Review of the Year 2023
by Andrew House
The year of 2023 will go down as a very mixed one, which, for a long time looked like it may break many records for the wrong reasons, with genuine scarcities few and far between. A total for the year of 211 species was below the average, and only one species was recorded for the first time since the start of the blog, whilst for the third year running, there was no addition to the Peninsula list, which currently stands at 344.
However, it ended up as a year to remember, with some of the most spectacular autumn sea-watching ever witnessed, and new birds on their Peninsula lists for even those with the longest lists and the most years of watching.
A happy gathering at the pits (OM)
Sadly, though, it was a disastrous year for the terns in the harbour, with the main island being abandoned unexpectedly and the Little Terns, left exposed without the main colony, almost completely failing, too.
Tern Island when things were still looking promising (AH)
It is dangerous to draw too many conclusions from one year, but the same lament was heard wherever you went – Where are the birds? Spring migrants and summer visitors seemed particularly badly affected, but even our common residents seemed in short supply, with Avian Flu possibly having had a bigger impact than was previously suspected, though, equally, the fast-changing climate cannot be ruled out, either.
The flooded Honer fields at the North Wall (AH)
The weather was certainly not very friendly, with 2023 being the wettest year this century, with a mild, wet winter, followed by a cold spring with the wind mostly from the north, a summer that started baking hot and dry and ended cool and damp, with an unbelievably wet and stormy autumn (though this did have its compensations!)
Despite the weather, the sun shone on the Bill this autumn! (CRJ, above & SR)
However, as the blog passed its tenth birthday, and its two millionth page view, the locals, ably assisted by many visiting birders, continued to report a wide range of species from all four corners of the Peninsula, including coverage every day from the Bill for the fourth year running.
A milestone achieved in our tenth year (BI)
Away from the world of birds, there were some interesting things to report, including the continued regular presence of a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins off the Bill in the summer, and a Harbour Porpoise, a species rarely seen locally, was off the Bill on 15th and 16th March.
Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill on 7th August (AH)
And after a terrible start, in the cold spring weather, it proved very interesting year for butterflies, with a Large Tortoiseshell seen at Church Norton in April, White-letter Hairstreaks possibly breeding there and in Yeoman’s Field, the Peninsula's first White Admiral in many years at Church Norton in July, and Long-tailed Blues again at both Pagham Beach and East Beach in September.
There was also a profusion of Hummingbird Hawk-moths through the summer and autumn, particularly at the Bill.
White Admiral at Church Norton on 4th July (AH) (above) , Long-tailed Blue on 15th September & Hummingbird Hawk-moth on 15th October at East Beach (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
The early part of the year was distinctly low-key for Red-throated Divers, with numbers modest at best through the winter, and a high count of just 65 west on 17th January (though this did include a spectacular flock of 33 birds), and a below average spring total of 194 east, mostly in March, with the last on 13th May.
The first back of a better autumn was on 5th October, with a good count of 139 west on 14th December being spectacularly topped by 345 west, 53 east and seven on the sea on the following day - the second biggest day-count ever.
Red-throated Diver at the Bill on 10th September (AW)
Black-throated Divers remain a scarce bird locally, so four January records at the Bill, including two east on the 22nd, was a modest improvement on last year, though just nine spring birds – between 26th March and 6th May – was well below the long-term average.
One east at the Bill on 29th October was the first of a reasonable autumn, with singles seen on 18th and 29th November, and 10th, 15th and 16th December, with birds at West Itchenor on the 30th November and 20th December being the only records from elsewhere.
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Black-throated Diver at the Bill on 18th November (AH)
The early part of the year produced respectable numbers of Great Northern Divers at the Bill, including ten on 27th January, 11 on 5th March and a year’s high of 14 on 6th April, with the last seen on the typical date of 20th May.
Unexpectedly, though, there were mid-summer records off of Church Norton, with one seen offshore on 7th July, and then three together on 8th and 9th August, though they were not seen again, with the first autumn bird not seen at the Bill until 20th October.
Birds were seen regularly at the Bill thereafter, with numbers slowly building up to a peak count of at least 17 on Christmas Day.
There were also quite a few records from elsewhere, including up to three at West Itchenor from 14th November to 2nd December, one and then two in Fishbourne Creek from the 15th to the 30th, with one still present on 13th December, three off East Head on 25th November and one or two at Church Norton on several dates from the 19th November, including being seen inside the harbour on 13th and 24th December.
Great Northern Diver at Church Norton on 24th December (AH)
Grebes
Presumably the same Red-necked Grebe that has been around for several winters turned up periodically in January and again in April, last seen on the 20th, whilst what was hopefully the same bird was seen at the Bill on 5th November and again on 15th, 23rd and 24th December.
Red-necked Grebe at the Bill on 7th April (AH)
In what was a good spring for the species, a stunning summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe popped up on Ivy Lake on 16th March, but it sadly didn’t linger, though a run of records from the Bill were compensation, consisting of one seen on 26th March, then two on 1st April, one the following day and finally two on the 9th.
Black-necked Grebe at Chichester GPs on 16th March (AH)
Despite the presence of a very obliging bird in the channel off Pagham Spit early in the year, it was quite a poor year for Slavonian Grebes, with peaks of just ten at the Bill on 2nd January and seven at Church Norton on 6th February, with six east past the Bill on 10th March the only real indication of passage.
The first birds back - two together – appeared at the Bill on 18th November, with fairly regular sightings of up to half a dozen birds from then on, with 13 birds seen (six west and seven on the sea) on 26th December the best count of the year, but a peak of just three were seen at Church Norton on 15th December.
Slavonian Grebe at Pagham Spit on 1st January (AH)
Seabirds
This year will live long in the memory for the record numbers of seabirds seen during the autumn, with unprecedented numbers and day counts for several species.
Pride of place goes to the Leach’s Petrel - with only five previous occurrences, the last of which was in 2012 – for which all the records were well and truly shattered.In the trail of Storm Ciaran. On 2nd November, an astonishing 40 birds were seen (26 east, 13 west and one on the sea), with further sightings of two on the 3rd, three on the 4th and finally one on the 6th,, with many long-time sea-watchers finally connecting with one.
There was also one last bird seen, going west on 27th December.
Leach's Petrel at the Bill on 2nd November (AH)
Unexpectedly, and well out of their normal season, two Storm Petrels were also seen at the Bill at this time, with one on 2nd November and another on the 4th.
The stormy autumn produced a record-breaking autumn for Cory’s Shearwater sightings too, with nine birds recorded at the Bill, starting with six on 13th October, followed by singles on 28th and 29th October and 4th November. To put it in context, there are only seven previous records, all of single birds.
Cory's Shearwater at the Bill on 28th October (AH)
Although it was not quite a record, an autumn total of 31 Sooty Shearwaters was pretty impressive, comprising 11 on 24th September, one on 28th October and them 19 – the second best day-count ever – on the following day.
What was perhaps the most astonishing sight of the year – if somewhat overshadowed by the scarcer species – was the massive flock of at least 200 Balearic Shearwaters going east on 29th August, with a further 38 following in its wake. This is more than three times the previous best day, of 76 in 2013.
In a bumper year, there were also a single first of the year on 5th July, one on 26th August, with eight on the 27th and 29 on the 28th, before the big day, then one on 24th September and, finally, five on 29th October.
Balearic Shearwaters at the Bill on 29th August
The poor relation this year was undoubtedly Manx Shearwater, with just nine spring records – the first on 12th April, with eight in May, including three on the 30th, and just ten summer records, all in July, with five on the 1st, three on the 22nd and two on the 23rd. A count of nine going west on 20th September was unusual for the time of year, whilst one west on 29th October and two west on 4th November were very late indeed.
