Tuesday, 6th November: Another mild, if fairly grey, morning with just a light, though freshening, south-easterly breeze....
Selsey Bill: There wasn't much moving offshore beyond a few Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers, but there were up to four Black Redstarts about - one again in the same area around Barnes Close that one was present last year, with another near the car-park at Hillfield Road and two more near the toilet block a little way inland. Full log below. (AH/KJ et al)
The Purple Sandpiper was back at the Bill on the high tide at midday. (On Twitter per BI)
(0710-0755hrs) (AH)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Gannet - 3W
Brent Goose - 2W
Common Scoter - 4E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Mediterranean Gull 2os
Pied Wagtail - 3W
Later there were a Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot , four Common Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers going west, a few very distant Gannets offshore and lots of Turnstones on the beach. (KJ et al)
Ferry Pool: A Spoonbill was present early on, before flying off north-west. Later, a Spotted Redshank was among 50 or so roosting Redshanks and 200 Lapwings, whilst the Shoveler count had risen to 28 and there were also ten Shelducks and around 60 Wigeon and 40 Teal about. (AH/KJ et al)
At the end of Ferry channel were 35 Avocets, with two Cetti's Warblers along the west side. (CRJ/RW)
North Wall: The Spoonbill seen earlier at the Ferry was later seen flying over Owl Copse (RW). There was a Firecrest in Pagham Churchyard, plus a couple of Goldcrests, two Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Two more Firecrests were along the path to the North Wall, whilst two Greenshanks and a couple of Knot were in White's Creek. A Greenshank was also on the Breech Pool with a few Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and three Dunlin, but the main spectacle was a Grey Heron eventually despatching and swallowing a large eel - but not without some difficulty. (OM/BFF/DM)
Pagham Lagoon: On the Lagoon were 160+ Canada Geese, plus two Bar-headed Geese, (so presumably part of the flock which frequents Medmerry), plus 100 Brent Geese, with more dropping in and quickly moving off. Geese apart, there were only a few Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe and a few Tufted Ducks, plus 4 Mediterranean Gulls on the water and a Kingfisher flying across. Along the hedgerows and adjacent footpath were two Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests, two Cetti's Warblers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (OM/BFF/DM)
East Head: There were three Goosanders off East Head this morning. (MR)
Church Norton: There wasn't too much to report here, though the Whimbrel and plenty of Grey Plovers were in the harbour a Jay was in the creek by the horse field and a handful of Goldcrests were around the car-park. There were at least 200 Brent Geese on the far side of the harbour, but there were no birds at all on the sea, with just three Red-breasted Mergansers west noted. (AH)
Later, a Short-eared Owl was seen from the churchyard and two Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour. (KJ et al)
Also, there were about 32 Avocets at the end of the Long Pool, a Peregrine flew over and six Gannets were feeding offshore. (RW).
West Wittering: A Tree-creeper was in our garden on the north of the village today. (GM)
Medmerry: Breach area - The Hooded Crow was again on the far side of the reserve, with the big tide pushing it into view and there were also a Peregrine and a few Grey Plovers about.
A smart Black Redstart was among the caravans at Toe End and there were also at least 50 Linnets, 50 Meadow Pipits, 20 Pied Wagtails and 200 Goldfinches around the last remaining bit of waste ground. (AH/DF/DS)
Later on the resident Hooded Crow was feeding on the shingle on the west side of the breach, a first-winter female-type Marsh Harrier was out hunting and a Peregrine was sitting on the old milk parlour, whilst 75 Linnets and 20 Meadow Pipits were in the area. (BFF/DM/BO'D)
Monday, 5th November: A very mild morning for the time of year, with a mix of sun and white cloud and a light to moderate south-easterly breeze....The Purple Sandpiper was back at the Bill on the high tide at midday. (On Twitter per BI)
(0710-0755hrs) (AH)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Gannet - 3W
Brent Goose - 2W
Common Scoter - 4E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Mediterranean Gull 2os
Pied Wagtail - 3W
Later there were a Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot , four Common Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers going west, a few very distant Gannets offshore and lots of Turnstones on the beach. (KJ et al)
Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Spoonbill was present early on, before flying off north-west. Later, a Spotted Redshank was among 50 or so roosting Redshanks and 200 Lapwings, whilst the Shoveler count had risen to 28 and there were also ten Shelducks and around 60 Wigeon and 40 Teal about. (AH/KJ et al)
