13th - 15th November 2014

Saturday, 15th November: A fairly pleasant morning with cloud and sunny spells and a moderate S-SSE breeze force 3-4. On the birding front not too much new stuff to report, though some of the previously-reported species continue to please, including the Great Northern Diver still showing well at Medmerry and the Ruddy Shelducks in the harbour.....

Selsey Bill: (0700-0900) (SH/JA/C&ME)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 4W, 1E
diver sp - 1W
Slavonian Grebe - 1W
Great Crested Grebe 1W, 4E, 4os
Gannet - 12W
Brent Goose - 69W
Wigeon - 1W
Common Scoter - 6W, 8E
Velvet Scoter - 1os
Eider - 4W, 3os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3os
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
auk sp - 6W
Meadow Pipit - 8N
Black Redstart - 1p

 

Tall ship behind the Mile Basket at Selsey Bill (SH)

Selsey area: Drift Lane Marsh: 6 Snipe a-sleeping, 1 Grey Wagtail a-bobbing  and a bouncing Jay!  
Coastguard Field: 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 male Stonechat
Chainbridge/Archery Field: 3 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 1 Buzzard, 3 Pied Wagtails, and c150 overhead heading toward Ham.(SR)

A rather feeble rainbow just about discernible to the right of the windmill, during a brief shower over Drift Lane Marsh this morning (SR} 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - The Great Northern Diver was still present on the easternmost part of the pools this morning, and there were 6 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe offshore.
A Black Redstart was actively feeding around the viewpoint, with a pair of Stonechats nearby, and 30-40 Meadow Pipits were around the rough ground.
A group of 6 Corn Buntings flew over from the fields beyond the pools along with a dozen or more Skylarks, and at least 50 more of the latter could be seen over the fields. On the pools there were a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, c12 Grey Plover, c40 Dunlin, c100 Golden Plover and c200 Lapwing (with at least double that out in the middle of the reserve). (AH)
 

 

Black Redstart (above) & Grey Plover at Medmerry (AH)

 

Ham Farm - A couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the hedge near the new pond, and at least 1000 Brent Geese came into one of the arable fields. Also a Little Owl was present at a nearby private site that usually holds a pair, but where I hadn't encountered one since the spring. (AH)

Church Norton: On the walk from Selsey this morning, totals were - 1 Swallow over the Severals, 1 Snipe in the Severals, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Goldcrests in the oak copse, 1 Blackcap at Park Farm and 1 Red-breasted Merganser offshore, whilst in the harbour there were 2 Ruddy Shelducks and 2 Greenshank. (S&SaH)

Also seen in the harbour from the small spit were the Whimbrel, a total of 3 Greenshank and a Sanderling, along with the commoner waders. (AH)

 

Blackcap at Park Farm (above), Starling and 'leucistic' Black-headed Gull at Church Norton (SH)

 

  Friday, 14th November: A grey, very wet and gloomy start to the day with heavy overnight rain persisting into the morning and with a fairly strong SW wind 5-6 occasionally gusting 7, though by late morning the sun had come out. It still remains comparatively mild due to the southerly based winds and this weather pattern shows no sign of abating as yet.

The long dark nights and inclement weather are a good time to get on with birding paperwork, and I also hope to find time to update some of the pages on the blog; the editors assisted by IP are currently working on fully updating the Peninsula bird list, so watch this space (OM). 
One more thing....... seems the hackers and spammers are still targeting me with phishing emails  - mainly but not entirely fake BT ones - and despite a new PC and various safeguards the odd one purporting to be from me may still sneak through to you. So, if it looks odd just don't open it, but meanwhile I would advise all my regular contacts I now have two more email addresses which I shall use privately IN ADDITION to the normal one as above for the blog - so don't be surprised if you think the address seems wrong when you go to reply. Thanks for your patience! (OM}.

 

Church Norton: The weather was awful, early on, but an unexpected bonus came in the form of the two juvenile Spoonbills out on the mud, quite close in from the bench. Initially the unringed bird was on its own, then the ringed one appeared from a creek and sidled up next to it, whereupon there was a bit of a spat - hard to know if it was fighting or flirting - before they settled down and wandered off to preen and roost together.

