7th - 9th April 2015

Thursday, 9th April: Another bright, pleasant sunny morning with a light breeze from the east......add to it a bit of interesting sea-passage for those lucky enough to be present and you're all set, so what can go wrong ? Well, how about that old sea-watching enemy, coastal fog! Sure enough, at about 1030, a thick bank of fog rolled in and completely blanked out the sea, and it stubbornly remained until afternoon. To make things worse, just a few hundred yards inland it remained fairly clear and sunny - all very frustrating!

Selsey Bill (0700-1145hrs):  Sunny then foggy! Wind light E/SE2.

(Obs: GH/OM/DF/C&ME/AH/JH/DSh et al) Highlight was 15 Little Gulls (6, 6 and 3) going east along with over 100 Brent Geese, some Common Scoter and a few Common and Sandwich Terns. There was also a Black Redstart in the gardens and about half a dozen Wheatears along the front. All was going well until the fog arrived and put paid to our efforts; despite waiting a while and then returning later to try again, it was futile to continue and sea-watching was abandoned.... 

Great Northern Diver - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Little Egret -1E
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Gannet - 3E, 2W
Brent Goose - 159E
Common Scoter - 86E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 2os
Shoveler - 2E
Dunlin - 5E
Curlew - 2E
Whimbrel - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 47E
Commic Tern - 27E
Little Gull - 15E
Black-headed Gull - 25E
Wheatear - 6 gardens
Black Redstart - 1 gardens
Meadow Pipit - 12N
Swallow - 6N

Brent Geese past the Bill (AH) and below (OM)

 At the Bill today: above - flock of Black-headed Gulls passing, centre - Black Redstart in the gardens, and lower - Beryl James surveys the fog and lack of visibility! (OM)

Selsey (West): At Warner Lane horse paddocks there was a White Wagtail, a Willow Warbler and at least 2 Wheatears, whilst a field nearby held 20 Curlew (OM)

Chichester GPs: Nunnery Lake - A Sedge Warbler was singing this morning on Nunnery Lake. (It is the small lake opposite Ivy Lake by the Selsey Road) Also several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps about. (AB)

Great Crested Grebe & Long-tailed Tit at Chichester GPs (AB)

Chichester Marina: A Kingfisher was again present; also 10 Tufted Duck, 8 Teal, 2 Gadwall, a Canada Goose, 2 Swallows and several Chiffchaffs (OM).

Sidlesham Quay: A male Ring Ouzel was present in the sheep field just past the Crab and Lobster pub. (IL/AB)

Distant views of the Ring Ouzel at Sidlesham Quay (AB)

Church Norton: Very quiet again this morning - just a couple of Chiffchaffs singing and 100+ Black-tailed Godwits in the harbour being of note. (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three House Martins early on... reported to the Visitor centre (per PH)

Medmerry: Four Red Kites went over Earnley mid-morning. (PH)

Easton Lane-Stilt Pools - There were two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool this morning - one of which was displaying and mating - and nine pairs of Avocets, along with a few Gadwall and Teal, but the three Spoonbills were out snoozing in the middle of the reserve. There were up to ten Wheatears along the fences, along with numerous Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Linnets, and two singing Corn Buntings. The only other migrants, though, were a couple of Swallows, a Chiffchaff and a briefly singing Willow Warbler, whilst a Green Sandpiper flew out of the sluice near the poplars. (AH)
Later (2pm) a Yellow Wagtail was heard at the pools plus a few Meadow Pipits nearby (PH).

Mating Little Ringed Plovers (above), Avocets, Wheatears, Corn Bunting & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Porthole Farm: This evening there were (as a conservative estimate) between 50 and 60 Reed Buntings around the hedges, the arable fields and the settling tanks, the majority of which appeared to be males. There were also around 50 Swallows over the sewage works, at least 30 Chiffchaffs in the sunny sides of the hedges and half a dozen Stock Doves and a couple of Buzzards in the vicinity. (AH)

Reed Buntings (above) & Swallows at Porthole Farm (AH)

Wednesday, 8th April: The weather remains beautiful, after a foggy start, but summer migrants still remain in short supply... 

