9th-10th January 2014

Friday, 10th January: Sunshine, cloud and showers.

East Head: A glorious sunny morning was rewarded with a few good birds, mostly on the water - highlights were 2 Great Northern Divers, 3 Slavonian Grebes, 1 Eider, 5 Great Crested Grebes & at least 20 Red-breasted Mergansers. Quiet around the dunes - 40+ Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits were about the sum, but I couldn't track down the Dartford Warbler. (AH).

Red-breasted Mergansers off East Head (AH)

Skylark at East Head (AH)

Sidlesham SF: A quick stop  here produced a Grey Wagtail, a Rock Pipit, a Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting amongst at least 200 Pied Wagtails and 30+ Meadow Pipits.

Meadow Pipit having a bath at Sidlesham SF (AH)

 

Info from Sarah Russell... I only went out briefly this afternoon along West Beach (Medmerry).  The caravan park is closed at the moment, the gates locked and rather annoyingly the barrier is in operation again, so I parked in West Street and walked along.  The lack of people was refreshing but there was also a distinct lack of birds today.  However I thought you might like this to see the storm damaged cliffs toward the Coastguard Station, great chunks have fallen onto the beach exposing old brickwork and pipes belonging to previous properties.  The footpath is still in operation but you have to go carefully (SR).

 

Medmerry Cliffs (S. Russell)

 

As mentioned in yesterday's blog, Bernie Forbes and I, with several guests, completed our Birdrace on the peninsula today. Unfortunately it turned out to be fairly unspectacular and we struggled to even reach a total of about 85 species (subject to checking) - probably our worst ever! The list of species we missed was both surprising and embarrassing (Ringed Plover, Skylark, Gannet, Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, etc etc...) whilst highlights were few, though we did log at least 8 Spotted Redshanks in our travels, plus 3 Velvet Scoters off Church Norton, and a Slavonian Grebe and 2 Sandwich Terns off East Head. The mild weather and lack of birds contributed to a disappointing day and it may yet prove to be our swansong, but time will tell.

Bernie Forbes (right) with the team, taking lunch at West Wittering (OM)

Thursday, 9th January: Wet and windy yet again overnight, but with the promise of some drier weather over the weekend.

Firstly, a record shot of the Dartford Warbler at East Head yesterday (Sarah Russell) which unfortunately couldn't be uploaded to yesterday's blog due to technical problems with Blogger.

 

Pagham Spit/Lagoon: There were 4 Goldeneye, including one drake, on the lagoon this morning, along with about 20 Little Grebes and a dozen Tufted Duck. There were at least 200 Mediterranean Gulls around the harbour entrance, plus at least 100 Common Gulls, but I couldn't find much else out of the ordinary.

Goldeneye on Pagham Lagoon (above) and Mediterranean Gulls just inside the harbour (AH)

Can I just mention that I am due to do the annual winter Bird Race tomorrow, to raise funds for the SOS, and will be competing with my old mucker Bernie Forbes and several others. Our team (named 'The Muppets' after Waldorf and Statler, the two grumpy old men on the show) will be confining themselves entirely to the Peninsula, so if anyone is out birding on the patch tomorrow and finds something interesting, please could you give us a ring. Many thanks. (OM).

7th-8th January 2014

Wednesday 8th January: Drier, brighter and less windy today, though rain later.

Fishbourne Creek: Had an interesting morning - the highlight of which was a Black Brant in amongst at least 1000 Brent Geese in the main channel.

Black Brant anong the Brent Geese in Fishbourne Creek (AH)

 

Also of note, there was a minimum of 28 Yellowhammers in the bushes by the cattle fields, at least 700 Common Gulls present, as well as a single Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and 3-4 Rock Pipits. (AH)

Greenshank (above) and Spotted Redshank in Fishbourne Creek (AH)

 

Pagham Hbr: North Wall: Very quiet and very mild. Where have all the Wigeon gone?,. only 3 seen today! A pair of Stonechats in the horse field and 181 Curlew spread across 4 fields. Female Sparrowhawk in trees alongside the Breech Pool. (JW) Ivan Lang later reported the 2 Whooper Swans behind the  Breech Pool, plus 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Church Norton and a Nuthatch in Norton Priory.


