7th - 9th April 2016

Saturday, 9th April: Another reasonably bright though changeable day, with the wind still mainly in the west but easing somewhat through the morning. Obviously Redstarts found it to their liking with new arrivals at a number of sites today......

Selsey Bill: Not much moving on the sea, bar a few Fulmars west and Common Scoter east, though there were seven Great Northern Divers offshore and a few passerines in the gardens, including a male Redstart, a couple of Wheatears and a Blackcap. Full log below.....

0615-1115hrs: (Obs: SH/PB/IP/SR/AH/OM)
Great Northern Diver - 7os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Fulmar - 1E, 18W
Gannet - 10E, 102W
Brent Goose - 40E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 2W, 1os
Common Scoter - 57E
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 3W, 6os
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 1W
Meadow Pipit - 4 gardens
Pied/alba Wagtail - 1N
Swallow - 3N
Wheatear - 2 beach/gardens
Redstart - 1 (male) gardens
Chiffchaff - 3
Willow Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 1 gardens

(1615-1730hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 2E, 5W
Sandwich Tern - 1os

Wheatears at the Bill (AH)

Warner Lane, Selsey: Another male Redstart was here too, plus a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Buzzard. (OM)

Northcommon Farm: There were at least two Willow Warblers, a Blackcap, a singing Goldcrest, a pair of Green Woodpeckers and a pair of Stock Doves, plus another Buzzard eating worms. (OM)

Pair of love-struck Stock Doves at Northcommon Farm (OM)

Park Farm, Selsey: This morning there was a Wheatear, a Willow Warbler, four Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and four Buzzards in the area. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were three Redstarts, including two males, around the Severals. (IP) Also the two Ravens were showing well on the spit again, and there were a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs about early on. (AH) Later, another Redstart was seen in the churchyard (IL).

Ravens at Church Norton (AH)

 

Later on there were two Sedge Warblers around the Severals, along with 10+ Willow Warblers, 30+ Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps, a Sandwich Tern and a Brent Goose were in the harbour and there were four Buzzards overhead. (S&SaH)

Sedge Warbler at Church Norton (SH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was present again this morning, plus two Avocets, four Redshank and 20 Shoveler. (AH) Late afternoon a Spotted Redshank was on the pool before flying into Ferry Channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry (west side): On the Stilt Pool there was still one Little Gull, with a White Wagtail and a Swallow nearby. The Little Owl also showed for a while at Marsh Farm buildings (PH).

Sidlesham Churchyard: A male Blackcap carrying nesting material was in the lane, while the churchyard itself had a second Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, a Jay, 5 Buzzards, a Kestrel, and a Green Woodpecker. (SR)

North Wall: Still not much happening....the Spotted Redshank was still on White's Creek along with 48 of his Common relatives, and some 40 plus Black-tailed Godwits were at the back of the Breech Pool. Five cock Pheasants were together in the field behind, unusual for this side of the Harbour, but apart from Linnets there was nothing along the Wall. Gargling noises were coming from Owl Copse, indicating that the Little Egrets were back in residence, whilst a single Whimbrel was on the mud at Owl Water. Three male Blackcaps were also located, one in Owl Copse and a couple at the Macracarpa Copse. (JDW) 

Later a male Wheatear was along the wall (P&J Wilder)

 Nesting Little Egrets at Owl copse and Common Redshanks in White's creek (JDW)

Friday, 8th April: A more pleasant day with sunshine and cloud; less windy too with a light to moderate mainly north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill (0755-0855hrs): NW f3 (Obs: SR/TR) An hour was enough at the Bill this morning, where there was next to nothing moving! Log below....
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Fulmar - 1 W
Gannet - 1 E
Brent Goose - 9 E
Common Scoter - 1 E
Sandwich Tern - 2 E, 8 W

Selsey, Park Farm: The Black Redstart was still present this morning (PC)

Ferry Pool: There was a Green Sandpiper and four Avocets present this morning, but little else of note (AH).

