10th - 12th April 2014

Saturday, 12th April: With the wind still light and westerly the Bill remains closed to most easterly seabird passage, but as ever there were a few things of interest.....and with a fair number of observers on the peninsula there were also a variety of reports.

Selsey Bill (0600-1230hrs): Dry, with hazy cloud and sunshine. Wind very light WNW1 to start, becoming W 3-4 later. (Obs: SH/PB/IP/JA/S.Hat/CN/OM/AH et al).

A new record count of 16 Great Northern Divers offshore today, seen by several observers early this morning. There can be few places in the UK at present where such numbers can be reliably seen; feeding groups usually gather into a main flock with other birds on the periphery, but they then seem to drift off after a little while , so time it wrong and only two or three may be visible depending on the state of the tide. Other highlights included the Long-tailed Duck offshore early on, two Little Terns, a Yellow Wagtail and House Martin in and a large flock of Sanderlings lingering on the beach (of which about six were colour-ringed/flagged).Full log follows....

Great Northern Diver - 16 os (see above)
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Diver sp - 4E
Fulmar - 2E, 5W
Shelduck - 12W, also 2 p ('local')
Gannet - 15E, 32W
Common Scoter - 18E
R/b Merganser - 13E, 4W
Long-tailed Duck - 1 lingering os eventually departed E
Curlew - 2E, 1W
Whimbrel - 2W
Dunlin - 11E, 4W
Sanderling - 41E (including flock of 39 lingering ob, which appeared to finally depart E)
Turnstone - 19 ob
Razorbill - 1W, 1 os
Auk sp - 1E, 2W
Little Tern - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 22E, 25W
Kittiwake - 1W
Med Gull - 4E
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
House Martin - 1N
Swallow - 82N

Long-tailed Duck & Sanderlings at Selsey Bill (AH)

 

Some of the colour-ringed/flagged Sanderlings (above) and part of the flock on the shoreline (OM)

 

 

Selsey Northcommon Farm: A male Redstart being harassed by a resident Robin, 2-3 Willow Warblers, a pair of Stock Doves and 2 Green Woodpeckers (OM)

 

Ferry Pool/Visitor Centre: Two Cuckoos flew over the centre early this morning. Also in the vicinity were a Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat. On the Ferry still 6 Avocets, plus 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall and 20+ Shoveler. (C&ME/C&JM/AH) 
 

North Wall/area:  231 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Spotted Redshank on a very muddy Breech Pool. A Wheatear in the field behind and a Cetti's Warbler seen carrying nesting material just west of the Pool. A Sand Martin and Swallow around the Pool and several Chiffchaffs singing in Owl Copse. (JW). Two Spoonbill reported from the North Wall area, 1 imm Spoonbill flying southwards along Church Norton Spit towards the Bill (& later reported over Medmerry), 2 Wheatears on the spit, 1 Common Redstart at Glebe Meadow and 1 Gannet on the sea (IL)  

 

Church Norton: Another Cuckoo seen & heard here, plus one at Park Farm Selsey, the regular Nuthatch in the churchyard, though fewer migrants were seen today. There were single Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat seen, and plenty of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a few Willow Warblers about, plus a steady trickle of Swallows and Sand Martins over, whilst in the harbour 6 Sandwich Terns were indulging in a bit of displaying, and on the sea there was a female Eider and a female Red-breasted Merganser. (C&ME/C&JM/SdeH/S&SaH/AH)

 

Nuthatch at Church Norton and Redstart at Yeoman's Field (C. Eames) 

 

Eider off Church Norton (AH)

 

Medmerry: Earnley Flood Pools
8 Avocet
2 Spoonbills
2 Ringed Plovers
2 Dunlin
1 Shoveler
3 White Wagtails
1 Corn Bunting
Easton Road Car Park area
Several Swallows passing through
Cetti's  Warbler heard   (P.Stent/G.Tamlyn)
A later visit added a Little Ringed Plover, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Wheatears, 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings, 12 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins and a Chiffchaff (S&SaH).

 

 

  

Friday, 11th April: Another bright start, with a light north-westerly unsurprisingly keeping sea passage to a minimum, but there were still a few birds to be seen....