Not much else in the dismal conditions - the Whimbrel was present amongst the commoner waders, as were 6 Black-tailed Godwits, and a Red-breasted Merganser flew into the harbour. (AH)

 

Spoonbills at Church Norton (AH)

 

 

 

West side/Long Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was visible over towards the North Wall side, Milky the Curlew was still out and showing well (but never very close!) and 3 Avocets, 1 fem Merganser and 4 Great Crested Grebes were in the channel, plus a Greenshank near Tern Island. A walk up past the Long pool resulted in a nice fem Merlin perched up out in the fields - very distant as the dodgy record shots show!! Also c500 Brents in the far fields too and lots of Red-legged Partridges still around and still 1 male Common Darter around the first pool. (AB}.

 

Below: Red-legged Partridges and Merlin, West side fields (AB}

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - The Great Northern Diver was still present, though it has moved further back into the furthest pool. Also, the 2 Stonechats were still on the rocks and 10 Skylarks flew over, whilst on the pools there were c80 Golden Plover, 8 Grey Plover, c150 Lapwing, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Curlew and 25 Dunlin, plus c120 Brent Geese near the breach. (AH)

 

Great Northern Diver (above) & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)

 

East Side: There were two Ruddy Shelducks together on the east side of the harbour this afternoon. (TG per Pagham Birder) (Hopefully this is last winter's pair re-united, after the single bird having frequented similar haunts since its return. ed.)

A Black Redstart was reported near the harbour mouth. (per Birdguides)

Selsey area: One of my East Beach neighbours had a male Black Redstart in his garden early morning but it had moved on by the time I got there early afternoon.
Northcommon Farm: 2 Kestrels, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Med. Gulls amongst the 428 Black-headed Gulls but generally very quiet.
Horse Paddocks, Warner Lane: Large numbers of Blackbirds and 2 Mistle Thrushes yanking out of the ground massive worms, 1 calling Cetti's Warbler and that was about it.
Drift Lane Marsh: 2 Snipe were just about visible, one moved along and started bobbing but it was a bit feeble and didn't last long. (SR)

 

Ferry Pool: There were 2 Snipe at the back this morning, plus the Green Sandpiper, and 8 Shelduck, 12 Teal and 30+ Shoveler were on the water. At least 200 Lapwing were on the field, along with 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Curlews. (AH)

Snipe (above) & Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

 

Thursday, 13th November: A fairly bleak day, with a cold, gusty south-easterly making conditions somewhat unpleasant....and with rain arriving by afternoon.

Selsey Bill: (0745-0915hrs): SE F5 (AH/PC/TR et al)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Gannet - 1E, 5os

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 4W

Turnstone - 40E

Mediterranean Gull - 5W, 2E

Common Gull - 2E, 4W

Kittiwake - 1E, 1W

Meadow Pipit - 10N, 1p

Juvenile Gannet past Selsey Bill (AH)

 

Church Norton: Not much to report in pretty horrible conditions. The Whimbrel was again present, along with 20+ Curlews, including the leucistic bird, and there were at least 50 Knot with 200+ Dunlin out on the mud. There were one or two Goldcrests lurking in the bushes, 30+ Goldfinches flew around the mound area and a Sparrowhawk went over. (AH/TR)

Whimbrel (left) & with Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was present this morning, along with a dozen Common Shelduck, 40 Shoveler and 20 Teal. A Green Sandpiper was also present, as were 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 50+ Lapwing. (AH)

Ruddy Shelduck (above) & Green Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

10th - 12th November 2014

Wednesday, 12th November: The run of Atlantic depressions currently reaching us shows no sign of abating at present and this morning was once again wet and blustery but mild, with a strong SSW wind gusting almost gale force. There is the prospect of some brightness but conditions look set to remain changeable for a while yet.

On a different note, with all the Pom Skuas of the last couple of weeks, it is ironic that Chris Janman should find an old document in one of his diaries...... the 'Janman/Jones Pom Probability Projection' of circa late 1980's - early 1990's vintage! Thought to have been lost in the mists of time, this esteemed document predicts the chances of seeing a Pom Skua off the Sussex coast in spring....... it is now reproduced on the Pom King info & data page, just click the page link on our title page.

One item of birding news so far concerns the colour-ringed Spoonbill recently seen at Pagham Hbr; it's a little less than straightforward, but enquiries currently indicate it was probably ringed in Hungary or Belgium (per IL/DS).

