28th - 30th November 2023

Thursday, 30th November: A very cold and grey morning in a brisk north-easterly, with even a few flurries of snow early on..... .....

Selsey Bill: Very little was on the move this morning, though a couple each of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Shags and Razorbills were on the sea. Full log below. (SR/IH/SP/AH/MO-W)

(0740-0900hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Shag - 2os

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 5E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 6W

Turnstone - 23

Common Gull - 1os

Razorbill - 2os

Chiffchaff - 1

Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank, an Avocet and at least three Snipe were around the pool, with at least 300 Lapwings on the fields, and wildfowl present included c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c50 Shovelers and c80 Canada Geese. (AH/IH/SP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Snipe, Avocet & Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh and Chalder Farms, Sidlesham: A dozen or so Cattle Egrets were tucked in by the dairy buildings at Marsh Farm, with a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Pied Wagtails nearby, but not much else, whilst four Fieldfares were flying about near Chalder Farm, where there were also c30 Greenfinches and c20 Chaffinches in the cover crop plots and a handful of Curlews and c30 Stock Doves in the adjacent fields.

Also, the churchyard held two Mistle Thrushes, at least four Song Thrushes and a dozen Blackbirds, but not much else, whilst there were c20 Collared Doves together along Chalder Lane. (AH)

Fieldfare (above) & Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Great Northern Diver was showing well, close to Dell Quay early this afternoon, and there were also a drake Goldeneye, two Red-breasted Mergansers, a few Little Grebes and 100+ Black-tailed Godwits in the vicinity. (TA)

West Itchenor: A probable Black-throated Diver was seen heading up the harbour towards the Marina early this afternoon. (PH)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Windmill - The male Black Redstart was around the Medmerry Cliff and adjacent houses at the end of West Street this morning, but there were just half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. (AH)

Black Redstart (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 29th November: Another cold and bright start this morning, in a light northerly breeze, though clouding over as the day progressed.....

Selsey Bill: A Black-throated Diver and a Guillemot went west this morning, whilst a Slavonian Grebe and up to four Great Northern Divers were about, too. Full log below. (KT/SR/MO-W/P&LH/AH) 

(0730-0930hrs) (NNW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 3os

Black-throated Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 6W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 4E

Common Scoter - 10W, 31os

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

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 2W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 1os

auk sp - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E, 3W

(1000-1200hrs) (AW)
Great Northern Diver - 1E
Red-throated Diver - 3W
Common Scoter - 10os
Ringed Plover - 1E
Dunlin - 200E
Turnstone - 50E
Sandwich Tern - 3E
Razorbill - 1os

(1220-1340hrs) (P&LH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3W, 1os
Gannet - 3W
Brent Goose - 1W
Shoveler - 6E
Velvet Scoter - 2E
Common Scoter - 55os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1os
Turnstone - 19
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Common Gull - 4os
Little Gull - 1os
Guillemot - 1os
Razorbill - 1W, 9os
Pied Wagtail - 2

Razorbill (above), Sandwich Tern, Ringed Plover and Turnstones & Dunlin at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The nine Avocets were back on the pool, with at least 300 Lapwings on the field until something spooked them and they flew off into the harbour, along with most of the wildfowl, leaving just c30 Shovelers, .c50 Wigeon, c80 Teal and c80 Canada Geese. (AH)

Church Norton: There were plenty of waders in the harbour on the rising tide this morning, including nine Avocets, four Bar-tailed Godwits, c40 Knot, c150 Grey Plovers, c60 Turnstone, c400 Dunlin, whilst the Razorbill was present again, along with c90- Brent Geese, 60 Wigeon, 40 Teal, four Little Grebes and nine Great Crested Grebes.
Also, a Marsh Harrier went over, but a Chiffchaff and a Jay were about it, otherwise. (P&LH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Great Northern Diver was again off Dell Quay today. (JMo)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - There were a few things offshore this morning, including at least three Great Northern Divers, a Red-throated Diver, three Great Crested Grebes and at least 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, plus a Sandwich Tern, but there were no passerines about, at all, save a couple of Pied Wagtails and a few Starlings.

