10th - 12th April 2019

Friday, 12th April: The prolonged spell of north-easterly winds continues; with another cool, bright and breezy day....

Selsey Bill: Three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie east were the highlights of another slow morning. Full log below. (JA/PB/JF/C&ME/BI/IP/PM/AH/OM et al)
(0600-1200hrs)  
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
diver sp - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 54E, 13W
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 14E, 2W
Eider - 1os
Peregrine - 1p
Oystercatcher - 5E
Whimbrel - 6E
Sanderling - 4E
Turnstone - 5E
Bonxie - 1E
Arctic Skua -3E
Mediterranean Gull - 13E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 76E
Common Tern - 1E, 1W
auk sp - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 12E
Yellow Wagtail - 4N
House Martin - 1N
Swallow - 10N
Linnet - 1p

(1610-1710hrs)  (JA/SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 13E, 5W
Eider - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 1W

Sandwich Tern (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Northcommon Farm: Both Little Owls were sitting out on the buildings this evening. (SR)

Ferry Pool: There were only four Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c70 Black-tailed Godwits, ten Redshank, half a dozen Lapwings, c20 Shoveler and c50 Teal;.plus six Gadwall flying about whilst two Swallows went over and a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were singing near the Visitor Centre. (AH/IP/BI/P&LH)

Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Spotted Redshank was at each end of Ferry Channel again this morning, with 20 or so Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry end.
Early on, the pool held just a couple of singing Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Reed Buntings (AH/OM), whilst later on a Reed Warbler was singing again. (IP/BI)

Spotted Redshank (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Reed Bunting from the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - There were two Whitethroats singing - one in bushes on each side of the sewage farm - this morning, and there were also a couple of singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Cetti's Warbler in the hedges.
About 30 each of House Martins and Swallows were over the settling tanks and at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls and a Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were in the vicinity, too. (AH/IP/BI)

Swallow (above), Sparrowhawk, Buzzard & Reed Bunting around Porthole Farm (AH), 
 & Common Whitethroat (BI)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - There around 60 Yellowhammers and 30 Linnets feeding on the newly cultivated fields by the farm late this afternoon, and a pair of Grey Partridges were on another bare field towards Porthole Farm. Also, a lone Corn Bunting was along the banks and two Sandwich Terns were offshore from the breach. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above) & Yellowhammers at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 11th April: A fairly chill but bright morning, after a sharp frost, with the breeze remaining from the north-east; still brisk, though a little lighter....

Selsey Bill: In the bright, clear conditions it was quiet as anticipated this morning, with two Little Terns and two Bonxies east the highlights. Full log below...... 
0630-1230hrs:  (PB/JF/C&ME/IP/CN/AH/OM et al)
Red-throated Diver - 6E
Great Northern Diver - 4 os
diver sp - 1E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 2 os
Gannet - 32E, 15W
Shag - 1E
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 38E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Shoveler - 2E
Whimbrel - 2E
Little Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 54E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Great Skua - 2E
Rook - 1N
Swallow - 6N
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens
Linnet - 2N

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1645-1745hrs) (JA)
Gannet - 6E, 1W
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Gull - 20E
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Arctic Tern - 1E

Northcommon Farm: An early morning visit - hoping for some migrant activity - was not very productive and just three Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap were logged. A resident Great Spotted Woodpecker was active, drumming and working on a nest-hole, whilst the only other birds of note were 24 Mediterranean Gulls. (OM)

