23rd - 25th April 2015

Saturday, 25th April: Rain overnight and into the early morning was the first for some while, but it cleared to give a cloudy then sunny morning with a moderate SW wind...

Selsey Bill 0530 - 1200hrs: Rainy, cloud, sun SW4. A gathering of observers around the bench this morning; nothing out of the ordinary seen though several Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie passed through and a Hobby arrived. (Obs; JA/SH/JF/CRJ/OM et al) Log below...

Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Northern Diver - 2 os
Diver sp - 1E
Fulmar - 6E, 12W
Gannet - 36E, 54W
Brent Goose - 49E
Eider - 7W
Common Scoter - 55E
Whimbrel - 3W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E
Sanderling - 4W
Hobby - 1N
Auk sp - 3W
Razorbill - 3W
Arctic Skua - 3E (2 l/p, 1 d/p)
Great Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 8E
Common Tern - 14E
Commic Tern - 20E (of which 11 probably Arctics), 40os
Sandwich Tern - 37E, 10os
Kittiwake - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Wheatear - 1N / beach
Swallow - 18N
Additional: 16.00 - 18.30hrs (SH/JA/AH)
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 24E, 2W
Manx Shearwater - 3E
Kestrel - 1 p
Arctic Skua - 2E (d/p)
Commic Tern 19E, 11os
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 12os
Swallow - 13N

Fulmar past the Bill (AH)

Oh dear...a bit of a chair malfunction leads to a loss of dignity as yours truly nosedives into the undergrowth.... and there's always someone with a camera! (CMcKee)

Selsey - Northcommon Farm: Not much to record on a fairly brief visit this morning, the meagre best being a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, 3 Red-legged and 1 Grey Partridge (OM).

Church Norton: A visit around midday found a fair few migrants and a bit more activity than of late...in no particular order the log was as follows (S&SaH/C&ME/C&JG):
Hobby - 1 (west side)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 2
Garden Warbler - 4 (1 car park, 1Park farm 2 Severals)
Swallow - 40+ (20 in off sea)
Wheatear - 3 shingle spit
Whinchat - 1 cracking male horse field
Cuckoo - 2 males, very active
Whitethroat - 10+
Chiffchaff - 10+
Willow Warbler - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 3 os
Whimbrel  - 2 W os
Gannet - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 6 os
Common Tern - 6 os

Blackcap and Whinchat at Church Norton (SH)

Ferry Pool: Six Avocets and a Dunlin with the reducing flock of Black-tailed Godwits, plus the usual Shelducks and a couple of Shoveler (OM/JF). Nearby on the Visitor Centre area, the Nightingale was on the path to the Tramway again, and a Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats were around the cycle path Also a Kingfisher was in Ferry Channel. (C&ME).Early this morning a Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank briefly dropped into the Ferry, and late afternoon there were two Spotted Redshanks roosting the high tide, along with c120 Black-tailed Godwits, and there were 12 Gadwall and six Shoveler on the water. (AH)

Spotted Redshank on the Ferry (AH)

East Side: A Cuckoo was at the Slipe Field (C&ME).

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Cuckoo was around the Marsh Barn area and a Wheatear and a Peregrine were near Easton Farm, and along the banks there were 12+ Yellowhammers, several Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Swallows, plus around 20-30 Skylarks. 

Three Spoonbills were snoozing out on the reserve together, whilst on the Stilt Pool the Avocets were all paired up and seeing off all-comers, including a pair of Mute Swans, and at least three Little Ringed Plovers were in almost constant display-flight. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Little Ringed Plovers & Avocet seeing off a Mute Swan at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 24th April: Somehow, overnight, the promise of light south-south-easterly winds turned into dense fog which didn't really lift until mid-morning, whereupon the breeze picked up and shifted south-west....

Selsey Bill (0715-1215hrs): A big turnout of watchers, with all frustrated by the weather! There was dense fog which didn't really lift until gone 0930, leaving observers kicking their heels for the early part of the morning - the mood not being helped when a local lady non-birder gave a credible account of finding a Hoopoe yesterday around the Green Lane playing field! Needless to say a forlorn search today was to no avail... ah joy! As the fog gradually cleared 250+ Brent Geese moved east, plus a few Whimbrel, at least ten Little Terns were among the feeding flock of Common and Sandwich Terns and half a dozen Great Northern Divers were offshore.... but it wasn't what we expected! Full log below... (OM/JA/CN/PM/C&ME et al)
Red-throated Diver - 4E