Selsey Bill 0615-1000hrs: Starting cloudy NW3, becoming sunny N2-3.
(Obs: JA/GH/SR/AH): Another morning with more birds going west than east, but there was a Bonxie, 2 Little Terns, a Long-tailed Duck and a flock of Eider, plus a few Willow Warblers and a couple of Wheatears in the gardens to keep the interest. Full log below...
Great Northern Diver - 10 os
Diver sp - 1E
Greylag Goose - 2E
Eider - 18E, 14W (probably same flock involved)
Shelduck -  2 (local birds)
Long-tailed Duck - 1E
Common Scoter - 10E, 12 os
Curlew - 3E
Turnstone - 15 ob
Fulmar - 4E, 4W
Auk sp - 2E, 6W
Little Tern - 2 os
Sandwich Tern - 17E, 4 os
Great Skua - 1W
Swallow - 7N
Wheatear - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Chiffchaff - 4 gardens
Willow Warbler - 6 gardens

Horse Paddock off Warner Lane: 2 pairs of Blackcaps, 1 pair of Linnets, 1 pair of Red-legged Partridges, and a Grey Heron looking rather out of place. (SR)

Church Norton: An interesting morning, though predictably the most interesting birds made life difficult. The male Redstart was still skulking in the churchyard keeping away from the local Robins, and two more were seen along the path through Greenlease Farm. Also there, heard but not seen, was a Nightingale in the hedges just east of the farm. There were up to five Wheatears along the beach, a Common Whitethroat briefly in the car-park, a Sedge Warbler in the first Several, plenty of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers about, and there were at least 40 Blackcaps, seemingly in every bit of blackthorn blossom right around the circuit.
The Nuthatch was heard initially between the Severals and again from Rectory Lane, a Sand Martin and half a dozen Swallows flew over, a female Eider was offshore, and finally a single Brent Goose and a single Sandwich Tern were in the harbour. (AH)

 

Blackcap (above) & Wheatears at Church Norton (AH)

Further visits to Church Norton from S&SaH, AH & CRJ late this afternoon found a Long-tailed Duck on the sea, the Nightingale singing occasionally on Greenlease Farm, a couple of Swallows, a Mistle Thrush and numerous Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. (AH)

Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)

 

Medmerry: Through the caravan park today around the rubble and tyres: four Wheatears, a male Common Redstart, a pair of Stonechats, lots of Linnets, a Willow Warbler and a few Pied Wagtails (BI)
A late afternoon look round the same area found a Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Ringed Plover, the four Wheatear, and a Tree Pipit along with 3 or 4 Meadow Pipits. (AH)

Tree Pipit (above) & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 10th April: A bright, sunny morning with no sea passage to report, but something of a fall of passerines....

Selsey Bill 0730-0900hrs: Sunny becoming quite warm later; wind light W 2-3.

(Obs: OM/AH/PC/RC) Nothing really moving - the usual few Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns and Great Northern Divers lingering, and a couple of Swallows and a Sand Martin over, and a Wheatear and a few Chiffchaff/Willow Warblers just inland at Seal Road. The four observers present were beginning to find terminal boredom setting in when a well-timed call from AF gave us all an excuse to leave and scramble off to Norton; alas for more frustration (see below). The Log follows:-

Great Northern Diver - 3 os

Shelduck - 2W then back E (local birds?)
Common Scoter - 20 os in two flocks
R/b Merganser - 1W
Gannet - 1E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 8 os
Swallow - 2 in N
Sand Martin - 1N

An additional hour (12-1300hrs) produced just  Red-throated Diver - 3E, Oystercatcher - 2E. Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1W and Swallow - 1N. So there I was, quietly taking lunch and birding, when this alien thing appeared almost overhead, buzzing its way slowly along the beach...... spacecraft? No, it was a drone... and its cheeky owner was wisely a good distance away from me. Still, it may have uses in the future as an early warning pom-detector! (OM).

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's an irritating remote-controlled drone aerial camera at the Bill! (OM)

Selsey Northcommon Farm: 7 Curlew, 10 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs (OM).

Church Norton: A frustrating morning! A&YF reported briefly seeing a Pied Flycatcher in the churchyard, and shortly afterwards a Hoopoe by the concrete wall, which flew off into the (private) Priory area, but despite much searching neither could be refound! A male Redstart around the churchyard wasn't much more obliging, but did briefly give itself up on a couple of occasions. Otherwise there were up to ten Blackcaps about, and up to twenty Chiffchaffs and/or Willow Warblers around that area and similar along the west side. There were also half a dozen Sandwich Terns in the harbour, plus 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Buzzards (AH/OM)

Willow Warbler (above) & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)

  

North Wall/Fields: Not much to report on my bike ride around the area today, except an obvious fall of Willow Warblers, they seemed to be singing everywhere, minimum 20. On the way to Honer Reservoir 4 Yellowhammers and 4 Chiffchaffs singing, 45 Mute Swan in the field to north; on the Breech Pool c100 Black-tailed Godwits, more Blackcaps about today also. On the return ride 4 Swallows steaming north over Marsh Farm (CRJ).