Gannet numbers were low, early in the year, with 113 west at the Bill on 20th February the highest count, though a little better as the year progressed, with 192 east on 3rd May clearly birds on the move on a big migration day, but there was only two more other three-figure counts thereafter, including 118 west on 7th July and 131 west on 15th September, until things improved in the autumn,
There were several 100+ counts later in the year, including 364 birds west on 13th October, 234 west on 27th November and 507 west on 19th December, and finally 603 west on the 27th, the best of the year.
Gannets at the Bill on 10th December (AH)
There were also low numbers of Shags about in the first half of the year, with never more than a handful seen, but it was a better autumn, particularly in September and October, which both recorded peaks of 21 birds going east, on the 27th and 10th respectively, though numbers dropped again thereafter to a more usual one to five birds seen on many dates.
Shag at the Bill on 28th October (AW)
Herons
The Cattle Egret has fast become established as an almost everyday bird on the Peninsula, with the regular wintering flock centred around Marsh Farm, Sidlesham and the burgeoning breeding colony at the North Wall, where a new record total of 81 was made on 13th August. A count of 54 coming into roost at Owl Copse on 19th November was the best of the autumn, with 44 still at Marsh Farm on 22nd December.
Away from these areas, tallies of 32 at Hunston on 5th January and 33 at the Ferry on both 17th July and 12th August were notable, whilst at the Bill there were two records, both in September – of four east on 5th and a remarkable flock of 21 coming in from way out on the 9th.
Cattle Egrets at the Bill on 9th September (AH)
Whilst nothing like as regular as the previous species, Great White Egrets are quietly establishing themselves locally as a regular winterer, particularly around the Chichester Pits, where up to three were seen regularly right up to March, though one in the harbour on 19th January and another there from 6th to 14th April were the only ones seen elsewhere.
The first returning bird was at Medmerry on 28th August, followed by one over the harbour on 2nd September, with further reports from the pits on the 26th and others at Medmerry on 15th October and Drayton Pits on 11th November.
Great White Egret at Drayton Pit on 22nd January (OM)
A frustratingly elusive Purple Heron was around the harbour in early April, only ever seen fleetingly, first at the North Wall and then the Long Pool on the 7th, and then around the Several on both the 8th and 9th.
Purple Heron at the Long Pool (LP)
Another elusive species was Bittern, with birds in both the late spring and early autumn, inevitably only seen by the finders, the first seen flying over Medmerry on 8th April, and the other photographed at the Breech Pool on 3rd September, seen again there briefly three days later.
Bittern at the North Wall on 3rd September (M O'Donnell)
There were too many records of Spoonbills to report individually this year, though the first was not seen until 3rd March, when one went over the North Wall, followed by half a dozen spring records from the harbour between 23rd March and 10th April.
There were a couple of different lingering birds during the summer months, before a number of sightings of multiple birds starting with two in the harbour on 17th September and four on the 30th, when two were also at Medmerry, then at the Ferry on the following day.
A flock of ten going west, close inshore at the Bill, was undoubtedly the most noteworthy report, though three over on 9th October and seven over on the 15th at Medmerry also merit a mention.
Spoonbills at the Bill on 4th October (LH)
Although, still not officially countable, White Storks are always a fine sight, with the two over the Visitor Centre on 17th May fully eclipsed by the eight over Medmerry in the company of seven Spoonbills on 15th October!
Wildfowl
Two White-fronted Geese going east past the Bill on 12th March were a welcome, if unexpected, addition to the year’s total.
Numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese were respectable during the early part of the year, and they were slow to depart, with few recorded on the move until March, when they finally went in numbers, including a peak of 565 east on the 16th. The last of the spring were a flock of nine birds that dropped in offshore at the Bill on 25th May, but there were only two summer records – of one in Fishbourne Creek on 10th June and one going west past the Bill on 9th July.
A flock of four birds over Church Norton on 12th September were the first of the autumn, but numbers remained low well into November, with just 194 west at the Bill on 24th October the best movement. By late November the wintering flocks were all back, though,and appeared to contain encouraging numbers of juveniles among them.
Brent Goose at Church Norton on 28th November (AH)
What was probably the same, overlooked, Pale-bellied Brent Goose was seen at the North Wall on 2nd January and again from 5th to 11th March, but was the only one in the harbour, with two west at the Bill on 5th December the only other report.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at the North Wall on 5th March (GJ)
A lone Barnacle Goose among the large Brent Goose flock at Medmerry on 2nd January had good credentials as wild, but 16 in the harbour on 8th January blotted their copybook somewhat with a Cackling-type Canada Goose among them, whilst the origin of two east past the Bill on 20th April will inevitably remain unproven.
Barnacle Geese at Church Norton on 8th January (AH)
Egyptian Geese are now a very regular sight on the Peninsula, particularly around the Chichester Pits and Medmerry, with both sites holding successful breeding pairs - at least two at the former and one at the latter, though the family here started at six goslings, but only one fledged.
Flocks at Runcton of 23 on 24th September and 27 on the 28th were possibly the largest ever seen on the Peninsula, whilst there was just one record from the Bill, of one going west on 21st December.
Egyptian Geese at Chichester GPs on 17th March (BI)
After last year’s bumper counts of Garganey at the Bill, it was almost inevitable that there would be none this time, and so it proved in what was a quiet year for the species, with a drake at the North Wall from 13th to 15th April, with it, or another, at the Ferry on the following day, a female there on 1st May and another female at Medmerry on 17th June being the only records.
Garganey at the Ferry on 1st May (AH)
The Drayton Pits remains an important site for Pochard, with 102 on 19th February a very good count, whilst a total of eight broods there in the summer is a nationally important number.
Pochard family at Drayton Pits on 10th June (OM)
A drake Red-crested Pochard that flew east past the Bill on 19th March was the first ever recorded there, whilst on 30th March what was surely the same pair as last year turned up at Ivy Lake, remaining until at least 5th April, and though there was no indication of breeding, the female re-appeared on 6th June, remaining in the vicinity until 6th July.
Red-crested Pochards at Chichester GPs on 19th March (AH)
Fishbourne Creek remains the key site for Goldeneye, but a peak of just seven, on 2nd February, was recorded, with four in the harbour on 23rd January being the best count there. A pair west at the Bill on 22nd January was noteworthy, with the species rarely recorded on sea-watches.
The first two of the autumn, both drakes, were back in Fishbourne Creek on 19th November, with the first back at Pagham Lagoon on 12th December, whilst one went west at the Bill on the 14th, too.
Goldeneye at Pagham Spit on 11th January (LP)
There were respectable numbers of wintering Eider about, with small flocks observed regularly at both Church Norton, with a peak of eight on 29th January, and the Bill, with a peak of 12 on 6th February. Totals of 17 east and 11 west were recorded in the spring at the Bill, with eight offshore on 30th April and the last seen on 18th May.
A flock of nine west at the Bill on 15th September were the fairly early first returners of a moderate autumn, whilst two that were around the harbour from 10th November onwards proved popular.
Eiders at the Bill on 24th November (AH)
A Long-tailed Duck off East Head on 20th January was the herald for a good first half of the year, with multiple sightings of one and two birds from both Church Norton and the Bill right into April, with three seen at the latter site on 10th, 11th and 26th March. A very late bird was seen going west past the Bill on 20th May, and more remarkably, one went east on the unlikely date of 8th July.
