14th - 16th March 2024

Saturday, 16th March: After a cool start, a pleasant morning of light north-westerly breezes and plenty of sun, though clouding over later as the wind freshened a little and veered to the south......

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of unexpected activity this morning, as a Woodlark went over early on and a Ring-necked Parakeet went back and forth several times and even settled in the trees on the o#val Field.

Also, a total of eight Long-tailed Ducks were offshore, with another going west, but there was very little evidence of eastward passage. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/IP/KT/AH/SR)

(0600-0900hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

diver sp - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 6E

Eider - 1E, 1os

Long-tailed Duck - 1W, 8os

Common Scoter - 7E, 9os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 3W, 2os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 3E, 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Ring-necked Parakeet - 1

Woodlark - 1N

Skylark - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 2W

(1530-1630hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Tufted Duck - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E, 10os

Red-breasted Merganser -  10E,1os

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Ring-necked Parakeet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was at the back again this morning, with a Spotted Redshank reported as briefly present, too, and there were also five Snipe, six Redshanks, 110 Black-tailed Godwits and 36 Avocets present,.

There were also c40 Wigeon and Teal and c80 Shovelers around the pool, with a Chiffchaff in the adjacent hedges. (RP/AH/KT/AB et al)

Green Sandpiper (above), Snipe, Avocets, Wigeon & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The approach from Drift Road to Park Farm had a Chiffchaff making its' way up there catching flies as it went, whilst a pair of Buzzards were cruising over the Poplars, with a Sparrowhawk also with them,and a Pied Wagtail flew into the building site. (IP)

Church Norton: Three Long-tailed Ducks and a Slavonian Grebe were offshore this morning, along with a pair of Common Scoters, and three Red-breasted mergansers, whilst a male Wheatear was along the beach, and two singing male Reed Buntings and several Cetti's Warblers were around the Severals.

There was a bit of activity in the harbour; with a flock of c130 Dunlin flying out east whilst a separate flock of c20 flew in and started feeding,and there were also two flocks of Black-tailed Godwits totalling 75 birds, three Grey Plover,s a flock of 15 Turnstones that flew through and the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.

At least 750 Brent Geese remain in the harbour, plus at least 300 Wigeon, but only a single pair of Teal and no Pintail whatsoever, whilst five summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gulls and two Common Gulls were amongst the numerous Black-headed Gulls, and along the spit there were half a dozen Meadow Pipits who were "parachute" displaying. (IP)

Wheatear at Church Norton (IP)

Chichester Canal: A flock of c50 Siskins - the first of the year - were feeding in trees adjacent to the Birdham Road this morning. (T Redford) 

There was no sign of the Siskins later in the morning but at least six Chiffchaffs were along the canal, three Cetti's Warblers were present, three Buzzards were thermalling and the regular mix of wildfowl was on the water. (BI/SR)

Siskins at Chichester Canal (T Redford)

Chichester GPs: A Red Kite went over this morning, and a Blackcap was calling along Peckham's Copse Lane. (PB)

Later on, all three Red-crested Pochards were again on Vinnetrow Lake. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection on the Stilt Pool this morning, including two Snipe, four Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers, 12 Avocets, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Sandwich Tern, two Mediterranean Gulls and a Pied Wagtail, with 26 Brent Geese going over west..

Also, along the banks there were a pair of Dartford Warblers, 12 Yellowhammers, seven Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and three Pied Wagtails, whilst a Marsh Harrier and two Buzzards went over. (SH/AHu)

Dartford Warbler (above), Yellowhammer & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AHu)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - It was really quiet all round this morning, with just three or four Chiffchaffs and Pied Wagtails at Porthole Farm, and a single pair of Yellowhammers between there and Ham along the Medmerry Trail.

Two pairs of Stonechats were at Ham, along with half a dozen Skylarks and a dozen Linnets, but a Marsh Harrier distantly over the reserve and two Buzzards and four Mediterranean Gulls over, that really was it. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Stonechat, Linnet & Skylark at Medmerrry (AH)

Friday, 15th March: Yet another morning of leaden skies and sporadic drizzle in a brisk westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Two Velvet Scoters, two Red-throated Divers and four Brent Geese were the only things heading east this morning. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/AH)

(0605-0835hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1W

Brent Goose - 4E, 1W

Velvet Scoter - 2E

Turnstone -1ob

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Sandwich Terns (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 39 Avocets on he pool this morning, along with four Redshanks, six Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelducks, c40 Teal and Wigeon and c80 Shovelers, with a couple of Mediterranean Gulls among c150 Black-headed Gulls.

There were also two Little Egrets in Red Barn Ditch and a Chiffchaff singing near the Visitor centre. (AH et al)

Later on, a Spotted Redshank was on the pool. (CS)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Shovelers and Teal & Little Egret around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The harbour was very empty again, with just a dozen or Brent Geese, c20 Shelducks and a handful of Wigeon and Teal present, along with the regular Whimbrel,  a couple of pairs of Ringed Plovers and a few Redshanks and Curlews.

