Quiet few days

A period of anticyclonic conditions and north east winds has become established over the last few days and is forecasted to continue for the rest of the week. Barely anything is moving off the coast and there are very small number of migrants around too. 

The theme of there being more migrants (e.g. Sand Martins, Swallows and Willow Warblers) at the old patch of Beddington Farmlands than here continues which still surprises me but probably explained by the oasis effect of the farmlands in an urban setting, the broad drop zone round here (and in the shadow of the Isle of Wight) and the overall low number of migrants on the move. After chatting with Ian this morning as I get my head around how things work round here, it is the coast line and particularly at the bill that offers the main migration flyway (waterbirds and other migrants that folllow the coast) and migrants (that cross over land)  are more likely to overshoot the Peninsula and stop off on e.g. The South Downs than drop on the Peninsula particualarly in finer weather. As March draws to end, so far, this has been my worst March for summer migrants in my entire birding life (despite 38 Ebird checklists submitted this month)- only one Wheatear, one Sand Martin, a couple of LRPs, one Sedge Warbler, two Willow Warblers and a few Blackcaps. Not what I was expecting by finally moving to the south coast and 'escaping' inland birding at last. The grass, for spring summer migrants anyway, is yet to be greener and I've been here for nearly nine full months and despite seeing a good bag of them found by other people I still haven't found a nationally scarce or rare bird. Proving to be a tougher nut to crack than I dreamed up but really enjoying working it all out and will be good to actually size up the scale of the mission and the best way to deal with it. 

With enthusiasm for birding quite low it was a good opportunity to get some work done and Matt came over on Sunday and we planted up the car park beds. This morning I joined the Selsey Seawatch but it was very slow HERE so after a tip off from the Hiunters, I picked up Holly and Isaac and we went for a walk on the South Downs at Westdean Woods where in just over an hour we had Goshawk, Hawfinch, Siskins, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Coal Tits and Red Kites. I'm planning on returning here to have a proper look round later in the week while the clear sunny conditions persist.

There's been a few butterflies in the garden including Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone and Small White but the moth trap has been pretty quiet as these anticyclonic conditions create cool nights. 

A classic March sight- Adult summer Med Gulls flying over calling. Had about 45 go over the garden on Saturday. Apparantely good numbers are building up on the harbour around Tern Island so hopefully the local colony is re-established this year after a makeover this winter by the RSPB team.

A dribble of migration off the Bill this morning included 4 Shoveler (above), 6 Brents, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver and a few Mips and Woodpigeons. There were still three Great Northern Divers around , a load of Sandwich Terns and some Mergs too.

Unfortunately the Gos was distant at Westdean so this post will have to make do with this Sparrowhawk that flew past me today.

Raven at Westdean

We had a bit of time to kill on the way back from the South Downs so we stopped off at Chichester Gravel Pits and Birdham Pool. Three Pochard at the Chi Pits was the best there and this close Cormorant at Birdham.

A different type of new arrival did arrive this weekend- our new ducks, Pancake and Crumpet and after a bit of chick ICU a third one arrived yesterday- Muffin.

Another new arrival round here this weekend was Kyle's (our neighbour) first Emu chick. 

It might not be good birding weather but it was nice walking weather- Holly and Isaac

and some evidence that we did do some work too- a new butterfly border. No birds is good news for getting stuff done. 

A few arrivals

Simon let me know that there was a Least Sandpiper on private land in Hampshire on the weekend so I thought I would take a long shot and check out a few wader spots. First plan was to check out Snowshill Marsh but when I arrived there was thick fog so I turned round rather than pay the parking charges there. Instead I checked out Ferry and soon after the fog cleared so I had a walk round the Long Pool and visitors centre to Mill lane and back. 61 species HERE including the first Sedge Warbler and two Willow Warblers for the Peninsula for the year and there was also a Blackcap singing and about 10 Chiffchaffs. Furthermore small flocks of Mips were going over- had about 35 in a couple of hours,. Additionally a second-calender year Red Kite was flying around which basically followed me home as was circling over our lane, a quick message to Andrew and he picked it up over his garden too. A garden tick for me. 

No Least Sand on Ferry, just one LRP, a Spotted Redshank, 6 Avocet, 57 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe and 78 Shoveler. Seems like most of the Wigeon have gone now.

Elsewhere on the Peninsula today a Little Gull was on Chichester Gravel Pits and a Red-crested Pochard was found there too- so all in all a little bit of an arrival of new birds today.

The wind was a light north-westerly so clearly birds are still moving into the light head wind.  

A few butterflies were on the wing including the first Small Whites and also Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Peacocks, Comma and Red Admiral. A Large Tortoiseshell was in Church Norton car park yesterday.  

Second-calender year Red Kite aged by the presence of white streaks on the underparts.

