Yesterday morning I attempted to twitch the Red-necked Grebe off the Bill but unfortunately dipped. However there was some compensation in the form of a Slavonian Grebe, a Black-throated Diver and a couple of Sandwich Terns. Ebird list HERE.
This morning I joined the daily seawatch but no repeat appearance of the Red-necked Grebe but plenty of interest with a relatively showy Velvet Scoter, Kittiwakes and Red-throated Divers on the move, a few Great Northerns and I finally caught up with the Black Redstart and there was also a Chiffchaff. Ebird list HERE
After the Bill vigil I headed off to the Ivy Lake-complex of Chichester Gravel Pits for a bit of local exploring. I'm slowly aqainting myself with all the hotspots on the Selsey Peninsula. The pits look superb and there was a nice little selection of common waterfowl but nothing particularly unusual. Highlights included 4 Egyptian Geese and good numbers of Pochards and Tufted Ducks. Ebird list HERE.
Local patch year list now on 99.
Black-throated Diver
Velvet Scoter (above and below)
Velvet Scoter and Great Northern Diver. Selsey Bill really is quite an exceptional place in the winter. There's not many places on the south coast where on a daily basis you can see multiple Great Northern Divers, often tens and sometimes 100s of Red-throated Divers, occasional Black-throats, regular Slavonian Grebes, Shags, Velvet Scoters and Long-tailed Duck with flocks of Common Scoters, auks and Kittiwakes often present. Pretty magical winter birding.
Med Gulls
Turnstones (above and below) at the Bill
Black Redstart (above and below)
Grey Seal off the Bill. The first Grey Seal I've had, a lot of them round here seem to be Harbour Seals
Egyptian Goose at Chichester Gravel Pits
A couple of the Great Crested Grebes on the Pits were in summer plumage already
Nice light today. Grey Heron
Pochards and Tufted Ducks at the Pits
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