17th January 2025

Friday, 17th January: Another fairly cool and overcast morning, but with the breeze still fairly light and from the south......

Selsey Bill: The Red-necked Grebe went east again this morning, slightly closer in, and there were also five Slavonian Grebes, a Black-throated Diver and at least nine Great Northern Divers, plus the two drake Eider, 14 Sandwich Terns and the Black Redstart about, too. Full log below. (JA/BI/ABi/SR/LP/SP/IH/AH/P&LH/TR)

(0735-0935hrs) (SSE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 12E, 8W, 4os

diver sp - 7E, 4W

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 5os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 13E, 3os

Shag - 8E

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 53os

Red-breasted Merganser- 3E, 2W, 8os

Curlew - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 14os

auk sp - 12E, 5W

Black Redstart - 1

Eider (above), Common Scoters, Red-throated Diver & Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)

Also, of interest, a male Blackcap was feeding on an apple in our garden in Byways, behind the Bill, and eight Linnets dropped in yesterday. (B Richardson)

Blackcap at the Bill (B Richardson)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the small roadside pool again this morning, though, otherwise, there were just four Shelducks and c50 Shovelers and Teal present. (BI/AH et al)

Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek this morning. (J Holter)

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was at Chalkdock Copse this morning. (BI)

Highleigh: A Barn Owl flew across the road before dawn this morning. (SH)

North Mundham: A Coal Tit was in the garden this morning. (MJ)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - The Common Scoter flock - of c90 birds - and the two drake Eider were off the Coastguard station this morning, with two Great Northern Divers, two Red-throated Divers, eight Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes spread along the front.

There were lots of birds around the breach, including the Purple Sandpiper, a Greenshank, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed and Grey Plovers, c300 Dunlin, c150 Golden Plovers, c500 Lapwings, c40 Pintail, c100 Wigeon, c200 Teal, c30 Shelducks and c300 Brent Geese, but a Stonechat near the windmill was the only passerine noted. (AH)

Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin and Grey Plovers (above), Greenshank, Eider and Common Scoters, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers, Stonechat & Fox at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool -  A Dartford warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, a Reed Bunting and 11 Yellowhammers were along the banks this afternoon, whilst just before dusk a flock of c80 Fieldfares few into the poplars.

Also, an Avocet and c30 Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, with c75 Brent Geese, c200 Lapwings and c400 Golden Plovers on the reserve and a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and four Buzzards over. (S&SaH/AH)

Fieldfares at Medmerry (AH)