Peacock

Garden Hawfinch

It was a paperwork and earning brownie points day today but despite technically not actually getting out in the field I managed to bag a couple of local year ticks. Before the gang woke up I did the moths and after the school run I did an hour in the garden skywatching. 41 species of 218 indiviudals which isn't bad for the garden HERE The highlight was a cracking Hawfinch going over low calling , a nice movement of Med Gulls and a garden tick, 4 Gadwalls going over. There was also 3 Chiffchaff singing, a Redwing over at first light and Skylark singing overhead too. 

I took Holly out for lunch after picking up Isaac from Forest School and scored a Red Kite from the van over Itchenor. Now on 133 for the Peninsula year list HERE and Gadwall was the 100th species for the garden HERE. Later in the day I was going through some noc-mig recordings and found a calling Coot which was also a garden tick. I'm a bit stuck on noc-mig at the moment because I can't seem to reduce the files small enough to go through quickly. Hopefully will work that out as would be good to do the odd bit especially during big migration periods. 

Hawfinch - nice to actually get a photo of one. This is my 6th record for the garden now although five records presumably relate to a small flock (upto 8 birds) in the area between 23rd October and 1st November last year that kept going over. All records HERE

Med and Black-headed Gulls on the move

Grey Shoulder Knot- the 34th moth species for the year (moth garden list now on 428 after a few early spring ticks).  There were over 60 individual moths in the trap last night. Most of them have been the usual March fare- Common and Small Quaker, Twin-spotted Quaker, Chestnut, Red Chestnut, Clouded Drab, Early Grey, Early Thorn, Hebrew Character, March Moth, Early Reveller, Dotted Border, Oak Beauty, Double-striped Pug,  Common Plume and a few other micros (the two Lichen buttons were nice and nailing the Depressaria daucella and Agnonopterix yeatiana were both lifers). Another Herald this morning which was nice again to see and there has been the odd Satellite and Angle Shades. 

Presumably a Metzneria sp. One for Mike to have a look at. 280325- Redetermined as Brambe False-feather Schreckensteinia festaliella (thanks Colin)  Lifer. Has a distinctive resting pose with its hind legs held obliquely. The only species in its family Schreckensteiniidae, aka Blackberry Skeletoniser as the larvae skeletonise the leaves of Bramble but also Raspberries and ocassionally Hazel and Rose. 

Selsey Bill- Black Reds

4 Redwings flew over the garden as I headed out to join the Selsey Seawatch this morning for a couple of hours. It was pretty quiet, the most interesting thing was the arrival of passerines coming in low over the waves in the light head wind (a light north easterly). It was mainly a few Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits but there were a male and female Black Redstart in the Bill gardens and later in the day a couple of Wheatears arrived too. My morning list HERE and the full log HERE that also included 4 Garganey flying east after I left. 

We had to take Isaac to the doctors today so it wasn't my usual Monday in the field but I popped back to the Bill in the evening to check for more newly arrived passerines. The Black Reds were still present and the only new bird of note was a Fulmar flying west.

Female-type Black Redstart. There has been a female-type wintering in the same area which starting singing a little while back indicating it was a first-winter male. Not sure if this is the same bird or a newly arrived one - the panel in the wing seems stronger than the wintering bird (HERE) 

The rather stunning newly arrived male Black Redstart

There were about 8 Chiffchaffs in the bill gardens and seen coming in-off so clearly a small fall today. It was nice to see a small fall today considering there was a major fall on Portland yesterday (150 Chiffs and 10 Willow Warblers etc).  Certainly seem to be in a migration shadow here somewhat so far this Spring. There's even been 2 Black Reds, Swallows and Sand Martins, Willow Warbler and overhead movements of Mipits, Chaffinches and Redwings at the old patch of Beddington Farmlands in the last few days so no evident concentration of summer migrants on the coast here in comparison to inland there which is a bit of surprise. Willow Warblers are also in in the old patches in Oxfordshire too.  It's quite possible a lot of migrants simply overshot us here on the coast over the last few days with the keen south easterly wind, see the Birdguides maps HERE showing the spread of Wheatears and Swallows over the UK last week (and also the overshoot fall in the south west and west that we also missed out on here). Will be interesting to see how the rest of the Spring pans out compared with the old inland patches and other south coast migration hotspots. 

Kittiwake- one of two birds moving east. There has been a pretty significant movement of Kittiwakes up the Severn in the last few days with hundreds going over the bridge and overland and then a few being picked up on waterbodies across the Midlands. Only a few are following the south coast (been only a handful off the Bill, with larger numbers off Dunge) and clearly many birds preferring the short cut between the Severn and the east coast. The Med Gull passage seems to have escalated fast here with 350 reported off Itchenor today- there's only been a handful all winter and low tens moving over and offshore before today. 

