18th - 20th April 2014

Easter Sunday, 20th April: A change to cloudy and overcast conditions, with a blasting, cool north-easterly and the forecast of heavy rain later. First news today is from SR, out and about early, reporting that the Ring Ouzel is still present at 6.30am!

Selsey, Warner Lane: The Ring Ouzel still present this morning. (SR)
 

Selsey Bill: (0540-1000hrs): ENE 3/4 Grey with some rain (JA/SH/IP/PB/CRJ/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Fulmar - 3E, 6W

Gannet - 17E, 20W

Grey Heron - 1W

Mallard - 2N

Common Scoter - 7E

Grey Plover - 2E

Knot - 1E

Sanderling - 2ob

Whimbrel - 4E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 68E

Turnstone - 14E

Little Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 78E

Common Tern - 64E, 1W

Bar-tailed Godwits briefly stopping in the gloom at the Bill (AH)

 

An afternoon seawatch produced an Arctic Skua and a couple of Bonxies. Log below... Also a seal close inshore, and opinion was favouring Grey Seal. Any comments on pictures below appreciated. (AH)

 

Putative Grey Seal offshore from the Bill (AH)

Selsey Bill additional watch 1600 to 1830hrs (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2 os
Gannet - 59E, 21W
Fulmar - 2E, 1W
Shelduck - 1 ob
Common Scoter - 27E
R/b Merganser - 5E
Ringed Plover - 1E
Sanderling - 3E
Great Skua - 1E, 1 os
Arctic Skua - 1E (dark phase)
Sandwich Tern- 12E, 4os
Common Tern - 4E
C/A Tern - 1E
Little Gull - 1E
Kittiwake - 2W
Razorbill - 1E
Auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 26N

 

Medmerry: (West Sands) A Little Ringed Plover near the rubble heaps, and a few Linnets and Skylarks about. (BI)

 

Ferry Pool area: 2 Avocets, 4 Gadwall & 3 Shoveler present on the pool. (SR) A Greenshank over Long Pool (CRJ) 3 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff around the Visitor Centre. (BI)

This afternoon 5 Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry, a Snipe over the Long Pool, 2 Brent Geese, 7 Whimbrel and 3 Grey Plovers roosting on the exposed islets and 4 Sandwich Terns feeding off the spit. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

 

Church Norton: 2 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Plovers and 80+ Dunlin in the harbour, plus a Blackcap and a Jay in the churchyard. (BI/AH) 6 Blackcaps in the Bluebell Wood (S&SaH)

 

Pagham Lagoon: 6 Swallows and a calling Cetti's Warbler. (BI)

 

Chichester Gravel Pits: Ivy Lake - 100+ Swallows and Sand Martins this morning (CRJ)

Westhampnett Pit - approximately 20 Sand Martins, 40 House Martins and 100+ Swallows this morning, plus a Common Tern and a Gadwall (AH/BI)

 

House Martin (above), Sand Martin & Swallow at Westhampnett Pit (AH)

 

A mix of all three at Westhampnett Pit (below) (BI)

 

Saturday, 19th April: The chill north-easterly persists, with cloud cover building during the morning......but by evening the first Pom Skua of the season had been logged... and no I wasn't there! (OM).

 

Selsey Bill: Still slow - a Bonxie and an Arctic Skua east this morning, and a few terns, but not much else. (AH) Then a late afternoon watch by the real locals stole the show and produced a Pom Skua east along the 'mile basket' line at 1725hrs and also a Bonxie and a couple of Little Gulls... game on! (JA/SH).

0530-0930hrs: ENE 3/4 (JA/SH et al)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os
Fulmar - 3E, 6W
Gannet - 32E, 20W & 20os
Brent Goose - 4E
Shelduck - 1W, 2os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2os
Common Scoter - 7E
Ringed Plover - 1E
Curlew - 3E
Whimbrel - 23E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E
Dunlin - 12E
Arctic Skua - 1E
Bonxie - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Common Tern - 7E
'Commic' Tern - 2E
Little Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 26E, 2os
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
 

Additional watch 0930 to 1145hrs: (Obs: C&ME/SR/CN)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Diver sp - 2E
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 7E
Whimbrel - 13E
Black-tailed Godwit - 1E
Dunlin - 8E
Arctic Skua - 1E
Common Tern - 2E    
Swallow - 15N