The first autumn record was of one west at the Bill on 16th November, with several more reports from there in the following weeks, including two east on the 23rd, and singles on 15th and 16th December.
Long-tailed Ducks at the Bill on 1st March (LH)
It was another generally poor start to the year for Common Scoters, if a little better that last year, with 60 off Church Norton on 28th January the highest count by a distance. A spring total of 3609 birds east was again well below the long-term average, and a peak day-count of 305 on 4th May was also modest.
As is usual, birds continued moving into June, but 77 east on 17th June was still particularly unusual for such a late date, though thereafter just small numbers were recorded almost daily. Numbers were slow to build up in the autumn, though a flock of 50 on the sea at the Bill on 19th November was the biggest autumn flock seen for at least a couple of years, with counts of up to 60 recorded on a number of subsequent dates.
Common Scoters at the Bill on 30th April (AH)
Possibly the same two Velvets Scoters were seen passing the Bill on about a dozen occasions between 17th January and 11th March, but a spring total of 28 east was well below average.
The first two of a decent autumn for the species went west on the fairly early date of 7th October, with four east there on 12th November, followed by regular sightings of one or two birds, with eight west on the 26th and eight west and six east on 14th December and eight west again on the 27th the best counts, with one off East Head on 25th November the only report from elsewhere.
Velvet Scoter at the Bill on 14th December (AW)
One of the biggest surprises of the frenetic autumn was a female Surf Scoter, only identified in photos, going west past the Bill on 28th October, and then seen again on the following day. This is only the second record for Peninsula, after a male in April 2019.
Surf Scoter at the Bill on 28th October (LH)
A pair of Goosanders turned up at Pagham Spit on 29th January, and were then seen at the Bill on the following day, with a redhead also in Fishbourne Creek on the next day, but after that there was just another redhead seen at the latter site on 20th February and a pair passing the Bill on 22nd April.
Three in Fishbourne Creek on 25th October were the first of the autumn, with two seen in Ferry Channel on 9th November, and then a remarkable five together there on the 19th, with a pair going west past the Bill on 14th December the only other record.
Goosanders at the Bill on 30th January (AW)
Raptors
A ringtail Hen Harrier going west over Church Norton on 20th May was unexpected for the date, whilst ringtails on the eastern side of Medmerry on 16th and 26th October and one over the North Wall on 25th November were more expected, but none were seen again after the initial sighting.
Hen Harrier at Church Norton on 20th May (IP)
The status of Marsh Harrier has changed spectacularly over recent years, and now sightings are reported almost daily around the harbour and Medmerry, with a regular winter roost at the North Wall, and at least two birds were also roosting at the Severals at Church Norton early in the year, and up to five roosting there in December.
The very good news was that the pair at the North Wall successfully raised three young this year, whilst the presence of a fourth juvenile, appearing a few days later, raised the tantalising prospect that a second ‘satellite’ female had raised also raised a chick there.
There were two records at the Bill where it remains a rare sight, with birds seen flying out to sea on 3rd September, and one flying in off the sea on the 17th.
Marsh Harrier at the North Wall on 2nd July (LP)
A Red Kite over Earnley on 21st February was a quite early first of the year, with over 25 of the year’s 30 or so records coming between 2nd March and 21st June.
The first of the autumn’s half a dozen records was seen going over the Visitor Centre on 9th September, whilst three over Drayton on 9th October was a very modest highest count. Two over the Bill on 21st November were the only records there for the year.
Red Kites over the Ferry on 29th April (AH)
It was a surprisingly poor year for Ospreys, with just three spring records, of one over West Wittering on 2nd April, one west, well offshore from the Bill on the 15th and one over Medmerry on the 23rd, and a very quiet autumn, compared to recent years, too.
The first back was seen at Church Norton on 4th August, with one west at the Bill on the 7th and it or another was at Medmerry on the 9th, but there were then no more records until 2nd September, when one was seen at the Bill and in the harbour. Thereafter one was around the harbour from the 4th to the 11th, and one at Medmerry from the 7th to the 12th, with another seen at Chichester Marina on the 13th and the last of the year at Fishbourne Creek on the early date of 16th September.
Osprey at Church Norton on 4th August (LH)
The only record of Honey-buzzard was of one heading out over the Bill on 15th September.
Finally, finally, after five years of waiting, a White-tailed Eagle was seen at the Bill, with one watched heading in off the sea trailing a wake of gulls and crows, on 26th February, and, remarkably, it was seen later at Medmerry before embarking on a 250km flight to Cornwall on the same day.
There were only two further sightings in the year, with one seen at Drayton Pits on 2nd June and another at West Itchenor on 10th October.
White-tailed Eagle at the Bill on 26th February (AH)
It was another poor year for Hobby sightings, with just four seen in the spring – all at the Bill – on 24th April and 4th, 7th and 12th May, which is well below the average of a dozen or so incoming birds.
Birds seen at Medmerry on 29th May and the Bill on 5th June may have been late migrants, though a couple of reports from late June presumably referred to wandering non-breeders.
One at Medmerry on 29th July was the first returning bird, but there were only eight reports during August and similar in September, with the last of the year seen at Park Farm, Selsey on 1st October.
Hobby at Medmerry on 22nd August (TRH)
Merlin sightings were sporadic, but regular, early in the year – primarily from Medmerry and Church Norton, with just one seen at the Bill, on 13th January, and with the last seen at Medmerry on 16th April.
This was also the site for the first bird back, on 3rd August – the earliest date this century, with the next not seen until one at Church Norton on the 28th, though there were regular sightings thereafter, including two at the Ferry on 19th September, and half a dozen reports from the Bill, including two on 13th October.
Merlin at the Bill on 11th November (AH)
Gamebirds
Sadly, one species meriting a mention for all the wrong reasons is Grey Partridge, with it appearing likely that – possibly for the first time ever – there was not a single confirmed record during the year, though the subsequent discovery of a sighting of a pair at Medmerry on 19th February keeps the species on the list for another year, though its prospects don't look good.
Oddly, for the fourth time in five years, after just one record in the previous 13 years, a Quail made it onto the list, with one reported from Medmerry on 9th August.
The two confiding Water Rails that frequented Red Barn Ditch, behind the Visitor Centre, proved very popular during the early part of the year, and at least one was back on 11th November.
A juvenile bird seen on 7th September on the Breech Pool may well have been locally raised, after a number of reports of the species in the vicinity during the summer.
Water Rail in Red Barn Ditch on 16th February (AH)
Waders
It was very difficult to ascertain whether it was a good or a bad year for the Avocets at Medmerry. After a good start, with 17 brooding birds on 5th June and 31 chicks counted on the Stilt Pool on 28th June, numbers dropped very quickly from then on - with a Cormorant known to be the culprit for at least one poor chick, seen being eaten by it on 5th July.
It is possible that a fair number of young did fledge from out in the middle of the reserve, as the families tend to relocate there from the Stilt Pool, but very few juveniles were seen at Medmerry or at the Ferry during July and August.
Avocets at Medmerry on 26th June (SR)
The first pair of Little Ringed Plovers were back on the Stilt Pool at Medmerry on 14th March – a day behind last year, but still an early date, with four seen there on the 19th. They were always hard to see there, with more spring sightings from the Ferry, though six adults on 13th June was unusual, whilst on 2nd July two pairs and four chicks were seen, though three appeared to be reduced to just one left by the 10th.
The high-water levels on both the Ferry and the Stilt Pools meant there were very few return migrants noted, though a juvenile settled on the Ferry from 23rd August until 1st September, with none seen thereafter.
Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry on 8th May (AH)
In national terms, the rarest wader of the year was the female Kentish Plover that graced the Stilt Pools at Medmerry for just a few hours on 7th May, though, locally, it was the fourth in the last eight years.
Kentish Plover at Medmerry on 7th May (SH)
There were a lot of Golden Plovers wintering again on the Peninsula, with counts of at least 1000 seen roosting in the harbour on 4th and 16th January a fair reflection of that.
Eight at Medmerry on 6th July were possibly early returning birds, but numbers remained generally low until well into the autumn, though good numbers were back in the harbour and at Medmerry by late November.
Golden Plover at Medmerry on 21st January (AH)
It was a very poor year for Little Stints, with possibly just two spring birds – both at Medmerry – with one present from 9th until 14th May, and another present there from 26th to 31st May, and an even worse autumn, with just a single bird on the east side of the harbour from 25th to 28th September, and another reported from Church Norton on the late date of 21st October.
Little Stint at Medmerry on 14th May (AH)
After just three records in 16 years, this was the third year running the Peninsula recorded Temminck’s Stints, with two birds together on the Stilt Pools at Medmerry on 14th May, and then another, at the Ferry, on the 22nd.
Temminck's Stints at Medmerry on 14th May (AH)
There were two spring records of Curlew Sandpiper, with one seen in the harbour on 7th May, and then three together on the Stilt Pools on the 28th.
It was looking like there would be no autumn birds until, on the late date of 1st September, one appeared in White’s Creek at the North Wall, followed by increasing numbers over the following days, building to a peak of 16 there on the 14th, with up to 12 remaining until the 23rd and the last two seen on the 25th.
Unusually, there was a potential wintering record, with one seen in flooded fields behind the North Wall on 7th November.
Curlew Sandpipers at the North Wall on 16th September (LP)
There were just the usual scattering of Sanderling records early in the year, though a spring total of 212 east at the Bill was respectable, including an impressive 74 east on 4th May. They are always very late migrants in the spring, with 40 at Church Norton on 31st May and 18 east at the Bill on 11th June as proof.
A count of 21 in the harbour by 10th July was the first of the autumn, with 60 on the beach at the Bill on 10th August being a particularly good tally.
Sanderling at the Bill on 18th May (AH)
As usual, there were plenty of Knot in the harbour in the winter, with a peak of 400 on 13th January, but just 30 went east past the Bill in the spring, and few were around in the summer, with the wintering population typically not appearing until well into November, with 200 back by the 19th, rising to 400 by 3rd December.
Knot at Medmerry on 28th May (AH)
The Purple Sandpiper has become an almost expected annual visitor again in recent years, though all the reports – from the Breach at Medmerry from 4th February until 7th March and from the Bill between 26th and 29th October and 14th to 25th November, plus further sightings on 10th, 27th and 28th December, may well refer to a single bird.
Purple Sandpiper at the Bill on 14th November (AH)
It was actually a better year than of late for reports of Ruff, but none of them were ever very obliging or stayed put in one place for long. Up to three were around for a few days from 21st January in inaccessible flooded arable fields at the North Wall, whilst in the spring four together were briefly on the Ferry on 7th April, with one there the next day, one went past the Bill on 21st April and another was on the Ferry from 29th to 31st May.
After the first back on, 4th at Medmerry, there were another half a dozen reports from there and the Ferry during August, with two at the former site on 2nd, and one on the 21st and three on the 30th at the latter in September. One was reported from East Head on 21st September, whilst one seen around the North Wall on 17th October and 7th November, and another at Medmerry on 16th to 23rdDecember may settle in to over-winter.
Ruff at Medmerry on 4th August (SH)
Common Sandpipers seen at the North Wall and the Ferry on the typical date of 15th April were the first of a fairly average spring, but there seemed to be a lot of birds around in the early autumn.
One at Church Norton on 27th June was the first retuning bird, but the Bill, in particular, produced a lot of sightings, including multiples of two on 30th June and 3rd July, three on the 12th and a remarkable six together on the 17th. Reasonable numbers were recorded from most sites in August and into September, with the last of the year seen in Ferry Channel on the late date of 25th October.
Common Sandpiper at the Bill on 1st July (AW)
There was probably just one wintering Green Sandpiper, present until at least 11th April and accounting for a lot of reports, primarily from the Ferry area, though five together there on 20th Aril were clearly just passing through.
The first back, seen at Medmerry, was on the very typical date of 19th June, with regular reports from the usual sites throughout the late summer, with four at the North Wall between 11th and 13th August, five flying over there on the 17th and two on 9th September the only reports of more than one bird, and one in the vicinity there on 7th November was likely to be a wintering bird.
Green Sandpiper at the Ferry on 2nd February (AH)
A count of 14 Greenshanks in Fishbourne Creek on 2nd Jan was a winter record, whilst up to half a dozen were recorded regularly there into the spring, as were two at Medmerry, whilst records of one at Church Norton on 10th and 22nd January were noteworthy, as, oddly, the species is almost never recorded in mid-winter in the harbour.
The last of the spring were five on the Ferry on 30th May, whilst the first two back were also there, on 9th July.
A count of 16 back in Fishbourne Creek on 16h September was the biggest of the year, whilst up to six birds seen on the Ferry up to 25th October was an unusually high count for the harbour so late in the year, though two that popped up at Church Norton in mid-December might yet prove to be rare over-winterers there.
Greenshank at the North Wall on 6th August (AH)
There were up to five wintering Spotted Redshanks on the Peninsula, with a peak of three in Fishbourne Creek on 31st January and two in the harbour on the following day, but there was little evidence of spring migration, with one at Medmerry on 21st April the only candidate.
A summer-plumaged bird at the North Wall on 16th June, relocating to the Ferry and remaining until the 19th, was the first returning bird, but there were then no more until one was there on 22nd July.
The North Wall had the monopoly of reports in August, including a peak of four on the 10th and 11th, whilst most reports from then on were from the Ferry, with up to eight birds seen regularly, often feeding together in a tight group, from the middle of September until 25th October, with at least three birds remaining into November and two into December
Spotted Redshanks at the Ferry on 3rd September (AH)
The first Whimbrel of the year wasn’t seen until 9th April, when two passed east at the Bill, though it was a below average year, with just 340 seen heading east, including 89 on 27th April.
One was back in the harbour on 29th June, whilst after a very average autumn’s passage, one bird remained through December, looking to fill the winter vacancy at Church Norton!
Whimbrel at Church Norton on 14th August (AH)
There were only one or two wintering Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour early in the year, with a count of 26 on the east side on 11th March possibly being very early migrants.
In fact, it was a very good spring for the species, with a well above average total of 912 birds going east past the Bill, including 331 on 19th April, and there did seem to be few more remaining into the autumn in the harbour, too, with at least nine present on 11th December.
Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton on 21st April (AH)
There were only two reports of Woodcock this year, both in February, of one in flight over Sidlesham on the 13th and one at the traditional site at Drayton Pits on the 18th.
The only regular site for Jack Snipe remains Fishbourne Channel, with one to three birds seen on a number of occasions in January and February, with the only reports from elsewhere being one at the Ferry on 29th March and from the Long Pool on 7th April.
The first report of the autumn, on 21st November, proved to be quite noteworthy, with one along the beach and then over and away, heading inland at the Bill, being the first ever record for the site.
Jack Snipe at Fishbourne Creek on 22nd January (AH)
After two blank years, there were no less than three reports of a Grey Phalarope at the Bill, with sightings on 2nd, 4th and 13th November, though how many birds were involved was uncertain, whilst another was reported at the Ferry on the 14th.
