22nd - 24th November 2023

Friday, 24th November: A decidedly cold and grey morning in a freshening north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Three drake Eiders together, going west, was the highlight, and also the Long-tailed Duck was on the sea, five Kittiwakes and a few Razorbills went west, and a few Great Northern and Red-throated Divers were about, too. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/P&LH/AH/MMO-W)

(0715-0915hrs) (WNW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 1W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 5W, 1os

Gannet - 8E, 38W, 6os

Brent Goose - 3E, 2W

Wigeon - 6E

Eider - 3W (all drakes)

Common Scoter - 6W, 2os

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Grey Plover - 2W

Turnstone - 35

Mediterranean Gull - 20W

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 5W

Razorbill - 10E, 26W, 1os

auk sp - 10E, 32W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Chiffchaff - 1

(1220-1250hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Ringed Plover - 4

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 1W

auk sp - 2E

Pied Wagtail - 2

Eiders (above), Common Scoter, Razorbill & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The flock of 20 roosting Avocets were back on the pool, with c200 Lapwings on the fields, but otherwise it was the usual mix, including c200 Wigeon, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c90 Canada Geese. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham Churchyard: A quick look late morning produced up to four Redwings, a pair of Mistle Thrushes, at least ten Blackbirds, four Jays and a few Greenfinches and Goldfinches, but no crests. (AH)

Redwing in Sidlesham churchyard (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlight this morning was two Great Northern Divers downstream from Dell Quay, one was continually diving, the other did not dive in 15 minutes.
In the roosting waders off Dell Quay there was a Greenshank, with another and three Spotted Redshank were off the River Lavant outfall as the mud became exposed, where earlier there was a Meadow Pipit along the base of the seawall.
Out in the channel the usual Mute Swan, Brent Geese and Wigeon were accompanied by several rafts of Coot totalling 84.
There were also four Stonechats in the bushes and flooded reedbed, and a Kingfisher was perched on the bushes in the rife north of the sewage works. (RW)

North Wall: At least five Rock Pipits were along the wall at high tide and six Yellowhammers were in the hedges at the west end, but beyond a calling Cetti's Warbler, a Wren and two Reed Bunting there were no other small birds seen.

There were a lot of birds in the harbour, all upset by a low-flying Peregrine, including a female Eider, at least 1000 Brent Geese, c30 Shelducks, plus what was presumably the Cape Shelduck seen at the pits in the summer among them, c50 Pintail and Teal, c300 Wigeon, c500 Lapwings, a few Redshanks and Snipe, and lots of distant flying waders that were mostly Dunlin. (AH)

Rock Pipits (above), Yellowhammers, Eider & Cape Shelduck and shelducks at the North Wall (AH)

Thursday, 23rd November: A cool and overcast, if dry, morning in a brisk north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Two Long-tailed Ducks - one on its own and another with three Common Scoters - went east, whilst a Slavonian Grebe was on the sea and a Guillemot and a few Razorbills were about, too. Full log below. (KT/SR/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0730-0915hrs) (NW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 2W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 24W

Brent Goose - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 2E

Common Scoter - 5E, 1W, 6os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 1W

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 2W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 4E, 22W, 6os

auk sp - 6E, 11W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Slavonian Grebe (above), Common Scoter & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was much the same as yesterday this morning, with a Redshank on the pool, c100 Lapwings on the field, and c50 Shovelers, c150 Wigeon, c150 Teal, c30 Mallards and c80 Canada Geese spread around the pool and field. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Peregrine landed in the fields along Rectory Lane before it was chased off by crows, but three Jays by the horse field and a couple of Linnets over the spit were the only land-birds seen.

There were lots of birds in the harbour, including two Bar-tailed Godwits, c30 Grey Plovers, c100 Knot, c500 Dunlin, c40 Pintails, 100+ Wigeon and Teal and at least 800 Brent Geese, with a Sanderling and half a dozen Common and Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour mouth. (AH)

Peregrine and Carrion Crow (above), Common Gull, Brent Geese, Knot, Grey Plovers and Dunlin & Wigeon and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Runcton: This morning, more birds about than usual were about, and there seemed to have been an influx of thrushes, with totals including three Kestrels, two Coots, three Moorhens, two Collared Doves, two Green Woodpeckers, Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, four Song Thrushes, including one singing, eight Blackbirds, six Starlings, three Chaffinches and 25 Goldfinches. (CRJ)

Wednesday, 22nd November: A cool, but pleasant, morning of cloud and some sun in just a light westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit going on again this morning, including 11 Red-throated Divers and two Velvet Scoters going west, three Slavonian Grebes together on the sea and a Swallow over the Oval field. Full log below. (KT/SR/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0725-0925hrs) (W, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 11W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2os

Gannet - 2E, 2W, 2os

Grey Heron - 1W

Brent Goose - 1E, 13W

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon - 8E, 6W

Teal - 2W

Pintail - 1W

Velvet Scoter - 2W

Common Scoter - 3E, 20W, 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 21

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1W

Swallow - 1

Pied Wagtail - 2

Meadow Pipit - 1

Swallow (above), Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Diver & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Apart from a lone Redshank on the pool and c100 Lapwings on the fields, it was just wildfowl this morning, comprising three Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c100 Wigeon, c150 Teal, c30 Mallards and c80 Canada Geese. (AH)

Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool and West side: There were a few widely spread birds in the hedges this morning, including at least four Stonechats, a couple of Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Goldcrests, c20 Long-tailed Tits, a dozen or so Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits and a flock of c30 Linnets.