And 1500 to 1830hrs: (JA/SH)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 43E, 9W
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 5E, 1W
Whimbrel - 2E
Bonxie - 1os
Pomarine Skua - 1E at 17.25
Little Gull - 2E
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Little Tern - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 21E
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 1W
            

Selsey, Warner Lane: The Ring Ouzel still present this morning. (SR)

 

Ferry Pool: The Garganey was reported as present very early this morning, but not seen subsequently. A female-type Marsh Harrier appeared from the south at 9am, before gaining height and drifting off over the harbour. Otherwise it was quiet - a Reed Bunting, a Stock Dove, 2 Avocets, a Little Grebe, 5 Gadwall (4 drakes), 4 Teal, 3 Shoveler and 25 Shelducks being about it. (AH/GH/OM)

Marsh Harrier over the Ferry (AH)

 

Long Pool: A Cuckoo was in the bushes at the far end, upsetting a pair of Meadow Pipits, and another one was calling from the Tramway. A Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats along with 4-5 Sedge Warblers were seen/heard from the path, and the near summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 2-3 Whimbrel were in the channel. (AH/GH/OM)

Cuckoo & Meadow Pipit on the west side (AH)

 

Church Norton: The walk from Park Farm produced 2 Lesser Whitethroats (at Park Farm), 1 Whitethroat, 12 Swallows, 4 Sedge Warblers in the Severals and 2 House Martins in off the sea. (S&SaH)

Late afternoon - 3 Bar-Tailed Godwits, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Whimbrel, 25 Curlew, 40 Dunlin in the harbour on the falling tide. (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm/Sidlesham SF: - 2 Yellow Wagtails on the tanks this morning, and 3 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Bunting & 2 Yellowhammers nearby and a Cuckoo was heard. (AH) Easton Lane westwards: - at least 6 singing Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellowhammers, 20 Linnets, 5+ singing Skylarks, 20 Shelduck and 4 Lapwing. (AH) West Sands end: 2 Wheatears, a male Whitethroat and a female Common Redstart (per SR).

Walk from Golf Links Lane to Medmerry banks, east side:  A brief visit fitted in this afternoon, it was bit of a shock to see large areas of the banks that had previously been green and verdant are now brown and quite dead, it looks as if they've been sprayed.  Also, some members of the public were being a little dim, one lady managed to climb over the barbed wire fence and walk along the new shoreline (see pictures!).  Not very good birding conditions. Sightings: 1 Reed Bunting, 22 Skylarks, 16 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel (SR)

 

Common Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)
 

Medmerry views and problems...public inside fencing barriers and apparently-sprayed bank (SR).

 

Good Friday, 18th April: Sunny and dry but with a fresh E/NE wind; the start of the Easter holiday, which should see plenty of observers out and about on the Peninsula, so let's just hope the birding lives up to expectations. First news today is that the Ring Ouzel at Warner Lane Selsey is still present for its fifth day (SR) and a drake Garganey is on the Ferry. Potentially much rarer however is belated news of a rare dark form of Fulmar - known as blue Fulmar - photographed by a fisherman off Selsey Bill last month. Whilst 'blue' Fulmars do occur in British waters, this bird may have come from much further afield...... an update appears below:-

Unusual Fulmar off Selsey Bill on 17th March 2014: The following information was provided by Paul James following contact from local Selsey fisherman and occasional birder Chris Wilson. It seems the information originally appeared on the SOS website but it somehow escaped OM/AH at the time so did not appear in these pages. I have no knowledge  or experience of such rare forms of this species, so can do no better than to attach the emails from PJ which are self-explanatory, and the photos from PW; I am very grateful to both for their information (OM)

 

(all photos copyright C. Wilson)

 

Hi Chris, I've done some more research into Blue Fulmars and am now of the opinion that your bird of 17th March may be something quite special. Have a look at this website http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/05/19/the-blue-fulmar-pelagic/ and you will see a photo of a so called ‘double dark’ Atlantic Blue Fulmar which bears a striking resemblance to the bird you had. The ‘True Blues’ are birds of the High Arctic (Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya etc) so assuming it is one, it's a very long way from home and potentially an exceptional record for the English Channel. I have sent your photos to Martin Garner of Birding Frontiers for his comments and will keep you posted of any developments. 

