Review of the Year 2022
compiled by Andy House
The year 2022 will perhaps be remembered more for its extremes of weather and bigger issues in the wider world than for its bird-watching highlights, but there was, as usual, a good selection of birds to be seen on the Peninsula.
For the second year running, though, there were no new species added to the Peninsula list, with a total of 211 for the year being just below average, but there were several that hadn't graced our patch for twenty years or more, allowing some of the newer (if not necessarily more youthful!) locals to get some species back on the older generation.
Among the highlights were the second Bonaparte's Gull, third Squacco Heron, fourth Buff-breasted Sandpiper and six and seventh White-rumped Sandpipers, all of which were widely appreciated, though others, such as the second-ever Caspian Tern and the first Sabine's Gull in over a decade, were only ever seen by the finders.
Blog team members racing to see the White-rumped Sandpiper at Medmerry (AH)
Sadly, the spectre of avian influenza hung over the year, with the tern and gull colonies particularly vulnerable in the breeding season, and also undoubtedly reducing the number of birds (as opposed to species) that were around. There were worryingly low numbers of many species in both spring and autumn, though, fortunately, the colony in the harbour ultimately fared better than many other places.
The RSPB undertaking the grim task of removing corpses from the Tern Island colony (AH)
The various extremes of weather didn't help, either, with a cold and fairly wet start to the year seemingly holding back the already depleted ranks of summer migrants, giving way to the hottest and driest summer since 1976, inevitably followed by an extremely wet and windy autumn, and then a prolonged spell of freezing weather and yet more heavy rain to round the year off.
July (above) & November at the Ferry (AH)
The relentless consuming of land for development continued, too, particularly around the newly named Seal Bay caravan park (formerly Bunn's), where the new owners' enthusiasm for covering every last blade of grass in caravans means more and more lost habitat for migrating birds.
And Drayton Pits, a little outlier of the Peninsula that holds a number of species rare elsewhere, was being systematically destroyed as the year ended.
But the locals soldier on, aided by the many visiting birders, recording everything that passes our way, with another year of 365 day coverage at the Bill and on the Blog, proving again what a good little area the Peninsula still is for birdlife, despite it all.
The joys (OM) (above) & woes (AH ) of sea-watching at the Bill
It was another interesting year for insect lovers, with the Norfolk Hawker colony on Chichester Canal seemingly consolidating on last year's success, Willow Emerald damselflies, another colonising species, being found at Runcton, Long-tailed Blue and Brown Hairstreak butterflies, both less than annual visitors being seen, and some spectacular and rare migrant moths, such as Striped Hawkmoth and Crimson Speckled, giving themselves up to the local trappers.
Norfolk Hawker at Chichester Canal on 13th June (AM) (above), Striped Hawk-moth on 21st August (BI), Long-tailed Blue on 28th August (SR) in Selsey gardens & Crimson Speckled in a Runcton garden on 28th October (CRJ)
One of the most unexpected sightings of the year, sadly missed by virtually all the locals, was that of a Walrus on 10th December - certainly the first for the Peninsula, and very probably for the county as a whole. It drifted into the harbour on the high tide, but didn't linger, turning up at the other end of the Solent on the following morning and was in Dieppe a few days later.
It was pleasing to see, too, that the pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins that frequented the sea off the Bill were just as regular again this year.
Walrus at Pagham Spit on 10th December (per Twitter) (above) & Bottle-nosed Dolphins at the Bill on 23rd March (SR)
The Birds
As in previous years, this is a list of the bird-watching highlights - and interesting and unusual reports of more familiar birds - rather than a full report, and has concentrated on the birds rather than the finders. Records of rarer species are only included where there is likely to be a description submitted to the SOS.
Divers
As was the case with many species, numbers of Red-throated Divers were well below average this year, with the biggest day counts being just 41 west on 6th January and 39 east on 13th March, with very few winter days even reaching double figures, though the spring total of 351 birds was actually above average.
The last of the spring was on the early date of 14th April, whilst the first back was early, too, on 20th September, though numbers were low through the autumn until the year finished with a flourish, with 117 west on Christmas Day, followed by 79 and 81 on the next two days, including a flock of 36 on the 27th.
Red-throated Diver at the Bill on 12th February (AH)
The only winter records of Black-throated Diver were of one off East Head on 9th January, with two together there on the following day, and one reported from Church Norton on the 16th, with no more records until one east at the Bill on 13th March. There were only a below average ten more birds seen going east there, including the last on 9th May, whilst one reported from Medmerry on 13th March was the only one away from the Bill.
One east at the Bill on Christmas Day was the sole record for the latter half of the year.
Black-throated Divers at East Head on 10th January (PH)
Great Northern Divers were in fairly short supply, too, compared to recent years, and while birds were present most days up until mid-May, a peak of just seven birds were recorded off the Bill on a number of dates.
The last of the spring was seen on the late date of 8th June, three weeks after the next to last, whilst the first of a slow autumn was recorded on the fairly typical date of 20th October, with a peak of just eight recorded on 19th November.
Great Northern Diver at the Bill on 30th April (AH)
Grebes
The good recent run of Red-necked Grebe sightings continued this year, with presumably the same individual being reported regularly off Church Norton and the Bill between New Year's Day and 10th February, with it, or another, seen passing the Bill on 16th March.
There was an extraordinary record of one going west past the Bill on 21st August - the earliest autumn record by a distance - and then singles west on the more typical dates of 22nd October and 8th November, followed in December by one west there on the 24th, the 27th and the 29th.
Red-necked Grebe at the Bill on 16th March (AH)
After two blank years, it was good to get a Black-necked Grebe back on the Peninsula list, but the one seen on 3rd January was only briefly present and seen by just a handful of people.
Black-necked Grebe at Church Norton on 3rd January (AH)
The early part of the year was actually quite good for Slavonian Grebes, with January counts at Church Norton of 12 on the 13th, 13 on the 16th, 24 on the 28th and 12 on the 30th being better than we have become used to, though most of the records in February and March came from the Bill, with six on 23rd February the best, and several counts of four birds in March, before the last on the early date of the 19th.
The first of the autumn was at the Bill on 12th November, whilst eight at Church Norton, on 8th and 10th December, was a very modest best count.
Slavonian Grebe at Pagham Spit on 23rd November (LP)
Seabirds
Despite the vast numbers of shearwaters lingering off the west country, it was a quiet year for them locally, with the only Sooty Shearwaters of the year seen passing the Bill on 30th October and 5th November.
And it was a very poor year for Manx Shearwaters, not helped by the almost constant northerly/easterly winds in the spring and the hot and stormless summer. The first of only 19 spring birds passed the Bill on the late date of 13th April, whilst the only summer birds were one west on 1st July and one west on 6th August, with one east and one west on 4th September, and five west on the 7th being the last of the year.
There were just five Balearic Shearwaters records, of six birds, at the Bill this year, with two west on 21st August the first, followed by singles west on 10th and 24th September and 7th and 17th October.
Gannet numbers were quite low early in the year, with a massive movement of 852 west on 31st January being very much the exception, whilst 283 east on 27th April was the biggest spring day and 425 west on 3rd August the biggest of the summer.
Despite their well-recorded problems elsewhere, and a number of dead and dying birds being found locally, autumn numbers were respectable, with 100+ birds seen on a good number of occasions and peaks of 308 west on 30th October and 387 west on Christmas Day.
Gannets at the Bill on 8th September (AH)
It was definitely a year of two halves for Shag numbers off the Bill, with a very poor early part of the year producing only occasional birds, but followed by a bumper autumn, with 20 or 30 birds seen heading east on many mornings, and a peak of 52 on 7th October being the best for many years. The vast majority were juvenile birds, hopefully suggesting a successful breeding season.
Shag at the Bill on 4th March (AH)
Herons
The Cattle Egrets appear here to stay, with peaks of 56 on 1st January and 58 on 29th March, and a count of 14 nests in Owl Copse on 27th April. They bred much earlier this year than last, and by 10th August a count of 64 birds was made at the North Wall, with the colony empty.
A count of 75 at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham on 18th November was similar to last year's peak, but the cold snap in December seemed to reduce numbers, as well as producing the only record at the Bill for the year, with three seen going east out to sea on the 12th.