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 3E, 1W

Gannet - 3E, 6W

Brent Goose - 254E

Eider - 2W

Shelduck - 2 p (local birds)

Common Scoter - 40E

Whimbrel - 27E, 8W

Razorbill - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)

Little Tern - 14os

Common Tern - 18E, 70os

Sandwich Tern - 10E, 12os

Swallow - 50N

Sand Martin - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Linnet - 10 p

Willow Warbler - 1 gardens

Views of the Bill this morning: the shoreline just about visible in the murk, and (below).. if you can't see the birds let them come to you...PM being entertained by Turnstones on the Wall (OM)

Great Northern Diver off the Bill (AH)

Classic Bill views - Brent Geese behind the triangle (above) & birders huddled up along the wall (AH)

(1600-1830) (IP/SH/AH/JA)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 10E, 7W

Kestrel - 1P

Oystercatrcher - 2E

Curlew - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 20E, 24W

Common Tern - 2E, 5os

Little Tern - 1E, 2os

Swallow 3N

Wheatear 2ob (both females)

Sandwich Tern (above) & Wheatear at the Bill (AH)

Medmerry: West Beach - Yesterday's Whinchat was still around the Go-Kart track behind the windmill with a couple of Wheatears, and a couple of Meadow Pipits were displaying over the field. (TR/AH/GH)

Whinchat (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Nightingale was singing again from the same location as a week ago, along the path from the Visitor Centre to the Tramway. Is it the same bird, or a new one? Also a Cuckoo, a Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats and Blackcaps in the vicinity. (TR et al)

Little of note on the pool, even when the fog lifted, with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits being the only waders present. Later on there was a single Common Sandpiper, too. (AH)

Church Norton: Up to 20 Whimbrel in the harbour, along with a flock of 100+ Dunlin, 40+ Black-tailed Godwits and a flock of unseen Sandwich Terns went over, calling noisily in the fog. A solitary Willow Warbler sang intermittently by the concrete wall, a couple of Sedge Warblers likewise in the Severals and Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap were all thinly distributed around the hedgerows. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat & the fog at Church Norton (AH)

Selsey (West): A visit to several sites produced nothing exciting; Warner Lane paddocks held a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler, Northcommon Farm was no better with a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff, whilst Chainbridge Field produced 6 Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler (OM).

In the horse paddocks in Golf Link's Lane, one Grey Partridge and four Red-Legged Partridges, one Wheatear breifly on a fence and a Green Woodpecker (BI).

 Green Woodpecker and Grey Partridge at Selsey Golf Links Lane (BI)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - No sign of the Little Gull late this afternoon, though there were at least 20 Common Terns present, plus similar of Great Crested Grebe, and a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were in the bushes, though no hirundines at all. (AH)

Common Terns on Ivy Lake (AH)

Thursday, 23rd April: The north-east wind finally eased somewhat, and after a grey start the sun finally came through....with the wind then becoming notably more easterly. That was the cue for a bit more sea-passage to start...

 (0700 - 1400hrs) : Cloud then sun, dry, wind NE4 - E3. After a slow start a few birds started moving, including three incoming Hobbies, a couple of Swifts and plenty of hirundines in off the sea, and a steady eastward movement of waders plus several Arctic Skuas.  (Obs: GH/OM/JF/AH/CN/C&ME et al) Further observers arrived through the morning and the Log was duly handed over at 1400; hopefully there will be near full coverage today. Full log below:

Red-throated Diver - 7E
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os
Gannet - 13E, 2W
Fulmar - 2E, 2W
Brent Goose - 12E, (including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 4 Dark-bellied)

Common Scoter - 135E
Dunlin - 2E
Sanderling - 4E
Turnstone - 10E
Grey Plover - 8E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 31E
Whimbrel - 101E
Razorbill - 2E
Hobby - 3N
Arctic Skua - 6E (4 d/p, 2 l/p)
Little Tern - 44E
Common Tern - 15E
Commic Tern - 157E
Sandwich Tern - 50E
Kittiwake - 1E
Swift - 2N
Swallow - 102N
House Martin - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 5N
Willow Warbler - 1N - gardens
14.00-18.10hrs (PB/AB/JF/JA/SH/IP/CN)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
diver sp - 1E
Gannet - 9E, 2W
Eider - 2E
Common Scoter - 2E
Whimbrel - 2E
Arctic Skua - 3E (2d/p, 1l/p)
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Little Gull - 7E, 2os
Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 43E, 10os