I visited the dunes at East Head this morning, taking advantage of the reduced £1 parking.  The Snow Buntings seem to have moved on but I did come across a highly vocal Dartford Warbler in bushes along the side of the dunes near the green doggie bins.  I had good views of it although it was very camera shy, being very active and often skulking. There was also up to 2 Reed Buntings, a  Skylark, 3 Pied Wagtails and 8 Meadow Pipits. (SR).
 

Tuesday, 7th January: Cloudy and still very windy with a strong SW approaching gale force; the prospect is of further rain later, but with the promise of some better weather in the next few days. 

Selsey Bill: Bright sunshine and a strong wind veering round to the west meant there was almost no movement. However the two Little Gulls were still close offshore, the two Velvet Scoter and a single Common Scoter were also still about and a total of 8 Kittiwakes drifted through the gull flock feeding on the surf. (AH)

Kittiwake (above) & the first-winter Little Gull off the Bill (AH)  

 

Pagham Hbr: Church Norton: Four Avocets were in the harbour along with two Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser this morning. The huge flocks of Lapwing, Golden Plover and other waders were constantly disturbed but I couldn't find the culprit. (AH) (but see IL's report below).

Pagham Lagoon: Windy and quiet; 1 Kingfisher, 4 Goldeneye (3 females and a happy male), 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Tufted Duck, 12 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Med Gulls and 120 juvenile Herring Gulls (JW)

Despite the windy weather reasonable number of birds in the harbour. In the entrance from the Pagham side, 1 adult Kittiwake and 50 Med Gull. In the harbour 300 Golden Plover, 600 Black-tailed Godwits, a Merlin, Sanderling, redhead Goosander and Spotted Redshank. Breech Pool had a Water Rail and at North Fields one Marsh Harrier (Ivan Lang).

 



5th - 6th January 2014

Monday, 6th January: Wet and windy early on, the rain subsiding fairly soon to give periods of sunshine. Still very windy, SSW7.  Sea-watching conditions were actually quite tricky this morning, with heavy rain giving way to bright glare and the wind direction making it difficult to find the right spot to shelter - we eventually settled 'round the corner' from Bill Point house. Not surprisingly there wasn't too much moving at sea, but those birds sheltering offshore included the 2 Velvet Scoters and the 2 Little Gulls from yesterday.

 

Selsey Bill 0815-1045 (2.5hrs): Heavy showers, then sunny. Wind strong SSW 7  (Obs: OM/AH)
Red-throated Diver - 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Brent Goose - 1W
Wigeon - 8W
Eider - 3 os
Velvet Scoter - 2 os
Common Scoter - 8 os
R/b Merganser - 5E, 1W, 3 os
Guillemot - 2W
Auk sp - 3E
Little Gull - 2 os (ad + 1st-w)
Kittiwake - 10 W
Rock Pipit - 1 ob 

Adult Little Gull (above) & Eiders off Selsey Bill (AH)

Selsey: A visit to East Beach Pool and then West Beach produced nothing of note (OM).

Pagham Hbr: At Church Norton the tide was still fairly low when I visited; nothing unusual seen but a large flock of 1000+ waders on the mudflats included Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Lapwing, perhaps half a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits and a few Ringed Plovers (OM). Offshore a couple of Eider and a few R/b Mergansers were picked out but the rough sea made things almost impossible at times.

North Wall: Jim Weston reports' The western end of the North Wall is very much churned up by bicycles and care needs to be taken as it is very muddy and slippery. Quite a surprise this morning - not a single Godwit to be seen, Wigeon numbers were also way down and across the fields I only counted 47. Lapwing were very hard to count as they were continually disturbed and groups were flying backwards and forwards to the Harbour. At the peak there was not less than 2000 birds. Behind the Breech Pool 151 Curlew, 4 Redshank and 2 Snipe. Also there 82 Canada Geese and 68 Teal. No sign of Shovelers this morning. There is big flock of Brent up by Beckett's Barn and I estimated 2100. A Cetti's Warbler calling along the Wall and 2 Buzzards sitting on the back fence (JW).