Cattle Egrets at the North Wall on 29th July (AH)
There were only two reports of Great White Egret in the first half of the year, with one seen over the North Wall at dusk on 23rd February, and one in off the sea at the Bill on 9th April.
It was a much better second half of the year, though, starting with an individual seen on 8th, 11th and 26th August at the North Wall, followed by two together at Drayton Pits on the 13th and 14th, and then one seen at Medmerry on 3rd and 11th September.
There were no more sightings then, until October, with one in Fishbourne Creek on the 21st, at Medmerry and then the harbour on the 23rd and at Drayton Pits on 4th November, with another at Medmerry on the 13th, when four together took up residence on Drayton Pit until 4th December.
The cold weather moved most of them on, though one remained until the year's end, with four seen heading east over Pagham village, with two more in the harbour at the same time, on 10th December being the only other reports.
Great White Egret (with Little Egrets) at the North Wall on 26th August (LP)
Remarkably, a Squacco Heron turned up on 29th July in exactly the same location as the bird in 2019, though it preferred fishing the rife at Halsey's Farm rather than feeding on grasshoppers in the field, during its stay until 18th August. It was an equally obliging bird, but we will never know for certain if it was the same one or not.
Squacco Heron at Halsey's Farm on 7th August (GM)
It would appear that one wandering Spoonbill accounted for the dozen or more reports between 1st January and 9th February, visiting all points of the harbour and Medmerry during its stay, whilst the only other record for the first half of the year - of one east past the Bill on 15th March - was presumably a migrant from elsewhere.
There were relatively few autumn records, after the first at Medmerry on 3rd July and a little flurry on the 27th, when one at the North Wall became two over the Ferry and then three together at Medmerry.
A flock of nine went over Medmerry, heading west, on 21st August, and then two were remarkably seen settled and feeding on the Mixen ('Mile Basket') rocks, a mile offshore from the Bill before flying off east, on 10th September, with one at Church Norton on 19th September, seen at Medmerry on the following day and again on the 29th, being the last reports of the year.
Spoonbill at the North Wall on 27th July (AH)
One of the events of the winter was an arrival of Glossy Ibises at the North Wall, with one coming into roost in Owl Copse from 16th January, rising to two on the 28th and 29th, and then an astonishing six together, the most ever recorded on the Peninsula, from the 30th until 26th February, with four remaining until 14th March and the last two recorded on 13th April.
What was presumably the same bird frequenting the Peninsula was recorded multiple times from various locations from its first sighting at Medmerry on 29th July, until the last at the North Wall on 22nd September.
Glossy Ibises at the North Wall on 30th January (CRJ)
Despite the proliferation of records from elsewhere in the county, there was only one report of a White Stork (presumably a 'Knepp' bird), with one seen over Ivy Lake on 17th March.
Wildfowl
Numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese were unremarkable early in the year, though passage appeared to start early, with 91 east past the Bill on 25th January and 81 east on 15th February, and eight presumed migrants inland at Drayton Pits on the 20th. As ever, most of the spring total of 3046 at the Bill moved through in March, though, equally reliably, the last few were in May, including a flock of 37 on the 8th and the last nine on the 10th.
A single bird remained throughout the summer, initially in the harbour, before relocating to the Ferry, whilst two east past the Bill on 18th August were a bit of an unseasonal mystery, before the first two west occurred on the early date of 11th September. Autumn passage was slow and uneventful, with birds seen in modest numbers on many dates, with 409 west on 20th October the biggest count. Wintering numbers seemed good, though, and with the biggest percentage of juveniles among them for several years.
Brent Geese at the Bill on 9th March (AH)
It was a reasonable year for Pale-bellied Brent Geese, after one at Medmerry on New Year's Day, with two west at the Bill on 14th February, one at the North Wall on 6th March, one east past the Bill on 1st May being the records from early in the year.
The first of the autumn was at East Head on 26th October, followed by one at Church Norton on 3rd November, one going east, then west past the Bill on 16th November, one at the North Wall on 2nd December and finally four that dropped in by Pagham Spit before heading off east on 10th December.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at the North Wall on 6th March (AH)
The only Barnacle Geese early in the year were of a flock of 17 that dropped in on the harbour on 6th February, seen again early on the following day.
A flock of 20 heading west, well offshore from Medmerry, on 4th November and ten in the harbour on 10th December might well have been wild migrants, though the five with three dubious Cackling-type Canada Geese seen at the North Wall on 9th and 15th December were possibly of more suspect origin.
Barnacle Geese at Church Norton on 6th February (SH)
There were numerous reports of Egyptian Geese throughout the year, as the species continues to consolidate its status as a fairly scarce, but regular, resident species, with breeding occurring at both Chichester GPs and Medmerry, and double figure counts now usual, such that even 20 seen on 6th November at Medmerry was not worthy of much comment.
It remains uncommon at the Bill, though, with six east on 10th September being the only record.
Egyptian Geese at Medmerry on 27th May (AH)
After a blank year last year, there were three records of Mandarin in 2022, with one seen in flight at Park Farm, Selsey on 28th March, an eclipse drake on the small pond right by Chalder Farm on 31st May and 1st June and then a female on the equally small pond in a housing estate in Pagham village on 8th August.
Mandarin at Chalder Farm, Sidlesham on 31st May (SR)
One of the big events of the year was the influx of Garganey onto the Peninsula, part of a unprecedented arrival along the south coast, starting on 21st March, when a new day-record of ten were recorded going east at the Bill, with four seen at Medmerry and a pair on the Severals at Church Norton (which remained until 2nd April).
These were followed by a drake around Ivy Lake from the 22nd to 24th, and then another ten past the Bill on the 23rd, when a pair was also seen at the North Wall, and then a few more scattered records, including four past the Bill on the 29th and three on 11th April, a drake at the North Wall on 1st May and it or another on the Ferry on the 3rd to the 6th, and finally a pair there on the late date of 30th May.
To give context to those passing the Bill, the average is three records per spring, and the total of 28 was more than double the 13 seen in 1968, the next best year.
It remains a very scarce species away from the spring, though, and this year was no different, with just two reports - of two juveniles together on Honer Reservoir on 19th July and one west past the Bill on 23rd August.
Garganey at Church Norton on 22nd March (AH)
It was a record-breaking spring at the Bill for another species, too, with the total Pintail count of 309 east smashing the old record of 84, set in 2003, and the all-time day record was beaten twice, with 95 on 8th March topped by the 113 on the 21st.
A count of 120 off the North Wall on 13th February was noteworthy too, for this regular, but never very numerous, winter visitor.
Pintail at the Bill on 21st March (AH)
It was a better year for Pochard locally, with 120 around Chichester GPs on 6th February a good count for recent years, whilst two or three broods were found around Ivy Lake in the summer, with five juveniles together seen there on 16th July, and four broods were found around the Drayton Pits.
Pochards at Chichester GPs on 5th June (AH)
Red-crested Pochards don't normally get a good press, with all sightings tainted by the possibility of escaped or feral birds, but the pair that took up residence on Ivy Lake from 17th March, being seen busily displaying and exchanging clumps of weed, proved surprisingly popular.
Sadly, it doesn't seem they were successful after the female appeared to go off to brood, with the pair reappearing on Leythorne Lake together on 25th May, and then just the female was seen there from 26th June until 2nd July.
Red-crested Pochards at Chichester GPs on 178th March (LP)
It was another very poor year for Goldeneye, though, with just a peak of three birds in the harbour in January and four in Fishbourne Creek, remaining until 13th February, whilst a first-year drake settled in around Ivy Lake from 21st February until the late date of 25th April.
The first of the autumn - three - went west past the Bill on 5th November, though just one appeared to be wintering in Fishbourne Creek and three in the harbour.
Goldeneyes at Fishbourne Creek on 28th January (AH)
It was, however, the best winter for a number of years for another declining winter visitor - the Eider, with up to ten regularly recorded off Church Norton and similar off of the Bill, with a peak of 21 seen there on 9th January. Spring passage is hard to record at the Bill, with 58 east and 26 west presumably including some duplication, though a flock of 17 east on 30th April was an impressive site.