A couple of Chiffchaffs were along the sheltered hedges - one singing - and a couple of Skylarks were over the spit, but that was about it, beyond a Common Seal feeding in the shallow water around he harbour mouth. (AH/RS)

This afternoon, at high tide, there were four Long-tailed Ducks, including a drake, the flock of six Eider and a Slavonian Grebe offshore from the spit, and the Whimbrel was still in the harbour. (C Holter)

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

Fishbourne Creek: There were three Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank and at least 100 Black-tailed Godwits along the creek, with about 25 Brent Geese above Dell Quay, whilst several hundred more flew in closer to Salterns Copse.

Also, the gull flock contained three Mediterranean, three Lesser Black-backed and two Great Black-backed Gulls. (RW)

Chichester GPs: Vinnetrow Lake - This afternoon a drake Red-crested Pochard was on Vinnetrow Lake, along with four Pochards and c30 Tufted Ducks. (AH)

Red-crested Pochard at Chichester GPs (AH)

Thursday, 14th March: A slightly milder, mostly overcast morning, though with a little hazy sun later, in a brisk southerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Despite the potentially promising conditions, it was a slow morning for movement, with just 20 Brent Geese, three Pintail and five Red-throated Divers heading east, whilst a party of six Eider were on the shingle bar. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH/AW)

(0720-0920hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Brent Goose - 20E

Shelduck - 2W

Pintail - 3E, 2os

Eider - 6os

Common Scoter -3E, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 1

(1300-1405hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W

Dunlin - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Great Northern Diver (above), Eider, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 36 Avocets, a Snipe, a Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit on the pool, plus four Lapwings and a Curlew on the fields, whilst wildfowl comprised a Shelduck, 67 Shovelers, 49 Teal, 32 Wigeon and two Mute Swans. (P&LH/AH)

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

East Beach: Three Long-tailed Ducks were offshore this afternoon. (HL)

Church Norton: Five Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and a couple of Long-tailed Tits, plus a Buzzard, were around the churchyard this morning, whilst a pair of Stonechats, a Meadow Pipit and two Skylarks were along the beach, but the harbour was quiet, with just the Whimbrel, c40 Back-tailed Godwits, eight Ringed Plovers, 12 Grey Plovers and c40 Dunlin about, along with c40 Brent Geese and Shelducks, c20 Wigeon and c15 Teal.

Also, offshore there were six Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe, whilst c20 Mediterranean Gulls went over west, and the first Brimstone butterfly was seen. (P&LH/AH)

Stonechat (above), Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits & Mediterranean Gulls a Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: In White’s Creek there were three Bar-tailed Godwits and, distantly, on the central plateau, some 60 Knot. Back on the wall, the top fields held 100 or more Black-tailed Godwits that earlier were roosting in White’s Creek, and, difficult to locate and to see over reeds, five Ruff. (ARK per SOS)

Pagham Spit: The group of seven Eider were still around this morning, just offshore by the harbour entrance, and 6 Red Breasted Mergansers flew into the harbour where there were still c800 Brent Geese, and a few Wigeon and Pintail.

Out on the mud there were 48 Great Black-backed Gulls, 12 Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, six Mediterranean Gulls, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 70 Grey Plovers, 12 Ringed Plovers and plenty of Turnstones and Oystercatchers.

Also, a Rock Pipit was along the spit,together with six Skylarks, eight Meadow Pipits, 12 Linnets and a Stonechat, and a Kestrel was by the car park. (LP/SP/IH)

Red-breasted Merganser, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Common Gulls & Brent Geese at Pagham Spit (LP)

Chichester GPs: A drake Red-crested Pochard was on Ivy Lake today, (ARK per SOS), whilst the pair of Red-crested Pochards were on Vinnetrow Lake (SHo).

Runcton: South of the village this morning there were single pairs of Mute Swan, Canada Goose and Greylag Goose, along with ten Shelducks, ten Mallards, 19 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, six Teal, ten Tufted Ducks, eight Coots, five Moorhens, 20 Black-headed Gull, ten Mediterranean Gulls, three Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Song Thrush, and five Chiffchaffs

Also, later a Red Kite flew south over the house. (CRJ)

Chichester Canal: A walk along the canal west from Donnington found a flock of ten Redwings, five singing Chiffchaffs, four calling Cetti's Warblers, and two Goldcrests.

Also, two or three Long-tailed Tits were rebuilding a nest that has been used successfully in the past while a flock of noisy Med Gulls were disturbed from a nearby field by a Buzzard, and two Brimstone butterflies were seen along the bank. (AW)

Redwing (above), Cettti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Mediterranean Gull & Brimstone at Chichester Canal (AW)

Later on, the hedges were full of singing Chiffchaffs, at least a dozen were about, and four pairs of Long-tailed Tits were collecting lichen for their nests and then a noisy flock of 18 Fieldfare and five Redwings flew into the treetops momentarily before moving on.

Skylarks were singing in the neighbouring fields, a Cetti's Warbler was about and two Buzzards, a Green Woodpecker and a Pied Wagtail flew over, whilst on the canal itself was a Coot sitting on eggs and eight Little Grebes and six Tufted Ducks. (SR)

Little Grebe at Chichester Canal (SR)