Ferry Pool: The three Little Ringed Plovers and ten Avocets were still present, along with c20 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Redshank, c20 Shoveler, c40 Teal and three Gadwall. (AH/IP/CN)
Later on, a Redstart was along the path to the sewage farm. (C&ME/C&JM)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Shoveler & Goldfinch around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There was a Spotted Redshank at either end of Ferry Channel this morning, with c25 Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry end and a dozen or so Teal and Redshank at the far end, with three flighty Gadwall flying about.
At least four singing Sedge Warblers and two Cetti's Warblers were along the pool, along with two or three Reed Buntings, whilst a Snipe flew out from the reeds. (AH)
Later on, two Reed Warblers - the first of the spring - were heard at the far end of the pool. (IP/CN)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting & Gadwall from the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The only migrants noted were two Swallows along Easton Lane, though there were plenty of the regular species along the banks, including a Corn Bunting, half a dozen Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits, 20+ Skylarks  and 50+ Linnets.
A minimum of 26 Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, many in pairs, along with five Little Ringed Plovers, but otherwise there were just a few Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall present. Also, a Great Northern Diver flew east, offshore and a Greylag was with a dozen or so Canada Geese. (AH/IP/CN)

Corn Bunting (above), Little Ringed Plover & Avocets and Moorhen at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: It was very quiet this morning, and as if to prove the point, at 1100hrs there were just 4 Redshank along White's Creek! The Breech Pool was much the same as yesterday with 60+ Teal, a few Mallard and 42 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst 6 Little Egrets have arrived at Owl Copse. It was better on a wet field near Honer reservoir however, where there were 3 Little Ringed Plovers.  (JDW)

Wednesday, 10th April: A dry and much brighter day than yesterday, but still cold in the fresh to strong north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Highlight of a fairly slow morning was a drake Garganey among a flock of Common Scoter, then later a pair of Garganey, again with Scoter, but otherwise there was little on the move beyond 300 of the afore-mentioned Scoters and three Bonxies, with a couple of Eider and three Great Northern Divers on the sea. Full log below......
0620-1300hrs: (PM/JF/OM/C&ME/AH/IP et al)
Red-throated Diver - 8E
Great Northern Diver - 3 os
Fulmar - 1E, 8W
Gannet - 62E, 25W
Brent Goose - 38E
Eider - 1W, 1os
Common Scoter - 304E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E
Garganey - 3E (male 0945 and pair 1232hrs)
Whimbrel - 4E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 14E
Turnstone - 8E
Common Tern - 5E
'Commic' Tern - 12E
Sandwich Tern - 51E
Great Skua - 3E
Goldfinch - 7N

Gannet (above), Brent Geese & Fox at the Bill (AH)

North Selsey: A Common Whitethroat was on the waste ground by Ocean Air this afternoon. (SH)

Medmerry: Breach area - There was little to report beyond a flock of 30 or so Brent Geese that circled the tidal pools, but were reluctant to land. (A&YF)

Ferry Pool: There were three Little Ringed Plovers, ten Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and a handful of Lapwing and Redshank on the pool, plus - unusually - a drake Pochard, along with three Gadwall, a dozen Shoveler and c40 Teal, whilst the Spotted Redshank and another 20 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Gadwall were in the channel opposite. (AH/AW/TR/RS/IP)
Later on, two Spotted Redshanks were in Ferry Channel and a Cetti's Warbler was calling from the Long Pool. (AB)

Spotted Redshank (above), Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit & Pochard, Avocet, Shelduck and Lapwing around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 30 Sandwich Terns and 100+ Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour, along with the female Peregrine, a lone Brent Goose and a few Curlew, whilst the bushes were quiet, with a Mistle Thrush at Greenlease Farm and the odd Blackcap and Chiffchaff being the only small birds noted. (AH/IP)
Late this afternoon, an Osprey was seen flying high over Tern Island. (IL)

Gulls over Tern Island at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Cold and breezy early on, with not much happening along White's Creek - just 9 Redshank, 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Teal. On the Breech Pool were 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 70 Teal and 24 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Green Sandpiper was around the surface water in Honer 1 field. On Honer reservoir were 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall and 2 Little Grebes plus  2 Sand Martins which passed through. Nearby in the flooded field just SE of the reservoir were a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Lapwings, 3 Mute Swans and a Greylag Goose, with Chiffchaffs being the only other migrants recorded. Finally, the pair of Stock Doves was busy around Pagham Church. (JDW)

