26th - 28th March 2018

Wednesday, 28th March: A thoroughly wet morning, with grey skies, heavy rain and a thick mist, together with a brisk NE - NW wind..... and the prospect of more heavy showers later!

Selsey Bill: The Water Rail was again present this morning at 0630hrs, in its incongruous setting of the car-park area and Hebe bushes of Bill House garden, viewed from the gateway (SR). Although not a rare bird as such, it certainly is at the Bill-tip and so it has proved a bit of a magnet to those locals keen on maintaining their Bill lists....even to the point of standing around in the rain before dawn!
Otherwise, there was nothing moving at all - just a Common Scoter and a Common Gull east and a Great Crested Grebe on the sea in 30 minutes from 8.15am (AH)

The Water Rail in Bill House garden (SR)

More images of the Water Rail (above) & Wood Pigeons doing a bit of synchronised swimming at the Bill (AH)

1645-1800hrs:  (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Great Northern Diver - 1 os

Gannet - 8E, 3W

Common Scoter - 1E, 25W, 50os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1os

Teal - 3E

auk sp - 1W

Common Tern - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 1W, 2os

Ivy Lake: The first Sand Martin of the year was over the lake late this afternoon, and also a Peregrine went over and c30 Shovelers were on the water. (AB)

Selsey, East Beach pond: A Firecrest was in amongst half a dozen Goldcrests along the path this afternoon. (SR)

Selsey: Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in a garden to the north of the village this afternoon. (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were 16 Shoveler, four Gadwall, four Shelduck, ten Teal and two Redshank on the pool, but the large Wigeon flock seems to have moved on. (AH)

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguard Station to the Breach - There were 20+ Meadow Pipits and four Skylarks along the Medmerry Cliff, with at least 100 Common Scoter offshore, with 40 more of the latter off the Breach, along with two Great Northern Divers.
A Corn Bunting was singing near the Breach viewpoint, with another present nearby, but the Breach area was very quiet, with just a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Redshank on the pools. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Skylark, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoters & Red-breasted Mergansers at Medmerry (AH)

Church Norton: The two Goosanders were again roosting near the harbour mouth, and offshore there were two Red-breasted Mergansers and eight Great Crested Grebes. 
There were at least 20 Sandwich Terns and similar of Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, but few waders beyond the usual Redshanks and Curlews, and there were also 20+ Teal but just a pair of Wigeon. The bushes were very quiet, but there were 18 Brent Geese in the field behind the churchyard and a dozen Lapwing along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Brent Geese & Redshank and Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 27th March: A grey and murky start with drizzle, after a rainy night, with the wind moving round from south-east to south-west then west, eventually giving way to a fairly bright and breezy day....

Selsey Bill: The Water Rail was still in the Bill House garden, seen in the open in the rain at first light, (SH), but not again by late morning. Also our first Willow Warbler of the season was singing in the 'Secret Garden' with five Chiffchaffs also in the gardens. Offshore little was moving - and mostly heading west! - though 30+ Common Gulls (mostly sub-adults) west was unusual, and there was a selection of the usual birds moving about rather than migrating. Full log below....... 
0740-1140hrs:  (OM/SR/AH)
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Fulmar - 4W
Gannet - 5E, 20W, 12os
Brent Goose - 10E
Common Scoter - 6E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 5W
Turnstone - 12 ob
Sandwich Tern - 6 os
Kittiwake - 4W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 2os
Common Gull - 34W
Chiffchaff - 5 gardens
Willow Warbler - 1 gardens

Fulmar (above), Common Scoters, Gannet & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Chiffchaff in the Broadreeds Estate at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: There were just two Gadwall, eight Shoveler and c30 Teal on the pool, with just a few Wigeon on the field, though there were half a dozen Lapwing and c150 Black-tailed Godwits around the creek at the back of the field. (AH)

Also, a male Brambling was reported from the feeders at the Visitor Centre and a male Black Redstart was reported from Home Farm, between the Ferry and Church Norton. (per BO'D)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Early on a Hawfinch was briefly in the trees by the moat (with possibly another with it), before it flew towards the churchyard and was not re-found. Also, an unseen Brambling was calling nearby. (BFF/DM)
Otherwise, there were two Slavonian Grebes and at least 16 Great Crested Grebes offshore, the two Goosanders were again roosting near the harbour mouth and the female Eider and up to four Red-breasted Mergansers were also present.
At least 20 Sandwich Terns and 25 Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls, just a handful of Brent Geese, plus a few Wigeon and Teal were about, and c20 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Curlews, several pairs of displaying Ringed Plovers plus the wintering Whimbrel were also around. Two or three singing Chiffchaffs were of note, but beyond half a dozen Linnets flying over, and  two Reed Buntings, the bushes were quiet. The two Peregrines were also noted around their usual island location. (AH/BFF/DM)

Goosanders (above), Whimbrel. Ringed Plover, Reed Bunting, Teal, Sandwich Tern & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The single Spotted Redshank was again present, and at least 500 Black-tailed Godwits were around the flooded fields and creeks. (BFF/DM)

Part of the Black-tailed Godwit flock at Pagham North wall (BFF)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - Stilt Pools - The Scaup was still present on the pools today, together with 2 Little Ringed Plovers, the Common Sandpiper and 60+ Avocets. (C&ME)

Monday, 26th March: A lovely, bright and sunny morning, with barely a breath of wind early on.....and feeling quite spring-like!

