19th - 21st April 2024

Sunday, 21st April: Another fairly bright, but cold morning, as the fresh north-easterly breeze persists..................

Selsey Bill: There was a flurry of activity early on, including a Bonxie offshore, 92 Bar-tailed Godwits and 39 Whimbrels east, along with a few Little Terns, but it quickly went very quiet. Full log later. (SH/JA/PB/BI/IP/AH/OM)

(0535-0950hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 27E, 16W, 6os

Shelduck - 2E

Mallard - 2

Shoveler - 2E

Common Scoter - 11E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 7E, 3W

Grey Plover - 1E

Dunlin - 3E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 92E

Whimbrel - 39E

Turnstone - 11

Great Skua - 1os

Common Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 141E, 20W, 17os

Common Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 15E, 11os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 3W

Swift - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

White Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 1N

Willow Warbler - 5N

Chiffchaff - 1N

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

Ferry Pool: There were just 22 Avocets, four Redshanks, 24 Shovelers and four Teal on the pool, with four Lapwings on the field and eight Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later in the morning, a Yellow Wagtail flew over, near the farm shop. (SH)

Whimbrel (above) & Avocets and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There was still just the lone male Swallow and a Pied Wagtail around the farm this morning, with a further handful of Swallows going over. (IP)

North Wall: The Purple Heron was seen behind the Breech Pool early on, and then briefly a couple more times throughout the morning,

Also, two Greenshanks, a Wheatear and 22 Swallows were around the flooded fields, and a Red Kite and a Swift flew over Owl Copse, whilst along White’s Creek there were four Whimbrels, and further out were 28 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Teal and five Brent Geese.

The lone Wigeon was again on the Breech Pool, together with four Gadwall, and along the wall there were a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Buntings and a Lesser Whitethroat. (LP/JDW/ESt et al)

Whimbrels (above), Bar-tailed Godwits, Red Kite & Sedge Warbler at the North Wall (LP)

This afternoon a White-tailed Eagle went over the wall (AW) and later, the male and two female Marsh Harriers were present, with the male seen doing a food pass to one of the females.

There was also a Cuckoo along the hedge behind the Breech Pool, with a Whitethroat, three Chiffchaffs, a handful of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and four Reed Buntings along the wall, six Cattle Egrets around Owl Copse and eight Swallows and two Buzzards went over. (SH)

White-tailed Eagle over the North Wall (AW)

Church Norton: Three Wheatears were along the beach by the second Several this morning, with a Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing in Bluebell Wood and a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler around the Severals, along with a Reed Bunting, a dozen Linnets and half a dozen Swallows.

A Marsh Harrier was over the Severals, and there were also up to four Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel about, but the harbour just held half a dozen Whimbrel and Turnstones and just a few of the usual Curlews and Oystercatchers, plus a Swift flying over, going north. (IP/AH et al)

Wheatears (above), Swallow, Reed Bunting & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were quite a few birds along the banks this morning, despite the breeze, including a Lesser Whitethroat, four Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers, five Reed Warblers, a Chiffchaff,, a Blackcap, four Cetti's Warblers, four Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and two Pied Wagtails, with four Swallows over.

Also, a flock of 13 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the Stilt Pool, along with two Dunlin and 20 Avocets, with raptors seen comprising of a Red Kite, two Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel. (S&SaH/ESt)

Lesser Whitethroat (above) & Red Kite at Medmerry (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: A look today found that unfortunately the Common Tern/Black-headed Gull nesting site at a garage in Quarry Lane has been netted off so there will be no nests this year. (BI)

Saturday, 20th April: A mostly bright and sunny morning, but with the brisk north-easterly breeze keeping the temperature down, particularly early on............

Selsey Bill: The first Hobby of the spring came in off the sea, catching a small bird as it went, and there was quite a little fall of passerines this morning along the front, including a Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Whitethroats, a handful of Wheatears and at least 20 Willow Warblers.

The sea remains very slow, but 54 Knot and five Bar-tailed Godwits went east and six Great Northern Divers were on the sea.. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PM/IP/AH)

(0535-0845hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver -  6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 52E, 11W, 20os

Canada Goose - 1W

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 33E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2os

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 4E, 2W

Knot - 54E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 5E

Whimbrel - 5E, 2W

Curlew - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 2W

Kittiwake - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 15E, 16W

Little Tern - 2E, 2W

Swallow - 1N

Wheatear - 5

Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Willow Warbler - 22

Whitethroat - 2

Lesser Whitethroat - 1

Blackcap - 1

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 1E, 4W

Shag - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 32E, 5os

Common Tern - 3E

Hobby (above), Whimbrels (AH), Redstart (AH above, PM lower), Wheatears (PM above, AH lower), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat (AH) & Willow Warblers (PM top two, AH lower two) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much about this morning, beyond 22 Avocets, eight Redshanks, 30 Shelducks, ten Shovelers and just four Teal, plus a pair of Lapwings on the field. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just a Swallow and a Pied Wagtail around the farm this morning. (IP)

North Wall: The Purple Heron was in Honer 1 field early this morning, before to the back of the reeds and was not seen again by midday. (H Ramm)

Later on, a Hobby flew north over the Sidlesham Quay area and a Cuckoo was calling from between Halsey's Farm and Marsh Farm, whilst along the wall there was a bit of a selection, including a Whinchat, two Wheatears, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Buntings and at least ten singing Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus two Swallows over.

