29th - 31st January 2024

Wednesday, 31st January: Another cool and grey morning in an initially fairly light, but freshening, south-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: The female Velvet Scoter was offshore again, whilst 18 Sandwich Terns - the highest count so far this year - were offshore and 86 Red-throated Divers went west. Full log below. (SR/AH/RP/OM)

(0750-1100hrs) (WSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 38E, 86W, 7os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 8E, 16W

Velvet Scoter - 1os

Common Scoter - 1E, 11W, 1os

Oystercatcher - 2os

Grey Plover - 50W

Dunlin - 226W

Turnstone - 73W

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 18os

Guillemot - 3W

Razorbill - 1E, 33W

auk sp - 27E, 48W

Red-throated Divers (above), Great Northern Diver, Sandwich Tern & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c800 Lapwings on the pool again this morning, along with c200 Wigeon, whilst the pool held c60 Shovelers, six Shelducks and c100 Teal. (AH)

A Water Rail flew across Red Barn Ditch at dusk this afternoon. (AH)

Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There was little on the pool itself, but looking from the end a female Marsh Harrier flew over the harbour, putting up most of the wildfowl and waders, including a nice flock of several hundred Golden Plovers, which eventually settled somewhere near the North Wall (OM).

East side: A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the salt marsh this afternoon, whilst amongst the birds seen were 187 Pintail, 149 Curlews, three Red-breasted Mergansers, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 228 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4890 Herring Gulls, though the true figure would be higher as (uncounted) birds were still arriving from the east after dusk. (IMcK)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A very busy Stilt Pool this morning held three Avocets, 50 Lapwings, 70 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 50 Brent Geese, a dozen Moorhens, 11 Tufted Ducks and at least 40 Snipe, with at least 30 more in the bankside vegetation on the southernmost shore, and at least another ten on the small northern island.

Also seen were four Meadow Pipits, two Skylarks,a Kestrel and a Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed east of the Stilt Pool. (JMo)

West Wittering: A female Blackcap was in a garden at Roman Landing this morning. (SH)

West Itchenor: The Black-throated Diver was off the Northshore boatyard this morning, with two Great Northern Divers further down the channel and up to four more in the wider harbour, with at least a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Great Crested Grebes on the water and 500+ Brent Geese on the saltmarsh, along with a Common Gull and plenty of the regular waders. (KT/AH/PH/LP/CT/HB et al)

Black-throated Diver (above), Great Northern Diver, Common Gull, Red-breasted Mergansers & Brent Geese at West Itchenor (AH)

Tuesday, 30th January: A fairly cool and mostly overcast morning in a fresh north-westerly breeze...

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including three Long-tailed Ducks east and two Velvet Scoters, two Eider and four Great Northern Divers on the sea. Full log below. (SR/RP/JDa/AH/KJ et al)

(0750-1005hrs) (WNW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 12E, 26W, 6os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3E, 102W

Brent Goose - 2E, 7W

Pintail - 4W

Eider - 2os

Long-tailed Duck - 3E

Velvet Scoter - 2os

Common Scoter - 5E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1E, 6W

Turnstone - 15

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 11os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 3W

auk sp - 22W

Velvet Scoter (above), Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Tern & Pintail at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Greenshank and a Redshank were on the concealed pool again this morning, whilst three Snipe dropped in and at least 800 Lapwings were on the fields, but wildfowl numbers were fairly modest, comprising six Gadwall, four Shelducks, c40 Teal, c60 Shovelers and c30 Mallards. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Greenshank and Redshank & Snipe at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: The Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver were in the harbour, viewable from the jetty, again this morning. (PH)

Black-throated Diver (above) & Great Northern Diver at West Itchenor (PH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 19 Avocets and 17 Pintails were the highlights of a brief visit this morning. (JC)

Church Norton: A Marsh Harrier put all the waders up at the far end of the harbour, including at least 1000 Lapwings and 100 Black-tailed Godwits, with 500 Brent Geese along the main channel, but there were relatively few birds at the southern end, beyond 200 Knot and 500 Dunlin, plus 50 or so Wigeon and Teal.