The last two were seen going east on 29th May, whilst the first back went west past the Bill on 5th November, with 14 east there on the 18th the best count of a fairly slow autumn.
Eiders at the Bill on 30th April (SR)
It would appear that two Long-tailed Ducks overwintered off of Church Norton and the Bill, though they always remained well offshore and often weren't recorded for long periods, up until the last sighting at the latter site on 10th April.
The first of the autumn went west past the Bill on 5th November, whilst it, or another, settled at Medmerry, favouring the Stilt Pool, until pushed off by the freezing conditions after 10th December. There were also sightings of (presumably) a different bird off the Bill on 9th, 10th and 11th December.
Long-tailed Duck at Medmerry on 7th December (AH)
The early part of the year saw a real paucity of Common Scoters compared to recent years, with not much more than a handful of birds apparently wintering off our shores. A spring total of 4174 east was only a little below average, with birds no really moving until into April, with 448 east on 11th the biggest day, whilst 228 east on 17th May was a big movement so late in the season, as was 39 east on 7th June.
Again, just a handful remained through the summer, with no obvious increase into the autumn, with almost no double-figure counts, though 16th November, with 85 east being the exception, and it did appear that a dozen or so birds had settled in to winter, with a few better counts of birds on the move in December, too.
Common Scoters at the Bill on 11th April (AH)
There were just two early-year records at the Bill of Velvet Scoter, of three west on 10th January and one west on 17th January, with five east on 24th March the first of just 32 seen in the spring, of which 21 passed on 11th April.
One west on 12th December was the only autumn record.
Velvet Scoters (with Common Scoters) at the Bill on 11th April (AH)
The four redhead Goosanders that had been present around the harbour until Christmas made a brief reappearance on New Year's Day, before vanishing again, though two popped up briefly there on 30th January, and one went west past the Bill on 14th March. Then, unexpectedly, a first-year drake turned up at the North Wall on 18th March, appearing intermittently until 17th April.
The first of the autumn - three - went west past the Bill on 5th November, but it was disappointing thereafter, with three in the harbour mouth on 11th November, one off Church Norton on 8th December and four east at the Bill on the 10th being the only records.
Goosander at the North Wall on 19th March (AH)
Raptors
There were just four reports of Hen Harriers this year, firstly of one going over the Ferry on 10th January, and then an astonishing sighting of one flying west, well offshore from the Bill late in the morning, on the improbable date of 3rd July.
The autumn produced a stunning male, seen by one lucky observer at Medmerry on 18th October and a ringtail over the Tramway on 17th November.
Hen Harrier at the Bill on 3rd July (SH)
Marsh Harriers have really become a very regular species in recent years, with sightings made almost continuously around the north of the harbour, and later in the year from the west of the harbour and Medmerry, too, though it would appear that there was no breeding attempted at Drayton Pits, and the outcome of the family behind the North Wall was ultimately uncertain.
Hopefully, the now regular autumn roost at the North Wall, holding up to six birds, might indicate that they were successful, whilst two roosting at Chichester Marina was also an encouraging development.
Marsh Harrier at the North Wall on 25th October (LP)
As the number of records increase over the years, the appearance of Red Kites on the peninsula has proved to be quite seasonal in nature, with the first report not received until 5th March, when one was at Fishbourne Creek, but thereafter there were a multitude of reports - all of one, or occasionally two, birds - from throughout the area until the end of May.
After that, there were just a few summer and early autumn reports, but the species is proving to be really quite rare in winter here, with, for example, one at Bramber Farm on 14th December being the only record for the month.
Red Kite at Chichester Canal on 27th May (AW)
An Osprey seen over the harbour on 9th and 10th April was the only spring bird, with no more reports until one at West Itchenor on 19th August.
A bird at Church Norton on 27th August was a precursor to a respectable autumn, with one seen regularly in the harbour and up to two at Medmerry until 22nd September, along with several sightings from West Itchenor, and remarkably, four sightings - on 29th August, 9th, 10th and 18th September - of birds heading out to sea over the Bill.
And there was one last surprise sighting, on 26th October, when a very late individual was tracked going northwards over the harbour.
Osprey over the harbour on 30th August (LH)
There was probably just one Honey-buzzard seen this year, over the Bill on 10th September, with presumably the same bird then seen over Sidlesham Quay
Four years after the project started, this was finally the year that the Isle of Wight White-tailed Eagles gave themselves up to the locals on the Peninsula, with one over the Visitor Centre on 9th February, followed by one on Pagham Spit on 21st March.
April proved the best month, though, with one at Church Norton on the 7th and seen over Selsey on the following day, two over the Tramway on the 13th and one over the harbour on the 18th, plus one over West Itchenor on the 25th, whilst there were further sightings from Ivy Lake on 22nd May and from Bramber on 4th October.
White-tailed Eagle at Pagham Spit on 21st March (LP)
It was generally another poor year for Hobby sightings, though a total of 13 in at the Bill, after the first of the year on 23rd April was about average, but very few were reported from elsewhere.
One on 5th and 6th August at Medmerry was the first of another very quiet autumn, with only a handful of further reports, until the last of the year was seen at the same location on the very early date of 5th September.
Hobby at Medmerry on 31st August (MT)
By contrast, Merlins seem to have become much easier to see in recent years, with at least one reported regularly from both the harbour and Medmerry in the early part of the year, though one in off the sea on 11th April was the only spring record from the Bill.
The first of the autumn was at Park Farm, Selsey on 9th September, with it or another seen at both the Bill and Medmerry the 11th, with typically sporadic, but consistent reports from the harbour, the Bill and Medmerry from then on.
Merlin at Medmerry on 20th January (AH)
Gamebirds/Rails
A very obliging pair of Grey Partridges were around the first field up from the car-park at Medmerry from 9th to 21st January, whilst two were seen at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham on the latter date, too, and three were at Porthole Farm on 22nd February, with two also seen there on 27th April.
There were several sightings from Medmerry during the summer, with five present on 25th August the best, but as is usual, they all but disappeared during the autumn, with one there on 9th December the only report.
Grey Partridge at Medmerry on 27th April (AH)
It was a good year for Quail, with two calling vigorously against each other from either side of the path at Medmerry on 19th and 20th June, whilst one was seen from a car on a roadside verge in Donnington on 23rd August.
A couple of very obliging Water Rails took up residence along Red Barn Ditch throughout the early months of the year, showing very well to anyone with a bit of patience, and at least one was back in the autumn. There was also very likely breeding on the second Several at Church Norton, with an adult behaving as though young were nearby in late May and early June, and a quite young juvenile was seen on the Breech Pool in July.
Very unusually, one was seen in a small garden in the middle of Selsey on 4th December, whilst the cold snap during the month produced at least nine around the North Wall on the 16th.
Water Rail in Red Barn Ditch on 19th November (CBo)
Waders
There were reasonable numbers of Avocets in the harbour early in the year, with a peak of 58 in Ferry Channel on 3rd February, but, again, and despite considerable work on fencing the Stilt Pool, breeding success was very poor, with 14 pairs only fledging six youngsters. Carrion Crows were clearly a significant predator, with one bird seen wiping out the first family hatched in a matter of minutes on 14th May.
Avocets at Medmerry on 28th June (SH)
Of the other regular breeding wader species, estimates by the RSPB of pairs (though not of breeding success) from the harbour and Medmerry were: Oystercatcher - six and 24 pairs, respectively, Lapwing - no pairs (though one was known to have nested nearby) and eight pairs, Ringed Plover - eight and seven pairs and Redshank - one and seven pairs.
Oystercatchers at Medmerry on 13th June (SR)
What was (hopefully!) the now regular pair of Little Ringed Plovers at Medmerry were back on the Stilt Pool on the early date of 13th March, remaining throughout the summer, with several youngsters apparently fledged. A pair also turned up on 29th March on the flooded fields by Chichester Canal, remaining until 2nd May, though the area dried out rapidly and no young were seen, whilst one, and possibly two pairs were around the North Wall from 1st May onwards, with three young chicks seen on 16th June.
There were good numbers seen on return passage, too, with counts of multiple birds, including many juveniles, recorded from Medmerry, the North Wall, and the Ferry in July and August, including an impressive 13 at the latter site on 12th July, whilst the last of the year, at the same site was on the fairly early date of 29th August.
