22nd - 24th November 2019

Sunday, 24th November: A surprisingly pleasant morning, quite mild, with just a light westerly breeze and the odd sunny interlude.....

Selsey Bill: Another fairly slow morning, though five different Great Northern Divers offshore and at least three Slavonian Grebes were present. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/BI/SR/MO-W/AH)
(0715-1015hrs) (W, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os

Red-throated Diver 2E, 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 5E, 4W, 2os

Gannet - 7E, 5W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 23W

Teal - 1W

Common Scoter - 11E, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 36E, 17W, 9os

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 4os

Razorbill - 1os

auk sp - 7W

Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 50 Lapwings, c30 Shoveler, c60 Teal and ten Shelduck. 

A Yellowhammer among a dozen Reed Buntings was a surprise around the Tramway circuit, whilst there were also five Redwings that dropped in briefly, half a dozen Linnets, a couple of Goldcrests and a calling Cetti's Warbler of note. (AH)

Avocet (above), Yellowhammer, Redwings, Linnet & Reed Bunting around the Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were two Long-tailed Ducks south of Dell Quay this morning, along with a number of Red-breasted Mergansers. (M & L Hunt)

North Wall: Thirteen Pied Wagtails and two Meadow Pipits were in the horse paddock mid morning while the harbour contained perhaps 400 Brent Geese spread over a large area. Also, a Raven flew over, a Snipe was flushed from the rocks along the wall and 31 Curlew were feeding in the fields. (IH)

Church Norton: Along with plenty of Dunlin, Turnstones and Grey Plover were three Knot, whilst the Whimbrel was in its usual haunts this morning, four Avocets flew around the harbour and a great many Brent Geese and Lapwing were flying around at the far end.

Three Snipe and a Stonechat were around the creek by the horse field, a Peregrine was on its island, the Eider was distantly viewable on the Pagham side and half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers were inside the harbour and/or offshore. 
Also, a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were along the spit and a Common Seal cruised along the adjacent channel and was seen eating a good-sized flatfish. (AH & the SOS)

Snipe (above), Whimbrel, Red-breasted Merganser, Knot, Dunlin, Turnstones and Grey Plovers & Common Seal at Church Norton (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House Pits: The Great White Egret was present again this morning on the south pit and viewable from the usual gate - but seemed to be particularly flighty today, before roosting in trees with a Heron; later it also went for a fly around the pits before disappearing. Also present were three Little Egrets, 30 Shoveler, 40 Teal, six squealing Water Rails, three Snipe, six Chiffchaffs and five Cetti's Warblers. (OM/CRJ)

The Great White Egret in flight at Drayton House GPs (OM)

Saturday, 23rd November: A fairly miserable day, with leaden grey skies, rain and showers on and off and a moderate but cool E/NE wind.....

Selsey Bill: A slow morning, with three Slavonian Grebes and three Great Northern Divers about the best on offer....
(0715-0900hrs)  (wind E4)  (SH/BI/IP)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Northern Diver - 3 os

Slavonian Grebe - 3E

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Cormorant - 77E

Gannet - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 18E, 1W, 24 os

Razorbill - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 2 os

Common Gull - 1E

Chiffchaff - 2

Ferry Pool: There was just the usual mix of c100 Lapwings, c30 Shoveler and Teal, plus a handful of Shelduck on the pool, whilst a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Long Pool: Half a dozen Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests were along the hedges, whilst five Snipe and c40 Golden Plovers flew over and half a dozen Pintail were among the many Wigeon and teal in the channel. (AH)

Reed Bunting (above) & Snipe along the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry (west): A Dartford Warbler was showing well in the gorse by the Stilt pool this morning but there was little on the pool itself other than a few Canada Geese and Mallards. A good look around at Ham in search of the Richard's Pipit unsurprisingly failed to find it but there were plenty of Meadow Pipits and a few Skylarks & Yellowhammers about. (BI)

Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (BI)

Medmerry (east): Coastguards to the Breach - There was a Black Redstart around the Coastguard Station and 7 Pied Wagtails with 5 Meadow Pipits on the beach but it was a lot quieter than of late, with not a single Stonechat seen. 
The birds at Toe End had moved on, leaving a couple of Pied Wagtails, 3 Meadow Pipits and a flock of Goldfinch. At the viewpoint the pools held 2 female Goldeneye, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe, c150 Brent Geese, 50 Ringed Plover, 27 Grey Plover, 8 Dunlin, 6 Curlew and the usual Teal and Wigeon. Two Peregrines and a Kestrel were also present. (SR)

North Wall: Whites Creek contained 150 Brent Geese and a similar number of Black-tailed Godwits at about 10.30hrs. 

