1st - 3rd May 2024

Friday, 3rd May: A cool, grey and blustery morning in a fresh westerly breeze, though brightening up a bit later on.......

Selsey Bill: Five Black Terns at the back of a flock of 'Commic' Terns early on, and a flock of over 30 Kittiwakes were just about the only things going east again this morning. Full log below. (BI/SH/IP/AH/SR/RAI)

(0555-0825hrs) (W, F4-5)

Red-Throated Diver - 2E

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 105E, 5W

Common Scoter - 4E, 1W

Knot - 30W

Dunlin - 2W

Whimbrel - 1W

Kittiwake - 41E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 55E, 23W

Common Tern - 4E, 6W

'Commic' Tern - 50E

Little Tern - 7W, 1os

Black Tern - 5E

Razorbill  - 1E

auk sp - 12E, 1W

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 2N

Willow Warbler - 1N

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 3E, 18W

Turnstone - 1

Kittiwake - 11W

Sandwich Tern - 12W

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was just the usual mix of a dozen Avocets, two Redshanks and 22 Shelducks on the pool, though a Cattle Egret flew in to feed in the fields at the back. (AH/RAI)

Cattle Egret (above) & Avocets and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: An interesting morning started with a Barn Owl hunting over Honer 1 field and the Purple Heron flying off west early on, and there was also a Cuckoo in the paddocks and both the Marsh Harriers were seen.

Also, around 20 Sand Martins and 40 Swallows were feeding over the fields, and five Cetti's Warblers were heard, whilst three Cattle Egrets, 12 Little Egrets and a drake Shoveler were on the fields, with the drake Wigeon and a Great Crested Grebe were on the Breech Pool.

A few waders were along White's Creek, too, including ten Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Whimbrel, 12 Grey Plovers and ten Dunlin. (PB/BFF)

This afternoon, here was also a Garden Warbler and a Swift at Halsey's Farm. (S&aH)

Church Norton: At least a dozen Whimbrel were in the harbour this morning, along with four Bar-tailed Godwits, a couple of Grey Plovers and Curlews and c20 Shelducks, whilst for the first time in a while a flock of c25 Sandwich Terns and similar of Black-headed Gulls, plus a lone sub-adult Mediterranean Gull, were in the harbour, though not on the island.

A Cuckoo was calling again, and a Lesser Whitethroat was likewise, but small bids were generally non-existent. (AH/HR/DMe)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were eight Bar-tailed Godwits, at least 20 Whimbrel, two Grey Plovers, c20 Ringed Plovers and c150 Dunlin out on the mud, but nothing else to speak of, beyond the Cuckoo still calling. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: There wasn't much to report today, with just a couple of Common Terns, two or three Egyptian, Greylag and Canada Geese and a drake Pochard on Ivy Lake, a female Pochard, a drake Gadwall on New Lake and a few Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes spread about.

There were Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs present, more heard then seen in the wind, whilst c50 Sand Martins, c25 House Martins and Swallows and c20 Swifts were over Vinnetrow Lake, with another four of he latter over Ivy Lake. (AH/HR/DMe)

Common Tern (above), Pochard, Egyptian Goose & Sand Martin and House Martin at Chichester GPs (AH)

Thursday, 2nd May: A very misty and murky, though mild, morning in a light northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was another very slow morning, with two small flocks of Common Terns  and one of Kittiwakes east the only hint at migration. Full log below. (IP/MO-W/AH/SR)

(0655-0855hrs) NE, F1)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 25E, 16W

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 24E, 13W

Whimbrel - 1W

Kittiwake - 14E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 6W

Common Tern - 24E

Swallow - 2E

House Martin - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There were just 13 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, a drake Teal, a Little Egret an 22 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH/IP)

Black-tailed Godwit & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Purple Heron eventually showed this morning, appearing to fly from the Owl Copse area into reeds at back of Breech Pool and then was not seen again.

Also, male and female Marsh Harriers were quartering over the reeds, but the Breech Pool only contained a Great Crested Grebe and the single Wigeon with the usual Coots, Mallards and Tufted Ducks, whilst in the fields there were a pair of Gadwall, lots of Sheilduck and Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Grey Herons.

The reeds contained a lot of noisy Sedge and Cetti's Warblers and there were at least three Reed Warblers singing, with two Reed Buntings seen, and a Cuckoo was singing, but visible, from the distant trees.

