25th - 27th November 2020

Friday, 27th November: A colder morning than of late, though still grey and with a moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: The highlight of an interesting morning was a female Goldeneye - a vrey scarce bird at the Bill - on the sea before flying off east, whilst there were also two drake Eiders east, two Bonxies lingering offshore and a few Red-throated Divers going both east and west. Full log below. (BI/AH/RP/IP/MO-W/JA)

(0730-0930hrs) (ENE, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 9E, 7W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E, 2W, 20+os

Brent Goose - 25E, 35W

Wigeon - 9E, 17W

Teal - 6W

Pintail - 20W

Goldeneye - 1os, then E

Eider - 2E

Common Scoter - 4E, 19W, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 17W, 4os

Dunlin - 1E

Turnstone - 8

Bonxie - 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 6E, 4W

Common Gull - 1E, 1W

Kittiwake - 10E, 8W

Guillemot - 1E

Razorbill - 2os

auk sp - 2E, 6W

Pied Wagtail - 1E, 1W

Goldeneye, Eiders, Red-throated Diver and Red-breasted Merganser (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 200 Lapwings were on the pool this morning, along a Little Egret, two Buzzards, with six Gadwall, two Shelducks, 45 Teal and 68 Shovelers. (AH/JE)

Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The female Common Scoter was again in the harbour, along with the Whimbrel, 45+ Knot, 60+ Grey Plovers, five Curlews, 17 Turnstones, four Great Crested Grebes, 45+ Teal, 220+ Wigeon, 35+ Brent Geese and a good count of 110+ Shelducks.(JE/LGRE)

North Wall: A pair of Marsh Harriers were showing well behind the wall this morning. (PC)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Glossy Ibis was still with the Cattle Egrets by the farm this morning. (AT/JE) It was still there late morning until disturbed by a tractor, together with 54 Cattle Egrets. (LGRE)

East Head: There was no sign of the two Snow Buntings this morning, though 38 Sanderlings were along the shore, two Eider were offshore, two Stonechats were on the beach and two Greenshank were in Snowhill Creek. (RF/LGRE)

Fishbourne Creek: There were three Spotted Redshanks, four Greenshank, 20+ Dunlin and Grey Plovers, a Golden Plover, 183 Lapwing, 20 Curlews, c200 Redshank and c50 Black-tailed Godwits spread among the various roosting sites, whilst wildfowl included five Pintail, a Gadwall, 20 Teal and 454 Wigeon, along with four Red-breasted Mergansers and eight Great Crested Grebes.

A Kingfisher and at least half a dozen Rock Pipits were also about, along with 11 Yellowhammers and a couple of Reed Buntings. (JE/AH/RW et al)

Later, near Dell Quay, there were seven Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and a Kingfisher present. (LGRE)

Kingfisher (above), Rock Pipits & Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Ivy Lake: Among birds seen today were a single Pochard, two Gadwall, 14 Shovelers, 16 Tufted Ducks, two Great Crested Grebes and an impressive 436 Coots. (JE)

Later, a Black Swan was present, too. (AW)

Black Swan at Ivy Lake (AW)

Thursday, 26th November: Another cool and murky morning, with a moderate north-easterly breeze bringing spells of light drizzly rain....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet again, though a Great Northern Diver and a couple of Red-throated Divers went east and a Slavonian Grebe and a dozen Common Scoters were on the sea. (AH/RP/IP)

(0730-0845) (NE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3W

Brent Goose - 16W

Common Scoter - 2W, 12os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4os

Turnstone - 10

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 1E, 15W

Razorbill - 5E

auk sp 5E

Pied Wagtail - 2W

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

Later, a Goosander went east with three Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Northern Diver was on the sea. (AW)

Goosander and Red-breasted Mergansers (above) & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't much on the pool, despite the high tide, just a couple of Snipe, c50 Lapwings, c30 Teal and c80 Shovelers. (AH)

Snipe and Teal (above) & Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Glossy Ibis was still present this morning - having gone missing yesterday afternoon - and was back in its favoured cattle field along with 20 Cattle Egrets. It was still there at 1134hrs. 

Later it was again present, along with 53 Cattle Egrets and a partially albino Rook. (RJS/BFF/DM/PB/AB et al)

Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret (above), Cattle Egrets & partially-albino Rook at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AB)

East Head: The two Snow Buntings were still present this morning, initially along the western side and then back in their favoured haunt at the very northern end.

There was also a Dartford Warbler in the dunes nearby, a pair of Stonechats on the beach and a few Skylarks in the dunes, whilst an impressive 48 Sanderlings were along the strand-line in a loose flock and a Sandwich Tern, a Great Northern Diver and a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore.

Snowhill Creek held c40 Golden Plover, c200 Lapwings, c50 Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Wigeon and Teal, with a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets also present, whilst at least 500 Brent Geese were out on the grass. 

There was also a Redwing in the churchyard and a Firecrest along the lane to Snowhill Creek. (BFF/DM/AH/BI/SR/KJ)

Snow Buntings (above), Sanderlings, Stonechat, Linnet & Golden Plovers at East Head (AH)

North Wall: An hour after high water, Whites Creek was populated by some 400 Wigeon, 35 Shelduck, about 300 Lapwing and similar numbers of Golden Plover and Brent Geese. 