Just the male Marsh Harrier was seen,along with three Buzzards,a sparrowhawk and two Kestrels, and there was also an Egyptian Goose about, whilst in the harbour here were two greenshanks, a Knot and 33 Bar-tailed Godwits. (S&SaH/BI/SR/PM)

There were no more reports of the Purple Heron, though a Yellow Wagtail and ten White Wagtails were in the fields behind the Breech Pool, with a Whinchat in the hedge there and a Swift over. (AB/SR)

The Purple Heron resurfaced briefly this evening before dropping back into the reeds beyond the Breech Pool. (DBo)

Church Norton: The harbour was very quiet this morning, with just six Whimbrels, a Ringed Plover and c50 Shelducks present, along with just a few of the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers, and just a couple of Sandwich Terns were offshore.

A singing Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in the Mound area, with what little activity there was concentrated in the area between the Severals and including a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Cetti's Warbler, another Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs, with Reed and Sedge Warblers singing occasionally from the reeds, whilst along the front there were just a single Wheatear, three Reed Buntings, two Skylarks, a dozen Linnets and a Swallow. (IP/AH)

This afternoon a House Martin was over the houses at Norton Corner. (RP)

Wheatear (above) Blackcap & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: The long-staying female Long-tailed Duck was again off the Lavant outflow this morning, with four Greenshanks, a Whimbrel and 42 Black-tailed Godwits also about, along with a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. (AHu)

Whimbrel at Fishbourne Creek (AHu)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Spoonbills were on the Stilt Pool this morning, together with two Greenshanks and 23 Avocets, with a Whimbrel on the reserve, whilst along the banks there were a Lesser Whitethroat, plenty of Whitethroats, two Reed Warblers, a pair of Stock Doves and good numbers of Linnets and Yellowhammers, plus a Swallow over. (AHu)

Spoonbills at Medmery (AHu)

Friday, 19th April: After a sunny start, a mostly grey and cool morning in a freshening and blustery north-westerly......

Selsey Bill: Despite the unpromising wind direction, there was a little more activity this morning, including three Yellow Wagtails, two Willow Warblers and seven Wheatears seen coming in off the sea, a Little Tern offshore and just a few bits going both east and west. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (WNW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 15E, 17W, 12os

Common Scoter - 28E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Dunlin - 5W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Whimbrel - 7W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 23W, 12os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 1os

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Wheatear - 7N

Willow Warbler - 2N

Wheatears (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank were on the pool this morning, along with 28 Redshanks, 38 Avocets, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Shelducks and similar of Shovelers and Teal, with two pairs of Lapwings on the fields. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Greenshank and Redshanks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was pretty slow going here, though a Cuckoo was calling from Priory Wood, two Wheatears were on the beach and a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple each of Chiffchaffs, Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing unseen along the Severals and half a dozen Swallows went over the beach.

The harbour, though, was bereft of birds on the high tide, with just a handful of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, plus a dozen Shelducks, seen. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Purple Heron flew in from the east and dropped into the back of the reeds beyond the Breech Pool this morning, whilst three Spoonbills flew over north over the wall, and there was also a Whinchat and at least nine Wheatears about, including six together at Owl Point where two Yellow Wagtails flew over, along with five Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, four Reed Buntings, two Linnets, a Blackcap, two Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch along the hedgerows.

Four Pintail and a Teal were out in the harbour, and along the East side there were 18 Dunlin, four Grey Plovers, six Bar-tailed Godwits, three Whimbrels, two Curlews and two Oystercatchers with three Common Seals hauled out on the far bank.

Also, two Canada Geese, a pair of Gadwall, the lone Wigeon and a few Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and two Lapwings were in the fields, whilst two Egyptian Geese were in the fields by the Church Barton reservoir along with 36 Shelducks, two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, a Peregrine was in one of the trees, and a flock of 50 Linnets were feeding amongst the rotting cabbages. (LP/SP/TRH/CT/BI/EB/M Read et al)

Wheatears (above), Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Cattle Egret, Pintails and Oystercatcher, Egyptian Geese, Linnet, Common Seals (LP), Marsh Harrier & Wheatear (EB) around the North Wall 

The Purple Heron showed well for a while mid-afternoon (AW). 

Purple Heron at the North Wall (AW)

The Purple Heron re-appeared and had a fly round early in the evening, when the male Marsh Harrier was showing well, too, and c20 Swallows went over (AH).

Purple Heron (above) (top two AD, lower two AH), Marsh Harrier & Swallow (AH) at the North Wall 

Chichester GPs: A Swift was over the back of Ivy Lake this morning, along with three House Martins, three Sand Martins and four Swallows. (AB) 

Earlier, six House Martins were over Copse Lake and four Swallows and four Sand Martins were at Runcton Lake. (BI)

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were two Wheatears on the adjacent beach this morning, with another eight, a couple of Meadow Pipits and a couple of Skylarks in the big field by the windmill, with two Swallows going over. (AH)

Wheatears (above) & Skylarks at Medmerry (AH)