Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 1st

Saturday, 3rd February: Another very overcast morning after early drizzle, with the breeze remaining fresh and from the west..... .

Selsey Bill: There was still a fair selection about this morning, but not in big numbers, including two Slavonian Grebes and two Eider on the sea. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/IP/AH)

(0715-0930hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 20E, 6W, 1os

diver sp - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 1E, 8W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 4E, 14W

Teal - 2W

Wigeon - 4W

Pintail - 2W

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E,5W

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 18

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Razorbill - 17W

auk sp - 9E, 84W

Razorbills (above), Great Northern Diver, Sandwich Tern & Pintails and Wigeon at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 100 Lapwings went over west, but it was otherwise jus ducks this morning - four Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c60 Shovelers, c60 Wigeon, c100 Teal and c30 Mallards. (AH)

Gadwall and Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A female Marsh Harrier was sat in two different bushes within the first Several, before cruising over the harbour, disturbing everything and settling in the middle of the salt-marsh, briefly joined by a female Peregrine, and there were also a pair of Sparrowhawks over the fields east of Greenlease and both a Kestrel and Common Buzzard seen over Park Lane.

The harbour was full of the usual waders, plus five Bar-tailed Godwits and plenty of Wigeon and Teal, though Pintail numbers seem to have dropped, whilst a flock of at least 1,000 Lapwings were over the harbour at one point, though not a single Golden Plover could be seen amongst them.
Offshore, a Red-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver were on the sea, and another of the latter flew, but, otherwise it was just large gulls and a couple of Great Crested Grebes.
A pair of Tufted Ducks on the second Several, a female Stonechat near the start of the spit, and a small party of Long-tailed Tits in Bluebell Wood were the only other birds of note. (IP)

Marsh Harrier at Church Norton (IP)

Fishbourne Creek: The female Long-tailed Duck was again off Dell Quay this morning, along with three Goldeneyes and a Spotted Redshank. (JC)

Marsh and Chalder Farms, Sidlesham: It was very quiet this morning, with just ten Cattle Egrets seen, all near the Marsh Farm dairy buildings, and nothing else on the fields but a handful of Meadow Pipits and a few gulls and crows.

The cover crop along Chalder Lane held most of the rest of the interest, including half a dozen Reed Buntings among a mixed flock of Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Goldfinches, with a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff in the hedges, but there was nothing at all in the churchyard. (AH)

Cattle Egrets (above), Reed Bunting & Meadow Pipit around Marsh and Chalder Farms (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Dartford Warblers, four Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, seven Yellowhammers and six Fieldfares were along the banks this afternoon, along with a dozen Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted and two Green Woodpeckers.
Also, an Avocet, two Ringed Plovers and 19 Snipe were on the Stilt Pool, 200 Brent Geese were on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH)

Friday, 2nd February: A very grey and murky morning in a fairly fresh westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There was quite a good selection this morning for a good turn-out of watchers, including two White-fronted Geese east, two Long-tailed Ducks west, along with good numbers of Red-throated Divers and auks. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/P&LH/LP/SP/IP/AH)

(0715-0930hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 69W, 1os

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 2E, 45W

Shag - 1E, 3os

White-fronted Goose - 2E

Wigeon - 11os

Pintail - 8E

Long-tailed Duck - 2W

Common Scoter - 1E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 2E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 9os

Guillemot - 10W

Razorbill - 140W, 23os

auk sp - 2E, 189W

Rock Pipit - 1

(1220-1350hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 5W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1W

Brent Goose - 4E

Common Scoter - 3E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 1W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 1W

Fulmar (above), Red-throated Diver, Shags, Sandwich Terns & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was very similar to yesterday this morning c200 Wigeon on the fields and four Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c100 Lapwings around the pool. (AH)

Gadwall and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A female Long-tailed Duck was off Dell Quay late this morning, with a Spotted Redshank, three Greenshanks, 21 Avocets and ten Pintails also present. (SM/JC)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A quick look this morning produced a dozen Redwings, half a dozen Song Thrushes, three Stonechats and a Buzzard. (S&SaH)

East side: Totals of 3600 Brent Geese and 844 Knot were counted, whilst at least four Yellowhammers were in trees around the Slipe Field and also a Collared Dove was nest building there. (IMcK)

Pagham Spit: A pristine first-winter Caspian Gull was amongst 188 Great Black-backed Gulls in a much reduced gull roost this evening, whilst two Rock Pipits were along the shore and a. female Red-breasted Merganser was on the water. (IMcK)

Caspian Gull at Pagham Spit (IMcK)

North Wall: There were up to six Rock Pipits along the wall this morning, but no sign of any Water Pipits, or any other small birds, though a dozen Fieldfares and half a dozen Redwings were among a big flock of Starlings on the stubble field by Halsey's Barn, with a Mistle Thrush on the lawns there.

