29th - 31st December 2023

Sunday, 31st December: The year ended with yet another morning of fresh and blustery westerlies and the threat of rain never far away.......

The Blog team would like to wish everyone who contributes to and/or visits our site a very Happy New Year and a bird-filled 2024. So what of the year 2023 which now slips away.....what sort of birding year was it? Well, it was certainly varied, but you can find out what the highlights and lowlights were by clicking the title bar above, where the Review of the Year 2023 appears. Once again, AH has excelled himself by producing this annual report for all to see even before the clock strikes midnight; no mean feat given his other commitments and the team are most grateful. (OM/Eds) 

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, though a first-winter Little Gull popped up again and there were the odd Great Northern and Red-throated Divers about, too. Full log below. (SH/SR/SP/LP/AH/IP et al)

(0730-0945hrs) (WSW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 4W, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 3W

Brent Goose - 4W

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 11W

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 9W

Kittiwake - 1W

Little Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 3W

(1435-1535hrs) (JA)

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Turnstone - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 1W

Great Northern Diver (above), Little Gull & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 17 Avocets on the pool again this morning, with at least 700 Lapwings on the field, though wildfowl numbers were lower, with just c50 Wigeon and Teal and c60 Shovelers about. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A flock of c70 Golden Plovers went west over the churchyard, and there were lots of the commoner waders in the harbour this morning, including at least 400 Knot, 100 Grey Plovers and 1500 Dunlin, but not much else of note, with, otherwise, just c100 Brent Geese and a few Wigeon and Teal, plus a handful of Common and Mediterranean Gulls. (AH/P&JW)

Golden Plovers (above), Knot & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There wasn't much to report this afternoon, with nothing along the banks in the windy conditions, though c300 Golden Plovers and Lapwings and c500 Brent Geese were on the reserve, with a Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel going over. (S&SaH)

West Itchenor: A moribund Razorbill was on the water this afternoon, being tossed about by the waves, and there were also c1000 Bent Geese on the arable fields. (GM)

Razorbill at West Itchenor (GM)

Saturday, 30th December: Another windy day, with a freshening south-south-westerly breeze, though fairly bright and mild.....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including half a dozen Slavonian Grebes and Great Northern Divers about, and the two Eider usually seen off the harbour were on the sea. Full log below. (SH/BI/JA/PB/AGB/PM/AH/SR/IP et al)

(0730-1030hrs) (SSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 4E, 2W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 28W, 6os

diver sp - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 4W, 2os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 58W

Bent Goose - 1E

Pintail - 19W

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 7W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Common Gull - 7W

Kittiwake - 12W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Guillemot - 12W

Razorbill - 7W

auk sp - 162W

Rock Pipit - 1

Eider (above), Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1245-1530hrs) (SH/AH/AW)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 55W

Teal - 11W

Pintail - 6W

Mallard - 2W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 2W, 6os

Common Gull - 8W

Kittiwake - 12W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Guillemot - 19W, 1os

Razorbill - 11W

auk sp - 38W

Guillemot (AW) (above), Kittiwake & Mediterranean Gull (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were a lot of birds about, though all of the regular species, including 17 Avocets, c700 Lapwings, c75 Shovelers, c50 Mallards and c200 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Shovelers and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The only noteworthy birds seen were a flock of 10 Long-tailed Tits along the lane and two Grey Wagtails around the farm, plus the flock of c300 Brent Geese that were back in the south east corner of the fields. (IP/SaH)

West Itchenor: A Great Northern Diver was in the harbour this morning, off of the horse pond. (GM)

Church Norton: The Whimbrel was in the harbour again, along with three Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Avocets, c80 Golden Plovers, c300 Knot, c50 Grey Plovers and 1000+ Dunlin.

Also, two Gannets, three Red-breasted Mergansers and a Guillemot went west offshore, a Great Northern Diver and a dozen Common Scoters were on the sea, three more Red-breasted Mergansers were in the main channel and there were also c50 Wigeon and c20 Teal present, whilst two Stonechats along the beach and a Goldcrest at Greenlease Farm were the only small birds of note. (AH/PB/AGB/PM/IP/SaH et al)

Just one female Marsh Harrier was seen going in to roost in the Severals this evening. (SH)

Whimbrel (above), Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin, Knot & Red-breasted Mergansers at Church Norton (AH)

Friday, 29th December: The very unsettled weather continues, with a freshening westerly pushing through a few squalls of drizzly rain, under variable amounts of cloud........

