4th - 6th December 2019

Friday, 6th December: A complete change for the worse this morning -  cold and gloomy, with persistent drizzly showers pushed on by a fresh westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was very little moving this morning, beyond the odd Red-breasted Merganser and Gannet. Full log later. (BI/IP/SR/AH)

(0740-0930 hrs, wind SW F5)
Great Crested Grebe - 5W
Gannet - 1E
Common Scoter - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Turnstone - 1W
Grey Seal - 1os

Ferry Pool: There were four Avocets on the pool this morning, along with four Shelducks, c30 Shovelers and c80 Teal, with at least 100 Wigeon and 200 Lapwings on the fields. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Shovelers and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck and a Black-necked Grebe were at Dell Quay this morning, the latter showing better than of late. (BI)

Chichester Marina hide. From 3.30-4.30 no sign of a Bittern, just a Grey Heron, a Cormorant and two Coots, with c50 Pheasant going to roost in the trees and a small number of Starlings roosting in the reedbed. 

The only interesting bird was a Marsh Harrier that came in high from the east and then turned south. (CRJ)

Church Norton: There were plenty of Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshank in the harbour, but little else beyond just a couple of Knot, a handful of Curlews and a few Wigeon and Teal, whilst two Linnets and four Skylarks flew over. (AH)

Grey Plover (above) & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 5th December: Another pleasant and still morning, after a sharp frost, with more sunshine, though clouding up later as the wind shifted west....

If you ever wondered what sea-watching is all about here are the answers provided by a certain OM, AH & BFF et al of this parish! Many thanks to Mick Jenner for the video below!

Our Birdwatching Family from Nature-on-film on Vimeo.

Selsey Bill: A Sandwich Tern east and a Slavonian Grebe offshore were the highlights of a quiet morning. Full log below...
(0810-0945hrs) (W, F1) (IP/MO-W)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Shag - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 1E
Razorbill - 1W
Chiffchaff - 1

Ferry Pool: There were c50 Lapwings on the ice this morning, but not much else beyond a handful of Shoveler and Teal, with more of the latter in the channel opposite.
The Tramway way was quiet beyond a handful of Goldcrests and a party of Long-tailed Tits. (AH)

Lapwing (above), Teal, Goldcrest & Lomg-tailed Tit around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There was little to report this morning other than approaching 1,000 Brent Geese apparently in the same field as the previous two days, 61 Curlew feeding in Honer 3 field and a flock of 40 Golden Plover and a Kingfisher at the sluice gates. (IH)

Medmerry: A winter survey of the area, including the fields to the east and all the farmland, revealed a total count of 107 Snipe and six Jack Snipe today. (HB et al)

Chi Marina pool/reedbed: The hide was full of observers at times this morning, but sadly the stars of the show - alias the Bittern and the Bearded Tits - failed to appear. There was little to see other than a few Teal, a Kestrel, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and 10 Long-tailed Tits, plus the regular Black Swan with four Mute congeners, which, perhaps feeling rather upstaged, actually came to see us, parking themselves right opposite the Hide! (OM/PC/DSa et al)
Later, the Bittern was seen to fly into the reedbed at 15.48hrs (HB)

Black and Mute Swans right opposite the Hide at Chi Marina pool (OM)

Church Norton: At lunchtime there were six Sanderlings along the shore at Church Norton, while out at sea there was a Great Northern Diver and at least eight Slavonian Grebes. There were also two Avocets in the harbour along with the usual waders and the two Peregrines were sat on their island.(AW)

Avocet (above), Peregrine & Sanderlings at Church Norton (AW)

Wednesday, 4th December: The spell of cold but very sunny weather continues, with just a touch more of the light easterly breeze than yesterday.....

Selsey Bill: It remains quiet, though seven Shags went east and there were a few Red-throated Divers about. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH/MO-W)
(0800-0930hrs) (E, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-Throated Diver - 5E, 6W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 1E, 3W, 1os
Shag - 7E
Brent Goose - 4E
Red-Breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W
auk sp - 3E
Common Gull - 1W
Chiffchaff - 1

Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The shooting taking place nearby put all the birds up from the pool and vicinity, including 200 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 30 Shovelers and 300 Lapwing, with not a bird left behind. (AH)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Marina Reed-beds: The Bittern flew around briefly at midday, whilst the Bearded Tits were seen early on, but not later. (PB/MP/DP/MRo et al)

Bittern at Chi Marina pool reed-bed (MRo) and (below) a view of the pool and reed-bed from the Hide; note the much-improved views since the recent cutting and management of the reeds in the foreground. (OM) 

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck continued to show well at Dell Quay, whilst seven Goldeneye and similar of Red-breasted Mergansers were further down the channel towards the Marina.