Selsey Bill (0730-1130hrs): Sunny with lingering sea fog, present all morning but slowly clearing. Calm at first, then a very light SSW breeze becoming SE 1-2. No repeat of yesterday's excitements - so far at least! - though the first flock of nine Whimbrel went east, along with a few Common Scoter and Sandwich Terns, with a few Swallows arriving off the sea.  (Obs: OM/C&ME/AH/DSh et al) Log below...
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 3E
Brent Goose - 23E
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 3os
Common Scoter - 30E

Teal - 2E
Shoveler - 2E
Dunlin - 1E
Whimbrel - 9E
Sandwich Tern - 37E
Swallow - 23N
Meadow Pipit - 9N
Goldfinch - 6N
Linnet - 10N

Seven (of the nine) Whimbrel past the Bill (AH)

Additional watch: 17.40 - 18.50hrs  (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Gannet  - 3E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 3os
Grey Plover - 11E
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 3os

Seen at the Bill this afternoon - is this AH's latest techno device to ensure he doesn't miss anything...? (SH)

Church Norton: The female Black Redstart was at Pigeon House Farm (the buildings east of Greenlease Farm) again this morning, but the only other migrants on show were a Wheatear on the beach, a briefly singing Willow Warbler by the second Several and a few Chiffchaffs. 

In the harbour there were just c200 Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Shelduck, but visibility was awful, whilst a Grey Partridge was on the newly cultivated ground along Rectory Lane. (AH)
Later, at least 2 Red Kites were seen over the harbour at various locations including Norton, the North Wall and long Pool (IL).
After a look at the rather uncooperative Black Redstart and the prospecting Swallows I saw a fox in the next field and heard a quick burst of song from a Blackcap. Then I had a quick look around the harbour where 2 Red Kites that came up off the Norton spit, harried by a crow and setting everything up in the harbour before flying north at 1430 were the definite highlight. Waders included small numbers of Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Grey Plover. 10 Brents put in an appearance, there were loads of Med Gulls around and a stunner of a male Pheasant on the mound! (AB).

Black Redstart (above), Wheatear, Grey Partridge & a couple of combative Pheasants at Church Norton (AH)

Mediterranean Gulls and Swallow at Church Norton (AB)

 

Halseys Farm to the North Wall: Very quiet, despite the sun burning off the fog, with highlights being just three Black-tailed Godwits, a Shoveler and a dozen Teal on the Breech Pool, the Spotted Redshank at the far end of White's Creek, a few singing Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs and a couple of Swallows over. The Little Egret colony was noisy and busy in Owl Copse, a Snipe was in the harbour and two Jays flew out of there over to Halsey's Farm. (AH)

Little Egrets (above) & Jay from the North Wall (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was shrouded in fog till mid-morning, and there wasn't much to report when it did lift - c100 Black-tailed Godwits, four Gadwall and the usual Lapwings and Shoveler was about it. (AH)

Ferry Channel in the early morning mist (AH)

Medmerry: On the reserve today 6 Red Kites passed over; also 10 Buzzards present and the 3 Spoonbills (IL).
On Stilt Pool there were 20 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 pairs Gadwall, 8 (5m3f ) Tufted Duck, 5pairs Teal and 4 Little Egrets.
The 2 imm Spoonbills flew in from the west at 1045 and several Reed & Corn Buntings were in song. A Green Sandpiper was on the first pool by the Earnley carpark and a pair of Little Grebe and a nice Water Vole were on the next reedy pool along (AB).

Spoonbills and Red Kite over Medmerry (IL)

Avocet, Reed Bunting and Water Vole at Medmerry (AB)

 

Tuesday, 7th April: A beautiful morning, with sunshine and light winds, then a somewhat unexpected cloudbank before the sunshine re-appeared... but at last some reward for those at the Bill in the form of an Osprey and two Red Kites....

