Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 13th

Monday, 15th April: A pretty dismal and grey morning, distinctly cold compared to recent days, with banks of squally rain being pushed through by a near gale-force westerly........

Selsey Bill: It was predictably quiet this morning, though three Fulmars and two Common Terns went west and three Wheatears and four Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR/AW)

(0700-0900hrs) (WSW, F6-7)

Red-throated Diver -1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 1E, 16W

Brent Goose - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Whimbrel - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 6W

Kittiwake - 2E, 5W

Sandwich Tern - 18os

Common Tern - 2W

Swallow - 4N

Wheatear - 3N

Kittiwake (above), Fulmars, Gannet, Common Tern & Wheatears at the Bill (AH)

(1600-1730hrs) (SH/AW)

Gannet - 3E

Fulmar - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 4E

Razorbill - 1W

Arctic Skua at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Common Sandpiper was again in Ferry Channel, along with c25 Redshanks, but the pool just held eight Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall and a dozen or so Teal and Shovelers. (AH)

Common Sandpiper & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing again from the hedges at Yeoman's Field, and there were also a Green-veined White and an Orange-tip on the wing there. (AW)

Orange-tip (above) & Green-veined White at the Ferry (AW)

Church Norton: A flock of c30 Ringed Plovers and c20 Dunlin were in the harbour this morning, along with a Greenshank and c20 Curlews and Shelducks, but there was very little else to see in the poor conditions, with a singing Blackcap and three or four Chiffchaffs, plus a Skylark flying over, the only other birds seen. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Greenshank, Dunlin & Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - A Bar-headed Goose was among the Canada Geese on the reservoirs this afternoon. (TG-P)

North Wall: It was predictably quiet in the very windy conditions, although there were two Wheatears along the wall and a third in the flooded fields, where there were also two Greylag Geese, and 20 Swallows were over the Honer Farmhouse.

On the Breech Pool the lone Wigeon was with two Tufted Ducks and the nesting Mute Swans, and a Reed Warbler, two Sedge Warblers and a Cetti’s Warbler were singing in the reeds. Also, a Greenshank was in the harbour near the Halsey’s outfall, two Canada Geese were in the rife and three Mediterranean Gulls were overhead. (LP)

Wheatear (above) & Greenshank at the North Wall (LP)

Sunday, 14th April: A pleasant, mild morning of light cloud and hazy sun in a light north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: The first two Yellow Wagtails of the spring flew in off the sea, and there was a notable arrival of over 30 Wheatears, with some seen coming in off the sea and others moving west along the beach.

Offshore activity was again very limited, though three Egyptian Geese - a rare bird here - and four Velvet Scoters were seen. Full log later. (JA/SH/PB/MRB/IP/BI/AH/OM/P&LH/SR)

(0600-0930hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 9E

diver sp - 3E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4E, 15W

Egyptian Goose - 3W, then E

Shelduck - 8W

Eider - 3W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 1E, 3W

Common Scoter - 11E, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 8W

Whimbrel - 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 21E, 20W, 10os

Common Tern - 2W

Green Woodpecker - 1

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

Swallow - 3N

Wheatear - 32

Chiffchaff - 2

Linnet - 7

Goldfinch - 6

(1315-1445hrs) (P&LH/SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 1E

Common Scoter - 6E, 3W, 10os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Whimbrel - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 7E 4W

Little Tern - 3W

Swallow - 1N

Sand Martin - 3N

Wheatears (above), Egyptian Geese, Whimbrels & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool again this morning, but otherwise there were just 16 Avocets, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Shelducks, a drake Gadwall and ten or so Teal and Shovelers present, along with two pairs of Lapwings on the fields.

Also a singing Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were in Yeoman's Field, with one or two more of the latter around the car-park area, along with a Brimstone butterfly. (OM/AH et al)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Gadwall, Blackcap & Brimstone at the Ferry (AH)

Later on, the Green Sandpiper was on the (now not so concealed) roadside pool and the Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel, (HB), and this afternoon, a Common Sandpiper was on the pool and the Black-tailed Godwit count was back up to c100 (IP/AH).

Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Swallow was twittering on the wires by the farm this morning, with a female Blackcap also here along with a Pied Wagtail, and a Willow Warbler along Park Lane. (IP)

North Wall and East side: There was a Whinchat in Owl Point field this morning, with a Lesser Whitethroat and four Wheatears in the vicinity, and two more of the latter along the wall, together with up to ten Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, three Cetti's Warblers, a Whitethroat, two singing Willow Warblers, four Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, two Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer, two Linnets, a Stonechat, four Jays and a Swallow.

Six Cattle Egrets, four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron on a nest were in Owl Copse, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were by the stables and a Peregrine, a male Marsh Harrier and two Buzzards went over.

There were also thee Greylag Geese, five Canada Geese, 43 Shelducks, 14 Gadwall, a Wigeon, 17 Teal, five Tufted Ducks, five Great Crested Grebes about, with waders seen including three Whimbrel and three Bar-tailed Godwits. (S&SaH/LP/PJ/GJ et al)

Wheatears (above), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Peregrine (LP) & Marsh Harrier (PJ) at the North Wall

Church Norton: The first Cuckoo of the year was heard calling from Priory Wood this morning, and a Redstart was in Bluebell Wood, along with several Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits.

Along the beach there were a minimum of 12 Wheatears, whilst several Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers and a male Reed Bunting were around the Severals, four Whitethroats were around the hedges by the horse field, with four Jays and a Green Woodpecker in the vicinity, too, and a pair of Gadwall, a Red Kite and four Buzzards flew over.

Six Swallows flew east offshore, but apart from a single Sandwich Tern off Park Lane these were the only birds offshore, whilst the harbour held a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, two Common Gulls, a Whimbrel, a flock of eight Dunlin, a Turnstone, the summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit and a few Redshanks, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Curlews.

Also, a Sparrowhawk flew over the harbour causing the Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Linnets and Wheatears present to scatter in all directions. (IP/P&LH)

This afternoon the Cuckoo was still calling intermittently from the general area of Priory Wood, whilst four Sandwich Terns were on the beach, three Greenshank and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were flying around the harbour and a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the first Several. (AJW/AW/AH)

Greenshank (AW) & Marsh Harrier (AH) at Church Norton

Hunston Church to Bramber Farm: The best bird was waiting for me at my destination - a male Redstart working its way along the hedgerow. Other birds included two Whitethroats, nine Blackcaps, five Yellowhammers, four Skylarks, a Reed Warbler, 23 Cattle Egrets and numerous Chiffchaffs. (SR)

Sidlesham Quay: Two Common Sandpipers were by the quay today, with a Painted Lady butterfly nearby. (HB)

Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards were on Vinnetrow Lake this afternoon. (GJ/PJ/IP/NM et al)

Also, at Ivy Lake there were an Egyptian Goose, a pair of Gadwall, seven singing Reed warblers, four singing Cetti's Warblers and a Reed Bunting, with three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 28 Mediterranean Gulls also present, whilst at Copse Lake there were three House Martins, three Sand Martins, two Swallows and a singing Goldcrest. (PJ/GJ)

Red-crested Pochards (above) & Pochard at Chichester GPs (PJ)

Warner Lane paddocks: There were no migrants here this morning, with just a dozen Linnets, a calling Cetti's Warbler and three Stock Doves of note. (AH)

Linnet (above) & Stock Doves at Warner Lane (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - There was a smart male Redstart around the old crazy golf course this morning, with at least eight Wheatears between there and the beach, and later on the big field, along with a similar number of Linnets. (AH/BI/AW)

Redstart (above) & Wheatears at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 13th April: It was initially bright and fairly still, before fog rolled in temporarily, but fairly quickly it gave way to a pleasant morning of sun and white cloud in a moderate south-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A morning of promise was interrupted by a bank of fog, with a Bonxie, a Little Tern and a Long-tailed Duck seen early on and 15 Little Terns and seven Red-throated Divers east, later on. Full log below. (SH/PB/JA/BI/IP/AH/SR/AW)

