4th March 2025

Tuesday, 4th March: Following another sharp frost, lovely sunny morning in a light northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: About as quiet as would be expected in a light northerly breeze and a flat low tide, with six Brent Geese east the only possible migrants. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0735-0835hrs) (N, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Brent Goose - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 9os

Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Linnet - 1

Brent Geese (above) & a newly-renovated green triangle at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwings present this morning, along with six Shelducks, six Gadwall, c50 Teal, c80 Shovelers and c100 Wigeon. (AH)

Later on, the Green Sandpiper was back on the roadside pool. (LP)

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

Long Pool: Along the path this morning there were three Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti's Warbler, a Meadow Pipit and six Linnets, whilst a Snipe dropped into the adjacent fields and Ferry Channel held a dozen Teal, half a dozen Redshanks and a Grey Plover. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above), Reed Bunting, Linnet, Grey Plover & Teal at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Late this afternoon the drake Long-tailed Duck was offshore, along with four Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Barn Owl was over the horse field and a Greenshank, the Whimbrel and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were in the corner of the harbour opposite and c1000 Brent Geese were still behind the churchyard. (JC/AH)

Greenshank (above), Greenshank and Redshank, Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

West Wittering: Two Firecrests were at the harbour end of Ella Nore Lane this afternoon. (SH)

Fishbourne Creek: On the low tide this morning off the Lavant outfall there were 200 Brent Geese, 22 Pintail and a Gadwall, whilst at least three Greenshanks were along the creek, and from Dell Quay there were four Great Crested Grebes and two Little Grebes.

Also, amongst the commoner roosting gulls were two Mediterranean, eight Lesser Black-backed and two Great Black-backed Gulls. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were eight Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, two Cetti's Warblers and 45 Yellowhammers along the banks this afternoon, with two Kingfishers, a Water Rail, two Snipe, five Avocets and c40 Golden Plovers, including one in summer plumage, plus a Brown Hare, on the reserve, whilst a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Windmill to Ham Farm - There was very little to report this afternoon, though a Dartford Warbler and a few Linnets were along the banks and a few Redshanks ere in the tidal area. (EB)

Dartford Warbler (above) & Redshank at Medmerry (EB)