7th - 9th February 2016

Tuesday, 9th February: A wet start with cloud and heavy rain at first, though thankfully yesterday's storm force winds have passed, leaving a moderate to fresh westerly and the prospect of something drier and brighter later.....

After yesterday's near impossible sea-watching conditions, my thoughts turned to days gone by, during the period of the early 1990's when the regulars had access to the comfort of Bill House tower and the shelter it provided from wind and rain. Although never easy to watch from if more than a couple of people were present - mainly due to the small windows and large pillars - it did provide a cosy atmosphere and give a good view to the horizon. There are actually very few photos in the Archives of observers inside the tower , but below is one from early 1991 which gives some idea..... (OM)

Observers watching from inside Bill House tower (originally a Coastguard lookout) in Jan 1991; left to right are Chris Janman, Alan Ford, the late Barry Carter and Jim Weston. The small opening windows and large pillars can be seen, as can the somewhat cramped conditions, but it was very cosy during cold and wet weather. Sadly we only had access here for a couple of years or so until the pleasant owners of the time sold the property. (OM)

Church Norton: A Merlin was the highlight, with other sightings including the regular Whimbrel, the two Peregrines and 20+ Avocets. Standing on the inner beach we were amazed at the huge swell with massive surf breaking through the Church Norton spit near the old harbour entrance, see attached photos. (BFF/DM et al)

 The sea breaking in at Church Norton....will the harbour have it's old entrance back in future....?? (BFF)

Ferry Pool: A surprisingly interesting look at high tide included an Egyptian Goose flying over west out of the harbour and continuing on its way, a Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and at least a dozen Snipe on the flooded field and around 300 Golden Plover in with 1500 Lapwing, all getting spooked by a low-flying Chinook helicopter. On the pool itself there were 75 Redshank, a pair of Shoveler and 30 Teal, and there were also 20 Curlew and 100+ Wigeon at the back of the fields. (AH)
Nearby, from the tramway at least 12 Avocet roosting and 160 Pintail in the harbour. (BFF/DM)

Egyptian Goose (above), Green Sandpiper, Golden Plovers, Snipe and Redshank at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Marina: A Black Brant was in with 1500 Brent Geese in the fields at the back of the marsh by the approach road this morning, and a pair of Bullfinches was in a hedgerow near the reed-bed, together with a dozen Chaffinches, 10 Reed Buntings and a Song Thrush at full throttle. The flooded marsh also held 40 Wigeon, 75 Teal, 16 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, 92 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Lapwings and 2 calling Water Rails. Nearby in the channel there were 13 Red-breasted Mergansers and 5 Great Crested Grebes, plus a dense flock of Oystercatchers and Shelduck on the opposite bank, which I couldn't count!  Meanwhile, along the old canal our old friend the Black Swan has re-appeared and was busy chasing Mute Swans away, but further on I discovered an open and unguarded Swan's nest with 6 eggs therein; half an hour later it was still unguarded with no swan in the immediate vicinity, so if it has been abandoned or not I don't know, but will monitor with interest. (OM)

Chichester Marina this morning: above - Brent Geese flighting in to the back of the marsh, and below - the Black Swan seeing off a Mute, and not too far away an unguarded and open swan's nest containing 6 eggs.... I wonder if the Black Swan is in any way connected, but time will tell (OM).

West Itchenor: There were two Whimbrel together among the roosting waders (making it possibly four wintering birds for the peninsula), though there was not much else of note, beyond large numbers of regular waders and Brent Geese, plus four Great Crested Grebes on the water. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Grey Plover at West Itchenor (AH)

Chichester: Two Red Kites drifted over the Bognor Road (well spotted by AB from his car and thanks for the call!) before drifting back south west over Quarry Lane along the border of 'Peninsula' airspace. (AH)

Red Kites over the south of Chichester (AH)

Monday, 8th February: Yet another day of severe gale force winds, as the South Coast felt the full force of 'Storm Imogen' sweeping in from last night and through today. Fortunately the heavy overnight rain quickly passed, leaving a fairly dry day, but the WSW gales were gusting up to storm force 10 late morning as the high tide came and went..... 