Grey Phalarope at the Bill on 13th November (LH)
Skuas
Unfortunately, our worst fears about the impact of bird flu on the skua population were realised this year, with the numbers of all three species well below average in the spring.
A total of 24 Pomarine Skuas passing the Bill, was certainly not the worst year ever, with most people catching up with at least a few, though they all moved through in just a few days between 2nd and 6th May, with 12 of those on the 4th, the best day.
Unusually, there were three autumn records this year, with a juvenile going west on 28th October, an adult west on 4th November and another juvenile on 24th December.
Pomarine Skuas at the Bill on 3rd May (AH)
The first Arctic Skua at the Bill was on the early date of 18th March, but the spring’s total of 99 was well below average. There were regular sightings of one and two birds offshore throughout June and July, with five west on 29th July the highest figure.
Intermittent sightings continued through August and September, but a flock of seven on 22nd August was a very unusual, if impressive, sight. Two west on the 13th and one east on the 21st were the only October sightings, with two west on 1st November being the last of the year.
Arctic Skua at the Bill on 24th July (AW)
The first Long-tailed Skua in four years – a juvenile – went west past the Bill on 24th September.
It was a terrible year for Great Skuas, with just 11 recorded going east at the Bill in the spring, with the first on 2nd April and the last on 5th May, and there were only seven more reports after that, of singles west on 28th and 29th July, two east on 18th October, one west on 2nd November, one offshore on the 28th and one west on 27th December.
Great Skua at the Bill on 26th April (AH)
Gulls
After the Little Gull bonanza last autumn, it was slightly surprising that there were no wintering records, with the first not seen until 18th March, when one was at Ivy Lake and five went east past the Bill.
A single flock of 25 (out of the 27 seen) going east at the Bill on 8th April made up the greater part of a small spring count of 54, plus three more in early June, whilst at Ivy Lake, the only other site to record them, there were also three on 1st April, with two remaining until the 4th.
The only summer records were of one at Medmerry on 17th June, and one west at the Bill on 16th July, and three west at the Bill on 29h September were the only records for that month, before another late-season flurry at the Bill.
The first three were seen on 19th October, with six more on the 21st, then a gap until 17 on 1st November, with a further 45 counted up to the 19th, with two remaining into December. There was also one seen on the Ferry on 15th November.
Little Gull at the Bill on 9th December (AW)
Sadly, there were no breeding Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, and just a handful of Black-headed Gulls stayed on, after the Tern Island colony was abandoned in early May. They both remain very common on the Peninsula, though, with some huge counts of the former including c2500 in the harbour on 18th May, 537 at the Bill on 7th July, and up to 1000 at East Head on 18th September.
Mediterranean Gull at the Bill on 12th July (PM)
It seemed a very bad year for Kittiwakes, with just 124 east and 150 west at the Bill in the spring, and no three-figure counts recorded all year. Despite ones and twos being seen on many days, a count of 31 east on 27th May was the very low high-count in the first half of the year, only exceeded a handful of times in the second half, with the best being 86 west on 28th October and 102 west on 27th December.
Kittiwake at the Bill on 1st January (AH)
Just the third-ever Caspian Gull for the Peninsula – a first-winter bird - was seen by a visiting birder along the east side of the harbour on 24th September.
There were just two reports of Yellow-legged Gulls in the first half of the year – with one at East Head on 8th April, and then one at East Beach on 1st May.
A juvenile at the North Wall on 16th July, an adult there on the 21st and another juvenile at Church Norton on the 23rd heralded a better late summer than recent years, with one to three adults and a couple of juveniles recorded regularly from the North Wall, with at least one remaining until 12th October.
The only records away from there was of one in Fishbourne Creek on 16th September and a first-year bird at the Bill on 20th December.
Yellow-legged Gull at East Head (SM)Terns
It was a spring that started full of hope but ended in disappointment for the Sandwich Tern colony in the harbour. Birds were back on their island in numbers in early April, and all looked as it should, at least superficially, but the whole colony never really settled and actually disappeared en masse around the 25th, but came back at the start of May, before disappearing for good ten days later, leaving a very quiet and empty harbour through the summer.
Apparently, the colony in Langstone Harbour gained 200 pairs, so that is presumably where our birds finally settled, though nobody knows what spooked them so badly.
Away from the harbour, 11 at the Bill on 11th January was the best winter count, with 51 east on 18th March the first indication of migration, with a total of 3543 eastbound birds noted, including a peak of 416 on 27th April.
There were some big counts at the Bill late in the summer, including 150 offshore 21st August, but, as usual, just a few remained to winter, with 16 west at the Bill on 22nd December being the best count.
Sandwich Terns at Church Norton on 19th April (AH)
There were three records of Roseate Tern this year, with one east at the Bill on 30th April, one at Church Norton on 7th May, and finally, one there on 1st August.
Roseate Tern at the Bill on 30th April (PM)
Unusually, the first Common Tern of the year was at Chichester GPs on 1st April, with the first at the Bill not recorded until the late date of 4th April. Lateness proved to be the theme of the spring, with a large movement of some 684 birds, shared between Common and ‘Commic’ on 30th and 31st May, boosting the overall total to 1548 Commons and 1036 ‘Commics’, with another 139 east on 3rd June.
The only breeding reports were of four pairs on the garage roof-top in Quarry Lane, and the general autumn passage was unremarkable, except for a succession of very late juvenile birds, the last of which was at the Bill on 12th November.
There was also an even later unassignable ‘Commic’ Tern at the Bill on 19th November.
Common Tern at the Bill on 12th November (AH)
Quite bizarrely, the first Arctic Tern was also at Chichester GPs on 1st April, keeping company with one of the previous species, and offering a rare chance to compare the two in detail. After that, though, all the records were from the Bill, with the first on 22nd April, and 41 of the spring’s total recorded on 30th and 31st May.
There were also five records (of six birds) in late September, and four more in October, with the last record being of a juvenile in the harbour at Church Norton on 5th November.
Arctic Tern at Chichester GPs on 1st April (AH)
There was a below average total of 371 Little Terns logged going east at the Bill, with a late first bird on 19th April and, like the above species, there was a late flurry of birds at the end of May, with 38 offshore on the 31st.
Sadly, though, despite it still looking promising well into June, the breeding colony in the harbour produced just one chick, as the gulls and crows had free rein without the protection of the main colony. On a more positive note, a new, albeit small, colony established itself at Medmerry and managed to fledge several chicks.
There were very few returning birds seen, with five going west offshore at Church Norton on 19th August and another at the Bill on the following day looking like very early last birds, before one unexpectedly popped up at the Bill on the late date of 25th September.
Little Terns at Church Norton on 19th May (AH)
A single Black Tern east at the Bill on 4th May was shaping up to be the only record for the spring, until a remarkable late flourish, made it an above average spring, with 41 birds recorded. Five birds went east on the 28th, with five east and four lingering offshore on the 30th and then a remarkable 23 east and 11 offshore on the evening of the 31st, whilst another was offshore the next day and a final 11 went east on 4th June.
Inevitably, after all that excitement, there were none at all in the autumn!
Black Terns at the Bill on May 30th (OM)
Auks
There were very few auks about early in the year, with 537 ‘auk sp, plus ten Razorbills east at the Bill on 28th January the biggest count by far. The autumn was generally quiet, too, with just one really big day out of no-where, on 10th October, when 1350 (plus 806 auk sp) were seen, going both east and west, but just respectable numbers appeared again after that.
