SELSEY REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2014

 Selsey Birder 2014 Review

Following on from last year, this will not be a formal bird report, but a summary of the most interesting records and species seen on the Selsey Peninsula during 2014.

It feels that the blog has ‘come-of-age’ this year, with a settled style and a good number of (much appreciated) consistent contributors from across the area giving good coverage, including photos, and providing a real insight into just how important the Selsey Peninsula is for birds, and how good it is for those of us who are lucky enough to bird-watch down here. So far, we have always managed to put some news out every day, and without blowing our own trumpet we have received much favourable feedback on both the content and the promptness of our output, which makes all the effort involved worthwhile.

It was a year that began with some of the severest storms seen in many years battering the Peninsula, before a wet and fairly middling spring gave way to a glorious summer and a mild, if unsettled autumn. The weather changes the birds we see from year to year, and there were over twenty species seen last year that were not seen this, and eighteen seen this year that were not seen last, though the overall totals were within half a dozen of each other! It’s what keeps us interested and intrigued.

                              View of the Peninsula from above (SH)

Rainbow over  Bill House (AH) (above) and a ghostly tall ship behind the ‘Mile Basket’, or Mixen (SH)

High tide at the Medmerry breach (AH) above) & an ethereal Breach Pool from the North Wall (OM) 

The two most significant events of the year are inextricably linked, and feature the word ‘Medmerry’ – which previously referred to a small clay cliff, a field and a windmill between the caravan park and Selsey town – and is now familiar to bird-watchers everywhere. The opening up of access to the new RSPB Medmerry reserve was so swiftly followed by the pair of breeding Black-winged Stilts that it felt like the quiet backwater of Selsey Westfields had become the new birding hot-spot overnight. The full story of the Stilt family is covered in the accounts below, but suffice to say it has a happy ending! 

The Stilt Pool under a lowering sky (AH)

The new reserve has continued to produce interesting birds and attract appreciative visitors all year and has become a fully established part of the ‘patch’. A great deal of credit must go to the RSPB for creating so much diverse habitat, and the birds benefitting have included not only the more obvious wader species, but declining farmland birds like Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark, who have taken to the weedy banks and fields with gusto.

The commemorative stone by the Breach viewpoint, with a Wheatear sat atop (SR)

The total number of species seen on the Peninsula for the year was a very respectable 209, and there is a long list of avian highlights behind the Black-winged Stilt story – with the fantastically obliging and long-staying sub-adult Long-tailed Skua undoubtedly in second place, but the year will perhaps be equally remembered for the good numbers of the (increasingly) less common summer migrants and the bountiful breeding season, especially for the Little Terns on the spit - plus, of course, a truly memorable ‘Pom Day’ in May - rather than the number of ‘mega’ rarities.

The list of other rarities and sub-rarities is still pretty impressive, though, including Subalpine Warbler, Hooded Crow, Balearic Shearwater, Cattle and Great White Egret, Red-breasted Goose, Glaucous and Iceland Gull, Roseate Tern, Wryneck, Water Pipit, Great Grey Shrike, Pallas’s and Yellow-browed Warbler, and, of course, that great Peninsula rarity – the Marsh Tit!

Overall, it has been another fascinating year on the Peninsula, with the collective efforts of the ‘Stilt-watch’ and the excitement of the Pom Day bringing all of us fairly anti-social folk together. And now we turn our eyes to the New Year, awaiting all the possibilities of spring migration and hoping that ‘our’ Stilts will return to their new home.

The birds
I have followed last year’s format, including only the less common species and some of the interesting counts and dates for some of the others, and concentrating on migrant species rather than the familiar residents and winterers. Once again I have only included records of the rarer species where a description has been, or is likely to be submitted to the SOSRC (or BBRC where appropriate), and apologies in advance for all errors and omissions.

Divers

It was a very mixed year for divers on the Peninsula. After a good autumn in 2013, the severe storms over the New Year seemed to displace any wintering birds, and there were few records until spring migration. Totals for Black-throated Diver of 18 birds passing the Bill and 142 for Red-throated Diver were both well below average, and in fact this spring’s total for the latter species was matched by the best single day last year.