Selsey Bill: An Osprey in off the sea was followed by two coasting Red Kites (actually the rarer of the two species at the Bill), to brighten up a steady morning on the sea-passage front, with a moderate passage of Sandwich Terns and Common Scoter moving east to make it feel that at last proper spring movements were underway. It was one of those mornings when it felt like the sea might dominate the land for bird-sightings and so there was good coverage, (though unfortunately AH chose to depart before all the action; on hearing the news his later comments about him working to pay taxes to support a bunch of jammy old pensioners living off the fat of the land were all taken in good spirits!) Full log below: (Obs: AGB/KF/CRJ/OM/DF/JD/DS/M&CE et al)

0700-1430hrs: Dry, fine, then cloud then sun, wind light NE then SE 2.

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Diver sp - 5E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 25E, 6W

Grey Heron - 1NW (came in from miles out 1230hrs)

Mute Swan - 2E

Brent Goose - 41E

Eider - 2os

Shelduck - 2ob

Common Scoter - 175E

Red-breasted Merganser - 16E, 8os

Shoveler - 11E

Pintail - 2E

(small duck sp - 4E 1220hrs - ID not clinched)

Osprey - I in NW (0955hrs; well done KF)

Red Kite - 2 coasted NE over the Bill House, disturbing the gulls

Dunlin - 6E

Turnstone - 12W

Curlew - 1E

Common Tern - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 84E, 3os

Black-headed Gull - 32E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sand Martin - 3N

Swallow - 56N

Wheatear - 1 gardens, 1N

Meadow Pipit - 46N

Pied/alba Wagtail - 1N

Linnet - 20N

Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Osprey arriving from the sea at the Bill (it's the best I could do!) and lower, flock of 31 Brent Geese passing (OM)

Medmerry: Both the Osprey going west (GH), and the two Red Kites going east (GH/PH) were seen over Medmerry this morning. Also 2 Spoonbills and 6 Mediterranean Gulls (BFF/DM).

Breach area - Two Corn Buntings were singing on the fences near the viewpoint early this morning, though there were few other passerines about, bar a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Twelve Curlews were sat on the beach before heading off east, and seven Brent Geese went over high, also heading east, four Sandwich Terns were lingering offshore, and there were eight Knot in with 30+ Grey Plover and 20+ Dunlin and Ringed Plover around the pools.

Also four Brown Hares were chasing each other about on the cultivated field opposite. (AH)

Corn Buntings (above), Sandwich Terns, Curlews & Brown Hares at Medmerry (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still four Knot in with at least 200 Black-tailed Godwits this morning, along with an Avocet, four Gadwall and 50+ Shoveler. (AH) Also a Green Sandpiper was at the back early on. (DF) Later, 3 Avocets and 5 Mediterranean Gulls (BFF/DM)

Knot and Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A lovely spring morning but quiet on the bird front. On White's Creek there were 60 Redshank, the long staying Spotted Redshank (showing no signs of breeding plumage) and 11 Black-tailed Godwits, along with a pair of Mallard with a single duckling. 

The Breech Pool is looking very sad - lots of mud and only open water left is in the middle section. Still 40 Teal were in residence with a few Mallard, 2 Tufted Ducks and a single Shoveler. There were singing Cetti's Warblers all the way along the Wall and a lot of Reed Bunting activity. Lots of gargling noises emanating from Owl Copse was a clear sign that the Little Egrets are back in residence. There were also three Jays in the Copse along with several singing Chiffchaffs. At Bremere Bridge a Cetti's Warbler was carrying nesting material. In the big field east of Marsh Farm were a pair of Wigeon and Canada Geese and 5 very active Brown Hares. (JDW)

Mute Swan on a very dry Breech Pool (above), Little Egret & Reed Bunting from North Wall & Brown Hares at Marsh Farm (JDW)