Stock Dove at Pagham churchyard and Mute Swans with Greylag in fields near Honer reservoir (JDW)

Northcommon Farm: A Wheatear went over north this morning and there were also two Blackcaps, two Pied Wagtails and two Buzzards about. (SH)

Chichester Canal: There were up to eight singing Blackcaps along the track from Hunston to Chichester today, and four Swallows went over. (SaH)

Ivy Lake: A quick look at lunchtime produced no hirundines over the pits, though a single Common Tern was present and there were several Orange-tip butterflies on the wing. (AH)

Later this afternoon, c150 Sand Martins were over the lake. (AB)

Orange-tip at Ivy Lake (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - This evening c20 Sand Martins, c40 House Martins and c100 Swallows, plus at least 100 Mediterranean Gulls were over the settling tanks, with a couple of Reed Buntings and Willow/Chiffs along the adjacent hedges. (AH)

House Martin (above), Swallow & Reed Bunting at Medmerry (AH)

7th - 9th April 2019

Tuesday, 9th April: A cold and drizzly morning, after a dry but murky start, with a light to moderate north-easterly breeze..........and rain becoming more persistent later. 

The Selsey Peninsula Statistics - available by clicking the link on the title bar - gives a wealth of information on the Peninsula's birds. Compiled (painstakingly!) by our very own 'statto' Ian Pitts (IP), the amount of information available is impressive and should serve future researchers well, the latest addition being a breakdown of the species seen each month, now going back to 2016. 
Additionally, a breakdown of migrant first/last and average dates is given separately, having been compiled by our Log-keeper Justin Atkinson (JA). Both of these spreadsheets have involved a lot of effort and we are most grateful to both compilers - but of course they are effectively 'works in progress' as more data is added and updated as time passes.
The one fly in the ointment at present is that each time there is an update, it seems to break the link to the file, making access temporarily impossible until a new link is established. If this should happen to you, please bear with us; we are working on it and it will hopefully be overcome in the near future. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: The highlight - for the two observers, at least (KJ & KF) - was the Ring-necked Parakeet that flew in over Hillfield Road car park a 7.45am, and was presumably the same bird as seen over Sandy Point, Hayling Island an hour before.

Otherwise, it was slow going, with a few Sandwich and Common Terns and 15 Brent Geese going east and the female Eider and three Great Northern Divers offshore the pick. Full log below....... 
0700-1045hrs: (C&ME/MO-W/AH/OM/IP et al)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 2E, 1W
Brent Goose - 15E
Shelduck - 2os
Common Scoter - 5E
Eider - 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Curlew - 1E
Common Gull - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 71E
Common Tern - 4E
Razorbill - 1W
Ring-necked Parakeet - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 6N
Pied/alba Wagtail - 3N
Swallow - 23N
Goldfinch - 5N
Linnet - 53N

Brent Geese (above) & Fox on the beach at the Bill (AH)

(1615-1715hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 20E, 7W

Common Scoter - 29E

Bonxie - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Swallow - 3N

House Martin - 1N

Ferry Pool: Ten Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with 12 Redshank and 22 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst at least 20 Lapwings were spread between the pool and the field. There were still c30 Teal and a pair of Gadwall, but all the Shovelers seem to have gone. 