Ferry Pool: The two Ruddy Shelducks still present this morning, and a few Golden Plovers were in amongst the large Lapwing flock. (AH)

Golden Plover & Lapwing over the Ferry (AH)

 

 

(above) Ruddy Shelducks, Common Shelducks and Shovelers on the Ferry Pool, and (below) Pagham Hbr on a high tide (Photos: Lee Evans)

 

  

Chi GPs: An early afternoon visit to Ivy Lake failed to locate the fem Red-crested Pochard reported a few days ago, just a group of around 15 Gadwall was the nearest I could get. (No reports either of the 2 Whooper Swans seen a couple of days ago). Not much excitement either at the Drayton pits; over 50 Gadwall there plus 30 Shoveler and just the usual assortment of common wildfowl.

Sunday, 5th January: A dry start to the day for a change, but sure enough red sky in the morning means shepherd's warning, and another storm with heavy rain is forecast for this afternoon.

Selsey Bill, 0735 - 1005hrs, Cloudy, wind W1 then WSW3: (Obs: JA/SH/IP/PB et al)
Great Northern Diver - 2 os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 12W, 1os
diver sp - 9W
Slavonian Grebe - 2W
Great Crested Grebe - 3E, 10W, 6 os
Cormorant - 46 os
Heron - 1 ob
Brent Goose - 7E, 15W, also 80 over village
Wigeon - 6E, 18W
Velvet Scoter - 2 os
Common Scoter - 1E, 7 os
Eider - 4E, 3 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 27 os
Dunlin - 37W
Knot - 21W
Grey Plover - 95W
Ringed Plover - 10W
Oystercatcher - 3 ob
Turnstone - 1W
Little Gull - 2 os (adult, and 1st winter)
Kittiwake - 19W, 3 os
Med' Gull - 8E
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Razorbill - 1W
Guillemot - 1E
auk sp - 4E, 5W 
Rock Pipit - 1 ob.

Selsey - Church Norton:

Still at least 2 Long-tailed Ducks offshore with 4 female Eider and double figures of Red-breasted Merganser. Plenty of common waders again in the harbour, plus a pair of Peregrines on their island and the pair of Ruddy Shelduck were on the mud in the harbour. Nothing much else of note except for the amount of water in the two Severals and the inland sea lake from yesterday has now soaked away (IP, S & SaH).

Pagham Hbr: North wall: Numbers in the fields behind the Breech Pool were way down on last evenings impressive numbers: 470 Lapwing, 260 Black-tailed Godwits and 45 Wigeon. Amongst the Godwits were 2 Spotted Redshank and, surprisingly, 1 Knot. In the flooded field immediately north of the stables were 1100 Lapwing, but they were very skittish and did not settle for long (JW).
A redhead Goosander at Church Norton, near the harbour entrance, also a handsome drake Goldeneye. The high tides had left an interesting selection of starfish and green sea urchins along the strand-line too (SR).

 

3rd - 4th January 2014

Saturday, 4th January: Another day, another storm! The prolonged series of Atlantic lows continues unabated, with more grey skies, heavy rain and strong winds. Sea-watching would therefore seem to be the most realistic option for the time being! A lousy day today with rain persisting most of the time.

Selsey Bill (0800-1000hrs):  Heavy cloud and rain. Wind SW 7.  (Obs: JA/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 1 os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Diver sp - 2W

Gannet - 2W

Eider - 2 os

Velvet Scoter - 2 os 

Common Scoter - 3 os

R/b Merganser - 2W, 4os

Guillemot - 1W

Auk sp - 1E, 4W

Little Gull - 2 os (ad + 1st-w)

Kittiwake - 2E, 39W

(most birds offshore were between the Lifeboat station and the Mixon 'mile basket')