Church Norton: Very quiet - two Swallows over, a briefly singing Blackcap and a few Chiffchaffs were the only migrants on show. There were plenty of resident birds around the churchyard, including four Jays, though the only obvious birds in the harbour were Shelduck and Curlew. (AH) Later, 3 R/b Mergansers, 6 Brent Geese, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Swallows (BFF/DM). Also, a female Black Redstart was seen at Pigeon House Farm and three Sandwich Terns and a Gannet were offshore. (D & J Killick per SOS)

Birdham: A Red Kite drifting over was a garden tick for the observer! (PLS)

4th - 6th April 2015

Bank Holiday Monday, 6th April: An uncharacteristically nice day for a Bank Holiday, with bright sunshine and a light-moderate WNW breeze after a cold, frosty and misty start...

Selsey Bill (0610-1110hrs): Still disappointingly little moving offshore, though three small flocks of Brent Geese went east, and a few Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and Chiffchaffs were about. A fair gathering of the locals were on the Wall today but the rewards were few...
Full log below... (Obs: JA/SH/AH/PB/BI/OM et al)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Great Crested Grebe - 3E
Gannet - 1E, 4W
Mute Swan - 2E
Brent Goose - 27E
Shelduck - 2 ob (presumably local birds)
Common Scoter - 37E
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 14os
Dunlin - 7ob
Auk sp - 1W
Kestrel - 1 p
Commic Tern - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 16E, 4os
Skylark - 1N
Wheatear - 2ob, 4N
Swallow - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 10N
Pied/alba Wagtail - 2N
Linnet - 2N
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens, 1N
Additional watch until 1300hrs (C&ME)
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 4E, 3W

Eider - 9E
Common Scoter - 32E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 9W
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 5W
Meadow Pipit -  13N
Pied Wagtail - 3N
Swallow - 11N

The spring-like weather brought out the first proper gathering on the Wall; shame that the sea-passage didn't match the enthusiasm! (OM)

Wheatear (above), Brent Geese & Wren at the Bill (AH)

Selsey (West): A check of several sites was fairly unproductive, the only noteworthy sightings being a dozen Snipe and a pair of Long-tailed Tits on the private marsh and a pair of Red-legged Partridges in the horse paddocks, plus a smattering of Chiffchaffs. (OM)

Selsey Town: Two Red Kites went high over the north of the town this morning. (SaH)

Church Norton: There was a good fall of Wheatears along the spit, with at least 20 present at 11am, and still over a dozen an hour later, though few other migrants were noted, bar a few Chiffchaffs and a Swallow. There were five Brent Geese still in the harbour, along with 30+ Dunlin and 50+ Curlews. (IP/AH)
The pair of Swallows were back at Park Farm stables this morning, and there were three Willow Warblers, 10+ Chiffchaffs and three more Swallows on the route to Church Norton. (S&SaH)

Wheatear on Church Norton spit (AH)

Ferry Pool: At 08.45 there were ca.250 Black-tailed Godwits roosting/loafing/preening at the far end, plus a Snipe, an Avocet, 10 Redshank, 56 Shoveler, 14 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 15 Shelduck and 7 Wigeon. Also earlier on, there were 5 Knot in amongst the Godwits - comparatively unusual here (AH/PH).

Knot and Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)
 

Long Pool: There were five or six Yellowhammers along the path this morning. They used to be regular along the west side of the harbour, but have more or less abandoned it in recent years, so hopefully these may be colonists from nearby Medmerry. Otherwise, one (and probably two) Willow Warblers were singing infrequently, plenty of Chiffchaffs were along the hedges, up to 30 Linnets were along the gorse and a few Reed Buntings were also present. (AH/BI)

 

Yellowhammer (BI) (above) & Linnet (AH) along Long Pool

Chichester Marina: Unfortunately the place was rammed with tourists and visitors, parking spaces were at a premium and there were far more people than birds. On the marsh little to report except 8 Tufted Ducks, a few Teal, a pair of Canada Geese and a couple of pairs of Lapwing; also a couple of competing Cetti's Warblers there and several Chiffchaffs (OM).