 

Medmerry: A Whimbrel over, calling, this morning, and a fall of Willow Warblers on the dead hedges in the new intertidal area.(PH) Cuckoo seen and heard close to the Easton Road Car Park plus noticeable increase in Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Earnley Flood Pools: 4 Avocets and 3 "White" Wagtails.(P. Stent & G. Tamlyn)

7th - 9th April 2014

Wednesday, 9th April: Another bright morning, sunny and pleasant with the wind lighter but still from the west; although things appeared predictably quiet this morning, the Peninsula's first Cuckoo of the spring was recorded....and later the first Little Tern appeared at the Bill.  Two Spoonbills were in the harbour from the North Wall. Also noteworthy was a pod of 5 Harbour Porpoises off the Bill  for a couple of hours early afternoon.

Selsey Bill (0750 - 0900hrs): Sunny, light W (AH/Dave Sadler)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os

Red-throated Diver - 2E
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 1W, 15 os
Sandwich Tern - 3W
Additional watch:(1140 to 1410hrs): (Obs: DS/C&ME/G. Beck)
Great Northern Diver - 3E, 1 os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 2W
Eider - 5E
Common Scoter - 11E, 14 os                              
Little Tern - 1W                                           
Common Tern - 2W
Sandwich Tern  - 9E, 8W                                  
Swallow - 6N                                        
Also a Pod of 5 Harbour Porpoise up and down, feeding 2-300 yds out for minimum of 2 hrs.

Medmerry: The first Cuckoo of the spring heard here this morning, and also a Swallow and a House Martin over (Pete Hughes).

Church Norton: Less birds than yesterday - a walk down the west side produced couple of Swallows and Sand Martins up through the harbour, just a few Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, a dozen Linnets, a male Reed Bunting, a pair of Buzzards tussling with the local Crows, and about 40 Curlews in the harbour. Also the first Speckled Wood butterfly I've seen this spring. (AH) An evening walk (1800hrs) from Park Farm Selsey to Church Norton was fairly productive:Redstart - 1 (female), Swallow - 1, Wheatear - 1, Sedge Warbler - 1 (Severals), Chiffchaff - several, Cetti's Warbler - 3, Sparrowhawk - 1, Kestrel - 1, Sandwich Tern - 12 (S&SaH).

Common Buzzard & Carrion Crow (above), Linnet and Speckled Wood at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The three pairs of Avocet are still in residence. Tufted Duck numbers have risen to 22 birds this morning, and there were also 5 Gadwall, a couple of pairs of Wigeon, 20+ Shoveler & Teal, 40+ Shelduck and several pairs of Lapwing & Redshank. (AH)

Drake Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

 

North Wall/Fields: Nice sunny morning. On the Breech Pool 221 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Spotted Redshanks. Two Spoonbills in the Harbour. Honer reservoir was devoid of bird life but there were 62 Mute Swans in the field behind. A Common Snipe along Bremere Rife. Around Marsh Farm were some 600 Black-headed Gulls and 207 Curlew. Plenty of Chiffchaffs singing away but no other migrants. Must have seen over 20 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies with much lower numbers of Peacock, Brimstone and Orange Tips. The 3 Roe Deer were at Bramber Farm. (JW).

Peacock (above) and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies at the North Wall (JW) 

 

Tuesday, 8th April: A bright and breezy morning with a brisk westerly wind - never the best for sea-watching, and so it proved, though, as ever there was something of interest.....

Selsey Bill (0740 - 1200hrs): Sunshine and cloud, with a few brief showers and a strong WNW wind f 5 keeping things notably cool.  (Obs: DF/CRJ/SR/OM/AH/DS et al).

Predictably quiet, the highlight being a Merlin in off the sea, watched from a great distance out. It is difficult to know if this was a migrant or if it had been out seeking incoming Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Otherwise, the usual birds offshore but little moving east. Full log below :

Great Northern Diver - 4 os

Red-throated Diver - 2E
Diver sp - 1E
Gannet - 4E, 1W
Common Scoter - 47E, 16 os
R/b Merganser - 2 os
Whimbrel - 1W
Merlin - 1N
Auk sp - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 12 os
Med Gull - 3E, 3W
Swallow - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Goldfinch - 5N
Linnet - 19N

An additional hour this evening produced 6 GND's and 23 Common Scoter offshore, a Gannet E and a single Auk sp W  (SH).
 

Ferry Pool: Still the three pairs of Avocets present and c.20 Shoveler. (OM/CRJ)

Church Norton: Some slight evidence of migration - a couple of Wheatears on the beach, a couple of Swallows and up to half a dozen Willow Warblers around the hide area, along with  3 Cetti's Warblers, a Jay, a few Chiffchaffs and at least ten Blackcaps. There were also two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the harbour, and 4 Buzzards and 2 Sparrowhawks displaying over the Priory. (AH) Additionally, two bursts of calling from the Nuthatch were heard early on, fairly distantly from the horsefield end of Norton Priory (OM). Also a later report of a Spoonbill flying over this part of the harbour (per SOS).

