Saturday, 1st February: A cool and very grey morning in a light to moderate south-easterly breeze....
Selsey Bill: The first Velvet Scoter for a while went east this morning, as did a Slavonian Grebe and a Guillemot, and there were a few divers about, too. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/BI/IP/AH/SR)
(0730-0930hrs) (ESE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 6E, 6os
Red-throated Diver - 15E, 25W, 9os
diver - 8E, 1W
Slavonian Grebe - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Grey Heron - 1
Gannet - 6E
Cormorant - 60E
Velvet Scoter - 1E
Common Scoter - 1E, 2os
Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 2W, 5os
Turnstone - 1E, 26W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W, 1os
Common Gull - 6E
Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1os
Guillemot - 1E
Razorbill - 2E
auk sp - 4E
Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Shovelers and c80 Teal, plus a Shelduck, on the pool, with c100 Wigeon and c30 Mallards on the flooded areas of the fields. (AH)
Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)
Selsey Peninsula: All three Long-eared Owls were still present today. (Eds)
Long-eared Owl on the Peninsula
Church Norton: A Fulmar that flew down the harbour and out to sea was very unexpected this morning, but the harbour was otherwise similar to recent days, with a Greenshank and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits about, along with at least 600 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers and 500 Dunlin, plus at least 1500 Lapwings and 1000 Golden Plovers at the far end, with a few Wigeon, Teal and Shelducks about, too.
Also of note were a couple of Redwings behind the hide and a pair of Sparrowhawks nearby, with at least 1500 Brent Geese in the fields behind the churchyard before they flew into the harbour. (AH/HB/LT)
Fulmar (above), Grey Plovers, Knot & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek, together with eight Redshanks, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Snipe, four Pintail and numerous Wigeon and Teal, with the large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover further out on the mud, and a vast amount of Brent Geese moving between the harbour and the fields.
The male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds behind the Breech Pool, but apart from c60 Curlews in Honer 2, it was quiet elsewhere, with just a Jay and a few Greenfinches around the paddock.(LP/CT/GW/GR)
Spotted Redshank (above) & Snipe at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - The Purple Sandpiper flew into the breach area among the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers this morning on the rising tide, and there were also two Greenshanks and a Sanderling present.
A pair of Stonechats were also about, as was a Red-breasted Merganser and a female Marsh Harrier. (IP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 17 Yellowhammers, seven Reed Buntings and five Stonechats along the banks this morning, whilst an Avocet, a Dunlin and three Snipe were on the Stilt Pool.
Also, at least 500 Brent Geese, 300 Golden Plovers and 200 Lapwings were on the reserve, with a Peregrine, two Marsh Harriers, two Kestrels and six Buzzards going over. (S&SaH/PB)
