28th November 2024

Thursday, 28th November: After a sharp frost, a cold, but very bright morning in just a light northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were plenty of distant auks going west and 18 Red-breasted Mergansers went east this morning, with a few Great Northern and Red-throated Divers going in both directions. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(07300-0900hrs) (NNE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 6E, 3W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 4W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2W

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1E

Grey Heron - 1

Brent Goose - 11E, 4W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 18E, 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Razorbill - 17W

auk sp - 446W

Great Northern Diver (above), Red-throated Diver, Shag, Red-breasted Mergansers & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 31 Avocets on the pool again this morning, but just a handful of Black-tailed Godwits were at the back and c250 Lapwings were on the adjacent ploughed field, along with a dozen Stock Doves.

There were also at least 50 Wigeon and Mallards, c75 Shovelers and c150 Teal around the pool. (AH)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were large numbers of waders roosting around the metalwork, Tern Island and the harbour mouth this morning, including a Greenshank, eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c100 Redshanks, c75 Turnstones, c30 Ringed Plovers,  c200 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c800 Dunlin, but otherwise there were just a few Wigeon and Teal and four Great Crested Grebes about, with another of the latter, two Red-breasted Mergansers and half a dozen Common Gulls offshore.

There were still at least 1000 Brent Geese behind the churchyard, but a handful of Meadow Pipits along the beach and c40 Linnets around the islands was about it for passerine interest. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin (above), Greenshank and Redshanks, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin & Teal at Church Norton (AH)