By comparison, Great Northern Divers continue to flourish, with the record count being beaten twice in quick succession, with the new record of 15 birds off the Bill on 30th March only lasting until 12th April, when another best-ever total of 16 was achieved. Numbers were good in the autumn, too, when numbers of the other two species remained low, with a peak of 9 off the Bill on 26th December, and a very obliging first-year bird taking up residence on the new tidal pools at Medmerry from 5th November into early December before finally heading seawards.

 

Great Northern Diver on the new pools at Medmerry on 9th November (AH)

Grebes

As with the divers, the severe winter weather displaced the regular wintering birds, though quite a few ended up in Chichester Harbour. Slavonian Grebe numbers were very low throughout the winter at Pagham, with a peak of just 9 at Church Norton on 20th January, though a very amenable individual took up residence on the Lagoon from 22nd January onwards, whilst the flock off East Head peaked at a creditable 15 on 19th February.

It was a disappointing autumn though, after a promising start, with numbers building up to 15 birds off Church Norton by 6th December, but they had all moved on by the year’s end.

Slavonian Grebe on Pagham Lagoon on 22nd January (AH)

Very few of the above species were seen on passage at the Bill though strangely, two summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebes appeared offshore there on 31st March and another four were there on 4th April, mirroring last year’s unprecedented arrival.
Red-necked Grebe is becoming a very scarce bird on the Peninsula, and there was just a solitary record this year - of one off Church Norton on 16th March.

Seabirds

It was an unexceptional year for Manx Shearwaters, and after an early start (one west on 1st March), just a dozen were recorded in the spring and very few during the benign summer, though Balearic Shearwaters put on a reasonable showing (if not in relation to last year’s record count) with 8 birds seen, comprising 4 in January, 3 in June and one in November.
It was a fairly typical year for Storm Petrels, too, with just four records between 26th and 28th May.
A remarkable record of a  double-dark ‘Blue’ Fulmar came to light via a bird photographed by a local fisherman some miles out from Selsey on 17th March. This so-called double-dark form of the familiar Fulmar is a true bird of the high Arctic and there have only ever been a handful of records in the English Channel, making this one of the rarest birds of the year.

‘Blue’ Fulmar off Selsey Bill on 17th March (C. Wilson)

 
One other strange record was of a juvenile Gannet that flew into Pagham Harbour on a big tide on 4th October, whereupon the local crows mobbed it until it crash-landed on the Breach Pool, and then settled on the adjacent field. It was not seen there subsequently, so hopefully it managed to get airborne and back to its natural habitat.

Juvenile Gannet on the Breach Pool 4th October (BI)

Herons etc

After a poor showing in 2013 this year was the year of the Spoonbill on the Peninsula, with well over a dozen different birds seen and with several multiple sightings culminating with the arrival of three wintering birds in Pagham Harbour and another three at Snowhill Creek. In the spring the first record was of two east past the Bill on 10th March, followed by three at Medmerry on the 13th and one on the Ferry the next day. There were two birds in Pagham Harbour from 4th-15th April, another there on 11th and 12th May, and 3 at Medmerry on 18th May which (presumably) passed the Bill the following morning.

There was a single bird in the harbour on 1st August, then another - a first-year bird – arrived on 5th October and settled in before being joined by another on 5th November, and then another one arrived on the Ferry on 25th November before relocating to Medmerry for a day or two and finally joining forces with the other two for the winter. To complete a record year for this species, another three birds turned up on Snowhill Creek on 17th December, and appeared to have settled in for the winter, despite straying to Fishbourne Creek on the 31st..

The third Spoonbill arriving on the Ferry on 5th November (DM)

Otherwise, it was not a bumper year for herons, with the only other rarities being a frustratingly elusive Cattle Egret that took up residence on farmland to the north of the harbour from 1st to the 24th August, with it or another bird in the same area on 29th/30th September, and three reports of untwitchable Great White Egrets over Medmerry on 13th April, in off the sea at the Bill on 6th July and flushed from behind the North Wall on 20th September.

Cattle Egret at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham on 6th August (AB)

 Wildfowl

There were just two Whooper Swans this winter, roaming the arable land north of the harbour, though they could be quite obliging once their location was tracked down, and they didn’t depart until the late date of 20th March.