 

Selsey Bill (0740-0850hrs): SSE F5 (AH/AB)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Black-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 4W, 1os

Gannet - 1E, 6os

Brent Goose - 110W

Shelduck - 3W

Eider - 3os

Red-breasted Merganser - 16W, 6os

Dunlin - 37W

Sanderling - 7W

Mediteranean Gull - 2W

 

Eider (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach: The Great Northern Diver was still on the big pool, but not much else to see in dire conditions - 10 Brent Geese and 30 Teal on the pool, along with 2 Curlews, a Grey Plover over and 2 each of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail was about it. (AH/AB)

 

Church Norton: A quick look between heavy squalls didn't produce a lot - a few Curlews by the concrete spit, and c40 Teal, c20 Wigeon and c20 Mallards have quickly colonised the newly flooded area around the horse's field. (AH)

 

Curlew (above) & Wigeon and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

 

Tuesday, 11th November: A brightish start swiftly turned to a strong, gusting south-south-easterly with heavy cloud and the threat of rain.... which duly arrived late morning and then lingered for much of the day.

Selsey Bill (0745-1045hrs): Cloud then rain, SSE 6-7.  (Obs: DF/OM/CRJ/DS/JD/GJ)

DF was first in position this morning and was rewarded soon after with a Little Auk moving west before it disappeared into the wave troughs. It was a bit of a false dawn however as there was little movement over the sea thereafter, except for a Long-tailed Duck also heading west, first picked up by CRJ. The very minimal log follows...

Great Northern Diver - 1 os

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Gannet - 5W

Shelduck - 2W

R/b Merganser - 5E, 2W

Common Scoter - 10E

Long-tailed Duck - 1W (0900hrs) - apparently dropped onto the sea well to the west

Kittiwake - 1W

Med Gull - 1W

 

Ferry Pool: Wildfowl currently predominate on the pool, with 6 Shelduck, c40 Teal, c60 Wigeon and c30 Shoveler the most numerous birds present, with just a single Black-tailed Godwit and a dozen Lapwing being the only wader representation. (AH)

 

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

 

Long Pool: Most notable sight early this morning was the constant movement of Brent Geese out of the harbour and heading west, presumably to Medmerry. A couple of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits, plus a Chiffchaff in a small mixed Blue and Long-tailed Tit flock were the only small birds noted, and there were c16 Avocets at the south end of Ferry Channel. (AH)

 

Brent Geese over the Long Pool (AH)   

Church Norton: The two Spoonbills were again present in the harbour, plus 3 Greenshank and 11 Avocets. Watching from the newly-refurbished hide was the best option for much of the time and on the rising tide an oddly dark-plumaged bird caused a few heartbeats to quicken, before it was joined by 25 of its congeners and its ID was firmly established as a Knot! Also logged were 83 Great Black-backed Gulls, a single Wheatear on the concrete slabs, and an unusual sighting of a Bonxie swimming between the hide and tern island!(CRJ/DF/DS/JD/GJ) Also late news from yesterday of a drake Velvet Scoter, unusual in the harbour, seen near the harbour mouth area by the Hide repair team at Norton!



Monday, 10th November: A very wet night with thunderstorms, giving way to changeable weather... heavy showers, cloud and brighter spells. The wind gradually picked up through the morning, backing from a moderate WSW to a fresh SSE, always with the threat of a heavy squally shower. Lost camera: I've managed to lose my Lumix bridge camera today somewhere between the Bill - Northcommon farm - Church Norton.... if you should find it I'd be pleased to know and a small reward may come your way! (OM).

 

Shelducks past the Bill (AH)

Selsey Bill (0725 to 1045hrs): Five Little Auks passed the Bill going west this morning - a group of four at 8am, then a single three minutes later. Otherwise it was very routine - a Red-throated, 2 Great Northern Divers and a few Shelduck west, the 3 Eider and 3 Common Scoter on the sea, and a few waders - mostly Dunlin - also heading west. (OM/AH) Log below:
 

Red-throated Diver  - 1W
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 7W, 1os
Shag - 1E
Gannet - 2E, 5W
Brent Goose - 1W
Eider - 3 os
Shelduck - 6W
R/b Merganser - 7W
Common Scoter - 3 os
Dunlin - 15W
Sanderling - 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1W, gardens
Little Auk - 5W
Auk sp - 2E
Med Gull - 2W       