Razorbill at the Bill on 26th November (KT)
Guillemots were only ever seen in single figures, intermittently through both winter periods, with seven west on 1st and 4th January a very low highest count early in the year, and only beaten by eight west on 10th December, until a flurry of better counts late in the month, including 112 west on the 27th, the best day-total for several years.
Guillemot at the Bill on 28th November (AH)
Pigeons/Owl etc
There was just a solitary sighting of Turtle Dove this year, with one seen for just a few minutes at Halsey’s Farm on 29th August.
Turtle Dove at the North Wall on 29th August (LP)
The first Cuckoos of the year, at the North Wall, weren’t reported until the very late date of 22nd April, and, again, numbers seemed low away from this, there favoured area.
There were two in the spring at the Bill though, where they have always been rarely recorded, with one on 30th April and another on 25th May, with remarkably, a juvenile seen there on 16th August.
The same bird, or possibly another was also seen that day at the North Wall, whilst one last bird was seen at Medmerry on 10th September, the second latest record this century.
Cuckoo at the Bill on 16th August (KT)
The pairs of Barn Owls at Medmerry and Halsey’s Farm were both seen regularly through the first half of the year, but sightings at Medmerry were few thereafter, suggesting they may not have bred successfully this year, though the ones at Halsey’s Farm continued to appear intermittently. There were just a handful of reports away from these sites, though.
Barn Owl at the North Wall on 24th May (AD)
It proved to be a good year for Short-eared Owls, with plenty of reports at both ends of the year. Medmerry proved the best site early on, though it was never predictable when one might appear, whilst one was seen intermittently along the Long Pool from 1st to 20th April was a bit more so, with one in off the sea at the Bill on the following day being the last of the spring.
One at Medmerry on 9th August was an early first bird back, with the next not seen until 11th September at Church Norton, though, from then on, there were many sightings through the autumn, including birds in off the sea at the Bill on 4th and 20th October, and a relatively reliable bird taking up residence at the North Wall from mid-October and through into December.
Short-eared Owl at the Long Pool on 4th April (AH)
After losing out in the battle for the nest-box in the Discovery Area last year, the pair of Tawny Owls were back in situ this spring, and fledged two young. No others were seen, but birds were heard most months from around any suitable bits of woodland, included several young ones at West Wittering in September.
Tawny Owl at the Discovery Area on 19th May (SR)
The pair of Little Owls at the North Wall were still present this year, though mostly elusive, save a brief period in early October, when one was seen regularly around the horse paddocks there. The only other record was of one calling in Sidlesham on 9th October.
Little Owl at the North Wall on 30th June (LP)
An unprecedented influx of Alpine Swifts into the country in March gave the locals high hopes of getting it onto their Peninsula lists, particularly after a tantalising report of one seen from a car on the edge of Chichester, and right on the border of our patch, on 24th March.
Finally, though, one gave itself up, initially seen over Hunston and then the Ivy Lake complex on 2nd April, lingering long enough for most of the locals, and a good few others, to watch it hawking over the pits, and it even popped up again on the following morning for a few more lucky observers.
Alpine Swift at Chichester GPs on 2nd April (AB)
An unexpectedly early Swift went over the Bill on 16th March, presumably caught up in the influx of the previous species, with the next not seen until the still fairly early date of 21st April, with two over Ivy Lake.
It was a generally unexceptional year for the species, though there was a huge movement on 14th July, with 1264 counted heading broadly east at the Bill over the course of the day, with reports of lots around/over the town, but the phenomenon was not really evident at other sites. As always, there were a handful of September records, with the last of the year coming from the Bill on the 9th.
Swift at Medmerry on 30th May (AH)
There were just two records of Ring-necked Parakeet this year, with one seen several times around the North Wall and the East side on the evening of 9th September and then one going west over the Bill on 6th December.
Ring-necked Parakeet at on 9th September (TG)
There wasn’t very much to report about Kingfishers this year, with birds present at the usual sites at both ends of the year, but records from Ivy Lake on 21st June, Fishbourne Creek on 9th July and 3rd August at the North Wall suggest they may well be breeding somewhere locally.
Kingfisher at the North Wall on 7th September (LP)
The only record of a Wryneck this year was of one reported from a Selsey garden on the late date of 4th October.
Larks/Pipits/hirundines
Oddly, Woodlarks came in twos this autumn, with the only reports being of two together seen going west over the Bill on 29th September, 8th and 14th October – presumably all different birds.
There were no spring records of Tree Pipit this year, but it was a better autumn, with ten reports, of 12 birds with the first at the Bill on 20th August and the last two also there on the early date of 10th September, with four more of the other reports coming from there, and the others from the harbour, Medmerry and West Itchenor. They were all fly-overs, bar one at Halsey's Farm on 26th August.
Tree Pipit at the North Wall on 26th August (LP)
There was a single Water Pipit seen – in the species’ most favoured site of Fishbourne Creek – on 14th and 15th January.
There was also just one Scandinavian Rock Pipit seen, at the North Wall on 17th March and at Pagham Spit on the following day.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit at the North Wall on 17th March (LP)
Ten Yellow Wagtails seen flying in off the sea at Church Norton on 10th April were the first of the year, with the first of a spring total of 37 at the Bill not seen until the 16th. There was also a rare appearance for the species at Ivy Lake, with one in the small horse paddock there on the 22nd and two there the following day.
The first three of the autumn turned up at Medmerry on 4th August, a week later than average, with c50 there on the 28th the only big count of the month. In an odd autumn, numbers seemed low at both Medmerry and the North Wall, usually the most favoured sites, with a high count of just 100 at the latter site on 15th September, but there were unusually high numbers of birds going over the Bill, including 75 on 3rd September, 56 on the following day and 80 on the 17th. Two over there on the 30th were the last of the year, two weeks ahead of average and the earliest last date this century.
Yellow Wagtail at Chichester GPs on 23rd April (AB)
A potential Iberian Wagtail on the Stilt Pools at Medmerry on 13th May came and went with very little fanfare, but, if accepted by BBRC, would only be the fifth ever record of the sub-species for Britain.
Iberian Wagtail at Medmerry on 13th May (SH)
The first Sand Martins – six of them – were at Ivy Lake on 21st March, with 200 there on the 31st, but it was an otherwise unremarkable spring, with just 20 seen at the Bill.
Two at Medmerry on 30th May were an unseasonal oddity, with one there on 17th June arriving on a more usual date. There was no repeat of last year’s vast numbers, though passage was respectable, with 500 over Medmerry on 7th July and similar over Sidlesham on 10th August the modest best counts. One at the Norh Wall on 30th September seemed a typical last record until, amazingly, one appeared in a little flock of hirundines over Ivy Lake on 2nd November, after the big storm. This is the latest record this century by 13 days.
Sand Martin at the Bill on 20th July (AH)
The first Swallow of the year was at Ivy Lake on 24th April, but, sadly, the consensus was that numbers were really poor again during the breeding season, with many formerly occupied territories seemingly empty.
As usual, there were several big days at the Bill in September, with the best being 2859 east on the 17th, and 360 east on 8th October was notable for the month, but the inescapable conclusion is that the species is struggling. There were still birds being recorded into November, as is now usual, with four present at the Bill on the 17th and one still there on the 22nd.
Swallow at the North Wall on 16th May (LP)
Ivy Lake had the full set of first hirundines, with an early House Martin there on 22nd March, whilst the various breeding colonies had a reasonable year, with most nests at the bill and West Itchenor occupied.
Similar to the previous species, there were some substantial movements at the Bill in September, with 2600 west on the 23rd being the biggest, whilst two at Ivy Lake on 2nd November were the last of the year.