These smart looking Heralds were the highlight of the moth trap last night, in a cooler night. Unfortunately the night temperatures are due to drop further this week in the resumed northerly airflow. 

Weekend round-up

Sue visited this weekend and we managed to pop out a couple of times birding. I had a look round Church Norton, the Severals and Pagham Spit on Saturday morning- not a single summer migrant there (there were Wheatear and Black Redstart at the Windmill Beach nearby). Then we all had a family walk round East Head after pub lunch at the Lamb. Again no summer migrants but a nice flock of 37 Avocet on Snowshill Marsh. In the evening we had a look round the Keynor Estate to Ferry- 7 Redwings were the highlights. 

This morning we headed over to Windmill Beach but no sign of any summer migrants but we did have 4 nice adult Little Gulls fly east from Medmerry Breach (31 were logged off the Bill) and also 5 Whimbrel flew east too. Also a few Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Great Northern Divers off shore.  On the way back a Blackcap flew in front of the van at Paddock Lane and landed in the hedge- a nice male (local year tick- 131 for the Peninsula) . This evening after Sue left I had a look round Mill Lane marsh and the rough ground behind there - the highlight was a flock of 60 Meadow Pipits in the rough grass.  

So basically despite a lot of searching for early summer migrants the only thing we could dig out was a single Blackcap. There have been a few summer migrants on the Peninsula this weekend found by others but in very low numbers including four or five other Blackcaps, two or three Black Redstarts, single Wheatear and single Swallow and two Sand Martin.  Other migrants have included March waterbird migrants including Brent Geese, Red-throated Divers, Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters, Med Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls etc and Mipits and a few alba wagtails and Skylarks overhead. 

Compared to other parts of the south coast there is (in addition to a lack of overshoots from last week which are all concentrated in the west and Ireland ) a noticeable lack of any Chaffinch migration- which seems concentrated off east Kent and 9000 over Dungeness today  (seemingly more in the way of Wheatears, Ring Ouzels and Black Reds out that way too) and there seems to be a lot more Meadow Pipits moving out to the west from Portland westwards (and over 5000 moving north past Lanchashire watch points). Portland typically is testiment to the micro-effeciency of migration routes across the Channel with birds funnelling tightly and there are more summer migrants there than round here (but still in very small numbers for them) . The effect of the Isle of  Wight blocking the Peninsula and the relatively broad geomorphology of the Peninsula presumably disperses migrants more. I have been pretty shocked how few summer migrants there have been round here in the last few days considering the south east winds and low cloud and light rain.

The moth trap was pretty lively last night with  74 individuals of 16 species including a few new for years.

Whimbrel- the wintering one at Church Norton. Nice to see the first migrant ones today

Sue and Jacob at East Head with a few of the last remaining Brents in Chichester Harbour

Fieldfares at Medmerry on Friday evening. 7 Redwings on Chalk Lane yesterday (and a big arrival at Dungeness today) suggests these thrushes may be passing through as winter thrushes have been pretty scarce round here all winter

Another smart Lichen Button- stunners!

Our first Early Reveller for the garden- one of five 

Early Thorn- five of these today too 

Coastal Buff- Agonopterix yeatiana

The mystery has been solved with these after Mike dissected four of them including some of the indistinct and worn ones and all are confirmed as Water Dropwort Brown Depressaria daucella. Also had a mystery Acleris done too which turned out to be an A.schalleriana. 

Angle Shades- the only sniff of a migrant moth

Fizzled out Friday

Dissapointment was the theme of today. With cloud rolling in over night and a moderate south-easterly wind, it was perfect conditions for drift migration. However the wind looks like it may have been a bit too keen with quite a substantial fall of overshoots (including Hoopoes with 23 reported, the nearest in Dorset HERE) in the west country and Ireland and seemingly larger number of common migrants out to the west too.

I joined the Seawatch at around 6.15am and even the sea passage had fizzled out with just a few Brents, Common Scoters and Sandwich Terns. My migrant list HERE. 5 Little Gulls went past after I left and there was some Mipits too but overall certainly much quieter than the previous two days.

I then went over to North Wall and Pagham Spit to look for drift migrants. All I managed was a single Sand Martin (my first for the year). Highlights list HERE included a couple of Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank and a pale-bellied Brent Goose. There was a Wheatear, Black Red and 2 Swallow around North Wall which I managed to miss. 

Even the moth trap was dissappointing with a reduced catch. I did put out the noc-mig recorder last night so my last hope for the day is if there was anything interesting going over last night as the cloud moved in. Will have a trawl through that when I get a chance.

The weather continues to look interesting for drift migration tomorrow too (seems to break down a bit on Sunday)- it would probably help if the wind speed reduced a bit for round here and also a bit more southerly in it. Sue is staying this weekend so hopefully will get a chance to sneak out.  