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - There were half a dozen Sand Martins and a dozen Swallows over the sewage works this afternoon, and every bush seemed to hold a Chiffchaff, but there wasn't much other evidence of migration.

A Short-eared Owl went over from Chainbridge area towards the Ferry, the regular pair of Buzzards and three or four pairs of Stock Doves were in residence, and at least ten pairs of Lapwings were spread out across the cropped fields. There were Linnets and Reed Buntings along the hedges, a single Corn Bunting at Ham Farm and at least half a dozen Yellowhammers along Ham Lane. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Yellowhammer, Lapwing & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)

Easter Sunday, 5th April: A promising-looking day; dry, cloudy with some hints of brightness and at last a light E/SE breeze - with high pressure building and a clear run up from Biscay for potential migrants. It's not the sort of day then when you would expect both editors to be away from the Peninsula, but for different reasons it appears that's the way it will be - so we'll both be expecting that rarity call at anytime....!

Selsey Bill (0630-1200hrs): Dry, cloud, sun, wind light E/SE (Obs: JA/SH/PB/M&KG et al)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Great Northern Diver - 12os

Diver sp - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Fulmar - 3E, 6W

Gannet - 40E, 22W

Brent Goose - 2W

Shelduck - 2 p
Common Scoter - 53E
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 18os
Shoveler - 1W

Grey Heron - 1ob

Little Egret - 1E
Auk sp - 1E, 7W
Turnstone - 13 ob

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 3os
Kittiwake - 1W
Starling - 1N
Wheatear - 2ob, 3N
Pied/alba wagtail - 9N
Swallow - 27N
Sand Martin - 8N
Skylark - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 681N
Chiffchaff - 2 gardens

Additional (1600 - 1730hrs): (Obs: SH/JA/CN)
Great Northern Diver - now 15os
Diver sp - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 5E
Eider - 1E (male)
Common Scoter - 20E
Red-breasted Merganser - 16 os
C/A Tern - 7E
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 3os
 

Ferry  Pool/Long Pool: A Great White Egret was seen by Harry Ramm flying over the Ferry and was presumed to have landed in the harbour but a search didn't turn it up this morning. A Spotted Redshank was at the end of the Long Pool and several Chiffchaffs, many Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings & Greenfinches and a singing Willow Warbler were near the gorse. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker here. (BI).

Church Norton: Two Grey Partridges at the rear of the Severals, 5 Buzzards in the area, a Common and 2 Sandwich Terns in the harbour; also 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Brent Geese, 6 Pintail and 2 Great Crested Grebes, plus several Chiffchaffs in the area (SaSH)

Medmerry: a few Swallows, two Wheatears and the colour-ringed Spoonbill, three or maybe four Little Ringed Plovers and 19 Avocets on the stilt pool. An errant mountain biker at the the back of the pool put up a Short-eared Owl which did a lap of the pool and landed by the near fence only to be put up again a few moments later by a young lad throwing stones. It returned to the back of the pool for a well needed rest! (BI/PH)
 

 Spoonbill and Short-eared Owl at Medmerry (BI)

 

Saturday, 4th April: Mainly cloudy and dry with some brighter periods, but with the wind having swung round to the N/NE...

Selsey Bill: (0645-0900hrs) (SH/JA/PB/AB/IP/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 10os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 7E, 18W

Grey Heron - 1ob

Little Egret - 1N

Shelduck - 2ob

Common Scoter - 11E, 3os

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser -  5E, 2W, 7os
Grey Plover - 2E

Golden Plover - 5W
Turnstone - 16E
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 4os
Common Tern - 1os

Meadow Pipit - 5N
Wheatear - 1N, 6ob
Chiffchaff - 2N

(1630-1800) (SH/JA)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 4E, 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 14os
Curlew - 1E
auk sp - 2W