The two Whooper Swans on Honer Reservoir on 20th March (DM)

The wildfowl highlight of what turned out to be a good year for geese, was undoubtedly the Red-breasted Goose that slipped past the Bill on 3rd April, seen by a good crowd, but none of the regular sea-watchers!
There was no repeat of last year’s Brent Goose spectacle, with a slow and steady spring passage, though it would seem, judging by the sheer number of returning birds and the high numbers of juveniles amongst them, that it was a very good breeding season.
There were just four reports of Black Brant (presumably of the same bird) in January/early February from Fishbourne Creek and East Head, then one popped up with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose amongst the huge wintering Brent Goose flocks around Pagham Harbour on 2nd December and settled in for the duration.

 

Black Brant on the outskirts of Selsey on 3rd December (AH)

There were a couple of unusual records of flocks of Barnacle Goose, the origins of which will never be fully known, but the time of year and size of the flocks suggest they may have been wild. Firstly, a flock of around 50 was in Pagham Harbour on 17th January, and secondly, a (presumably) different flock of 33 birds briefly dropped in on the water off East Head on 3rd February before heading off eastwards.

Barnacle Geese at East Head on 3rd February (AH)

A mystery grey goose that appeared in early December amongst the Brent Goose flocks around Pagham and Medmerry gave everyone the run-around, before finally being pinned down on the 8th as a juvenile White-fronted Goose.

 

White-fronted Goose amongst the Brent Geese at Chainbridge Field, Selsey on 8th December (CRJ)

 
And then, as a final bonus, a lone Tundra Bean Goose appeared on the west side of Pagham Harbour on 17th December, and was (presumably) rediscovered in amongst the big goose flock on the Ferry field on the 29th.

Tundra Bean Goose on Ferry Field on 30th December (AH)

The two Ruddy Shelduck that appeared in December 2013 continued to grace the harbour until well into February, before departing like good wild birds! And then one returned on 11th October, first at Medmerry before returning to Pagham, and was reunited with its friend/mate there on 13th November.

One of the Ruddy Shelducks on the Ferry on 9th November (BI)

It was a fairly good spring for Garganey, with drakes on the Ferry on 18th and 29th April, another on 3rd-5th May with another joining it on the middle day, then another on the North Wall on the 10th and finally a pair on the Severals on the 14th.

Drake Garganey on the second Several on 14th May (AH)


Other scarce wildfowl were generally thin on the ground, with only one Mandarin – at Medmerry on 15th May and one Scaup – a drake on Ivy Lake on 11th-12th March.
Goosander was equally scarce in the first half of the year – a redhead on 4th-7th January in Pagham Harbour looked like being the only record until a group of three popped up offshore from Church Norton on 30th December.
The very unpredictable female Red-crested Pochard continued to appear infrequently around the Ivy Lake complex until 7th May (with one brief visit to the North Wall on 11th January) and was back again from 4th October onwards.

Red-crested Pochard on Ivy Lake on 14th January (AH)

Sea-duck fared a little better, with four Long-tailed Ducks being seen off Church Norton on 2nd January, with at least two staying in the area into February (with three off East Head on the 19th), and one lingering until 25th April, though the autumn saw a return to normality after last year’s influx, with just a single record of one past the Bill on 11th November.
Eider continued to be seen offshore early in the year, and though passage was modest there was a notable flock of 37 birds past the Bill in a good day-total of 48 on 30th March. Also, for the first time in quite a few years there was a summering flock off the Bill, totalling 11 birds, or more precisely a flock of 10 and one anti-social duck that refused to mix with the others!

The anti-social Eider at Selsey Bill on 30th April (AH)

A spring passage total of 5527 Common Scoter was respectable, if well down on last year’s record count, but what was notable about the year was the big flock that took up summer residence off the Bill, with several June and July counts of 150 birds.

Velvet Scoters seemed to have returned to their usual status as scarce migrants this year, after the four wintering birds got driven off by the weather in early January, there were no more reports until 15th March and a spring total of just 25 birds past the Bill, whilst just two autumn records was much more normal fare.

 
Raptors

Sadly, the Hen Harrier is fast becoming lost as a regular Peninsula species, and this year there were just three report reports – of a ringtail over the North Wall on 15th October, a superb male bird at Medmerry on 6th December, and another individual reported there on the 14th. 

Male Hen Harrier over Medmerry on 6th December (IL)

Despite its improving fortunes nationwide, the Marsh Harrier is still a scarce and unpredictable local visitor. There were only two records early in the year - on 7th and 11th January, and no more until one on 1st April, followed by two different birds on the 19th and 21st, and a final spring record on 19th May, all of which were reported from Pagham Harbour. Between 15th August and 10th October there were around fifteen sightings from the harbour (including two on 7th September) and Medmerry, and one in off the sea at the Bill on 14th September, but no reports after mid-October until one at Medmerry on 6th December, and finally one over Fishbourne Creek on the 31st.

