7th - 9th January 2014

Friday, 9th January: A bright, blustery morning, before deteriorating into a grey, windy afternoon, but very mild for the time of year....meanwhile the Dusky Warbler was again reported (via Birdguides) but was being elusive and did not show to some other observers, whilst the Tundra Bean Goose put in an unexpected re-appearance.

 

Selsey Bill (0800-1000hrs): Sunny, some cloud, wind WSW 5-6 (Obs: OM/KF/SR).

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 2os

Diver sp - 3W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Brent Goose - 3E, 3W

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W, 5os

Auk sp - 3W

Kittiwake - 24W

Med Gull - 1W

 

North Wall: The Tundra Bean Goose resurfaced this afternoon, in with about 80 Canada Geese and 20 Brent Geese in the fields behind the North Wall. There were also 2-300 Black-tailed Godwits on the fields and a Rock Pipit was along the North Wall. (AB)

 

Church Norton: Three Red-breasted Mergansers in the channel, along with four Little Grebes, whilst the leucistic Curlew was on the mud. (BI) The Whimbrel was also present again. (AB)

Medmerry: I was reading the review of 2014 on the blog and was surprised by the low number of records for Barn Owls. In the light of this I thought it worth mentioning I saw a Barn Owl yesterday morning (in the pouring rain) emerging from a barn at a private site on the edge of Medmerry. I saw one here last autumn, too, but I am afraid I can't be more precise about the date. (J.Wootton). Also, a belated report received today of a Barn Owl at Chainbridge last Tuesday, 6th January (per KF).
 

Chichester GPs: Forty Greylag Geese on New Lake and the Kingfisher in its usual spot on Copse Lake. The Dusky Warbler was reported on Birdguides but didn't show whilst I was there! On Westhampnett Pit, there were just a few Tufted Ducks, Pochard and Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

 

Kingfisher (above) & Greylag Geese at Chuichester GPs (BI)

 

Snowhill Creek/East Head: The three Spoonbills were roosting on the pools and at least one Greenshank was in amongst the roosting Redshank, though the light made it difficult. Also a pair of Stonechats, a Snipe and a few Wigeon and Teal were present there, a dozen Golden Plover and c100 Lapwing out on the mud along with plenty of Dunlin and Grey Plover, and 2-300 Brent Geese were on the grass.

 

Spoonbills in Snowhill Creek (above) & Golden Plovers nearby (AH)

 

There were 20+ Sanderling along the tideline on East Head, and there were 40+ Skylark and 20+ Linnet feeding along the sheltered side, and there were another two pairs of Stonechats nearby, but generally it was pretty quiet, with nothing out on the water bar a fishing Sandwich Tern and a solitary Great Crested Grebe. (AH)

 

Sanderling (above) & Skylark on East Head (AH)

 

Fishbourne Creek: A Firecrest and 8 Yellowhammers were near the horse paddock, but when I arrived at the creek the tide was well up and most of the waders seemed to have left, presumably to roost. The most conspicuous species however was Common Gull; there were masses of them and my count logged at least 760. Otherwise there was nothing unusual with 500+ Brent Geese, several hundred Wigeon, 400 Lapwings and 15 Pintail making up the numbers. Just after I left a single Bullfinch was in a hedgerow, seen from the car (OM).

 



Thursday, 8th January: A thoroughly wet and miserable morning with murky conditions, poor visibility and a strong westerly wind..... but brighter with some sunshine by afternoon.

Church Norton: A brief constitutional up to the beach and back in the rain produced nothing bar the Whimbrel and a few Curlew, Redshank and Teal. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the churchyard and a Song Thrush was singing away in the distance. (AH)

This afternoon the remaining Spoonbill was back roosting on Tern Island. (IL)

A bedraggled Curlew in the rain at Church Norton (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just the usual suspects here, too - 50+ Shelduck, 30+ Shoveler and Teal, plus a couple of hundred Lapwing. (AH)

This afternoon there were 40+ Golden Plover and probably 1000 Lapwing on and over the field, along with 80 roosting Black-tailed Godwits and a Grey Wagtail that dropped in by the Pumping Staion. (AH/IL)