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(above) Adult Little Gull with Black-headed Gull, (centre two) Little Gull (1st-winter), and (lower) adult Kittiwake, Selsey Bill (A. House)
 

Additional sea-watch Selsey Bill: 1230 to 1430hrs:    (Obs: SH)
Great northern Diver - 1os

Diver sp - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Eider  - 1E, 1os

Common Scoter - 2E, 2os

Velvet Scoter - 6E

Long-tailed Duck - 2E, 2 os (presumably the C/Norton birds?)
R/b Merganser - 23E, 4 os 

Auk sp - 1W

Kittiwake - 2E
Med Gull -  4os

Pagham Hbr: Still trying!. All of the circular routes involving the North Wall are impassable unless you have really good wellies. Dreadful light but shed loads of birds as follows - 700 Wigeon, 108 Canada Geese, 80 Teal, 6 Shoveler. On the wader front - 1800 Lapwing, 1050 Black-tailed Godwits, 102 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 3 Common Snipe and 1 Spotted Redshank. A bigger crowd than Bognor Football club get!. Jim Weston.  The 2 Ruddy Shelducks were still on the Ferry Pool (SH).

Ian Pitts reports the following... 'Well the weather abated sufficiently this afternoon to permit a walk on the standard route, Selsey - Church Norton. Firstly I have never seen the harbour so full of water and there is currently a mini sea water lake beyond the shingle bank at the southern end of the harbour. Definite highlight, a male Goosander flew north along the coastline, I presume it is the bird that was offshore in early December with the five females that Andy has recently seen in the harbour mouth. There are still at least three Long-tailed Ducks offshore, together with four female Eiders. 
 

As an aside I met Matt Eade and Adam Bowley on the shoreline, Matt reports a Willow Warbler at Sidlesham Sewage Works today (IP). He also found a Dartford Warbler in the marram on East Head (per SOS website).

 

No sign of the Whooper Swans on Ivy Lake this afternoon up until dark (SH).


 

Friday, 3rd January: If you haven't yet noticed it, the Review of the Year 2013 (compiled by Andy House) is now available - just click the page link under the title bar. I apologise in advance but the sharp-eyed amongst you may notice there are a few minor text-size fluctuations in the article; these are caused by compatibility problems and technical issues beyond my control. It should also be mentioned that our esteemed Log-keeper Justin reports that 2013 was a record-breaking year at Selsey Bill as far as hours and days watched were concerned, with totals of 1060 hours / 262 days being covered. Well done to Justin for his efforts and thanks to all who have watched and contributed. I wonder if it could be beaten this year?

 

Weather-wise it was back to gales and rain overnight and early morning, as the succession of Atlantic storms continues to sweep across the country. First news today is of a reasonable sea-watch at the Bill which produced both a Great Skua and a Balearic Shearwater, the latter described as giving a 'short but amazing view, 100 yds offshore at most!' Quite something then boys.

Selsey Bill: 0750-1015hrs:  Showers then sunny, wind WSW 7.  (Obs: JA/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 2 os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 3W

Balearic Shearwater - 1W @ 0943hrs

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 10W

R/b Merganser - 2W, 12 os

Eider - 1 os

Common Scoter - 1W

Guillemot - 3W

Auk sp - 17E, 4W

Great Skua - 1W

Kittiwake - 2E, 11W

Chi GPs: No sign of the Whooper Swans on any of the Ivy Lake complex of ponds, a Kingfisher on Vinnetrow Lake and plenty of the usual Pochard, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebes and Tufted Ducks.  At Lakeside Holiday Village a flock of 62 Greylag Geese, along with a few Canada Geese seemed quite unconcerned as people and their dogs walked close by (SR). Further update.........

I had a phone call from Luke Dray at 4.00 this afternoon to say he'd found a Red-crested Pochard on Ivy Lake.  By the time I arrived 10 mins later it was too dark to make out but we stayed on (in the rain) hoping the Whooper Swans might come in to roost, and at 4.30 they came into view.  A great end to the day! (SR).

