20th - 22nd January 2025

Wednesday, 22nd January: A very grey and fairly cool morning in a light to moderate easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill:  The Red-necked Grebe went east again this morning, and the two Eiders were present, but not together, along with five Slavonian Grebes and a few of the regular species, plus a Chiffchaff along the front. Full log later. (SH/PB/IP/SR/AH/AW/LL)

(0740-0925hrs) (E, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 14E, 6W, 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 5os

Gannet - 123E, 1W

Shag - 13E

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 100os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

auk sp - 25E

Great Northern Divers (above), Common Scoter, Red-breasted Mergansers & Sanderling at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool  There were just ducks on the pool this morning, namely one Shelduck, c30 Wigeon and Mallard, c50 Shovelers and c150 Teal. (AH)

Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey Peninsula: At least one Long-eared Owl was still present this afternoon. (Eds)

Long-eared Owl on the Peninsula

Church Norton: Two Slavonian Grebes and a Sandwich Tern were the only birds offshore this morning, whilst there were plenty of the usual birds in the harbour, including c300 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers, c500 Dunlin, c50 Wigeon and Teal, c30 Pintail and a dozen Shelducks.

Also, at least 1000 Lapwings came up from the far end and at least 2000 Brent Geese, plus c50 Curlews and a dozen Red-legged Partridges were behind the churchyard. (AH)

Brent Geese (above) & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Water Rail was in the paddock this morning, as well as a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, a Song Thrush, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Jay, whilst two Marsh Harriers flew over from the harbour, and a Buzzard was in the trees.

Three more Water Rails were around the Breech Pool and a Bearded Tit flew over the reeds, with two more further along the wall, where there was also a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

Also, a Kingfisher was along White’s Creek and two Grey Plovers, 32 Dunlin, 14 Redshanks and c500 Lapwing were out on the mud, with lots of Brent Geese heading for the fields. (LP/NR/CT/AW/JDW)

Water Rail (above), Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher & Grey Plover at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers, two Goldcrests and five Stonechats were along the banks today, along with seven Yellowhammers and seven Reed Buntings, whilst a Peregrine and two Buzzards went over.

There were also a Greenshank and c75 Brent Geese on the reserve and an Avocet, eight Ringed Plovers and ten Dunlin on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH/PB)

Tuesday, 21st January: Sunny intervals forecast for today in F3 south-easterly winds ..expected to be the last dry day of the week...

Selsey Bill:  A very quiet and somewhat chillier morning. Full log below:

(0830-0930hrs) (SSE F3-4) (SR)

Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 13E
Gannet - 13E, 41W
Eider - 1os
Common Scoter - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 3os
auk sp. - 7E

(1030-1230hrs) (C.Sutton/B.Stuart):

Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 2E

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter -40os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 2ob

Common Gull - 2W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3

Ferry Pool  The Green Sandpiper flew across the field into the concealed pool where it was lost to sight, this was the only wader present today. The wildfowl consisted of 48 Shoveler, c75 Teal, c200 Wigeon and a few Shelducks. A Kingfisher was also present in Ferry channel. (SR/BI/B.Stuart)

Shovelers, above & Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (SR/BI)

Birdham: A Woodcock was flushed from the side of the road near Donnington this morning. (IP)

Pagham Spit/Lagoon: It was quiet along the spit with just seven Skylarks overhead. Out in the harbour there were lots of all the regular species as well as four Bar-tailed Godwits, and three Red-breasted Mergansers, with 3 Common Seals hauled out on the bank.
The Lagoon was also very quiet with just 10 Tufted Ducks and a few Little Grebes of note. (LP)

Tufted Duck, above,  Red-breasted Merganser & Common Seals at the spit (LP)

Church Norton: A Black-throated Diver was offshore this afternoon, a Greenshank and an Avocet were out in the harbour and c.1000 Brent Geese were along the west side. (R.Kelly/B.Stuart/C.Sutton)

North Wall: The ten Barnacle Geese were out in the harbour, and there was the usual huge amount of Lapwing and Golden Plover on the mud along with a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers.
The male Marsh Harrier was behind the Breech Pool and a Water Rail was along the edge of the reeds, and in the paddock, there were 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Pied Wagtails and 5 Meadow Pipits. (LP/TG) For info, parking restrictions in Church Lane at Pagham are now being enforced & many cars were ticketed this morning. (ABi)

Barnacle Geese & Marsh Harrier at the North Wall (LP)

Monday, 20th January: Another overcast start to the day but with the prospect of a few sunny spells later on...light southerly winds continuing...

Selsey Bill: A hazy morning with lingering mist and one dedicated observer! Full log below:

(0815-0930hrs) (ENE F3) (SR)

Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 11E
Gannet - 78E, 7W, 8os

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 90os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W
Oystercatcher - 1W, 1os
Sanderling - 1 ob
Turnstone - 1 ob
Pied Wagtail - 1W

There were also two male Blackcaps on the feeders in Byways today. (B.Richardson)

Ferry Pool: Thirteen Black-tailed Godwits and two Lapwings were the only waders seen and the pool was otherwise dominated by large numbers of wildfowl: c150 Wigeon were on the field at the back, c200 Teal, eight Shoveler, c20 Shelduck were on the banks. Ferry channel held a Greenshank, a Grey Plover and a Little Egret among c30 Teal, Wigeon and Redshanks. (SR)

Wildfowl at the Ferry Pool (SR)

Church Norton: Two Slavonian Grebes were reported offshore this morning. (per Birdguides/RBA)

North Wall: A Water Rail was along the reeds in the Breech Pool and a Kingfisher flew through towards the rife, while further back a female Marsh Harrier was sat in the trees. All the usual species were out in the harbour and a Rock Pipit was along the wall. A Bearded Tit was seen briefly over the reeds as well as two Reed Buntings, but it was otherwise quiet with just a few Curlews in the fields and a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and three Meadow Pipits in and around the paddock. (LP/CT/AW)

Pied Wagtail, above, Grey Wagtail & Water Rail at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham: Lagoon to the Spit: There were c.100 Great Black-backed Gulls, 40 Herring Gulls and c.10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the harbour roost mid-morning along with a 1W Caspian Gull. Also in the harbour were four Red-breasted Mergansers and a female Goldeneye, seven Pintails and plenty of Wigeon and Brent Geese. There was little along the spit itself other than a few Skylarks but a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse near the lagoon. The lagoon held four Little Grebes and ten Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

    Lesser Black-backed Gull, above, Caspian Gull, Red-breasted Mergansers & Goldeneye at the spit (BI)

Chichester Gravel Pits: Ivy Lake Complex: A bit grim here today with noticeably few birds on any of the lakes and along the paths: maximum Coot count 44! Otherwise there was a small scattering of wildfowl including c.20 Canada Geese. Also, sadly, the blue-green algae now appears to be spread throughout the majority of the lakes. (BI)

Canada Geese at East Trout Lake (BI)

Selsey Peninsula: The three Long-eared Owls were still present today albeit in a different area from usual. Regretfully, there are now reports of the owls being disturbed by having torches shined at them over the weekend....(Eds) 

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the- Stilt Pool: A Dartford Warbler put in a very brief appearance and a single Skylark, Yellowhammer, a Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler were the only other small birds seen bar c.40 Fieldfares and c.10 Song Thrushes.  A Water Rail was heard and 125 Brent Geese flew over as did 100 Lapwing and at least 300 Golden Plover. The Stilt Pool held 20+ Ringed Plovers, 14 Gadwall, an Avocet and plenty of Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck and there was an impressive wader murmuration at dusk over the marsh. Raptors noted included a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and three Buzzards. (SR/SaH/SH)