Golden Plovers over the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Chainbridge Field - Late afternoon there was one Short-eared Owl hunting along the ditches in fields at the end of Chainbridge, 2 Kestrels, 9 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Meadow Pipits, 53 Brent Geese, and 1 Grey Heron. (SR)

Note: There is now no vehicular access to Bunns Caravan Park until 1st March. For Chainbridge Field there is a small car park just west of the Warner Lane check-point, next to a big green hangar, and for the Breach, there is a small car-park by the Windmill, then you have to walk through the caravan site for both destinations. (AH)

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm - As the physiotherapist said walking was good for me, I took him to his word this afternoon. There were not many birds on show - the best being the Little Owl at Marsh Farm, and a brief Kingfisher over the tidal area. There were around a dozen Reed Buntings and half a dozen Yellowhammers, mostly keeping low, a Lesser Black-backed Gull amongst a handful of Greater Black-backs and a few Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal on the pools, but the only waders on show were a couple of Redshank and Curlew. (AH)

 

Little Owl at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 7th January: A day that started brightly but quickly deteriorated as cloud increased and the westerly wind picked up....

Chichester GP's: The Dusky Warbler was calling well and showing on and off in the far corner of East Lake (near the house not the bungalow). Also two Bullfinches, a Cetti's Warbler and 40 Greylag Geese nearby. (BI) The Dusky was still showing intermittently in the bramble clump and the bungalow garden, at the eastern end of East Lake from 2.45-3.10pm (CRJ).

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights this morning included the wintering Whimbrel, 3-4 Spotted Redshanks in the wader roost, 40 Pintail, 5 Goldeneye, two Gadwall, a flyover Grey Wagtail, a couple of Rock Pipits, a pair of Stonechats, a Chuffchaff, 50+ Black-tailed Godwit and many hundred Brent Geese and Wigeon. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Pintail, Stonechat & Rock Pipit at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

4th - 6th January 2015

Tuesday, 6th January: A cloudy day in prospect with a moderate SW wind and the chance of rain later. Someone at the Dusky Warbler twitch dropped a glove yesterday (Berghaus, size L), which was found and picked up from the path by SR. If it was you and you wish to reclaim it, please contact the editors and we will put you in touch with the finder (OM). 

Chichester Pits: The Dusky Warbler was still present this morning, circuiting East Lake, though continuing to be active and elusive, but occasionally popping up to give good views. (CRJ/DP et al)
It was still present at 4.20pm, but had moved to the small lake opposite (Copse Lake, I think). (IP)

 

Dusky Warbler at Chichester GPs (David Potter)

 

Selsey Bill: (0900-1000hrs) (AH/GH/JD/DS/DF)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 3W, 20E (inc a flock of 13)

Gannet - 25W

Eider - 1os

Bonxie - 1W

Kiittiwake - 12W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

 

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: There must have been at least 1000 Lapwing on the field this morning, and a couple of huge flocks went up over the far side of the harbour- there must be 3-4000 Lapwings wintering around Pagham this year. Not much else bar the usual suspects, including 130 Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 20 Teal and 40 Canada Geese with a single Greylag with them.

Not a bird of any species along the Long Pool, but about 5 Avocets were in view roosting in the channel. (AH)

 

Lapwings on the Ferry (above) & Avocets in the channel (AH)

 

Medmerry/Selsey: Chainbridge field - I put in a lengthy shift this afternoon after arriving a bit too early for any owls, and three hours later had logged only a Buzzard, 300 Lapwings, a couple of Golden Plover, 5 Snipe, 2 Stonechats,10 Meadow Pipits and a Reed Bunting, plus a little flock of 11 Brent Geese feeding in the wet field that spent the whole time with me. But owls were there none and I admit to feeling a tad grumpy. Cue the arrival of PC, and after us both suffering a mini bout of frustration, at 3.30pm he was first to spot our target bird - a Short-eared Owl at last - it eventually posing nicely for us on a dog poo bin. Says it all really! (OM/PC).