Two Snipe flew across the Wall and a Kingfisher briefly showed at the sluice gates, but the hedgerows were quiet with only a couple of Reed Buntings visible. (IH)

West Itchenor: A Great Northern Diver was present drifting in the channel this morning. (PH)

Chi GPs - Drayton pits: A Great White Egret was reported from the pits late this morning. (per BI)

Wednesday, 25th November: A cool, grey morning, still with a fresh southerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Despite quite promising looking conditions, it was very quiet this morning. (AH/MO-W/RRP/IP)

(0715-0845hrs) (S, F4-5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 3W

Brent Goose - 4E

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Common Gull - 1W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 2W

This afternoon there were 57 Mediterranean Gulls on the exposed shingle bar, plus 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 15 Kittiwakes offshore. (LGRE)

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Lapwing on the pool, along with six Gadwall, six Shelducks, c30 Teal and 74 Shovelers. (AH/RP/LGRE)

Gadwall (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Glossy Ibis was showing on and off again this morning, showing reasonably well then flying off some distance for long periods before returning to the field by the farm where 40 or so Cattle Egrets remained.

There was also a late Swallow and a Raven over, whilst the flock of c100 Fieldfares were still in the vicinity, along with a Chiffchaff, four Goldcrests, a Meadow Pipit, five Pied Wagtails, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Long-tailed Tits, nine Curlews, c25 Shelducks and a Buzzard., (A&YF/SR/OM/AW)

Glossy Ibis (with Cattle Egrets) at Marsh Farm (OM to two & AW)

East Head: Two Snow Buntings were along the dunes this afternoon (per Birdguides)

West Wittering: A Merlin was along our lane this afternoon. (GM)

Chichester Marina: A Bittern was in the reed-beds this afternoon. (per PH)

Mill Pond Marsh: a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were heard today. (AT)

Church Norton: The Common Scoter was still present in the harbour, as was the Whimbrel and lots of Brent Geese and a few Wigeon and Teal, whilst Dunlin and Grey Plovers started to appear on the mud as the tide dropped and a Snipe was in the creek by the horse field.

A Dartford Warbler popped up briefly along the west side, where there were also a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits, whilst the pair of Stonechats were at the start of the spit and one or two Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings were around the horse field. 

Also, the Merlin was again on Peregrine Island at two Red-breasted Mergansers were about. (AH/IP/MO-W)

This afternoon there were nine Grey Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, an Avocet and 28 Knot present. (LGRE)

Common Scoter (above), Whimbrel, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Brent Geese and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

22nd - 24th November 2020

Tuesday, 24th November: A cooler, slightly brighter morning, with a fresh southerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A few Kittiwakes and Razorbills/auks were going west, though it was generally quiet. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/IP)

(0715-0900hrs) (SSW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 2W

Gannet - 12W

Brent Goose - 1E

Common Scoter - 5E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 2W, 2os

Turnstone - 14W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 21W

Razorbill - 20W

auk sp - 25W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Great Northern Diver (above), Gannet & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were four Avocets, four Snipe, eight Gadwall, c30 Teal and c80 Shovelers around the pool this morning, but only a couple of dozen Lapwings were present. (AH)

Gadwall, Shovelers and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

East Head: A Short-eared Owl was present this morning. (GM)

Park Farm, Selsey: Local residents reported a pair of Little Owls as present near the farm today, whilst a Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails were on the fields. (IP)

Church Norton: It was quieter than of late this morning, though two Razorbills were offshore and.a Sandwich Tern was feeding inside the harbour, along with two Little Grebes, the usual mix of waders and lots of Brent Geese, whilst the pair of Stonechats were around the concrete blocks. (IP)

A late Swallow was seen hunting insects over the salt marsh and fields by the spit at approx 1.40pm - it was watched for 2 minutes before heading west and being lost from sight. (T Gibson per SOS)

Pagham Lagoon: A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse by the lagoon this morning. (ARK per SOS)

Marsh Farm to Bramber Farm: A Glossy Ibis was briefly in with the Cattle Egrets - exactly 50 - in the field next to Marsh Farm this morning, before it took flight as the post-van went by and flew off northwards.and was not refound.

Otherwise there were still at least 100 Fieldfares around the hedges and a few Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were in the fields. (AH)

Glossy Ibis with Cattle Egrets (above), Cattle Egrets & Fieldfares around Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

The Glossy Ibis was back again at lunchtime and there was also a Merlin about, (CRJ), with the ibis continuing to show off and on during the afternoon. (IP/BI et al)

Glossy Ibis (above) & Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (CRJ/BI)

Monday, 23rd November: Another grey and still morning, with just a very light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A flock of 25 Common Scoters was sat offshore this morning, with a few other going both east and west, whilst there were seven Great Northern Divers present again. Full log below. (AH/IP/PJ)

(0715-0900hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 5os

Slavonian Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Little Egret - 1E

Brent Goose - 2W

Wigeon - 2E

Common Scoter - 6E, 7W, 25os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 6W, 5os

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 2

Pied Wagtail - 3W, 1 present

Common Scoters (above) & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were nine Snipe tucked into the roadside reeds this morning, whilst the pool held three Avocets, c50 Teal, c100 Shovelers and c100 Lapwings. (AH)

There were over also 40 Fieldfare and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the trees in the fields near the Sewage Works. (A&YF)

Snipe (above), Avocet and Teal & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Merlin was close to Shipverling Barn this morning, and 12 Fieldfares were also in that locality, whilst a pair of Stonechats and a Green Woodpecker were in the horse field at Welbourne. 