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - The Great Northern Diver was still in residence this morning on the big pool, along with 16 Brent Geese, 4 Pintail and 20 Wigeon. There were c110 Golden Plovers roosting close in and out of the wind, along with 200+ Lapwing, 10 Ringed Plover, 22 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Grey Plover and 4 Curlews. There were 6 Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Common Gulls in with 100+ Black-headed Gulls, and a Stonechat and a few Meadow Pipits were along the rocks. (AH)

Great Northern Diver (top), Golden Plovers (above), Dunlin & Mediterranean and Common Gull at Medmerry (AH)

 

 

Ferry Pool: There were over 30 Shelduck on the pool this morning - the most I've seen this autumn - along with 40 Shoveler and 20 Teal, but no waders bar a half dozen Lapwing, as last night's rain has raised the water level. (AH)

 

Church Norton: The sturdy band of volunteers were hard at it again today, working on the roof and putting in the finishing touches to the Hide, in order to waterproof it, repair the previous vandalism and hopefully make it much more sturdy. This has taken several days of effort spread over three weeks, but will now benefit us all in the days ahead. However the often thankless work can easily go unnoticed... so a big thank you to Bernie Forbes, Dorian Mason, Dave Sadler, Trevor Gibson Poole, Dave Sneller and John Dodd for a job well done;  the RSPB should be proud of you! (OM}

 

 Three views of the team at work on the Church Norton Hide this morning (DM}

 

7th - 9th November 2014

Sunday, 9th November: Cloudy with the risk of a few showers but becoming brighter later. After yesterday's southerly gales it was back to lighter westerly-based winds this morning; however the prospects for the coming week indicate more unsettled weather with heavy rain and strong winds, so sea-watching is likely to feature again soon! It's interesting to note that apart from at the Bill yesterday, good numbers of Pom Skuas were also noted moving in the western Channel, e.g. Devon, though only a few seem to have been logged further east... long may it last!!

As mentioned in earlier editorials, a number of issues have arisen which I've now done my best to clarify and explain; herewith the last two..... firstly, Personal queries: A number of personal emails are regularly received by the editors, usually seeking further information, site details or bird information etc. Whilst we do our best to oblige it isn't always possible for a number of reasons, but please be prepared to show in your message it is a genuine enquiry. In my case at least spammers are an ever-present threat, so if you're unknown to me and you fail to give any details of yourself then you can hardly complain if I hit the delete button! Lastly, Non-avian news: As regular visitors to the blog will be aware, we do include a limited amount of news of a non-avian nature, ranging from other wildlife forms to local news such as Lifeboat rescues and storm damage. Please be aware that whilst the editors are happy to receive submissions on such things, especially insects and other Lepidoptra, (is that how you spell it?) we claim no level of expertise, so submissions are included in good faith. If you consider such a posting is erroneous, I'm sure you'll promptly notify us! Phew, that's it, thanks for your patience, now back to the bird news. (OM).

 

Selsey Bill: (0700-0830hrs) (JA/SH/PM/AGB/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 7os
diver sp - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2W, 1os
Gannet - 1E, 4W, 6os
Little Egret - 1ob
Brent Goose - 1E, 1W
Wigeon - 1W
Tufted Duck - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5W, 1 os
Eider - 3os
Common Scoter - 2E, 3W
Ringed Plover - 19E (in one flock)
Mediterranean Gull - 3W, 4os
Meadow Pipit - 3N

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - The Great Northern Diver was showing well again on the big pool from the viewpoint, seeing off the local Cormorants when they came too close! Also 4 Common Scoter on the sea, a pair of Stonechats on the rocks, a Peregrine briefly disturbing the peace, 4 Pintail amongst the Wigeon and Teal, a Dunlin, a Knot and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits with the 20+ Grey Plovers, and 100+ roosting Lapwing. (AH/BI/PH/BFF et al)
A Snow Bunting was heard several times near the sluice at the end of the caravans, but unfortunately could not be seen. (ARK/MH)
A Short-eared Owl was along the bank towards Chainbridge field this afternoon. (PH)

 

 

 

Great Northern Diver (above) & Common Scoters at Medmerry (AH)

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane west - This morning there were 2 Little Owls at Marsh Farm, a Kingfisher, a flock of 16 Snipe together, at least 10 Stonechats, 30+ Yellowhammers and similar of Skylarks. (S&SaH)

