7th - 9th December 2014

Tuesday, 9th December: A bright, clear and frosty start before the grey cloud started with an increasing NW breeze; it seems that the weather may go downhill over the next couple of days, with a storm gathering in the Atlantic....

 

Selsey Bill: (0830-0930hrs): Not much moving bar a couple of Red-throated Divers and a few Great Northern Divers offshore in an hour this morning; log below: (OM)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 6 os (of which 2 later flew W)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Slavonian Grebe - 1 os
Gannet - 2E
R/b Merganser - 2W, 4 os
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Selsey area: I checked out the areas around the village but found rather little overall....
Drift Lane area  - 18 Snipe, 18 Mallard, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Stonechat.
Coastguards: All very quiet except for a large flock of 120 Curlews feeding in a wet field behind the old cottages.
Northcommon Farm - 1 Mistle Thrush, 20 Blackbirds, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Meadow Pipits.
Warner Lane/Chainbridge field - no sign of the Brent Goose flock, just a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and 5 Meadow Pipits.
East Beach and Pond: 2 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits. (OM).

Selsey selection... well come on, it was a slow news day, so you've got to expect a few padders and common species! From the top... Mallards at Drift Lane, Grey Wagtails at the same location, Kestrel at Warner Lane, Mistle Thrush at Northcommon Farm, and finally... suspect origins for a Muscovy 'Bitsa' Goose now resplendent on East Beach pond! (OM).

 

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - Still a Black Redstart and a couple of Stonechats near the viewpoint, plus 23 Common Scoter offshore. (DF)

 

Church Norton: Best bird of the morning was a Firecrest in the trees at the bottom of the path to the harbour, along with a dozen or so Long-tailed Tits, one or two Goldcrests and at least 50 Goldfinches. The three Spoonbills were on Tern Island, and there were a pair of Goldeneye and 8-9 Avocets far down the main channel.

Around a dozen Slavonian Grebes and half that of Great Crested Grebes were offshore, but a long way towards the east in Bognor Bay. There were 4 more Great Crested Grebes in the harbour, and amongst the waders the one-legged Bar-tailed Godwit was still going strong. (AH)
Also a Woodcock between Norton and the beach and a probable Little Stint roosting with other waders on the groyne inside Church Norton spit (P. James, per SOS website).

 

Another busy day in Spoonbill world! (above), the one-legged Bar-tailed Godwit with a Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, & Great Crested Grebes in the harbour (AH)

 

North Wall: A mild, windless morning, the calm before the storm? Owl Water was frozen over and the Breach Pool was fringed with ice. The water level is even lower today. I was intrigued to see 4 Robins feeding out on the mud. The usual cast were present - 130 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 87 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Common Snipe and 2 Spotted Redshanks. There has been an influx of Blackbirds during the last week and they have now almost stripped all the rose hips along the Wall. A flock of 470 Brent Geese was in the field immediately east of Owl Copse. (JDW)

At East Head a single Barnacle Goose with the Brents in the field adjacent to the far end of the car park. Also three Sandwich Terns and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers while on Snowhill Marsh there were five Spotted Redshanks, two Greenshanks and a Stonechat. (P. James, per SOS website).

 

Barnacle Goose with Brent Geese at East Head (Andrew Killick)

 

Monday, 8th December: A beautiful, bright winter's morning, though the north-westerly breeze had a chill in it.

 

Selsey: Chainbridge Field - Finally the mystery goose gave itself up, well spotted by CRJ, and it is a juvenile White-fronted Goose! It was showing well on the playing field late this morning with about 7-800 Brent Geese, and the Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose were in the same flock. (CRJ/AH)

 

 
Needle in a haystack! The juvenile White-fronted Goose with Brent Geese on Chainbridge Field (top 3 AH, in flight CRJ)

 

 

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above) & Black Brant with Brent Geese on Chainbridge Field (CRJ)

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach -  A quick look produced plenty of roosting waders, including around 30 Knot, 80 Dunlin,30 Grey Plover, 200 Lapwing and 40 Golden Plover. There were at least 50 Skylarks over the fields at the back and the usual 20-30 Common Scoter offshore. (AH) 

 

Lapwing and Golden Plover (above) & Common Scoter at Medmerry (AH)

 

Church Norton: There were 2 Goldeneye and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbour at high tide, and the usual suspects were also present - the 3 Spoonbills on Tern Island, the 2 Ruddy Shelduck  at the far end of the harbour and the Whimbrel near the bench. (AH)

