Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 26th

Saturday, 27th December: The north-easterly breeze picked right up again today, leaving it cold and bright..........

Selsey Bill: There was another good eastward movement of 66 Red-throated Divers and up to ten Sandwich Terns were about, though it was otherwise quite quiet. Full g below. (SH/JA/P&LH/BI/AH et al)

(0740-0940hrs) (NE, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 4E,1W

Red-throated Diver - 66E, 1W, 3os

diver sp - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 4os

Gannet - 26E, 3W

Shag - 1E, 2os

Wigeon - 3E, 1W

Common Scoter - 11E, 20os

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

Common Gull - 3E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 1os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 7W

Razorbill - 5E

auk sp - 105E, 1W

(1215-1315hrs) (P&LH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4W

Little Egret - 1E

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 20os

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Red-throated Diver (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was busy again today, with at least 1000 Lapwings about, along with a handful of Golden Plovers and c30 Black-tailed Godwits, with c400 Wigeon, c200 Teal, c80 Shovelers, a pair of Gadwall, a Brent Goose, a Greylag Goose and c90 Canada Geese also about. (AH)

Lapwings (above), Black-tailed Godwit and Shovelers & Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwits and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two Water Rails were around the reeds today. (LL)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were still at least 63 White-fronted Geese in the fields between Chalder and Bramber Farms today. In the Honer area there were two Merlins, two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and four Marsh Harriers (BI/PB et al)

North Wall: A pair of Bullfinches were by Owl Copse this morning, and along the hedgerows there were a few Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Song Thrushes, a Redwing and a Cetti’s Warbler.

A flock of 13 Egyptian Geese flew over, and two Marsh Harriers were behind the Breech Pool, whilst a Shoveler was with the regular Mallards on the pool.

A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek, and a Kingfisher was by the sluice, while in the paddock there was a Water Rail, a Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails. (PB/LP/CT et al)

The adult male and four female Marsh Harriers came into roost at the Breach Pool late this afternoon, with two more females seen after that, at dusk, at Halsey's Farm. (S&SaH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Water Rail, Yellowhammer & Grey Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - At least 2000 Brent Geese were in the fields along Ham Road this morning, at one point heading off towards Ham, before returning again, and there were also at least 500 Lapwings in the fields, too, and a Red Kite went over.

Also, up to a dozen Chiffchaffs were in the sheltered hedges around the water treatment works, but there wasn't too much else beyond a handful of Linnets and Pied Wagtails. (AH)

Brent Geese (above), Red Kite & Chiffchaffs at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Old House Farm - At dusk this evening at least 40 Yellowhammers flew in to roost in the hedges along the track and half a dozen Meadow Pipits were in the fields. (AH)

Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AH)

Boxing Day, friday, 26th December: A greyer, but milder morning, and with the north-easterly breeze much reduced.....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety again this morning, including a Long-tailed Duck, three Velvet Scoters and two Slavonian Grebes, plus over 50 Red-throated Divers east. Full log later. (SH/PB/BI/IP/KT/AH)

(0750-0935hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 58E, 4os

Slavonian Grebe -

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 5os

Gannet - 87E

Brent Goose - 6W

Shelduck - 4E, 5W

Wigeon - 2E

Teal - 5E

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 3E

Common Scoter - 6E, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 3os

Grey Plover - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 7E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 6os

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 5E

auk sp - 65E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Mediterranean Gull & Red-throated Divers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A lot of birds were on the pool and fields again this morning, including up to 1000 Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greylag Goose among c100 Canada Geese, a dozen Shelducks, c75 Shovelers, c150 Teal and c400 Wigeon. (AH/BI)

Shovelers (above) & Black-tailed Godwit and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm Sidlesham: The entire flock of 72 White-fronted Geese had re-located from the North Wall to the wet grass fields between Chalder and Bramber Farms this morning, where they appeared settled, with a few Shelducks and Curlews among them, and c20 Cattle Egrets and c50 Lapwings were in the adjoining fields, whilst at Marsh Farm, a Green Sandpiper was seen in flight. (AH/IP et al)

White-fronted Geese (AH top three, GM lower) (above) & Cattle Egret (AH) at Chalder Farm

Honer Reservoir: There were no birds on the reservoir, though a pair of Stonechats and a dozen Shelducks were on the flooded field, but beyond a handful of song Thrushes and Greenfinches, the hedges were very quiet. (AH)

North Wall: There was again no sign of the Hen Harrier at dusk but four Marsh Harriers came into roost. (BI)

West Itchenor: Two Great Northern Divers were south of Itchenor this morning, with other highlights including seven Red-breasted Mergansers, 75 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Yellowhammer. (SM)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - A Firecrest was by the start of the concrete road this morning, whilst along the Trail, there were three Redwings and 13 Song Thrushes.

At Porthole Farm, 11 Chiffchaffs were around the edges of the water treatment works, with a Grey Wagtail, 17 Meadow Pipits and 57 Pied Wagtails also present, whist a Snipe, c50 Stock Doves, a Stonechat, four Skylarks and c500 Brent Geese were around the fields, and 40 Lapwings went over. (MRe)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - Three Dartford Warblers, four Goldcrests, eight Stonechats, six Meadow Pipits, ten Goldfinches and c20 Skylarks were along the banks this morning, with a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel over.

Also, c300 Golden Plovers, c200 Lapwings and c500 Brent geese were on the reserve, with three Ringed Plovers and two Dunlin on the stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - There were c800 Golden Plovers and c500 Lapwings along the fields this afternoon, with a huge flock of c1500 Brent Geese flying around over towards Porthole Farm.

At Wilson's Farm there were c80 Yellowhammers in the bushes, along with a few Chaffinches and a big flock of c150 Linnets flew around several times without settling. (AH) The big flock of Brent Geese were also present ealier in the day and there were c.30 Fieldfares around the hedges. (BI)