Along the Wall there was a Green Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk, whilst 6 Little Egrets and 4 Cattle Egrets formed a group south of Marsh Farm and 750+ Brent Geese occupied a field next to their previous favourite at Honer, with a Kestrel nearby. (IH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two Stonechats and six Pied Wagtails were in the fields, along with eight Chaffinches – the most we have seen here for a long time. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There was very little to report today, with a Water Rail in the Severals and five Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbour the best of it. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck was still present, but a little further out, to the south of the pub early afternoon, whilst a drake Goldeneye was further up the creek, where there were also a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers..
A Kingfisher was showing well, whilst passerines included a Grey Wagtail, a Yellowhammer, a Stonechat and a couple of Reed Buntings, though only one Rock Pipit.
Among the many waders present were two Greenshank, two Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Turnstones, c50 Grey Plovers and 500 Dunlin, whilst there were at least 500 Brent Geese and Wigeon about, too.

There was also an interesting diversion, as a Cormorant caught a fish too large to eat, which was then stolen by a Grey Heron, which then had the same problem. Eventually it took it up onto the mud, with a Great Black-backed Gull in attendance, but still couldn't decide whether to eat it or not, before giving up and retreating to the water. The gull promptly moved in, but the heron couldn't bear to give up its prize and came back to reclaim it (with the gull readily giving way). This happened at least three times before we gave up watching!

(AH)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Goldeneye, Greenshank, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Buzzard, Dunlin and Turnstones & Grey Heron at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Friday, 22nd November: Another cool, grey and blustery morning, with a stiff breeze from just the east side of south....

Selsey Bill: A little feeding flock of Gannets built up well offshore this morning, but otherwise activity was restricted to local movement. Full log below. 

(0730-0930) (S F5)  (BI/AH/IP/SR)

Red-throated Diver – 4E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe – 4E, 1os

Gannet – 17E, 15W, c.40 os

Brent Goose – 2E

Common Scoter – 4E, 2W, 7os

Red-breasted Merganser – 10E, 12W, 6os

Common Gull – 3E

Mediterranean Gull – 4E

Kittiwake – 2E

auk sp. – 4E, 1W

Razorbill – 1E

Meadow Pipit – 1E

Chiffchaff – 1 

Red-throated Divers (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 100 Lapwing were on the pool, along with 40 Teal, 30 Shoveler and eight Shelducks, whilst the channel opposite held another 100 Teal and similar of Wigeon, plus a few Redshank and a Grey Plover. (AH)

Grey Plover (above), Teal & Lapwings and Shovelers around the Ferry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: The Long-tailed Duck was again just north of Dell Quay this morning. but was later flushed down-stream by bait diggers. (BI/SR/MO-W/CMc)

Long-tailed Duck (above SR, below BI) & with Brent Goose at Dell Quay (SR)

North Wall: Not much to report in a quick look this morning, but 300+ Brent Geese flew out from White's Creek heading north-west, returning a quarter of an hour later. (IH)

Medmerry: Breach area - There was little to see this morning, with a Stonechat, a Meadow Pipit and six Starlings being the only passerines seen, and the breach area only holding a dozen Shelducks, four Great Crested Grebes, two Curlew and eight Dunlin. (AH)

Shelduck at Medmerry (AH)

Pagham Spit and East side:  A count of birds from the east side over the high tide period included - 

14 Red-breasted Merganser

6 Avocet (one flock on the western side of the harbour)

231 Grey Plover

900 Lapwing

36 Turnstone

420 Black-tailed Godwit (one flock off the North Wall)

560 Knot

90 Golden Plover

1W drake Eider still off the site of the old hide on Pagham spit

14 Little Grebe

104 Pintail

40 Linnet in one flock on Pagham spit

2 leucistic Brent Geese, both with fully white head and necks, though one bird was pure white and the other some black intermixed

1 adult Peregrine

14 Rock Pipit along the east side of the harbour, from Pagham spit to the North Wall

44 Stock Dove in one flock in a field behind Little Welbourne (IMcK)

Eider (above), leucistic Brent Goose & Stock Doves around the east side of Pagham Harbour (IMcK)

19th - 21st November 2019

Thursday, 21st November: A slightly milder morning, though still grey and with a blustery easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: Another slow morning, with just a few regular species toing and froing. Full log below. (AH/IP/MO-W/SR/PC)
(0730-0930hrs) (E F4)
Great Northern Diver - 1E
Red-throated Diver - 4E
diver sp - 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Ganet - 2E
Shag - 3E
Wigeon - 3E
Teal - 1E
Common Scoter - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 11W, 9os
Turnstone - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W
Common Gull - 3E
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 2E, 5W