Common Tern - 14E

Commic Tern - 102E

Little Tern - 8E, 3os

18.10 to 19.15hrs (SH/CN)
Gannet - 3E, 1W
Shoveler - 4E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 11E
Whimbrel - 6E
Sandwich Tern - 11E
Commic Tern - 1E
Mediterranean gull - 2E
Swallow - 1N

Arctic Skua (AB) (top), Whimbrels (above) (OM) & Sandwich Tern (AH) passing the Bill

Medmerry: West Beach (Windmill area) - Early on there were two Black Redstarts around the back of the Go-kart track (GH), but they had moved on mid-morning, when there was a Whinchat and half a dozen Wheatears, including a very good candidate for a Greenland bird, as consolation. They all, too, seemed to have moved on within a few minutes. (AH)

Breach area - Two Yellow Wagtails went over north, and five Whimbrel went over eastwards. (GH)

Stilt Pool area - Still four Spoonbills on the reserve this morning. (PH)

Probable 'Greenland' Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were four Common Sandpipers on the pool first thing, plus a Spotted Redshank and three Avocets. (AH/OM/DF/CN)

Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool/West Side: A Greenshank was along the channel early on, and there were also two different Spotted Redshanks present, plus a Gadwall and three Whimbrel. Plenty of Sedge Warblers singing along the pool, plus a few Reed Buntings and Whitethroats, and a Mistle Thrush went over

It was very quiet along the west side, with just a few Whitethroats and Skylarks in evidence, and probably another Whimbrel across the harbour. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above) & Whitethroat from Long Pool (AH)

Halsey's Farm/North Wall: A singing Lesser Whitethroat by the farm was one of very few migrants seen or heard early this evening. Otherwise, bar a bit of Sedge Warbler activity in the reeds it was very quiet, and there was nothing of note on the Breech Pool except a Little Ringed Plover, though there was plenty of activity from the Grey Herons and Little Egrets in Owl Copse. (AH)

Grey Heron from North Wall (AH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - An adult Little Gull was hawking over the lake this evening, and there were eight Swifts feeding up high. (AB)

Little Gull over Ivy Lake (AB)

19th - 22nd April 2015

Wednesday, 22nd April: Very clear, but the cold, nagging north-easterly is still with us, though a change is apparently imminent...... just as well, for a touch of frustration and impatience is beginning to develop in the camp. Sea-watching in particular has been hard work; plenty of hours put in with comparatively few rewards, whilst the land has fared little better with a paucity of migrants on most days. April is whizzing by now and the merry month of May will soon be with us.... it's all down to the weather I know, but a big day very soon would be much appreciated by all ! (OM)

Message from Pete Hughes, RSPB Medmerry.... could all please note:

Ham Lane is a private road and please act responsibly by respecting this – unauthorised vehicles are not permitted. Access to the eastern side of Medmerry is best via public rights of way from Sidlesham or Selsey.

Selsey Bill (0715-1345hrs): Bright, dry, sunny; wind cool NE5, E4-5 later. Another slow start, with highlights being one Arctic Skua and a few Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits east, a Peregrine and a few Sand Martins and Swallows in off the sea, and a few Sandwich and Common Terns feeding offshore before drifting off. Also a splendid tall ship, bearing a Russian flag, was heading up the Solent, though there was no evidence that our navy was obviously concerned! (OM/AH/GH/C&ME et al). Log below...
Black-throated Diver - 1E (s/p)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3os
Fulmer - 2W
Gannet - 15E, 7W
Brent Goose - 9E
Common Scoter - 17E
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E
Gadwall - 4E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 35E
Whimbrel - 28E
Peregrine - 1 os
Kestrel - 1N
Sparrowhawk - 1 gardens
Arctic Skua - 1E (l/p)
Common Tern - 12os
C/A Tern - 10E
Sandwich Tern - 43E
Auk sp - 1E
Pied/alba Wagtail - 1N
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Swallow - 25N
Sand Martin - 4N
Goldfinch - 26N
Linnet - 6N
Whitethroat - 1 gardens
Willow Warbler - 1 gardens

Peregrine (above) & tall ship at the Bill (AH)

 Small flocks were the order of the day at the Bill: Bar-tailed Godwits (above) and Brent Geese (OM)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - At least five Swifts went over early this morning. (IP) There were still three present later on, plus a Sand Martin and around ten House Martins amongst the Swallows. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A massive rarity this morning (locally, at least!) – a drake Mandarin in the pools near Marsh Barn. Also, a flock of 23 Grey Plover flew off high to the north from the central part of the reserve, there were seven or eight Whimbrel scattered about the reserve and at least 20 Avocets on the Stilt Pool.