Wheatear (above) & Grey Heron upsetting the Herring Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Great Black-backed Gull (above) & sinensis-type Cormorant at the Bill (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane west - Four Redwings flew from the poplars this morning, and on the return leg, two hours later, a single Redwing was in the small trees and scrub on the other side of the field from the poplars. (GT)
Ham - A Short-eared Owl was over the centre of the reserve and there were also 2 Kestrels, 5 male Wheatears in the ploughed field, 2 singing Corn Buntings, 3 Brent Geese, 17 Dunlin, 22 Grey Plover and plenty of singing Skylarks. (SR)
Porthole Farm area - This afternoon there were 20+ Swallows over the sewage works, and a Common Sandpiper flew overhead calling en route from Ferry Pool towards Ham. (C&JM/C&ME)

 

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - This morning, when the cloud came down, there were c20 Sand Martins, c10 Swallows and at least a couple of House Martins. There were also two Blackcaps singing in Peckhams Copse Lane. (AB/PB)
At 4pm this afternoon there were 20 Swallows and 5 Sand Martins over Peckham’s Copse Lake, and 5 House Martins and a few Swallows over the western end of Ivy Lake. (CRJ)

Blackcap (above) & Great Crested Grebe at Chichester GPs (AB)

Church Norton: A Short-eared Owl flew off the spit and over onto Tern Island at about 9.30am. Not much else was about - a single Common Tern went east offshore, a Gannet was offshore (seen from the hide!), and eight Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. 

A Mistle Thrush was in the pines in the car-park (they have become very scarce here in recent times), but the only migrants on show were Chiffchaffs singing from a variety of locations. (AH/AB/PB)
This morning there was also a Willow Warbler and a Firecrest in the Oak Copse, and seven Wheatears on the beach near the Severals. (C&JM/C&ME)
This afternoon there were 12 Wheatears together in the field west of Park Farm, Selsey. (IP)

Willow Warbler (C&JM) (above) & Mistle Thrush (AB) at Church Norton

Short-eared Owl (above) & Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: Just one Avocet on the pool this morning, along with c170 Black-tailed Godwits, 60+ Shoveler, c20 Wigeon and up to ten pairs of Lapwing. (AH/AB/PB/C&ME/C&JM)
A Swallow went north over Compton's Farm at 11.30am (IP)

Shovelers over the Ferry (AH)

Lagness (nr Pagham): There were a pair of Mistle Thrushes in the pine trees opposite the Royal Oak pub, on B2166 at midday today. (AH)

1st - 3rd April 2015

Good Friday, 3rd April: A damp and gloomy start to the Easter holidays... overcast and murky with misty drizzle and light rain all morning and a moderate SW wind force 3, becoming southerly for a while then more variable as the day progressed, but feeling a bit milder. One of those days when it's probably best to sea-watch, though I was surprised to find very few observers at the Bill when I arrived, and that's the way it stayed... I even covered the last three hours alone, as the weather worsened, resorting to rain hood, then large umbrella and finally the car for shelter (OM).
A short update on the Peninsula Yearlist to the end of March....the total stands at 148 species (subject to acceptance of any rare/scarce species by the relevant records committee).

Selsey Bill (0700-1400hrs): Weather as above... with moderate to fairly poor visibility throughout, ranging from mile basket distance at times to less than half a mile later and irritating, persistent rain. (Obs: JA/IP/OM/BI/CN). The first Common Terns of the year today, but a couple of distant duck flocks in the gloom were just unidentifiable....
Great Northern Diver - 12 os
Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os
Fulmar - 13W
Gannet - 6E, 11W
Brent Goose - 12E
Eider - 1os
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 94E, 1W, 4os
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 6os
Curlew - 3W
Turnstone - 25ob
Razorbill - 3W
Auk sp - 1W
Common Tern - 7E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 13E, 15W
Kittiwake - 4W
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Wheatear - 9ob, 1N
Meadow Pipit - 60N
Swallow - 3N
Chiffchaff - 3 gardens
Additional: (1645 to 1800 hrs):  (Obs: SH/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 14os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 14os
Common Scoter - 14E
Ringed Plover - 1E
Short-eared Owl - 1 flew W low, mobbed by gulls, gained height and flew out SW
Common Tern - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Swallow - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 1p
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Wheatear - 2ob
Chiffchaff - 1N
Nearby, a Blackcap in a Selsey garden (SH)
Further 1810-1910hrs:Good vis, cloudy, S2, flat sea (JA)
Great Northern Diver - 16 os inc close knit flock of 14!
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 20os
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 1os
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Newly arrived Wheatears on the chimney tops at Bill House this morning (OM) whilst centre, a damp sea-watch from the bench and IP/OM enjoy some shelter whilst JA is left out in the rain (in case you recognise the brolly Mr Faithfull it will be returned - eventually!) and below - Great Northern Divers off the Bill (BI)