 

Little Owl at Medmerry (SH)

  

Church Norton: A Short-eared Owl briefly appeared at the end of the spit, being mobbed by gulls, before appearing to land on Pagham Spit. The two Spoonbills were also present, roosting on the far side of Tern Island (per JD). There were no birds at all on the sea, despite the flat calm, but the harbour was full of commoner waders on the rising tide. (AH)

This afternoon there was a very late Wheatear on the concrete spit. (S&SaH)

 

Dunlin and Grey Plovers from Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was on the pool early this morning. (BFF/IL) Later on a Grey Wagtail was in the Pumping Station yard, and a Greenshank came in to roost with 60 Redshank. There were also 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 150 Lapwings on the pool, plus the usual Shoveler and Teal, and 8 Stock Doves and 20 Curlew were on the field. (AH)

The Ruddy Shelduck was back again late afternoon along with 12 Common Shelduck, 15 Avocet and 2 Green Sandpipers. (AH)

 

Ruddy Shelduck on the Ferry (BI)

Grey Wagtail (above), Greenshank & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

 

Pagham Spit/Lagoon: Not much to report this afternoon - highlights were a couple of Kingfishers (one on the Lagoon, one in the harbour), a Stonechat and a Rock Pipit on the Spit, the 2 Spoonbills still on Tern Island, and 40 Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes and 20 Tufted Duck on the Lagoon. (AH)

 

Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

 

Saturday, 8th November:  Another very blustery, overcast day, with frequent showers and the strong wind almost due south. After a slow start with rather little of note, most observers had drifted away, leaving just SH to hold the fort. Then a Balearic Shearwater and an increase in Gannets hinted at better things to come, just as he was thinking of leaving. I then arrived for a late start (after a bit of a session last night!), and after an update SH duly handed over the log and departed, feeling just a little uneasy and with a request to be informed if there were any developments. I settled in for a solo effort, but it was difficult to find shelter and by now with the tide getting high, spray from crashing waves was coming over the wall and making things impossible. There was nothing for it but to set the scope up in the car after finding a fairly sheltered spot. What followed was a fairly frantic few hours! Suddenly there was a dramatic increase in the rate of passing Gannets and Kittiwakes - both close in and further out - and at 1049hrs two close skuas lumbered just past the 'triangles'... both clearly juv Poms without a doubt. Game on. I quickly texted SH and other locals, but none could come immediately so out came the clicker to count Gannets whilst I tried to log everything else. I'd logged another two Poms before at last SH re-appeared; a quick update and as he watched from his van nearby, we hooted to each other each time a skua passed! There was a steady flow of birds until eventually the tide began to recede and we could watch from the wall again; by 1400hrs it had slowed considerably which was my cue to leave to fulfil domestic obligations. The tally by then was 22 Poms, 9 Bonxies, 2 skua sp, 660 Gannets and 310 Kittiwakes (the latter surely an under-estimate). Quite an interesting four hours! (OM). Two more Poms passed later (SH)

 

Sam Hill in action watching from his van (OM).

 

Selsey Bill (0645-1000hrs): (JA/SH/PM et al) Cloud, showers, S-SSW 6-7

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 10W, 1os

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (9.22am)

Gannet - 47W
Wigeon - 1W
Eider - 2W, 3os
Common Scoter - 6E, 6W, 2os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W, 4os
Dunlin - 19W
Arctic Skua - 1W, 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 7W, 4os
Kittiwake - 20W
auk sp - 1E, 1W
Additional: 1000-1400hrs: (Obs: OM/SH).
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 660W
Brent Goose - 1W
R/b Merganser - 1E, 6W
Common Scoter - 3E, 32W
Pomarine Skua - 22W
Great Skua - 9W
Skua sp - 2W
Kittiwake - 310W
Med Gull - 1W, 3os
Razorbill - 1W
Auk sp - 3W
Additional 1400-1600hrs: (Obs: SH/JA/BI) 
Gannet  - 35W
Common Scoter - 19W
R/b Merganser - 1W
Pomarine Skua - 2W
Kittiwake - 135W
Razorbill - 2E

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - There were two Great Northern Divers together on the big pool east of the breach, along with 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 4 Grey Plovers. and nearby a Black Redstart was lurking under one of the westernmost caravans. (AH)

 

Great Northern Divers at Medmerry (AH)

