10th - 13th May 2024

Monday, 13th May: A decidedly cool and very overcast morning in a moderate to fresh south-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much happening this morning, though an Arctic Skua was about early on and a Black-throated Diver, 21 Brent Geese and 30 Little Terns went east. Full log below. (MRe/IP/AH/MO-W/SR/NM/ABi et al)

(0515-1000hrs) (SE, F3-4)

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

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 23E, 7W

Brent Goose - 21E

Common Scoter - 12E

Oystercatcher - 5E, 4W

Dunlin - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 24E

Common Tern - 12os

Little Tern - 30E (including a flock of 22)

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 2W

Swift - 3

Swallow - 1

This evening seven Manx Shearwaters went east. Full log below. (SH)

(1640-1755hrs) (SE, F5)

Manx Shearwater - 7E

Gannet - 14E

Common Scoter - 6E

Sandwich Tern - 35E

Common Tern - 2E

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

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with a Bar-tailed Godwit among four Black-tailed Godwits, just one Avocet, four Redshanks, a drake Shoveler and 24 Shelducks. (AH/ABi)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: A Nightjar was heard and sound-recorded right in the middle of the town, at the top end of the High Street at 0430hrs this morning, though, inevitably, its precise location couldn't be tracked down. (MRe)

North Wall: There was a bit less activity in Honer 1 field this morning, but there were still at least eight Greenshanks, half a dozen Redshanks and 32 Black-tailed Godwits present, along with a drake Shoveler, half a dozen Gadwall two Greylag Geese and c30 Shelducks, with a couple of Mediterranean Gulls among the many Black-headed Gulls present.

Also, both the male and female Marsh Harriers were about, plus a Sparrowhawk, with at least wo vocal Cuckoos still present, but small birds were keeping low in the wind, but there were still Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers singing and a few Reed Buntings ewre more visible. (AH/ABi et al)

This evening, the Purple Heron was in Honer 3 field. (RP)

Cuckoo (above), Reed Bunting, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwits & Shoveler at the North Wall (AH)

Sunday, 12th May: An increasingly warm morning in more or less uninterrupted hazy sun, with the breeze again freshening a little as it shifted from north-east to south-east......

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including just the second Hobby of the spring in and a couple of Black Terns - one of which lingered offshore for a while - among a slight tern passage. Full log below. 

(JA/SH/BI/PB/MRB/IP/MO-W/SR/NM/PG/SHo et al)

(0455-1045hrs) (ENE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Blak-throated Diver - 2E

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 29E, 2W

Brent Goose - 5E

Pochard - 4W

Common Scoter - 66E, 1W, 16os

Marsh Harrier - 1W

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 15E, 2W

Knot - 6E

Sanderling - 42E, 10 present

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E, 1W

Whimbrel - 4E, 5N, 1W

Turnstone - 1N

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 22E

Common Gull - 4E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 12E

Sandwich Tern - 50E, 20os

Common Tern - 68E

'Commic' Tern - 33E

Little Tern - 9E, 1os

Black Tern - 3E

Guillemot - 1E

Skylark - 2N

Swallow - 10N

House Martin - 4

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

(1300-1740hrs) (JA/SR/IP)

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 9E, 4W

Common Scoter - 3E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 4E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 5E

Little Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 2W, 7os

Little Tern - 1W, 2os

auk sp - 12W

Black Tern, Common and Sandwich Terns (above) & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Common Sandpipers were on the pool this morning, but, otherwise there were just six Avocets, four Redshanks, a drake Gadwall, a drake Teal and 24 Shelducks, with a Reed Warbler and a Reed Bunting also noted. (AH/NM/PB/MRB)

Common Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Wood Sandpipers were in Honer 1 field this morning, along with ten Greenshanks, a Ruff, ten Redshanks and 14 Black-tailed Godwits, plus the drake Garganey, 24 Gadwall and lots of Shelducks, Mallards, Coots and Black-headed Gulls.

A Cuckoo and three Marsh Harriers were behind the Breech Pool and on the water, there was the regular Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe, the drake Wigeon and the nesting Mute Swans. Along the bushes there was the usual mix of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Common Whitethroats and Reed Buntings and at Halsey’s Farm three Cattle Egrets were around the cows and a Kestrel was on the fence posts. (LP/PB/MRB et al)

Garganey (above), Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat at the North Wall (LP)

At least one Wood Sandpiper, the Ruff, a minimum of ten Greenshanks, three Ringed Plovers and 20+ Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits were still on Honer 1 field this evening, with a female Marsh Harrier over the reds and several Whimbrel in the harbour. (NM/AH/SR/MRe)

Marsh Harrier (above), Garganey & Greenshanks at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with three Dunlin, six Bar-tailed Godwits, eight Gadwall and six Tufted Ducks, plus a pair of Little Terns seen fish-passing, whilst another dozen or so and half a dozen Sandwich Terns were offshore.