 

Spoonbills and others on Tern Island (AH)

North Wall: A fine clear morning with a cold northerly breeze. A Green Woodpecker and 16 Moorhens were in the horse field. The Breach Pool, at one point, was quite congested with 200 Brent Geese, 98 Canada Geese, 140 Teal and 88 Black-tailed Godwits. The highlight was 3 Spotted Redshanks. Also present 2 Little Grebes, 2 Common Snipe and a Kingfisher. The fields had good numbers of Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeon and Brent Geese. Along the Wall were 7 Robins, and a single Yellowhammer and Rock Pipit (JDW).  

 

 

One of seven Robins on the North Wall, and Spotted Redshank on the Breach Pool (JDW) 

 

 

 

Sunday, 7th December: A cold night but early frost subsided as cloud developed and by early morning there had been a few showers. Although remaining cloudy at first with a moderate W/NW wind, the forecast is for sunny periods to develop.....

Selsey Bill: Still not much on the move, though there were a few Razorbills and Guillemots about and several Great Northern Divers on the sea. 
(0730-0915hrs) (JA/SH)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Great Crested Grebe - 4W
Gannet - 2W
Brent Goose - 9E
Common Scoter - 41W, 6os
Eider - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 3E, 4os
Bonxie - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Razorbill - 6W
Guillemot - 3W
auk sp - 14W, 2os

Ferry Pool: A Raven over this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: Nothing much new today, but most of the regulars were present, including the 3 Spoonbills on Tern Island, the Whimbrel in the harbour and the pair of Stonechats on the spit. Offshore there were just a couple of Slavonian Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. Also, 2 or 3 Chiffchaffs were seen/heard around the reserve, there were 80+ Goldfinches in the churchyard and 60+ Greenfinches on the spit.

There was a huge amount of upheaval amongst the waders in the harbour on the rising tide, but the cause was mostly unknown, though a probable distant Peregrine was likely. At one point a Merlin did appear over the spit, joining in with the wader mayhem before shooting off low to the east, but it was a secondary contributor rather than the root cause.

There were at least 1000 Lapwings up at various times, possibly many more, and 100+ Golden Plover with them. (AH/IP/S&SaH)

North Wall: Windy, but clear this morning. Water levels on the Breach Pool are again very low, though it contained 144 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 170 Teal, 28 Mallard, 12 Wigeon and 1 Water Rail, and there was a Rock Pipit along the wall.
There were c.400 Wigeon on Bremere Rife and 134 Curlew on the back fields. (JDW)

 

View of the Breach Pool, minus most its water (above) & Wigeon on Bremere Rife (JDW)

Medmerry:  Ham: A large flock of c.2000 Brent Geese contained the Black Brant late morning at least (PH)
Later, SR was unable to locate it, but the as-yet unidentified grey goose sp was present; she managed a couple of distant record shots but as will be seen these are inconclusive, so we await a better view and photo in due course. There was also one Brent carrying an orange ring on its left leg but it couldn't be seen clearly. (SR)

Also in the waterlogged field were 39 Ringed Plovers with a Dunlin and 17 Meadow Pipits.  The ploughed field opposite was buzzing with Pied Wagtails, I counted over 60, plus half a dozen Lapwings.  Two Kestrels 3 Skylarks, a Stonechat and a Buzzard were close by.  On the long pool close to Ham Viewpoint the Southern Pochard was keeping company with half a dozen Mallard, two Little Grebes and assorted Coots (SR).

The sewage works had a Grey Wagtail, 18 Pied Wagtails and another Buzzard.(SR).

 

Distant inconclusive views of the grey goose sp amongst a dark-bellied Brent Goose flock at Ham (SR}

West Wittering: A Pale-bellied Brent was present today amongst the dark-bellied flock; also a Weasel and Golden Plover in the same area (J-PC}

 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Golden Plover flock and Weasel at West Wittering (J-PC}

 

4th - 6th December 2014

Saturday, 6th December: A cold, frosty and bright sunny day with a cool NW wind, making a welcome change from the grey dreariness of the last few weeks. Given that it is a weekend with fine weather, quite a few observers were obviously tempted out into the field, resulting in a nice range of species being logged...... reports include a male Hen Harrier, one or more Marsh Harriers, the Black Brant, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 3 Spoonbills, 15 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Spotted Redshank, the regular Whimbrel and 2 Black Redstarts, of which fuller details appear in the reports below....