Selsey Bill: Little was moving offshore, but as compensation there was the remarkable sight of a Water Rail in the Bill House garden, briefly on the parking area before scuttling up the bank and into the vegetation. First called by the finder (S.Morgan), there was almost an air of disbelief at first, before a scramble of the nearest observers to the gateway were able to confirm it, though sadly not everyone managed to see it before it melted away into the undergrowth. Subject to confirmation, this appears to be a new bird for the Bill-tip.
Full log below......
0715-1045hrs: (C&ME/OM/SR/AH/SM/MO-W/MH)
Red-throated Diver - 5E
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Diver sp - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 3os
Gannet - 7E, 33W
Brent Goose - 3E, 1W
Shelduck - 5W
Common Scoter - 26E, 17W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4W, 5os
Sandwich Tern - 9os
Kittiwake - 4W
Common Gull - 1W
Water Rail - 1, Bill House garden (0910hrs)
Pied Wagtail - 3N
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Long-tailed Tit - 7 gardens

1800-1945hrs:  (MJ/SH) There was no sign of the Water Rail this evening, but over 1000 Brent Geese were moving ......
Gannet - 1E
Brent Goose - 1070E
Common Scoter - 23E
Sandwich Tern - 1W

Water Rail (above), Red-throated Diver & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Common Seal enjoying its breakfast at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: There were a total of 24 Shovelers around the pool and creeks, along with four Shelducks, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Teal and c150 Wigeon. (AH)

Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: Five Buzzards over the garden together at 1pm, soaring and calling. (A&YF)

Highleigh: A female Bullfinch was in a roadside bush along Rotten Row this lunchtime. (AH)

Honer Reservoir: The 1st-winter drake Long-tailed Duck was still on the reservoir today, along with seven Tufted Ducks, with a Yellowhammer singing nearby and four Shelducks on the flooded fields. (AH)

Long-tailed Duck on Honer Reservoir (AH)

Church Norton: A female Blackcap and a couple of Goldcrests were in the churchyard,  along with a Green Woodpecker, with a couple of Chiffchaffs also about, but there were no other indications of migration.

Both female Goosanders were in the harbour mouth, along with a Little Egret, and the female Eider was on the far side, but on a flat calm sea all that could be found was half a dozen Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers, plus eight distant dabbling ducks - possibly Gadwall.

There were 20+ Lapwings on Rectory Lane, lots of Skylarks, plus a couple of Linnets along the spit, an Avocet was in the creek by the horse field and there were c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Sandwich Terns and a few Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, along with 60+ Brent Geese and a few Wigeon. (AH/AW)

Also, a Red Kite drifted over west. (J Chattaway)

Goosanders (above), Sandwich Tern, Lapwing, Skylark, Green Woodpecker & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Avocet in the channel by the horse field at Church Norton. (AW)

Later on a Raven was near the Priory, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the woods and there were many Chiffchaffs in the area. (AW)

Raven (above) & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The female Scaup was still on the Stilt Pool, amongst the Tufted Ducks, along with the pair of Little Ringed Plovers, several Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin and 68 Avocets. A Wheatear was near the beach, whilst a dozen or so Yellowhammers and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the hedgerows, a couple of Skylarks were singing and a further three Avocets were on the mudflats near the poplars.(OM/MJ/SM)

North Wall: It was a good morning for Little Grebes, with one on White's Creek, a pair on the Breech Pool, two pairs at Owl Water and another pair on Bremere Rife. On a falling tide there were 280 Black-tailed Godwits along White's Creek and another 38 in front of Owl Copse, whilst on the Breech Pool there were 10 Tufted Ducks and in the field behind were 68 Wigeon and two Roe Deer. 

Along the Wall there were singing Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings and there was a lot of Grey Heron activity at Owl Copse where there were also two singing Chiffchaffs. Also, at Bremere Bridge there were 120 Curlew, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs. (JDW) 
A Ring-necked Parakeet was reported from the Slipe Field in the late afternoon. (D.Illman per SOS)

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (JDW)

23rd - 25th March 2018

Sunday, 25th March:  A pleasant, if rather murky, day, with light winds and a bit of hazy sunshine.....

