Friday, 25th January: A grey and gloomy morning after a foggy, drizzly start, with a light north-westerly, though a little milder than of late......
Selsey Bill: There wasn't much doing this morning, with two Great Northern Divers on the sea the highlight. Full log below. (AH/IP/BI/TR/RS)
(0750-0905hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 10E, 2W
Brent Goose - 10E
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 3W, 6os
Common Gull - 2W
Ferry Pool: There were at least 500 Lapwings and 300 Wigeon back around the pool and fields, along with three Shelduck, c20 Shoveler and c50 Teal. (AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Two Cattle Egrets were in the field immediately south-west of the farm buildings this morning before they flew off east over the farm. (R Fullbrook/P Shoard)
North Wall: The Marsh Harrier was present again today. (IH)
Later on a Snipe was over the reed beds, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the water in the harbour and a Stonechat was along the wall. Also, a Peregrine stooped and caught an unidentified wader which it carried to a small dead tree and consumed! (R Fullbrook/P Shoard)
Pagham Spit: Towards the harbour mouth were two Goldeneye and 10 Little Grebe, whilst at and on the sea were some 10 Red-throated Divers,, four Slavonian Grebes, 80 Cormorant, a few Gannet, ca. 15 Common Scoter, six Gadwall and two Teal.
(0750-0905hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Gannet - 10E, 2W
Brent Goose - 10E
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 3W, 6os
Common Gull - 2W
Brent Geese past the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were at least 500 Lapwings and 300 Wigeon back around the pool and fields, along with three Shelduck, c20 Shoveler and c50 Teal. (AH)
Lapwings (above) & Shoveler and Teal on the Ferry (AH)
Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Two Cattle Egrets were in the field immediately south-west of the farm buildings this morning before they flew off east over the farm. (R Fullbrook/P Shoard)
North Wall: The Marsh Harrier was present again today. (IH)
Later on a Snipe was over the reed beds, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the water in the harbour and a Stonechat was along the wall. Also, a Peregrine stooped and caught an unidentified wader which it carried to a small dead tree and consumed! (R Fullbrook/P Shoard)
Pagham Spit: Towards the harbour mouth were two Goldeneye and 10 Little Grebe, whilst at and on the sea were some 10 Red-throated Divers,, four Slavonian Grebes, 80 Cormorant, a few Gannet, ca. 15 Common Scoter, six Gadwall and two Teal.
On the tip of the Norton Spit (opposite) there were three Sanderling, with passerines including 50 Skylark, two Rock Pipit, four Meadow Pipit, 15 Linnet and two Greenfinch, whilst on the Lagoon were 38 Mediterranean Gull. (ARK per SOS)
Drayton Pit: The Great White Egret was again present this afternoon. (BI)
Church Norton: There were just three Red-throated Divers, a Great Crested Grebe, two Mallards and c50 Cormorants on a flat sea this morning, whilst a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were inside the harbour, along the spit.
At least 1000 Lapwing and 500 Brent Geese were airborne at different times over the north Wall and two Avocets were in the main channel, but generally it was quiet, with just the regular waders and wildfowl present. (AH/IP/TR/RS)
Medmerry: Toe End - There was little to report beyond two pairs of Stonechats, 20+ Meadow Pipits and a Peregrine this morning. (TR/RS)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A late afternoon look produced one of the Barn Owls out along the banks and a covey of seven Grey Partridges near the 'Yellowhammer bushes, and up to 20 Yellowhammers on the bushes themselves.
A pair of Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits were also about, along with a flock of c80 Linnets, but the Stilt Pool only held wildfowl, including c100 Wigeon and Teal, c20 Shoveler and a dozen Gadwall, with another 20 of the latter by the poplars. (AH)
Thursday, 24th January: A very cold and mostly grey morning after another heavy frost, though with barely a breath of breeze... ......Drayton Pit: The Great White Egret was again present this afternoon. (BI)
Church Norton: There were just three Red-throated Divers, a Great Crested Grebe, two Mallards and c50 Cormorants on a flat sea this morning, whilst a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were inside the harbour, along the spit.
At least 1000 Lapwing and 500 Brent Geese were airborne at different times over the north Wall and two Avocets were in the main channel, but generally it was quiet, with just the regular waders and wildfowl present. (AH/IP/TR/RS)
Red-throated Diver (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at Church Norton (AH)
Medmerry: Toe End - There was little to report beyond two pairs of Stonechats, 20+ Meadow Pipits and a Peregrine this morning. (TR/RS)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A late afternoon look produced one of the Barn Owls out along the banks and a covey of seven Grey Partridges near the 'Yellowhammer bushes, and up to 20 Yellowhammers on the bushes themselves.