Chichester GP's - Drayton Pits: Anticipating the southern part of the Peninsula would be well covered today, I decided to stay north and visit the Pits. I hadn't been there too long and was listening to a calling Water Rail, when quite unexpectedly my personal highlight of the morning occurred involving a different type of rail ........ it was unmistakeable as I first heard then saw it ......yes, a steam locomotive! Battle of Britain class "Tangmere" came roaring through at main line speed, steam spewing out into the cold bright air and hauling a long rake of coaches; just magnificent and surely one of the finest mechanical sights there is. Oops, seems I've gone off on one, sorry to those less enthused and back to the birding....

I worked the pits for a couple of hours but there was nothing out of the ordinary. The wildfowl numbers were still low, the most obvious being c.50 Tufted Duck and 45 Gadwall, with just a dozen or so Pochard, 10 Shoveler and a handful of Wigeon and Teal. Nine Snipe were the only waders noted and 3 Water Rails were heard but not seen, whilst 40 Common Gulls and 1 Mediterranean Gull were also logged. 2 Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler were in the vegetation and back-up birds included 2 Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Sparrowhawk (OM).

 

Medmerry: Ham - a male Hen Harrier was observed from the viewpoint and a large flock of c.2000 Brent Geese was also present; the Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent were amongst this flock, together with a grey goose sp.(IL) The latter has been somewhat elusive and previously reported as possibly a Greylag or a juv White-front... further update later.

 

Male Hen Harrier from Ham viewpoint  and below, part of the Brent Goose flock (IL}

 

 

 

Independently BI and I went through the huge Brent Goose flock without finding a grey goose, though one flew over on its own - see the poor pic below - but I'm not much the wiser. (AH)

Mystery goose (above), Brent Geese & being disturbed by a Buzzard at Medmerry (AH)

 

Not content with a mystery goose at Ham Farm, I found a rather mysterious duck on the pond between the farm and the bank this afternoon. I think, from what I can find in the books, that it is a female Southern Pochard, undoubtedly an escape, as it is an African species related to Red-crested Pochard, but I am quite prepared to be corrected! (AH) (note: this bird was first reported and identified on 3rd Dec by KF}.

 

Probable Southern Pochard at Medmerry (AH)

  

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - A female Marsh Harrier flew over high and purposefully heading west this morning, and there were 2 Black Redstarts about - one on the rubble piles and one by the last caravans. Also, there were c25 Common Scoter offshore, a pair of Stonechats and 20 odd Linnets and Meadow Pipits on the rough ground, and at least 50 Skylarks coming up off the fields at the back. Just a few waders - c100 Lapwing, c40 Dunlin and c10 Grey Plovers on the high tide, plus a few Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

 

Marsh Harrier (above), Black Redstart & Stonechats at Medmerry (AH)

 

 

North Wall: The North Wall held good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Spotted Redshanks with at least 20 Snipe around the Breach Pool. A pair of Stonechats was busy just behind the main pool, too, and another Cetti's Warbler was very vocal.

In the harbour the 2 Ruddy Shelducks were visible along Thrift Shelf with a large group of Shelduck. Around 20 Knot were seen with a good number of Golden Plover appearing as the tide rose to join the Grey Plover, Redshank and multitude of Dunlin already present. WIldfowl consisted of good numbers of Wigeon with fewer Pintail mixed in, and Brent Geese were only seen in small flocks flying over. A Rock Pipit was also present along the rocks (!) as we walked back.(AB/PB) 

Spotted Redshank from North Wall (AB)

 

Pagham Lagoon: There was a drake Goldeneye present this morning, along with at least 30 Little Grebes dotted about the place and one or two Water Rails calling from the edges. A Kingfisher zipped briefly up the lagoon from the walkway bridge where a Cetti's was calling. Also 2 Little Egrets present. (AB/PB)

 

Goldeneye and Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon (AB)

 

Church Norton: There were as many as 15 Slavonian Grebes offshore this morning, along with 6 Great Crested Grebes, and in the harbour the 3 Spoonbills mostly snoozed the high tide away. The Whimbrel was also present, as were 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, and there were a couple of Chiffchaffs in the bushes. (AH/AB/PB)

 

Slavonian Grebe (above) & Spoonbills at Church Norton (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (below) (AB)

 

 

Friday, 5th December: An altogether better morning, with the sun even making an appearance, albeit brief....