Shag (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Northcommon Farm: A Swallow went over this morning. (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were just around 30 Shovelers and 60 Teal, plus a handful of Shelducks and Lapwing, present this morning. (AH)
Later, an accurate count produced 24 Shovelers and 64 Teal, with a further 151 of the latter in the channel opposite.
Also, a Chiffchaff was behind the hide and at least 1100 Jackdaws, with plenty of Rooks among them, were around and over the fields. (IMcK)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Around 200 Black-tailed Godwits and 600 Brent Geese were visible from the sluice gates at about 9am and the geese departed in successive groups flying north-west to an unknown destination.  
There were no Brent Geese near Marsh and Honer Farms although there were 40 Curlew in a field just north of Bremere Bridge.  A Buzzard mobbed by a couple of crows, a Kestrel and a Grey Plover were the only other birds of note. (IH/PC)

Church Norton: There were 88 Pied Wagtails and 13 Skylarks  feeding in a field being ploughed along the approach road, whilst an Avocet was in the harbour, 46 Meadow Pipits were in a field behind the Severals and there were two Chiffchaffs about - one in the churchyard and one along Rectory Lane. (IMcK)

Birdham: This morning about 30 Redwings went over Sidlesham Lane and appeared to drop into the big stubble field to the north. (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Long-tailed Duck feeding in shallow water immediately north of Dell Quay was the highlight this morning, with large numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Brent Geese, Common Gulls, Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Curlew all along the creek, whilst a pair of Ringed Plovers doing a display flight was a bit unseasonal.

At least eight Rock Pipits were spread along the foreshore, mostly seen in flight, but the only other passerines of note were a pair of Stonechats and several flocks of Long-tailed Tits. (AH)

Later, there were four Spotted Redshanks feeding together and also two Greenshanks present in the creek. (SR)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Rock Pipits, displaying Ringed Plovers, Dunlin & Wigeon and Teal at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Chi Marina pool/marsh: The Bittern again showed briefly late afternoon (at 1641hrs) - suddenly appearing out of the gloom to fly over the Hide before quickly disappearing, presumably to roost. A Water Rail also swam across the pool and at least two others were calling, whilst a mini-murmuration of 100 Starlings entertained us before eventually settling in the reeds to roost. (BI/IP/OM)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: The highlight was a Great White Egret, again on the south pit, with two Little Egrets for company. The usual wildfowl were present, whilst at least four Water Rails were calling, and along the hedgerows were two Bullfinches and several Chiffchaffs. (OM)

Wednesday, 20th November: A cool, grey and blustery morning, with a fresh south-easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A few Gannets and Kittiwakes appeared, but it was generally slow. (AH/IP/MO-W/SR)

(0740-0940hrs) (SE F5/6) 

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 11E, 19W

Shag - 4E

Common Scoter - 1E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 10

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 6W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 5W

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Red-throated Diver (above), Gannet & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a handful of Teal and Shoveler present this morning, with a Kestrel along the Medmerry Trail. (AH/AW)

Kestrel along the Medmerry Trail (AW)

Medmerry: Ham area - Whilst doing the fortnightly farmland bird survey at Medmerry today, a Richard's Pipit came up out of one of the arable fields. It called repeatedly and showed well in flight but couldn't be relocated on the ground. The nearest area with public access to where it was seen is Ham Viewpoint. 
Also noteworthy were high counts of both Common Snipe and Jack Snipe, with 65 and 5 recorded respectively and in the same area as the pipit there was a nice flock of 10 Corn Buntings.  (HB/MW)

The pipit could not be re-located later, though otherwise, there were at least 50 Skylarks and 30 Meadow Pipits around the field, with at least four Stonechats and ten Reed Buntings along the hedges and a Peregrine on the derelict building. (AH)

Peregrine (above), Stonechats & Reed Bunting at Medmerry (AH)

Chichester Marina marsh: I was joined in the hide facing the reed-bed by PH late afternoon, as the light was beginning to fade. There was a flock of 60-70 Teal at the very back of the pool, with a dozen Mallard to and fro and a single Little Grebe on the pool. We staked out the Bittern reported earlier in the week but initially just a couple of Grey Herons and a Buzzard were about it, by which time it was pretty dark and gloomy....then at 1638hrs suddenly PH called out he'd got the Bittern flying low across the front of the pool and into the reed-bed on the left - where it was immediately lost from view as it went to roost in the reeds. It was all over in a few seconds, but oh joy - I just couldn't get onto it. Well done though Pete! (PH/OM)

East Head: Only things of real note today were a Swallow feeding along the beach (and at one point the trees inland) for over an hour (still present when I left) and 340 Golden Plover which flew over east with small groups of the flock briefly landing on the grassy fields behind the beach. (I McKercher)

Chi GPs - Lakeside complex:  The brisk, chilly wind didn't help with checking out the wildfowl present, but most activity was again on New Lake, where c.100 Shoveler were now present. Once again, a group of 70+ birds had formed into a tight huddle on the water - presumably a feeding tactic? A Chiffchaff and a few Long-tailed Tits were also present here but not much else. Further along, both Runcton and Vinnetrow lakes held small flocks of Pochard and Tufted, but there was nothing unusual present, with just a couple more Chiffchaffs calling from the hedgerows, whilst Ivy Lake was very quiet. (OM/MJ)

A part of the tight feeding flock of Shovelers on New Lake, and this enlarged map of the Lakeside pits may be of use to those unfamiliar with the layout. (OM)

North Wall: Viewed from the sluice gates early this morning, White's Creek contained 52 Shelduck, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, a  Little Grebe, a  Great Crested Grebe and the usual Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing and Redshank, whilst a Raven flew over and a Grey Wagtail was also present.  