 

 Greylag Geese at Chi GPs (S. Russell)

  

Pagham Hbr: The two Ruddy Shelducks were showing well at Ferry Pool this morning (SR).

Lagoon: Jim Weston had a less than pleasant visit today and reports" People must be daft to go birding in this weather. I managed to get blown around the Lagoon and Spit at midday. The Lagoon had 3 Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, a few Tufted Ducks and 18 Little Grebes. There were 7 Med Gulls tucked in with the more numerous Black-headed Gulls. Because of the very high tide very few birds could be seen from the Spit Hide." Keep trying Jim !!

Church Norton: Not much to report today as I dodged the showers - 5 Eider still offshore, but I couldn't find anything else there; a Meadow Pipit, at least 1000 Lapwings and 50 Golden Plover repeatedly going up over the Ferry, and the Ruff amongst similar numbers of Lapwing on the floods behind the Breech Pool, along with 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Pintail and several hundred Golden Plover and Wigeon, plus 3 Reed Buntings (AH).

 

 

 

Lapwings and mixed wader flock over the Ferry field (A. House)

1st - 2nd January 2014

Thursday, 2nd January: A welcome change; sunny and bright for most of today until rain spoilt things late afternoon. I arrived at the Bill this morning to find clear-up operations going on after yesterday's storm, although the sea didn't produce too much other than a Little Gull, whilst Pagham Hbr was teeming with bird-life. It was a nice day to be out birding and a good number of birders were indeed out and about, so by the end of the afternoon a good selection of species had been recorded on the peninsula. Another unexpected highlight today was the arrival of ex-Selsey regular Tony Marr re-visiting his old haunts.

 

 

The aftermath of yesterday's storm - the old fir tree at Bill House garden is no more.

 

 

 

Tony Marr (right) with Jim Weston, on the North Wall

 

Selsey Bill (0830-1000hrs):  Sunny, bright, mild; wind fresh W/SW 4. (Obs: OM/SR et al)

Shag -  1 os

Brent Goose - 16E, 10W

Common Scoter - 1W

R/b Merganser - 3E, 5W

Eider - 4W settled os

Guillemot - 2W

Auk sp - 3E, 4W

Grey Plover - 80W

Knot - 20W

Dunlin - 5W

Little Gull - 1W (1st-w)

Kittiwake - 3W

Common Gull - 26W

 

Apologies for late updates; Mr Marr stayed for supper and a good bit of reminiscing!

Pagham Hbr: On Sidlesham Ferry Pool a good selection of wildfowl included the 2 Ruddy Shelducks and plenty of Common Shelducks and Wigeon. A flock of 18 Avocets and a Little Grebe were also present.

Church Norton: Plenty of waders present including good numbers of Grey Plover and Knot. Along the main path from the car-park were a Goldcrest, a nice Firecrest and a flock of Long-tailed Tits. A small covey of Red-legged Partridges were noted sheltering on field edges, avoiding the adjacent shooting party. Offshore the heavy swell made conditions difficult for viewing, but 5 Eider, 6 R/b Mergansers and several Great Crested Grebes were eventually located, but at first there was no sign of anything else, until Andy House came up with the goods and located four Long-tailed Ducks.

The North Wall / Breech Pool area was just teeming with birds. Brent Geese were wheeling around and a flock of Canada Geese were present. A massive flock of 800+ Black-tailed Godwits was on the flooded fields, together with 2 Spotted Redshanks, a rather sluggish Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, 15+ Snipe and a flock of c500 Golden Plover. A prominent Sparrowhawk was causing spectacular havoc with the waders and several Little Grebes were on the pool. Other observers also logged a distant Little Owl roosting near Honer farm (OM).

 

 

Flock of Black-tailed Godwits over the North fields  

 

   

 

 This delightful Robin escorted me along Church Lane (OM)

 

 

Tony was keen to see Medmerry so I gave him a brief guided tour... unfortunately there was plenty of mud but very few birds on offer, then as the rain closed in a very low-flying helicopter hovered over the site (perhaps surveying?), putting paid to any chance of further birding!