A flock of c80 Brent Geese were on the sea, but the only other birds seen offshore were a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers. (AH et al)

Brent Geese (above) & Knot and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was busy in the harbour this morning, with 200 Golden Plovers on the mud along with 1,500 Lapwing and further out a huge amount of Brent Geese.

Two Canada Geese were on the Breech Pool with the regular Mallards and two Marsh Harriers were in the trees further back. Three Grey Herons and 17 Redshank were by Heron island, and 100 Wigeon were in the rife at Halsey’s Farm but there were very few small birds about, with just a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting and a few Goldfinches along the hedges. (LP)

Marsh Harrier (above), Golden Plovers and Lapwing, Stonechat & Grey Heron and Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Monday, 29th January: Despite the fairly fresh south-easterly breeze, a foggy, murky morning with very limited visibility.....

Editorial: The funeral arrangements for our friend, the late Chris Northwood, are as follows:- 

Please note: If you are able to attend, please advise at the above email address (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Pretty much a dead loss in the conditions! Full log, such as it is, below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0750-0850hrs) (SE, F4-5)

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

There was a bit more interest later on, including 70 Brent Geese and a Velvet Scoter east. Full log below. (AW)

(1200-1300hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Brent Geese - 70E

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Velvet Scoter (above), Great Northern Diver & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just four Gadwall and c20 Teal and Shovelers on what could be seen of the pool this morning. (AH)

Church Norton: Visibility was very poor in the harbour, though the Whimbrel, four Curlews, six Redshanks and c20 Dunlin were on the mud, with a dozen Teal and c50 Brent Geese also present. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

West Itchenor: The Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver were in the harbour off Chalkdock Copse early this afternoon. (PH)

Sidlesham Churchyard: The Firecrest was still present this morning, along with half a dozen Goldcrests, lots of Blue and Great Tits, a couple of Song Thrushes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (AH)

Firecrest (above) & Goldcrest in Sidlesham churchyard (AH)

26th - 28th January 2024

Sunday, 28th January: A warm and mostly sunny morning in a light to moderate south-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Four Long-tailed Ducks were offshore this morning, and 90 Red-throated Divers and two Slavonian Grebes went east. Full log below. (SH/P&LH/RP et al)

(0715-1000hrs) (SE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1W

Red-throated Diver - 90E, 30W, 6os

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 2E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 4W

Shag - 1os

Long-tailed Duck - 4os

Common Scoter - 9E, 3W, 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W, 5os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Dunlin - 7W

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 3E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Guillemot - 2E

Razorbill - 8E, 2os

auk sp - 2E, 7W

Ferry Pool: At least 500 Lapwings and 200 Wigeon were around the field, whilst the pool held four Gadwall, six Shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Whimbrel re-appeared this morning, and a Peregrine was seen to take a Dunlin from the flock of c400 present, whilst there were also 25 Avocets, 30 Grey Plovers, 70 Lapwings and 20 Curlews in the harbour, along with just one Pintail, 30 Wigeon and c75 Teal, with four Red-throated Divers and a couple of Common Gulls offshore. (P&LH)

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: Three female Goldeneye flew in and settled on the lagoon, which otherwise just held 20 Mediterranean Gulls and half a dozen Little Grebes, whilst the two Eider and four Red-breasted Mergansers were around the tidal pools and spit, along with 50+ Ringed Plovers and Turnstones and 100+ Dunlin.

Also, a couple of Rock Pipits and a Linnet were along the spit and a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel went over the lagoon, whilst inside the harbour there were at least 150 Great Black-backed Gulls, with 500 Lapwings and 1000 Brent Geese coming up from the North Wall, and there were lots of Wigeon and Pintail along the channels. (AH/IP)

Goldeneyes (above), Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers, Sparrowhawks, Rock Pipit, Little Grebe & Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at Pagham Spit (AH)

North Wall: It was busy in the harbour this morning with 2000 Brent Geese coming and going, 1000 Lapwings, 100 Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shelduck, Dunlin, Redshank and Curlews, but it was quiet along the wall with just a Rock Pipit and a couple of Goldfinches about, and there was just a Kestrel at Halsey’s Farm.