At least four Cattle Egrets were about, along with a Red Kite, two Buzzards, and Egyptian Goose and the first family of Canada Geese goslings, whilst the banks were full of at least 20 singing and displaying Whitethroats, with similar of Linnets and Skylarks present, but not too much more beyond a few singing Reed and Sedge Warblers and a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Little Terns (above), Little Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whitethroat, Red Kite & Egyptian Goose at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 11th May: There was plenty of warm, hazy sunshine morning, with the breeze freshening a little as it shifted from north-east to south-east......

Selsey Bill: Highlight of the morning - for one lucky observer (BI) at least! - was the White-winged Black Tern that went east at 1017hrs, having been tracked at various points along the Hampshire coast.

Earlier, two dark-phase Pomarine Skuas east at 0645hrs looked like being the best of another slow morning, with, otherwise, a Whinchat on the Oval Field briefly, three Eiders on the shingle bar and a Velvet Scoter and a few Little Terns and waders on the move. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/BI/IP/AH/MO-W et al)

(0500-0900hrs) (ENE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E,4os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 1W

Gannet - 28E, 32W

Tufted Duck - 1W

Eider - 3os

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Common Scoter - 44E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Sanderling - 34E

Whimbrel - 4E

Turnstone - 10E

Pomarine Skua - 2E (0645hrs) 

Back-headed Gull - 57E

Common Gull- 1E

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 24E

Common Tern - 3E, 2os

Little Tern - 15E, 2os

Swallow - 21N

Wheatear -1N

Whinchat - 1N

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 1os

(1000-1030hrs) (BI)

Sandwich Tern - 2E

White-winged Black Tern - 1E (1017hrs)

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Little Terns at the Bill (AH)

(1445-1800hrs) (SH/JA/AH)
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Common Scoter - 23E
Redshank - 1E
Black-headed Gull - 8E
Kittiwake - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 39E, 2W
Common Tern - 6E, 2os
Swallow - 6N
House Martin - 2

Kittiwake (above) & Common Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It remains deadly quiet on the pool, which looks like it ought to be attracting waders in, with just five Avocets, two Redshanks, the drake Teal, a drake Gadwall, five Mallards and 22 Shelducks present. (AH)

Late this afternoon, an Osprey went over the Visitor Centre, seen earlier over the harbour - see below. (RHk)

Gadwall on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Pied Wagtails were on the farm roof this morning, with the Swallows and House Martins now back there in their usual numbers, whilst a Kestrel was also present.

Also, a Skylark was displaying over the fields, whilst a Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker both flew over, a Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling and a Whitethroat was also present in a bush. (IP)

Selsey: Three Red Kites went over our garden to the north of the village today. (AW)

Red Kite over Selsey (AW)

Church Norton: A total of five Red Kites went over the harbour and the Severals, heading south, this morning. 

Also, seven Whimbrel and a Curlew flew onto the beach and a Sandwich Tern was offshore, but the harbour just held two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrel, two Ringed Plovers, a flock of distant Dunlin and a few Curlews and Oystercatchers.

There wasn't much in the bushes, though, beyond lots of singing Whitethroats, plus a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in Bluebell Wood. (IP/MO-W/MI)

Late this afternoon, an Osprey went over the harbour, heading north. (GR)

North Wall: Most of the interest was in the Honer fields this morning, where there was a drake Garganey and up to ten Greenshanks, along with a dozen or so Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Shoveler and a few Shelducks and Gadwall, with another c25 of the latter flying around at the back, plus the drake Wigeon still on the Breech Pool..

Also, at least two Cuckoos were still about, though less vocal than of late, along with the male Marsh Harrier and the usual mix of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, plus a few Whitethroats, along the wall. (LP/CRJ/AH et al)

Garganey (above) & Greenshanks at the North Wall (AH)

Almodington: A Red Kite went over the village this morning. (NHo)

Red Kite over Almodington (NHo)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Red Kites went over this morning, with the regular female Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel also about, along with four Cattle Egrets, whilst the Stilt Pools held two Little Ringed Plovers, two Little Terns, nine Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Dunlin and 22 Avocets, with six Little Terns feeding offshore.