 

Low-flying helicopter over Medmerry



 

Two Whooper Swans were at Chi GPs Ivy Lake late this afternoon (Peter Callis).  Presumably these are  our regular wintering birds but they have been elusive up to now. Also about a dozen Pochard and 30+ Gadwall present (AH).

 

 The 2 Whooper Swans at Ivy Lake (A. House)

 

  East Head: Heaving with people and very few birds - about 20 Skylarks in the dunes, the usual waders on the falling tide, but nothing at all on the water from the northern end (AH)

 

Skylark at East Head (AH)

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, 1st January: Gales and driving rain again ensured that the start of the new year continued in the same vein as the end of the last one. Yours truly decided on a day confined to barracks after a heavy night of celebrating, but surely no-one would be out birding today on the peninsula. Of course they would! Despite the weather the regulars were out there, and their reports follow...

Selsey Bill, 0745 - 1000hrs:  Grey, windy S7, rain:  (Obs: JA/SH et al)

Great Northern Diver - 2W

Red-throated Diver - 4W

Gannet - 29W

Fulmar - 1W

Brent Goose - 16W, 1 os

Eider - 4 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W, 2 os

Common Scoter - 2 os

Wigeon - 2W

Pintail - 2W

Sanderling - 16W

Turnstone - 5E, 8W

Black-headed Gull - 40 os

Little Gull - 1 os

Med' Gull - 3W, 2 os

Kittiwake - 54W

Common Gull - 8W

Guillemot - 3W 

Rock Pipit - 1 ob. 

Little Gull off Selsey Bill (A. House) 

 

 

Pagham Hbr: Sidlesham Ferry Pool: The two Ruddy Shelducks were on show this morning, along with about 80 Common Shelducks, 35 Shovelers enjoying the rain, and 200 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 100 Lapwing and 2 Redshank. (Adam & Paul Bowley reported a Kittiwake, a dozen or more Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of hundred Knot in the harbour, but I was defeated by the conditions and gave up before I started!) (AH).

 

Shovelers (above) and Ruddy Shelducks with Common Shelduck on the Ferry Pool (AH)

 

Sam Hill would not be put off by the weather and bravely decided to do his regular walk from Selsey East beach-Church Norton in a force 7 gale with driving rain. He managed to log 31 species including  2 Kittiwakes, 20+ Med Gulls and a Stonechat. He commented, "I didn't see any other birders for some reason!" Well done mate.

 

30th - 31st December 2013

 

 

Tuesday, 31st December: Overnight gales with rain, then a cloudy and grey morning with a strong S/SSW wind 6-7. More of the same is forecast for New Year's Day, which may mean things get off to a bit of a slow start, but very best wishes to all for good birding in 2014. Meanwhile, on with today's bird news....

Selsey Bill 0745 to 1000hrs: Cloud, showers, S/SSW 6-7   (Obs: SH/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 1W
Red-throated Diver - 4W
Diver sp - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Gannet - 3W
Brent Goose - 6W
Common Scoter - 5W
Eider - 1E
R/b Merganser - 1E, 3W
Guillemot - 7W
Auk sp - 1E, 2W
Grey Plover - 10W
Knot - 30W
Turnstone - 6W
Med Gull - 1 os
Kittiwake - 28W

Pagham Hbr: Church Norton: An extremely high tide meant the path to the beach was impassable, and all the birds were repeatedly disturbed by a kite-surfer getting his kicks at their expense. Not much to report other than the commoner waders and a big flock of Brent Geese coming in to roost (AH). The high tide also partly submerged Tern Island, leaving waders (especially Grey Plover and Knot) to huddle together on any available spot.

 

 

One selfish kite-surfer in the harbour.........................
and the results are plain to see

Waders and wildfowl whirling in all directions

(photos: AH) 
 

 

 

 

A half-submerged Tern Island and roosting Grey Plovers and Knot (Sam Hill)

 

 

 

Well that's it for this year folks - see you next year!