 

Selsey (West): Two Red-legged Partridges were at Warner Lane paddocks (BI)

 

Ferry Pool: A Swallow over the pool early this morning but otherwise it was the usual suspects, including c.40 Shoveler and just a single Avocet (OM), whilst nearby at the Long Pool there was a Kingfisher (BI).

 

Church Norton: One Wheatear on the old concrete wall, one Blackcap on the path, a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Churchyard and a Whimbrel on the mud. Also a few Shelduck by the wall and two Grey Partridges in the lane on the way out (BI). This afternoon, 3 male Wheatears, 2 Grey Partridge, a Willow Warbler seen and heard and 15+ Chiffchaffs (SH).
 

Whimbrel at Church Norton (BI)

Thursday, 2nd April: Cloudy after overnight rain, with the promise of further periods of rain/showers through the day. Still  cool and breezy, but less windy  than of late....

Well, would you believe it.... seems that the old prankster Mr A Lirpaloof had one final trick up his sleeve yesterday and sneaked in a picture of a 1st-sum Common Gull which he labelled as a Med Gull! He nearly got away with it too and was hoping to announce a clean sweep today, but it didn't quite happen, as one keen young observer spotted the ploy and provided detailed reasoning, though perhaps failed to note the significant date and photographer details. Clearly the rest of you had sussed it... the lack of any dark facial mask, slimmer two-toned bill and facial expression being the obvious clues, plus the fact it actually looked more like a Common Gull! Mr Lirpaloof tells me there had in fact been a Med Gull present but when he went to photograph it that bird had gone, leaving just the similarly-plumaged Common Gull; then he struck upon an idea..... oh well, at least he won't trouble us again for another year!! (OM)

Selsey Bill (0945 - 1430hrs): Cloudy, damp, then drier, wind N4 then variable 3  (Obs: C&ME/SR et al). A good shift by some of the regulars this morning produced the first Swallows and House Martin, plus another decent arrival of Meadow Pipits.......

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 8os

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Fulmar  - 2E, 2W   
Gannet - 7E, 24W                                    
Brent Goose - 38E                          
Eider - 6W  

Shelduck - 1W                                    
Common Scoter - 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4W, 4os

Razorbill - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Swallow - 15N
House Martin - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 524N   

North Wall: A pleasant change not to be blown along the Wall! Two Green Woodpeckers were in the horse field at Welbourne. On White's Creek were 18 Redshank, their Spotted cousin and 16 Teal. Later on a rising tide there were 160 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, plus a Wheatear along the Wall. The water levels in the Breech Pool were the lowest I have ever seen them; at low tide there was no water showing at either end. A few Teal remain and 5 Common Snipe were sheltering in the reeds. A Bar-tailed Godwit was with Redshanks and Oystercatchers at Owl Water, Chiffchaffs were singing in several locations and Stock Doves were calling in Owl Copse. Five Brown Hares were in the large field east of Marsh Farm. (JDW)                                 

 Two Green Woodpeckers and an Oystercatcher on the North wall this morning (JDW)

Church Norton: A regular walk based around the area this evening, although unspectacular, produced an interesting variety of species... a Jay near Greenlease Farm, at least 10 Lapwings displaying in the fields east of Park Farm, 2 Reed Buntings at the second Several, together with 14 Tufted Ducks and 4 Little Grebes all in summer plumage. Two Swallows were over the first Several, and a large female Peregrine was notably active around the area, being seen several times. Offshore 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were present but there were few waders in the Harbour, the most numerous being at least 50 Ringed Plovers. A pair of Grey Partridges were on the beach beside the second Several, but later moved to the field behind the Several, where they were then joined by a second  pair. A Water Rail and c.10 Chiffchaffs were also logged (IP/S&SaH).

