13th - 15th April 2023

Saturday, 15th April: Another unseasonably chill morning in a moderate north-westerly breeze, mostly grey but with a few pleasant sunny intervals............

Selsey Bill: A slightly more interesting morning than the conditions suggested, including a Long-tailed Duck and two dark-phase Arctic Skuas east, a (sadly, not very well-looking) Guillemot and eight Great Northern Divers on the sea and a Wheatear and two Swallows in off. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/IP/AH/MO-W/SR/P&LH)

(0600-0900hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 8os

Red-throated Diver - 2os

diver sp - 3E

Gannet - 10E, 10W, 5os

Shag - 1E

Grey Heron - 1N

Long-tailed Duck - 1E

Common Scoter - 3E, 13W, 18os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 2W

Arctic Skua - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 8os

Common Tern - 6E, 2os

Guillemot - 1os

auk sp - 3W

Swallow - 2N

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Wheatear - 1

Rook - 1W

At 1530hrs this afternoon an Osprey went west, well offshore. (SM)

Wheatear (above), Sparrowhawk, Great Northern Diver, Shag & Guillemot at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The first Common Sandpiper of the year and the Spotted Redshank were both in the channel this morning, and two Wheatears were in the field at the back, along with a Skylark, but the pool just held six Avocets, a Redshank a dozen Teal, four Shelducks and c50 Shovelers. (AW/AH/HB/PB et al)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

Long Pool: At least one Reed Warbler and plenty of Sedge warblers were singing along the pool, with two Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting and a Chiffchaff were also about, whilst a Marsh Harrier was about early on, a lone drake Wigeon was in Ferry Channel and three or four pairs of Lapwings and a few Skylarks were over the uncropped fields. (AW/AH/HB et al)

This evening a Short-eared Owl was out hunting the fields at the end of the pool. (AB)

Reed Warbler (AW) (above), Sedge Warbler & Yellowhammer (AH) along the Long Pool

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just eight Shelducks and a couple of Pied Wagtails in the fields this morning. (IP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, two Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, five Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and two Yellowhammers were along the banks, whilst three Swallows, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and three Buzzards went over.

Also, a Greenshank and an Avocet were by the poplars, with another 20 of the latter and two Ringed Plovers were it for the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

North Wall: The Garganey reappeared in the harbour by Heron Island late this morning, whilst a Common Sandpiper was on the mud opposite Bremere Rife and two Whimbrel went over, heading north.

Otherwise, two Little Egrets were in the paddock this morning and a Wren and a couple of Greenfinches were in the hedges, and along White’s Creek there were two Shovelers, 12 Teal, lots of Black-tailed Godwits, three Grey Plovers and 14 Redshanks, with four Tufted Ducks on the Breech Pool along with a Great Crested Grebe, two Canada Geese and the pair of nesting Mute Swans, whilst the male Marsh Harrier was up briefly further back.

Four Cetti’s Warblers, three Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers and two Reed Buntings were along the wall, and a Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and12 Curlews were in the fields, whilst at Owl Copse there was plenty of activity from the Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Grey Herons, and 15 more Little Egrets were in the Slipe Field. (RBe/LP/IP et al)

Garganey (above), Cattle Egret, Wren (LP) & Whimbrel (RBe) at the North Wall

Church Norton: The male Redstart was still around the orchard at Greenlease Farm and three Wheatears were along the beach, whilst both Sedge and Reed Warblers could be heard singing from the Severals, where there was also two or three Jays, three Reed Buntings, a Kestrel, a pair of Little Grebes and a pair of Gadwall, and there were a couple of Willow Warblers and half a dozen Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were around the Mound/hide area.