On White's Creek there were 280 Wigeon and 12 Teal, whilst on the mud there were 120 Lapwing, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Redshank and 15 Golden Plover, but I could only see Mallard, Teal and a lone Tufted Duck on the Breech Pool, and it was very quiet along the wall, with just a Rock Pipit, a Reed Bunting and two Yellowhammers seen. Spring has come early to Welbourne, where a primrose was in flower. (JDW)

Primrose at the North Wall (JDW)

Church Norton: The Merlin was in the harbour again today, first on Tern Island, then on the Peregrines' island and seen from the west side, the Common Scoter was still on the main channel, two Little Grebes and a few Brent Geese were near the old harbour mouth and at least half a dozen Avocets were among the commoner waders. 

The west side also held a Dartford Warbler and two Chiffchaffs, with a Spotted Redshank off the end of the Long Pool and the Whimbrel at the Church Norton end. 

Offshore there were a Slavonian Grebe, a Great Northern Diver, an Eider, a Sandwich Tern and four Red-breasted Mergansers, though they were all distant, whilst two Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits were at the start of the spit, though it was otherwise quiet for passerines. 

Also eight small race Canada Geese were in the harbour towards the North Wall before flying off inland. (AH/PJ/IH/BFF/DM et al)

Merlin (above), Slavonian Grebe (AW), Avocet, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit & Little Grebes (AH) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt pools - The walk down this morning produced 3 Dartford Warblers and nine Stonechats of note, whilst other species seen included a Kingfisher, Buzzard (3), Reed Bunting (3), Little Egret, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel and Skylark. (PB/SaH et al)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: A fairly casual visit this morning found wildfowl numbers still well down on the norm, presumably due to the mild weather. The only exception was with Teal - where a total of 80 between both pits was well above average here - whilst no less than six different Water Rails were calling at various reedbed sites. 

Along the hedgerows and bushes there were three Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests and two flocks of a dozen Long-tailed Tits, with at least seven Cetti's Warblers making their presence felt and a Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk being the best of the rest. (OM) 

Sunday, 22nd November: A fairly overcast and grey morning, though mild and with just a light westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Three Slavonian Grebes were offshore early this morning and a Velvet Scoter went east, whilst there were a few Kittiwakes about again, with five Great Northern Divers offshore. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/NM) 

(0715-0930hrs:) (W, F2) 

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 4W, 1os

Great Northern Diver - 5 os

Slavonian Grebe - 3 os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 7E, 22W

Brent Goose - 50W

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 3E, 10W

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 13E, 134W

Sandwich Tern - 1 os

Razorbill - 1E, 11W

Guillemot - 1 os

auk sp - 1E, 21W

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Rock Pipit - 1W

Chaffinch - 3W

Greenfinch - 1

Great Northern Diver (above), Kittiwake, Brent Geese & BI checking out the Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Avocets, c30 Teal, c80 Shovelers and c300 Lapwing on the pool this morning, with the Kingfisher briefly in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Marsh Farm to Bramber Farm: There was only one Cattle Egret to be found this morning, though a Raven went over and there were still at least 100 Fieldfares along the hedges between the farms. (A&YF)

Park Farm, Selsey: This morning around the farm there were a pair of Green Woodpeckers, two Pied Wagtails, a Stock Dove and a Stonechat was on the reservoir fence. (IP)

Church Norton: The Merlin was again sat out on Tern Island this morning, whilst a Dartford Warbler was still at the start of the spit with three Stonechats, and a Firecrest was along the path between the Severals, whilst in the Severals area were a Water Rail, another Dartford Warbler and two Sparrowhawks.

Also, a Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe were offshore, along with three Red-breasted Mergansers and the female Common Scoter was again in the harbour, along with three Avocets, (BI/NM/IP/S&SaH/AW)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Great Northern Diver & Red-breasted Merganser at Church Norton (AW)

A look along the west side this afternoon produced a Kingfisher, but nothing else of note. (S&SaH)

Kingfisher at Church Norton (SH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were six Spotted Redshanks and three Greenshanks present this morning, along with 17 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Rock Pipit and two Yellowhammers. (PJ/GaJ)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - It was very quiet this morning, with a couple of pairs of Stonechats and 20+ Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails the only passerines noted, whilst offshore there were just a Sandwich Tern and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.

Two Greenshanks flew out and round from the tidal area, but a dozen Grey Plovers and three Ringed Plovers were the only other waders seen, whilst wildfowl included a dozen Brent Geese, 25 Shelducks and c50 Wigeon. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Sandwich Tern, Stonechat & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)