20th December 2024

Friday, 20th December: A fairly cold morning, bright early on but clouding over later in a moderate westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was an unexpectedly good westward movement of 91 Red-throated Divers this morning, with ten Great Northern Divers about, too. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0750-0935hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 6E, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 91W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 17E, 5W

Shag - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 4E, 3os

Turnstone - 4

Sandwich Tern - 7os

auk sp - 38E, 5W

Red-throated Divers (above), Great Northern Diver & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Egyptian Geese were at the back this morning, with 44 Black-tailed Godwits and c75 Lapwing around the field and pool, along with c200 Wigeon, c150 Teal and c60 Shovelers. (AH)

Egyptian Geese (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Bearded Tits flew across the Breech Pool and dropped into the reeds, and six Canada Geese were on the water with the usual Mallards and Teal.

Out in the harbour there were the usual large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover and in Honer 1 two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were amongst a group of 1200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, along with 65 Curlews, 23 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Meadow Pipits.

Also, a Cetti’s Warbler and two Reed Buntings were along the bushes and a Kingfisher was by the Halsey’s Outfall., whilst in and around the paddock were ten Meadow Pipits, two Stonechats, two Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, with two Marsh Harriers further back over the reeds. (LP/SP/TRH/CT).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above), Marsh Harrier, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: This afternoon a Greenshank and the Whimbrel were among the few waders in the harbour at high tide, though at least 2000 Brent Geese were back behind the churchyard. (AH)

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

Chichester GPs: A Great White Egret flew north over the A27 from the direction of Ivy Lake this morning. (IP)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights in the upper creek this morning were three Greenshanks, an Avocet, a Shoveler and 33 Pintail, with 36 Black-tailed Godwits by the pontoon.

Opposite Dell Quay there was a second Avocet and a Knot, whilst downstream were 14 Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - There a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and three Kestrels about this afternoon, with c500 golden Plovers and Lapwings coming up from the reserve, too.

On the reserve itself, there were four Egyptian Geese, a Snipe and c20 Black-tailed godwits, but three Yellowhammers were all that could be found on the banks. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - There were at least 80 Skylarks, 200 stock Doves and 500+ Jackdaws and Rooks in the stubble fields this morning, whilst a Raven and a Buzzard went over.

Also, a Stonechat and a couple of Meadow Pipits were along the banks and c50 Yellowhammers and c30 Reed Buntings were in the cover crop field at Wilson's Farm, along with c30 Linnets and a handful of Chaffinches and Greenfinches. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above), Reed Bunting, Skylark & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)