There were at least 500 Lapwings at the end of Ferry Channel, along with a fair few Redshanks, Wigeon and Teal, with c50 Brent Geese flying around the harbour, but that was about it. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, Log-tailed Tit & Linnets along the Long Pool and West side (AH)

Church Norton: Around the churchyard and hide this morning there were two Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests, four Chaffinches, ten Greenfinches and eight Goldfinches, plus three Blackbirds flying high north.

Along the beach there were a Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Dartford Warbler and a couple of Reed Buntings. (CRJ)

North Wall: A female Marsh Harrier and two squealing Water Rails were the highlights, late in the afternoon, whilst o in the harbour at least 150 Knot and perhaps 340 Dunlin were present. (BFF/DM).

Also, a pair of Bearded Tits wee seen in the reeds by the Breech Pool. (C&GTa)

Fishbourne Creek: At least two Greenshanks and a single Spotted Redshank were amongst a throng of ducks -Wigeon and Teal in their thousands, with all of the winter common waders about, plus of course maybe a thousand Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Also, south of Dell Quay there were a male and a female Goldeneye, plus two dashing Kingfishers. (BFF/DM)

North Mundham: The first Coal Tit of the autumn was in the garden this morning. (MJ)

West Itchenor: The Great Northern Diver was again present this morning, diving constantly  opposite the jetty, with two Red-breasted Mergansers and 16 Great Crested Grebes also present.. (PH/BFF/DM)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to the Breach - A flock of 300 Brent Geese were in a field adjacent to Ham Farm, with two Dartford Warblers and two Chiffchaffs seen along the hedges there.

Also, a Merlin was hunting across the fields and a Cattle Egret flew overhead. (AW)

Merlin (above), Dartford Warbler, Cattle Egret, Stonechat & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AW)

19th - 21st November 2023

Tuesday, 21st November: A cold morning in a fresh northerly breeze, with a mix of sunshine and various grades of cloud from white to heavy and drizzle-laden......

Selsey Bill: Highlight of the morning was a Jack Snipe that flew west along the beach, presumably settled somewhere and then flew back east and then up over the Oval field and away. Remarkably, for a regularly migrating species, this is the first recorded at the Bill, bringing the total to 265. 

There were also two Red Kites that drifted off well out to sea with a few crows and gulls in tow, about half an hour apart, and a Slavonian Grebe was on the sea. Full log below. (IP/P&LH/AH)

(0750-0935hrs) (N, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 6E, 10W

Brent Goose - 4E, 6W

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon - 4W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 5W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W, 2os

Red Kite - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Jack Snipe - 1N

Turnstone - 9

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 1os

(1215-1345hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W, 1os

Great crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 54os

Brent Goose - 13W

Shelduck - 2W

Wigeon -8E

Teal - 1W

Common Scoter - 12E, 2W, 40os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Pied Wagtail - 2

Jack Snipe (above), Red Kite and Carrion Crows, Eider, Common Scoter & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 20 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c100 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c50 Shovelers and c30 Canada Geese, with c200 Lapwings on and over the fields.

There was also a Marsh Harrier hunting over the channel opposite, putting up c50 Golden Plovers and at least another 200 Lapwings, plus a few Redshanks and Teal. (AH/ES et al)

Marsh Harrier (above), Teal & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A sub-adult male and a female Marsh Harrier were interacting and flying together over the horse field and Severals this morning, with a couple of Buzzards up, too.

At least three Bar-tailed Godwits were among plenty of  Redshanks, Grey Plovers and Dunlin, with c50 Brent Geese in the harbour mouth and a lone Gannet was offshore, but a Chiffchaff along the path to the beach and a Jay in the churchyard were about the only land-birds noted. (AH)

Marsh Harriers (above) & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 20th November: After yet more heavy rain early on, a slowly improving morning, though still with a fresh and blustery westerly breeze .....

Selsey Bill: A Slavonian Grebe going west and a Common Scoter sat close inshore were the highlights of a quiet morning. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0740-0910hrs) (WNW, F6-7)

Slavonian Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 1os

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Linnet - 1W

Slavonian Grebe (above), Common Scoter & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Later in the morning, the Purple Sandpiper was back on the beach. (AW)

(1245-1345hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 5E, 71W

Common Scoter - 1os

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 3os

Purple Sandpiper at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were 22 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c50 Wigeon,with a further 50 of the latter, c300 Lapwings and c40 Canada Geese on the fields. (AH)

Wigeon (above) & Avocets, Shoveler and Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much going on in the poor conditions, with a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits and c50 Knot among the regular waders, with c50 Teal and c20 Wigeon, up to 20 Mediterranean Gulls and two Sparrowhawks, one of which unsuccessfully went after a Redshank, the only other things of note.