 

 Short-eared Owl on a dog poo bin at Chainbridge field, and Stonechat on Medmerry bank (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane-Ham - There were about eight Fieldfares on farmland towards Ham, but not much else of note. (GJT)

 

Sidlesham: The Raven went over our garden on the west of the village again this morning, at 8.50am, heading eastwards and cronking away. (AH)

 

Monday, 5th January: A dull and cloudy morning though mainly dry, with a fresh SW breeze....the dreaded return-to-work day for many after the Christmas and New Year festivities, so a degree of normality should return to the birding life of the Peninsula ...or maybe not! A Dusky Warbler was found by Ads Bowley at Chichester Gravel pits (East lake, near Ivy Lake) early this afternoon - this is a new bird for the Peninsula, and (subject to formal acceptance) takes the total to 338.

 

Chichester Pits: There was a Dusky Warbler this afternoon, in the bushes around East Lake - the last lake on the south of the path through the Ivy Lake complex, Brilliantly found by AB, it could be frustratingly elusive at times, with its call giving it away as it progressed west along the far bank of the lake, but most people were able to connect with it.

Also in the area were at least three Chiffchaffs, and along Ivy Lake there were three Bullfinches, whilst on Copse Lake there was a flock of c65 Greylag Geese.

Please park sensibly, either at the Selsey Road end of Ivy Lake, or there is limited parking around the school at North Mundham. (AH)

 

First pics of the Dusky Warbler at Chichester GPs (AB)

 

More Dusky Warbler pictures (Jacob Everitt)

 

 Selsey Bill: (0800-1000) (AH/SR/GH)

Great Northern Diver - 9os
Red-throated Diver - 4W, 1os

Black-throated Diver - 1 probable W (see pic below)

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Gannet - 63W

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W, 8E

Kittiwake - 5W

 

Probable Black-throated Diver with Red-throated Diver past the Bill. Any comments welcome! (AH)

 

Church Norton: Quiet today: the Whimbrel was present, there was a Red-breasted Merganser and four Little Grebes in the harbour, plenty of the commoners roosting the high tide, a Song Thrush was singing near the car-park, and two Jays were  in nearby trees. The Green Sandpiper was at Park Farm Reservoir. (AH)

 

Song Thrush (above), mixed waders and a Dunlin looking for a place to roost at Church Norton (AH)

 

North Wall: A dull grey day along the Wall. There were 3 Spotted Redshanks tucked in with 11 Black-tailed Godwits on the Breach Pool, but little else there apart from a Grey Heron, Cormorant and a few Teal. A flock of 12 Pintail was on the Harbourside and close in to the Wall which is unusual. A Cetti's Warbler was calling along Pagham Rife.

On Honer reservoir was an interesting selection of Gulls namely - 62 Black-headed, 5 Herring, 5 Med and 6 Common. Also there 3 Little Grebes, 6 Coot and 1 Tufted Duck. Feeding in the field to the left were 11 Reed Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers and a Stonechat. There was a noisy pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Honer Farm. The greatest gathering of birds was the field east of Marsh Farm; here there were 114 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 11 Canada Geese and 6 Brent Geese. A party of 11 Long-tailed Tits was in Church Lane. The footpath in front of Honer Cottages is very muddy and boots or wellingtons are definitely required. (JDW)

 

Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Grey Heron from North Wall (JDW)

 

Sunday, 4th January: A fairly still day with the sun breaking through now and then...

Selsey Bill: (0740-1000) (SH/IP/SR/PC/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 13os
Red-throated Diver - 74W in total. There were 39 through in several small flocks and singles, then at 09.40 a loose flock of 35 birds flew in from the east and landed offshore, gradually moving off west
Great Crested Grebe 1W, 4os
Gannet - 41W, 12E, 20 os
Brent Goose - 11E
Shelduck - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5W, 15E, 8os
Great Skua - 1W close
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
auk sp - 1W

Great Skua (above) & Great Northern Divers off Selsey Bill (SH)

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was roosting on Tern Island, the drake Goldeneye and 60 Pintail were in the harbour and there were up to four Slavonian Grebes, four Great Crested Grebes and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, plus a Red-throated Diver flying west.