House Martin at the Bill on 16th May (AH)
Thrushes
Medmerry was once again about the only place to see Fieldfares in the early part of the year, with a mobile flock of up to 30 birds seen on a number of dates, though possibly a different flock of c20 frequented nearby Earnley. A flock of up to 14 in Sidlesham Churchyard from 23rd January until 7th February was the only other location to record them, with a flock of 18 going over Hunston on 18th March presumably being migrating birds
The first three back of a reasonable autumn were at the North Wall on 10th November, with another along the Tramway on the following day, with 17 at Halsey’s Farm on the 25th and 30 at Fishbourne Creek on the 26th the forerunners of a reasonable autumn, with flocks of up to 30 birds at Medmerry and Marsh Farm, Sidlesham, and a peak of 60 at Halsey's Farm on 22nd December.
Fieldfare in Sidlesham churchyard on 26th January (AH)
Redwing numbers were very low early in the year, with 12 at Chichester Marina on 10th February a very poor best count, though numbers perked up in March, as, presumably, migrant birds started moving through, with 70 at West Wittering on the 5th and up to 15 at Church Norton during the following week, with the last seen at Ivy Lake on 1st April.
The first of the autumn were birds heard overflying West Itchenor on 9th October, with several recorded over the Bill in the following weeks, including 30 on the 20th, and there were a few scattered reports into the winter of small numbers at a variety of sites.
Redwing in Sidlesham churchyard on 25th November (SR)
After a blank spring, there were probably four autumn Ring Ouzels, with the first of the year seen at the unusual location of Drayton Pits on 20th October, with all the further sightings coming from Medmerry, where one was seen along the same area of the western banks on the 22nd and 25th, with another seen near the ham Viewpoint also on the 22nd and, presumably, a different bird along the Medmerry Trail on the 27th.
Like many species, Stonechat numbers seemed low in the early part of the year, and though there were several instances of proven breeding, particularly around Medmerry, the impression that we were well down on previous summers.
Autumn numbers were relatively low, too, with a peak count of just 39 at Medmerry on 14th October.
Stonechat at the North Wall on 11th November (AH)
The first Whinchats were not back until the late date of 29th April, over a week behind average, but up to five were spread around the east side of Medmerry during the day, with others seen at the Bill and at Halsey’s Farm. There were just four more reports in early May – three on the 1st and one on the 6th, before a couple of very late reports from Medmerry on the 28th and Marsh Farm, Sidlesham on the 29th.
The first returning bird was at Church Norton on 4th August, whilst there was a very odd record of an adult and two barely fledged juveniles at Halsey’s Farm on the 10th and 11th, with the nearest breeding sites being hundreds of miles from the Peninsula. Autumn numbers were generally low, though, with just six at Medmerry on 28th August the very poor best count, and the last of the year – seen there, too – was on the early date of 1st October.
Whinchat at Church Norton on 7th September (AH)
The first Wheatear of the year was reported by a visiting birder from the Earnley Viewpoint at Medmerry on 14th March, with records almost daily, thereafter, including at least 20 spread around the Peninsula on the 17th and the best day of the spring producing at least 50 birds on 29th April, including 16 at the Bill and eight on the North Wall. Remarkably, the last of the spring was at the Bill on the very early date of 4th May.
There was a very unseasonal individual at Church Norton from 28th June until 2nd July, with one there on 28th July a much better candidate for the first bird back. It seemed to be a better year for returning birds, with quite a few good day counts, including what must be highest in some years on 25th August, when over 90 birds were recorded, including 39 at Medmerry and 35 at the North Wall.
There were three November records to round the year off, with one at Church Norton on the 1st, one at the Bill on the 4th and finally, one at Toe End, Medmerry on the 6th.
Wheatears at the Bill on 4th August (AH)
Redstarts were in short supply again in the spring, with a male at Greenlease Farm from 10th to 15th April followed by just two at the Bill on the 20th, a female at Greenlease Farm on the following day and lastly, another female at nearby Park Farm, Selsey on the 29th.
Two at Church Norton on 16th August were the first back, but numbers were very disappointing, with four at the North Wall on 26th August the best count, and one at Church Norton on 11th September set to be earliest last bird this century until one unexpectedly popped up there on 30th October, just two days shy of the latest ever.
Redstart at Church Norton on 10th April (SaH)
The year started well, with the wintering Black Redstart at Ham, Medmerry continuing until 5th January, with it, or another, seen on a number of dates along the west side between 22nd January and 8th February. There were also with two, and sometimes three, birds seen around the Seal Bay Caravan Park, on the east side of Medmerry between 30th January and 10th February, with a single female remaining there until 19th March, but there were no reports of any migrants during the spring.
It was a quiet autumn, too, after the first was seen in a Selsey garden on 20th October, with the stormy weather presumably not helping, with just four more records in October, including a peak of just two at Church Norton on the 30th.
One on Pagham Spit on the 5th and one in the caravan park on the 10th were the only November reports, until one turned up the Coastguard Station on the 28th, still there on 15th December, whilst another potential over-winterer was along Summer Lane, Pagham on 22nd and 23rd December.
Black Redstart at Medmerry on 4th February (BI)
Warblers/’crest and Flycatchers
For the third year running, the first Sedge Warbler was in March, with one along the Long Pool on the 29th, whilst the last two were on the slightly early date of 22nd September, at the North Wall.
Sedge Warbler at Medmerry on 8th May (SH)
The first two Reed Warblers were also along the Long Pool, on 8th April, and the last one was also at the North Wal, on 25th September, two weeks ahead of the average last date.
Reed Warbler at the North Wall on 25th May (AH)
The only spring record of Grasshopper Warbler was of one reeling from dense vegetation on a small plot of waste ground, on the northern edge of Selsey on 24th April, whilst the only autumn records were of one at the North Wall on 26th August and one at Church Norton on 9th September.
Grasshopper Warbler at Church Norton on 9th September (K Britten)
The first two Willow Warblers of another poor spring were at Church Norton on 1st April, but numbers remained low throughout.
One back there on 26th July was the first, with ten there and 12 at West Wittering on the 29th being the first decent arrival, though, again, numbers were generally very low, with no notable falls. Three at the Bill and one at Church Norton, among an influx of Chiffchaffs on 30th September proved to be the last of the year.
Willow Warbler at Church Norton on 3rd August (AH)
Chiffchaff numbers were a little better this year, with a scattering of wintering birds, with 30 along the Medmerry Trail on 2nd March and up to 50 around the Ivy Lake complex on the 17th being the most obvious arrivals of the spring. It didn’t seem to have been a very good breeding season, locally, however, with fledged families in the summer notably absent from areas like the Tramway/Discovery Area where they are often numerous.
Autumn migration seemed reasonable, though, with, for instance 22 at the Bill and 20 at Church Norton on 30th September, and another 20 in the churchyard there on 8th October, with reasonable numbers at the regular wintering sites thereafter.
Chiffchaff at the Ferry on 20th May (AH)
A Yellow-browed Warbler seen in a Selsey garden on 22nd September, the earliest record this century by nine days, did not, sadly, prove to be the harbinger of an influx of the species, and remained the only record for the year.
Yellow-browed Warbler in a Selsey garden on 22nd September (AW)
The year’s first Whitethroat was seen at the North Wall on the typical date of 6th April, and there seemed to be a few more breeding birds around the area this summer, compared to last, whilst one at Medmerry on 4th October proved to be the last of the year.
Whitethroat at Medmerry on 25th May (AH)
A singing Lesser Whitethroat at the start of the Long Pool on 7th April was a day behind the earliest recorded this century, though they never seemed very abundant during the summer, or on autumn passage, before the last was seen at the North Wall on the early date of 22nd September.