(0545-0800hrs) (SW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1E

Canada Goose - 3W

Brent Goose - 5E

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 3E, 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 6W

Curlew - 1E

Great Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 16E

Sandwich Tern - 31E, 1os

Common Tern - 3E, 3os

Little Tern - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

(0845-0945hrs) (BI)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 7E

Gannet - 4E

Shoveler - 2E

Common Scoter - 14E, 4os

Whimbrel - 6E

Mediterranean Gull - 9W

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 8os

Common Tern - 14W, 2os

Little Tern - 15E

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Linnet - 4W

Sparrowhawk (above) (AH) & grumpy fog-bound sea-watchers (SR) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were just eight Avocets on the pool this morning, though Black-tailed Godwits numbers had gone back up to c120, with otherwise just c20 Teal and Shovelers and a handful of Shelducks.

Also, a Kingfisher flew across the pool, whilst 40 Redshanks were in the channel opposite, but a look round the Tramway area just produced two or three singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Song Thrushes.

It is currently difficult to get about as the path from the Visitor Centre to the hide through the Discovery Area and the start of the path to the Long Pool are both still flooded after the recent high tides. (AH/AB)

Chiffchaff (above), Goldfinch, Avocets & Black-tailed Godwits & a flooded Discovery Area at the Ferry(AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just two Swallows and two Pied Wagtails about this morning. (IP)

Church Norton: A minimum of two Sedge Warblers were singing and displaying in the first Several, with a male Reed Bunting also here, whilst at least three Whitethroats and a Green Woodpecker were by the horse field and a Swallow and a Sand Martin were at the second Several..

A couple of Sandwich Terns were the only birds of note offshore, whilst a Whimbrel flew into the harbour, which was very quiet save a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers and a few Oystercatchers and Curlews, plus a lone Brent Goose near to the harbour mouth. (IP)

North Wall: The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was seen moving along the hedges by Owl Copse, and there were also four Sedge Warblers, two Reed Warblers, two Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, three Cetti’s Warblers, four Linnets, two Reed Buntings and a Small Tortoiseshell along the wall.

The lone Wigeon was again on the Breech Pool, along with two Tufted Ducks and the nesting Mute Swans, while out in the flooded fields there were three Greylag Geese, two Canada Geese, four Shovelers and two Gadwall.

There was the usual activity from the Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets around Owl Copse, and at Halsey’s Farm, a Gadwall was on the rife, a Jay was in the trees, and a few Skylarks were up singing. Along White’s Creek there was just six Redshanks and a single Black-tailed Godwit, a Kestrel was hunting by the sluice, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were by the stables and the male Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds. (LP/CT/JDW)

Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Bunting, Greylag Goose, Gadwall, Wigeon, Kestrel & Small Tortoiseshell at the North Wall (LP)

West Itchenor: Small numbers of five warbler species - Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler were seen and heard between Chalkdock and Rookwood this morning. (GM)

Chichester GPs: A Reed warbler was singing from Nunnery Lake this morning and two Swallows were along the wires in Peckhams Copse Lane. (JMo)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks this morning there were a Lesser Whitethroat, half a dozen Whitethroats, a Dartford Warbler, and Chiffchaffs, sevena Cetti's Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, two Reed Warblers, three Reed Buntings, 15 Yellowhammers, six Stonechats, c25 Skylarks and c100 Linnets, with a female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, two Kestrels, two Ravens and a Swallow over.

Two Whimbrel and four Gadwall were on the reserve and a Little Tern and 27 Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, whilst well in excess of 100 Mediterranean Gulls were around the reserve, the Stilt Pool and offshore.

It was also possible to see just how high the water-level had been on the Stilt Pool, and the scale of the work needing to stop it happening again. (SH/PB/PH/AH et al)