There were lots of waders roosting near the breach, including c30 Ringed Plovers, c40 Grey Plovers, c20 Knot, ten Curlews and c300 Dunlin, but, otherwise, a dozen or so Brent Geese and a few Teal were about it. (AH)

Tuesday, 28th November: A beautiful, bright and cold morning in just a moderate northerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A fairly quiet morning in the offshore breeze, but a Guillemot was on the sea, close in, a Velvet Scoter and 91 Teal went west, and quite a few Red-breasted Mergansers were about, too. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0740-0910hrs) (N, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 27E, 3W

Brent Goose - 3W

Teal - 91W

Wigeon - 4E, 18W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 1E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 11W, 6os

Oystercatcher - 1

Ringed Plover - 1E

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Guillemot - 1os

Razorbill - 1E, 1os

Pied Wagtail - 1E

This afternoon, a Bonxie was seen offshore, along with c60 Gannets and a large gathering of gulls, with two Razorbills on the sea, a Red-throated Diver east and five Common Scoters west. (BFF/DM)

(1300-1400hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 60os

Common Scoter - 5W

Great Skua - 1os

Razorbill - 2os

Guillemot (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Teal at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 200 Lapwings on the fields were the only waders this morning, with, otherwise, just c80 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon, c100 Teal and c40 Shovelers and Mallards, plus four Little Egrets. (AH)

Lapwings and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were just the female Eder, a distant Slavonian Grebe, four Great Crested Grebes and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore this morning, with c30 Ringed Plovers and c50 Turnstones along the beach.

The Whimbrel re-appeared in the harbour, where there were also up to five Bar-tailed Godwits, at least 300 Knot, 100 Grey Plovers, 50 Ringed Plovers and 1000 Dunlin, but just a few Wigeon, Teal and Brent Geese.

The Dartford Warbler was showing well along the beach, but a Mistle Thrush and a couple of Goldcrests around the churchyard/car-park were about it. (AH) 

Later in the day, a Razorbill was in the harbour opposite the hide. (M.Manley/C.Barrett)

Dartford Warbler (above), Mistle Thrush, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Eider, Brent Goose, Teal (AH) & Razorbill (M Manley) at Church Norton 

Fishbourne Creek: A Great Northern Diver, a Goldeneye, 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 35 Great Crested Grebes were on the water today, whilst five Greenshanks and 500 Black-tailed Godwits were among the roosting waders.

Also, three Rock Pipits and a Kingfisher were along the creek and a Chiffchaff was in the bushes. (BFF et al)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - A male Redstart was around the east end of the Medmerry cliff this afternoon, with two Stonechats also about, whilst Peregrine went over and a good count of 430 Golden Plovers were out on the reserve.

There were also a Velvet Scoter, three Common Scoters, six Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver offshore. (BFF et al)

Black Redstart at Medmerry (BFF)

25th - 27th November 2023

Monday, 27th November: A reverse to yesterday, starting damp and drizzly in a fresh westerly breeze, before slowly drying up as the breeze eased a little.........

Selsey Bill: A good movement of 234 Gannets went west this morning, along with a Velvet Scoter, two Guillemots and a few Razorbills, whilst there were also four Slavonian Grebes and a few divers about, too. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0750-0950hrs) (W, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1W

Red-throated Diver - 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 1E, 234W

Brent Goose - 4W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 7E, 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 7W, 6os

Turnstone - 40

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 4os

Common Gull - 2E, 4W

Kittiwake - 9W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Guillemot - 2W

Razorbill - 1E, 36W

auk sp - 44W

Slavonian Grebes (above), Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Guillemot, Red-breasted Mergansers & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a Spotted Redshank and nine Avocets on the pool this morning, with c400 Lapwings on the field, with plenty of wildfowl still about, including c80 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon and Teal and c50 Shovelers. (AH)

There were also three Yellowhammers at the harbour end of Red Barn Ditch. (TG-P)

Spotted Redshank, Teal and Wigeon (above), Avocets and Shovelers & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 21 Cattle Egrets around the farm this afternoon. (TG-P)

Fishbourne Creek: A Great Northern Diver was showing well off of Dell Quay this afternoon. (J Cheesewright)

Church Norton: A female Eider, a Slavonian Grebe, a Great Northern Diver and six Great Crested Grebes were offshore this morning, along with a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and half a dozen distant Gannets.