 

Church Norton: The 2 Spoonbills were present again near Tern Island and there were 5 Red-breasted Mergansers roosting in the harbour, along with the Whimbrel and 40+ Grey Plovers. (AH)

 

Spoonbills (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The only waders this morning were 36 Black-tailed Godwits, plus the usual 30+ Shoveler and 20+ Teal, and there were 50+ Wigeon on the field. (AH) During the high tide roost, counts (by IL) were as follows:

38 Black-tailed Godwit

40 Shoveler

15 Avocet

50 Lapwing

1 Greenshank

2 Spotted Redshank

1 Dunlin
36 Shelduck
1 Ruddy Shelduck

Up to 3 Green Sandpiper

East Head: A Snow Bunting reported in the dunes today. (per Birdguides)
 

Friday, 7th November: Dull and overcast with SW gales and heavy showers or longer periods of rain. Even so, yesterday's prediction proved to be correct and the first Little Auk was duly logged at the Bill at 07.27hrs this morning! (JA).

Further to my earlier editorial regarding queries received, a few more comments herewith........firstly Medmerry: In short there is no easy access route and it is a big site. I personally don't recommend the published walk from the Pagham Hbr Visitor centre as it's just too far unless you're a hiker. There is no circular walk you can do as you can't cross the breach (except perhaps at very low tide). Generally you either visit the east or west sides on a trip. The only access to the east side, excluding a long hike along the beach, is via the private Bunn's caravan sites and subject to restrictions at any time. On the west side, via Highleigh and Easton's Lane, there is a small public car park now open at Earnley, and a smaller one not yet open at Easton's.... but it is still a good walk from either. A site map is available at the Visitor Centre or via the EA; not reproduced here due to copyright issues, but hope this helps.

Secondly photo's: the editors are always grateful for these, but as readers will be aware we publish daily to keep the news current, which places a good deal of strain on deadlines, so ideally we need any pic's by early evening! Our blog is in diary form and of course some days and conditions are appalling for photography....... but even so we try to tell it like it is and although there are plenty of times when our pic's would not win any prizes, we are not concerned as it does at least manage to illustrate the day in question. In short, whilst we of course like good pic's, as long as it's free anything considered, but we need it promptly and don't take offence if we don't use it for whatever reason! Ok, enough of this for today and I'll deal with the last couple of issues soon. (OM).  

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

Selsey Bill (0650 to 0945hrs): Cloud, frequent heavy showers, wind WSW6 gusting 7 or 8.

(Obs: JA/AH et al) The first Little Auk of the season and at least 8 Great Northern Divers...

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 6 os

Great Crested Grebe - 10W, 1 os

Gannet - 12W

Brent Goose - 62W

Eider - 3 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 11W, 2 os

Common Scoter - 18W, 8 os

Wigeon - 9W

Dunlin - 24W

Mediterranean  Gull - 2 os

Auk sp - 1W

Razorbill - 1E

Little Auk - 1W @ 0722hrs, IE @ 0835hrs

 

Eider past the Bill (AH)

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - Early this morning a Little Auk appeared from the east, circled around the small bay created by the sea-defence rocks and departed back east again. (Given the timings this was quite likely to have been the same bird as the one reported from the Bill - see above .) Also the Great Northern Diver was still on the big pool, along with 12 Brent Geese, 4 Grey Plover, 20 Ringed Plover and 16 Dunlin. (BI/AH)

 

Great Northern Diver (above), Grey Plover and Dunlin and an indication of the conditions at Medmerry (AH)

 

 

Church Norton: The two Spoonbills (which are actually both juveniles) were roosting in the harbour again, before decamping to Tern Island and then eventually to the other end of the harbour to roost (presumably) on the islands off the North Wall. Also a Merlin put on a bit of a show chasing a passerine around, high over the island and Pagham Spit, for several minutes before being lost from view. There were plenty of roosting waders present, including the Whimbrel, and at least 6 Great Crested Grebes were in the harbour. (AH/BI)

 

Spoonbills over the harbour (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: There were 16 roosting Avocets this morning, along with 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 25 Redshank. Around 30 Golden Plovers dropped onto the grass to join the Lapwings, and there was a flock of at least 60 Stock Doves tucked away at the back of the field. (AH)

 

Golden Plover and Lapwing on Ferry Field (AH)