Little Ringed Plover chick at Medmerry on 18th June (SH)
A count of 500 Golden Plovers from the North Wall on 7th January was the biggest winter return from the harbour, with the flock of 700 along the west side on 8th March likely to have been passing through, whilst the 910 counted at Medmerry on 23rd January the best of the year, and a fair reflection of the site's importance for wintering birds.
The early part of the year generated more reports than usual from the Bill, where it is normally a scarce bird, particularly in February, with 500 west on the16th a very unusual occurrence, and again in April with several flocks heading over north, including 50 on the 10th.
The first count of any magnitude in the autumn was of 400 at Snowhill Creek on 15th October, whilst later in the autumn there were several big flocks present, with at least 800 birds at Church Norton, with potentially up to 300 more at the North Wall and up to another 700 at Medmerry.
Five that dropped in on the Oval Field at the Bill on 15th December.was an unusual winter record there.
Golden Plover at Medmerry on 16th December (AH)
A Little Stint on the Ferry on 30th April was the only spring record, whilst the autumn was pretty low-key after last year's bonanza.
The first was on the Ferry on 19th July, followed by one at Medmerry on 12th August, two at Church Norton on 3rd and 7th September, with one there on the 9th, whilst another was on the Ferry from the 4th to the 6th, and finally, a very late one was at Church Norton on 6th October.
Little Stint at the Ferry on 30th April (AH)
Remarkably, the Ferry was graced with a Temminck's Stint again this August, mirroring last year's bird, with an obliging individual present from the 8th till the 17th.
Temminck's Stint at the Ferry on 10th August (AH)
A summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper at Church Norton on 6th May was the only spring record, though one was reported there on 23rd June, with the first returning adult also there on 18th July, followed by one at the North Wall on the 22nd and then one at Medmerry from the 24th to the 30th.
The first juvenile appeared at Church Norton on 27th August, with up to three seen there and the North Wall regularly throughout September, culminating with a peak of four between 1st and 4th October at the North Wall and the last of the year on the 6th at Church Norton.
There was also an arrival at West Itchenor, with 11 present on 5th September and up to seven present until the 14th.
Curlew Sandpiper at Medmerry on 26th July (AH)
It was a slow year for Sanderling reports, with just the odd ones seen away from the East Head area in the winter and a below average spring total of just 136 east at the Bill, though they continued to move into early June, with 20 east on the 1st, but numbers were very low in the harbour around this time, where they often congregate. There were very few autumn birds, too.
Sanderlings at Medmerry on 6th May (AHu)
Numbers of Knot were below recent year's totals early in the year, and just 21 went past the Bill in the spring, and while a few smart summer-plumaged birds were present in the summer, the autumn saw a very slow build-up of returning birds, with almost none back by mid-November, though 300 were on the mud at Church Norton from 12th December.
Knot at Church Norton on 8th June (AH)
After a long run of barren years, Purple Sandpipers have recently become a scarce but regular winter visitor again, with up to three apparently wintering around the breach at Medmerry, though they seem to keep well out of the way and were only recorded a handful of times up to 12th March.
An unusual record of one on the beach at the Bill on 12th August, was followed by four west there on 10th September, one at Medmerry on 20th September and then one (and briefly two) at the Bill from 30th October till 6th November. Finally, in December, one was at the breach at Medmerry on the 20th and two went west past the Bill on the 27th.
Purple Sandpiper at the Bill on 4th November (CN)
One of the most surprising things to occur during the year was the discovery of two different White-rumped Sandpipers - at the Ferry and at Medmerry - at almost exactly the same time on 26th July, with the first bird only staying the day and the latter remaining until the 30th. These were the sixth and seventh birds recorded on the Peninsula, and the first since one on the Ferry in August 1995.
White-rumped Sandpiper at Medmerry on 26th July (AH)
There was another star American wader, too, this year, with a delightful Buff-breasted Sandpiper gracing Medmerry on 2nd and 3rd October. This was the fourth for the Peninsula, though the third for the Medmerry area, and the first since September 2000.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Medmerry on 2nd October (SH)
Sadly, it would seem that the Ruff is heading towards rarity status on the Peninsula, with just four records of eight birds, thus - an unexpected pair on the flooded fields by Chichester Canal on 29th and 30th March, one at the North Wall on 29th September, four together in stubble fields at Ham (Medmerry) on 3rd October and, finally, one on the Ferry on 15th and 16th October.
Ruff at Chichester Canal on 29th March (BI)
Like last year, the first Common Sandpiper was at Honer Reservoir, on 12th and 13th April, but spring passage was fairly modest, with, for instance, only two seen at the Bill, whilst the first (two) back were at Medmerry on 3rd July. Six there on 13th August was a very low best count for the year, whilst the last was recorded at the North Wall on 23rd October.
Common Sandpiper at the Ferry on 21st July (AH)
A spring Wood Sandpiper dropped in on the Breech Pool at the North Wall on 8th May, whilst the only autumn bird proved to be a long-stayer, if at times an elusive one, remaining around the Stilt Pool at Medmerry from 30th July to 13th August.
Wood Sandpiper at the North Wall on 8th May (AH)
At least one - and up to three - Green Sandpipers would appear to have wintered, though the one on the Ferry on 30th January and at the North Wall on 5th February were only reported the once, but the one at Porthole Farm was found frequenting the same puddles on 13th, 19th and 31st March, whilst one at the North Wall on 27th April was the sole spring record.
The North Wall also saw the first back, on 3rd July, with ones and twos reported on a number of dates at the regular sites, with six on the Ferry on 14th July and three at Medmerry on 28th July and 13th August the only receptions.
Very unusually, there were records from the Bill, with possibly the same bird seen flying high over, heading west, on both 17th and 18th September. After that there were singles seen in October - at Honer Reservoir on the 7th and at the Ferry on the 29th, in November at Drayton Pits on the 6th and Medmerry on the 12th, and in December over Park Farm, Selsey on the 16th and over the Severals on the17th.
Green Sandpiper at the North Wall on 18th July (LP)
There were two Greenshanks at Medmerry, three at East Head and five in Fishbourne Creek during the first three months of the year, with one at the North Wall on 11th March possibly an early migrant or a wanderer from one of the other sites, as there has still never been an over-wintering bird in the harbour.
Spring migrant numbers were low, with the 12 counted in Fishbourne Creek on 18th and 29th April the highest by a distance.
One on the Ferry on 16th June was the first back, but numbers remained low, with ten at Fishbourne Creek on 1st August, 14 on 3rd September and ten on 1st October the best counts, with just seven over Church Norton on 25th August the best from elsewhere.
At least three at Fishbourne Creek, three at Snowhill Marsh and one at Medmerry remained for the winter, whilst one was reported occasionally from Church Norton up until 26th December, offering the prospect that one may finally over-winter there.
Greenshanks at the Ferry on 5th June (AH)
Three Spotted Redshanks wintered at Fishbourne Creek and two in the harbour, mainly around Ferry Channel, whilst the first migrant was seen there on 24th April, but it was a quiet spring for the species.
The first back was on the typically early date of 13th June, at Medmerry, with one or two smart summer-plumaged birds seen on both the North Wall and the Ferry up until late July. As usual, a small build-up of birds occurred around the Ferry and Ferry Channel in late August, peaking at six birds on 21st August and 3rd September, whilst four were at the North Wall on 9th October.
Unusually, none were then seen in the harbour until one in Ferry Channel on 18th December, remaining there until the end of the year, with two at Fishbourne Creek also seeming settled.
Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel on 8th March (AH)
Our regular wintering Whimbrel remained in the harbour until spring migration, though, sadly, it would seem not to have returned this autumn, with two on 15th October and one on the 19th the last reports for the year.
Otherwise, one was reported from East Head on 5th March, presumably wintering somewhere in Chichester Harbour, whilst a spring passage total at the Bill of 615 birds, including 132 on 26th April, was well above average.
Whimbrel at Church Norton on 7th October (AH)
A total of 870 Bar-tailed Godwits east past the Bill was also above the spring average, with 331 east on 23rd April an impressive day count, whilst, unusually, two smart male birds settled in around the Ferry and adjacent channel from 19th to 23rd April. Also of note, a flock of 80 birds at Church Norton on 22nd April was a big count for the harbour, whilst up to 17 birds present there from 1st to 9th June were unusually late movers.
