16th - 18th November 2024

Monday, 18th November: After a bit of overnight rain, a  fairly overcast morning in just a light and variable breeze.............

Selsey Bill: There were four Velvet Scoters about again this morning, with 32 Common Scoters and seven Great Northern Divers offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/PA)

(0715-0915hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2os

Gannet - 3E, 4W, 10os

Shag - 4E, 1W, 7os

Brent Goose - 6E, 4W

Velvet Scoter - 1W, 3os

Common Scoter - 32os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 3W, 6os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2os

Dunlin - 2W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 3E

auk sp - 15E, 5W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There 34 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 26 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, 16 Lapwings, two Shelducks, c40 Teal and c50 Shovelers. (AH)

Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Bearded Tit was heard, but not seen, along the Breech Pool, with four Stonechats, three Reed Buntings, h handful of Rock Pipits along the wall and a calling Brambling over, whilst a couple of Water Rails and a Snipe were on the pool.

There were large numbers of birds in White's Creek and the harbour on the rising tide, including c2000 Brent Geese, 60 Pintail, 200 Teal, 350 Wigeon, a Greenshank, two Spotted Redshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Golden Plovers, 500+ Grey Plovers, 500 Knot and 400+ Dunlin. (PA)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A Dartford Warbler was moving through the gorse along the footpath this morning, and there were also 70 Linnets, 15 Skylarks, a Wren, two Dunnocks, 18 Goldfinches, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and Rock Pipits about, whilst a Kingfisher was showing well on and around the old metalwork, and a Common Seal cruised into the harbour on the rising tide.

As the water rose lots of waders were relocating to the offshore shale banks, including many Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers and Knot, but the only birds on the sea in the very calm conditions were two Red-throated Divers and a few Great Crested Grebes, with three Gannets and a Sandwich Tern about, too.

Also, a Swallow was over Pagham Lagoon and a dozen Little Grebes were on the water there. (LP/TG/PA)

Dartford Warbler (above), Meadow Pipit & Kingfisher at Pagham Spit (LP)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - Highlight this morning was a Purple Sandpiper among the pre-roost gathering of waders by the breach towards high tide, which also included four Greenshank, c80 Grey Plovers, a couple of Redshanks, at least 150 Ringed Plovers and c300 Dunlin.

Otherwise it was very quiet, with nothing offshore and just a pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Meadow Pipits in the windmill area. (AH)

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (above) & Greenshanks at Medmerry (AH)

East Head: A red head Goosander was off the northern end of the spit this morning, presumably the one seen at Medmerry yesterday, and also on the water were c.15 Great Crested Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers. Along the beach & dunes it was rather quiet with only a scattering of small birds noted including Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Skylarks, Pied Wagtails and Greenfinches. (BI)

Sunday, 17th November: The breeze had freshened and shifted to the north-west this morning, but it was still quite pleasant in a mix of sun and white cloud.........

Selsey Bill: The three Velvet Scoters were offshore again, but there were generally less birds about than yesterday, though it included three Gadwall east and 19 Kittiwakes and 15 Red-breasted Mergansers west.. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/IP/AH/JA)

(0700-0900hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W

Gannet - 6E, 49W

Shag - 7E, 1W, 8os

Brent Goose - 5E, 3W

Wigeon - 10E

Gadwall - 3E

Velvet Scoter - 3os

Common Scoter - 13W, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 15W, 2os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 6E

Dunlin - 1E

Turnstone - 6

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 19W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 5E, 17W, 20os

auk sp - 15E, 188W

Pied Wagtail - 5

Meadow Pipit - 2E

Goldfinch - 15

Later at 1030hrs, four Velvet Scoter flew east (per ebird)

Shag (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Avocet numbers were back up to 44 this morning, with 19 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Lapwings, c40 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers and Teal and five Shelducks also about. (AH/PB/MRB)

Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Sparrowhawk was chased by a Carrion Crow early morning by the farm buildings and at midday a Buzzard was pursued over the field by two more, with, otherwise, a Goldcrest in the bushes and a Pied Wagtail on the buildings, a Green Woodpecker over the fields nearby and, at the eastern end of the fields a single Snipe flying over. (IP)

Church Norton: There was very little offshore this morning, with just a Red-breasted Merganser, a Great Crested Grebe, a Gannet and a Brent Goose seen, all in flight, whilst in the harbour on the fast rising tide there were a Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwings, c30 Pintail, c50 Wigeon and a mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers.

A female Reed Bunting was again on the feeders at Greenlease Farm, with a Green Woodpecker in the vicinity, too, whilst two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were along the front, a Water Rail was calling from the Severals and a drake Shoveler flew in.

Also, five Chiffchaffs and four Goldcrests were among a big Long-tailed Tit flock in the churchyard and c200 Brent Geese were in the field behind.(IP/PB/MRB)

Late this afternoon two Greenshanks and the Whimbrel were among the waders on the dropping tide and a least 500 Brent Geese were in the field behind the church. (AH)

Greenshanks (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A very late Swallow was over the Breech Pool this morning, but there was no sign of the Bearded Tits, though a handful of Snipe and a couple of Water Rails were still present, along with c30 Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Mallards.