Blackcap (above) & Jay at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A brisk W wind made it feel very un-spring like but the signs were there - a Swallow behind Owl Copse, Skylarks singing on high near Marsh Farm and the first bluebells out. White's Creek was like a wind tunnel and not a bird could be seen. The Breech Pool hosted 207 Black-tailed Godwits, many in fine red brick plumage; also there a few Teal and Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. At Marsh Farm there were 22 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons hunkered up against the wind. Lots of 'gargling' emitting from Owl Copse. The Little Grebes there are still on the nest although the recent rise in water has made it look somewhat precarious. Three Roe Deer in Owl Copse. (JW).
 

Signs of spring from the North Wall: Bluebells, Roe Deer and brick-red s/plum Black-tailed Godwits (JW).

Medmerry: Caravan Park end - 28 Linnets on the rough ground, 1 Ringed Plover tucked in to the shingle bank by the revetment, 1 'left behind' Brent Goose enjoying fresh grass on the embankment, 2 Med. Gulls amongst c150 Herring and Black-Headed Gulls on the new pools, and 12 Lapwings (SR)

Lone Brent Goose on Medmerry embankment (SR)

 

Chi GP's: Westhampnett pit: A Common Tern was present amongst the gull flock on the pit at noon (B. Ives)

Monday, 7th April: As was forecast, a wet morning with a fresh SSW wind, the wind becoming more westerly later with continuing rain. With both blog authors away from the Peninsula most of today, and other regulars either looking elsewhere or not going out, it has all the hallmarks of a slow news day. Time then for a bit of day-dreaming about Pom Skuas. Former patch regular and now Welsh resident Mervyn Jones will be well known to many of those who have watched at the Bill over the years, and for a bit of fun he recently contacted our log-keeper JA, concerning the best day to plan his next visit by using a Pom Probability Chart. The following may therefore be of interest ................

A good many years ago Chris Janman and I, for a bit of fun, knocked up a POM PROBABILITY chart which showed date, wind direction and number of Poms seen. This was for the whole Sussex coastline and showed that the 7th May was the best date to see a Pom in Sussex, so it became known as National Pom day! 
I have been gone from the Bill 12 years now (hard to believe) and have not seen a decent flock, or even a Pom, in the last 5 years so have timed my visits wrong. I know temp’s of over 70 with high pressure bring flocks, but as you’ve kept the Bill records over the last 10 years you may be able to see if there is a BEST date for the Bill over this period, as it seems to me Poms are coming earlier in the Spring. We used to have a bit of fun making predictions as you lot still do, so an Atkinson Pom Probability Chart to replace the Janman/ Jones chart may be good fun and may tell me the best date to come down next time. Hope you all have a great spring, I still miss it and look at the blog every day. Regards, Mervyn.

Reply from Justin…
I have looked at all the Pom data for the last ten years (2004-2013 inclusive) and the following information is based on that only. Unfortunately the logs previous to me taking over (2004 and 2005) did not include full weather info, logs after this (bar the odd day or two) feature detailed weather.
2004 – 99e
2005 – 44e
2006 – 61e
2007 – 32e, 5w
2008 – 82e, 3os
2009 – 18e, 2w
2010 – 28e
2011 – 108e
2012 – 43e
2013 – 15e, 1w

Total for the ten years – 530e, 8w, 3os: Earliest – 1e 14/4/2005. Latest – 1e 31/5/2007
(Note: There have been a few June records; these are not included in any data of this analysis).

The most recorded on any one day is 45 on 26th April 2004 (a very early date for a big day count), next is 39 on 7th May 2008, then 32 on 1st May 2011 and then 31 on 4th May 2006, these are the only days in the last ten years that have featured more than 30 birds.

Although the date that has had the most Poms (64) in the last ten years is the 7th May (so that is still counting for something), the obvious peak is between the 30th April and 4th May, with a smaller peak on 25th to 26th April. Just based on dates and figures, I would say that the best day to see Poms is the 2nd May.

The weather data for the last eight years is quite interesting. One thing it does clearly show is that there have been very, very few days with a light to moderate south east wind (at least days with this weather that Poms were seen), only 9 in fact.
Only 13 birds on 6 days where the wind was north/north west/west (mainly cloudy)
Only 35 birds on 20 days where the wind was south/south west/south south-west (mainly cloud, sun/cloud)
192 birds on 22 days where the wind was north east/north north-east/east north east (mainly cloud or sun/cloud)
144 birds on 20 days with east/east south east/south east/south south east (mainly sun/cloud or sun/hazy)

Hardly any birds seen in rain (this will suit you Merv!).