They were very scarce in the autumn, though, with eight at Church Norton on 8th December a very poor highest count, whilst an unseasonably summer-plumaged bird was at Medmerry on the 16th.
Bar-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel on 19th April (AH)
An inaccessible bit of woodland near Drayton Pits again proved the only reliable site for Woodcock this year, with several reports early in the year from there. Otherwise, one over the B2145 in Sidlesham on 25th February was the only other sighting.
In the autumn, the only records were of one flushed from Pagham Spit and then seen evading a pair of Peregrines in the harbour on 3rd December, and lastly, one at Drayton Pit on the 9th.
It was a bit of a bumper start to the year for Jack Snipe sightings, with the usual one or two at Fishbourne Creek supplemented by reports from Medmerry on 26th January, the Ferry on 30th January and 18th March, the North Wall, with two on 26th February, and Halsey's Farm on 29th March.
One seen flying from the harbourside of the Long Pool on 8th November was the first bird of the autumn, followed by one at Church Norton on the 25th, two along the east side on 6th December and one at West Itchenor on the 16th.
Jack Snipe at Fishbourne Creek on 2nd March (AH)
Sadly the year's only record of Grey Phalarope was of one found dead on Pagham Spit on 26th November.
dead Grey Phalarope on Pagham spit on 26th Nov (M Burnell)
Skuas
In a year when numbers seemed down for many species, the skua family offered a bit of cheer, with everyone's most sought-after spring migrant, the Pomarine Skua, doing particularly well, starting with three east on 11th April - a very early date, and only a day later than the earliest ever - and proving to be the harbinger of a well above average spring total of 75 birds east.
Birds were seen on 11 days, but with 9th May the best by far, with the 43 logged, including a splendid close in flock of 12, seen by a big crowd, though unsurprisingly after such a day, there were just three more seen, all on the 14th.
Pomarine Skuas at the Bill on 9th May (PM)
It was an above average spring, too, for Arctic Skuas, with 174 seen, after the first, on 8th April, though, as is usual, there were no big days, with peaks of just 17 on 11th and 12th April. One or two birds were seen on a number of dates through the summer and early autumn, with regular sightings in October and five in November, before two different birds appeared offshore in December - a pale-phase bird on the 17th and 18th and a dark-phase bird on Christmas Day.
Arctic Skua at the Bill on 4th May (AH)
There were three winter records of Great Skua from the Bill - on 29th January and 5th and 27th February, with the spring total of 95, after the first on 5th April, being well above average, too, with 18 east on 23rd April the best.
There were no summer records, though, and just five autumn records, all from the Bill, on 27th and 28th August, 12th September, 5th November, and finally one on Christmas Day.
Great Skua at the Bill on 28th April (AH)
Gulls
A Little Gull west past the Bill on 19th February was the only winter record, though spring passage started early, with five east on 22nd March and four more on the 29th, whilst the spring total of 175 was more than double the average and included 113 east on 23rd April, with the last six east on 9th May The only record away from the Bill was of one at Ivy Lake on 11th April.
What looked like an average autumn started with one went west past East Beach on 29th August, then one was at the Bill on 7th November, with three there on the 11th and one was at Medmerry on the 18th, before a big influx from the 21st on, when three went west over the Ferry and 17 were lingering off the Bill.
Similar numbers were recorded more or less daily for the next five days, before numbers declined, with regular sightings of up to five birds until two on the 28th. There were also one at West Itchenor and seven at Fishbourne Creek on the 22nd, with the latter site hosting five until the 26th and two on the 28th, whilst two were around the harbour from the 25th until the 28th, too. Stragglers just made it into December, with one at Medmerry on the 1st, three east past the Bill on the 4th and one offshore on the 31st.
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Little Gull at the Bill on 24th November (AH)
One of the birds of the year for many was the Bonaparte's Gull that took up residence around the Ivy Lake complex from 22nd March until 11th April. Only the second-ever of this dainty American species on the Peninsula, after one at Pagham Lagoon in March 2002, it was quite faithful to its favoured lakes and showed very well to a large number of visitors during its stay.
Bonaparte's Gull at Chichester GPs on 22nd March (PM)
Mediterranean Gulls are so numerous these days that they barely merit a mention, but this was the year that they finally stayed and bred in numbers in the harbour, with 282 pairs fledging 269 young. Interestingly, they seemed much less badly affected by the avian flu than the other species in the Tern Island colony.
Mediterranean Gull at the Bill on 19th July (AH)
By contrast, the record count of 1434 pairs of Black-headed Gulls only successfully fledged 473 young.
Black-headed Gull at Church Norton on 28th June (AH)
There were a few more Yellow-legged Gull reports this year, but numbers remain a far cry from where they were 20 years ago. An adult was seen at the Bill and in the harbour on 16th and 17th January, with it, or another, in Fishbourne Creek on 1st February, whilst a first-year bird seen at the Ferry on 17th July and at Church Norton on the following day were surely the same bird.
An adult present between 2nd and 7th September was the only one seen in the species' former stronghold of the North Wall, with it or another in Fishbourne Creek on 3rd September and 4th October, with the only other report being of a first-winter bird at the Bill on 24th October.
Yellow-legged Gull at the North Wall on 2nd September (OM)
A count of 593 Kittiwakes west at the Bill on 31st January was the biggest of an unremarkable year for the species, with just 329 west on 5th November the best autumn count.
There were a number of unusual sightings during the year, though, including one on Vinnetrow Lake on 9th April and two roosting in the harbour on 10th June, whilst November storms produced one flying over the Ferry on the 24th, with another in Fishbourne Creek on the same and the following day.
Kittiwake at the Bill on 7th June (AH)
One of the most frustrating birds of the year was undoubtedly the juvenile Sabine's Gull seen and photographed by a visiting birder, lingering off the Bill on 30th October, with this first since 2011 not identified until late in the day and not seen again.
Sabine's Gull at the Bill on 30th October (R Lowe)
Terns
The rarest tern of the year was the one that got away for the locals, with the Caspian Tern spotted between Dell Quay and the Marina by one lucky visiting birder, as it moved south through Chichester Harbour on 3rd July. Frustratingly, it headed off westwards, turning up later in the day in Hampshire.
Small numbers of Sandwich Terns were seen almost daily off the Bill early in the year, with a peak of 31 on 9th February possibly including some early arrivals. There was only modest eastward movement through March and early April, until the 11th, when 1348 birds passed, going east - the biggest day count ever and the first time over a thousand birds have been recorded in a day.
A record count of 335 pairs were in the harbour during the breeding season, but productivity was lower than last year, with avian flu clearly having had an adverse impact, and only 148 young were fledged this summer. The colony departed quite early, too, with 300+ seen on 20th July and just 40 on the following day, and there were relatively few seen through August and September, with a modest 28 off the Bill on 27th September the biggest total.
As seems to be the pattern, just a handful of birds were seen during the autumn, with ten offshore on 26th November the best count, before numbers picked up again in December, with 20 recorded on the 26th.
Sandwich Tern at Church Norton on 20th July (AH)
After last year's bumper summer for Roseate Terns, it was disappointing that just one bird appeared this year, seen off the Bill and then at Church Norton on 11th May, with another brief sighting there on the 16th.
Roseate Tern at Church Norton on 11th May (AW)
It was another below average spring for Common Terns, with just 1339 counted at the Bill, after the first on 25th March, and a very low peak day of just 166 east on 23rd April, though 70 were lingering offshore on 5th May.
Only four pairs attempted to nest in the harbour, with just one youngster fledged, though the colony at Chichester GPs appeared to have at least ten active pairs.
Autumn passage was slight, too, with 35 west past the Bill on 23rd August the best day, whilst the last (four) of the year went west there on 7th October.
Common Terns at Chichester GPs on 25th July (AH)
A spring total of 41 Arctic Terns past the Bill was about par, after the first on 15th April, with two at Ivy Lake on the 17th the only record away from the Bill.
Oddly, after an autumn with no sightings at all, a juvenile turned up at Medmerry on 6th November, with two together there on the 12th, and one remaining until the 18th, the latest date this century.