At the end of Ferry channel were 35 Avocets, with two Cetti's Warblers along the west side. (CRJ/RW)
Spoonbill (above) & Spotted Redshank, Redshanks, Lapwings and Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: The Spoonbill seen earlier at the Ferry was later seen flying over Owl Copse (RW). There was a Firecrest in Pagham Churchyard, plus a couple of Goldcrests, two Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Two more Firecrests were along the path to the North Wall, whilst two Greenshanks and a couple of Knot were in White's Creek. A Greenshank was also on the Breech Pool with a few Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and three Dunlin, but the main spectacle was a Grey Heron eventually despatching and swallowing a large eel - but not without some difficulty. (OM/BFF/DM)
Grey Heron battling to swallow an eel, and Firecrest at the North Wall (DM)
Pagham Lagoon: On the Lagoon were 160+ Canada Geese, plus two Bar-headed Geese, (so presumably part of the flock which frequents Medmerry), plus 100 Brent Geese, with more dropping in and quickly moving off. Geese apart, there were only a few Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe and a few Tufted Ducks, plus 4 Mediterranean Gulls on the water and a Kingfisher flying across. Along the hedgerows and adjacent footpath were two Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests, two Cetti's Warblers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (OM/BFF/DM)
Canada Geese and Bar-headed Geese on Pagham Lagoon (OM)
East Head: There were three Goosanders off East Head this morning. (MR)
Goosanders at East Head (MR)
Church Norton: There wasn't too much to report here, though the Whimbrel and plenty of Grey Plovers were in the harbour a Jay was in the creek by the horse field and a handful of Goldcrests were around the car-park. There were at least 200 Brent Geese on the far side of the harbour, but there were no birds at all on the sea, with just three Red-breasted Mergansers west noted. (AH)
Later, a Short-eared Owl was seen from the churchyard and two Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour. (KJ et al)
Also, there were about 32 Avocets at the end of the Long Pool, a Peregrine flew over and six Gannets were feeding offshore. (RW).
Whimbrel (above) Goldcrest & Jay at Church Norton (AH)
Medmerry: Breach area - The Hooded Crow was again on the far side of the reserve, with the big tide pushing it into view and there were also a Peregrine and a few Grey Plovers about.
A smart Black Redstart was among the caravans at Toe End and there were also at least 50 Linnets, 50 Meadow Pipits, 20 Pied Wagtails and 200 Goldfinches around the last remaining bit of waste ground. (AH/DF/DS)
Later on the resident Hooded Crow was feeding on the shingle on the west side of the breach, a first-winter female-type Marsh Harrier was out hunting and a Peregrine was sitting on the old milk parlour, whilst 75 Linnets and 20 Meadow Pipits were in the area. (BFF/DM/BO'D)
Black Redstart (above), Black Redstart and Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Grey Plovers and the very high tide at Medmerry (AH)
Selsey Bill: There was no volume of movement, but a bit of a selection offshore, including Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Razorbills, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters, whilst a Sandwich Tern settled on the green triangles and a Purple Sandpiper and a Rock Pipit were on the beach. Full log below......
0715-1030hrs: (AH/OM/BI)
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W0715-1030hrs: (AH/OM/BI)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W (same?)
Gannet - 4E, 2W
Brent Goose - 3E
Common Scoter - 4E, 4W
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 2W
Purple Sandpiper - 1 ob
Turnstone - 20 ob
Sandwich Tern - 1 os (metal-ringed)
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Razorbill - 8E
Pied Wagtail - 5E
Meadow Pipit - 2E
Rock Pipit - 1 ob
Skylark - 7E
Goldfinch - 45E
Linnet - 36E
Purple Sandpiper (above), Rock Pipit, Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Diver & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
This afternoon a Black Redstart was present in Barnes Close, Selsey. (S.Bell)
Black Redstart at the Bill (S Bell)
Ferry Pool: There were 15 Shovelers on the pool this morning, along with eight Shelducks, c60 Wigeon and c80 Teal, whilst there were at least two - and probably four - Spotted Redshanks among the roosting Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite. (AH)
Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Shovelers around the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The very high tide this morning meant the beach was cut off and the workmen were being ferried across to Tern Island by the RSPB boat,
In the harbour the Spoonbill was roosting on Peregrine Island with a few Little Egrets and Grey Herons and 36 Avocets were off the end of the Long Pool, where there were also 50 Curlews and Grey Plovers and 100+ Wigeon and Teal.