Grey Partridge on the beach near the Severals (SH)

Chichester Marina: On the marsh this morning things were very quiet - until a marauding Sparrowhawk decided to hunt the area and perch up in the reed-bed! Suddenly a flock of 24 Snipe - which had been invisible - flew out from the marsh and took to the air, whilst 4 now-resident Lapwings went on the defence. There were also 24 Teal, 2 pairs of Gadwall, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Shelduck, a pair of Canada Geese and 36 Curlew, plus the regular Cetti's Warbler and 3 different Water Rails calling quite frequently. On the old canal, there are two pairs of Mute Swans nesting (one at either end) and 10 Tufted Ducks still present (OM).

 View of the marsh this morning at Chichester Marina, and Tufted Ducks on the old canal (OM)

Birdham Pool: Fifteen Tufted Duck on the pool was a notable increase, and other species included 2 Grey Herons, 10 Cormorants roosting, a pair of Shelduck, a pair of Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Long-tailed Tits nest-building (OM).

Long-tailed Tit with nesting material, Birdham Pool (OM)

Chichester GPs: Ivy lake complex: A brief early afternoon visit failed to produce any hirundines for me, although others were apparently more fortunate earlier on. A Blackcap was singing as were two noisy Cetti's Warblers and several Chiffchaffs, but otherwise it was all very uneventful (OM).

Wednesday, 1st April: Mainly sunny and bright with periods of cloud, but with the cold W/NW wind persisting - having reduced to just a force 6 today! Once again it was pleasant enough watching the sea if in a sheltered spot, but very different if exposed to the full blast of the wind. The date hadn't escaped my notice, and with my co-editor being absent on a short trip to the Principality it was time for a little fun this morning..... a couple of duff birding texts from a Mr A Lirpaloof (read it backwards!) were duly sent as AH was driving down the motorway, but to his credit he managed to see through my little jape and sent an appropriate reply! (OM)

May I just remind contributors - and especially the regulars - that if you have any Selsey Bill sea-watch records to submit it would greatly help if you added our official log-keeper Justin Atkinson to your email list so he gets a copy of the submission direct. This saves him the time-consuming exercise of having to trawl through the blogs later, and also ensures he is aware of the current Bill sightings... his email is justin@lesterlifts.co.uk

Selsey Bill (0730-1400hrs): Dry sunny, windy, WNW6  (Obs: GH/OM/C&ME/SR/RJS et al)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Northern Diver - 7os

Diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 10E

Brent Goose - 39E

Eider - 4 os

Common Scoter - 26E, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 5W, 4os

Curlew - 1W

Greenshank - 1W

Turnstone - 10 ob

Auk sp - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1os

Meadow Pipit - 563N (most after 1100hrs)

Pied/alba Wagtail - 3N

Linnet - 6N

From the top: morning gallery at the Bill, Turnstones forced by the high tide into a corner near the Wall, 1st-sum Med Gull and a dustbin flanked by two young ladies with plenty of scope! (A Lirpaloof)

Ferry Pool: early this morning there were six Avocets, 20 Lapwing and c40 Shoveler and Wigeon (AH).

Along the Long Pool there were over 20 Linnets, six Reed Buntings and at least 10 Chiffchaffs, plus two pairs of Little Grebes and a pair of Great Crested Grebes. There were 30+ Redshank and six Teal in the channel (AH).

 Linnet and Reed Bunting at the Long pool (AH).

Church Norton; A Swallow arrived N from the sea (RJS)

East Head:  Three Sandwich Terns feeding off the end of East Head, and large numbers of Meadow Pipit about (C. Piper)