Selsey Bill: There was not too much movement, but it included a group of four Scaup (three males and a female) going east, a Yellowhammer (very rare here) in the gardens and four Wheatears on the beach. Full log below. (JA/SH/PM/PB/IP/SR/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 6W

Gannet - 1E, 4W
Shoveler - 4E, 1W
Scaup - 4E
Common Scoter - 100+os
Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 1W, 10os
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 4W
Guillemot - 1os
Wheatear - 4p
Chiffchaff - 4N, 2p
Yellowhammer - 1p

Wheatears (above), Chiffchaff, Fulmar & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

(1530-1630hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Common Scoter - 80+os
Chiffchaff - 1p (in gardens)

Ferry Pool: There were just two Gadwall, eight Shoveler, c25 Teal and c100 Wigeon around the pool. (AH)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just a Skylark and a Curlew in the fields, with a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests along Park Lane. (AH/IP)

Chiffchaff at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Hunston: There were two Tree-creepers in 'Wilf's Copse' today. (S&SaH)

North Wall: There was a Short-eared Owl hunting near Owl Point this afternoon (BO'D)

Medmerry: West side - Two Barn Owls were hunting along the banks late this afternoon. (BO'D)

Church Norton: There were a few migrants about this morning, including two Firecrests in the Bluebell Wood, along with several Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, three Wheatears on the  beach just beyond the end of the reserve and another half a dozen Chiffchaffs between the Severals, with a few Meadow Pipits among the Skylarks on the spit.

Two Slavonian Grebes were offshore with three Great Crested Grebes, whilst the female Eider was in the harbour and the Goosander was in the main channel before flying off west.

There were a minimum of 40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, along with a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, c30 Brent Geese, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and eight Bar-tailed Godwits, five Shoveler were about, a Gadwall was on the second Several, a Raven appeared to drop in somewhere behind the churchyard and c100 Golden Plovers and a few Lapwing flew up from the back of Greenlease Farm. (AH/IP/S&SaH/PB)

Wheatear (SH) (above), Firecrest, Sandwich Terns & S&SaH and PB concentrating on the harbour (AH) at Church Norton

This afternoon there was a nice pair of Wheatear along the beach opposite the Severals, with a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler calling nearby, and on the second Several there was a single Gadwall along with a pair of Little Grebes and half a dozen Tufted Ducks. 

The Goosander was in the harbour entrance and out at sea there were three Slavonian Grebes as well as eight Red-breasted Mergansers and a similar number of Great Crested Grebes, whilst a Raven was along the spit. (AW)

Wheatears (above), Raven, Gadwall & Buzzard at Church Norton (AW)

Saturday, 24th March:  Still fairly mild today, with the wind veering to east- south-easterly...

Selsey Bill: The first Common Tern of the new season flew past this morning and there was the rarity of a cock Pheasant on the Oval Field, the wall and even briefly over the sea! Full log below. (JA/SR/IP/BI)

(0630-0900hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 9E, 2W

Brent Goose - 2E

Shelduck - 1E

Common Scoter - 5E, 120os

Red-breasted Meganser - 7E, 8os

Pheasant - 1p

Grey Plover - 2E

Curlew - 1E

Common Gull - 9E

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 1W

Common Tern - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

SR checking out the Pheasant at Selsey Bill & a closer view below (BI)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: The female Scaup was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, among a good selection of wildfowl, including half a dozen Tufted Duck, four Gadwall, three Pintail and a few Wigeon and Teal. The two Little Ringed Plovers were also still present on the pool, along with a dozen Ringed Plovers and half a dozen Dunlin, whilst the Common Sandpiper made a brief re-appearance before disappearing again.

A Red Kite and a couple of Buzzards drifted over west, a Great Northern Diver was offshore and along the banks and hedges there were two pairs of Stonechats, 20+ Skylarks, 30+ Yellowhammers, a couple of Reed Buntings, a dozen or so Meadow Pipits, 30+ Skylarks and at least 200 Linnets, with a Mistle Thrush singing from te poplars and a Snipe flew out from the first pool.. (AH)

Scaup (above), Little Ringed Plover, Red Kite, Yellowhammer & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Breach Viewpoint - There was little about this morning, perhaps partly due to increased human activity, but the newly seeded areas at Toe End held two male Reed Buntings, a few Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel, whilst nearby a Corn Bunting was singing, with another along the banks.  

On the reserve Meadow Pipts, Skylarks and Lapwings were displaying, with at least two more Corn Buntings singing in the fields across at Ham. In the pools behind the viewpoint were 10 Wigeon, a pair of Pintail, two pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Brent Geese, two Ringed Plovers, a Little Egret and a single Dunlin.  