Green Sandpiper (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Three Gadwall were on the pool, with several Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps along the hedgerows, plus a few Reed Buntings and Linnets. (AH)

Gadwall (above), Reed Bunting & Wren along Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: The two Ravens again paid a visit and the Sedge Warbler was still present, singing from the first Severals. Generally quiet otherwise with a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap (AH)

Ravens at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Along White's Creek were 70 Redshanks with a single Spotted Redshank coming into breeding plumage. The Breech Pool was very quiet with just 48 Black-tailed Godwits roosting at the back, whilst in the field behind were 5 Brent Geese, 26 Curlew and 5 Roe Deer. All of my migrant hot spots were very chilly today;  only at the Macracarpa copse did I find 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Swallows. One of the Grey Herons nesting in Owl Copse is easily seen from the last bench along the Wall. Blackthorn bushes are now coming into flower.  (JDW)

 Grey Heron at nest site in Owl copse, moulting Spotted Redshank and Blackthorn flowering (JDW)

 

Sidlesham: Two Swallows were back over our sheds where they normally nest yesterday evening, and again this morning. (AH)

Thursday, 7th April: A cool and breezy day with a brisk WNW wind 5/6; mainly dry with some sunshine and cloud, but the increasing risk of showers or heavier rain later.....

Selsey Bill: Very quiet again, though there were a few Meadow Pipits arriving, but offshore there were barely double figures of Gannets and Sandwich Terns moving and four Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below...
0700-1030hrs: W4-5 (Obs: C&ME/AH/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 3E, 9W
Brent Goose - 6E 
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W, 3os
Common Scoter - 4E, 2os
Oystercatcher - 9W
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 8W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E  
Meadow Pipit - 34N, 1 gardens
Swallow - 2N                      
Linnet - 3ob, flew N

Gannet past the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The female Black Redstart was in the horse paddock again, but there was no sign of the male Common Redstart. (AH)

Black Redstart at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Ferry Pool: As empty as it usually is with a stiff westerly blowing - just a Green Sandpiper, two Shoveler, two Shelduck and four Teal this morning. (AH)

Green Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The pair of Ravens were around again, along the beach and upsetting the local Carrion Crows, but there wasn't too much evidence of migration, though there was a flurry of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers around the gorse bank by the second Several, and a singing Sedge Warbler in the reeds there and another in the first Several. Otherwise there were a couple of Reed Buntings and plenty of Linnets about, and a calling Cetti's Warbler at the back of the second Several.

A late Slavonian Grebe was on the sea, as were a pair of Great Crested Grebes, and two or three distant Gannets went east, but there was not much in the harbour beyond 30-40 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Ravens (above), Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Bunting & Black-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

Long Pool: This evening there was a Greenshank in Ferry Channel along with 20+ Redshank and plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs along the pool. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

4th - 6th April 2016

Wednesday, 6th April: Definitely not the sort of spring day we all hope for - with a strong and cold north-westerly, intermittent heavy drizzle, squalls and just the odd glimpse of the sun..... 

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly quiet, though there were three Little Gulls and 63 Brent Geese east, two Great Northern Divers offshore, and, unusually, a Fulmar sitting on the sea close in among of group of large gulls. Full log below.
(0700-0930hrs) (C&ME/AH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Fulmar 4W, 1os drifted east on sea
Gannet - 7W
Brent Geese - 63E 
Mallard - 2p
Common Scoter - 1E
Little Gull - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 1W
Meadow Pipit - 3N

Great Northern Diver (above) & Fulmar with Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just about the same as yesterday - with a Green Sandpiper, six Avocets, four Redshank and c30 Teal and Shoveler. (AH)

Church Norton: Very little to report in some dire weather - just the odd snippet of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler song, and an almost empty harbour save 90 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Curlew and Shelduck. (AH)