At least 20 Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite, plus another pair of Gadwall, and six Wigeon, whilst the Tramway circuit just held a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Swallow  and c50 Mediterranean Gulls over. (AH)

Later on, a Lesser Whitethroat was heard briefly near the Visitor Centre. (IL)

Blackcap (above), Black-tailed Godwits & baby Brown Rats around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Willow Warbler was singing behind the stables this morning. (IH)

Chichester Marina: A Willow Warbler was singing here, too, in the reed-bed this morning. (PH)

Ivy Lake: At lunchtime today, there were at least 100 Sand Martins and similar of Swallows over the lake. (AH)

Church Norton: A female Marsh Harrier was out hunting in the drizzle this morning, whilst ten Sand Martins were over the Severals and two Wheatears were on the beach. (KJ/KF/GWh et al)
Earlier, a couple of Blackcaps were behind the hide, a couple of Swallows went over the harbour and at least 50 Sandwich Terns and 100 Mediterranean Gulls were around the island. Also, both Peregrines were in residence, three Gadwall were flying about and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were on the mud. (AH/IP/CRJ)

Blackcap (above), Mediterranean Gulls & Mallard on the church roof at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 8th April: A mild and almost still morning, with a mix of weak sunshine and persistent hazy sea-mist...... 

Selsey Bill: Despite the unpromising conditions, with the misty and murky conditions making things difficult at times, there was quite a bit of sea-passage, including six Velvet Scoters, 16 Little Gulls, seven Arctic Skuas, a Little Tern and 200+ Brent Geese, whilst passerines included a Siskin, three Yellow Wagtails and several Sand Martins in off the sea. Full log below......

0620-1200hrs:  (PB/PM/IP/RB/C&ME/OM/AH/A&YF/KJ et al)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2os

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 18E, 3W

Brent Goose - 248E

Eider - 1E, 1os

Shelduck - 5E, 2ob

Common Scoter - 93E

Velvet Scoter - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 20E, 6os

Ringed Plover - 1ob

Golden Plover - 20E

Turnstone - 13 ob 

Little Tern - 1os

Common Tern - 38E

Sandwich Tern - 119E (inc. 46 os which eventually drifted off E)

Arctic Skua - 7E (all d/p)

Little Gull - 16E

Mediterranean Gull - 11E, plus 30 Oval Field early on, soon flushed.

Meadow Pipit - 43N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Sand Martin - 9N

House Martin - 1N

Swallow - 16N

Blackcap - 1 gardens

Goldfinch - 17N

Linnet - 15N

Siskin - 1N

Brent Geese (above), Common Terns & Shelduck at the Bill (AH)

(1620-1800hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Red-necked Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 30E, 20W, 1os

Common Scoter - 1E

Whimbrel - 2E

Bonxie - 1E

Little Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 27E, 19os

Common Tern - 1E, 1W

Swalllow - 1N

Common Seal - 1os

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - c10E

Bottle-nosed Dolphins off the Bill (SH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A lone Redwing was feeding in the paddocks in Park Lane this morning. (IP/RM)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover, a Snipe and ten Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with a handful of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Lapwings, whilst there were still c30 Shovelers and Teal present, too. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: The Spotted Redshank and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were ion Ferry Channel  early this morning, whilst along the pool there were three Sedge Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Blackcaps and a Reed Bunting. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Sedge Warbler & Roe Deer in the mist from the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: The Sedge Warbler was in the first Several again and there were a scattering of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, but no other evidence of migrants, though a Green Woodpecker was by the concrete wall and a Mistle Thrush was gathering food behind the hide.

There were at least 50 Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, but little else of note beyond a lone Brent Goose, a few Teal and the female Peregrine. (AH/IP/RM)

Blackcap (above), Mistle Thrush & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

Northcommon Farm: There were four Willow Warblers and three Blackcaps in the trees and bushes, plus a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker near last year's nest-hole. Also, a pair of Red-legged Partridges, 40+ Mediterranean Gulls and two Green Woodpeckers were in the paddocks. (AH/OM)

Mediterranean Gulls (AH) and Red-legged Partridge (OM) at Northcommon Farm

Birdham Pool: The pair of Great Crested Grebes were still present this morning. (MR)

Great Crested Grebes on Birdham Pool (MR)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A Wheatear was flitting about the junction of Easton Lane and Ham Road this evening, whilst around Porthole Farm there were half a dozen Willow Warblers, including one singing, about a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, a Mistle Thrush and at least five Yellowhammers. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer & Rabbits at Medmerry (AH)

Snowhill Creek: The pair of Avocets were still in residence and looking like they may stay to breed. (MR)

Avocets at Snowhill Creek (MR)

Sunday, 7th April: A pleasantly warm morning, after a chilly and murky start, with hazy sunshine and a fairly light north-easterly breeze...... 

