Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 1st

Tuesday, 3rd June: A very windy morning, increasing towards a south-westerly gale, with some light rain squalls under leaden skies..............

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua was chasing the gulls and terns in the huge feeding flock by the Mile Basket this morning, but three Fulmars west was the only other thing of note. Full log below. (AH/SR)

(0700-0830hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 9W

Common Scoter - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 150os

Sandwich Tern - 22W, 50os

Common Tern - 2os

Fulmar (above), Sandwich Tern & Arctic Skua and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Later, as the wind picked up, four Manx Shearwaters went west, along with three more Fulmars and three Kittiwakes. Full log below. (AH)

(0950-1105hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Manx Shearwater - 4W

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Common Scoter - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 35W

Common Gull -1W

Sandwich Tern - 18W

The first Roseate Tern of the year went west at 1607hrs, and another Manx did likewise, shortly after. Full log below. (AW/SH)

(1615-1745hrs)

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Gannet - 3W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 23W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 25W

Roseate Tern - 1W

Common Tern - 2W, 4os

Little Tern - 3W, 4os

(1940-2040hrs) (MRe)

Manx Shearwater - 3os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 150os

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Common Tern - 4W, 2os

Roseate Tern (above) & Manx Shearwater at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were just the two Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, two Avocets, c50 Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH/MJa)

This evening a Kingfisher was sat on the pumps in the channel opposite. (AB)

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

North Wall: There wasn’t much about in the unseasonal conditions this morning, although both male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees further back.

A pair of Stock Doves were in the paddock, and on the Breech Pool there were two Tufted Ducks and two Gadwall, but apart from a lone Swift passing over that was about it. (LP)

Stock Dove (above) & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were at least 150 Sandwich Terns in the harbour this morning, mostly sat on the mud, with a couple of Common Terns, c20 Little Terns and c80 Mediterranean Gulls also present.

There were also six Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Curlews, three Sanderlings, two Turnstones, a Ringed Plover and a mobile flock of c60 Dunlin in the harbour, along with a dozen Shelducks. (AH)

Little and Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, Little Tern, Common and Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns, Bar-tailed Godwits & Dunlin and Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 2nd June: It was warm and sunny this morning, despite the light northerly breeze, but the cloud increased with the breeze as it backed to the west later..........

Selsey Bill: A couple of Fulmars went west, but it was very quiet, otherwise. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0705-0805) (NNW, F3)

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Mallard - 2

Sanderling - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 22W, c50os

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Swift - 3

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 2

Fulmar (above), Mediterranean Gull & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Unexpectedly, the summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper re-appeared on the pool this morning, and there were also two Little Ringed Plovers, two Avocets, a Redshank, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Shelducks present. (AW/AH)

Curlew Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwits (AW top, AH lower) (above), Curlew Sandpiper & Little Ringed Plovers (AH) at the Ferry

North Wall: A pair of very active Kingfishers were along the creek at Halsey's Fam today, along with a Grey Heron, a Cormorant, two Shelducks without chicks and nine Lapwings, whilst a Reed Warbler showed well briefly, a Buzzard was overhead, 14 Cattle Egrets were with the cows to the rear of the field and an unseen Cuckoo was near the farmhouse. (GHi)

Kingfisher (above), Lapwings, Shelducks and Cormorant, Reed Warbler & Buzzard at the North Wall (GHi)

Church Norton: There were 25 Little Terns and a Common Tern among the Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour this afternoon, with waders present including two Bar-tailed Godwits, three Knot, three Sanderlings and two Dunlin. (BFF)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - A singing Corn Bunting was in the second hedge from the car park this morning, a calling Cuckoo was heard and four Swallows were around the stables near Wilsons Farm this morning, with a Kestrel, two Buzzards, a Cetti's Warbler, six Chiffchaffs, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, a Sedge Warbler and numerous Whitethroats and Reed Warblers also noted.