There were also at least 400 Brent Geese - with quite a lot of juveniles among them - in the fields along Rectory Lane again. (AH) 

A Slavonian Grebe was reported offshore this afternoon (per Birdguides/RBA)

Dunlin (above), Grey Plover & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers came in to roost this evening, whilst two Tawny Owls were calling from Halsey's Farm and four Water Rails were calling from the reeds.

Also, six Snipe, two Chiffchaffs and two Goldcrests were seen and c1000 Brent Geese - 600 from the Marsh Fam area and 400 from the Honer Farm area - came into the harbour at dusk. (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: Westhampnett Pit - A fairly brief look at this under-watched pit produced 25 Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes, 12 Cormorants, 155 Coots, 45 Tufted Ducks, six Pochard and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls amongst other gulls. A Chiffchaff was also in the hedgerows. (OM)

Fishbourne Creek: The highlights were a Great Northern Diver in the channel and the first two returning (drake) Goldeneye of the autumn. A flock of up to 500 Brent Geese was spread around the creek, as were several hundred Wigeon, whilst a single Greenshank and most of the commoner wader species were also present, but with nothing out of the ordinary logged. (OM)

Great Northern Diver (above) & two drake Goldeneyes in Fishbourne channel from Dell Quay (OM)

 

 

Sunday, 19th November: A fairly mild, but very blowy morning, with a strong westerly pushing through banks of cloud and the odd brief shower.....

Selsey Bill: The Long-tailed Duck was present again this morning, offshore before flying off west, and a Slavonian Grebe, three Little Gulls and a distant 'Commic' Tern also went west, whilst a big flock of c50 Common Scoter were on the sea off Hillfield Road. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/MRB/SR/IP/RHa/AH/SM et al)

(0700-1000hrs) (WSW, F6-7)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 11E, 18W, 6os

Brent Goose - 2W

Pintail - 5E

Long-tailed Duck - 1W

Common Scoter - 2W, c50os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W, 1os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 2

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 3W, 3os

Black-headed Gull - 90W

Common Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 2W

Little Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 8W

Commic Tern - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Later on, with the tide up, the Purple Sandpiper re-appeared, but it was otherwise quiet. Full log below. (SH)

(1320-1420hrs) 

Common Scoter - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser -3W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 20

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 2os

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

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank and 19 Avocets were on the pool early this morning, along with two Shelducks, three Gadwall, c40 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal, with three Little Egrets, six Redshanks, c50 Lapwings and c50 Canada Geese around the fields. (AH)

Spotted Redshank, Little Egret and Teal (above) & Gadwall, Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Later on, five redhead Goosanders were briefly in the channel opposite before flying off west. (G Bagnell/BI)

Goosanders in Ferry Channel (G Bagnell)

Church Norton: A Great Northern Diver was fairly close offshore late this morning, before flying off east, whilst a Marsh Harrier was struggling in the wind to hunt over the Severals, with another seen over the harbour earlier.

There were good numbers of waders in the harbour, including six Bar-tailed Godwits, a couple of Turnstones, at least 200 Knot, c50 Grey Plovers and up to 1000 Dunlin, whilst the first-winter male Eider was in the main channel, but only a few Wigeon and Teal, plus two Shelducks were seen, with most of the 200+ Brent Geese being up over the far end of the harbour. (AH/GM/PB/MRB/G Bagnell et al)

Great Northern Diver (above), Marsh Harrier, Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon, with the tide high in the harbour, two Kingfishers were seen flying past the hide, whilst there were five Red-breasted Mergansers, the first-winter male Eider, nine Great Crested Grebes, c40 Common Gulls, c40 Wigeon and c80 Brent Geese on the water, with another c150 of the latter on the fields along Rectory Lane. (AH/RP)

Eider (above), Great Crested Grebes & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There wasn’t much about this morning, in the very windy conditions, with just a few Wigeon along White’s Creek, six Redshanks, three Dunlin and 40 Lapwing on the mud and a few Brent Geese and Shelducks further out.

A Pied Wagtail was in the paddock, two Rock Pipits were along the wall, two Reed Buntings were in the bushes, and a lone Gadwall was on the Breech Pool, whilst two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds and 25 Curlew were in the harbour near Halsey’s Farm. (LP/CT)

Late this afternoon 54 Cattle Egrets came into roost, with two Marsh Harriers, a  Peregrine, a Snipe and three Goldcrests also seen. (S&SaH)

Chalder and Marsh Farms, Sidlesham: A flock of 100 Brent Geese, 60 Stock Doves and two Little Grebes were on the flooded fields at Chalder Farm, along with six Pied Wagtails, five Long-tailed Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, but there was nothing but corvids at Marsh Farm. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There wasn't much to report in the windy conditions, with just two Yellowhammers seen on the banks and an Avocet on the Stilt Pool, with a Marsh Harrier, a sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and 34 Brent Geese around the reserve. (S&SaH)

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