Willow Warbler (above), Curlew & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Ivy Lake complex: In the heavy sheeting drizzle as I arrived there were at least 100 Sand Martins over the lake, but within moments of the sun briefly coming out they had moved off. There were no Little Gulls this morning, though a pair of Mediterranean Gulls dropped in, and on the water the drake Red-crested Pochard appeared briefly, and there were also a pair of Gadwall, six Pochard, ten Great Crested Grebes and at least 50 Tufted Ducks.
Along the bushes there were two pairs of Reed Buntings and several Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs singing, plus a Sparrowhawk over. (AH)

Red-crested Pochard (above), Sand Martin, Mediterranean Gull, Pochards & Tufted Ducks at Ivy Lake (AH)

North Wall: There were 40 Black-tailed Godwits roosting behind the Breech Pool along with 3 Brent Geese. All of the fields adjoining the Wall held Curlews, 130 in total. Along the Wall there were two Cetti's Warblers, four Linnets and three Reed Buntings, whilst Chiffchaffs were everywhere. 

In Owl Copse there was one Willow Warbler and another two at Bremere Bridge, and there were two Common Buzzards, nesting Chaffinches and a Goldcrest at the Macracarpa Copse, and six Shelduck were in the field north of Bremere Bridge together with four Brown Hares. (JDW)

Shelducks (above) & Chaffinch from North Wall (JDW)

Long Pool: This evening there was a moultring Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel, along with 20+ Common Redshank, five Swallows and a Sand Martin were feeding over the pool, and a dozen Linnets were in the field edges nearby. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Swallow & Linnet from Long Pool (AH)

Tuesday, 5th April: A bright and breezy day, warming and brightening as the morning progressed....but with the wind having shifted to the N/W quarter...

Selsey Bill: Not much moving, highlights being a Little Gull, 85 Brent Geese, four Fulmars west and three Great Northern Divers offshore. Four Swallows and two House Martins came in off the sea, and there was a Wheatear in the Bill House garden, along with a pipit that we initially took to be another Tree Pipit, but on closer inspection of the pictures may well be a Meadow Pipit. Full log below....
0645-1045hrs: (Obs: C&ME/OM/AH et al)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Fulmar - 4W
Gannet - 3E, 5W
Brent Goose - 85E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1os
Common Scoter - 5E
Oystercatcher - 7W
Red-legged Partridge - 2 gardens
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 6W
Little Gull - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 6N, 2 gardens
House Martin - 2N
Swallow - 4N
Wheatear - 1ob
phyllosc. warbler sp - 2N 
Wheatear - 1 gardens
Carrion Crow - 4N from way out

Wheatear at the Bill (above OM, below AH)

 Fulmar & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (left AH, right OM)

The bird today does not appear to be the same bird as that seen in the same garden on 30th March (see blog pics of that date); indeed extensive searching for several days thereafter failed to find it. Today's bird pictured above seems duller overall, has more extensive buff down the breast and arguably some coarser streaking on the flanks and breast (where some blotching apparent), its legs do not look pinkish and the bill base looks more orangey-toned. However we would welcome any views (OM/AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Both the male Redstart and female Black Redstart remain around the horse paddocks, along with a dozen Chiffchaffs and two or three Willow Warblers. (JD/AH et al)

Redstart at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Further pic of the Redstart at Park Farm, and Willow Warbler (DM)

Ferry Pool: Not much activity today - a Greenshank early on, a Green Sandpiper, two Avocets and 30 Shoveler being about it. (OM/TR)

Church Norton to Long Pool: The first Sedge Warbler of the year was by the first Several and a Blackcap was along the footpath to beach. (A&YF/G&RH)

There were plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs around Church Norton and the Long Pool, but not much in between, except plenty of Linnets and the odd Skylark. The harbour was quiet on the high tide, though a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were on the water, and two pairs of Mediterranean Gulls went over. (AH et al)

Willow Warbler (above), Chiffchaff, Linnet & Shelducks from Long Pool (AH)

Monday, 4th April: A cold, grey day with a strong south-easterly wind and heavy cloud.....mainly dry but with just a few drops of rain.