So clearly east in the wind (as we know) gives a much better chance and in recent years north-east has been better than south-east, although this could be related to the lack of decent south-east winds.
In some ways there are just too many variables to work out the ‘perfect day’, but all things considered, a north-east force 3-4, with a mixture of sun & cloud on the 2nd May gives you the best chance. Don’t shoot me if they all come through on the 14th! Alternatively, any day at the end of April or the start of May, when Owen is present but has gone on a toilet break, normally produces a few! Regards, Justin            (end).

 

Selsey Bill 1600 to 1730hrs: Rain/showers, cloud. Wind S3  (Obs: SH)
Great Northern Diver - 7 os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Common Scoter - 32E, 15os

R/b Merganser - 2E
Gannet - 1E,1W 

Turnstone - 4 ob
Common Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 18E, 5W

Ferry Pool: The 6 Avocets were still present today, with reducing numbers of the regular wildfowl.(IL).

 

Of interest, IL forwarded a couple of photos of an interesting gull on the Ferry, which are attached  below - courtesy of Dick Senior (taken 26/3/14). The ID is uncertain though Kumlein's was one possibility being considered - but  there appears too much dark in the wing tips - so any comments welcome. It is thought to still be in the area. (IL).

 

Unidentified Gull, Ferry Field, 26th March (RJS)

 

4th - 6th April 2014

Sunday, 6th April: Cloudy and grey with a fresh W/SW wind, not the most promising of conditions for migrant activity, but you never know... meanwhile we start with a couple of late news updates:

Thurs 3rd: The Iceland Gull was still on the Lagoon and 2 Wheatears on Pagham Spit (DSF/ARK).

Sat 5th: This afternoon we had two Avocets copulating on the Ferry Pool, a Sedge Warbler singing on the Long Pool, a Spotted Redshank going into summer plumage at the end of Ferry Channel and at about 1430 an Arctic Skua gave us a five minute display of bullying gulls at the Bill (M & K Galtry).

On with today's news ...........

Selsey Bill:0630-0900hrs: Dull and cloudy, wind fresh W/SW (Obs: JA/SH/PC/SR/AH)
Predictably quiet - best bird a Bonxie heading east, otherwise the usual selection of Gannets, Fulmars, Common Scoters and Sandwich Terns moving back and forth and a handful of Great Northern Divers on the sea. Full log below...
Great Northern Diver - 3 os
Gannet - 14E, 13W
Fulmar - 2E, 16W 
Brent Goose - 9E
Shelduck - 1W
Common Scoter - 1W, 7 os
Razorbill - 6W
Great Skua - 1E
Common Tern -1E
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 5W, 4 os
Swallow - 2N
Additional watch to 0940hrs: (when the rain started). (Obs: SR/PC/DS/JD).
Gannet - 1E, 6W
Fulmar - 3W
Common Scoter - 2E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 6E
Meadow Pipit - 11N
Swallow - 1N

Selsey area:

Horse paddock off Warner Lane - 1 Wheatear

Coastguard Field - 2 Wheatears, 2 Meadow Pipits

West Beach/Medmerry - 2 Wheatears, 7 Linnets, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails (SR).

 

Ferry Pool: A lot of activity, with the six Avocets present scuffling and displaying and mating. Also several pairs of Redshank and Lapwings in the field, 2 Gadwall on the Ferry, but only about 30 Shoveler now. (AH)

 

Mating Avocets on the Ferry (AH)
 

A walk from east Selsey to Church Norton at around noon produced 2 Gannets,  8 R/b Mergansers and 8 Sandwich Terns offshore, plus a Buzzard, 5 Cettis's Warblers, several Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap in the area and 3 Swallows arriving from the sea (SH).

Saturday, 5th April: Mainly cloudy with an occasional hint of brightness but a rather cool SSW wind. It was slow going at the Bill, whilst early reports indicate that overnight migrants were few, though a male Redstart at Church Norton was a bonus.

Selsey Bill 0620-1000hrs: Cloudy with brief sunnier periods, wind SSW1 - S2-3.

(Obs: JA/CRJ/RJS/CN et al).                   Full log..............

Great Northern Diver - 6 os

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Diver sp - 3E

Fulmar - 3E, 7W

Gannet - 11E, 14W

Brent Goose - 36E

Eider - 3E

Common Scoter - 87E, 14W, 2 os

R/b Merganser - 8E, 3 os

Wigeon - 3E

Razorbill - 1 os

Auk sp - 1W

Common Tern - 1E

C/A Tern - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 2 os

Kittiwake - 2W

Little Gull - 2E

Black-headed Gull = 29E

Common Gull - 13E

Med Gull - 3E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Church Norton: A quick look round Church Norton early on produced a nice male Common Redstart in the churchyard, but not much else of note. CN/CRJ failed to relocate it there, but did find it or another along the Long Pool sometime later. CRJ also had the Nuthatch singing and calling from one of the pines in the churchyard. AH)

 

Male Common Redstart in Church Norton churchyard (AH)

Pagham Hbr: North Wall: Several singing Chiffchaffs and up to 4 Cetti's Warblers were readily obvious, but a single Wheatear was the only new migrant I could find, and the often-elusive Water Pipits failed to put in an appearance this morning at the Breech Pool, which held a flock of c.70 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Wigeon and 12 Teal. Along White's Creek and the East side were 2 Wigeon, 2 Knot, 42 Grey Plover and 30 Dunlin, plus a large flock of c.75 Linnets which flew over from the Slipe Field. I ran into AH who was leading an outing, but he had done little better than me (OM).