Selsey Bill: It was a bit quieter this morning than of late, but there were still four Slavonian Grebes about, and a first-winter Little Gull and 31 Red-throated Divers went west. Full log below.  (SH/JA/SR/MO-W/AH/RJS et al)

(0730-1000hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 31W, 1os

diver sp - 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 2W, 2os

Gannet - 1E, 5W

Brent Goose - 1E, 1W

Common Scoter - 13W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 17W

Dunlin - 400W

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 5W

Black-headed Gull - 96W, 180os

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 4W

Little Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Guillemot - 1E, 1W

Razorbill - 12W

auk sp - 2E, 55W

Great Northern Diver (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just nine Avocets, plus a Redshank, on the pool, along with c70 Shovelers and c200 Teal, with at least 500 Lapwings and 100 Wigeon on the fields. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There was a huge number of birds out on the mud in the harbour this morning, including 500 Golden Plover among the usual large flock of Lapwings, and 1,200 Brent Geese were with lots of all the regular species.

A Meadow Pipit was on the rocks, two Stonechats were along the bushes and two Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also about. There were also plenty of Curlew spread around the fields and five Grey Herons were around their island, but there were very few small birds about, with just a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches by the stables. (LP)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Golden Plovers and Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Easton Lane - There were around 30 Fieldfares and c20 Chaffinches on the stubble field opposite the junction of Easton Lane and Ham Road this morning, but there was very little around Porthole Farm beyond another five Fieldfares and a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtail, and the cover crops at Wilson's Farm were devoid of birds again.

Most of the activity was along the stretch from there to Easton Lane car-park, with the stubble fields holding c200 Linnets, at least 250 Stock Doves, c30 Skylarks, a Snipe and a handful of Meadow Pipits, along with a pair of Egyptian Geese and c80 Canada Geese, with a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk both upsetting everything.

There was also a bit of more distant activity out on the southern end of the reserve, too, including c300 Golden Plovers, c500 Lapwings and c300 Brent Geese taking to the air at various times. (AH)

Fieldfares (above), Stock Doves, Linnets & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)

26th - 28th December 2023

Thursday, 28th December: Another morning of freshening south-westerly winds, a little brighter and cooler than yesterday.......

Selsey Bill: It was quieter than yesterday, but there were still fair numbers of Guillemots, Gannets and divers going west, and there were a lot of waders heading west, including the Purple Sandpiper and many Knot, presumably displaced from the harbour. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/SR/MO-W/P&LH/SP/LP/AH)

(0730-0930hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5W, 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 18W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 75W

Common Scoter - 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 5W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 104W

Knot - 284W

Purple Sandpiper - 1W

Dunlin - 534W

Turnstone - 72

Mediterranean Gull - 8os

Kittiwake - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Guillemot - 14W

Razorbill - 26W

auk sp - 51W

Great Northern Diver (above), Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers & a good turn-out at the Bill (AH)

Later in the morning, an adult Little Gull was offshore, along with two Slavonian Grebes. Full log below. (P&LH/SH)

(1020-1315hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 9W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W, 3os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 23W

Common Scoter - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Ringed Plover - 2

Sanderling - 1 

Turnstone - 21

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Common Gull - 1os

Little Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 1W

Stock Dove - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Little Gull (above), Sanderling & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: It was much the same as recent days this morning, with 15 Avocets, c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal around the pool and c600 Lapwings and c100 Wigeon on the fields. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Great Northern Diver, two distant Gannets and a dozen or so Common and Mediterranean Gulls were all that could be found offshore, whilst waders numbers were low in the harbour on the rising tide, with just the Whimbrel, c20 Redshanks and Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin seen, along with c50 Pintail, Wigeon and Teal and c30 Brent Geese, plus a Kestrel. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Pintail, Kestrel, Mediterranean Gull, Brent Geese & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon a sub-adult male and a female Marsh Harrier came in to roost at the Severals. (AH)

Marsh Harrier at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 27th December: A pretty dismal morning of strengthening south-westerly winds and heavily overcast skies, though fairly mild and dry until later on.......

Selsey Bill: It was another busy morning, with good numbers and good variety, with highlights including a Leach's Petrel and a distant shearwater sp going west, along with 73 Guillemots and 560 Gannets - the best counts of the year for both, eight Velvet Scoters, including a flock of seven, the Purple Sandpiper and 75 Kittiwakes, with a first-winter Little Gull east and six Slavonian Grebes seen, too. Full log below. (SH/BI/JA/SR/LP/SP/AH/IP)

(0730-1000hrs) (SSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 7W, 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 30W, 4os

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 3W, 3os

Leach's Petrel - 1W (0820hrs)

shearwater sp - 1W

Fulmar - 2E, 5W

Gannet - 560W

Brent Goose - 20E

Wigeon - 18W

Pintail - 9W

Velvet Scoter - 8W

Common Scoter - 8W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 12W

Grey Plover - 17W

Knot - 4W

Purple Sandpiper - 1W

Dunlin - 28W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 75W

Little Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Guillemot - 73W

Razorbill - 87W

auk sp - 332W

There was more activity early this afternoon, including a Bonxie and more Guillemots going west. full log below. (SH)