 

I've had a reply from Martin Garner who confirms that your bird is in his words 'quite a striking double dark Atlantic bird'. As I mentioned previously, 'true blues' are birds of the High Arctic with a major feeding ground being the Barents Sea. Martin is only aware of a handful of other records for southern England from Devon, see http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/06/17/atlantic-and-pacific-blue-fulmar/ for some photos.  Paul James.

_________________________________________________

 

Selsey, Warner Lane: The Ring Ouzel was still present from 0720hrs (SR).

Ferry Pool: A drake Garganey put in an appearance this morning though, as is seemingly typical, it was either asleep or feeding at the very far end. Otherwise 5 Avocets, a single Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Grebe and 2 pairs of Gadwall present. (AH)

 

Garganey (above) and Little Grebe on Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Pretty quiet - one or two Whimbrels in the harbour (BI), a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs about, and a Reed Warbler and at least 4 Sedge Warblers in the Severals (S&SaH)

The small area of woodland next to the last Several held 1 Sparrowhawk, 3+ Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, c.5 Chiffchaffs and at least 2 Cetti's Warblers....also a request: could birders along this part of the beach (opposite the last Several) keep an eye open, at low tide, for a stray fishing net that has come away from its floats.  Luke Dray and Bart Ives found it on the beach but the tide claimed it before they could do anything about it; the net has a fine mesh and could all too easily entrap seabirds (SR).

Late afternoon there were at least 6 Whimbrel in the harbour, along with a Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Curlew, 60+ Dunlin and 20+ Ringed Plover. (AH)

Whimbrel from Church Norton (AH)

Long Pool: A Lesser Whitethroat showed briefly, plus at least ten Common Whitethroat and 4 Sedge Warblers. Looking back towards the Ferry Pool along the mud creek from the top of the long pool we located two Spotted Redshank, one almost in summer plumage and the other partial moulting. (IP/PB/CN)

Selsey Bill (0530-0930hrs): Sunny, some cloud, wind starting NW2 becoming NE 3-4. 

(Obs: JA/AH et al) Another fairly slow day with more of the same really; it will happen soon!
Great Northern Diver - 7 os
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 22E, 27W, 10 os
Shelduck - 6W, 2 os
Common Scoter - 11E
R/b Merganser - 2E
Long-tailed Duck - 1E (the regular bird!)
Eider - 1W
Whimbrel - 1E
Oystercatcher - 5 os
Sanderling - 17 ob
Little Tern - 5E, 2 os
Common Tern - 7E, 1 os
C/A Tern - 9E
Sandwich Tern - 32E, 6 os
Rook - 5N from way out
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Yellow Wagtail - 3N
Swallow - 2N
Wheatear - 1 ob
Chiffchaff - 2 gardens
Willow Warbler - 2 gardens

Additional sea-watch 16.00-18.30 (JA/SH/AH/CN)
Great Northern Diver - 3 os
Fulmar - 3W
Gannet - 20E, 2W
Shelduck - 2W
Whimbrel - 8W
Bat-tailed Godwit - 7W
Bonxie - 1E
Little Gull - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 17E, 4os
Swallow - 2N

Medmerry:
West Beach: 5 Wheatears, 7 Linnets, 5 Meadow Pipits, 9 Shelduck, 2 Curlew, 8 Lapwing, and 1 Corn Bunting, singing for a short time from what remains of the greenery on the rough 'building site' ground (SR). Also seen were a female Redstart and a Whitethroat. (SR)
Easton Lane westwards: At Earnley Pools we heard a Yellow Wagtail fly over (unseen), and there was also a Whinchat and 2 Wheatears along the fenceline there, plus Lesser & Common Whitethroat in the area. The 2 Avocets were present, but little else of interest was on the pools. (IP/CN)

Ivy Lake: A fairly brief look at lunchtime produced a Hobby in amongst a swirling mass of Swallows, and there were three Common Terns over the water. (AH)

15th - 17th April 2014

Thursday, 17th April: Still bright and sunny, though the wind had gone back south-westerly. Generally fairly quiet on the sea once more, but there were a couple of bits of sea-watching interest and a small fall of passerines this morning....and although the Ring Ouzel at Warner Lane Selsey appeared to have gone, it was re-located there early afternoon and seems to be attracting quite a few visitors (per SR/PB).

