Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 4th

Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May: A typical Bank Holiday Monday of more or less continuous drizzly rain in just a light northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was actually a bit of passage this morning, primarily of Common/'Commic' Terns and waders, though a couple of Black Terns and Arctic Skuas went east, too, and just the slightest of passerine arrival. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/AH/MO-W/SR)

(0505-0905hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 3W, 1os

Gannet - 35E, 17E, 15os

Brent Goose - 27E

Shelduck - 4E

Gadwall - 1E

Common Scoter - 38E, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Oystercatcher - 4E, 1W, 1 present

Grey Plover - 3E, 5W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 37E, 1 present

Dunlin - 2E, 15W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 42E

Curlew - 2E

Whimbrel - 16E

Common Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 18

Arctic Skua - 2E

Black-headed Gull - 29E

Common Gull- 1

Kittiwake - 14E, 12W, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 49E, 100os

Common Tern - 218E

'Commic' Tern - 54E

Little Tern - 17E, 3os

Black Tern - 2E

Swallow - 7N, 3 present

House Martin - 6

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 1

Willow Warbler - 1

Whitethroat - 1

(1300-1400hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 7E, 1W

Common Scoter - 4E, 1os

Great Skua - 1os

Little Gull - 3E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 5E

Little Tern - 1os

Swift - 1N

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 10E

Whimbrel (above), Sanderlings and Dunlin, Common Terns, Brent Geese & Whitethroat at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with eight Avocets, three Redshanks, the drake Teal and 24 Shelducks. (AH)

Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Flycatcher - the first of the spring - was in the garden at Little Welbourne this morning, two Cuckoos were around the paddock and the female Marsh Harrier was over the reeds further back, whilst a Whimbrel was in White’s Creek, and five Wheatears and a Common Sandpiper were along the wall.

In the Breech Pool it was the usual collection of six Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe, the Wigeon and the nesting Mute Swans, though there was no sign of the Purple Heron, but there was still plenty to see on the flooded fields with four Gadwall, 12 Shelducks, a Pied Wagtail, two Shovelers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 24 Ringed Plovers, eight Grey Plovers, six Dunlin and the usual Mallards, Coots, Moorhens and Black-headed Gulls.

At Halsey’s Farm, a few Cattle Egrets were amongst the cows and a Lesser Whitethroat was by the outfall, while along the reeds and bushes there was the now regular mix of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, and Cetti’s Warblers. (LP/TRH/JDW)

Later on, there were good numbers of hirundines about, comprising c20 Sand Martins and House Martins and c200 Swallows, along with c50 Swifts, a Hobby, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard.

There were also still two Wheatears about, along with two Greenshanks, 25 dunlin and five Cattle Egrets. (S&SaH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Wheatear, Whitethroat, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: At least eight Wheatears were along the beach in front of the Severals (SH), whilst the harbour held eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Whimbrel, c30 Ringed Plovers and c50 Dunlin, with ait least 40 Sandwich Terns, three or four Common Terns and c100 Black-headed Gulls around Tern Island and half a dozen Little Terns around their island (AH).

Wheatears (SH) (above), Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns (AH) at Church Norton

Warner Lane paddocks and Northcommon Farm: Two pairs of Swallows were chasing each other around the stables this morning, but a couple of Linnets and Whitethroats, plus a Slow-worm, was about it at Warner Lane, whilst a Whitethroat at Flycatcher Corner was the only migrant at Northcommon Farm. (AH)

Swallows (above) & Slow-worm at Warner Lane paddocks (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - At least three Wheatears were along the beach this morning, with a pair of Whitethroats in the small compound by the Windmill and pair of Linnets and Meadow Pipits in the rough grass there. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Whitethroat & Thrift at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Temminck's Stint was on the Stilt Pool this afternoon, found by RHa - remarkably, this is the fourth year running the species has been recorded on the Peninsula, after just four in the preceding 16 years.

The Little Ringed Plover was also still present, along with four Ringed Plovers, c80 Dunlin and c20 Avocets, whilst a Short-eared Owl and a Marsh Harrier were along the banks.

A female Whinchat was the only passerine of note, though there were several Whitethroats, Yellowhammers, Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Skylarks and Linnets about. (RHa/AH/BI/AB/SR/PB/MRB et al)

Temminck's Stint (above). Dunlin, Marsh Harrier & Short-eared Owl at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 5th May: A cool and overcast morning, in a moderate easterly breeze, with drizzle setting in later on......

Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning, brightened up by a single Arctic Skua, followed shortly afterwards by a single Pomarine Skua, but the only species moving east in any number was Kittiwakes. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/PB/MRB/MO-W/IP/AH/RW/SR/SHo/NM et al)

(0500-0915hrs) (E, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W, 1os

diver sp - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 155E, 80W

Tufted Duck - 1E

Common Scoter - 13E, 1W, 1os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 4W

Grey Plover - 1E

Sanderling - 4E

Whimbrel - 6E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0827hrs)

Arctic Skua - 1E

Black-headed Gull - 155E

Kittiwake - 90E, 23W

Sandwich Tern - 47E, 20os

Common Tern - 18E

'Commic' Tern - 7E

Arctic Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 12E, 3os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 8W

Swallow - 1N

Pomarine Skua (above), Sandwich Tern, Sanderlings & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon, three Black Terns and five Little Gulls went east, along with three Arctic Skuas. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/AH/SR)

(1415-1830hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 22E, 8W

Gadwall - 1E

Common Scoter - 17E, 1os

Oystercatcher - 5E, 1W

Whimbrel - 2E

Arctic Skua - 3E, 1os

Little Gull - 5E

Kittiwake - 21E, 6W, 20os

Sandwich Tern - 50os

Common Tern - 13E, 50os

Little Tern - 2E, 8os

Black Tern - 3E

Arctic Skuas at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just eight Avocets, four Redshanks and 22 Shelducks on the pool this morning, whilst three Cattle Egrets were on fields between it and the village. (AH/RW)

North Wall: The Purple Heron continued to show well, but only intermittently, in the Honer fields this morning, before flying off west later on.

Otherwise there was no sign of the pair of Garganey there, with just two or three Gadwall and c50 Black-tailed Godwits among the many gulls, whilst the drake Wigeon was still on the Mute Swan's nest on the Breech Pool and a Common Tern flew over.

Also, a Hobby drifted in from the north, before speeding low over the reeds and away to the east, the male and female Marsh Harriers were both about and there were at least three Cuckoos being very vocal and chasing each other about.

The harbour held a roosting flock of 25 Bar-tailed Godwits, a dozen Grey Plovers and eight Dunlin, along with c30 Shelducks, but there were just the usual Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers along the wall, plus a couple of Reed Buntings and one Swift over. (NM/TG-P/PB/MRB/AH/LP/ARK et al)

Cuckoos (above), Sedge Warbler, Wigeon and Mute Swan & Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and Dunlin at the North Wall (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Sparrowhawk flew over the farm with prey this morning, whilst a Pied Wagtail was still present along with a handful of Swallows and House Martins, and Cuckoo could be heard distantly. (IP/RW)

Pagham Spit: There were at least 32 Little Terns on the shingle by the new island and 40 Sandwich Terns were overhead, with 16 Dunlin, 18 Turnstones and eight Ringed Plovers also about, but in the bushes along the spit there were just eight Linnets. (LP)

Little Terns at Pagham Spit (LP)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo could be heard calling from the back of Priory Wood, both a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were present and all of the common warblers were present in low numbers, whilst a Cattle Egret dropped out of view behind the concrete wall and a Raven was mobbed by two Carrion Crows and later dropped into the horse field, whilst a male Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders at Greenlease Farm.

Most noteworthy were 25 Little Terns flying around their island, whilst 26 Sandwich Terns and three Common Terns were around the metalwork (two of the Common Terns later flew off east).

Also, a number of Black-headed Gulls were around Tern Island, along with a minimum of two Mediterranean Gulls, but waders were limited to a Curlew, a Ringed Plover, a flock of 40 Dunlin and a few Oystercatchers, whilst four Gadwall flew over, with three settling on the sea and the other returning to the harbour. (IP/RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The first Little Ringed Plover of the spring finally turned up on the Stilt Pool this morning, with a Dunlin and 22 Avocets also there.

The banks were fairly busy again, including 22 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers, four Sedge Warblers, ten Reed Warblers, a Stonechat, seven Yellowhammers and four Reed Buntings, with 22 Swallows, Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards and three Kestrels over. (S&SaH)

The Little Ringed Plover was still present this afternoon, and there were also a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier about. (BI)

Little Ringed Plover at Medmerry (SaH)

Saturday, 4th May: The morning started bright and still, but the breeze freshened from the south-east during the morning, producing a mix of warm sun and white cloud......