The banks were fairly busy, too, with 20 Whitethroats, six Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, three Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, two Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and 20 Yellowhammers present, plus six Swallows over. (S&SaH/PB)

Later, in addition to the above,there were c20 Little Terns offshore and flying in to the Stilt Pools, with three Little Ringed Plovers, four Ringed Plovers and five Redshank on the pool, along with a White Wagtail with two Pied Wagtails. also, another Red Kite went over and there was a Cuckoo about, too. (AHu)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Little Terns at Medmerry (AHu)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - There were no scarce or unexpected species recorded on the WeBS count this morning, although there were certainly some highlights and interest, especially amongst the wildfowl, with joint totals of four broods of Greylag, one brood of Canada Geese and one brood of what appears to be a hybrid pairing of Greylag and Canada. Additionally, six adult Egyptian Geese were logged, of which one pair also have a brood - the first such confirmed breeding here I think. These pits have been a stronghold for breeding pairs of Pochard (a nationally rare breeding bird) in recent years; they are usually late breeders and notoriously difficult to locate, so a total of 23 birds - including several females - seems to bode well for the coming season.

I was also delighted to confirm that, after a slow start, a pair of Grey Herons have bred again this year, and currently have two fast-growing nestlings. At least two Common Terns were also visiting the pits on and off, clearly display-flighting at times.(OM)

Selected species from Drayton House GPs today: (above) Canada Geese with young, (below) Greylag Geese with young, presumed hybrid Greylag/Canada young with parents, pair of Pochard in suitable nesting habitat, pair of Tufted Ducks, Grey Heron young in the nest and Common Terns. (OM)

Friday, 10th May: Another warm and sunny morning in just a light and variable breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was a very slow morning, with four Grey Plovers and a flock of 29 Sanderlings east and two Swifts and ten Swallows in being the only indications of passage. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/SR)

(0515-0815hrs) (E, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Gannet - 2W

Shelduck - 2E

Gadwall - 2E

Common Scoter - 5os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 10W

Grey Plover - 4E

Sanderling - 30E

Curlew - 4W

Turnstone - 5

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Common Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 2os

Swift - 2N

Swallow - 10N

Linnet - 1E

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 8os

Sanderlings (above) & Grey Plovers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just six Avocets, two Redshanks, the drake Teal, a pair of Shovelers, a family of Mallards and 14 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

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

North Wall: There were no birds along White’s Creek this morning, and just a Whimbrel and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits further out in the harbour, but it was more interesting in the fields, where there were 23 Black-tailed Godwits, three Greenshanks, two Lapwings, a Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 42 Shelduck and c200 Black-headed Gulls.

The Breech Pool held the regular Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe, the drake Wigeon and the nesting Mute Swans, and over the reeds further back there were a male and two female Marsh Harriers and two Red Kites, whilst at least three Cuckoos were moving along the bushes all morning.

The hedgerows were full of song, with a good selection of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Long-Tailed Tits, and at Halsey’s Farm six Cattle Egrets were around the cows by the rife, a Skylark was singing overhead and a couple of Swallows were on the wires. (LP/SP/EB)

Red Kite (above), Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Cattle Egret, Black-tailed Godwits (LP) & Swallows (EB) at the North Wall

Church Norton: This evening, there were a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Sanderling, six Turnstones, a Curlew, c20 Dunlin and c40 Ringed Plovers in the harbour, along with a single Common Tern, whilst a Cuckoo, a Chiffchaff and several Whitethroats were along the west side. (AH)

Turnstone (above) & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - Just a handful of Swallows were around the Porthole Farm area, plus a couple of Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, whilst it was equally quiet at Ham Farm, where there were just a dozen or so Whitethroats, a couple of Reed Warblers, perhaps just a dozen Skylarks and c30 Linnets.

There was also (I think!) a Green-winged Orchid along the banks, a Fox right next to the farm and a Cattle Egret was flying along Ham Road. (AH)

Swallow (above), Whitethroat, Linnet, Fox & Green-winged Orchid at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - First thing this morning there was a Little Ringed Plover and two Little Terns on the pools, along with the nesting Avocets. 

Also, a flock of 22 Whimbrels were out on the beach, while Yellowhammers, Whitethroats and a Song Thrush were singing from the gorse bushes. (AW)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Little Terns, Whimbrels, Song Thrush & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AW)