A probable reason for the lack of waders was the presence of a jogger who appeared to have come across the intertidal area from Ham toward the breach where she precariously climbed the breach wall on all fours before jogging off along the shore toward Bracklesham. (SR)

Corn Bunting at Medmerry (SR)

Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre: One female Brambling was around the feeder this morning though being quite elusive. There was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker nearby and plenty of House Sparrows, Dunnocks and Great & Blue Tits on the seeds. (BI)

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pagham (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were six Gadwall, 15 Shovelers, c40 Teal and c150 Wigeon around the pool, plus a handful of Lapwing and a couple of Redshank. (AH)

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton and West Side: Pretty quiet in the easterly breeze but there were three Red-legged Partridges in the fields, a cronking Raven flew over and there were a few Jays in the trees. In the harbour were Shelduck, a few Pintail and Wigeon but wader numbers seemed down with just tens of Dunlin, Redshank and Curlew on the mud. A Peregrine could be scoped sitting out on its usual island from the hide but there was no evidence of migration around the bushes, which remained quiet. (BI)

Earlier on there were three Redwing in the churchyard, at least a dozen Lapwings were along Rectory Lane and in the harbour the Whimbrel appeared briefly and c150 Black-tailed Godwits and three Sandwich Terns were out on the mud. (AH)

Redwing (above), Lapwing & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon a barn Owl was hunting along the beach arnd around the Severals, a Chiffchaff was at Greenlease Farm, three Buzzards were overhead and two Cetti's Warblers were calling.

A total of 19 Sandwich Terns were roosting on the metalwork, with another three and c50 Common Scoters offshore, and the two Peregrines were in the harbour. 
Also, the female Eider and at least ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, three Chiffchaffs were around Greenlease Farm, a Green Woodpecker was on the Mound and a Song Thrush was in the churchyard.. (S&SaH/IP/AW)

Barn Owl (top two - SH, lower- AW) & Sandwich Terns (AW) at Church Norton

Friday, 23rd March: A fairly mild day, with a fresh south-westerly breeze and a mix of sunshine and cloud.....

Selsey Bill: A pretty quiet morning, with small numbers of the usual selection of species present. (JA/SR/AH/C&ME/BI)

(0700-1030-hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 2E
Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 62E
Common Scoter - 10E, 17W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W, 4os

Common Gull - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 3W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Note: The ringed Mediterranean Gull (397A) seen at the Bill on 21st March was ringed in Antwerp, Belgium on 20/5/2017; I thought the number seemed familiar....it was also previously reported from the Bill on 8/11/2017 by me! Where has it been in the intervening period I wonder. (OM)
 

Ferry Pool: There were four Gadwall, 14 Shovelers, two Shelduck, c30 Teal and c180 Wigeon on the pool, with c40 of the latter and c60 Black-tailed Godwits in the fields at the back. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A female-type Scaup was on the Stilt Pool late this morning, before flying off onto the reserve. Also, there was at least one Little Ringed Plover with a dozen or so Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, at least 50 Avocets were still about, and there were three Pintail and a handful of Tufted Ducks among the Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon present.

One Wheatear was near the beach, and there were plenty of Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits along the banks. (BI/AH)

Scaup (above), Avocets & Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Medmerry (AH)

More from Medmerry: Little Ringed Plover, below, Scaup & Wheatear (BI)

Medmerry, Toe End: There were at least two Corn Buntings, and possibly up to four, on the seeds at the building site this morning. Also present were c.10 Reed Buntings and a few Meadow Pipits although the Black Redstart didn't put in an appearance. (BI)

Singing Corn Bunting at Toe End (BI)

Church Norton: There was very little in the harbour this morning, though there were a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin and still 50+ Brent Geese and Shelducks about, plus lots of noisy Black-headed Gulls and a few Skylarks were along the spit. There were a dozen Lapwing along Rectory Lane, but no Golden Plovers this morning. (AH)

Shelduck (above), Grey Plover, Skylark & Grey Squirrel at Church Norton (AH)

At lunchtime there was a Chiffchaff behind the benches at Church Norton. There were two Buzzards over the Severals and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers near the harbour entrance. (AW)

  Chiffchaff (above) & Buzzard  at Church Norton (AW)

  

Fishbourne Creek: Highlight of a walk from Fishbourne - Dell Quay this afternoon was probably 50+ Yellowhammers in the stubble field and surrounding the hedge at Dell Quay (to the north of Dell Quay Road), with at least two Reed Buntings also present, whilst the horse paddocks at Apuldram held two Mistle Thrushes and a singing Yellowhammer. 

About 150 Black-tailed Godwits were on the field by the Lavant outflow on the high tide, whilst there were six Great Crested Grebes in the Fishbourne channel and five Little Grebes off Dell Quay. Also, two Mediterranean Gulls were in with the Black-headed/Herring Gull flock on the fields near Fishbourne church. (RW)