I hope you'll forgive me but I feel the need for a small rant over the dreaded B2145 road again! This will probably be better understood by those that travel to the Peninsula to go birding rather than those that live there, or perhaps not, but this morning was a classic. Leaving early from the Bognor area, all goes well until Hunston, when 2 tractors belonging to one of our esteemed local farmers emerge right in front....twenty-two mph to the Hunston roundabout then south on the B2145 with a lengthening traffic queue behind. The tractors continue all the way to Sidlesham, failing to pull over in various laybys and after several frustrated drivers ahead force their way past I too manage to escape the 22mph convoy....only to be confronted half a mile later with the road being blocked by an accident at Ferry corner! Arrival at Selsey Bill eventually comes after an hour and a half journey of 16 miles. And for good measure, on the way back, a couple of wide load caravans cannot pass a lorry and more gridlock. Oh joy....and still they keep on building in and around Selsey, with no hope of improvement! Feel better now.(OM)

Selsey Bill: Not as much moving as might have been hoped, but by late-morning there had been a dark-phase Arctic Skua, 11 Little Gulls, 70+ Sandwich Terns, a few Common Terns, two Black-throated Divers and 20+ Red-throated Divers east, plus three Great Northern Divers offshore. Full log below.... (AH/OM et al)

0710-1400hrs: SSE-SE3-4, cool  (Obs: AH/OM/SR et al)
Red-throated Diver - 25E
Black-throated Diver - 2E
Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1W, 3os
Diver sp - 5E
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 16E, 10W
Brent Goose - 39E
Red-breasted Merganser - 10E, 3W, 4os
Common Scoter - 43E
Tufted Duck - 4E
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Common Tern - 7E
Sandwich Tern - 102E
Kittiwake - 2E
Little Gull - 11E
Common Gull - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Pied/alba Wagtail - 3N

Also 1400-1600hrs:  (Obs: C&ME)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 7E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E
Common Scoter - 4E
Dunlin - 25E    
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
Great Skua - 1E  
Common Tern - 2E                
Sandwich Tern - 61E            
Swallow - 1N     
                    

Arctic Skua (above), Red-throated Divers & Common Scoter past the Bill (AH)

A murder of Crows! The local Carrion Crows having a huge bust-up, until disturbed, when they all flew off together (AH)

Ferry Pool: Still the Ruff and two Green Sandpipers at the back this morning, plus six Avocets, eight Redshank, 43 Shoveler and 24 Teal. (AH/OM)
Late this afternoon the Ruff was with four Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank was along Ferry Channel and four Swallows went over. (AH)

Ruff and Green Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: No migrants about save two or three singing Chiffchaffs, and not much in the harbour on the high tide, though the Whimbrel was still showing, as were a few Curlew and Redshank, plus a Great Crested Grebe and four Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Most unusual sight was a female Red-breasted Merganser in the creek by the horse field, where there were also two Gadwall, whilst offshore there were four Gannets feeding well out to sea, and the Lapwing was again along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Curlew, Red-breasted Merganser, Gadwall & Lapwing at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry (west side): Stilt pools today – there were 2 or 3 Little Gulls this morning and I think 4 this afternoon, including one adult winter plumage bird (all the others I’ve seen so far were 1st winter types). Also, two Ravens flew low over Marsh Farm buildings and SE across Medmerry at 1pm. (PH)

Easton lane to stilt pools - This evening the Barn Owl was out huntinmg and the Little Owl was at Marsh Farm, whilst on the Stilt Pools there were six Little Gulls dip-feeding, along with five Little Ringed Plovers and 42 Avocets. Also seen were three Swallows, two Reed Buntings and 30+ Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Barn Owl (above) & Little Gull at Medmerry (SH)

Chichester GPs - Ivy Lake:  There were three adult Little Gulls present today, along with a Common Tern, two Black Swans, five Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Bullfinches, several singing Blackcaps, two Cetti's Warblers, four Chiffchaffs and a singing Willow Warbler. (SR/AH)

Common Tern (above) & Blackcap at Ivy Lake (AH)