Marsh Harrier over the Long Pool on 19th April & Red Kite over Medmerry breach on 21st July (AH)

Red Kites continue to be erratic visitors to the Peninsula, with little indication of date or place as to where the next one will appear, though with reports of eight birds it was an improvement on 2013. Sightings were of one over the North Wall on 16th March, and three there on 2nd April, one at Medmerry on the 16th of that month, one over Mundham on 5th May, one over East Wittering on 12th June, one at the Medmerry breach on 21st July and one over the Ferry on 4th November.
There were just two spring records of Osprey, on 5th and 7th May from Pagham Harbour, and there was a spate of records from there between 21st August and 2nd September, with another on the 13th, interspersed with one from Medmerry on the 9th. It is difficult to be certain with both the spring and autumn records as to how many individuals were involved; though in the latter period at least one bird was reported hunting off the North Wall for several days running.

Osprey over Pagham Harbour on 29th August (BI)


There were around 10 spring records of Hobby in off the sea at Selsey, including the earliest ever date of 3rd April. They were recorded intermittently over the summer and early autumn, with the last one on the fairly late date of 18th October at Church Norton.
Merlins were very thin on the ground in the first half of the year, with report from the North Wall on 7th January, Medmerry on 15th March and two from Selsey – on 25th March and 5th April – being the only records. The first autumn record was at Church Norton on 31st August, and thereafter they were recorded regularly, if infrequently, from Pagham Harbour and Medmerry.

Merlin at Church Norton on 14th November (AB)

Gamebirds/Rails

There were a few more records of Grey Partridge this year, excluding the release of 30 or more birds for shooting purposes around Church Norton this autumn. All the other records were of pairs, with early reports from Church Norton on 14th March and Honer Reservoir six days later, and three reports – on 16th April, 26th June and 5th July- from the eastern edge of Medmerry and one from the west on 27th November. It is encouraging that they are clinging on in that area, as the RSPB have created a huge amount of potentially suitable habitat for them there.

‘Released’ Grey and Red-legged Partridges at Church Norton on 8th October (AH)

It appeared to be a good autumn for Water Rails, with multiple records from several sites around the harbour, particularly the North Wall and the Long Pool.

Water Rail on the Ferry Pool on 30th September (AH)

Waders

It’s fair to say that what we lacked in rarity excitement was more than compensated for by the county’s first ever pair of nesting Black-winged Stilts, the full story of which unfolded over fourteen summer weeks full of anticipation, hope, drama and peril before a very happy ending.
A single bird appeared on 29th April on the flood overflow pool at Medmerry – a nice, but brief treat we thought, then on 17th May a pair (we can only assume it was the first bird plus a mate) took up residence on the same pool and within a week were sat on eggs.

The Back-winged Stilts changing over incubation on 27th May (DM)

A twenty-four hour ‘Stilt-watch’ was organised by the RSPB and we all took our anxious turn, watching as foxes, gulls and trespassers threatened their safety, until Friday 13th June, when a chick appeared, swiftly followed by two more.

Adults with the first chick on 14th June (AH)

Six days later and they decamped into the wilderness of the central tidal areas, the Stilt-watch ceased and they were on their own.

One of the chicks crossing the path to the main reserve on 19th June (CE)

Sporadic sightings of one or two chicks and anxious interpretations of the parents’ behaviour kept our emotions on the roller-coaster until 31st July, when proud parents and all three well-grown chicks appeared on the Ferry, giving fantastic views to all their ‘god-parents.’ Three days later they disappeared, only to pop up at Pulborough Brooks, and then they came back for one last goodbye on the Ferry on 11th August, before they all departed together for good.

The three juveniles together on the Ferry on 31st July (AH)

 
All the excitement with the Stilts totally over-shadowed the extraordinary breeding success of the Avocets at Medmerry. Having only ever having bred three or four times before on the Peninsula, an estimated 15-20 pairs bred this year, possibly rearing double that number of chicks to adulthood.