Fifty Curlew were feeding in fields adjoining North Wall and two Cattle Egrets were with the cattle south of Marsh Farm (but more may have been out of sight). 

About 150 Brent Geese were visible in the harbour from the sluice gates, though none were in the field at Honer.  Finally, 40 Stock Doves were present in the field beside Church Lane.  (IH/PC)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were no Cattle Egrets about this morning, though two Ravens and about 20 Redwing went over, a handful of Fieldfare were by Chalder Farm and two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were around the fields.

Also, at least 600 Brent Geese came up from the fields just to the south. (AH)

Fieldfares (above), Grey Wagtail & Brent Geese at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Tuesday, 19th November: A cool and mostly overcast morning, with a light north-easterly breeze.......but with some welcome periods of brightness.

Selsey Bill: A quiet start was livened up a little later by a very late Swallow, along with a couple of Velvet Scoters, a few Red-throated Divers and a big Dunlin fly-by. Full log below......
(0740-1040hrs): (wind NE2 ~ S/SE3-4 later) (OM/IP/AH/SR)
Red-throated Diver - 8E, 9W
Great Northern Diver - 3E
Diver sp - 4W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 1E, 5W
Shag - 2E
Brent Goose - 3E, 10W
Common Scoter - 9E, 17W
Velvet Scoter - 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 1W
Dunlin - c.600 W 
Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
auk sp - 5W
Pied Wagtail - 2N
Swallow - 1 Bill-tip/Oval field
Chiffchaff - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 3
Goldfinch - 18

Ferry Pool and Long Pool: There were just 200 Lapwing on the pool this morning.

One or two Reed Buntings were along the Long Pool, but nothing else, whilst in Ferry Channel there were c50 Shoveler, c200 Teal, c100 Wigeon and a scattering of Redshank, Grey Plovers and Curlews. (AH)

Shoveler and Wigeon over Ferry Channel (AH)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A Black Redstart was along West Front Road, Pagham; around the beach front house with the Union Jack flag on a flagpole, whilst a Firecrest was in bushes at the western side of Pagham Lagoon but made its way off into the caravan park.
Also, three Avocets, a first-winter drake Eider and the (presumed) Australian Shelduck were out in the harbour and a vocal Chiffchaff was in the trees along the Slipe Field. (I McKercher)

Eider (above), Avocets & Australian Shelduck from Pagham Spit (I McKercher)

North Wall: Two Ravens flew over east, a Yellowhammer and as many as eight Cetti's Warblers were along the wall, whilst a Kingfisher and two calling Water Rails were around the Breech Pool and a Green Woodpecker was in the field behind.

Also, 106 Curlews were in the fields, with a further 33 in the harbour. (I McKercher)

Additionally a Cetti's Warbler was showing early this morning near the sluice gates, 2 Song Thrushes were feeding in the hedgerow and Brent Geese appeared to be making their way, in groups of varying sizes, towards the field behind Honer cottages. (IH)

Church Norton: There wasn't too much to report this morning, though three Avocets were present, along with a Red-breasted Merganser, a Common Gull,  the pair of Peregrines, and a few Pintail and Brent Geese among the 200 Teal and 100 Wigeon present.

The only passerines of note were three or four Reed Buntings along the path to the harbour and a few Skylarks on the spit. (AH/IP)

Wigeon (above), Avocet, Peregrine, Common Gull & Red-breasted Merganser at Church Norton (AH)

Chi Marina Pool/marsh: There were 70 Teal present this morning - mainly at the back of the marsh - plus 8 Snipe, a Little Grebe, two Cetti's Warblers and two Buzzards (one with prey). (OM

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This afternoon there was a huge flock of Brent Geese over Bracklesham before it split into smaller groups and dispersed. 

There was little on the Stilt Pools except a single Grey Plover and a few Lapwing. Among the few gulls there was a Common, a Lesser Black-backed and a Mediterranean. 

There was also a Snipe hiding along the bank, two Peregrines were perched in a tree out on the tidal area, where there was a large flock of Golden Plover and other waders. (AW)

Golden Plovers (above), Snipe, Brent Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull & Mediterranean Gull at Medmerry (AW)