Sand Martin- year tick

The light passage of Sandwich Terns was nice to see

Summer and winter Red-throated Divers- a few were moving this morning

Shags made a reappearance off the Bill after dissappearing over the last few days

Spotshank

Greenshank

Pale-bellied Brent in with the last of the Dark-bellieds

Male Kestrel

A nice plumed up Little Egret in the Paddocks

Equinox migrations

The birds were still on the move today off Selsey Bill with highlights including over 1000 Brents, 7 Little Gulls, 19 Sandwich Terns, nearly 400 Common Scoters and a single Avocet on the move. The Eider was still around too. My counts HERE and the full log HERE.

After the seawatch I had a look round Church Norton, the Severals and Pagham Spit. No sought after migrants, 58 species of over 800 individuals in nearly three hours HERE. Highlights included the Whimbrel, 3 Marsh Harrier and there were still 60 Brents in the harbour. The clear conditions continue and there appears to be some heavy frontal conditions over Iberia which might explain why there aren't too many passerine summer migrants despite the warming south easterly winds (and the lengthening day light hours- it's the equinox today). However despite my lack of luck there, other birders faired better with a Wheatear and Black Redstart on the North Wall and an LRP on Ferry which were new in today. There is some cloud and rain in the mix over the next few days so there might be more in the way of grounded migrants.

The moth trap was pretty productive last night. New for years (and garden ticks as this is our first spring) included Tawny Pinion, Twin-spotted Quaker and March moth and there was also a hint of migration with 2 Rusty-dot Pearls and an Angle Shades. 

Butterflies on the wing today included Brimstone, Peacock and Red Admiral.  

Brents skimming low over the sea and almost hugging the beach. With 9000 at Dungeness, 5000 at Beachy Head, 1000 here at Selsey, 500 in Hampshire and 11 at Portland yesterday (and low numbers off Cap Gris Nez in France) it seems reasonable to infer that birds were crossing the Channel in a lens circumnavigating around the Cherbourg headland and then drifting in the south east wind to mid Channel with most bird compensating well and passing off Dungeness with increasingly lower numbers being displaced further west and then moving along the south coast. Presumably our birds follow the Isle of Wight coastline towards the Bill and then move east closely following the coastline with presumably others actually coming up the Solent. 

Avocet- nice to get one of these on a seawatch on the move 

Little Gulls- the first Spring migrants off the Bill following a couple of storm blown winter birds

Presumably some of the late shift Pintails with most moving a couple of weeks ago. Also a few Shovelers still moving today too. 

Linnet- the Spring like feel got the birds singing 

Seems to have been a bit of an influx of Shelduck in Pagham Harbour with a group seemingly taking up territory around the broken concrete 

Red Chestnut- a couple of these in the trap last night 

Tawny Pinion- 210324 update- I give up with these. The CMR says it a Pale Pinion despite these going ons in the past HERE . I thought the dark thorax was the clincher? 

Rusty-dot Pearl- the first of the year

Spring resumes

The north-easterly wind finally yeilded and starting swinging towards the southeast which was enough of a release to get the birds moving again. Highlights in a couple of hours at the Selsey Bill Seawatch this morning included over 900 Brent Geese moving east (there were 9000 off Dungeness today so presumably these are birds moving up from the continent), over 100 Common Scoter, 12 Red-thoated Diver, 7 Sandwich Tern and 3 Fulmar with 2 Slavonian Grebe (one in full summer plumage) and 9 Great Northern Diver on the sea. There was also some passerine movement with over 60 Meadow Pipit. 28 Linnet, 2 Skylark and 23 Woodpigeon. My list HERE and the full list HERE. 

It was a work day today back at the Lodge so I had to get back for 9am to meet up with Matt. We continued with sowing the wildflower meadows and putting in the weed control systems. Mike also popped in and dropped off some Beech saplings that he had overordered and kindly donated so we planted them up- a Beech hedge wasn't in the plan but it is now.

While working there was a constant procession of Mipits going over and also a couple of flocks of Med Gulls and few pairs too moving through. 

On the way back from London yesterday I had a couple of Red Kites and 3 White Storks over the A24 (presumably from Knepp). Also I'm seeing Barn Owls on quite a few back and forths to the smoke. Had a gorgeous one on the A285 yesterday morning flying low across a crossroads. 

The weather is set to improve further tomorrow with some rain later on in the week so hoping for some interesting migration over the next few days. The night temperatures are getting up again so the moth lights will be on again. Fingers crossed. 

The Brent Exodus (above and below). By the sounds of it the flock in the harbour dissappeared last night too. Brents were picked up overland in Surrey yesterday night too.  

Sandwich Tern- presumably migrants from the south as there were larger numbers today than the wintering birds 

Fulmar- one of five today 

Med Gulls (above with mixed gulls and below) on the move over the garden