(ps - I'm out celebrating tonight, so a slow start tomorrow is anticipated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, 30th December: After yesterday's welcome sunshine it was back to yet another foul morning as the next storm system rolled in off the Atlantic bringing strong-gale force winds and driving rain. This pattern seems set to remain into the first week of the new year, so it will be interesting to see how things proceed. Reports are likely to increase over the next few days as observers get out and about trying to finish their year lists and start a new one, so in case I forget, I would like to take the opportunity now of thanking Andy House for his help and support in maintaining the blog since its inception. Thanks also to those who provide the reports and photos which are the lifeblood of the blog, and to all others who are interested enough to follow the news we publish in these pages. It's a little over nine months since the blog began (it seems longer!) and so far we haven't missed a day of news - though it's been touch and go sometimes! Doubtless there will be times in the future when neither Andy or I can cover the blog due to commitments, but hopefully these will be few. We may even try to recruit a substitute - so be warned, we're looking! Lastly, it is hoped to add or update some of the info pages in the near future, and Andy is currently working on a review of the year, but meanwhile may I take this early opportunity of wishing everyone who goes birding on the Peninsula a Happy New Year for tomorrow night. Owen.

 

Today's news:..

Selsey Bill 0800 to 1100hrs: Cloud, SW7, rain/showers     (Obs: SH/AH)
Gannet - 7W

Fulmar - 2W
Brent Goose - 10E, 8W
R/b Merganser - 8W, 4 os
Auk sp - 1W
Razorbill - 1W

Kittiwake - 157W

Rock Pipit - 1 ob

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adult Kittiwake (above),  and rough seas crashing over the old Pontins area (S. Hill), and (below) juv Kittiwake off Selsey Bill (A. House)

 

Additional sea-watch: 1300 to 1430hrs: SW4.  (Obs: SH)
Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Northern Diver - 2 os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Shag - 1E

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Eider - 1 os

R/b Merganser - 1E, 12W, 5 os

Razorbill - 2E

Guillemot - 1 os

Auk sp - 1W

Kittiwake - 13W

Church Norton: Combined sightings for AH & IP this afternoon - 1 Long-tailed Duck and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, the Peregrine stirring up the waders, large numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing in the harbour and 3-4 Goldcrests at the bottom of the path to the harbour.

Also IP reported the regular Grey Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey and I had one over my Sidlesham garden this afternoon. (AH)

 

 

 

28th-29th December 2013

Sunday 29th December 2013

A beautiful winter's day, but a bit less birding activity today,though a good selection at the Bill.

Selsey Bill:

Great Northern Diver 1E, 2W & 3 o/s
Red-throated Diver 9E, 3W & 5 o/s
diver sp 2E & 1 o/s
Slavonian Grebe 13 W
Great Crested Grebe 6E, 3W & 2o/s
Gannet 1E
Shag 1E
Brent Goose 3W
Common Scoter 10E, 3W & 5 o/s
Eider 5E & 7 o/s
Red-breasted Merganser 14E, 3W & 6 o/s
Kittiwake 22W
Razorbill 3W
auk sp 5E & 3W

Fishbourne Creek: Plenty of birds about this morning though the tide remained high enough to keep the scarcer waders hidden. Highlight was a total of about 15 Yellowhammers in the cow fields. Also seen were the very tame Grey Wagtail, 3-4 Rock Pipits, a Bullfinch heard but not seen, a couple of Spotted Redshanks amongst its commoner cousins, 2 drake Goldeneye, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Peregrine and then a Buzzard disturbing the tranquil scene and large numbers of Wigeon and Brent Geese.

Yellowhammers at Fisbourne Creek (8 in a tree above) 29/12/13 (AH)

Grey Wagtail at Fishbourne Creek 29/12/13 (AH)

 

 

West Itchenor: Best bird was a Red-throated Diver in the channel, along with about 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, though otherwise quite quiet - several hundred Brent Geese and about a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits being the best of the rest.

Shelduck & Bar-tailed Godwit, West Itchenor 29/12/13 (AH)

 

Pagham Harbour: Paul Bowley reported seeing one of the Ruddy Shelducks in White's Creek early this morning.