A Grey Wagtail, a couple of Pied Wagtails and a couple of Rock Pipits were around the sluice, whilst White's Creek and the adjacent harbour held huge numbers of waders, including c300 Golden Plovers, c1000 Lapwings, c200 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers, c500 Dunlin and 20 Black-tailed Godwits, along with c30 Pintail, c50 Teal and c150 Wigeon. (AH/LP et al) 

Later on two Bearded Tits were seen at the Breech Pool again (per ebird)

This evening three Marsh Harriers went in to roost and the murmurration of Starlings - probably in excess of1000 birds - were wheeling around over the Breech Pool. (S&SaH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Rock Pipit, Snipe, Golden Plovers, Pintail & Teal at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: Four Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Great Crested Grebes were around the harbour mouth this morning, with c200 Brent Geese on the saltmarsh and a huge mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers were roosting on the shingle bars.

Also, a pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Rock Pipits and Skylarks were along the spit and a dozen Little Grebes were on Pagham Lagoon. (AH/AJW)

Stonechat (above), Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers on Pagham Spit & Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Fieldfare was along the road to Dell Quay this morning. (PB/MRB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A redhead Goosander was on the reserve this morning, opposite the Stilt Pool, before flying off west., whilst two Brent Geese, two Egyptian Geese, a Greenshank, two Ringed Plovers, c300 Lapwings and c500 Golden Plovers were on/over the reserve, and a Water Rail was at Marsh Farm.

Also, along the banks there were four Dartford Warblers, two Goldcrests, 11 Stonechats, eight Yellowhammers, a song Thrush and ten Chaffinches, with a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and four Buzzards over. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 16th November: A cool and hazily grey morning in just a light north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of a selection this morning, including three Velvet Scoters on the sea before they flew off west and a Long-tailed Duck and as many as nine Great Northern Divers offshore, whilst a pod of a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins drifted slowly east. Full log later. (SH/PB/BI/IP/AH)

(0700-0915) (NNE, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3W

Gannet - 7E, 10W, 20os

Shag - 11E, 2os

Grey Heron - 1

Brent Goose -2E, 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 3os then W

Common Scoter - 22W, 41os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 10W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 10W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 1E, 41W

auk - 34E, 327W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Chiffchaff - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 12E

Velvet Scoters (above), Common Scoters, Sandwich Tern & Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 28 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 22 Lapwings, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, three Shelducks, c30 Wigeon and c50 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Lapwing (above) & Wigeon, Avocets, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was seen in flight over the new houses both early and late morning, whilst a juvenile Pied Wagtail was on the stable roofs at midday.

A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were about, with a Green Woodpecker also present along with a Goldcrest, whilst a Red-throated Diver was sat off the sea of the end of Park Lane and a Great Northern Diver flew south by the cottages. (IP)

Church Norton: There were four Slavonian Grebes on the sea this morning, along with a Great Northern Diver, two Great Crested Grebes, 15 Common Scoters and four Red-breasted Mergansers, with three more of the latter flying west and a Red-throated Diver going east.

A Jack Snipe and a Common Snipe flew up together out of the horse field area and flew around together briefly before going their separate ways, whilst in the harbour there were barely 50 Brent Geese this morning, along with a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, whilst among the large numbers of waders on the fast-rising tide were at least four Bar-tailed Godwits, c100 Knot and Grey Plovers, 50 Turnstones and 500 Dunlin, and a Kingfisher was also about.

Also, a female Reed Bunting and a couple of Green Woodpeckers were around Greenlease Farm, with a few Stock Doves feeding on the adjacent fields, whilst a female Marsh Harrier and a Mediterranean Gull went over the first Several, where a Water Rail was squealing continuously, and a male Shoveler was asleep on the second Several. (AH/IP/AW/GW/J Hodge et al)

Slavonian Grebes (above), Jack Snipe, Snipe & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

This evening a male and two female Marsh Harriers came in to roost in the Severals, and at least 800 Brent Geese were in the field behind the church . (S&SaH/AH)

Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were at least four Bearded Tits in the reeds around the Breech Pool this morning, where there were also four Water Rails, six Snipe, a Kingfisher, 23 Black-tailed Godwits and the usual Teal and Mallards.

Also, a juvenile Marsh Harrier was over the reeds further back and a Rock Pipit was along the rocks, whilst out in the harbour there were c200 Golden Plover with the regular Lapwings and Redshanks before they were all moved off on the rising tide. (LP/SP)

Bearded Tit (above) & Water Rail and Snipe at the North Wall (LP)

Late this afternoon here was a very impressive murmurration of Starlings over the North Wall, involving many hundreds of birds. (MRi)

Starlings at the North Wall (MRi)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a Dartford Warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers,, a Goldcrest, six Stonechats, three Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, four Pied Wagtails, six Chaffinches and two Song Thrushes along the banks this morning, along with c50 scattered Skylarks.

A few waders were on the reserve at high tide, including a Snipe, 31 Dunlin,36 Ringed Plovers, 20+ Black-tailed Godwits, c300 Golden Plovers and c400 Lapwings, with a Water Rail and two Egyptian Geese also about, along with a Peregrine, two Kestrels, two Sparrowhawks and three Buzzards. (S&SaH/PB)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A quick look this morning found the smart male Black Redstart being very active and mobile around the first houses and caravans west of the funfair. (AH)

Black Redstart at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - General wildfowl numbers were surprisingly well down today (on the WeBS count), with a total of no more than 20 Pochards (all but one on North pit) and just five Tufted Ducks. There were however a few highlights, with a Woodcock - the first reported on the Peninsula this year -  a Snipe, a Great White Egret and six Little Egrets on the North pit and a delightful flock of 36 Shovelers all feeding together in a swirl on South pit. A joint total of five Water Rails were also present, plus one or perhaps two Kingfishers, and at least six Chiffchaffs in the bushes.

Little Egrets (above) and Great White Egret at Drayton House North pit