Also a Water Rail was on the first Several, two Stonechats were along the beach, and the Green Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail were still at Park Farm. (S&SaH/IP/BI)

Goldeneye at Church Norton (SH)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: The only geese were c40 Canada Geese and a single Greylag this morning. There were c100 Shelduck and 40 Shoveler around the pool, and at least 1000 Lapwing, 80 Black-tailed Godwit and 20 Golden Plover on the field, along with at least 300 Wigeon. (AH et al)
This afternoon there were 15 Avocets in the channel at the end of the Long Pool and three Chiffchaffs were in one bush along it. (IP)

 

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

 

Fishbourne Creek: There were 10 Goldeneye and at least 20 Pintail on the water at high tide and a single Rock Pipit by the sluice. (BI)

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - There were 30-40 Common Scoter offshore, about 400 Brent Geese dropped in on the pools, and there were around 20 Golden Plover, 20 Grey Plover, 50 dunlin and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits roosting on the islands. (AH)
This afternoon a Spoonbill was feeding in the Breach Channel but there was little else of note; there were two Stonechats on the rocks, a Buzzard, the Short-eared Owls had moved across and were again hunting, c12 Pintail, c50 Grey Plover, c30 Dunlin, c30 Ringed Plover, c50 Wigeon, and at least 75 Lapwing. (SR)

 

Nearby, off the Coastguard Station, there were three Great Northern Divers, one Slavonian Grebe and one Great Crested Grebe offshore. (BI)
 

Easton Lane-Greenwood Farm: Not a lot to report - three Yellowhammers, a single Skylark, possibly three pairs of Stonechat and a dozen Long-tailed Tits really was it. (AH)

Chainbridge Field to Ham: At least 2 Short-eared Owls hunting over the field just after midday, a Buzzard and a Herring Gull did their noisy best to put them off but it didn't work. Two Kestrels and 2 Stonechats also in the field along with 7 Meadow Pipits. (SR)

Late this afternoon there were definitely three and probably four Short-eard Owls hunting over the banks and out onto Medmerry. Not a lot else, though the Southern Pochard was back on its pool, a Water Rail squealed nearby and a Yellowhammer and three Reed Buntings came up off the banks. (AH/SH/SR)

Southern Pochard with Tufted Duck, Gadwall and two Mallard at Medmerry (AH)

 

1st - 3rd January 2015

Saturday, 3rd January: A grey, wet and windy morning in complete contrast to yesterday's weather. First news today is from the Bill, where a fairly brief sea-watch was not overly productive....

Selsey Bill (0730 - 0900hrs): Rainy, overcast, S/SW4-5 (Obs: JA/SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E, 4W
Brent Goose - 8E, 2W

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1os

 

(0915-1030hrs) (AH)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - c60 offshore feeding

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W, 5E, 2os
Kittiwake - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 11os

 

Church Norton: There was one Spoonbill roosting on Tern Island this morning - it is beginning to look like the other two did indeed depart on New Year's Day.

Not a lot on offer on a big tide, though the Whimbrel was showing well along the path to the beach, there were half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers and c40 Pintail in the harbour and one or two Goldcrests in the sheltered trees. (S&SaH/AH)
Later in the morning the Spoonbill had gone, but there was a drake Goldeneye in the harbour again, there were 200 Brent Geese in the field behind the Severals, three Great Crested Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and the Green Sandpiper back at Park Farm. (IP)

 

Roosting Spoonbill (above), Whimbrel with Curlew and Redshank & Whimbrel and Redshank at Church Norton (AH)

 

 

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: No geese at all on the fields late this morning, though there were at least 200 Wigeon, 100 Black-tailed Godwit and 800 Lapwing present, and there were c120 Shelduck and c40 Shoveler around the pool.

