14th - 16th May 2024

Thursday, 16th May: A cool, murky morning with prolonged spells of - at times - heavy rain in just a light easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much at all to see this morning, before the heaviest of the rain set in. Full log below. (IP/MO-W/DBo/AH/SR)

(0615-0745hrs) (E, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Gannet - 11E, 3W

Common Scoter - 24W

Whimbrel - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 2W

Swift - 4

House Martin - 4

Gannet (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 16 Black-tailed Godwits, three Avocets, four Redshanks, two drake Shovelers, the drake Teal and 23 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

Shovelers (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: A flock of 12 Eider, including two drakes, were on the water, near the Camber Beacon, this morning. (KJ)

Church Norton: There were four Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Curlews, a dozen Turnstones, c20 Dunlin and c40 Ringed Plovers in the harbour this morning, whilst a flock of half a dozen or so Common Terns and a dozen Sandwich Terns flew in to settle on the mud, but there were just 20 or so Black-headed Gulls around the island.

The bushes were very quiet, with a couple of Chiffchaffs, a briefly singing Blackcap, a couple of Whitethroats and a dozen Linnets being about the sum. (AH)

Sandwich Tern and Common Terns (above), Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, Chiffchaff & Linnets at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - This evening there were two Little Ringed Plovers, 21 Avocets and a Little Tern on the Stilt Pool, with another 13 of the latter feeding offshore.

The banks were quite busy, including two Cuckoos, a Dartford Warbler, five Reed and Cetti's Warblers, ten Whitethroats, two Reed Buntings and 13 Yellowhammers, with two Swallows and a Sparrowhawk going over. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 15th May: The fresh south-easterly breeze continued this morning, though it was fairly warm in a mix of sun and white cloud..........

Selsey Bill: A total of 170 Kittiwakes went east this morning, along with three Manx Shearwaters, 75 Gannets, 58 Common Scoters and a few terns. Full log below. (PB/IP/RHa/AH/LP/SR et al)

(0515-0915hrs) (SSE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Manx Shearwater - 3E

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 75E, 6W, 100os

Common Scoter - 58E, 3W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 3E

Sanderling - 6W

Kittiwake - 170E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 49E, 20os

Common Tern - 6E

'Commic' Tern - 18E

Little Tern - 2os

auk sp - 4E

Swift - 4

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 5

(1635-1735hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 1W, 10os

Swallow - 1N

Kittiwake (above), Gannets (AH) & House Martins (EB) at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: There wasn't much to report this morning, beyond two Avocets, four Redshank, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Mallards and 16 Shelducks. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Hobby shot through the paddocks this morning and out over the harbour, and two Swallows were around the stables, whilst both male and female Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds where there was also a Red Kite and a Buzzard.

The Honer fields are now drying out and there was just a Redshank amongst the Black-headed Gulls, and along the wall there was the usual selection of Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and a pair of Linnets. (LP/GHi et al)

Reed Warbler (above) & Swallow at the North Wall (LP)

West Itchenor: The number of nesting pairs of House Martin at the Harbour Office has risen from three last Wednesday to an encouraging nine today. (SR)

Runcton: Around and to the south of the village this morning were as follows -

On the local reservoir, a pair of Shelduck with ten ducklings, ten Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe.

On a private lake, a pair of nesting Mute Swans, a pair of Canada Geese with four goslings, 15 Mallards, a pair of Tufted Ducks, a Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Cuckoo, plus two singing Cetti’s Warblers,

On the Bowley flooded fields, nine Shelducks and two Brown Hares.

Also, in the general area, a pair of Gadwall on the rife, two Green Woodpeckers, three Skylarks, two Swallows, two Reed Warblers, five Blackcaps, three Whitethroats, three Chiffchaffs and a pair of Reed Buntings. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - The trail wasn't particularly flush with birds in the breezy conditions, but up to 20 Whitethroats were spread along the paths, together with a single Lesser Whitethroat, five Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, four Cetti's Warblers and half dozen Reed Buntings, plus a few of the resident species.

Just a handful of Swallows were at Porthole Farm, along with a couple of Skylarks and Linnets, another handful of Whitethroats and a dozen Stock Doves, but that was about it. (AH)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swallow & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

This evening there were c50 Swifts over the fields, along with similar of Swallows and House Martins. (AH)

Swifts (above), House Martin & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 14th May: After heavy overnight rain, a cool and grey start, slowly brightening to hazy sunshine in a brisk south-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a fairly close Pomarine Skua and five Arctic Skuas east, along with five Little Gulls, five Brent Geese and a few terns, whilst a Hobby flew in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/AH/LP/SR/IP/RHa/PB/KJ/SM et al)

(0530-1030hrs) (SSE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Manx Shearwater - 3E, 4W

Gannet - 122E, 42W

Brent Goose - 5E

Common Scoter - 27E, 3os

Hobby - 1N

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 16E, 9W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0651hrs)

Arctic Skua - 5E

Little Gull - 5E

Kittiwake - 19E, 4W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 53E, 46os

Common Tern - 16E, 2os

Little Tern - 2E, 1W

auk sp - 5E, 1W

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 5

Pied Wagtail - 1N

The rest of the day saw 16 Manx Shearwaters, a Bonxie and a few waders and terns heading east, whilst a Hobby flew over and off west. Full log below. (PB/SR/JA/RHa/SH)

(1030-1730hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Manx Shearwater - 16E

Gannet - 200E, 3W, 50os

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 3E, 3os

Hobby - 1W (flew off towards the IOW)

Kestrel - 1

Sanderling - 2E

Bar-tailed Godwit 6E

Whimbrel - 2E

Turnstone - 3E

Great Skua - 1E

Arctic Skua - 2E

Kittiwake - 14E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 120E

Common Tern - 12E

Arctic Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 4E

Pomarine Skua (above), Arctic Skua, Brent Geese & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 33 Black-tailed Godwit, two Avocets and four Redshanks were on the pool this morning, along with the drake Teal, two drake Gadwall, eight Mallards and 22 Shelducks.

A look round the Tramway circuit just produced two or three singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Whitethroats. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A quick look in the harbour late this morning just produced two Whimbrel, a Curlew, c25 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and c20 Shelducks, with the bushes quiet in the windy conditions. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Ringed Plover & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were 15 Greenshanks around this evening - 12 together on Honer 1 field and three more at Halsey's Farm, whilst a flock of 12 Whimbrel flew out of the harbour heading north.

There wasn't too much else around, though three Marsh Harriers were seen and a few Swallows and Swifts were overhead, including a pair of the latter seen mating. (AH/LP/S&SaH/SP et al)

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