Six Grey Herons were in the fields and two Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds, whilst in the paddock, there was a Grey Wagtail along with two Pied Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats and a Song Thrush. (LP/CT/JDW) This evening, at least one Tawny Owl was calling from Owl Copse and the Barn Owl was showing well at Halsey’s Farm. (BI)

Grey Wagtail (above), Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Kestrel & Grey Herons at the North Wall (LP)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 16 Cattle Egrets around the fields to the north of Marsh Farm late this afternoon, before the shooting started in nearby woods. (AW)

Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Barn Owl was out again at dusk this evening, whilst earlier a couple of Marsh Harriers put up a huge flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings - probably in excess of 1000 of each.

Also, 11 Snipe were on the Stilt Pool, an Avocet was on the reserve opposite and a Buzzard and two Kestrels went over, whilst at least a dozen Yellowhammers, two Goldcrests and four Stonechats were along the banks, with a Dartford Warbler and another pair of Stonechats near the car-park and at least 50 Fieldfares in the trees there. (SH/AH)

Barn Owl (above), Fieldfares, Stonechat & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 27th January: A pleasant morning of sunshine and cloud in a moderate, but freshening, southerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was another big westward movement of over 350 Red-throated Divers this morning, with the two Long-tailed Ducks offshore and a mix of the other usual species about, too. Full log later. (SH/PB/SR/BI/AH/GSh et al)

(0720-1010hrs) (SSE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 99E, 362W, 1os

diver sp - 5E

Slavonian Grebe - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 52W

Brent Goose - 1E, 4W

Wigeon - 42W

Mallard - 1E

Pintail - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 2os

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E, 7W, 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 8E, 5W, 10os

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Guillemot - 6W

Razorbill - 31W, 9os

auk sp - 4E, 61W

Red-throated Divers (above), Guillemot & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least seven Snipe, plus a Redshank, were on the concealed pool and c500 Lapwings were on the fields, whilst wildfowl included a dozen Gadwall, c150 Teal, c75 Shovelers, c300 Wigeon and c40 Mallards. (AH)

North of the Peninsula: A female Scaup has been on a private reservoir with no public access to the north of the Peninsula for the last few days. (Eds)

Scaup at a private site

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: There were four female Goldeneyes on the lagoon this morning, with two pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbour, whilst offshore there were a pair of Long-tailed Ducks, three Slavonian Grebes, the pair of Eider and another Red-breasted Merganser. (AHu/GJ)

East side: There were 420 Pintail and 1570 Brent Geese along the side of the harbour this morning. (GJ)

North Wall: The Barn Owl was around Halsey's Farm late this afternoon,whilst 12 Cattle Egrets, three Little Egrets and a Grey Heron came in to roost and a Tawny Owl was calling.

Two Marsh Harriers, two Buzzards, a sparrowhawk and two Kestrels were seen from the wall, and two Cetti's Warblers were heard, whilst c700 Brent Geese flew in from the Marsh Farm area and there were c200 Black-tailed Godwits and c300 Lapwings in the harbour. (S&saH)

Brent Geese at the North Wall (SH)

Long Pool: A male Stonechat and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the hedges and a pair of Mistle Thrushes were on the adjacent fields, whilst a pair of Tufted Ducks ans a Little Grebe were on the pool and c50 teal and Wigeon were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Mistle Thrush (above), Stonechat & Teal at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Three Long-tailed Ducks (Including a drake) dropped in offshore from the second Several late this morning, whilst earlier, up to a dozen Red-throated Divers and four Razorbills went west and ten Great Crested Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser were on the sea and a stonechat was along the spit

There were 13 Bar-tailed Godwits and 13 Avocets in the harbour, along with  a Ringed Plover and a lot of the regular waders, including at least 400 Knot, along with 50+ Wigeon and Teal, plus a pair or Red-breasted Mergansers near the harbour mouth.