Below a summary from Ian Pitts of his regular walk from Park Farm, Selsey to Church Norton this morning -

 'It was one of those days where nothing of any great note was seen, but there were lots of birds about, I did hear a Cetti's Warbler in full song behind the first Several (as you know they have been very quiet this Autumn).

Offshore was also very quiet, disappointing since the sea was beautifully flat for searching. 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 female Eider, a fly-by Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Crested Grebes was all I could manage, until I met Sam and Sandra, who then found a single male Long-tailed Duck about a mile offshore feeding furiously (my excuse for missing it!)

All the common waders were in evidence in considerable numbers within the harbour, plus a lone Peregrine on its island,  and a Chiffchaff popped out of the lone bush at the southern end of the harbour and sang to me!

Apart from a Jay over the second Several that just about sums up three hours of glorious weather, not much of that forecast for tomorrow!' (A total of 61 species - his second highest count of the year)

Finally, below a selection of shots by Chris and Juliet Moore, from the Church Norton area this afternoon in the splendid winter sunshine:

from the top: Kingfisher (C. Moore), exposed ironwork of the old harbour entrance, gathering of gulls including Black-headed and Med, Mediterranean Gull, and Little Egret (J. Moore)



Saturday 28th December 2013

A bright and pleasant morning to be out and about, but a dull, dank afternoon followed.

Selsey Bill 07.45 to 09.45 SH, CN & SR:

Great Northern Diver - 1E & 1 o/s
Red-throated Diver - 4E & 4W
diver sp 1E & 3 o/s
Great Crested Grebe 2E, 2W & 1 o/s
Gannet 1W
Brent Gooe 3W
Pintail 2W
Common Scoter 9E, 2W & 7 o/s
Eider 7E & 4 o/s
Red-breasted Merganser  16E, 1W & 6 o/s
Kittiwake 21W
Guillemot 5W
Rock Pipit 2 ob
Meadow Pipit 1 ob

Pagham Harbour: Walked the east side of the harbour this morning - nothing out of the ordinary but the harbour is teeming with birds at the moment. At least 500 Black-tailed Godwits and 300 Golden Plover were along White's Creek on the falling tide, along with a few Bar-tailed Godwits, though the flooded fields behind the Breach Pool were surprisingly empty - 100+ Curlew and similar of Wigeon was about it and around 1000 Lapwings periodically taking to the wing. The Lagoon held 2 Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser, plus at least 30 Little Grebes. (AH)
 

Brent Geese over the Breach Pool 28/12/13 (AH)

Part of the Golden Plover flock in White's Creek 28/12/13 (AH)

Grey Plover in White's Creek28/12/13 (AH)

Church Norton: Accumulated highlights from IP, S&SaH & AH as follows -
Offshore there were still 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 6 Eider, 3 Slavonian Grebe, a Red-throated Diver, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Great Crested Grebes.
In the harbour there was a flock of 16 Avocets in the central channel, and the two Ruddy Shelducks were there again late this afternoon, though there were no reports of the unusually plumaged Golden Plover amongst the several hundred still present. Also seen in the harbour were a Peregrine, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Chiffchaff by the second Several.
Two other bits from IP - firstly he had 5 Sanderlings on the beach yesterday (rare in winter at Pagham), and secondly, there appears to be a wintering Grey Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey.

To prove Ian & I can count - 16 Avovets in the twilight! 28/12/13 (AH)

Medmerry: Sarah Russell reports - From the breach at Medmerry looking across to Bracklesham: a Peregrine perched on the fence, c75 Lapwing, soon joined by 32 Shoveler and c50 Brent Geese. The new reserve shaping up nicely with the banks of the breach channel constantly crumbling away into the water and the shingle bank looking narrower than before. Medmerry itself had the usual Buzzard on his post, a hunting Kestrel, 3 Little Egrets, c100 Lapwing, c100 Brent Geese and no doubt a good deal more further out of sight. I look forward to the footpaths being complete and open.

East Head: The two Snow Buntings were reported again today, via SOS.
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