 

Selsey Bill (0600-1230hrs): Sunny, dry, some hazy cloud. Wind SW 2 increasing 3-4.
(Obs: MHW/GH/OM/DS/JW/RJS/AH/C&ME et al). Seabird passage was light again -  though ten Velvet Scoters amongst a few flocks of Common Scoter, some Brent Geese and ten Little Terns passing showed there was at least some evidence of movement. Three Wheatears on the beach and a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the gardens were proof of some inward migration. Full log follows:
Great Northern Diver - 4 os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1 os flew off E
Fulmar - 1E, 3W
Gannet - 6E, 20W
Brent Goose - 68E
Shelduck - 2 os then back and forth over gardens!
Eider - 1 os
Common Scoter - 197E
Velvet Scoter - 10E
R/b Merganser - 5E
Curlew - 4W
Whimbrel - 2E, 1W
Sanderling - 3 ob, off E
Turnstone - 15 ob
Great Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 10E, 1 os
Sandwich Tern - 36E, 6W
Med Gull - 1E
Swallow - 12N
Wheatear - 3 ob
Willow Warbler - 3 gardens
Chiffchaff - 2 gardens
Additional 1230-1430hrs (C&ME/DS)
Arctic Skua  - 1E d/p (1325hrs)
Sandwich Tern - 10E
Swallow - 1N

Wheatear on Selsey Bill (AH)

Selsey Northcommon Farm: Little to report today except a Green Woodpecker and 3 Willow Warblers (OM)

Northcommon Farm area, Selsey: above - looking south down Paddock Lane towards 'flycatcher corner' and below - general view looking north across the horse paddocks towards the farm (OM)

 

Ferry Pool: 5 Avocets this morning, plus 5 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 40 Shelduck and a Wheatear at the back. (AH)

Gadwall on the Ferry (AH)

 

Church Norton: Some evidence of migration this morning - namely a female Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Common Whitethroat and 10+ Willow Warblers, plus a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, around the hide/churchyard area, and a singing Sedge Warbler in the second Several. In the harbour a prospecting pair of Mediterranean Gull on/over Tern Island, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Whimbrel and a dozen Curlews.
Also I saw my first Orange-tip and Holly Blue butterflies, plus a Comma. (AH)

 

Female Redstart (above) and Willow Warbler at Church Norton (AH)

 

North Wall: Three singing Sedge and single Reed Warbler, 30 Black-tailed Godwits. Pagham Beach  & Harbour entrance: 5 Wheatear,  single Yellow Wagtail & Common Whitethroat, 6 Little, 20 Sandwich and 4 Common Tern; also 3 Brent Goose in the harbour. (BFF/DIS/DM)

Pagham Lagoon: The Iceland Gull was still present during brief late afternoon visit. (AH)

 



Sandwich Tern at Pagham Hbr (DM).

 

Iceland Gull on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane Car Park to Earnley Flood Pools:
A few Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Swallows.
Pair of Little Ringed Plovers
Pair of Avocets firmly established on "their" island, seeing off any intruders !
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
Ringed Plover/Sanderling along the beach
First Swift of the year.
Also 2 Hares (PLS/GJT)

Wednesday, 16th April: Bright and breezy again, with a fresh but noticeably cool ESE wind for much of the morning, eventually going round to full south-easterly. All very promising for the observers who arrived full of anticipation, but in truth it was rather disappointing overall. Conditions looked good for a steady movement, but it didn't really happen; no skuas (up until early afternoon at least) and only a gentle trickle of the regular fare throughout another seven-hour watch. It surely had to produce something, but somehow it failed to produce the goods, even though it felt like it must improve at any time and a couple of silhouette (Garganey-sized!) duck sp escaped ID just before we packed up - all very frustrating (OM). (Footnote: I note that Seaford recorded a good movement of over 150 Little Gulls late afternoon and this evening; yep, true to form they probably passed the Bill just after we'd left !!)