A pair of Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits were also about, along with a flock of c80 Linnets, but the Stilt Pool only held wildfowl, including c100 Wigeon and Teal, c20 Shoveler and a dozen Gadwall, with another 20 of the latter by the poplars. (AH)
Barn Owl (above), Yellowhammers, Stonechat & Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)
Selsey Bill: There was very little on the move, though a few Red-throated and Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (AH)
(0750-0850hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 8E
Brent Goose - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 3W, 14os
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Kittiwake - 15E
Razorbill - 30E, 10os
auk sp - 50E, 30W
Ferry Pool: There were a handful of Snipe and up to 100 Lapwings on a completely frozen pool this morning, with a Buzzard and a couple of Stock Doves on the adjacent fence-posts. (AH)
Chi GPs - Drayton Pits: The Great White Egret was seen again this morning; it flew up from a reedbed on the south pit, before circling round and heading off north. It was otherwise disappointingly quiet, with the best being 100+ each of Pochard and Shoveler crammed into the ice-free patches of water, a dozen Snipe and a Bullfinch (or perhaps two), heard but not seen calling from a hedgerow. (OM)
Sidlesham Churchyard: Two Coal Tits were in the churchyard this morning, along with a couple of Goldcrests, a Song Thrush and at least three Jays. (AH)
Church Norton: There were seven Slavonian Grebes and up to ten Red-throated Divers offshore on a flat calm sea this morning, along with around 15 Common Scoters, two or three Razorbills, half a dozen Great Crested Grebes, two Teal and a huge feeding flock of around 150 Cormorants, with a few Common Gulls along the beach.
The harbour held plenty of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plover on the rising tide, plus an Avocet and 50+ Teal. (AH/AW)
(0750-0850hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 8E
Brent Goose - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 3W, 14os
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Kittiwake - 15E
Razorbill - 30E, 10os
auk sp - 50E, 30W
Red-throated Diver (above) & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were a handful of Snipe and up to 100 Lapwings on a completely frozen pool this morning, with a Buzzard and a couple of Stock Doves on the adjacent fence-posts. (AH)
Snipe (above), Lapwings & Buzzard at the Ferry (AH)
Chi GPs - Drayton Pits: The Great White Egret was seen again this morning; it flew up from a reedbed on the south pit, before circling round and heading off north. It was otherwise disappointingly quiet, with the best being 100+ each of Pochard and Shoveler crammed into the ice-free patches of water, a dozen Snipe and a Bullfinch (or perhaps two), heard but not seen calling from a hedgerow. (OM)
Great White Egret at Drayton pits this morning (OM)
Sidlesham Churchyard: Two Coal Tits were in the churchyard this morning, along with a couple of Goldcrests, a Song Thrush and at least three Jays. (AH)
Coal Tit in Sidlesham churchyard (AH)
Church Norton: There were seven Slavonian Grebes and up to ten Red-throated Divers offshore on a flat calm sea this morning, along with around 15 Common Scoters, two or three Razorbills, half a dozen Great Crested Grebes, two Teal and a huge feeding flock of around 150 Cormorants, with a few Common Gulls along the beach.
The harbour held plenty of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plover on the rising tide, plus an Avocet and 50+ Teal. (AH/AW)
Red-throated Divers (above), Knot and Grey Plover (AH), Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Common Gull & Avocet (AW) at Church Norton
Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much new this morning, though seven Common Scoter went east and there were still Gannets, Kittiwakes, auks and Red-throated Divers on the move. Full log below. (AH/IP)
(0755-0930hrs)
Red-throated Diver - 8E, 10W
diver sp - 1E
Slavonian Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 72E, 30W
Brent Goose - 2W
Common Scoter - 7E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 6W
Turnstone - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 5W, 2os
Common Gull - 15W
Kittiwake - 55E, 20W
Razorbill - 40E, 150W
auk sp - 60E, 20W
Red-throated Divers (above), Kittiwake & Mediterranean Gull past the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were no Lapwings and just a handful of Wigeon present this morning, along with three Shelducks, c20 Shovelers and c40 Teal. (AH)
Church Norton: There was a lot of activity offshore this morning, including at least 20 Red-throated Divers on the sea, including a group of five close off the harbour mouth, a flock of 15 Common Scoters, 20+ Razorbills and Kittiwakes and a gathering of 100+ Gannets. There were also the usual dozen or so Great Crested Grebes, half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers (plus one in the harbour) and a dozen or so Common and Mediterranean Gulls.
A few Pintail were in the harbour, with at least 1500 Brent Geese at the northern end and large numbers of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers on the mud before the tide rose, whilst both Peregrines were being active - the female seen carrying prey back to their island.
Also, around 120 Golden Plovers and a few Lapwings were on the fields along Rectory Lane. (AH/IP)
Church Norton: There was a lot of activity offshore this morning, including at least 20 Red-throated Divers on the sea, including a group of five close off the harbour mouth, a flock of 15 Common Scoters, 20+ Razorbills and Kittiwakes and a gathering of 100+ Gannets. There were also the usual dozen or so Great Crested Grebes, half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers (plus one in the harbour) and a dozen or so Common and Mediterranean Gulls.
A few Pintail were in the harbour, with at least 1500 Brent Geese at the northern end and large numbers of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers on the mud before the tide rose, whilst both Peregrines were being active - the female seen carrying prey back to their island.
Also, around 120 Golden Plovers and a few Lapwings were on the fields along Rectory Lane. (AH/IP)
Red-throated Divers (above), Gannets, Golden Plovers & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)
