Monday, 31st March: After a cold start, a warm and sunny morning in just a light north-easterly breeze that later veered round to the south.......
Selsey Bill: It was a predictably quiet morning, with six Brent Geese and four Shovelers and Red-throated Divers looking like the only things on the move, though a Peregrine was seen chasing and killing a pigeon by the Mile Basket, before landing on the rocks there to eat its prey. Full log below. (PA/IP/TR/P&LH/AH/SR).
(0715-0900hrs) (NE, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Gannet - 4E,10os
Shag - 7E
Brent Goose - 6E
Shelduck - 2E
Shoveler - 4E
Common Scoter - 5E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4os
Peregrine - 1os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Curlew - 1E
Turnstone - 10
Mediterranean Gull - 16os
Sandwich Tern - 25os
Meadow Pipit - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Chiffchaff - 1
(1345-1445hrs) (P&LH)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 5os
Common Scoter - 25os
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Turnstone - 1E, 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 15os
Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet, Shovelers & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just four Avocets, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and six Lapwings about the pool this morning, along with 16 Shelducks, c40 Shovelers and c60 Teal. (AH)
Also, later, a Red Kite went over and a couple of Blackcaps and half a dozen Chiffchaffs were around the Discovery Area, whilst the two Little Ringed Plovers were back on the pool.. (PA/P&LH)
Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: A Sedge Warbler was singing at the Ferry end of the pool early this afternoon, with a Reed Bunting, three Cetti's Warblers and a Little Grebe also about. (P&LH)
East Beach: A male Blackcap was showing nicely in the garden this afternoon. (SR)
Blackcap in an East Beach garden (SR)
Church Norton: A female Black Redstart was in the churchyard this morning, but was the only suggestion of migration, though half a dozen Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits were also in the vicinity, with a few Linnets along the front.
There was a considerable, and encouraging, increase in activity in the harbour, with c20 Sandwich Terns, c100 Black-headed Gulls and an accurate count of 306 Mediterranean Gulls on the mud near their island, with waders including a Greenshank, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Grey Plovers and c30 Dunlin, along with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and c30 Shelducks. (AH/P&LH/TS et al)
Black Redstart (LH) (above), Blackcap, Goldcrest, Linnet, Mediterranean Gulls, Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gulls & Oystercatchers and Mediterranean Gulls (AH) at Church Norton
North Wall: A Swallow flew over White’s Creek early on, and the Spotted Redshank was still by the sluice, a few Teal and Wigeon were still about, and 12 Black-tailed Godwits as well as numerous Redshanks were on the mud.
It was still quiet along the wall, with just a few Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Buntings, and a lone Linnet along the bushes, but it was busy at Owl Copse, with Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets all in attendance, and a Kingfisher was along the water.
In the paddocks, two Jackdaws were collecting hair from the horses, a Kestrel was hunting for worms, and a Pied Wagtail was about, both male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, and a Green Woodpecker was in the garden at Little Welbourne. (TRH/LP/CT/MJa/D Homer)
This evening 74 Cattle Egrets were counted in Owl Copse, along with six Little egrets and two Grey Herons, whilst a Kingfisher, a Water Rail and a Snipe were about, too, along with two Chiffchaffs, six Cetti's Warblers, four Reed buntings and a Kestrel. (S&SaH)
Spotted Redshank (above), Cattle Egret, Reed Bunting, Jackdaws, Kestrel & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)
Sunday, 30th March: Another bright morning, though with a fresh and blustery north-westerly breeze keeping it slightly cool......
Selsey Bill: A total of 11 Velvet Scoters were seen this morning, with three heading out to sea in the company of a Common Scoter, then eight together that came off the sea and headed west, whilst a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among 24 Dark-bellied birds that went east, but, beyond that, it was just a mix of the regular species, including 40+ Sandwich Terns lingering offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/AH/SR)
(0645-0945hrs) (NW, F4-5)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 8E, 19W, 4os
Shag - 4E, 1os
Brent Goose - 24E, 1W
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1E
Shoveler - 2E
Velvet Scoter - 3E, 8os
Common Scoter - 37E, 2W, 5os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2os
Oystercatcher - 17W
Turnstone - 4E, 14W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Common Gull - 1E
Lesser Black-backed gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 44os
Wood Pigeon - 46S
Meadow Pipit - 4N
Chiffchaff - 1
(1430-1530hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 3E, 1os
Sandwich Tern - 5os
There was also an unconfirmed report of two Common Terns this afternoon. (per Birdguides)
Velvet Scoters (above) & Sandwich Tern at the bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were eight Avocets, three Lapwings and c25 Black-tailed Godwits around the pool, along with c60 Teal and Shovelers, 22 Shelducks and a dozen Wigeon.
Also, a Mistle Thrush and half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls went over.(AH)
Later, in addition to the above, a Little Ringed Plover was present again, along with two Snipe and three Gadwall, whilst a Willow Warbler was in the hedges opposite and two Skylarks went over. (MB)
Avocets (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Swallow came in off the sea this morning, and two male Wheatears were along the each by the second Several, whilst three Red Kites were circling over Priory Wood for some time, with a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk also about.
Also in the vicinity, good number of Chiffchaffs, a pair of Long-tailed Tits, a Jay and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in Bluebell Wood, a singing Reed Bunting and three Little Grebes were in the Severals and four Shelducks were in the fields at Greenlease Farm.