Selsey Bill: Absolutely nothing moving - two Red-breasted Mergansers and six Turnstones west the reward for 40 minutes watching this morning! (AH)
I tried a watch from 1130-1245hrs but conditions were so bad that sea-watching was all but impossible.... WSW 8-10, huge swell, constant heavy spray from wave tops, surf crashing in past the top of the beach, poor visibility and even some glare from the odd sunny period! There were no birds either apart from 50 Black-headed Gulls and a dozen Herring Gulls hunkering down on the playing field, and 25 Turnstones up and down the shoreline. Add to that the constant stream of visitors obscuring what view there was as they tried to take photos and today was probably one of the worst sessions ever at the Bill for me. It was time to abandon, go home and catch up with the admin! (OM)

Stormy weather at the Bill (AH)

Black-headed Gulls on the Oval field and Storm Imogen battering the Bill-tip  - though the pics don't do justice to how bad it actually was! (OM)

Ferry Pool: No birds on the pool, but c500 Brent Geese, c100 Wigeon and 25 Curlews at the back of the field. (AH)

Church Norton: The Whimbrel was present, and there were plenty of waders on the rising tide, including 250 Knot, 100 Grey Plover and 800 Dunlin, and there were also 12 Brent Geese, 30 Shelduck and three Red-breasted Mergansers about. (AH)

I searched the copse but couldn't find the Treecreeper; a Sparrowhawk was the only bird seen. Offshore was a close Great Northern Diver and a male Eider (record shot of latter attached... make allowances for the conditions!) (SR)

Eider off Church Norton (SR)

 

Knot (above) & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Three Green Sandpipers on the track between Chainbridge - Breach viewpoint this morning. (PH)

Pagham Lagoon: This morning on the Lagoon were three Goldeneyes (one ad male), a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and five Pochard (two ad males) and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls.  Through the force 10 - 11 wind I battled on to the hide and saw not much, an albino Black-headed Gull (all white save for black under-primaries) being of note. (ARK, per SOS website).

Sunday, 7th February: A bright, but brisk and very breezy morning..........with a strong SSW 6-7 and the probability of rain by evening.

Selsey Bill (0715-0930hrs): Very little moving, despite a good turn-out of watchers - just a couple of Great Northern Divers offshore and on the wing, plus a Slavonian Grebe, a few Red-breasted Mergansers and a few flocks of waders west. Full log below... (SH/PM/IP/AH/SR/JD/DS/PC et al)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Diver sp - 2E, 2W
Slavonian Grebe - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 2E
Shelduck - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 11E, 8W, 7os
Knot - 31W
Dunlin - 100W
Grey Plover - 60W
Auk sp - 4E, 1W
Kittiwake - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Dunlin (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers past the Bill (AH)

(1445-1545hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 6os
Little Gull - 1os then slowly west along mile basket line

Church Norton: Bird of the day was a Treecreeper in Bluebell Wood this morning, plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker there. (S&SaH)

Otherwise it was standard fare, including a Goldeneye and three Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbour, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits on Tern Island, the Whimbrel in its usual spot, around 30 Avocets, three Pintail and half a dozen Snipe off the end of the Ferry Channel and lots of the regular waders roosting at high tide. Also at least one Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests were along the sheltered hedges. (AH/IP/S&SaH/JD et al)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Bluebell Wood, Church Norton (SH)

Pintail (above) & Turnstone, Dunlin and Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Somerley - Almodington: The best bird was a superb male Bullfinch at the Almodington end of the path, others included a Stonechat, a Goldcrest, 11 Yellowhammers, a Green Woodpecker, a Kestrel and two Buzzards. (SR)

Ferry Pool: Just a handful of Redshank and 30+ Teal present early on (IP), and later on c600 Brent Geese in the field and c500 Lapwing over, but very little on the pool. (AH)
Later on a Kingfisher was in Ferry Channel. (S&SaH)

Lapwings over the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A flock of c.1200 Lapwing up over the Wall as I arrived this morning, also 1000 Brent in the Honer Fields. A walk around the east side of the harbour, and the Slipe field, in the strong wind produced just a few Dunnocks, a Green Woodpecker and several Oystercatchers on the golf course. ( CRJ)

4th - 6th February 2016

Saturday, 6th February: More of the same; grey and overcast with strong to gale force S to SSW winds and the risk of showers.....and heavy rain due later in the afternoon! 