There were up to 2000 Brent Geese and 1000 Lapwings in the harbour, along with a few Black-tailed Godwits and the other regular waders, plus a few Wigeon and Teal, and eight Grey Herons were together in Owl Copse, but that was about it. (BI/AH)

In addition to this morning's birds, there were a Ruff, a Whimbrel, two Snipe, two Golden Plovers, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 700 Lapwings, 200 Dunlin, 150 Grey Plovers, 40 Pintail, 313 Teal and 100 Wigeon in the harbour this afternoon, along with at least 1000 Brent Geese.

Also, a Water Rail was in the Breech Pool, 68 Stock Doves and 300 Starlings were in the field by Little Welbourne and a Peregrine, a Raven and two Marsh Harriers went over. (IMcK/P&LH)

Redwing (above), Fieldfares, Mistle Thrush, Rock Pipit, Wigeon & Grey Herons at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to see late this afternoon, though the Whimbrel and a few Curlews were in the harbour and at least 800 Brent Geese flew in. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 1st February: A lovely, spring-like morning of blues skies and quite warm sun, in just a light north-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A flock of five Egyptian Geese flew out to sea, heading south-west, until they were lost to view, and a few Pintail and Wigeon headed east, but otherwise it was the same mix as usual for recent days, including the female Velvet Scoter on the sea and plenty of Red-throated Divers going in both directions. Full log below. (SR/AH et al)

(0800-0915hrs) (NNE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 45E, 36W, 8os

Great Crested Grebe - 4os

Gannet - 7W

Brent Goose - 6E, 3W

Egyptian Goose - 5W

Wigeon - 24E

Pintail - 40E

Velvet Scoter - 1os

Common Scoter - 12W, 30os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 6E, 20W

Egyptian Geese (above), Red-throated Divers, Sandwich Tern & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c200 Wigeon on the field, but the 100 or so Lapwings present were around the edge of the pool, along with six Gadwall, six Shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

Later, two Ruff were among the Lapwings. (AB)

Gadwall (above) & Shovelers, Teal and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Water Pipits with at least nine Rock Pipits and 16 Meadow Pipits were in the flooded Honer fields, along with four Stonechats, whilst five Chiffchaffs were in bushes along the wall, including a flycatching flock of four, and five Cetti’s Warblers were in song.

Also, around the paddock there were a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, a Kestrel, a Song Thrush, a Reed Bunting and a Stonechat.

Three Water Rails were calling from the Breech Pool, where there were also a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Tufted Ducks, with a Peregrine, four Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards around too.

A total of 1400 Lapwings were in the harbour and a Kingfisher, 17 Snipe and 234 Black-tailed Godwits were along White's Creek, together with a Little Grebe, four Grey Plovers and the usual Wigeon, Teal and Pintails, whilst eight Grey Herons were in Owl Copse, with two more in the fields. (IMcK/SP/LP/GHi/IH/TRH/CT/BI/SR et al et al).

Water Pipit (above), Grey Heron (GHi), Grey Wagtail, Tufted Ducks, Kestrel & Black-tailed Godwits (LP) at the North Wall

Pagham Lagoon: There were four Goldeneye on the lagoon this morning. (IMcK)

East side: A look along the east side produced a Whimbrel, 1530 Brent Geese, 710 Knot and along the Slipe Field were a singing Cetti’s Warbler, a flock of 70 Linnets and a Water Rail. (IMcK)

Church Norton: Late this afternoon the two Eider were on the sea, along with a Great Crested Grebe, whilst three female Goldeneyes were feeding together near Tern Island and a Merlin, carrying prey, dropped in briefly on the beach at the end of the spit before being moved on by crows.

There were also five Bar-tailed Godwits among the many roosting waders. (AH)

Eider (above) & Goldeneyes at Church Norton (AH)

Runcton: Around the village this morning there were a Mute Swan, seven Canada Geese, 18 Shelducks, 22 Mallards, 16 Shovelers, 16 Teal, five Gadwall, six Tufted Ducks, four Coots, four Moorhens, a pair of Stonechats, two Goldcrests, a Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting, plus a fly-over Raven. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - At least 30 Redwings and a dozen Song Thrushes were around the stubble field by the car-park, whilst a pair of Dartford Warblers were near Marsh Barn, with another, plus a couple of Goldcrests further along, whilst there were also 30+ Linnets around the gorse, with just a few Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, a pair of Stonechats and c20 Skylarks seen otherwise.

A Peregrine put up vast numbers of Golden Plovers and Lapwings - probably in excess of 1000 of each, but the reserve just held c150 Brent Geese and c100 Wigeon, plus two Avocets, and the Stilt Pools just held c20 Snipe and c50 Lapwings, plus a pair of Oystercatchers and no wildfowl beyond a couple of pairs of Gadwall and 20 Mallards. (AH)

Redwings (above), Dartford Warbler, Goldcrest, Linnet, Stonechat & Snipe at Medmerry (AH)

This afternoon, the Ruff was back on the Stilt Pool and four Dartford Warblers were about. (DB)

Ruff at Medmerry (D Boon)

Chichester Canal and Marina: This afternoon a Water Vole was seen along the canal, together with a Cetti's Warbler, eight Little Grebes, four Tufted Ducks, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, two Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush.

Also, a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reeds near the Marina, as seen from the hide. (AW)