The Whimbrel was again in the harbour, along with a few Grey Plovers, Turnstones, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and at least 250 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a drake Red-breasted Merganser, a pair of Teal and 40 Shelducks were also about. (IP/AH/P&LH/HB et al)

Also, later on, a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly was around the rubble pile at Greenlease Farm, and the Restart was still by the orchard and two Eider were offshore. (AB/BI/S&SaH/SR)

Redstart (IP) (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-tailed Godwits & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls (AH) at Church Norton

Friday, 14th April: A thoroughly dismal morning for the time of year, cold despite a fresh southerly breeze, later shifting to become south-easterly, with often heavy, drizzly rain persisting all morning.......

Selsey Bill: An early flourish, which included an Arctic Skua and a few Common and Sandwich Terns heading east, quickly petered out, despite the apparently promising conditions, with very little on the move thereafter. Full log below. (BI/RHa/IP/MO-W/SR/OM/AH)

(0630-1145hrs) (S/SE F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 10E, 4W

Common Scoter -  5E, 20os, 

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 24os

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 40E, 4os

Common Tern - 12E, 8os

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Common Tern (above), Sandwich Tern & Fulmar at the Bill (AH)

There was a bit of activity early this afternoon, with a Bonxie, two Arctic Skuas and a flock of 28 Bar-tailed Godwits, plus a Whimbrel, going east. Full log below. (AW)

(1330-1430hrs)

Bar-tailed Godwit - 28E

Whimbrel - 1E

Great Skua - 1E

Arctic Skua - 2E

(1530-1630hrs) (SH/SR/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 28E, 1W

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 6E, 4 present

Sandwich Tern - 11E, 4os

Common Tern - 3E, 1os

Arctic Skuas (above) & Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Great White Egret went over again, heading west, early this morning. (MO-W)

Later, a Little Ringed Plover flew out from the back, but it was otherwise the usual fare, including six Avocets, a Lapwing, a dozen Teal, four Shelducks and c50 Shovelers, whilst the Spotted Redshank, rapidly changing into summer plumage, was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet, Shovelers & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Whimbrel was again on the mud near the benches this morning, with c50 Dunlin and c200 Black-tailed Godwits also present, along with a Gadwall and a few Teal and Shelducks, but beyond that it was just the mass of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, plus c50 Sandwich Terns, around the island, and a half-heartedly singing Chiffchaff was it for the bushes. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - A fairly quick look at lunchtime produced two Common Terns, c200 Sand Martins and a handful of Swallows feeding over the lakes, with c25 (mostly male) Pochards, a dozen Tufted Ducks, a pair of Egyptian Geese and twp pairs of Greylag Geese on the water and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the bushes. (AH)

Sand Martin (above), Chiffchaff & Pochards at Ivy Lake (AH)

Thursday, 13th April: A bright and very blustery morning after the overnight storm, cold early on, but warming up as the brisk breeze backed from north-west to south-west.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of ten Common Terns lingering close offshore was the highlight of a very quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0720-0850hrs) (NW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3E, 3W

Common Scoter - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Turnstone - 12

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 9W, 3os

Common Tern - 10os

auk sp - 1W

Collared Dove - 1

Swallow - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Common Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 17 Avocets on the pool this morning, but, otherwise, just a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank, ten Teal and c30 Shovelers, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A drake Garganey - the first of the year - was along the rife at Halsey's Farm, with a few Teal and a Little Grebe for company, with two Swallows, two Linnets and two Jays also in the vicinity and plenty of Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were around Owl Copse.

Also, a Wheatear, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the wall, a Green Woodpecker was in the paddocks, a Sedge Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Tufted Ducks were at the Breech Pool, whilst two Shovelers, two Gadwall, nine Canada Geese and a few Curlews and Shelducks were in the fields, but White's Creek just held two Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Redshank. (SP/LP/AH/RHa/TH/OM/SR et al)

Later, a Water Vole was showing well in the rife between Halsey's Farm and Marsh Farm, with a Marsh Harrier quartering the fields and two Swallows and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls over, whilst there were plenty of Bee flies on the wing, too. (SR)

Garganey (top OM, middle LP, lower AH) (above), Wheatear, Reed Bunting (LP). Cattle Egret (AH) & Water Vole (SR) at the North Wall

Church Norton: A Whimbrel was in the harbour, along with c50 Dunlin and c200 Black-tailed Godwits, though there didn't appear to be very many Sandwich Terns among the vast throng of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls sat out on the mud.