Selsey Bill: It was quiet for passage, though a Bonxie and a few Sandwich Terns and Common Scoters went through, and the Red-necked Grebe, an Eider and six Great Northern Divers were offshore, and a House Martin, two Yellow Wagtails and six Wheatears came in off the sea. (JA/SH/PB/CRJ/JF/BI/IP/AH/A&YF/RAI et al)

(0615-1015hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

diver sp - 2E

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 19E, 2W

Mallard - 2W

Common Scoter - 14E

Eider - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Grey Plover - 2p

Ringed Plover - 1p

Bonxie - 1E

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 30os

Common Tern - 2E

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

Meadow Pipit - 22N

Swallow - 1N

House Martin - 1N

Wheatear - 2p, 6N

Chiffchaff - 2p

A Bonxie went east in poor visibility at 14.10hrs. (AW)

1545-1645hrs:  (SH)

Gannet - 8E, 1W

Sandwich tern - 6E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Bonxie past the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was at the front again, whilst there were still ten Avocets, ten Redshank and 12 Lapwing about, along with c40 Teal and 27 Shovelers.

Also, the Spotted Redshank and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were again in the channel opposite, a Blackcap was in the hedges and a Grey Wagtail went over. (AH/RAI/PB)

Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were three singing Sedge Warblers, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs along the pool and three Swallows and 20 Mediterranean Gulls went over. 

Also, six Little Grebes, a Gadwall, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron were around the pool and the Spotted Redshank and c25 Black-tailed Godwits were in Ferry Channel (PB)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Willow Warbler was singing near the farm, moving along the hedges and a Meadow Pipit, a couple of Swallows and up to five Skylarks went over. Also, a pair of Shelducks were on the balancing pool in Manor Lane and one or two Linnets were nearby. (AH/IP)

Willow Warbler (above), Linnet & Shelducks at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 13 Cattle Egrets present today near the dairy buildings and a Whimbrel was among six Curlews. (SA)

Ivy Lake: At least 100 Sand Martins were over the lake this morning. (RAI)

Church Norton: Migrants comprised a Wheatear on the beach, a Sedge Warbler in the first Severals, half a dozen swallows over and one or two scattered Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, whilst there were  also several Skylarks and Linnets along the spit and beach and two Great Spotted and two Green Woodpeckers were also present.
The harbour held at least 50 Sandwich Terns and similar of Mediterranean Gulls, but waders were few, beyond a couple of Ringed Plovers and Black-tailed Godwits, plus a few Curlews and Redshanks. Also, two Brent Geese and two Wigeon were out in the harbour and the female Peregrine was on her island. (AH/IP/A&YF)

Sedge Warbler (above), Blackcap, Wren & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A decidedly quiet morning for migrants overall. White's Creek held 60 Black-tailed Godwits and at least 35 Wigeon amongst the usual Redshanks and Curlews, whilst on the Breech Pool were a further 43 Black-tailed Godwits and 34 Teal. At least three Cetti's Warblers and similar of Chiffchaffs were singing stridently, whilst a single Swallow went over. A circuit from Owl Copse to Owl point and back through Halsey's farm was disappointing; a single Willow Warbler, several Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps - all in song occasionally - was the best I could do. (OM)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Toe End - There were 5 Corn Buntings, 2 Reed Buntings and 3 Stonechats along the path hedgerows, with little else seen except a Pied Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk. The Breech area was dead - just singles of Dunlin and Ringed Plover! (SH)