Lesser Whitethroat at the North Wall on 22nd September (LP)
The first Garden Warbler of a poor spring was heard along the Medmerry Trail on 21st April, with only a couple more recorded over the next fortnight, though there was an unusual record of one in a West Wittering garden on 24th June, with none breeding anywhere locally, as far as is known.
One that appeared at Church Norton on the more usual date of 30th July was the first of a modest autumn, with never more than single birds seen, mainly in this area, with a late last bird also there, on 30th September.
Garden Warbler at Church Norton on 1st September (AH)
A Blackcap seen in an East Beach garden on 8th and 9th January was the only reported wintering bird, with one along the Medmerry Trail on 21st March being bang on the average date for first spring arrival.
This was another species, though, where local breeding seemed poor, and there were never really the numbers in the autumn, either. A female at Park Farm, Selsey on 25th November and a male there on 16th December were presumably over-wintering birds.
Blackcap in an East Beach garden on 17th April (SR)
Last year’s good news story about Dartford Warblers continued again this year, with a peak of 11 birds wintering around Medmerry and at least another half a dozen widespread birds wintering elsewhere on the Peninsula, and at least one pair were known to have bred again at Medmerry, whilst there were similar numbers in the autumn, too, as the species consolidates its foothold on the Peninsula.
Dartford Warblers at Medmerry on 26th May (GHi)
The Ivy Lake complex and Sidlesham churchyard were the only sites to hold regularly appearing wintering Firecrests, early in the year, though there was an obvious influx in March, including three at Church Norton on the 19th and the unusual spectacle of one watched coming in off the sea and landing in an ornamental palm-tree at the Bill on the 12th.
One heard singing near Apuldram churchyard – often a favoured wintering spot – on 24th June suggested that a pair may well have nested in the vicinity. Two birds in Sidlesham churchyard on 22nd October were the first of the autumn, with two more in a Selsey garden two days later, but numbers were low, possibly due to the stormy weather during the period that they often arrive in.
Firecrest at the Bill on 12th March (AH)The most positive thing to say about Goldcrests this year was that numbers seemed more or less back to former levels, particularly in the autumn where they were present in most of their former haunts, though there were never any obvious falls.
Goldcrest at Chichester GPs on 17th January (SM)
Once again, there were no spring reports of a Pied Flycatcher, with perhaps ten individuals noted in the autumn, after two were in Church Norton churchyard on 4th August. This site produced probably four more birds between the 10th and 23rd, with one in a Birdham garden on the 19th, one at Halsey’s Farm on the 21st, with possibly another seen there on the 24th and 25th, and finally, the last of the year in the paddocks at the North Wall on the early date 4th September.
Pied Flycatcher at the North Wall on 21st August (KT)
There were few spring records of Spotted Flycatchers, after the first, at Church Norton, on 29th April, though a record of one at the Bill on 7th May was noteworthy, as was one at Chichester Canal on 13th May.
The first one back was also at Church Norton, on 14th August, with the highest count of seven birds also there, on 29th August, and, indeed, the last of the year, too, on 1st October.
Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton on 22nd September (LH)
Tits/Crows etc
The only shrike of the year was a probable Great Grey Shrike, seen briefly and photographed distantly between Porthole Farm and Ham Farm, Medmerry on 25th October, though it was never seen again.
Great Grey Shrike at Medmerry on 26th October (AW)
The Golden Oriole maintained its good recent run, with the fifth bird in six years - a female being seen flying over the Severals at Church Norton on 11th June.
The only record of Bearded Tits for the year was a late report of a pair at the Breech Pool on 22nd November.
Coal Tits continue to live unobtrusively around the northern and western fringes of the Peninsula, with regular reports from the Mundham/Runcton area, and the Apuldram to Chichester Marina area, with one at Church Norton on 28th April the only exception.
Coal Tit at Fishbourne Creek on 7th January (BI)
There were only three reports of Nuthatch during the year, all from the west of the Peninsula, with one heard at West Itchenor on 17th April, and then reports from both there and a Birdham garden on 29th August. It remains a very difficult bird to catch up with locally.
West Itchenor remains a good place to find Tree-creepers, too, with two there on 25th January and one on 24th April, with the other regular site of the Ivy Lake complex also turning up birds on 5th January and 18th March. The only one seen elsewhere unexpectedly appeared at Church Norton on 28th January.
Tree-creeper at Church Norton on 28th January (AH)
There was a very unexpected appearance, too, of a Hooded Crow in fields at Park Farm, Selsey on 22nd April, only present for a couple of hours before moving on and being seen further east along the coast the next day.
Hooded Crow at Park Farm, Selsey on 22nd April (IP)
Ravens will probably never be numerous on the Peninsula, but they turn up regularly from early autumn until late spring, and this year was no exception. Four at Church Norton on 5th February was the best count of the year, whilst one at Chichester Canal on 6th July was a rare summer record.
Raven at the North Wall on 5th February (AH)
Finches/Buntings
There were only four reports of Bullfinch on the Peninsula in the entire year, with the species seemingly decreasing quite rapidly, though it is probably under-reported as most records came from sites that were not regularly watched. The first of the year was in the odd location of a hedge along a busy road on the outskirts of Selsey on 25th January, with another at Earnley on 2nd February, and autumn records consisted of one along Chichester Canal on 14th October and one at Drayton Pits on the following day.
Five Siskins over the Bill on 23rd March a, and another on the 23rd were the only spring records, whilst one over Church Norton on 6th June was very unseasonal.
It proved to be the best autumn for a number of years, though, after the first five over the Bill on the very typical date of 16th September, with a dozen days recording double-figure counts and higher, with 275 west on 21st October the biggest day count for a long time, though numbers tailed off after that, with one over the Bill and 20 over Church Norton on 5th November being the last.
Siskin in a garden at the Bill on 19th October (B Richardson )
The first Lesser Redpolls of the year were on 8th October, when two went over the Bill and two over Church Norton, with a flock of a dozen in trees there on the 14th being the only ones to settle, albeit briefly, with the only subsequent records all of birds going west over the Bill, with one on the 15th, three on the 21st and two on the 22nd.
Yet again, a Serin was recorded going over the Bill in the spring, with the year’s only record being on 4th May.
Sadly, there was also only one record of Brambling this year, of one going west over the Bill on 8th October.
Another species with just a single report was Crossbill, that being of one flying over the North Wall on 6th October.
Last autumn’s Snow Bunting that took up residence on Pagham Spit remained until 13th February, allowing everyone a chance to catch up with it, whilst the only one of the autumn was fairly briefly along the North Wall on the late date of 2nd December.
Snow Bunting at Pagham Spit on 30th January (LP)
After several good years, it was a really poor year for Corn Buntings, with just a handful of reports early in the year, a summer peak of just five at Ham on 7th July and a single record from the west of Medmerry, on 11th September.
With the imminent change from spring crops to grass at Ham Farm, the prospects do not look at all bright, sadly.
Corn Bunting at Medmerry on 24th February (BI)
The numbers of both Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were very low in the early part of the year, with none of the promising-looking cover crops at Medmerry holding birds, though numbers seemed fair during the breeding season and into the autumn, though, again, no big flocks were noted.
On a more positive note, it would appear that a pair of Yellowhammers bred along the Long Pool again, with - after sporadic appearances during the summer -, an adult and three juveniles seen there on 9th August.
Yellowhammer at Medmerry on 5th June (SR) (above) & Reed Bunting at the North Wall on 18th March (LP)
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