In the harbour at high tide there were c50 Brent Geese, similar of Wigeon and Teal, two Little Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers, along with four Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Grey Plovers and a few Dunlin and Knot. (AH)

Eider (above), Little Grebe, Brent Geese & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 26th November: An almost still, very grey and overcast morning after a heavy overnight frost, before the breeze picked up from the south-west, bringing persistent drizzly rain with it....

Selsey Bill: There was a good selection this morning, including eight Velvet Scoters and 65  Common Scoters west, the Long-tailed Duck seen several times in flight, a Slavonian Grebe, six Great Northern Divers, two Red-throated Divers and a few Razorbills on the sea and a few of the regular species on the move, too. Full log later. (JA/SH/BI/PB/MRB/IP/KT/AH/P&LH/SR)

(0700-1000hrs) (N, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 12E, 2W, 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 7E, 2W

Gannet - 1E, 34W

Brent Goose - 4W

Shelduck - 4W

Teal - 3W

Wigeon - 6E

Pintail - 1W

Eider - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 8W

Common Scoter - 2E, 65W, 35os

Red-breasted Merganser - 8E, 13W, 16os

Sanderling - 3

Dunlin - 3E

Turnstone - 30

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3W

Razorbill - 1E, 5W, 5os

auk sp - 7W

Rock Pipit - 1

Pied Wagtail - 3

Chiffchaff - 1

Velvet Scoter (above), Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoters, Razorbills, Sanderling, Rock Pipit (AH) Razorbill & Red-throated Diver (KT) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were several hundred Lapwings spread around various fields, but the pool just held wildfowl again, in the shape of c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c50 Shovelers, c40 Mallards and c80 Canada Geese, whilst a Marsh Harrier went over and a Cetti's Warbler was calling from the bushes. (PB/MRB/AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The Brent Goose flock of c75birds were again in the fields, and both a Grey and Pied Wagtail were close to the farm buildings this morning. (IP)

Church Norton: A male Long-tailed Duck, complete with tail, was offshore this morning, along with the two Eider and a Slavonian Grebe, whilst five Razorbills and seven Gannets went west and a Red-throated Diver went east.

A female Stonechat was on the beach and a lone Goldcrest was in the gorse again, whilst a female Marsh Harrier was sat in bushes at the back of the first Several, a Green Woodpecker flew across the horse field and a Cetti's was calling from brambles near to the second Several.

The highlight of the harbour was a Peregrine briefly sat on New Island and the Knot numbers had increased to circa 300 birds, and there were also c150 Pintail present among plenty of other wildfowl. All of the common waders were also present in larger numbers than yesterday, and the two Little Grebes were again in the harbour too. (IP)

Fishbourne Creek: The two Great Northern Divers were still present this morning, as were the male and female Goldeneye and two Red-breasted Mergansers, with two Greenshank and c150 Black-tailed Godwits among the roosting waders, and 30 Fieldfares were in the hedges. Also, a Merlin was hunting over the fields near the barns and a Kestrel was nearby.(PB/MRB/BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, six Stonechats, two Yellowhammers and a Cetti's Warbler were along the banks this morning.

A flock of 52 Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, along with a Greenshank, four Snipe and three Dunlin, whilst 32 Brent Geese and c100 Golden Plovers were on the reserve ad a Raven and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH)

North Wall: Up to five Rock Pipits were again along the wall this morning, along with two male Stonechats, but a handful of Reed Buntings were all that could be seen along the bushes as the drizzle set in.

A couple of Snipe and a few Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits were the only obvious waders on the big high tide, though c300 Lapwings and a handful of Golden Plovers were flying about. There were only a few Brent Geese in the harbour, though there were at least 50 Pintail and 100 Teal among at least 500 Wigeon, plus a dozen or so Shelducks. (AH)

Snipe (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (AH)

Saturday, 25th November: After an early frost, a lovely, crisp, bright and cold morning in a light northerly breeze, that freshened somewhat as the morning progressed.....