In the harbour there was a single Whimbrel and a mixed flock of smart summer-plumaged Grey Plovers and Dunlin, whilst there were also four Little Terns, a Common Tern and a Sandwich Tern on the mud flats. (KT)

Later on, the Purple Heron was showing well along the edge of Honer 1 this morning before later being seen flying towards Sidlesham, a Hobby was sat in the bushes there, and on the flooded fields there were 14 Gadwall, a Shoveler and 12 Shelduck with a few Swallows and Sand Martins overhead.

A Raven was in the dead trees at Halsey’s Farm, a Skylark was on the fence, 12 Cattle Egrets were with the cows, and along the bushes there were two Long-tailed Tits, a Chaffinch, three Lesser Whitethroats, two Common Whitethroats, six Reef Buntings and a Jay, with a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers in the reeds.

It was quiet in the harbour, with just four Bar-tailed Godwits, two Canada Geese and three Whimbrels around, and in the paddock a Cuckoo was on the fence, two Green Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff were in the trees and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds. (LP/SP)

Purple Heron (above), Cuckoo, Hobby & Skylark at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A look along the side of the harbour this evening produced eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c25 Whimbrel and c40 Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, plus a handful of Curlews and Oystercatchers and a single Sandwich Tern.(AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrel & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were plenty of the regular species about, but nothing uncommon this morning, with the banks holding a pair of Dartford Warblers, half a dozen Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two or three singing Reed and Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting, a pair of Stonechats, at least 20 Yellowhammers and Skylarks and up to 40 Linnets, with just a few Swallows over.

The Stilt Pool just held 18 Avocets, two pair of Oystercatchers, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a couple of pairs of Gadwall and a dozen Tufted Ducks, with five Whimbrel flying around the reserve and a couple of sandwich Terns offshore being about it. (AH/IP)

Avocet (above), Whimbrel, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Skylark & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 1st May: The morning started misty and almost flat calm, before reverting to a more typical moderate westerly, though it was quite mild and humid throughout.......

Selsey Bill: A very disappointing morning, with almost nothing moving. Full log below. (MRe/IP/AH/MO-W)

(0500-0900hrs) (N, F1)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 4W

Gannet - 8E, 3W

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 2E

Common Scoter - 5E

Oystercatcher - 14E

Sanderling - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 72E, 30W

Common Tern - 2W

Little Tern - 1E

Swallow - 5N

House Martin - 8

Also, later in the morning an unidentified Parakeet sp was seen flying over the village (MRe) and again over the Bill early this evening (ML), whilst there was also a Siskin on the feeders in a garden in Byways (B Richardson)

Sandwich Tern (AH) (above) & House Martins (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: An Egyptian Goose and two Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, along with 13 Avocets, 22 Shelducks and a drake Teal, whilst a single Whimbrel was in the channel opposite. (AH/NR/TG-P)

Black-tailed Godwits and Egyptian Goose on the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Hoopoe was at a private site in the village this morning, where, unfortunately, it was not possible to arrange public access. There were also three freshly fledged Tawny Owlets in the vicinity. (AH)

Hoopoe (above) & Tawny Owlets in Sidlesham (AH)

more images of the Hoopoe (T Monnington (above) & AH below)

North Wall: The Purple Heron was showing well in Honer 3 field and then behind the Breech Pool this morning, before disappearing into the reeds, and a Cuckoo and a Marsh Harrier were further back.

Otherwise, a Great Crested Grebe was on the Breech Pool along with a pair of Tufted Ducks, the Wigeon and the Mute Swans, while on the fields there were 14 Gadwall, a Shoveler, two Canada Geese and 16 Shelduck, and there was lots of bird song along the wall, with a good selection of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Cetti’s Warblers, Whitethroats. Greenfinches, Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, a Blackcap, and a Lesser Whitethroat, but it was quiet in the harbour with just a pair of Teal, 14 Bar-tailed Godwits an six Grey Plovers on the mud and a flock of 12 Whimbrel flying over. (LP/JDWCT/HRa)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Reed Bunting & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

This evening the Purple Heron was showing well behind the wall. (LP)

Purple Heron at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Great Northern Diver was working its way along the coast near the Coastguard station and there were a couple Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtail along the beach, but not much else. (AW)

Great Northern Diver (above), Meadow Pipit & Pied Wagtail at Medmerry (AW)