Egrets flew out from the cows in the back fields, heading towards the North Wall. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above), Shelduck & Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A look by the RSPB produced a few active Black-headed Gull nests on Tern Island, with at least 40 birds flying out, whilst at least 30 Little Terns were around their island with up to another ten, plus a Common Tern and a Sandwich Tern, offshore.

Otherwise, there were just half a dozen Grey Plovers and c30 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, plus a couple of Curlews and a few Oystercatchers and Shelducks in the harbour, whilst a Cattle Egret was in the horse field, half a dozen Linnets and a couple of Swallows were along the beach and a Whitethroat was singing by he hide. (AT/AH)

Little Tern (above), Cattle Egret, Whitethroat & Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Church Norton (AH)

This evening a Spotted Flycatcher and a Chiffchaff were in the churchyard, and the Cuckoo was calling from Priory Wood, whilst in the harbour there were a pair of Common Terns and two or three Sandwich and Little Terns, with waders much the same as this morning, save a lone Lapwing. (AH/AW)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Lapwing & Common Terns and Shelduck at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: With the tide well out this morning there were four Common Sandpipers off the Lavant outfall, with a few Redshanks and Oystercatchers along the creek, where there were also 65 Mute Swans.

There were singles of Reed Warbler and Cetti's Warbler by the sewage works and Fishbourne Meadows, where the Southern Marsh Orchids are now coming into flower. (RW)

Common Sandpiper at Fishbourne Creek (RW)

North Wall: Two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds this morning, with one seen later over the harbour and a Red Kite again drifted over higher up, whilst a few Swallows and Swifts were about, too.

On the Breech Pool there were pairs of Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebes, Gadwall and Tufted Ducks, and in the harbour there were just a couple of Little Egrets and a few Shelducks.

At Owl Copse, one of the juvenile Grey Herons was exploring away from the nest, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Stock Dove and two Buzzards were in the trees, and a Reed Bunting and a Whitethroat were in the bushes. (LP)

This evening the female Marsh Harrier was sat out behind the Breech Pool and there were two Barn Owls out hunting - one over the honer fields and one at Halsey's Farm. (S&SaH)

Stock Dove (above), Reed Bunting, Grey Heron & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Runcton: A very mobile Cuckoo was at Runcton Mill and around the Runcton Manor area, and a couple of Whitethroats were heard, but it was generally quiet. (SR)

Hunston Copse: A Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, a Goldcrest, three Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap was all I could find here today. (SR)

Jay at Hunston Copse (SR)

Medmerrry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A pair of Dartford Warblers were busy feeding on the gorse and there were also a few Yellowhammers along the hedges, with a few Skylarks, Whitethroats and a single Wren on the way to the Stilt Pool.

Around 20 Avocets were spread out on the Stilt Pool and being quite aggressive on the small island at the southern end, and also in the area there were a Lapwing, an Oystercatcher and two Mute Swans. (GHi)

Dartford Warblers (above), Avocet & Skylark at Medmerry (GHi)