A fairly quick look around the sheltered hedges produced just two or three Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, plus a dozen Chiffchaffs, but not much else. (HR/DMe/AH)

Willow Warbler (above), Chiffchaff & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

This evening the Whimbrel was showing well by the benches and a lone Brent Goose and a few more Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, whilst at least three Blackcaps and a few Chiffchaffs were by the Mound. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Brent Goose, Blackcap & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

10th - 12th April 2023

Wednesday, 12th April: Another very windy morning, quite cold and with some heavy squalls moving through.....going downhill by afternoon with heavy rain at times and the west-south-westerly gale gusting to severe gale force 9 at times.

Selsey Bill: A flock of 14 Brent Geese east were the only migrants on a very quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/P&LH/AH/MO-W)

(0715-0900hrs) (W, F5-6)

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Fulmar - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 2E, 25W, 2os

Brent Goose - 14E

Common Scoter - 6E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 10W, 18os

This evening the first Manx Shearwater of the year went west, well offshore. Full log below. (SH)

(1645-1800hrs) (WSW, F8) 

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Common Tern - 2os

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

Ferry Pool: A Great White Egret flew out from Red Barn Ditch and across the harbour towards the west side (AW), whilst a Little Ringed Plover was on the pool and a Raven and two Swallows went over (TG-P)

Later on, it was just the usual stuff, though, including ten Avocets, a Lapwing, a couple of Black-tailed Godwits, three Gadwall, four Shelducks, a dozen or so Teal and c40 Shovelers, whilst c200 Mediterranean Gulls went over west and a Spotted Redshank and three Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AH/MO-W)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet & Mediterranean Gull at Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: In the blustery conditions only two Chiffchaffs were noted in the bushes, whilst in the harbour there were still a few Wigeon and Teal, with 50+ of both Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit, and a couple of Curlews, whilst mid-channel there were six Greenshanks.

Also, in amongst the numerous Herring and Black-headed Gulls were two Greater Black-backed Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. (RW)

Church Norton: There really wasn't much to report this morning, with just a couple of Blackcaps and a few Chiffchaffs in the sheltered hedges, a handful of Linnets and a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers along the Severals and two Buzzards over.

The harbour was dominated by the gull and tern colony, with otherwise just c60 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Curlews and Shelducks on the mud. (AH)

Later on, the male Redstart was again around the orchard at Greenlease Farm. (SaH)

Blackcap (above), Linnet, Buzzard, Black-tailed Godwits and Tern Island at Church Norton(AH)

Tuesday, 11th April: A bright and breezy morning in a blustery westerly, freshening and clouding up as the morning progressed.....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, though a Shag and a couple of Red-throated Divers went east and a few Common Terns were offshore, whilst a Wheatear went along the beach and a Swallow flew in. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/IP)

(0720-0905hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Shag - 1E

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5os

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 25os

Common Tern - 3W, 13os

Swallow - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Wheatear - 1

(1645-1800hrs) (SW, F6) (SH/AH)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 14os

Red-throated Diver (above), Sandwich Tern & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Great White Egret flew over heading west, early this morning, though otherwise it was just the regulars, including nine Avocets, c75 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Gadwall, ten Teal, four Shelducks and c60 Shovelers, whilst a Spotted Redshank and three Redshank were in the channel opposite. (MO-W/AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Redshank & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

The Green Sandpiper was present again this afternoon, along with two Lapwings, ten Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Mediterranean Gulls, whilst 14 Swallows went over. (MO-W/AH)

Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were quite a few Sedge Warblers singing along the pool this morning, but not much else  was going on. (AW/J Morton)

East Head: A look along the harbour from East Head to Ella Nore this morning produced a single Brent Goose, a Whimbrel, c40 Bar-tailed and c60 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Knot, 30 Ringed Plovers and c45 Oystercatchers, along with c300 Mediterranean Gulls, with more in the fields, and there were also two Wheatears on Ella Nore spit. (PH)

Church Norton: The male Redstart showed briefly again in the hedge by the orchard at Greenlease Farm this morning, and half a dozen Swallows went over, but the only other migrants were a couple of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps and up to ten Chiffchaffs, mostly around the Mound and hide.

At least 250 Black-tailed Godwits were spread around on the mud, but there wasn't too much else beyond the gulls and terns around the island. (AH/AW)

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

Bank Holiday Monday, 10th April: A pretty dire morning that started with a fresh south-westerly and drizzle that quickly turned to rain, before easing up by lunchtime.....

Selsey Bill: It was predictably quiet, but a pair of Eider were sat on the sea, two Wheatears dropped in on the rocks and 17 Common Gulls, mostly first-winter birds, went west. Full log below. (CN/SR/AH/SH/BI)

(0730-0900hrs) (SW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Fulmar - 2W

Brent Goose - 6E

Eider - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 1W

Common Gull - 17W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 6os

Wheatear - 2

Wheatear (above), Sandwich Tern & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1145-1300hrs) (SH/AW)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 3E, 15W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 19os

Common Tern - 1os

Swallow - 5N

Wheatear - 2

(1615-1715hrs) (SH/CN/AH)

Gannet - 7E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2os

Great Skua - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 20os

Bonxie at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't much on the pool this morning, with just ten Avocets, two Black-tailed Godwits, six Teal and c50 Shovelers present, whilst the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Whitethroat was in the hedges this afternoon. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: Two Yellow Wagtails flew in off the sea early on, and later a Whitethroat was behind the hide - both firsts for the year, whilst otherwise, four Sedge Warblers and three Cetti's Warblers were calling from the Severals and a couple of Blackcaps and half a dozen Chiffchaffs were along the sheltered hedges.

A Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were over the Severals, with three Gadwall also there, whilst at least 100 Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, along with c60 Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plovers and a few Curlews and Redshank, plus, of couse, the mass of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls. (SH/BI/AH)

Whitethroat (above), Chiffchaff, Curlew & Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

The first Redstart of the spring - a smart male - was at Greenlease Farm this afternoon, whilst a Wheatear was on the beach, a Swallow went over, a Willow Warbler, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap were around the Severals, and a Sedge Warbler, a couple more Willow Warblers, at least five Blackcaps and a dozen Chiffchaffs were around the Mound.

Also, a Cattle Egret was in the horse field and at least three Common Terns were among 100+ Sandwich Terns in the harbour. (S&SaH/AH)

Redstart (SaH) (above), Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cattle Egret and Common and Sandwich Terns, Common and Mediterranean Gulls (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: A Wheatear was in the paddock along with a Green Woodpecker, two Greenfinches and three Goldfinches, while six Jackdaws were busy collecting hair from the horses.

A Spoonbill, a Swallow and a Snipe flew over the Breech Pool, where there were pairs of Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans, and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds. At Halsey’s Farm there were three Teal, two Shovelers and two Gadwall, and in Owl Copse there was the usual Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets.

It was quiet along the hedgerows with just a couple of Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs, and along White’s Creek there were just two Black Tailed Godwits, three Grey Plovers and eight Redshank. (LP/CT)

Spoonbill (above), Wheatear, Teal & Jackdaw at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - This afternoon there were three Common Terns over the lakes, and there were also several hundred Sand Martins, with just a few Swallows amongst them, present, too. (AW)

Common Tern (above), Sand Martin & Swallow over Ivy Lake (AW)