Arctic Tern at Medmerry on 12th November (AH)
There were just 198 Little Terns recorded going east past the Bill in the spring, after the first on 11th April, and with a peak of 48 on the 29th.
There was better news from the harbour, though, where a record 26 young were fledged from 31 pairs, nearly all on the newly created shingle island near the harbour mouth. Juvenile birds were quite conspicuous in July, and a total of 40 birds were present on the 30th, but this had dropped to just six by 8th August, with three west at the Bill on 29th August and three in the harbour on 10th September the last reports of the year.
Little Tern at Church Norton on 11th July (AH)
After several poor years, it proved to be a good one for Black Tern sightings, if not numbers, with the nine in the spring comprising two east on 24th April, six east on 9th May - which included four that lingered for much of the day, feeding close offshore - and the last on the 14th.
There were a succession of records from late August on, clearly involving some duplication, starting with three off Church Norton on the 21st, followed by five more records from there and the Bill up to the 29th, when four went west at the latter site, and then one on 9th September, six on the 10th, two on the 13th and finally one on the 21st, all from the Bill.
Black Tern at the Bill on 9th May (AW)
Auks
There was just one Puffin seen this year, heading east past the Bill on 22nd January.
The first Little Auk recorded on the Peninsula since 2017 went west past the Bill on 23rd November, swiftly followed by another on the 26th.
Little Auk at the Bill on 23rd November (AH)
Auk numbers were generally quite low early in the year, and then, out of nowhere there was a massive movement on 31st January, with 5446, of which 395 were definitely - and the vast majority of unassigned ones were almost certainly - Razorbills, all heading west among a big seabird movement. There were several days in February with three-figure counts of auks/Razorbills, but they tailed away to leave very few reports in the spring.
There were plenty around in early October, too, but after a peak of 1733 west - of which 687 were definitely Razorbills - on the 7th, numbers again dropped off quickly and remained fairly low thereafter.
Razorbills at the Bill on 9th February (AH)
As is usual, these days, Guillemot numbers were very low, though a couple lingered off the Bill early in the year to boost the numbers of days on which they were sighted.
Guillemot at the Bill on 4th January (AH)
Pigeons/Owls etc
There were no Turtle Doves reported during the spring, with the first of the year seen along Honer Lane on 9th August, followed by just two more sightings - of one amazingly sat out for 30 minutes on the scaffolding around the tower of the Bill House nursing home early on 26th August, and finally one in trees at the back of the Severals on 10th September.
Turtle Dove at the Bill on 26th August
Cuckoos seemed in disappointingly short supply this year, with relatively few spring records after the first, heard near the Visitor Centre, on 10th April. They seemed particularly thin on the ground on the western side of the reserve, with the North Wall doing better, with peaks of four there on 5th May and six on 3rd June.
One was heard calling - somewhat distantly from inland! - at the Bill, where it is a rare species, on 8th May, whilst, more unusually, one was seen heading out to sea there, before retreating again, on 17th July. There were just two more reports after that - of one around the Long Pool from 21st to 23rd July, and finally, possibly the same juvenile bird seen on the fencing on Tern Island and then near the Ferry on 9th August.
Cuckoo at the Bill on 17th July (AH)
Encouragingly, the regular pairs of Barn Owls at Medmerry, Marsh Farm, Sidlesham and the North Wall were all present early and late in the year, and the regular Medmerry pair were known to have fledged two young. The only sighting away from these core areas was of one at Ella Nore on 7th September.
Barn Owl at Medmerry on 20th July (MT)
It was a good year for Short-eared Owls, too, with regular sightings from particularly Medmerry and the North Wall, with one at the latter site being seen almost daily from 25th February right through until 10th May.
The first autumn report was from Church Norton on 12th September, with one seen flying in off the sea at the Bill three days later, whilst another half a dozen sightings were made during October at Medmerry and the North Wall, and another flurry of reports around the harbour in late November, followed by two together at Medmerry on 10th December and one there on the 26th, though none seemed settled for the winter.
Short-eared Owl at the North Wall on 27th March (AH)
The sad decline of the Little Owl locally continues, with pairs in the vicinity of North Mundham and on farmland near the North Wall the only ones reported during the year.
Little Owl at North Mundham on 5th June (SR)
Unfortunately, the Tawny Owls didn't nest near at Visitor Centre this year, but there seemed reasonable numbers calling from regular sites, including six in the vicinity of Halsey's Farm on 26th September, and a rare report of one heard from the Bill, on 17th September.
There was a very unusual report of a Nightjar seen on the evenings of 19th and 21st September, hawking insects at dusk over the fields north of the North Wall.
The Swift was another summer visitor for whom numbers seemed low this year, after the first two over Ivy Lake on 28th April, with just 15 recorded arriving at the Bill and generally very few counts of any magnitude, though, of course, the prolonged spell of very fine summer weather allowed them to feed up high and out of view.
Fewer than usual were noted on return passage, either, with the last - one at the Bill and two over Selsey Church - seen on the typical date of 14th September.
Swift at the Bill on 26th August (AH)
There were just two sightings of Ring-necked Parakeet this year, firstly of one at Church Norton on 22nd January, and then one at the Bill on 26th March, that turned up with a Lord Derby's Parakeet. Apparently these two had wintered together around the Shoreham area, gone for a fly along the coast to Selsey and were back in Shoreham by the following day!
Ring-necked Parakeet and Lord Derby's Parakeet at the Bill 26th March (AH)
A Hoopoe was added to the Peninsula list for the year by one lucky observer, who saw one fly across the Severals on 25th June, though it was unfortunately never relocated. The wait for a twitchable one locally goes on!
There were quite good numbers of Kingfishers around again this year, including a very obliging one that took up residence along Ferry Channel for the first part of the year, although it sadly did not return in the autumn, though several were seen at the North Wall, in particular, including the first returning bird on 25th June.
Kingfisher in Ferry Channel on 3rd March (AH)
There were three Wrynecks this autumn, with the ever-reliable Severals area producing two of them, with the first there from 4th to 6th September. Surprisingly, another one turned up behind the hide on the 5th and 6th, with some lucky observers seeing both, whilst the third of the year settled in along the Severals from 18th to 27th September.
Wryneck at Church Norton on 4th September (IP)
Larks/Pipits/hirundines
Like many birds seen on visible migration watches, Woodlarks were in short supply this year, with just three records - of two over the Bill on 28th September, one over Church Norton on 16th October and finally, four together over the Bill two days later.
Tree Pipit was another species for which numbers were very low, too, with just three spring records, all at the Bill, of two over on 23rd April and one over on the 29th, whilst one seen near Chichester Canal on 18th August was the only one on the ground, with further fly-overs at Medmerry on 16th September and the Bill on the 18th completing a very poor year.
Tree Pipit at Chichester Canal on 18th August (RBe)
There was one Scandinavian Rock Pipit seen this year, along Fishbourne Creek on 1st and 2nd March.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit at Fishbourne Creek on 2nd March (AH)
All the spring Yellow Wagtails were recorded flying in at the Bill, with the first three on 11th April, and 27 of the total of 42 seen on 29th April.
Seven at Medmerry on 16th July were the first back, but numbers were much lower than what would be expected, with 112 at the North Wall on 7th September the highest count, and not many at all elsewhere around the harbour or Medmerry, though a steady overhead passage was recorded at the Bill, including 36 on 13th September and the last three of the year on 18th October.
Yellow Wagtail at the Bill on 6th May (AH)
An apparent male Ashy-headed Wagtail was seen and photographed by a visiting birder along the west side of the harbour on 10th May. This, the Italian sub-species of the Blue-headed Wagtail complex, would be a first for the peninsula.
Ashy-headed Wagtail at Church Norton on 10th May (per RSPB)
After a middling spring, starting with two over Ivy Lake on 17th March, it proved to be the summer of the Sand Martin on the Peninsula.
The first back - eight at Medmerry - were on the fairly early date of 19th June, with numbers building up steadily from then on, eg 150 there on 9th July, before a succession of big counts, including c1000 at Medmerry on 27th July, 5th August and 8th August, 750 at Church Norton on the 13th, c2000 at Ham (Medmerry) on the 22nd and 500 at the North Wall on the 28th. There were further big counts in September, when normally numbers decline quickly,including 464 east at the Bill on the 11th and 500 at Church Norton on the 13th.