Selsey Bill (0730 - 1000hrs): (Obs: SH/PB/JA/SR)  The best bird of the morning was a Sandwich Tern which flew low over Manor Road. Strictly speaking, this is some 200 yards too far north of the Selsey Bill recording area which the Log actually covers (SH).... though it would certainly go on my Selsey recording area! (OM)    Full Log below.....
Red-throated Diver - 3W
Black-throated Diver - 1W
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Diver sp - 2E
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Gannet - 4E, 11W
Fulmar - 3W
Brent Goose - 49E
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 8E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 17W, 2os
Auk sp - 2E
Kittiwake - 1E, 10W
Common Gull - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1os

(1400 - 1545hrs): (Obs: SH/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 10W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W, 2os
Kittiwake - 13W
Common Gull - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1os


Chichester Marina: A Black Brant was with 30 Brent Geese in the fields north of the aproach road this morning. (BI)

Black Brant (above) & with Brent Geese at Chichester Marina (BI)

Fishbourne Creek: Two Stonechats were on the fence-line, and six Rock Pipits, six Meadow Pipits, three Yellowhammers and two Reed Buntings were around the saltmarsh. There were plenty of Black-headed Gulls, Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwits in the flooded field, whilst on the water there were a few Wigeon, two Great Crested Grebes and twenty Coots. (BI)

Stonechat (above) & Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls at Fishbourne Creek (BI)

Birdham Pool: There were just four Grey Herons this morning of note, plus plenty of Mallard/hybrids of various hue and 16 Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was with a dozen or so Common Redshank on the pool this morning. Also present were 20 or so Curlew, 80 Lapwing, 30 Teal, four Shelduck, and there were 100 or so Wigeon on the field. Also a Chiffchaff was in the Discovery area, and first thing a Grey Wagtail dropped in by the Environment Agency yard. (AH)

Spotted and Common Redshank (above) & Curlews on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Great Northern Diver and four Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, whilst in the harbour there were a further eight of the latter, plus two Goldeneye and three Little Grebes, whilst two Pintail went over.
The Whimbrel was in its usual haunt near the bench, and there were 200 Knot and 100+ Grey Plover among plenty of the regular waders as the tide dropped, whilst the Peregrines were also intermittently present. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

I would to thank all the volunteers that attended the Tern Island project on 3rd and 4th February 2016. A great time was had by all and about nearly half of the area that the shorebirds use was cleared. (See Photos)
If you missed the opportunity to join us over the last two dates then don’t worry there are two more dates to come.
Each year at Pagham we venture out in to Tern Island, in the centre of the harbour (at low tide I may add) to carry out a vegetation clearance project (weeding) to ensure that there is plenty of open shingle for the returning Little Terns in April. It is an ideal opportunity to view the reserve from a different aspect, which few have the opportunity to do.
If you are interested and want more information or wish to join us then please contact me on ivan.lang@rspb.org.uk or 01243 641508
To join us meet at Church Norton Car Park, which is at the end of Rectory Lane off the B2145 just before reaching Selsey at
11.30 on 17th February 2016 or 09.30 on 2nd March 2016
Please ensure that you have wet weather gear, warm clothes as it can be chilly out on the island, and wellingtons are essential to cross to the island. If you have work gloves and a garden fork that would be useful to bring but not essential.
Thanks you, your help will be appreciated by all the birds that use the Island this summer
Ivan M Lang
Warden, Pagham and Medmerry

Progress on the clearing of Tern Island (IL)

Friday, 5th February: A grey and overcast day with some occasional drizzly showers and a strong SW wind.....

Selsey Bill: (0815-0945hrs): (Obs: C&ME/JA) Wind SSW 4-5
Great Northern Diver - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - W

Brent Goose - 7W

Shelduck - 5W

Teal - 2W
Common Scoter - 6E

Eider - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W, 8os
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Kittiwake - 1W
auk sp - 1E, 7W

Ferry Pool: At least 800 Lapwings were on the pool and fields, along with 30 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 40 Teal, 200 Wigeon and 80 Brent Geese. (AH)

Church Norton: There were six Bar-tailed Godwits among plenty of the commoner waders - including 250+ Knot - in the harbour, where there was also a Red-breasted Merganser and 40 Wigeon. About 30 Goldfinches were in the trees by the Mound, and similar of Linnets were in the ploughed fields along the west side, and there were one or two Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits present in that area, too.

