Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 10th

Thursday, 13th March: The breeze had freshened and gone back to the north-east overnight, leaving a cold and hazily grey morning.......

Selsey Bill: Eight Great Northern Divers on the sea and two Pintail east were the limited highlights offshore, though the Black Redstart popped up again around the Bill House garden. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/SR)

(0615-0830hrs) (NNE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 12W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 3E

Pintail - 2E

Common Scoter - 2E, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 1E

Turnstone - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Black Redstart - 1

Great Northern Divers (above) & Shag at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still a lot of wildfowl around this morning, including c200 Wigeon, c80 Shovelers, c50 Teal and eight Shelducks, but otherwise there were just a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings on the field. (AH)

Later in the morning, a Red Kite went over. (PJ/S&SaH)

Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeon, Teal and Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A look in the harbour this morning produced c300 Brent Geese and just a few Pintail and Wigeon, plus a Little Grebe, but a dozen or so of both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Knot were the only waders beyond the regulars.

Two Mistle Thrushes in the field behind the churchyard were the only passerines of note. (PB)

North Wall: A Red Kite went over late this morning. (GR)

Sidlesham Common: There were four Buzzards overhead together late this morning. (S&SaH)

Hunston: A Red Kite went over the village this morning. (PJ)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A Merlin was seen from the Medmerry Trail near the sewage works this morning. (PJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The three Little Ringed Plovers were still present around the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a displaying pair of Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, six Black-tailed Godwits and 23 Avocets, plus a few Wigeon, Teal and Tufted Ducks.

Apart from a Dartford Warbler at each end, most of the activity along the banks was just past Marsh Barn, where food has been put out, with at least 50 Yellowhammers, half a dozen Reed Buntings and up to 200 flighty Linnets taking advantage, plus a few Stock Doves nearby..

There wasn't much happening on the reserve, though, with c40 Brent Geese flying off east, c60 Golden Plovers flying around and two Egyptian Geese dropping on the reservoir being about it. (BI/AH/RJS/MG)

There was no sign of the Little Ringed Plovers this afternoon, with just two Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, five Black-tailed Godwits and 17 Avocets on the Stilt Pool, though a Greenshank was on the reserve opposite Marsh Barn and a Peregrine, eight Buzzards and about ten Mediterranean Gulls went over.

Also, two Stonechats and a Pied Wagtail were along the banks, together with six Reed Buntings and c25 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Ringed Plover, Golden Plovers, Black-tailed Godwit, Egyptian Geese, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 12th March: Another cold morning, mostly hazy and grey, with the odd brief sunny interlude, with the breeze having shifted north-west, though lighter than yesterday.......

Selsey Bill: A total of 232 Brent Geese went east this morning, mostly high up, but there was absolutely nothing else on the move. Full log below. (AH/P&LH/SR)

(0715-0900hrs) (NW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 232E

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 5W, 1os

Turnstone - 10

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

Ferry Pool: There were c40 Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen or so Lapwings around the pool this morning, with more wildfowl than of late, including ten Shelducks, six Gadwall, c50 Teal, 80 Shovelers and at least 200 Wigeon. (AH)

Also, later, a Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel.(TG-P)

Shelducks (above) & Shovelers and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were still c500 Brent Geese about this morning, along with c20 Pintail and c50 Wigeon and Teal,, whilst waders included the Whimbrel and the Greenshank, 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Grey Plovers and Knot and c200 Dunlin.

Four Great Crested Grebes were all that could be seen offshore, though, with a handful of Skylarks, a dozen Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits the only passerines of note, whilst a Sparrowhawk flew across the harbour and at least five Buzzards were on the wing. (AH/P&LH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Sparrowhawk, Teal & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was over the fields at Halsey’s Farm at sunrise this morning, and later 140 Wigeon were along the rife, a Skylark was singing and two Buzzards were up high, whilst the usual Grey Heron activity was around Owl Copse, and 12 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the bushes.

Out in the harbour, towards high tide, there were just a few Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck and Brent Geese on the water, and a mixed group of waders way out on the remaining mud, including Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew and Oystercatchers.

Also, a Song Thrush was in the paddocks, as well as two Pied Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel, but otherwise there was just a Marsh Harrier over the reeds, and a pair of Stock Doves in the garden at Little Welbourne. (MJa/LP)

Pintail, Dunlin and Grey Plovers at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The first three Little Ringed Plovers of the year were on the Stilt Pool this morning, with three Ringed Plovers and 17 Avocets also present, and a Corn Bunting was in the field opposite. (HB)

Later in the morning, the Little Ringed Plovers ere still present and a ring-tail Hen Harrier was hunting over the reserve, and there was also a Marsh Harrier, six Buzzards and a Raven about.

Other birds seen included two Black--tailed Godwits, a dozen Dunlin, c30 Wigeon and c50 Teal around the Stilt Pool and three Stonechats, three Cetti's Warblers, six Reed Buntings and c30 Yellowhammers along the banks. (P&LH)

Little Ringed Plover at Medmerry (LP)

Donnington: A flock of c70 Brent Geese were seen flying over high up, heading east, early this morning. (P&LH)

West Wittering: A Firecrest was hopping about in the bushes outside my home office this morning, literally three feet from my desk and so close I photographed it on my phone! (GM)

Firecrest in a West Wittering garden (GM)

Tuesday, 11th March: A distinctly cold morning in a brisk north-easterly breeze, mostly overcast, but with a little hazy sunshine at times.....