Also, a Marsh Harrier and large numbers of Brent Geese and Lapwings could be seen distantly over the North Wall and a flock of c500 Golden Plovers could be seen even more distantly in the direction of Medmerry. (IP/AH et al)

Knot (above), Knot and Grey Plovers & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There was a good selection of raptors today, including a Merlin, a Peregrine, three Kestrels, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard, pus a Raven, with c150 Brent Geese, 400 Lapwings and c500 Golden Plovers on/over the reserve, too.

Also, two Dartford Warblers, a Goldcrest, seven Stonechats and three Yellowhammers were along the banks, with 18 Snipe and two Avocets on the Stilt Pools, and another of the latter on the reserve. (S&SaH)

Merlin (above), Marsh Harrier & Golden Plovers at Medmerry (SH)

Friday, 26th January: A bright and sunny morning in a very brisk north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Frustratingly, five distant grey geese going east couldn't be clinched to species, whilst otherwise there were still lots of Red-throated Divers about and a fair selection of the other regular species. (BI/SR/P&LH/TR/AH/GSh)

(09735-0915hrs) (WNW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3W

Red-throated Diver - 48E, 44W, 5os

Gannet - 2E

grey goose sp - 5E

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 1W

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 2W, 5os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Knot - 30E, 21W

Dunlin - 60W

Curlew - 7W

Turnstone - 76E, 36W

Mediterranean Gull - 13os

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 1E, 5W

auk sp - 14E, 59W

Great Northern Diver (above), Red-throated Divers & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Apart from c300 Lapwings on/over the fields, it was just lots of ducks this morning, comprising c300 Teal, c200 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers, c40 Mallards and eight Shelducks. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: The Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver were in the harbour, off the jetty again early this morning. (PH)

Also seen later were two Rock Pipits, two Red-breasted Mergansers, c400 Brent Geese, c20 Shelducks, six Teal, c25 Ringed Plovers, c40 Grey Plovers, 12 Lapwings, two Curlews, c35 Turnstones and c40 Dunlin. (P&LH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Great Northern Diver was just off Dell Quay late this morning. (JC)

Later, a drake Goldeneye, six Pintail and 13 Great Crested Grebes were at Fishbourne before the high tide., whilst off Dell Quay there were two Great Northern Divers - one near the quay and one well downstream, along with eight Red-breasted Mergansers, and a total of 56 Turnstones were roosting on the pontoon near the boatyard. (RW)

Runcton: South of the village this morning there were two pairs of Mute Swans, 12 Canada Geese, 15 Shelducks, 17 Mallards, c60 Shovelers, 60 Teal, two Gadwall, nine Tufted Ducks, eight Coots, a Buzzard, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, six Skylarks, 16 Meadow Pipits, three Song Thrushes, a Fieldfare, a Chiffchaff, and nice to find three pairs of Stonechat, plus an odd female.

Also a Tawny Owl was calling from South Mundham. (CRJ)

Three adult Russian White-fronted Geese were seen briefly today over the fields west of Pagham Road, between Runcton Farm Shop and the junction by the Royal Oak. The birds were flushed by a dog walker in the field and circled the field before heading towards South Mundham, where they may have landed. (J Picksley)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There wasn't much along the banks this morning, beyond a pair of Stonechats and c40 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, with a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard the only raptors seen.

A Greenshank was opposite the Stilt Pool, whilst on the pool itself there were eight Snipe, a handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, c50 Lapwings and similar of Wigeon and Teal, plus eight Gadwall.

Also, a pair of Egyptian Geese were near the car-park, whilst around the poplars and other tidal areas there were c500 Wigeon and Brent Geese, plus a few Teal and Canada Geese. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Snipe, Skylarks, Meadow Pipit, Egyptian Goose & Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - Late this afternoon, a flock of c75 Fieldfares flew into the hedges east of the car-park, whilst at least 800 Golden Plovers and 1200 Lapwings wee flying around over the south of the reserve. (AH)

Fieldfares at Medmerry (AH)