Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 26th

Friday, 28th March: A shift of wind direction to the south-west produced a blustery, drizzly start that eventually gave way to a bright and breezy morning.......

Selsey Bill: It was slow this morning, with 16 Brent Geese east and three Sand Martins in off the sea the only likely migrants. Full log below. (JA/BI/AH/AW)

(0600-0800hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 19W

Brent Goose - 16E

Tufted Duck - 2W

Common Scoter - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 3W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Sanderling - 1W

Dunlin - 2W

Turnstone - 4

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 2os

Sand Martin - 3N

Sanderling and Dunlin (above), Tufted Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Brent Geese (AW), Sandwich Tern & Gannets (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were a Spotted Redshank, eight Avocets and c50 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool at high tide this morning, along with a pair of Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal and Wigeon and 16 Shelducks. (AH)

Spotted Redshank, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A fairly quick look early on produced a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs around the Mound/car-park area, whilst out in the harbour there were c25 Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, small numbers of Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Ringed Plovers, including a displaying pair of the latter, along with a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, two drake Red-breasted Mergansers and just a few Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-breasted Merganser, Knot, Ringed Plovers & Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was on the Breech Pool this morning along with four Black-tailed Godwits, a Snipe and 14 Teal, but it was otherwise quiet along the wall, with just a few Chiffchaffs, and Cetti;s Warblers in the bushes.

At Owl Copse, eight Cattle Egrets were in the trees along with six Grey Herons, and at Halseys’s Farm, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, four Linnets, a Wren, two Greenfinches, two Chaffinches and a few Blue Tits and Great Tits were along the path, but there was just eight Teal on the rife.

Out in the harbour towards high tide, there was a small group of Grey Plovers, and Dunlin on the mud and a flock of c80 Mediterranean Gulls were moving between the harbour and the fields, but there was just a handful of Wigeon on the water as well as a couple of Pintail.

Both male and female Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds as well as two Buzzards, but it was quiet in the paddock with just two Jackdaws and a Pied Wagtail about. (LP/MJa/CT)

Spotted Redshank(above), Cattle Egret, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits & Wren at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: There was no sign of the drake Red-crested Pochard or Little Gull this morning, despite a number of people looking, with, otherwise, just the regular mix, including four Egyptian Geese, c20 Greylag and Canada Geese, eight Pochard, c20 Tufted Ducks and half a dozen Great Crested Grebes.

There were also a Tree-creeper at New Lake, three or four singing Blackcaps, half a dozen Chiffchaffs and a couple of Cetti's Warblers about, plus up to five White Wagtails among c20 Pied Wagtails in the horse paddock behind Nunnery Lake. (BI/SR/AH/OM/IP/SM et al)

White Wagtails (above), Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Egyptian Geese, Egyptian Geese and Greylag Geese & Pochard at Chichester GPs (AH) and Treecreeper (bottom two) at New Lake (OM)

Thursday, 27th March: The morning started with the Peninsula shrouded in fog, which slowly cleared, except right on the coast, as the north-westerly breeze freshened slightly.....

Just a reminder that the Church Norton car park will be closed today for works. It should only be closed for the one day. (per RSPB)

Selsey Bill: It was a write-off this morning, with absolutely nothing moving, even when the fog lifted a little Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0725-0825hrs) (NW, F1)

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldfinch - 20

Turnstone at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the pool this morning, along with four Snipe and half a dozen Lapwings and Avocets, whilst a Spotted Redshank was tucked in amongst 57 Black-tailed Godwits, with an Egyptian Goose and 50+ Shovelers and Teal also about.

Also of note, the first two Willow Warblers were heard, with one near the Ferry and one in the Discovery Area. (PA/AH/BFF)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: The first Sedge Warbler of the spring was singing from the gorse adjacent to the far end of the pool this morning. (PA)

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

North Wall: Half a dozen Cattle Egrets were among the Little Egrets and Grey Herons in Owl Copse this morning, with one of the latter looking like it was already on eggs.

There weren't any indications of migration, though, beyond a couple of Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap and half a dozen Chiffchaffs, though a few Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers were active along the wall, a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool and both Marsh Harriers were up intermittently, with the male appearing to be displaying.