Selsey Bill: Another frustratingly quiet morning, with a bit of variety, but no volume, including a Garganey among one of several flocks of Common Scoters and a few Red-throated Divers east and an Arctic Skua and a huge, distant flock of Gannets lingering offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/PB/AGB/MRB/PM/IP/MO-W/JFi/RHa et al)

(0500-1300hrs) (SSW, F2, backing SE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 10E

diver sp - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 28E, 19W, 180os

Egyptian Goose - 3E

Shelduck - 3E, 6W

Mallard - 1

Garganey - 1E

Common Scoter - 123E, 23W, 8os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 3W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 11E

Whimbrel - 2E

Turnstone - 2E

Arctic Skua - 3E, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Black-headed Gull - 25E

Common Gull - 1E, 1os

Kittiwake - 71E, 1W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 56E, 30os

Common Tern - 5E, 1os

'Commic' Tern - 12E

Little Tern - 5E, 4os

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 6N

House Martin - 5

Sand Martin - 1N

(1430-1830hrs) (JA/SH)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 61E, 6W
Common Scoter - 4E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Sanderling - 14E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 20E
Whimbrel - 2E
Great Skua - 1E
Arctic Skua - 1E, 1os

Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 35os

'Commic' Tern - 3E
Little Tern - 4os
Swallow - 1N

Red-throated Diver (above), Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, Gannets & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with a Whimbrel, two Black-tailed Godwits, just six Avocets and 24 Shelducks. (AH)

Later on, a Greenshank, was present , along with the Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel, with two more of the latter flying into the harbour, and a kettle of four Buzzards were up high to the west. (GW/MO-W/MI)

Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Purple Heron was towards the back of Honer 1 at 0645hrs this morning, before it flew into the reeds behind the Breech Pool, taking took a short flight soon after before returning to the same area. (GHi/AB/AGB/MRB et al)

This afternoon, the Purple Heron was seen in flight at 1610hrs and 1937hrs, whilst a pair of Garganey were on Honer 1 field and a Greenshank and a Whimbrel were on Honer 2 field, with two Cuckoos about, too. (A Roberts/SR/GD et al)

Purple Heron at the North Wall (GHi)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were a minimum of six House Martins over the new housing estate this morning, whilst the Swallow numbers remain in double figures and there was also a Pied Wagtail on the barns and two Buzzards were cruising over the fields. (IP)

Selsey: A Buzzard flew in from the south over our house at lunchtime today - they are unusual here and may have come in off the sea. (SH)

Church Norton: Ten Whimbrel and five Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour this morning, but with the high tide other waders were limited to two Ringed Plovers, a Curlew and a few Oystercatchers, whilst 26 Sandwich Terns were on the metalwork along with a Little Tern, with another six of the latter were flying over New Island, and up to 30 Black-headed Gulls were around Tern Island

The Cuckoo was calling again, unseen, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat showed between the Severals, with all of the regular warblers were present in small numbers, a Marsh Harrier cruised over the first Several for five minutes and a Green Woodpecker flew to the back of the same Several.

There was also, a huge gathering of gulls a long way offshore, a Mediterranean Gull flew west offshore and a Gannet flew in the same direction. (IP)

There wasn't much going on this afternoon, just c20 Whimbrel, eight Bar-tailed Godwits and c30 Ringed Plovers and Dunlin on the mud. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was lots of activity along the banks this morning, including as many as 25 Whitethroats, a Dartford warbler, nine Reed Warblers, three Sedge warblers, five Cetti's Warblers, six Stonechats, 15 Yellowhammers and four Reed Buntings, with 23 Swallows over.

The Stilt Pool just held 28 Avocets and a Common Sandpiper, with a Whimbrel, eight Cattle Egrets and three Egyptian Geese on the reserve and two female Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and three Kestrels over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - There were no hirundines at Porthole Farm this morning, with just a couple of Whitethroats and Yellowhammers seen.

At Ham there were two pairs of Stonechats, two pairs of Reed Buntings, half a dozen Whitethroats, a couple of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a dozen Skylarks and c30 Linnets, plus a distantly calling Cuckoo, whilst two different Marsh Harries, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel went over. (AH)