 

Church Norton: As the doctor recommended that I should keep moving, I went for a therapeutic walk along the spit this morning, and was rewarded with an interesting selection of birds. Offshore there were 13 Slavonian Grebes, including a group of 9 together, along with 6 Great Crested Grebes, but absolutely nothing else on the sea.

A Short-eared Owl flew across from the east side of the harbour and settled on Tern Island, where the 3 Spoonbills were roosting, and along the spit there were a pair of Stonechats and up to 20 Skylarks. In the harbour the Greenshank and the Whimbrel were still present, along with plenty of roosting Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin, and there were a dozen Pintail in with the Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

 

 

Slavonian Grebes (above), Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plover, & Teal (bottom)

 

 

 

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane west to the beach - We recorded the following from the bank:

Brent Goose - 1000 on the wing   

Sparrowhawk -  1

Buzzard - 1

Kestrel - 4
Green Sandpiper - 1

Skylark - 32
Stonechat - 10

Redwing - 3

Chiffchaff -   1
Reed Bunting - 22
Yellowhammer - 10

(C&ME)

 

Ham: Went to Ham today to see and photograph the Southern Pochard and the field behind Great Ham House was heaving with (c.2000) Brent including the Black Brant, one Pale-belly and one brown goose, probably an immature Greylag. I was there between 1130 and 1230 and the geese were spooked twice by a Peregrine then a Common Buzzard but resettled both times.(C. Holt}.

 

 

Thursday, 4th December: Another dreary morning, gloomy with heavy cloud and intermittent drizzle and a cold NE wind..... conditions gradually getting murkier and less pleasant as the day went on! It was the sort of day when finding birds was always going to be a bit of a struggle, but despite this there were a few bits of interest....... up to five Great Northern Divers, the three amigo Spoonbills, a Whimbrel, a Jack Snipe  and seven Goldeneye making the effort seem worthwhile.

 

Selsey Bill (0845-0915hrs}: Cold, damp, grey and murky, NE3. (Obs: OM/BFF) Nothing much moving and half an hour was enough for us!  Log below...

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Gannet - 1E

R/b Merganser - 1E

Common Scoter - 3W

Med Gull -  2os

Selsey (west): Drift Lane area - A Jack Snipe was in with 24 Common Snipe; also 11 Mallard, a Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail and 30 Curlew passing over, whilst Roe Deer numbers had increased to four (OM/BFF).

Coastguards: There were 3 Great Northern Divers offshore this morning, presumably seeking out the shelter of the west side in preference to the rougher waters of the Bill-tip; also 2 Common Scoter there (OM/BFF).

 

Four Roe Deer at Drift Lane (OM)

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - It seems like the semi-resident Great Northern Diver has finally headed out to sea as it was well offshore, preening itself and fairly distant. Also offshore were a Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebes and c35 Common Scoter, whilst an Eider was just inside the breach mouth. Around the rocks, rough ground and rubble piles there was no sign of the Black Redstart but a Grey Wagtail flew over, whilst In the damp field behind the windmill 2 Stonechats were present (OM/BFF)

 A cold and grumpy old man - alias BFF - on Medmerry beach scanning the sea for divers, and (below} Stonechat near Medmerry windmill (OM).

Church Norton: The three Spoonbills were still present early afternoon roosting on Tern island, but all sleeping and as inactive as ever. The Whimbrel was also seen (OM/BFF).

Fishbourne Creek: A short visit produced 15+ Yellowhammers around the horse paddock, a flock of 40 Skylarks in an adjacent field, and 7 Goldeneye in the channel. There were plenty of Dunlin and common waders on the falling tide, but by now the cold and damp had got to us so it was time to abandon and head home for a warming cup of tea (OM/BFF).

Sidlesham: Confined to quarters with acute sciatica, but out of the window there have been 40 Brent Geese and 2 Jays over, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders! (AH)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Sidlesham garden (AH)

1st - 3rd December 2014

Wednesday, 3rd December: A pleasantly bright start with sunshine and cloud, but with the latter set to increase during the day to give the risk of the odd shower later. Notably cooler than of late with a fairly strong N/NE wind.