A Happy Birthday to the Blog....12 today! (OM/Eds)

Of interest, one of the Avocet chicks colour-ringed at Snowhill Creek on 22nd June last year, and then seen as a juvenile on the Ferry on 6th and 8th August, relocated to Suffolk in September, reported from Havergate Island on the 23rd and 28th, with the most recent report being from Minsmere yesterday. It will be interesting to see if it returns our way this year. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: There was nothing on the move this morning, with as many birds going west as east, but a Guillemot and two Razorbills on the sea were the first in a while. Full log below. (PB/PM/AH/SR)

(0630-0900hs) (NNE, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

diver sp - 1E

Gannet - 9E, 21W, 6os

Shag - 1E

Shoveler - 2W

Mallard - 2E

Eider - 1os

Common Scoter - 1E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 7W, 3os

Ringed Plover - 3

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 10E

Guillemot - 1os

Razorbill - 2os

Shag (above), Shovelers, Great Northern Diver & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c60 Black-tailed Godwits about this morning, along with two Avocets and a dozen or so Lapwings, but there were less wildfowl about, with just ten Shelducks, four Gadwall, c20 Teal and c40 Shovelers present.

Also, a female Marsh Harrier went through at the back of the pool.(AH/PB/PM)

Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits (above), Shoveler & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look on the full tide didn't produce much, with Brent Goose numbers reduced to c200, and just a dozen or so Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and Shelducks about the harbour, and very few waders evident beyond c50 Grey Plovers on the metalwork and c30 Turnstones on Tern Island. (AH)

Brent Geese (above), Teal and Pintail at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon the Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among c500 Brent Geese behind the churchyard, before most of them flew into the harbour or over to the North Wall. (AW)

Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Windmill area - Thee was no sign of the Wheatear this morning, though some consolation was had with the first Sand Martin of the spring going over.

Otherwise, there were just a Meadow Pipit and a handful of Skylarks in the area, plus 11 Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea and 36 Curlews which flew out from the big grass field. (AH/PB/PM)

Meadow Pipit (above) & Curlews at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 10th March: A fairly warm morning, with some sun among the hazy conditions in a light north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was almost nothing about this morning, though six Great Northern Divers were spread around offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP/AW)

(0715-0830hrs) (NE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Turnstone - 4

Common Gull - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1

Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank, a Shoveler and two Teal on the pool this morning, as the RSPB were working at the back. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Later, a Mistle Thrush was singing near the Visitor Centre. (EB)

Mistle Thrush at the Visitor Centre (EB)

Long Pool: A Great White Egret flew over the fields adjacent to the pool, heading for Church Norton late this morning, and there was also a Water Rail calling from the pool. (AW)

Church Norton: There were at least 800 Brent Geese dominating the harbour this morning, with, otherwise, just a scattering of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal on the water at high tide, with a few Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers mainly near the harbour mouth, though c20 Mediterranean Gulls and c50 Black-headed Gulls looked like they had begun to move back in.

A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be seen offshore, and the land-side was very quiet. (AH/SaH)

Red-breasted Mergansers (above) & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was hunting over the fields at Halsey’s Farm early this morning and a Mistle Thrush, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker where in the adjacent trees, whilst later, 20 Meadow Pipits and a Skylark were in the fields, and a Sparrowhawk and two Greylag Geese flew over, and five Pintail, 22 Redshank and a Little Egret were by the outfall.

Two Bearded Tits were seen briefly in the reeds by the Breech Pool, while on the pool, there was a Spotted Redshank, two Snipe, four Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Teal, eight Wigeon and two Shelducks, at Owl Copse 15 Grey Herons were moving between the trees and the harbour, with six Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting along the hedges and two Song Thrushes in the paddock, with three Marsh Harriers, and two Buzzards further back over the reeds. (MJa/CT/LP)

Spotted Redshank and Teal (above), Snipe, Grey Herons, Pintail & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

Later in the day, another Scandinavian Rock Pipit (ie,different to yesterday's) was along the wall (PA) and a Barn Owl as at Halsey's Farm at dusk (AH)

Scandinavian Rock Pipit (PA) (above) & Barn Owl (AH) at the North Wall

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A Red-breasted Merganser was at the far end of the Lagoon today, along with four Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes, a Tufted Duck and a few Common and Mediterranean Gulls.

A flock of 20 Linnets were along the spit as well as a Reed Bunting, two Skylarks and a Dunnock, with a Kingfisher on the metalwork by the harbour entrance, whilst out the harbour there were still a few Wigeon and Teal about, c200 Brent Geese were on the mud, and two Common Seals were in the main channel. (LP)

Red-breasted Merganser (above), Kingfisher, Linnet & Common Seal at Pagham Spit LP)

West Itchenor: Two Red Kites went over Chalkdock early this afternoon. (PH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - Medmerry and AW took the spoils for the second year running for the first Wheatear of the year - with a fine male around the go-kart track and then the beach this morning.

There were also a Stonechat, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and a dozen Linnets about, with a dozen Curlews on the adjacent field. (AW/AH)

The Wheatear was still present later on, and there were five Corn Buntings in the large grass field and two Greenshanks were at the breach.(AW)