Very little to report along the Long Pool, though a Sparrowhawk fled by with a kill - judging by the feathers scattered on the path it was a Great Tit, and there were at least a dozen Avovet roosting at the end of the channel. (AH)

 

Roosting Avocets in Ferry Channel (AH)

 

Sidlesham: I had just gone out to feed the chickens when I heard a familiar 'cronk-cronk' and sure enough a Raven shot up over our roof, barely clearing it, and headed off west with a Carrion Crow in indifferent pursuit. I'm not sure why we see them so regularly here, as they remain scarce on the peninsula, but I presume we must be on some sort of east-west flight-path for them. (AH)

Chainbridge Field: Both Short-eared Owls were out hunting this afternoon before the weatther really deteriorated. (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Late this afternoon there were two Yellowhammers in the horse field, a Kingfisher on the mud opposite the sluice and five Rock Pipits spread along the shoreline. (IP)

 

Friday, 2nd January: For those interested, the Review of the Year for 2014 is now available, and the link is on the title bar list above.

A bright, sunny day after overnight rain, with not much new, but some of last year's favourites have hung on for the new year-list.... and there were plenty of birders around the Peninsula to take advantage!

Selsey Bill (0740-1000hrs): Dry, sunny with cloud, wind WNW5 producing a fairly rough sea. (Obs: SH/PM/OM/C&ME/SR et al)
Red-throated Diver - 8E, 7W
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W, 3os
Diver sp - 1E, 2W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 6W, 1os
Gannet - 4E, 30W
Brent Goose - 1E, 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 20W, 7os
Common Scoter - 10W
Wigeon - 3W
Guillemot - 1W, 1os
Auk sp - 16W
Kittiwake - 26W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 2os

Selsey (West): There were 11 Snipe, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff this morning (OM).

Views from the Bill this morning: above - nothing special about but a small gallery of observers were determined to add to their year-lists, whilst below - Andy House arrives with the aid of a stick determined not to be beaten but clearly still suffering with his back problem (he won't thank me!) (OM)

 

Ferry Pool: The Tundra Bean Goose re-appeared this morning, in amongst the Canada and Brent Geese, but could be elusive beyond the back of the pool. The two Greylags were also present, as were the two Ruddy Shelducks early on, before flying into the harbour. Otherwise still large numbers of Lapwing and Wigeon, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Curlew, 80+ Shelduck and 40+ Shoveler present and a Cetti's Warbler was in the roadside reeds. (AH/SH/OM et al)
The Bean Goose was still present late afternoon. (IP)

 

Long-standing Hampshire birder, year-lister and friend of the Bill, Ron 'Chunky' King happy to have seen the Bean Goose (AH)

 

Church Norton: No sign of the Spoonbills this morning, but there were a few other bits about. The Barnacle Geese were reported earlier on, but couldn't be re-found as the tide dropped, a Peregrine was upsetting everything, a drake Goldeneye and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour, as were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits with the commoner waders. Offshore there were just two Slavonian Grebes, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe. Also the Green Sandpiper was at Park Farm, a Water Rail was in the Severals and about fifteen Red-legged Partridge were in a roadside field towards Selsey.(AH/OM/S&SaH/C&ME et al)

 

Peregrine (above), Goldeneye, Dunlin & Red-legged Partridges at Church Norton (AH)

 

 

 

Just to add a footnote to todays blog - The 30 Barnacle Geese did a couple of circuits of the harbour then passed me rather noisily (I was standing on the beach) and followed the coast south, when lost to view - no doubt passing the Bill ! This was just before 10.30am.
As with unusual Geese passing the bill, they sometimes double back - but this lot seemed pretty purposeful in their direction. (PM)

 

Barnacle Geese departing Church Norton (PM)

 

Porthole Farm/Sidlesham SF: A Grey Wagtail and half a dozen Meadow Pipits were in amongst 3-400 Pied Wagtails on the settling tanks and adjacent fields, whilst there were also half a dozen Stock Doves, four Song Thrushes and a couple of Buzzards in the vicinity, and a dozen Skylarks dropped in on the fields on the Medmerry side. (AH)

Pied Wagtails at Porthole Farm (AH)

 

Chainbridge Field to Ham Farm: Two Short-eared Owls finally showed quite well around the Chainbridge Field very late in the afternoon, but other highlights were few. One or two flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover went over, as did a few Brent Geese, there were a couple of Buzzards about along with a pair of Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits

At Ham Farm a Water Rail was in one of the small pools again, six Gadwall were on one of the larger ones and a Reed Bunting flew over, but otherwise it was quiet. (IP/SH/SR/AH)

Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)

 

West Wittering: A brief early-afternoon visit at low tide on a sunny day proved to be a bit of a mistake.... Snowhill marsh held no Spoonbills and rather few birds of any sort when I was there, whilst the constant flow of traffic and visitors everywhere (can I still call them dudes?) proved to be too much of a distraction, so I was soon on my way. A flock of several hundred Brent Geese, 300 Lapwings and plenty of Wigeon were about my sum total. (OM)

Fishbourne Creek: Much better.... still loads of dudes but some good birds too. A Firecrest in the car park was a good start and a Spotted Redshank was feeding in the creek amongst good numbers of Wigeon, Redshank and Lapwings, with a showy Rock Pipit nearby. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was amongst the gull roost and a Stonechat was along the fence line, but the highlight was a Jack Snipe at a traditional site in this general area. (OM)

Chi GP's - Ivy Lake: A late afternoon visit produced just small numbers of the regular wildfowl including a few Gadwall, Pochard and a gaggle of Greylags for the year-list, whilst a Kingfisher was the most welcome addition here. (OM)

 

 Thursday, 1st January: Was it really only March 2013 that this blog began... it seems much longer than that somehow! So as we enter our third year of editing, AH and I wish a great new year to you all and hope we will go from strength to strength with the blog as things progress.

The year began with a cool, dull and grey day, which remained mostly dry, but with a strong, cool SW wind. (OM/AH). No doubt many birders will be out and about for much of the day to get their year-lists started, and a good selection of species at the Bill, including 3 Bonxies, got things off to a good start, as did an unexpected flock of Barnacle Geese at Church Norton....

Selsey Bill (07.30 - 10.00hrs): Grey, cloudy, cool, wind SW 6-7  (Obs: SH/JA et al)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 8W

Great Northern Diver - 2 os

Diver sp - 1E, 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 2 os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1 os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 4E, 70W, 12 os

Brent Goose - 10W
R/b Merganser - 20E, 4W, 6os

Peregrine - 1W

Guillemot - 19W

Razorbill - 4W

Auk sp - 2E, 41W, 4os

Great Skua - 3W

Kittiwake - 4E, 25W
Med Gull -  4os

 

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Common Gull past the Bill (AH)

Church Norton: A very interesting start to the new year began with a flock of 31 Barnacle Geese, which appeared from the east, circled round the whole harbour several times before settling out on the mud. Where they originated is anyone's guess, but a nice sight, nonetheless and, suspect, going on everyone's year-list!
Also two Spoonbills (presumably of our resident ones) took off from Tern Island and disappeared away to the west, whilst in the harbour there were a couple of Goldeneyes and at least half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers, and the Whimbrel showed briefly near the bench.
It was interesting in the bushes, too, where a Treecreeper put in an appearance at the bottom of the path to the harbour, with a Firecrest and several Goldcrests present there as well, and a Chiffchaff was near Park Farm. (AH/PB/AGB/IP/S&SaH/SR/et al)
 

Barnacle Geese (above), Spoonbills & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton lane: A large flock of 800 Brent Geese was present but there was no sign of any grey geese amongst them. Also seen were 200+ Golden Plover, 500+ Lapwings, 3 Snipe and 2 Reed Buntings (S&SaH).
 
Long Pool: The two Ruddy Shelduck were in the channel at the end of the Long Pool and a Water Rail was stood on the path, right in front of me on the way back! (IP)

Fishbourne Creek: A quick look produced two Greenshanks and two Spotted Redshanks near to Dell Quay, and there was a flock of seven Little Grebes in the channel. (IP) Later a Whimbrel was near the boatyard slipway and a pair of Stonechats were nearby (BI).

Birdham: A large flock of Brent Geese on a roadside field along the Straight. (BI)

Ivy Lake: Nothing much apart from the usual wildfowl, though there was one Kingfisher on one of the smaller pits. (IP)

Ferry Pool: Almost no geese on the field today - just 30 or so Canadas, whilst there were 120 Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 200 Wigeon and 200 Lapwing on/around the pool. (AH)