 

Church Norton: The Black Brant was in with 1000+ Brent Geese on the first/last field west of the road into Selsey (where the 'Wave' roundabout is.) In the harbour the 3 Spoonbills were roosting on Tern Island along with the Greenshank and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits. The Whimbrel was down near the bench, 7 Greylag Geese went over east and there were 2 Slavonian Grebes offshore. (AH) (Seems the Brant can now at last validly claim to be on the Selsey list Andy! OM)

 

 

Black Brant with Brent Geese near Selsey (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

 

Sidlesham Quay: A Black Redstart present this morning. (JDW) 

 

Ferry Pool: One Ruddy Shelduck with 25 Shelduck on the pool, along with 30 Shoveler, 20 Teal, 80 Wigeon, 8 Black-tailed Godwits and c500 Lapwing. (AH)

 

Common and Ruddy Shelduck (above), Shoveler & Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

 

 

North Wall & North Fields: A considerable drop in water level on the Breach Pool; it was nevertheless host to 170 Teal, 56 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 47 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Snipe. (JDW)

Honer Reservoir held 6 Coots, 2 Little Grebes and 31 Black-headed Gulls. There were 21 Yellowhammers at this location, too. In nearby Honer Field there were 460 Brent Geese and 70 Curlew, whilst 36 Coots were on Pagham Rife. (JDW)

 

Yellowhammers (above) & Brent Geese and Curlews on the North Fields (JW)

Medmerry: West Sands Viewpoint: A Black Redstart on the rough ground along with 2 Stonechats,  9 Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel.  In the reserve itself there was very little on the rapidly rising tide this afternoon, c200 Brent Geese, 34 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 7 Curlew, c50 Wigeon, 14 Little Egrets (SR).

Ham area: A Southern Pochard seen on borrowes pit SE of two-toned grey barn at end of Ham Lane, whilst cycling yesterday . Came back today to photograph. I know it's not a wild bird but looks good in this wild setting! (Krys Furlepa).

 

(escaped) Southern Pochard, Ham Lane, Medmerry (K. Furlepa)

Tuesday, 2nd December: Another gloomy grey day, with a chill northerly breeze picking up during the morning from a flat-calm start.....  predictably, birding highlights were few but included a Black Brant and a Pale-bellied amongst the dark-bellied Brent Goose flock near Church Norton, 9 Slavonian Grebes and the Spoonbill trio.

Selsey Bill (0730-0900hrs}: I arrived on a grey, drizzly, surprisingly calm and fairly cheerless morning whilst it was still dark; apart from a Chiffchaff in Bill House garden and a Little Egret flying over there was precious little to lift the spirits except the festively-lit Bill House tower. I was soon joined by DF but there was no improvement ... not a diver or merganser could we find in an hour and a half and there was nothing moving except a few Brent Geese (18E & 5W), and 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Teal east. Just five species in the log.... time to move on! (OM/DF)

 

The festively-lit Bill House tower bringing some cheer on a grey and murky morning (OM}

Church Norton: I had a good look through the 1500+ Brent Geese in the fields between the Nature's Way complex and Grange Lane, looking for the elusive grey goose, which I failed to find - but I did uncover a Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose lurking within the flock. (AH)

 

Black Brant (above) & Pale-bellied Brent Goose amongst the Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

 

Meanwhile, at the harbour there were 9 Slavonian Grebes offshore from the spit this morning (per DF) - the first of the autumn here, the 3 Spoonbills were snoozing on Tern Island and the Greenshank was still in the creek opposite the horse's field. (AH)

 

Spoonbills on Tern Island (AH)

 

Selsey area:  Drift Lane Marsh - There was a Woodcock again this morning, along with an impressive count of 22 Snipe. Two Roe Deer were also present, nervously keeping an eye on me in the murky conditions. Northcommon Farm was notably quiet however with just a couple of Goldcrests in the hedgerows and a large flock of 75 Curlew feeding on a flooded playing field. (OM)

 Roe Deer in the gloom at Drift Lane and Curlews on a playing field at Northcommon Farm (OM}

 

Monday, 1st December: Winter is here! Cloudy and dry, but colder, with a brisk N/NE wind prevailing.

Church Norton: A quick look this morning produced the three Spoonbills feeding together near Tern Island, the Whimbrel in the harbour and two Redwings near the Mound. Also about 1000 Brent Geese on Rectory Lane, but not a grey goose in sight! (AH)

 

Spoonbills (above) & Redwing at Church Norton (AH)

 

Sidlesham: An equally quick look along our lane produced a Bullfinch, two Mistle Thrushes, two Jays and a dozen Goldfinches. (AH)