Selsey Bill 0645-1400hrs: Sunny, bright, wind ESE 4 then SE4 later.
(Obs: GH/OM/CRJ/ES/C&ME/DS/JD et al). A hint of passage with a few small flocks of Common Scoter and some Sandwich Terns going east, plus the now regular Long-tailed Duck and gathering of Great Northern Divers still to be seen. Full log below:
Great Northern Diver - 6 os
Black-throated Diver - 2E
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Gannet - 12E, 6W
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Shelduck - 4E, 2 os (local pair)
Common Scoter - 61E
Long-tailed Duck - 1E (regular bird)
Shoveler - 4E
Gadwall - 11E
Teal - 2E
Oystercatcher - 8E
Curlew - 3E
Whimbrel - 5E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E
Grey Plover - 7E
Sanderling - 25E, 24 os
Auk sp - 1E
Little Tern - 8E
Sandwich Tern - 91E, 6W
Kittiwake - 4E
Swallow - 15N
Linnet - 5E
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Warner Lane, Selsey: The Ring Ouzel was still present and showing well again this morning (CRJ et al)

The Ring Ouzel (above) & Starling showing well at Warner Lane (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: Still 2 pairs of Avocets, 4 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall and 20 Teal, but only a dozen or so Shovelers now. (AH)

 

Church Norton: There was certainly a feel of a 'clear-out' last night - with very few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing, and not much in the harbour either, with a mixed flock of 80 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plovers being the most noticeable birds. A pair of Lapwings on the uncropped field and a pair of Stock Doves by the old barn were the only birds of note around Greenlease Farm. (AH

Lapwing (above) & Stock Dove at Greenlease Farm (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: The Iceland Gull was again reported here today (per RBA).

North Wall: The long circuit this morning but, other than Chiffchaffs and Swallows, no migrants encountered. Breech Pool remains muddy but it was filling with the rising tide. Black-tailed Godwit numbers have dropped to 60, no other waders seen. A few Teal remain but the Tufted Ducks have gone. The Little Grebe nest at Owl Copse appears to have been ragged... one bird was sitting on the edge. Single pairs of Stock Doves at Owl Copse, Wooden bridge copse and Bramber Farm. Thirteen Mute Swans on Honer reservoir and a further 41 in the field behind; 6 Curlew at Marsh Farm (JW)

Two views of the Breech pool in its current condition (JW)

 

Medmerry: A Red Kite flew over east (PH).

Chi GP's: Westhampnett: Four Common Terns on the pit this morning (BI).

Common Terns (with Black-headed Gulls) Chi GPs (B. Ives)

Porthole Farm/Sidlesham SF: An early evening walk round produced a couple of surprises in the sewage works - firstly a smart male Yellow Wagtail on the settling tanks, and more strangely, a pair of Grey Partridges right in the middle of the compound. Also at least 50 Swallows, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers and 6 Stock Doves around the vicinity. (AH)

 Yellow Wagtail (above), Swallow and a pair of Grey Partridges (if you look hard!) at Sidlesham SF (AH

Tuesday, 15th April: Another bright, dry and sunny day, following a bright, clear moonlit night. The most obvious change from yesterday was the wind direction which had veered from NW through to NE - then later E - though with a notable chilly edge to the breeze. The other change was that predictably the conditions ensured there was a clear out of most of yesterday's migrants, although fortunately one of the Ring Ouzels at Warner Lane was still present. At the Bill there was a good turn-out of the regulars but bird-wise it was still not really happening, although the now-regular Long-tailed Duck appeared, plus a Bonxie, 4 Little Terns and a small number of Whimbrel. News of an early Pom Skua at Portland filtered through, causing me to adopt Master Plan A and sit through seven hours of slow sea-watching, but in the event it came to nothing today (OM).

Selsey Bill (0700-1400hrs): Sunny, clear, bright; wind NE3-4, then E3 later.
(Obs: GH/OM/CRJ/SR/DS/DF/JD/GJ/BJ/BFF/DIS/DM/C&ME/ et al)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Diver sp - 1E
Fulmar - 1E, 4W
Gannet - 3E, 5W
Shelduck - 2 os (also over gardens; local birds)
Eider - 2E
Common Scoter - 19E
R/b Merganser - 7E
Long-tailed Duck - 1E (presumably the 'regular' bird)
Curlew - 1E
Whimbrel - 13E
Sanderling - 44 ob (some colour-ringed), apparently off E later
Dunlin - 1 ob, later E
Turnstone - 19 ob
Rook - 1N from a long way out
Great Skua - 1W
Little Tern - 4E
Common Tern - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 33E, 8 os
Wheatear - 1 ob
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Swallow - 18N
House Martin - 3N