Selsey Bill: The Purple Sandpiper went by again, a Velvet Scoter went east, the Long-tailed Duck was offshore again and there were a few Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver about, too. Full log later. (SH/BI/SR/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 5W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 7W

Shag - 1E

Grey Heron - 2S

Brent Goose - 4E, 16W

Pintail - 7E

Eider - 1E

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Common Scoter - 25W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 1os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Purple Sandpiper - 1W

Sanderling - 2E

Dunlin - 2E

Turnstone - 50

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 1os

Rock Pipit - 1

Sanderling (above), Dunlin and Turnstones & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Redshank and c100 Lapwings were the only waders about, with, otherwise, just c80 Canada Geese, c50 Teal and Shovelers and c200 Wigeon present. (AH)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Half a dozen Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer and a Cetti's Warbler was all that was along the pool this morning, with a couple of Grey Plovers, c20 Redshank and a few Wigeon and Teal in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above) & Reed Bunting along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A female-type Blackcap was present to the east of the buildings was the first in a month on the Peninsula, and there were also a single Pied Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk about, plus76 Brent Geese feeding in the fields. (IP)

Church Norton: A female and an immature male Eider flew in and landed offshore, but there wasn't anything else about in the ideal conditions.

The harbour was very full of water, and for the first time this autumn three Little Grebes were near to the metalwork, which had c50 Knot roosting on it with a few Grey Plovers, with three Bar-tailed Godwits roosting on an island nearby, whilst all of the common waders were present in small numbers, though many more were towards the North Wall. There were also c60 Pintail and c500 Brent Geese present.

The gorse along the beach held a very active Dartford Warbler and half a dozen Goldcrests, with a Stonechat in the horse field and two Chiffchaffs and a calling Cetti's Warbler also in the vicinity, whilst a Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Bluebell Wood and a Buzzard was sunning itself in a tree near Greenlease Farm. (IP)

Chalder & Marsh Farms, Sidlesham: There was quite a lot of activity in the churchyard today, with a number of species enjoying the holly berries, including a Redwing, two Mistle Thrushes, a singing Song Thrush, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, half a dozen Long-tailed Tits and a Firecrest, along with the usual Blackbirds.

It was quieter around the farms, although 36 Cattle Egrets were dotted about the fields and six Pied Wagtails and two Sparrowhawks were noted. (SR)

Redwing in Sidlesham churchyard (SR)

North Wall: A ring-tail Hen Harrier flew in from the north-west and went off over the harbour late this afternoon, and there were also three Marsh Harriers about, too, whilst a Barn Owl was in the fields at Owl Point.

Also seen along the wall were two Snipe, four Water Rails, two Cetti's Warblers and 12 Cattle Egrets, whilst around Halsey's Farm there were three Redwings, 17 Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush and a Song Thrush, and c700 Brent Geese flew in from the direction of Marsh Farm. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was fairly quiet this morning, with just a single Stonechat, three Redwings and three Yellowhammers along the banks, with c400 Brent Geese and c100 Golden Plovers on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, three Buzzadrds and a Kestrel over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Late this afternoon there were c300 Brent Geese in the fields along the Medmerry Trail and c200 Lapwings and c40 Stock Doves in the stubble fields along Ham Road. (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - The colder weather had attracted a few more ducks, but numbers were still very low for the time of year. There was a welcome increase in Pochard to an almost-presentable 40, plus half a dozen Gadwall, 50 Teal and 20 Shoveler, but there was little else of note bar a Little Egret, a single Snipe, a calling Water Rail, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, three Fieldfares and a Chiffchaff. (OM)

Chi GPs: Westhampnett pit - Two Egyptian Geese were loafing on the far bank, whilst 50 Tufted Ducks and c.30 Great Crested Grebes were the best of the rest. (OM)

East Head: A female Velvet Scoter was with two female Red-breasted Mergansers, offshore from Ella Nore this morning before it flew off west into the harbour, whilst three Great Northern Divers were also on the water and three Sanderlings and five Rock Pipits were on the beach. (SM)

Fishbourne Creek: Two Great Northern Divers were again on the water south of Dell Quay this morning, with a male and a female Goldeneye and five Red-breasted Mergansers also about, along with a dozen Little Grebes and as many as 30 Great Crested Grebes.

At least 1000 Brent Geese were commuting between the harbour and the fields on the far side, with probably 1000 Wigeon also present, along with c200 Teal, c30 Shelducks and at least 100 Mute  Swans.

Waders included four Greenshanks among the 200+ roosting Redshanks, at least 500 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Lapwings,100 Dunlin, a dozen Turnstones and a few Grey Plovers and Curlews, but two or three Rock Pipits flying up from the harbour's edge were about it for passerines. (AH et al)

Great Northern Diver (above), Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Greenshank, Redshank and Teal, Black-tailed Godwits & Mute Swans at Fishbourne Creek (AH)