In the main channel at low tide there were three Spotted Redshanks and seven Greenshank, along with a Black Swan, a Kingfisher, at least 500 Black-tailed Godwits before most of them decamped south, and many hundreds of Wigeon and Brent Geese, plus the commoner waders.

The Water Pipit was reported again, whilst several Rock Pipits were about, along with the Stonechat and two Yellowhammers. (AH/IP et al)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Long-tailed Duck and Little Egret, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Kingfisher, Black-tailed Godwits, Rock Pipit & Yellowhammer at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher and a Rock Pipit were all present again this morning and 51 Curlew were feeding in Honer 3 field. A Grey Plover was seen opposite Owl Copse and a flock of Golden Plover was evident further out. 
About 1,000 Brent Geese were in the field between Marsh and Honer Farms although they later returned to the harbour. A Goldcrest flitted about in the hedgerow while we watched the geese before we moved on to confirm that at least 100 Fieldfare were still occupying trees along Honer Lane. (IH/TH)

Runcton: A maximum of four Reed Buntings visiting the seed feeders this morning. (CRJ)

Reed Buntings in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

1st - 3rd December 2019

Tuesday, 3rd December: A mostly sunny and almost still morning, with a frost early on, but warming up later........

Selsey Bill: There were just a few of the regular species about this morning. Full log below. (IP/SR/AH)
(0800-0900hrs) (N, F1)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 5os
Gannet - 3W
Shag - 4E
Brent Goose - 1W
Common scoter - 4E
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 2W, 10os
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Pied Wagtail - 1
Chiffchaff - 1

Shags (above), Common Scoters & Chiffchaff at Selsey Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 30 Teal, 20 Shoveler and four Shelducks on the pool, along with a Redshank and c150 Lapwings. (AH)
Later, a Bullfinch was calling outside the Visitor Centre. (AT)

Chichester Marina: The two Bearded Tits were showing well again this morning in the reed-beds. (GT) 
They were still present later on, when the Bittern showed at the back of the reed-beds and there was also two Water Rail and a Water Vole present. 
In the channel from the Marina there were six Goldeneyes, 17 Little Grebes and a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers, along with three Sanderling among the commoner waders.
(TB/NR/BFF/DM)

Water Rails at Chichester Marina reed-beds (DM)

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck was just south of Dell Quay again this morning, whilst the Black-necked Grebe was towards the Marina. Also, the Water Pipit was by the  Lavant outfall and a Kingfisher was nearby.
Also seen, at Apuldram were a Firecrest, a Coal Tit and six Yellowhammers, along with Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, whilst along the Creek there were five Rock Pipits, a Cetti's Warbler, a Stonechat, five Greenshank, six Gadwall, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, c1500 Brent Geese and masses of Wigeon and Teal.  (KJ/SR/TB/NR/BFF/DM et al)

Kingfisher (above), Water Pipit (SR) & Long-tailed Duck (DM) at Fishbourne Creek (SR)

Chichester: Four Whooper Swans flew over the Whyke area of the south of the city, heading south-west at 8.45am. (AT)

North Wall: Highlight this morning was two Peregrines chasing for well over a minute - and apparently working as a team - a prey item which was probably a Redshank. The hunt failed and, as they rested way out on the mud, a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reed beds. 
From the sluice gates, two Grey Wagtails, a Rock Pipit, a Stonechat and the Kingfisher could be seen, and further along the wall there was a Yellowhammer, a Song Thrush and  a calling Water Rail.  In the field at the end of the wall 250 Wigeon were feeding together with a few Curlew, and approaching 1,000 Brent Geese occupied a field between Marsh and Honer Farms. (IH)

Church Norton: A Firecrest was by the church gate this morning, whilst offshore there were two Slavonian Grebes, with possibly another three very distant ones further out. (KJ)

Sidlesham: Two Ravens flew east over our house to the west of the village  this morning. (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: It was very quiet here, with just two Redwings of note among half a dozen Song Thrushes and numerous Blackbirds, though there were a few commoner species, including several Pied Wagtails, a few Chaffinches and lots of Starlings and House Sparrows. 
There were also up to 50 Common Gulls among c300 Black-headed Gulls on the fields, and a Brown Hare was also about. (AH)

Redwings (above), Pied Wagtail, Common and Black-headed Gulls & Brown Hare at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm area - There were plenty of birds on the fields to the seaward side of the banks this morning, including a couple of Corn Buntings, a Stonechat, c40 Reed Buntings and similar of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.
A Greenshank was heard, but not seen, out on the reserve, whilst the tidal areas held c20 Grey Plovers and Redshanks and c80 Dunlin. (AH)

Reed Bunting (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit & Skylark at Ham Farm (AH)

Monday, 2nd December: Another very bright but cold morning, after a sharp frost, with just a light northerly breeze...