There was a good turn-out of the locals this morning, including our longest-serving regular Beryl James (front) who is still going strong having watched here continually since regular observations began in 1959-60. Beat that! Here she is keeping an eye on an unusually well behaved Mr Forbes! (OM)

 Part of the flock of 44 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin on the beach at the Bill (OM)

 

Warner Lane, Selsey: One of the two Ring Ouzels remained in the paddocks to please those who missed it yesterday, though there was little else of note bar a Common Whitethroat. (AH)

 

Ring Ouzel at Warner Lane (D. Mason) 

Medmerry: West Sands - A pair of Little Ringed Plovers were on the muddy puddles near the rubble heaps, and there were 2 Wheatears, 4 Meadow Pipits and 20 Linnets also in that area and 5 Dunlin flew out onto the beach. (AH)

 

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

 

Church Norton: Just one Spoonbill roosting in the harbour towards high tide this morning. Also a Little Tern, a dozen Sandwich Terns and 6 Whimbrel present, though the bushes seemed quiet bar a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. (AH) Additionally, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Brent Geese, 30 Dunlin and 5 Little Terns later (BFF/DIS/DM). Near the Visitor centre a Cuckoo was heard calling (CRJ).

 

North Wall: Chilly easterly wind. Breech Pool again looking very sad: eastern end is all mud, central section has water and the western end is one large puddle. Nevertheless the Black-tailed Godwits are still there, 170 this morning. When I arrived there were 38 nicely plumaged Dunlin there but they took off in a NE direction, on return there were another 17 there and a further flock of 12 flew in. Cetti's Warblers in fine voice along the Wall. A Whitethroat at Owl Copse and 4 Blackcap in and around the Copse. Swallows are back at Welbourne stables (JW).

13th -14th April 2014

Monday, 14th April: Another dry, bright morning with a light-moderate NW wind - after a clear moonlit night - promising little on the sea and apparently little in the way of coastal migrants either. But some days can be deceptive and this was one of them, for despite the unlikely prospects it soon became obvious there was a considerable fall of night migrants on the southern end of the Peninsula; nothing rare, but a good selection that made the morning quite exciting. Redstarts everywhere! More of the same please!

 

Selsey Bill (0720-1010hrs): Bright and sunny, wind cool NW 3, good vis. (Obs: SR/OM/AH/BFF/DS): Still next to no sea passage, but more than compensated for this morning by an unexpected fall of at least seven Redstarts in and around the gardens, along with a Common Whitethroat, 2 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, and some Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. Full log follows below...

Three different Redstarts and a Wheatear (bottom) at the Bill (AH)

.... and another Redstart pic from the Bill (OM)

 

Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Gannet - 3E, 5W
Common Scoter - 13E
R/b Merganser - 2W
Long-tailed Duck - 1E
Dunlin - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 9W
Swallow - 5N
House Martin - 1N
Pied/alba Wagtail - 4N
Yellow Wagtail - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Wheatear - 2 gardens
Redstart - 7 gardens
Common Whitethroat - 1 gardens
Blackcap - 2 gardens
Chiffchaff - 6+ gardens
Willow Warbler - 7+ gardens  

Selsey: Northcommon Farm: Three more Redstarts here this morning, plus several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs (OM/BFF) 

Selsey: Warner Lane: A Ring Ouzel in the horse paddocks this morning well found by SR soon had the locals scurrying for a look, when it eventually became apparent there were two birds present - along with a Whinchat and another Redstart. (SR) Ring Ouzels, Whinchat & 2 male Redstarts still present early evening. (SH)

Record shot of the two Ring Ouzels at Warner Lane, Selsey (SR)

Two more images of the Ring Ouzels at Warner Lane. (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: Five Avocets this morning, along with a pair of Wigeon and four Gadwall. Also IL reports that half a dozen each of Lapwing and Redshank are nesting on the field which is good news, too. (AH)  

Church Norton: The two Spoonbills were roosting in the harbour again this morning. Also another male Redstart was in the hide/churchyard area, along with the Nuthatch (heard but not seen) two Peregrines flew over together and 80-100 Dunlin flew up through the harbour. (AH/CRJ)  Later, further along the West side, a Whinchat was located (TG-P). 

Spoonbills in Pagham Harbour (AH)

 

Yeomans Field: A male Common Redstart here as well this evening. (AH)

 

North Wall: Two more Common Redstarts reported here, too (per Birdguides) .. not sure if the same, but 2 Common Redstarts, a male & a female, in the horse paddocks this afternoon along with a White Wagtail (BI).