One of the many Avocet chicks at Medmerry, this one on 7th June (DM)

Little Ringed Plovers found Medmerry similarly to their liking, with as many as 10 pairs raising young – again far surpassing any previous year.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the Ferry on 18th July (AH)

Some of the other rarer passage waders were quite numerous this year, with Curlew Sandpiper peaking at 11 birds in White’s Creek on 15th September, and there was an adult bird that appeared to over-summer around Medmerry, Little Stints peaking with four birds at Medmerry on 5th September and one lingering on the Ferry until 4th October, and Wood Sandpipers in both spring - on the Ferry from 19th-21st May, and autumn - with one, or probably two birds, around Medmerry from 7th July to the 6th August.

 

Curlew Sandpiper in White’s Creek on 12th September, & Little Stint on the Ferry Pool on 3rd October (above) & Wood Sandpiper at Medmerry on 27th July (AH)

Probably the scarcest wader of the year was the Purple Sandpiper that passed the Bill on 2nd November - the first on the Peninsula for several years.
There were good numbers of Green Sandpipers this autumn, with a peak of seven birds on the Ferry on 10th September. It was a similar tale for Greenshank, with a peak of 15 birds there on 10th October, and at least one birds wintering in Pagham Harbour – a surprisingly rare event considering the regular winter numbers in Chichester Harbour. There were plenty of Spotted Redshanks around too, peaking at an impressive 11 birds in White’s Creek on 22nd October, with five birds still around in December (and another half a dozen at Fishbourne Creek), whilst there was also a superb summer-plumaged individual on the Ferry on 17th May, and another that took up residence as it moulted from 13th June till 21st July.

Greenshank at Church Norton on 5th September & Spotted Redshank on Ferry Pool on 21st June (AH)

Woodcock and Jack Snipe were typically few this year, though one of each was seen at Drayton Pit on 16th March. Subsequently, Drift Lane Marsh, Selsey was productive during November and December with both species being recorded a number of times.
One other bird of note is the Whimbrel, which has returned as a wintering bird after a blank year last year- with one taking up winter residence at Church Norton, occupying the same site the previous long-stayer frequented until its disappearance a couple of winters ago, and another re-occupying a traditional haunt at Fishbourne Creek.

Whimbrel at Church Norton on 3rd December (AH)

Skuas

2014 was a year that will be remembered for its skuas. Firstly, after a dreadful year last year, we had a true ‘Pom Day’ at the Bill on 5th May – the best since 1997. A total of 74 Pomarine Skuas passed east (of a spring total of 79 birds) on that day, but better still, many were incredibly close and because it was a Bank Holiday very many long-suffering sea-watchers had their best-ever day - even the honourable Selsey Bill recorder was happy! And as the icing on the cake for the year, the autumn saw an unprecedented total of 37 birds (mostly juveniles) passing the Bill, including 24 on 8th November.

Pomarine Skuas at Selsey Bill on 5th May (PM)

It was an unremarkable spring for Arctic Skua and Bonxie, with 80 and 64 birds respectively recorded past the Bill, and like the above species, an above-average autumn.
In any other year, the ‘Pom’ would take the spoils, but one of the Peninsula’s (and even the county’s) most sought-after birds decided to take a two-week holiday on our local beaches in August. First present on the 2nd, the identity of the sub-adult Long-tailed Skua that was lingering along the beach at Church Norton was not confirmed until the 4th. It gave hopeful watchers the run-around until the 6th, then disappeared completely until it resurfaced at Medmerry on the 9th, but for the next week gave superb views to all comers at Selsey and Church Norton, before finally disappearing off down the Solent on the 16th.

Long-tailed Skua at Church Norton on 10th August (DM) and at Selsey Bill on 12th August (AH)

Gulls/Terns/Auks

The stormy winter weather made it a very interesting year for gulls on the peninsula, right from the start, when a number of Little Gulls and Kittiwakes turned up in the gull flocks feeding along the strandline at the Bill, and small numbers of both species were to be seen regularly close inshore throughout January and February. Little Gull numbers were fair at the Bill, with 70 birds recorded east, and they continued to pop up at a variety of sites all year.

Little Gull (above) and Kittiwake at Selsey Bill on 4th January and 17th February respectively (AH)

The gull highlight was probably the 1st winter Iceland Gull that turned up on Pagham Lagoon on 28th February and returned there almost every day at high tide until it finally moved off sometime after 13th May, going from beigy-brown to almost pure white plumage during its stay.