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning! Full log below. 

(0800-0945hrs) (N, F2)  (IP/AH/MO-W)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Shag - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Red-throated Divers (above), Sparrowhawk, Red-breasted Merganser & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c30 Teal and c20 Shovelers, plus two Shelducks, on the pool and c100 Lapwing on the field. (AH)

Also, a pair of Bullfinches were near the Visitor Centre. (TG-P)

Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Not a bird was along the pool, whilst in Ferry Channel there were c40 Redshank, c100 Teal and c150 Wigeon, along with the odd Curlew and Grey Plover. (AH)

Wigeon (above) & Teal and Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A mid-morning visit produced 5 Red-breasted Mergansers (all redheads), the Long-tailed Duck showing close to Dell Quay, a Great Northern Diver and four Goldeneye (all distant), two Spotted Redshanks, up to five Greenshanks and a Kingfisher. (EC)

 Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Mergansers at Dell Quay (EC)

Chi Marina reedbed: The Bearded Tits previously reported were heard calling briefly, but not seen, this morning. (EC)

Itchenor Quay: Three Red-breasted Mergansers (two of which were males) were seen this morning. (EC)

Red-breasted Merganser off Itchenor Quay (EC)

North Wall: This morning around 800 Brent Geese (with probable later additions from the harbour) and 80 Curlew occupied the same field east of Marsh farm as yesterday. 
There were perhaps 100 Fieldfare and also two Redwings in Honer Lane together with a Jay, a Kestrel and a troop of Long-tailed Tits. Along the Wall there were at least two Song Thrushes and at least a single Fieldfare. (IH)

Sunday, 1st December: Cloudy at first, becoming a very bright, dry but cold, morning in a fresh north-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: A Goosander went east again this morning and there were a few more Red-throated Divers, along with five Eider, on the move, whilst at least 40 Gannets were feeding well offshore. Full log below.... 
0730-0945hrs: (wind NE4) (SH/BI/IP/SR/AH)
Red-throated Diver - 12E, 13W, 5os
Great Northern Diver - 3 os
Diver sp - 4W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Gannet - 9E, 5W, 40 os
Shag - 7E
Brent Goose - 14E, 2W
Eider - 1E, 4W
Common Scoter - 8E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 1W, 8os
Goosander - 1E
Wigeon - 16E, 9W, 1os
auk sp - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Kittiwake - 5E
Common Gull - 2E
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 1
Common Seal - 1os

Eiders (above) & Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 11 Shovelers and eight Teal on the pool, with c150 Lapwing on the Field. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Marina Reed-bed: The Bittern was showing from the hide at 10.50am this morning. (RJS) 
Later, two Bearded Tits were present in the reeds early afternoon. (J.Winder)

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck was off Dell Quay again this morning. (RJS)
A quick look on the high tide at lunchtime produced the Long-tailed Duck off the jetty and six Goldeneyes (three drakes, a first-year drake and two females) a bit further up the hannel. (AH)

Long-tailed Duck (above) & Goldeneyes at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Church Norton: The Peregrine was on its island and there were plenty of Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshank in the harbour, whilst four drake Shovelers, two Teal and a Snipe were in the creek by the horse field.

A look round Greenlease Farm produced a Blackcap in the orchard, a Chiffchaff along the path, c40 Meadow Pipits and c300 Wood Pigeons in the rape fields and two Mistle Thrushes, a Green Woodpecker and several Jays around the grass fields. (AH/IP)

Blackcap (above), Green Woodpecker, Jay, Shoveler & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: A rather quiet morning here, the best bird being a Woodcock which flew up from a damp copse, but otherwise little to report, with a couple of Little Egrets, two Water Rails, a Bullfinch and three Chiffchaffs being the meagre best of the rest. Also, an inquisitive young Roe Deer made a brief appearance before its mother led it away. (OM)

Roe Deer at Drayton North pit (OM)

North Wall: A longer walk than usual produced a longer sightings list than usual - 40 species. A Kingfisher was as usual at the sluice gates, and along White's Creek there were about 200 Dunlin, a dozen or so Golden Plover, perhaps 200 Lapwings and a Chiffchaff in a tree bordering the creek. A Rock Pipit was found along the wall and approaching 1,000 Brent Geese were at one time In a field east of Marsh Farm together with 160 Curlews. Another Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were in a hedgerow bordering the field and in Honer Lane a flock of up to 200 Fieldfare and a single Redwing were present while a Raven, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail flew over. (IH/SP)

Runcton: A male Reed Bunting was on the feeder at home today, also a pair of Stonechats off Saltham Lane. (CRJ)

Male Reed Bunting on a garden feeder at Runcton (CRJ)