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane - Earnley flood pools:  A Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and 5 Avocets were present, together with 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 4 Canada Geese and (to coin a BFF phrase) 2 'bilge' geese in the shape of an almost-Barnacle and a small and imperfect 'Canada Goose' type - perhaps the less said the better! Also logged were 10 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, a House Martin,  8 Meadow Pipits, 3 Whitethroats, 15 Linnet, 2 Wheatears and 3 Yellowhammers. (OM/BFF).

 

 

Little Ringed Plover and 'Bilge Geese' of doubtful parentage at Medmerry (OM) 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, 13th April: More of the same with another bright and sunny start and a light NW breeze - not likely to suit the ardent south coast sea-watcher but perhaps more promising for incoming passerine migrants. Then again, despite this perceived wisdom, with spring now well underway you never quite know what will appear and there's no substitute for being out in the field. I have today updated the Abbreviations & Contributors page; could I ask all those who have submitted records or information to the blog to visit the page and check their name appears in the credits. If it doesn't, or if the initials I'm using don't match what you'd like, please advise... I'm bound to have missed some! (OM).

 

Selsey Bill (0550-0930hrs): Cloud with sun at times, wind WNW 2-3. (Obs: JA/SH/IP/SR/PB/ et al).

Great Northern Diver - 13 os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Diver sp - 3E

Brent Goose - 2E, 1 os

Shelduck - 2W

R/b Merganser - 2E, 4W

Common Scoter - 55E

Gannet - 9E, 17W

Fulmar - 4W

Whimbrel - 4W

Turnstone - 21 ob

Peregrine - 1N carrying prey

Auk sp - 1E, 3W

Great Skua - 1E, 1W

C/A Tern - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 5 os

Med Gull - 2E

Pied/alba wagtail - 4N

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 4N, 1 ob

Linnet - 3N

Swallow - 15N

North Wall: Two Spoonbills in the harbour viewed from here (IL).

Church Norton: A walk to Norton from Selsey East beach (0845hrs) produced the following:- Peregrine - 2, Sparrowhawk - 3, Buzzard - 4, Common Sandpiper - 1 (from Severals into Hbr), House Martin - 1, Swallow - 20+, Blackcap - 20+, Chiffchaff - 20+, Willow Warbler - 2 and Common Whitethroat - 1. (S&SaH/PB)

Also seen/heard were a Lesser Whitethroat by the Severals (IL) and a Cuckoo from the churchyard, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, a Peregrine flew over and the 2 Spoonbills were roosting by the New Island at high tide. (AH)

Stock Dove at Greenlease Farm (AH) 

Signs of spring - Linnet with nesting material (above) & Moorhen with young at Church Norton (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff was on here yesterday & again this morning (IP), plus 4 Avocets and 2 Wheatears today. (AH)

 

Yeomans Field: The male Common Redstart appeared for about 2 minutes along the fence at the bottom of the field, I waited a further 45 mins. or so for it to return but had no luck. Also present there were 6 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Linnets, 5 Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker and a Cuckoo heard but not located. Several more Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers along the tramway, too. (SR)

Medmerry: Firstly a report from IP & RW -
Highlight was a Great White Egret seen flying high over the Earnley Pool at 9.30am heading West - we presume from the angle that it may have arrived from the sea, but we cannot be certain as it was only located after it had flown over us. Otherwise the following were seen -
Buzzard - 3
Sparrowhawk - 1 (male)
Avocet - 3
Dunlin - 5
Green Sandpiper - 1
Redshank - 5
Black-tailed Godwit - 1
Little Gull - 1 (1st yr)
Green Woodpecker - 1
Barn Swallow - 6
Tree Pipit - 1 display flying
"White" Wagtail - 3
Wheatear - 3 (1 male, 2 female)
Corn Bunting - 1 

PH reported a further two Corn Buntings to the east of the reserve, and a Wheatear there, whilst I found a further 3 or 4 birds to the north, along with half a dozen Yellowhammers. It would seem that there are at least 3 or 4 singing males around the new reserve which is very encouraging after the disturbance of the last year or two and, with plenty of new areas of suitable habitat being created, hopefully they will continue to prosper. (AH)  

 

Corn Buntings at Medmerry (AH)