The first Meadow Brown butterflies of the year were about, too along with a Painted Lady and a Holly Blue. (SR)

Corn Bunting at Medmerry (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - At least five Dartford Warblers were about this morning, spread over three different locations along the banks, with a dozen Whitethroats, a couple of Chiffchaffs and up to five Reed Warblers also about, along with a Stonechat, half a dozen Stock Doves, a dozen Skylarks and 20+ Yellowhammers and Linnets, plus a handful of Swallows over.

A Marsh Harrier went over the south of the reserve and the resident Buzzards were thermalling together, but the Stilt Pool was very quiet, with just a single Ringed Plover, four Avocets, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Mediterranean Gull, three Gadwall, five Tufted Ducks and c25 Canada Geese present. (AH)

Dartford Warblers (above), Whitethroat, Stonechat, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Stock Doves & Avocet at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 1st June: The first day of summer started cool and fairly overcast in a brisk westerly breeze, though it did warm up and brighten up later on.....

Selsey Bill: There were a few things of interest again this morning, including a third-year Yellow-legged Gull among the flock on the bar off Hillfield Road, and 51 Sanderlings, a Fulmar and three Kittiwakes west. Full log below.

(PB/MRB/AH/IP/JFi/OM/M&LL)

(0615-0915hrs) (W, F4)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 4W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 8E

Sanderling - 51W

Mediterranean Gull - 35os

Yellow-legged Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 18os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 4os

Swift - 1

Skylark - 1

House Martin - 6

Meadow Pipit - 1

Pied Wagtail - 1

(1600-1800hrs) (MRe)

Gannet - 1E, 5W

Mediterranean Gull - c100os

Kittiwake - 16W

Sandwich Tern - 15W

Guillemot - 1W

Swift - 4W

Yellow-legged Gull and Herring Gulls (above), Little Tern, Fulmar & Sanderlings at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Avocets, two Redshanks, c60 Black-tailed godwits and 15 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH/OM)

Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A flock of seven Canada Geese flew south east over the fields this morning, and there was also a Green Woodpecker here and a pair of Pied Wagtails were on the roof of the farm buildings. (IP)

Church Norton: There were c35 Little Terns in the harbour, with many sat on the mud and displaying, with a couple of Common Terns, c20 Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls also about.

There were also a Whimbrel, five Bar-tailed Godwits, three Black-tailed Godwits, a Curlew and half a dozen Ringed Plovers present.

Also, a family of Long-tailed Tits and a Chiffchaff were near the Mound, whilst Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were all seen/heard along the front, together with three Jays and a Buzzard. (AH/OM/JFi/RAI/IP et al)

Little Terns (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Ringed Plovers & Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Cetti’s Warbler was by the sluice and there were lots of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings and Whitethroats along the wall, whilst a pair of Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe were on the Breech Pool, and a Green Woodpecker was in the paddock, with the male Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels, a Buzzard and three Swifts further back over the trees.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was along the rife, two Cuckoos flew over the fields and high overhead, both a Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk passed through. (LP/MJa)

Kingfisher (above), Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

Chi GPs: New Lake, Runcton & Vinnetrow Lakes - It was busy around the Ivy Lake area with anglers and Joe Public, so I concentrated my efforts on the three outer lakes (closed with blue/green algae). As reported previously, New Lake is hard to access now with overgrown vegetation, though some partial views can still be had. There were up to 20 Gadwall and a few Pochard there, whilst one of the rafts held about 30 adult Black-headed Gulls and a number of nests crammed in; I'd estimate perhaps c.15 nests of which three could be seen with young therein. Plenty of Cormorants but no chance of a count!

Runcton Lake held the most interest, the highlight being a drake Red-crested Pochard which spent a good while sleeping out on the open water with it's head tucked in, though it did eventually swim around before heading into cover. Two Common Terns were fishing and about 10 Pochard (all but one being males) were also here, plus a family of Greylags and a few Tufted and Great Crested Grebes.

Vinnetrow Lake was much quieter, though a Common Tern appeared, a couple of Pochard and a few Tufted Ducks were noted, plus a few Pochard and a brood of Mallards, and two rival Great Crested Grebes were having a dispute. (OM)