There was a Lesser Whitethroat and about 10 Yellowhammers near Greenwood Farm. (PH)

This evening, there were four Spoonbills and a Wheatear present on the pools and three Greenshank in the tidal area by the poplars. (IP)

Breach area - A female Merlin was upsetting the waders early this morning, a Yellow Wagtail went over and a Wheatear was on the beach. A flock of 18 Whimbrel were on the beach before setting off east, in the pools there were c80 Grey Plover and c150 Dunlin, plus a Great Crested Grebe, whilst around the viewpoint there were two singing Corn Buntings and a dozen Linnets. (AH)

Merlin (above), Whimbrel & Grey Plover and Dunlin at Medmerry (AH)

 

Four Spoonbills at Medmerry (IP)

North Wall: It felt even chillier than ever this morning along the wall, with not a single bird along White's Creek, and on the sad looking Breech Pool were just 50 or so Teal and single Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Little Ringed Plover. 

The Water Pipit appeared very briefly before returning into the reeds, but there was very little birdsong along the wall, though several Chiffchaffs were singing in Owl Copse. There were small groups of Whimbrel at several locations but the best was a flock of 19 in the field immediately west of Bremere Bridge. There have been also been six Lapwing present in the field south of the rife for the last two weeks and, hopefully, they may be breeding. (JDW) 

Swallow from North Wall (JDW)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were at the back, along with three Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits, but the Shoveler numbers had dropped to a mere half dozen. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits over the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Barely a bird in the harbour, bar a couple of Whimbrel and a few Shelduck, and quiet around the bushes, save the odd Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and of course the four lawn-mowers and two strimmers going in the churchyard!! (AH)

Tuesday, 21st April: Another bright and breezy day, with high pressure and the stiff north-easterly persisting  - but keeping new birds at a premium....

Selsey Bill (0715-1400hrs): Sunny, dry, NE - E4. Nothing much really moving again, though the tern flock offshore built up as the tide rose, and included a few Little Terns. Full log below (Obs: GH/OM/AH/C&ME/BFF/DM/IL/DSh et al)

Great Northern Diver - 5os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 3E
Gannet - 20E, 6W
Brent Goose - 12E
Eider - 2E
Common Scoter - 46E
Gadwall - 2E
Dunlin - 1p finally headed NW
Common Sandpiper - 1W
Whimbrel - 11E
Little Tern - 7E, 2os
Common Tern - 5E, c.40os, gradually drifted off mainly E on rising tide
C/A Tern - 10E
Sandwich Tern - 47E, 20os drifted E
Little Gull - 7E
Rook - 1N from way out, then coasted off E
Willow Warbler - 1 gardens
Goldfinch - 12N
Linnet - 15N
Swallow - 29N
Additional (17.30 - 19.00hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 13E
Brent Goose - 47E
Turnstone - 12E
Knot - 18E
Whimbrel - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 12E
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Common Tern - 13E
C/A Tern - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 18E, 4os 
Swallow - 1N

Warner Lane Paddocks: A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedges and ten Linnets were in the fields. (OM/BFF/DM)

Chainbridge Field: At least 3 Whitethroats present and apparently on territory, plus singles of Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. (OM/BFF/DM)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, a pair of Avocets and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were the highlights. (AH/OM/DF)

Black-tailed Godwits over the Ferry (AH)

This evening a Common Sandpiper was on the pool, along with the Knot, a Spotted Redshank, two Little Ringed Plovers and an Avocet. (AH)

Common Sandpiper on Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A pair of Mistle Thrushes were in the first arable field and there were a few Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers along the hedges, plus a few Reed Buntings and plenty of Linnets.

A Knot and two Whimbrel were in Ferry Channel, along with 20+ Redshanks. (AH)

Mistle Thrush (above), Knot & Little Grebe from the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: The persistent north-east wind was making it chilly along the Wall. In the horse field Linnets and Goldfinches were collecting horse hair for nesting material, whilst on the Breech Pool there were 23 Teal, two Tufted Ducks, seven Black-tailed Godwits and two Little Ringed Plovers, and there were four Whimbrel with 11 Curlew in Honer 2 field. 

Reed and Sedge Warblers were along the Wall but not singing very much, unlike the Cetti's Warblers, and there were pairs of Stock Doves at four locations. 