The only thing to add was a single Sand Martin over the Lagoon, though 2 Spoonbills were reported briefly in the harbour this afternoon before flying off again and up to 5 Spotted Redshanks in the North Wall/Halsey's area (by M Daniel / SOS). (AH)

Ladies man!! Andy House on the North wall sluice, leading an all-female group (OM).

This pair of Wigeon were the only birds present in White's Creek when I arrived (OM).

The flock of c.70 Black-tailed Godwits in flight over the North Fields, and below part of the flock on the Breech Pool (OM).

Friday, 4th April: With the wind swinging back round to the west it was a predictably quiet start to the morning, with the regulars at the Bill - almost all of whom contrived to miss yesterday's star goose - in search of a bit of counselling and group-therapy! Early April days at the Bill usually see the appearance of some of the Hampshire regulars, so it was nice to welcome John Faithfull back for his first appearance over the border this spring.

(above) Following a general shift in the wind from E to W, this morning's gallery was assembled around the bench to seek shelter, rather than the favoured south-east corner of recent days. (below) John Faithfull in action (or should it be inaction?) on his first Bill visit of the year - accompanied by his Faithfull sidekick Sam (clever, eh?). Sam is also a regular, on his 14th year of visits, hence the excitement shown! (OM).

Selsey Bill 0630 to 1130hrs: Dry, cloudy, sunny periods. Wind WNW 3-4, SW later.
(Obs: JA/GH/JF/TR/SR/OM/AH/C&ME et al)
A little bit of movement early on, mainly of Brent Geese (without any other geese!), the most interesting birds being a group of four Black-necked Grebes drifting east on the sea. Not recorded between 2005 and 2012 at the Bill in spring, last year's occurrence of several birds in early April seemed a one-off, but this is the second sighting of the species here this week! Maybe they will become a regular and welcome spring sight. Otherwise there were a few lingering Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters and a gathering of at least nine Great Northern Divers, some feeding voraciously on crabs and small fish. (AH/OM) Full log ....
Great Northern Diver - 9 os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Diver sp - 2E, 1W
Black-necked Grebe - 4 os, drifted E
Fulmar - 3E, 5W
Gannet - 10E, 10W
Brent Goose - 876E, 3W
Eider - 3W
Common Scoter - 42E, 2W, 4 os
R/b Merganser - 3E, 3W, 6 os
Teal - 2E
Curlew - 4W
Auk sp - 1W
Common Tern - 1E
C/A Tern - 12E
Sandwich Tern - 14E, 4W, 12 os
Black-headed Gull - 20E
Med Gull - 3E, 2W
Swallow - 3N
Meadow Pipit - 3N

Selsey: My first Swallow of the year headed NE along East Beach this morning, Park Lane had 1 Wheatear, 1 Kestrel, 2 Red-legged Partridges, a singing Song Thrush, and a few Chiffchaffs (SR).

Ferry Pool: Eight Avocets this morning, plus the usual wildfowl. (OM)

Church Norton: The elusive Nuthatch put in a appearance in the pines in the car-park (per George Kinnard), but otherwise it was pretty unchanged from recent days - a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing intermittently, a few Linnets and Goldfinches around, 30+ Curlew in the harbour and up to a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea.

Birdguides report the Long-tailed Duck as offshore again, and (presumably the Greenlease Farm) Black Redstart as still present. (AH) Ivan Lang later reported a Spoonbill over and a couple of very early Tree Pipits (IL).

Chiffchaff (above) & Goldfinch at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: (Easton Lane - Bracklesham beach) - A single Little Ringed Plover was the best bird on offer when I visited, and a Swallow flew over. On and around the pools were 34 Teal, a pair of Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 16 Shelduck and 14 Curlew. Also logged were three flocks of Linnets totalling 80+ birds, 2 Yellowhammers, a Skylark, a Meadow Pipit and a Common Buzzard. (OM).

1st - 3rd April 2014

Thursday, 3rd April: The prevailing E/SE winds, usually productive for sea-watching along the south coast,  are forecast to slip away later today, to be replaced by more westerly-based winds from the Atlantic. It couldn't last of course but let's just hope we haven't used up all of our south-easterly allowance for the spring!

