13th - 15th February 2024

Thursday, 15th February: A pleasantly mild morning, with some sunny spells in a moderate southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There were at least 11 Sandwich Terns offshore, along with a few Great Northern Divers and Common Scoters, but not much was on the move this morning. Full log later. (SH/PB/SR/AH)

(0715-0915hrs) (S, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 8E, 6W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 5W

Brent Goose - 8E

Pintail - 2E

Common Scoter - 10E, 3W, 18os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 1W, 4os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W, 1 present

Grey Plover - 32E

Knot - 10E

Dunlin - 61W

Curlew - 2E

Turnstone - 

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Common Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 11os

Sandwich Tern (above) & Knot and Grey Plovers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The RSPB were out, working in the field, so there were just and handful of Gadwall and c20 Shovelers on the pool, with more of the latter and an agitated flock of Wigeon and Teal heading over for the harbour. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A couple of Reed Buntings were all that was seen along the hedges, whilst a dozen Tufted ducks and pairs of Little and Great Crested Grebes were on the pool and a few flocks of Wigeon and Teal flew along the channel from the Ferry. (AH)

Tufted Ducks (above), Teal & Wigeon and Teal along the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: Two separate people reported a White-tailed Eagle flying over the north fields this morning and there were also two Buzzards and two Marsh Harriers about, whilst a Ruff was at the back of Honer 1, and in and around the flooded fields there were c400 Lapwing, c300 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Curlews, c700 Wigeon, c800 Teal, a few Shelduck, two Gadwall, 12 Shovelers, c1500 Brent Geese, 14 Grey Herons, four Mediterranean Gulls, six Snipe and a Little Grebe.

There was also a huge flock of Golden Plovers going over- possibly involving several thousand birds, heading south way up in the sky.

Two Rock Pipits were along the wall, a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice, two Pied Wagtails, a Cetti's Warbler and a pair of Stonechats were in the paddock, and a few Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits and Greenfinches were along the hedges. At Halsey’s Farm a Skylark was singing, 12 Linnets flew over, a Meadow Pipit was on the fence, and 22 Curlew were in the field. (LP/CT/JDW/TRH/GHi/SP/SR)

This evening a Little Owl was perched in a tree, calling, and a Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, whilst c1500 Brent Geese flew into the harbour from the Marsh Farm area and a Chiffchaff was at Halsey's Farm. (S&SaH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Stonechat, Grey Herons, Lapwings & Golden Plovers t the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: There were four Greenshank among the roosting waders this afternoon. (JC)

Church Norton: There were at least five Long-tailed Ducks offshore again this afternoon. (RJS/MG)

Later on, an Eider, a Slavonian Grebe, a Red-breasted Merganser and two Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, whilst two female Goldeneyes were in the harbour at high tide.

There wasn't too much else about, though a Rock Pipit was along the spit, a few Teal were on the water and lots of Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Turnstones were along the ironwork.

Unfortunately, it looked like there had been a big discharge of raw sewage into the harbour. (AH)

Goldeneyes (above), Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Turnstones & raw sewage at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 14th February: A thoroughly miserable morning of leaden skies and persistent drizzly rain, pushed on by a brisk south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was very little going on this morning, though a Fulmar went west and a couple of Great Northern Divers and four Sandwich Terns were offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH)

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

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Fulmar - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Rock Pipit - 1

Fulmar (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An Avocet on the bank was the only wader present, with, otherwise, just eight Gadwall, c30 Teal and c60 Shovelers present. (AH)

Avocet and Gadwall (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much doing in the harbour this morning, with even wades in short supply, though c30 Grey Plovers, c50 Knot and c100 Dunlin were about, along with a few Curlews, c30 Redshank, c40 Teal and a couple of Shelducks.

Also, a couple of Chiffchaffs were along the sheltered hedges and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the car-park. (AH)

Chiffchaffs (above), Grey Plover & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 13th February: A very grey and murky morning, cool in the freshening south-westerly breeze and with rain setting in by midday......

Selsey Bill: There were a remarkable seven Long-tailed Ducks offshore this morning, all flying around together at one point. This is the third biggest count ever at the Bill, with the other two occurring back in the 1960's!

Otherwise, there were a few of the regulars about, including the pair of Eider, six Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe on the sea. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0745-0915hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 8E, 8W, 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E, 12W

Shag - 1os

Wigeon - 3E

Teal - 1E

Eider - 2os

Long-tailed Duck - 7os

Common Scoter - 5E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 9

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 10os

auk sp - 2W

Rock Pipit - 1

Great Northern Diver (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was ducks all the way this morning, with six Gadwall, four Shelducks,c60 Shovelers, c50 Teal, c30 Mallards and c150 Wigeon present, but nothing else. (AH)

Teal (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 400 Knot were on the mud this morning, along with c50 Grey Plovers and 800 Dunlin, with 16 Avocets and a handful of Ringed Plovers and Turnstone about, too, along with many Redshank.

At least 500 Brent Geese were flying around at the far end of the harbour, with a few more nearby, along with c30 Wigeon and c20 Teal, but a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be seen offshore. (AH et al)

Red-breasted Mergansers (above) & Knot at Church Norton (AH)