The very pale Short-eared Owl was sitting besides the Breech Pool, before flying off towards the Slipe Field, a Greenshank was heard but not seen, and two male and a very pregnant female Roe Deer were tucked away behind the pool. (JDW/AH)

Short-eared Owl (above) & Little Ringed Plover from North Wall (AH)

Linnet, spoilt for choice of nesting material (above) and view along the footpath through Owl Copse (JDW)

Pagham Spit: At lunchtime today there were a dozen Wheatear along the spit, along with a pair of really well camouflaged Ringed Plovers, a Skylark and several flocks of Linnets moved through. Also three Sandwich Terns were feeding in the harbour mouth. (RHa)

Wheatears (above) & Ringed Plover on Pagham Spit (RHa)

Medmerry: A male Redstart was along the fence-line of the bank between the Breach and Chainbridge. (GH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - Three Common Terns and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were present this evening. (AH)

Monday, 20th April: A much better day than yesterday, with the wind lighter, if still from a mostly north-easterly direction....becoming more easterly later. 

Selsey Bill 0700-1430hrs): Not  heaving through, but a bit of passage again this morning...  Common Tern numbers built up towards 50 feeding and lingering, with several Little Terns among them, before they started to drift off east on the rising tide. Whimbrel - well over 50 - and Bar-tailed Godwit with a few Knot - were obviously heading east also, and a steady flow of Swallows were seen coming in off the sea.  (AH/OM/GH/M&CE/B&MaC/DSh et al) Log:
Great Northern Diver - 2E, 4os
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Gannet - 10E, 4W
Brent Goose - 9E
Eider - 3os
Common Scoter - 21E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W
Dunlin - 2E, 1W
Knot - 9E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 32E
Whimbrel - 60E
Oystercatcher - 8E
Turnstone - 15E
Hobby - 1N
Arctic Skua - 3E (2d/p, 1 l/p)
C/A Tern - 20E, also 50 os which gradually drifted E
Little Tern - 1E, 3os drifted W then E
Sandwich Tern - 42E
Little Gull - 9E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Sand Martin - 1N
Swallow - 140N
Yellow Wagtail - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 4N

Additional  (17.40-19.00hrs)   (Obs: SH)
Gannet 8E, 1W
Shelduck - 3E
C/A Tern - 28E, 24os
Sandwich Tern - 36E, 16os
Swallow - 4N

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Little Tern, Common Terns & Linnets at the Bill (AH)

More views of the Bill this morning... Whimbrel on the beach, the late shift in action (almost!), and Barry and Margaret Collins birding - apparently in holiday mode! (OM)

Ferry Pool: No sign of the Black-winged Stilt this morning, though two Greenshank dropped in early, a Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Redshank, two Snipe, two Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were around the pool and two Whimbrel were on the field. A Spotted Redshank seen in the channel early morning was probably the same bird as above. (AH/PH/OM)

Greenshank (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Very little evidence of migration, with just a handful of Whimbrel and Teal and around 30 Grey Plovers being about the only birds in the harbour, and a few singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a few Swallows over, being the only 'summer' birds on the land-side. Of most interest was a Chiffchaff gathering nesting material in the car-park.(AH)

Chiffchaff gathering nest material at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The highlight this morning was a Short-eared Owl quartering the reeds behind the Breech Pool. On the now very muddy Pool were 26 Teal, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Snipe, and the stable Swallows were taking advantage of the abundant mud to renovate their nests. 

On Honer reservoir there were a few Coot and Tufted Ducks and in that vicinity were 9 Yellowhammers, 3 Common Whitethroats and a pair of Green Woodpeckers. There was a slow but steady movement of northward bound Swallows and a single House Martin. At the Macracarpa Copse were pairs of Buzzards and Green Woodpeckers, whilst Cetti's Warblers were very abundant and I counted 8 on my circuit. Also, the Bluebells are out now and two Roe Deer were in the field behind the Breech Pool. (JDW)

Bluebells (above), Roe Deer & Moorhen from the North Wall (JDW)

Early this evening there was a Water Pipit on the Breech Pool, but it flew off at around 5.30pm. Also a summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank in the channel opposite Halsey's Farm. (RH)

Later on the Short-eared Owl hunted across the harbour from Owl Point to the North Wall and there were at least 20 Whimbrel in the harbour. (AH/RH) And later still, there were two Short-eared Owls together behind the Breech Pool (IB)

Water Pipit (above) & Spotted Redshank from North Wall (RH)

Short-eared Owl (above) & Whimbrel from North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: The first Hairy Dragonfly of the year (a female) was seen today. (PLS)
Easton Viewpoint:  A Cuckoo gave good scope views from the bench, it was in the trees opposite but only called every so often.  The Stilt Pool:  A large section of the pool is now protected by an electric fence and four pairs of Avocet seemed settled there, all we need now are the Stilts!  There were 14 Avocets, many of them either courting or nest-building, a Little Ringed Plover was present and a Corn Bunting was singing.  Other birds included 1 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 2 Swallows, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Kestrel and a pair of nesting Mute Swans.  From the beach:  Two feeding Spoonbills and a Little Ringed Plover, plenty of Skylarks and Linnets. (SR).