Morning update .... Dave Smith phoned to tell me of a Red-breasted Goose east past the Bill at 9.30am with Brents. It's really hurting yours truly to write this at present, for I'm feeling pig-sick at missing it, as my most wanted Bill tick escapes me for the second time! Having been reminded by my good lady of a social commitment I didn't want, I decided to stay home today and earn some Brownie points..... after all I've done several long sea-watches this week and I surely won't miss too much I reasoned...but what's worse is that I could have got three hours Bill-watching in but decided against the Peninsula traffic for so little birding time. Well in the end I've paid the price for domestic bliss...and sorry about the expletive Dave, but come on ref, there's no justice! (OM). Not my day... seems my email hacked so if you get any odd/dodgy messages purporting to be from me, please ignore, don't open. Taking necessary steps, should be ok soon. OM

Selsey Bill: As can be seen above, the star bird eluded OM, but also myself too, and by a matter of minutes, as I left the Bill a shade too early! Otherwise it was fairly average but with a bit of variety - a few Brent Geese and Common Terns moving east, the Long-tailed Duck again early on and a few lingering Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns and Great Northern Divers offshore. There were a few Swallows and a Hobby in off the sea and a White Wagtail on the beach. (AH)
The full log appears below (with thanks to PM)...

 

 White Wagtail on Selsey Beach (AH)

  

Selsey Bill 0630-1030hrs: Hazy sun and cloud. Wind E3 - slightly murky clearing by 9ish.
(Obs: PM>GH>AH(briefly)> CF>PC> DIS>DM et al). Started slowly but obvious highlight the Red-breasted Goose fairly close E with c45 Brents at 9.30 - first called by Chris Furlepa....

Great Northern Diver - 6 os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1 os

Gannet 6E

Fulmar - 3W

Brent Goose - 158E
Red-breasted Goose - 1E 0930 (*later seen E off Seaford at 1115hrs)
Long-tailed Duck - 1os then E (7.15am)
R/b Merganser - 2E, 8 os
Shelduck - 2E, 2W
Common Scoter - 7E, 3os
Sanderling 1E/ob
Curlew 3E
Hobby - 1N (9.45am)

Sandwich Tern - 17E, 3os
Common Tern - 6E

Common Gull - 17E
Med Gull - 2os
Swallow - 5N 
Wheatear - 1 ob

Chiffchaff - 2N
Chiff/Willow - 1N
White Wagtail - 1ob then N
(Cheers and sorry about the Goose !)
Additional watch: 1045-1130hrs (P. Callis):
Brent Goose - 12E
Whimbrel - 5E
(also mixed flock Whimbrel/Bar-wits) - 21E
Swallow - 2N
Willow Warbler - 1



Church Norton: Still quiet - a pair of Mistle Thrushes in Rectory Lane, and a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps was about the sum. (AH)

Ferry Pool: 7 Avocets this morning, plus 6 Gadwall and a pair of Skylarks. (AH)

North Wall: The Water Pipit was still present, but as elusive as ever in the base of the reeds. Also present there were a Common Snipe, 65 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Teal and 12 Linnets over. (AH) Later on, another Water Pipit joined the first bird, and  quite a few people eventually managed to see both. Also 2 Snipe and a Spotted Redshank were present. (CRJ).

 

 

Water Pipit on (above) and Black-tailed Godwits over Breech Pool (AH) 

Water Pipit (above), Linnet & Spotted Redshank on the Breach Pool (DM)

 

 

 

Wednesday, 2nd April: A grey and fairly chilly morning with a brisk ESE wind and just a few spots of rain. Conditions were also rather hazy; doubtless some of this was due to the high levels of atmospheric pollution currently visited upon us from Europe and also dust from the Sahara, courtesy of the wind direction. Talking of visiting, this morning one of the old Selsey stalwarts paid us a visit - Dave Flumm. It must be a good many years since Dave last watched at the Bill, and he commented on how Selsey had changed in the intervening years, but true to form he left his B&B early and was first to start today's sea-watch, arriving at 0615!! He now resides in Cornwall, but for those unfamiliar with his name from early Selsey days, he is more widely known as the RSPB warden at Hayle and Marizion in the aforementioned county. We look forward to your next visit Dave.

At the Bill there was a steady if unspectacular passage - highlights being a Long-tailed Duck and 3 Avocets early on, 3 Common Terns, some movement of Common Scoters and Sandwich Terns east and 8 Swallows arriving. Full log below...

 

Selsey Bill 0615-1315hrs: Grey, cloudy, quite cool, wind ESE 3-4 with a few spots of rain.