There were few small birds about beyond a couple of calling Goldcrests in the churchyard and a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks along the west side. (AH)
Earlier on there were up to ten Goldcrests around the churchyard (AW), whilst later there was a Firecrest was along the path to the harbour. (CRJ)
Earlier on there were up to ten Goldcrests around the churchyard (AW), whilst later there was a Firecrest was along the path to the harbour. (CRJ)
Whimbrel (above), Spoonbill, Little Egrets and Grey Heron, Avocets, Grey Plovers, Meadow Pipit (AH) & Goldcrest (AW) at Church Norton
North Wall: A Grey Heron caught a Little Grebe at around 10am this morning, and spent a long time trying to drown it in the Breech Pool, and then trying to eat it whole, but it was too big for its mouth. Amazingly at 2.30pm this afternoon it was still just walking around the pool, carrying it in his mouth - I couldn’t really believe my eyes, to be honest. (T Allen)
Grey Heron attempting to eat a Little Grebe at the North Wall (T Allen)
Birdham: A walk along the Chichester Canal from Donnington to the Birdham Road found ten Little Grebes. (AW)
Little Grebe on Chichester Canal (AW)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse near the first viewpoint and a Greenshank and a Whimbrel were on the mud near the poplars. (BO'D
East Head: A Goldcrest was at Snowhill this morning, and there were lots of Brent Geese about. (MR)
Goldcrest at East Head (MR)
Chi GPs - Ivy Lake area: I spent a good while searching the hedgerows and sallows around various lakes this morning, hoping for that well-overdue rarity that must surely be lurking somewhere on the Peninsula! Alas it wasn't to be and I struggled to even find 3 Chiffchaffs, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and just a few Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits. On the lakes my meagre best was a party of 18 Great Crested Grebes on Ivy and 45 Shovelers on New Lake. (OM)
Scenic view of Chichester Cathedral, from Ivy Lake (OM)
Sunday, 4th November: A grey but fairly mild breezy morning, with a brisk south-easterly breeze........
Note - There are going to be diggers out on Tern Island for the next week, clearing the vegetation ready for the spring, and there will also be work to extend and improve the fencing. (per IL)
Diggers on Tern Island (AH)
Selsey Bill: It was generally fairly quiet again, though with all three divers represented, including the first Black-throated of the autumn. Full log below. (SH/JA/PB/AH/IP/BI/RJS/AF)
(0645-0900hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3W, 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Gannet - 10E, 60W
Brent Goose - 1W
Common Scoter - 9E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 4os
Common Gull - 1os
Kittiwake - 5W
Guillemot - 1E
Razorbill - 1E, 15W
auk sp - 5E, 7W
Rock Pipit - 1p
Pied Wagtail - 4E, 1p
Linnet - 32E
Gannets (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were plenty of Wigeon and Teal, plus three Shovelers and a handful of Shelducks on the pool, with more Teal in the channel opposite. (AH/IP)
Wigeon and Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Little Owl was around the old chicken sheds again late this morning, plus a Grey Wagtail was nearby. (S&SaH/PB)
Earlier on there were two Green Sandpipers flying around, that appeared to land in the balancing pond, where 20+ Meadow Pipits and Linnets were also present, whilst at least 50 Curlews were on the uncropped field again and a Grey Wagtail and a dozen Pied Wagtails, plus a Stonechat and a Jay, were along the cultivated fields. (AH/IP)
Stonechat (above), Curlews, Jay & Linnets and Meadow Pipits at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)
Halseys's Farm: There were six Redwings present this morning. (JDW)
Church Norton: A Marsh Harrier was over the harbour early on, and the Spoonbill was again present. (RJS/AF)
Also, at least 40 Avocets were roosting off the end of the Long Pool, a redhead Goosander was in the harbour mouth, a R drake Red-breasted Merganser flew along the spit, a Rock Pipit and two Stonechats were along the concrete blocks, 20+ Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were along the spit and a Redwing was in the churchyard.
Also, at least 40 Avocets were roosting off the end of the Long Pool, a redhead Goosander was in the harbour mouth, a R drake Red-breasted Merganser flew along the spit, a Rock Pipit and two Stonechats were along the concrete blocks, 20+ Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were along the spit and a Redwing was in the churchyard.
There were at least 200 Brent Geese in the harbour, along with 50+ Ringed Plovers, the Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and lots of the commoner waders. (AH/IP/BI/P&JW)
Goosander (above), Rock Pipit & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)