There are often some big late summer totals associated with spells of poor weather, but what was unusual was the number of big counts over a long period, with no reason for birds to be held up. They had mostly gone by mid-September, though, with the last few noted at the North Wall on the typical date of 3rd October.
Sand Martin at the Bill on 26th July (AH)
By contrast - despite the first-ever instance of over-wintering, with the Porthole Farm bird lasting until 29th January and it, or another, seen at the Bill on 5th January and 2nd February - it seemed a very poor year for Swallows.
Numbers were low in the spring, after a late first arrival date of 27th March, with one at Church Norton, and, anecdotally, nesting colonies were much reduced or absent at many regular sites, though the stables by the North Wall were a pleasant exception, with the site being repopulated after a couple of blank years.
After a slow start, numbers in the autumn were better, with 3088 east at the Bill on 11th September, c5000 at Church Norton on the 13th and 2322 east at the Bill on the 22nd being the best counts. As is now usual, small numbers were still being recorded into November, with the last of the year seen at Pagham Spit on 3rd December.
Swallow at the North Wall on 6th May (LP)
House Martins, too, seemed well down in spring and summer, with a late first date of 10th April, when three were at Porthole Farm, too. Again, there were plenty of reports from across the Peninsula of nests unoccupied and reduced numbers of pairs, though autumn numbers were fair, including c5000 at Church Norton on 13th September, but there weren't many other big gatherings, and the last report - of two at the Bill on 11th October, was the second earliest last date this century.
House Martin at the Bill on 11th September (SR)
Thrushes
Just about the only Fieldfares reported in the early part of the year were the flock at Medmerry, seen intermittently, and with a peak count of 40 on 26th January and 17th March, with the only other record of more than the odd bird coming from Drayton Pits, with 30 present on 6th March.
There was quite an arrival on 20th October, with at least 100 around the North Wall, with an even bigger flock of c250 seen at Chalder Farm on the 25th and then 100 at Honer Lane on the 30th, though wintering numbers were very low, with 27 at Medmerry on 21st December the best count.
One seen at the Bill on 4th November was the first there in eight years, with, oddly, another dropping in on the 30th.
Fieldfares at Medmerry on 17th March (AH)
Redwing numbers were low as well, early in the year, with 40 at Drayton Pits on 28th the best count, though March counts of 80 at Birdham Pool on the 2nd, 15 at West Wittering on the 5th and 60 at Medmerry on the 6th were probably early migrants, as none of the sites held such numbers earlier in the winter.
The first returning birds went over West Itchenor on 10th October, but there were very few records thereafter, with even the cold snap failing to send birds our way.
Redwing in a Selsey garden on 17th December (AW)
There were three records of Ring Ouzels this year, with two reported retrospectively near the Visitor Centre on 11th April fortunately followed by an unusually obliging bird at Greenlease Farm on the 19th and 20th, whilst the only autumn record was of two together at the Severals on 22nd October.
Ring Ouzel at Church Norton on 20th April (AH)
Stonechats have really colonised the Peninsula in recent years, and after last year's relatively poor breeding season they seemed to bounce back well, with the RSPB counts producing seven pairs around the harbour and 22 at Medmerry, and it was a better autumn, too, with good numbers of passage birds, including 41 at Medmerry on 29th October.
Stonechat at Medmerry on 27th May (SR)
By contrast, it was a pretty modest year for Whinchats, with just half a dozen spring records after the first two at Porthole Farm on 24th April, whilst one seen at Ham on 15th July was presumably a very early first bird back.
Seven at Medmerry on 1st September and nine around Ferry Field on 10th September were very low best counts, with one at Medmerry on 8th October the last of the year.
Whinchat at Medmerry on 24th April (AH)
In what is a surprisingly rare event, the Bill hosted the first Wheatear of the year, on 10th March, though like many species, spring numbers were pretty uninspiring, with 12 at the Bill on 29th March and 18 at Church Norton on 10th April the best totals.
Numbers weren't great in the autumn, either, though 9th September saw an arrival of c45 birds onto the Peninsula, including 16 at Medmerry. The last of the year was on the concrete blocks at Church Norton from 26th to 30th October.
Wheatear at the North Wall on 19th April (LP)
There were just five spring Redstart records again this year, with the first at the Long Pool on 11th April and one at Greenlease Farm the next day, with two at the Bill on 29th April and one on the following day, whilst the last of the spring, in Church Norton churchyard on 15th May was heard singing.
There was a flurry of reports from 15th August (with one at Medmerry) until 11th September, with twos and threes often recorded from both Church Norton and Halsey's Farm during that time, with outliers at Pagham Spit on the 15th, the Bill on the 16th and the last of the year at Medmerry on the 25th.
Redstart at Church Norton on 18th April (IP)
There were no wintering Black Redstarts at the start of the year, but it was a good spring for the species, with a dozen March records, including the first sighting of three at Greenlease Farm on 12th March and four there on 26th March, with one at Chichester Canal on the 29th being an unusual inland record, whilst both April records - on the 2nd and the 30th - came from the Bill.
The first of the autumn was also at the Bill, on 29th October, with another there and two at Church Norton on the 31st, and then a succession of early November reports, with the 4th being the busiest day, when three were at the Bill and three were at West Sands..
One was seen on 25th and 28th November at the Bill and three were at West Sands on 6th December, with two still there on the 20th and one at Ham on the 29th, so hopefully some of them will stay the winter.
Black Redstart at the North Wall on 22nd March (LP)
A Sedge Warbler singing in the Severals on 25th March was the earliest arrival this century by three days, and after a perfectly average summer the last was seen at the North Wall on 13th October, the second latest date this century.
Sedge Warbler at the North Wall on 13th May (GHi)
By contrast, the first two Reed Warblers of the year, at the North Wall on 12th April were just a day behind the average first date, whilst the last one, at the same site on 14th October was four days beyond the average.
Reed Warbler at the Long Pool on 21st May (CBo)
There were just four records of Grasshopper Warblers locally this year, with one reeling in a garden at East Beach on 19th and 20th April, another heard at the North Wall on the following day, and returning birds seen along the banks at Medmerry on 27th July and 11th August.
Grasshopper Warbler at Medmerry on 27th July (E Rogers)
Willow Warblers seem to get scarcer every spring, and this year was no exception, with the first, in a Birdham garden on 2nd April, followed by a very few records, with up to 13 around Church Norton on 10th April a pretty meagre maximum.
They were thin on the ground in the autumn, too, after the first three back at Church Norton bang on the average date of 23rd July, with the last at the North Wall on 19th September being the earliest last date this century.
Willow Warbler at Church Norton on 10th April (GM)
The number of Chiffchaffs about was low, too, with only very moderate numbers overwintering, and they were surprisingly thin on the ground during the breeding season, though the autumn was a little better, with a fall of c40 around the Peninsula on 11th October the best day.
Chiffchaff at Church Norton on 26th March (AH)
The Siberian Chiffchaff found at Ivy Lake before Christmas was only recorded once in the new year, on 9th January.
The only report of a Yellow-browed Warbler was of one found by a visiting birder at East Beach Pond on 12th November, though it was never relocated.
The common theme of low numbers of spring migrants and a low-key breeding season applied to the Whitethroat, too, The first of a quiet spring was at Church Norton on 10th April, and breeding numbers seemed low, though counts by the RSPB produced 31 pairs around the harbour and 89 around Medmerry.
Like so many species, they were distinctly thin on the ground in the autumn, with the benign weather possibly meaning that they didn't linger long, though the last two at Medmerry were seen on the pretty typical date of 8th October.
Whitethroat at Medmerry on 27th May (AH)
A Lesser Whitethroat singing in a Sidlesham garden on 17th April was the first of the year, but, again, it was a disappointing year for the species, with the RSPB counts producing just two pairs around the harbour and three at Medmerry, whilst there seemed to be very few about in the autumn, too. The last of the year was seen at Church Norton on 3rd October.