(Obs: DSF/CRJ/GH/OM/AH/C&ME/DS)

Great Northern Diver - 5 os

Black-throated Diver - 2E

Diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Brent Goose - 21E

Shelduck - 1E

Common Scoter - 240E

R/b Merganser - 7E, 10 os

Long-tailed Duck - 1E

Shoveler - 26E

Wigeon - 1E

Fulmar - 2E, 5W

Gannet - 18E, 1W

Avocet - 3E

Curlew - 1E

Oystercatcher - 14E (inc flock 10)

Kestrel - 1 in NE

Common Tern - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 66E

Black-headed Gull - 35E

Common Gull - 6E

Great Bk-backed Gull - 13E

Swallow - 8N

Linnet - 49 in NE

Meadow Pipit - 13N

Carrion Crow - 48 os on shingle bar

 

They always come back home! Former Selsey stalwart Dave Flumm (standing) with Chris Janman (OM).

 

 

A Starling gathering nesting material at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: 8 Avocets this morning, and still teeming with assorted ducks -  
68 Shelduck...28 Shoveler...10 Wigeon (AH/CRJ)

Church Norton: Still quiet, with the birds keeping low in the chilly easterly. No sign of the Black Redstart in said wind, but still a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing, and also seen were a Mistle Thrush, a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Lapwings on the uncultivated land at Greenlease Farm. (AH)

Lapwing on Greenlease Farm (AH)

North Wall: Two Red Kites this morning over the North fields/Breech Pool area; also a Spotted Redshank on the pool. (P.Callis/A.Kitson)

Red Kite over the North Wall (A. Kitson)

Chi GP's: An early afternoon visit to the Ivy Lake complex of pits proved to be surprisingly poor. Tufted Ducks were the default wildfowl species with a handful present on most pits. whilst a few Mallard and some noisy Greylags and Canada Geese made up the rest. I couldn't find a single hirundine, and other migrants were few, consisting of about 4 Blackcaps and half a dozen Chiffchaffs. Two singing Cetti's Warblers were also noted (OM).

 

 Medmerry: An early evening look from the end of West Sands caravan park produced a Green Sandpiper on the flood between it and the new bank, at least 40 Linnets, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Plover, several displaying Lapwings and Ringed Plovers, and 6 Shelduck. (AH) 

 

 

Tuesday, 1st April: The weather played an April Fool's joke on us this morning, with dense fog engulfing the Peninsula till about 10am, then glorious sunshine and barely a breath of breeze.

Selsey Bill: 1115 to 1345hrs: A flat calm sea with little moving when the mist finally cleared - but there were still plenty of watchers..... (Obs: C&ME>SR>DS>DF>GH>JDD>DS>GJ>)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Fulmar - 1W
Common Scoter- 5E
R/b Merganser - 6E
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 6W   
Swallow - 2N          
Meadow Pipit - 65N            

Ferry Pool: Still 6 Avocets & 3 Gadwall there this morning, and also 3 Little Grebes. (AH)

Little Grebe on the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Hbr: Church Norton: A few interesting things today - the Black Redstart was still at Greenlease Farm (SR), the elusive Nuthatch was flying around calling over the Priory when the sun came out, 4 Wheatears along the beach from Selsey (both GH), the Sedge Warbler was still at the southern end of the Long Pool along with a pair of Blackcaps and several Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings, and along the beach 2 Sand Martins flew in off the sea, a Great Northern Diver was offshore (with another flying east) along with 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, and a single Common Scoter flew west (AH/GH). (AH)
At Greenlease Farm I also saw the Black Redstart just opposite the farmhouse, before it flew off over the thatched barn.  Also 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Red-legged Partridges, and a few calling Chiffchaffs. (SR).

Reed Bunting in the fog along the west side (AH)

 

North wall: The Water Pipit was on the Breech Pool at 1pm and showed well for ten minutes before it flew. Also there, a lone Avocet and two Spotted Redshanks. A Marsh Harrier also drifted over low (Bart Ives)

 

Medmerry: This morning I went looking for Andrew's pale finch in the fog, news of Saharan dust over the country gave me visions of Trumpeter Finch and Desert Sparrow; no luck there then !

Easton to the beach at Bracklesham... 4 Little Egret, 6 Shelduck,3 Gadwall,11 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Buzzard, 50 Black-headed Gull,4  fly-over Med Gulls south, heard but unseen, also a flyover Ringed Plover heading north, 1 pair Oystercatcher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 singing Skylarks ,4 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, 1 m Reed Bunting and 2 prs Yellowhammer. Later in sunshine in the Easton area...1 pr Little Grebe, 2 prs Gadwall + 1 male ,1pr Mallard, 2 prs Teal, 5 Coot, 2 Buzzard,1 Jay, a further 2 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Linnet,and a pair of Yellowhammers.(CRJ).