There were at least 50 Mediterranean Gulls about, both in the harbour and overhead, whilst a handful of Pintail and 50+ Wigeon and Teal were still around, along with just a few Black-tailed Godwits and Knot, 50+ Grey Plovers and 200+ Dunlin. (AH/LP/SP/IH/MJa/TRH et al)

Cattle Egret (above), Cattle Egrets and Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting & Mediterranean Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plovers and Dunlin at the North Wall (AH)

Chichester GPs: A drake Red-crested Pochard was on Copse Lake early this afternoon (BFF), and a Little Gull was on Vinnetrow Lake (SM).

Runcton: South of the village this morning there were a pair of Mute Swans, two pairs Canada Geese, two pairs of Greylag Geese, three Egyptian Geese, 20 Shelducks, 17 Mallard, 12 Gadwall, six Shovelers, six Teal, three Common Buzzards, two Little Grebes, 34 Coots, four Moorhens, a Chiffchaff and two Roe Deer. (CRJ)

Sidlesham: A Red Kite was low over Cow Lane early this afternoon. (PA/AH)

Red Kite over Sidleham (AH)

Wednesday, 26th March: After a cold and misty start, the morning slowly brightened to leave a lovely day in just a light easterly breeze...

Just a reminder that the Church Norton car park will be closed tomorrow for works. It should only be closed for the one day. (per RSPB)

Selsey Bill: Over 100 Brent Geese, 20 Wigeon and a few Sandwich Terns went east, as did a Swallow, and ten Great Northern Divers were sat together offshore, but it was generally slow in the poor visibility. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/LP/HR/DMe/SR/P&LH/AW)

(0545-0900hrs) (E, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 12os

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Great Crested Grebe -3E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 118E, 1W

Shelduck - 2E

Wigeon - 20E

Eider - 1os

Common Scoter - 1E, 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 2W, 4os

Oystercatcher - 9E, 1W

Whimbrel - 1E

Turnstone - 6E

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 14E, 6W

Skylark - 1N

Swallow- 1N

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 2

Brent Geese (above), Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Mergansers (AH), Wheatears & Chiffchaff (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Early on, there were at least 80 Shovelers and 50 Teal around the pool, along with a dozen Shelducks, but later on there were just a handful of each, together with four Avocets and c25 Black-tailed Godwits.

Also, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch and a Blackcap and at least three Chiffchaffs and four Song Thrushes were singing around the Tramway. (AH/TG-P/RS)

Chiffchaff (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Avocet & Shovelers around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Red Kite went over this morning, as did two Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel, whilst seven Chiffchaffs and four Long-tailed Tits were in the hedges and four Linnets and a Cetti's Warbler were along the front.

Four Sandwich Terns and 24 Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls in the harbour, with a Ringed Plover, a dozen Dunlin and two dozen Turnstones among the relatively few waders seen, and there were also 15 Teal and c30 Wigeon and Shelducks present.

Also of note, a Muntjac Deer was in the horse field and a Comma was on the wing. (P&LH)

Red Kite (above), Muntjac deer & Comma at Church Norton (LH)

This afternoon, a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly was in the car-park, the first locally for a couple of years. (RN)

Large Tortoiseshell at Church Norton (RN)

Chichester GPs: The first Yellow Wagtail of the year was in the horse field behind Nunnery Lake this morning, along with three White Wagtails and a few Pied Wagtails, with a singing Blackcap and a small flock of Redwings in the vicinity, too. (HR/DMe)

Selsey: A Raven went over St Peter's Church this morning, being mobbed by other corvids and gulls as it went north. (AW)

West Itchenor: A Red Kite went over, early this afternoon. (PH)

Sidlesham: A Hawfinch went north over Cow Lane at 0910hrs this morning. Also, aRedwing, four Gadwall and 62 Mediterranean Gulls went over. (PA)

Hawfinch over Sidlesham (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Little Ringed Plovers were again on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Snipe, four Black-tailed Godwits and 19 Avocets.

A Peregrine, a Kestrel and six Buzzards went over, but the banks were quiet, with just six Stonechats, eight Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, four Reed Buntings and c30 Yellowhammers seen. (S&SaH/PB)

North Wall: A Barn Owl as over the paddocks this evening, and two Ravens went over, one of which was carrying a large dead rat! (LP/D Hill)

Long Pool: A look this evening produced three or four Chiffchaffs, a Yellowhammer and c40 Linnets along the path, with c20 Black-tailed Godwits in the harbour at the end of Ferry Channel and a Marsh Harrier over. (AH)