The harbour was fairly quiet though,, with half a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, three Turnstones, a Knot and a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers among the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, with, otherwise, just c30 Teal, a pair of Wigeon and a few Shelducks about, along with c50 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls and three Sandwich Terns. (IP)
Selsey: The three Red Kites seen at Church Norton were later over the north of the town. (MRe/S&SaH)
North Wall: A Red Kite was around the harbour for a while this morning, and the pair of Marsh Harriers were both about, and occasionally interacting, but it was generally slow-going along the wall, with a singing Willow Warbler at the far end, two or three Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers and a couple of Reed Buntings about it, though a Kingfisher flew through twice and a Snipe was on the Breech Pool.
There wasn't much on the mud as the tide rose beyond a few Black-tailed Godwits among the many Redshanks present, four Pintail and c20 Wigeon and Teal, with c30 Shelducks further out. (AH/LP/DHi/MJa/MRi et al)
Red Kite (above), Marsh Harrier, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal & Black-tailed Godwit and Redshanks at the North Wall (AH)
Medmerrry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Red Kites went over this morning, along with six Buzzards and five Kestrels, but the banks were quiet again, with just three Cetti's Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs and a handful of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers noted..
There wasn't much change on the Stilt Pool to recent days, with a Little Ringed Plover, , two Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Avocets and half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls about the total. (S&SaH)
Saturday, 29th March: A bright and sunny morning, with the moderate to fresh breeze initially from the north-east before backing to the south-west, warm in the sun, chill in the breeze......
Selsey Bill: Highlight this morning was a fairly distant White-fronted Goose that came in from way out and eventually headed west, with three Velvet Scoters that dropped in offshore and a Black Redstart along the front also noteworthy, but there remains very little eastward movement. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/JA/IP/AH/SR/JFi/P&LH)
(0545-0900hrs) (NNE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 4os
Red-throated Diver - 9E, 1W
diver sp - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 11E, 6W
Shag - 2E
White-fronted Goose - 1W
Velvet Scoter - 3os
Common Scoter - 53E, 6W, 3os
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 1W, 1os
Oystercatcher - 2W
Turnstone - 13W
Mediterranean Gull-
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 17os
auk sp - 1E
Stock Dove - 12W
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Pied Wagtail - 1
Black Redstart - 1
Linnet - 3W
Between 1315 and 1345hrs there were just a Red-throated Diver and two Gannets west. (P&LH)
(1600-1700hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Gannet - 15W
Oystercatcher - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 15os
Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were c40 Black-tailed Godwits, four Avocets and half a dozen Lapwings present this morning, along with two pairs of Gadwall, a handful of Wigeon, a dozen Shelducks, c25 Shovelers and c75 Teal, spread around the pool, and there were also, at least two Willow Warblers by the hide, with a couple of Chiffchaffs in the Discovery area. (AH/BI)
Later in the morning, there were also two Little Ringed Plovers on the pool. (AB/P&LH)
Willow Warbler (above), Avocets and Gadwall & Black-tailed Godwits and Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There were just a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and three Linnets along the path, with two Mediterranean Gulls, three Skylarks and three Buzzards over, whilst 18 Redshanks were along Ferry Channel. (P&LH)
North Selsey: A Willow Warbler was singing from the waste ground opposite the Selsey Centre this morning. (S&SaH)
Church Norton: There was afair selection of birds in the harbour at high tide this morning, including two Greenshanks, a dozen Bar-tailed Godwit, c50 Redshanks, c75 Turnstone and a handful of Dunlin, Ringed and Grey Plovers, plus c20 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls.
There were also ten Red-breasted Mergansers on the far side, before a pair flew out to sea and a lone Brent Goose by New Island, with c25 Shelducks on the concrete blocks, but there were just a few Wigeon and Teal about.
A Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs by the Mound, and another Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler along the front were the only migrants noted. (AH/IP/P&LH/AB)
Greenshanks (above), Mediterranean Gull & Redshank at Church Norton (AH)
Selsey Peninsula: At least one Long-eared Owl was still present today. (Eds)
North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was again by the sluice and three Snipe were around the Breech Pool, as well as 12 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst both male and female Marsh Harriers were further back over the reeds, with a Sparrowhawk, three Kestrels and eight Buzzards also going over, and two Canada Geese flew out over the harbour.
At Owl Copse, eight Cattle Egrets were in the trees early on, along with six Grey Herons and four Little Egrets, but there were just a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting, plus half a dozen Cetti's Warblers, along the bushes and a Little Grebe on Owl Water.
A Green Woodpecker and a Jay were at Halsey’s Farm, plus a Raven over, but it was generally quiet elsewhere, with just a Kestrel, four Jackdaws and two House Sparrows around the paddock, and a Song Thrush along Church Lane. (LP/MJa/SR/SH/PB)
Spotted Redshank (above), Snipe, Grey Herons & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)
Drayton Pits: A Red Kite went over, late this morning. (BI)
Sidlesham: A Bullfinch went over Cow Lane early this morning. (PA)
Medmerrry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, five Black-tailed Godwits and 11 Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, whilst a Greenshank was on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier and three Kestrels went over.
The banks were quiet, though, with just a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler, a Pied Wagtail, three Reed Buntings and five Yellowhammers seen. (S&SaH)
Medmerrry: Windmill area - A pair of Wheatears were present early on (AW), and still present early afternoon, along with a Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and half a dozen Meadow Pipits (AH).
Wheatears at Medmerry (AH)
No comments:
Post a Comment