Lesser Whitethroat at Medmerry on 30th April (AH)
There was a twist to the tale though, with an apparent 'Eastern' Lesser Whitethroat turning up in a Birdham garden on the 23rd October. This late date (the latest this century) and its darker, richer plumage both are strongly indicative of this subspecies.
Eastern Lesser Whitethroat in a Birdham garden on 23rd October (AB)
There were only three spring Garden Warblers - one at the North Wall on 16th April, followed by one that stayed in the small park off Hillfield Road at the Bill from 25th to 28th April, singing loudly, but never seen, and finally a very late one at Halsey's Farm on 27th May.
One back at Church Norton on 6th August was quite early, with no more until the 20th, followed by another dozen or so records from various sites around the harbour area until 13th September, with one last bird at the North Wall on 22nd September.
Garden Warbler at the North Wall on 13th September (LP)
A pair of Blackcaps in a Runcton garden on 1st January was a good start to the year, but there were no more reports until what was the first migrant, at Church Norton on 12th March.
Numbers seemed poor in the summer, and particularly so in the autumn, when this is usually a numerous and conspicuous passage bird. The last migrant was seen at Warner Lane paddocks on 4th November, whilst one reported from the Bill on 8th December must surely have been a wintering bird.
Blackcap at East Beach on 31st March (SR)
The year started with at least eight wintering Dartford Warblers - up to three at Church Norton, a couple along the west side of the harbour and one on Pagham Spit, whilst at least three were along the banks at Medmerry.
This was the highest ever count of wintering birds by a distance, but was surpassed by events at Medmerry in the summer, when a series of reports of a pair, including a singing male on 14th May and 18th June eventually turned into proof of breeding, with at least two juveniles seen in late June and July.
The good year continued into the autumn there, with eight counted a Medmerry on 29th October and 3rd November, whilst at least another half a dozen were spread around the harbour, too.
Dartford Warbler at Medmerry on 21st June (SH)
Last autumn's almost complete lack of Goldcrests continued into the new year, with barely any reports, and none at all through the summer until four popped up in Church Norton churchyard on 17th August.
The autumn was certainly better than last year, with small numbers seen at the usual sites, but still a long way short of the sort of counts that would have been expected.
Goldcrest at Church Norton on 1st December (AH)
Firecrest were in short supply, too, with occasional sightings of singles in Sidlesham churchyard and at Church Norton the only evidence of wintering, with two at Birdham Pool on 2nd March and one at the Bill on 12th March likely to be migrants.
Three at the latter site on 11th October were the first autumn birds, with just a handful of locations around the harbour reporting birds thereafter.
Firecrest at the Bill on 12th March (B Richardson)
There were no spring Pied Flycatchers this year, with the first bird not seen until one turned up at Northcommon Farm on 11th August. It, or another, was seen there on the 13th, with another one seen on the 26th, whilst one, and then two, unusually obliging birds entertained a large number of visitors around the hide and churchyard at Church Norton between the 18th and the 27th.
One at the North Wall on 24th August, a last one at Church Norton on 5th September and, finally, one at Ivy Lake on the 13th completed the year's records.
Pied Flycatcher at Church Norton on 25th August (AH)
The first Spotted Flycatcher was found at Northcommon Farm bang on the average first date of 3rd May, though like so many species, spring numbers were low thereafter.
Four in a West Wittering garden on 9th August were the first of what was a reasonable autumn for the species, including eight on 25th August and six on 8th September at Church Norton and four at Ivy Lake on 13th September. Ones and two carried on throughout the month, with the last of the year at Church Norton on 6th October.
Spotted Flycatcher at Norhcommon Farm on 26th August (OM)
Tits/Crows etc
For the third year running the Peninsula was graced with a Red-backed Shrike, with the particularly confiding juvenile that frequented the area around the less used Medmerry carpark at Earnley being seen and photographed by hundreds of visitors, allowing views down to a few metres as it unconcernedly ate its way through the local wasp and grasshopper population during its stay from 25th September until 8th October.
Red-backed Shrike at Medmerry on 4th October (AH)
Coal Tits would appear to be quietly continuing their expansion on the Peninsula, with multiple sightings early in the year from Apuldram, Chichester GPs, Selsey, Drayton Pits, Sidlesham churchyard and particularly the Runcton/North Mundham area, though none were reported during the breeding season, with the latter location providing the first return bird on 21st August.
Coal Tit in Sidlesham churchyard on 7th March (AH)
The only reports of Nuthatch were all from Chalkdock Copse at West Itchenor, on just three dates - 28th January, 11th February and 21st March.
Tree-creepers, on the other hand, appeared this year at a number of sites where they would be considered very scarce, after the only early-year reports were received from the two most reliable sites of Hunston Copse and West Itchenor.
Firstly, one turned up at West Wittering on 24th March, with it, or another, also see there on 27th June, then one at Ivy Lake on 15th May, one at Little Welbourne, adjacent to the North Wall, on 7th July, and finally one at Greenlease Farm, Church Norton on 14th November and two at Birdham on 29th November.
Tree-creeper at West Wittering on 27th June (GM)
As seems usual these days, Ravens were recorded sporadically, but regularly throughout either end of the year, though much less so during the breeding season, but there was an odd series of reports around the Ferry which suggested breeding was possibly occurring locally.
Initially, one was seen there, carrying food, on 22nd May, then three together on the 25th and finally, an obvious family party of a pair and three noisy juveniles in the big trees just south of the Long Pool on 5th June.
Ravens at the Ferry on 5th June (AH)
Finches/Buntings
It would appear to have been a very poor year for Bullfinches on the Peninsula, with the Drayton Pits, which is currently having most of its habitat ripped up for purposes which are yet unclear, being the only location that regularly held birds.
Away from there, there were only two sightings along Chichester Canal, on 29th January and 25th February, with one flying over the road at nearby Hunston on 16th February the only other report.
Similar to last year, there was a small, but definite, movement of Siskins in March, with three over Church Norton on the 14th and 14 over on the 27th, when there was an unusually large count of 35 birds east at the Bill, too. There was also a very odd record of three birds heading out south there on 17th May.
Seven east at the Bill on 13th September was the start of a quiet autumn, with just a few reports of single-figure counts, the best being 15 on 16th September at the Bill and 12 at Church Norton on 16th October.
Lesser Redpolls were in very short supply, with one in bushes at Church Norton on 26th March the only spring record.
Two over there on 16th October was the sole autumn record within the typical date range, with the only other records - both from the Bill - being very late in the season, with two over on 25th November and one over on 3rd December.
The year's only Serin was heard flying over the Bill on 17th April.
A Brambling, calling as it went over at the Bill on 22nd March was the only spring record, and there were no 'vis-mig' reports in the autumn, with one along the Long Pool on 20th October and two at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham on the 29th being the only records.
Brambling at the Long Pool on 20th October (AH)
In what was a poor year for finches, locally, there was a surprise record of a Hawfinch, seen flying over the Mound at Church Norton on 27th March.
Another brief fly-over gave the Peninsula its only Lapland Bunting, with one heard going over the east side of the harbour on 24th October.
That more regular autumn visitor, the Snow Bunting, was represented by an initially unusually flighty individual that dropped in at the end of Pagham Spit, remaining from 10th November onwards, joined by a second bird from the 29th until 5th December.
Snow Buntings at Pagham Spit on 30th November (AH)
Corn Buntings seemed to be doing quite well at Medmerry during the winter, with up to 12 being seen around the cover crop field at Wilson's Farm, and with a similar number seen around Toe End on 16th March, but the RSPB's surveys only revealed six singing males in the summer, and none away from the core area at Ham.
Once again, a handful of birds appeared on the west of the reserve in September and October, but there were no records at all for November or December
Corn Bunting at Medmerry on 9th February (AH)
The RSPB recorded a respectable count of 36 pairs of Yellowhammers around Medmerry, whilst a pair nested along the Long Pool for the first time in a very long while, being seen off and on through the spring, before appearing with at least two newly fledged young on 4th June.
The cover crop field at Wilson's Farm provided quite a spectacle during the winter, with at least 100 Yellowhammers and similar of Reed Buntings frequenting the area in January and February, though it was largely devoid of birds late in the year.
Yellowhammer at the Long Pool on 5th June (above) & Reed Bunting at Medmerry on 20th January (AH)
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