(1210-1355hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 5W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 43W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 15W

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 27W

Guillemot - 39W

Razorbill - 25W

auk sp - 88W

Velvet Scoters (above), Kittiwakes, Slavonian Grebe, Purple Sandpiper and Dunlin,

Common Scoters, Razorbill, Red-throated Divers (AH), Little Gull & Great Northern Diver (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There just 17 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal, whilst at least 800 Lapwings and c150 Wigeon were on the fields. (AH)

Shovelers (above) & Avocets and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Two Great Northern Divers were offshore this morning, along with a Kittiwake, a Sandwich Tern, four Razorbills and at least a dozen Gannets, plus a few Mediterranean and Common Gulls.

A lot of birds were flying around the harbour before high tide - seemingly unsettled by the gunfire from the adjacent farmland -  and included at least 200 Pintail and similar of Wigeon, c50 Teal, six Bar-tailed Godwits and a multitude of Knot, Grey Plovers and Dunlin, but very few birds settled back to roost at this end of the harbour. (AH)

Great Northern Diver (above), Kittiwake, Gannet, Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)

Boxing Day, 26th December: A better morning than of late, with the westerly breeze a bit lighter and even a little hazy sunshine.......

Selsey Bill: A total of 13 Slavonian Grebes were seen this morning, the best count of the year, with seven together on the sea and a flock of five and another single flying west, whilst there were also plenty of Great Northern Divers about and 37 Red-throated Divers and 92 Razorbills went west. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/AH/IP et al)

(0730-1000hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 7E, 8W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 37W

Slavonian Grebe - 6W, 7os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1E, 44W

Brent Goose - 4E, 7W

Wigeon - 12W

Common Scoter - 23W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 16W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Kittiwake - 16W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 92W

auk sp - 157W

Slavonian Grebes (above), Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Divers & Razorbills at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 22 Avocets and a lone Redshank on the pool this morning, along with c200 Teal and c75 Shovelers, with c500 Lapwing and c100 Wigeon on the field. (AH)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A male Sparrowhawk flew low over the fields, whilst two Buzzards, Song Thrush, a Green Woodpecker and a Pied Wagtail were in the general area. (IP)

Church Norton: Seven Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, two Razorbills and four distant auks went west this morning, whilst another Great Northern Diver, five Great Crested Grebes, a Sandwich Tern, six Gannets and four Common Scoters were offshore, too.

High tide in the harbour meant wildfowl were easy to see, including 200+ Pintail in the main channel, but waders were restricted, though a total of 40 Turnstones flew in and landed on the metalwork, whilst there were also reasonable numbers of Knot amongst the common species and four Bar-tailed Godwits were roosting on Tern Island. Also, a male Peregrine spent a reasonable time sat on a post on New Island.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the peanuts at Greenlease Farm whilst c200 Brent Goose were in the fields to the east and a Grey Wagtail flew over the houses twice. Another Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the first Several and a Cetti's Warbler sang briefly here, whilst a Little Egret was catching something in the horse field. (IP)

North Wall: There were a male and at least two female Marsh Harriers about late this afternoon, whilst c300 Golden Plovers, c500 Lapwings and c100 Black-tailed Godwits were out in the harbour, but a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting and a calling Cetti's Warbler was about it for small birds. (LP/AH)

Marsh Harriers (above) & Golden Plovers, Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - It was quiet along the banks this morning, with just a couple of Reed Buntings and Skylarks and half a dozen Meadow Pipits seen, whilst two Ravens went over, heading west and c25 Fieldfares flew over Easton Lane.

At least 200 Golden Plovers and 500 Lapwings flew up from the reserve, whilst ten Gadwall and c40 Teal and Wigeon were by the poplars, with two Avocets, a Curlew, a Red-breasted Merganser and c50 Brent Geese and Wigeon were in the tidal areas opposite the Stilt Pools.

The pools themselves just held c30 Ringed Plovers, c20 Dunlin, c80 Lapwing and a few Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Raven (above), Meadow Pipit, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin & Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: The highlight on the water at hightide was a drake Goldeneye but apart from a single drake Pintail it was just fairly low numbers of the regular wildfowl species otherwise.  

Along the saltmarsh were four Rock Pipits and along the reed beds opposite were two Meadow pipits, two Cetti's Warblers and two Stonechats; two Snipe were also flushed from here. 

Four Redwing and a Song Thrush were near the sewage works but only two Chiffchaffs could be found here despite a good search. (BI)

Rock Pipits (above) & Goldeneye at Fishbourne Creek (BI)