Also, a Mistle Thrush was in the field divide opposite the entrance to Park Lane on the main road. (AH)

Mistle Thrush (above), Reed Bunting, Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin & Shelduck at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester Marina: The flooded reedbed and marsh held 14 Shoveler, 60+ Teal and 8 Gadwall, with at least one Cetti's Warbler present and a Sparrowhawk over. In the channel were a few each of Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, plus a Sandwich Tern fishing, but with the Lock gates still closed for repairs and workmen scurrying around it was not really practical to spend long here - especially when the rain started! (OM)

Panoramic view of the marsh at Chichester Marina (Apuldram Manor farm Marsh)  (OM)

Birdham Pool: Still very quiet here, with just 25 Tufted Duck, half a dozen Little Grebes, 2 Gadwall, a Little Egret and 6 roosting Cormorants. (OM)

Chichester Gravel Pits - New Lake: A brief visit produced 24 Pochard (17 drakes and 7 females), 8 Shoveler and a few Tufted Ducks. A female-type bird with some notable white at the base of the bill was probably also one of the latter; however it spent its time roosting and preening on/under lakeside branches and wouldn't come out in the open to allow clinching views (!) A number of Cormorants were at or around the nesting colony and showing a little interest.(OM)

Thursday, 4th February: Here we go again, with a return to milder but wet and windy conditions and the prospect of a very changeable week ahead. To make things worse, we seem to have entered a fairly stagnant period bird-wise with rather little on offer at present and few excitements...... yet spring is not too far away, the days are lengthening and it may be only a few weeks before the first Wheatears return.... hang on in there!

At a time like this, there is nothing like a bit of sunshine to lift the spirits, so cue another visit down memory lane to The Archives - this time Vol 2 - to have a look at a sunny day from years gone by at the Bill. Such a day was 2nd May 1990......with unbroken sunshine, cloudless skies, a light E/NE breeze and plenty of good birds. The Log that day recorded 18 Pom Skuas - and other excitements too - including Little Gulls, a good passage of Black Terns and a Long-tailed Duck, whilst in the Bill House garden was a Pied Flycatcher. It was also the day that a certain Mr Jones was to be found cooking sausages for those regulars present, on a barbeque he brought to the beach. A great day!

On the wall at Selsey Bill, 2nd May 1990. There was almost a party atmosphere at times, as observers enjoyed fine weather, great birding and barbeque food! Sadly though, looking through these photos, I now realise that four of those present then are no longer with us today, so best wishes and fond memories from all to the late Harold Turner, Bob Knight, Owen Laugharne and Barry Carter....our absent friends. (OM)

Selsey Bill: Nothing really moving - just two Great Northern Divers on the sea and three Common Scoters, a Great Crested Grebe, nine Red-breasted Mergansers and two Mediterranean Gulls going west. (PC/BFF/DM)

Medmerry: Breach area - The Black Redstart was still present near the viewpoint and a male Stonechat was nearby. (BFF/DM)

Ferry Pool: At least 500 Lapwings, 100 Brent Geese and 50 Wigeon were on the field, and a Redshank, four Shoveler, two Shelduck and 30 Teal were on the pool. (AH)

Church Norton: The Peregrines were both present, along with a Red-breasted Merganser, 100+ Knot, 500+ Dunlin, 50+ Grey Plover and 20+ Curlews, plus at least 1000 Lapwing were put up by the Peregrines. (AH/PC )
Also seen were two Great Northern Divers, five Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Short-eared Owl was flushed from Tern Island by the work party and flew off east over the harbour, and the Whimbrel in its usual area. (BFF/DM)

Knot (above), Grey Plover & Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

Work party on Tern Island this afternoon (DM)

Chichester Gravel Pits - Ivy Lake complex:  I didn't expect anything so I wasn't disappointed!  BTO want Pochard sightings broken down into male/female ratio as they're a species in trouble so I dutifully recorded 21  drakes and 13 ducks for Birdtrack.  Also 22 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, c100 Tufted Ducks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Long-tailed Tits and half a dozen Goldcrests. (SR)

Fishbourne Creek: A quick look from Dell Quay early morning produced 12 Goldeneye, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshanks. (PJ et al per SOS)

1st - 3rd February 2016

Wednesday, 3rd February: Some welcome sunshine this morning, with a touch of frost following a cold and clear night, giving a generally bright and dry day with a brisk W/NW wind....