Sunday, 19th April: Another bright, sunny and dry day with a rasping and cool NE wind 5-6; if only the wind would drop to a gentle breeze......!

Selsey Bill: (0545-1030) (SH/JA/PB et al) 
Great Northern Diver - 7os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 32E, 10W
Brent Goose - 1E
Tufted Duck - 2E
Common Scoter  8E
Rd-breasted Merganser -  5os
Hobby - 1N
Curlew - 1E, 2W
Whimbrel - 12E
Great Skua - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 80E
Little Tern  - 2E
Common Tern - 9E
Commic Tern - 4E
auk sp - 1E, 2W
Swift - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 16N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Yellow Wagtail - 3N
Swallow - 31N
House Martin - 3N
Willow/Chiff - 1N
Linnet - 3N
Goldfinch - 15N
Reed Bunting - 1N

Hobby in off the sea (above) & Sandwich Tern being chased by a Herring Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1540-1800) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 8E, 5W
Curlew - 2E
Whimbrel - 8E
Turnstone - 36E
Dunlin - 4E
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Sandwich Tern - 25E, 8os
Commic tern - 6os
Swallow - 1N
I then started counting Herring Gulls, got to 500 and thought what am I doing here and went home!!! (SH)

Northcommon Farm: A male Black Redstart was in the paddocks opposite the golf club this morning. (GH)

Warner Lane Paddocks: Just a pair of Blackcaps, a Swallow and a few Linnets this morning. (SR)

Chichester GP's - Drayton pits: A bit of a surprise this morning on a short visit, when a Tundra Bean Goose was found swimming amongst a group of Greylag and Canada Geese. This is presumably the same bird that was present on the Ivy lake/East lake complex earlier in the year; it is not doing its credentials any good with the company it is keeping, although it doesn't necessarily mean it should be considered plastic - yet anyway - but it needs to disappear soon if it is to maintain its credibility! Several pairs of Greylag (one with young) and Canadas were present, and other species logged included 50 Tufted Duck, 6 Pochards, 4 Gadwall, 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, 10 Little Grebes, 4 Reed Warblers, at least 2 Cetti's Warblers, a Jay and a displaying Goldcrest. A good number of Cowslips also brightened the morning. (OM).

Tundra Bean Goose (above with Greylag Goose), Greylag Goose with young, and Cowslips at Chi GPs Drayton (OM)

Ferry Pool & Visitor Centre: Highlights included the Black-winged Stilt on the pool, a brief Water Pipit there and nearby a male Pied Flycatcher in the trees near the VC. (IL/PH/RI/A&YF)

Also on the pool there was a Spotted Redshank in almost full summer-plumage, a Green Sandpiper early on, 30+ Redshank and 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, and later on five Little Ringed Plovers appeared. Also a Knot was swimming in among the godwits, causing a few scratched-head moments! (AH/IP/S&SaH)

 Pied Flycatcher near the Visitor Centre and Black-winged Stilt on Ferry Pool (IL)

Black-winged Stilt (above), Spotted Redshank with Black-tailed Godwits & Redshank on the Ferry (AH)

Water Pipit with Black-tailed Godwit (DM)

Long Pool: Plenty of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats this morning, and a visitor reported a female-type Redstart along the hedges. Also 10+ Reed Buntings and 50+ Linnets present. (AH/IP)

Whitethroat (above) & Sedge Warbler along Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Ham area -  There were 20+ House Martins and 50+ Swallows over the sewage works this morning. (A&YF) There were similar numbers this evening, plus a few Whitethroats and Reed Buntings, and four Whimbrel went over. Also a Cuckoo called a few times from the Ham Farm area.(AH)

Earlier, from Ham viewpoint a singing Corn Bunting, a Kestrel, a Buzzard, two Avocets, a handful of Linnets and Skylarks were noted, and the five Spoonbills could be distantly seen through the heat haze in their usual pool. (SR)

House Martin & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)