Long Pool: Two Ravens went over west just before 9am, but otherwise it was fairly quiet - just half a dozen Tufted Ducks and four Little Grebes on the pool, 30 or so Avocets in the channel and a few Brent Geese and Wigeon going over west. (AH)

Raven (above), Avocets, Brent Geese and Grey Heron from Long Pool (AH)

Ferry Pool: A couple of Gadwall dropped into the rife, about 30 Teal were on the pool and c400 Brent Geese, c200 Wigeon and c400 Lapwing were on the field. (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: Very little of note this morning and certainly nothing out of the ordinary. Two Red-breasted Mergansers and a female Goldeneye were about the best on offer and they were scared off by a rampaging Alsatian dog that wanted a dip; otherwise there were 32 Tufted Ducks, 4 Pochard and c.30 Little Grebes, and only Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls. (OM) 

Pagham churchyard produced little also; a few Goldfinches and a Kestrel in the trees being the only thing worth a mention. (OM)

North Wall: A bit breezy along the Wall this morning. Just Mallard and Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, whilst alongside Pagham Rife were 320 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 32 Coot and 60 Brent Geese, but apart from 22 Coot and 2 Little Grebes Honer reservoir was devoid of birds. Nearby there was a small mixed flock of Greenfinches and Yellowhammers, and 2 Stonechats in the same vicinity. There was a very large gathering of Brent Geese in the field north of Bremere bridge, I counted 2900. Grey Herons were again busily refurbishing nests in Owl Copse; there were 11 sitting on fence posts to the east of the Copse at one time. Primroses and Celandines were in flower along Honer Lane. (JDW)

 Large flock of Brent Geese in the North fields near Bremere bridge and Primroses in flower (JDW)

 

Medmerry: Breach and Chainbridge - Around the pools by the breach there were a dozen Golden Plover and Grey Plover, a Snipe, two Red-breasted Mergansers, c60 Wigeon, c20 Teal, c30 Ringed Plover and Dunlin, plus a few Curlews, and a Stonechat was along the rocks.
A Green Sandpiper was on the flooded path near Chainbridge, a few Skylarks were along the bank, and on the field there were around 80 Curlew and 600 Brent Geese, including one with a yellow ring with 5 or 55 on the right leg and a green one on the left. (AH) 

Brent Geese - including the green and yellow ringed individual (above), Ringed Plover and Golden Plovers at Medmerry (AH)

 

 

Somerly - Bookers Lane to Almodington:  A calling Raven flew over towards Medmerry, a Sparrowhawk was around the farm and 22 Fieldfares were feeding in the stubble fields alongside 9 Stock Doves.  Also present were 2 Pied Wagtails, 12 Skylarks, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 9 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Buzzards. (SR)

Birdham Pool:  The path is less waterlogged than it has been but there is still little of interest;  7 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret and c50 Tufted Ducks. (SR)

Tuesday, 2nd February: A blustery, bright day after a cold, damp and grey start.....but still with irritating light showers at times. Spring seems a long way off right now....! 

Selsey Bill (0805-0935hrs): Showers, WSW 5. All very slow with almost nothing moving and the sea-watching somewhat in the doldrums at present. (Obs: OM/AH) Log below......
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W
Common Gull - 5W
Mediterranean Gull - 5W

Common Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Church Norton: At least 1000 Lapwing were wheeling about before settling on the ploughed fields to the west of the harbour, and there were c150 Golden Plover and 80 Black-tailed Godwits among them at one stage, and another 1000 or so Lapwing came up off the North Wall area as well.

There was not too much else of note - 20 or so Shelduck and Grey Plover were on the mud, with at least 500 Dunlin, though strangely no Knot, and three Chiffchaffs were moving quickly along the sheltered hedge by the hide. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Golden Plovers & Shelduck at Church Norton (AH)

Ferry Pool: Not much on the pool, just 30 Teal and a Kestrel overhead, but a big mixed group of around 150 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 4 Gadwall and 10 Mallard were on the flooded creek. Also a dozen Curlew were on the field. (AH)

Wigeon and Gadwall (above), Wigeon & Kestrel at the Ferry (AH)

Monday, 1st February: Yet another grey and blustery - though mild - day, with heavy cloud and the odd squall of drizzle.....

Ferry Pool: Just 100 Lapwing and 30 Teal on the pool, but a lot of wildfowl on the field including 500 Brent Geese, 200 Wigeon, 25 Shoveler, 40 Teal and six Gadwall. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Brent Geese at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Not much on the pool - just five Tufted Ducks and a couple of Little Grebes, though a Cetti's Warbler was calling repeatedly and a couple of Reed Buntings dropped in.

Up to a dozen Yellowhammers were around the Pheasant feeding-stations and 100+ Lapwing were on the ploughed field, whilst in Ferry Channel there were 32 Avocets, 50 Teal and 20 Redshank, plus a fly-over Snipe. (AH)

Avocets in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: Really very little to report - a Peregrine on the island, a few Shelduck and Curlew on the mud and a couple of skulking Goldcrests was it. (AH)