Iceland Gull on Pagham Lagoon on 17th March (OM)

It has been a few years since a Glaucous Gull graced the Peninsula, but sadly two of those that made an appearance didn’t fare well. The first was found on 19th January in Pagham Harbour, and though it seemed to have a damaged wing it disappeared to the Isle of Wight before reappearing a couple of days later, but was picked up in a weak state on the 25th and died a couple of days later at Brent Lodge. A second bird seen on 17th February was presumably the one picked up dead on Tern Island a week later, whilst a third bird, only present around the harbour mouth on 1st March hopefully escaped unscathed!

Glaucous Gull at Church Norton on 24th January (AH)

Those two Peninsula specialities – Yellow-legged Gull and Mediterranean Gull – had unremarkable years, though there were a number of ‘out-of-season’ reports of the former in both winter periods, and the latter was notable for the very large number of juveniles about in the early autumn, suggesting a much better breeding season on the south coast than last year. 

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton on 28th July (above) & Yellow-legged Gull at Fishbourne Creek on 23rd July (AH)

 

It was a really poor year for Black Terns, with only 10 past the Bill all spring, six of which were on 5th May, and the only other report was of two on Ivy Lake on the same day.
It was another poor one for Roseate Tern, too, with just one bird sighted, which spent a single high tide on Tern Island on 11th June.

Roseate Tern on Tern Island on 11th June (AH)

Strangely, despite well below-average passage of all species, 2014 will be remembered for the right reasons – with a bumper breeding season for the Little Tern colony on Church Norton spit. It was difficult to be precise, and it was a very protracted affair, but at least a dozen pairs produced young and it may well have been double that, but certainly there were many juvenile birds – a rarely seen sight – around the harbour and at Medmerry during the late summer.

Juvenile Little Tern at Medmerry on 21st July (AH)

There seemed to be a lot of young Common Terns and Sandwich Terns about, too, with a post-breeding roost of up to 150 of the latter in Pagham Harbour, and some big movements of Common/Commic Terns past the Bill, including 786 west past the Bill on 8th August.
There were only half a dozen specifically-identified Arctic Terns past the Bill in the spring, despite some detailed searching, but lingering individuals on Ivy Lake on 5th and 24th May, and one off Medmerry on the late date of 4th October were of this species.

Arctic Tern off Medmerry on 4th October (AH)

Sadly the early part of this year will be remembered for the number of dead auks found – including several Puffins, rather than numbers seen offshore.

Dead Puffin at Selsey Bill on 9th February (SH)

Counts of Razorbills and Guillemots were reasonable early in the year, but the severe storms took their toll and numbers remained very low right through into the following winter.

Razorbill at Selsey Bill on 30th January (DM)

One positive was that a few Little Auks made it to our shores – with one seen passing the Bill west, appearing briefly at Medmerry before going back east on 7th November, and 5 going west there three days later.

Pigeons/Owls/etc

One of the saddest aspects of the year was the almost total absence of Turtle Doves from the Peninsula. Just one spring record – on 26th May in Sidlesham, was only added to by two autumn reports (of presumably different birds), at Ham Farm (Medmerry) on 28th/29th and another at Park Farm, Selsey on the latter date, both of which were juveniles.

Juvenile Turtle Dove at Park Farm, Selsey on 29th September (SH)

The first Cuckoo of the year was at Medmerry on 9th April, and despite the upheaval there, it remained a popular site for them. The Peninsula seems to be bucking the national trend, with birds seen/heard almost continually through the spring around Pagham and Medmerry.

Cuckoo at Medmerry on 18th May (AH)

Little Owls seem to be doing a bit better, too, with several birds/pairs around both the Medmerry area and in the North Fields area of Pagham Harbour.

Little Owl at Medmerry on 9th November (SH)

Barn Owls, on the other hand, have almost gone from the peninsula, after two disastrous years nationally for the species. Two summer sightings from Medmerry – 9th and 16th June, and further reports in November from Birdham on the 18th and Sidlesham on the 26th appeared to represent the sad total, though one was seen on the Chainbridge Field, Selsey on a number of occasions from 19th December to the year’s end.
It was a year of two halves for Short-eared Owl, being all but absent in the first half (just a single record from Pagham Spit on 21st April), and almost abundant in the second half, though without one ever settling in an easily accessible site. The first one was seen coming in off the sea on 1st September at the Bill and again at the Ferry shortly afterwards, before reappearing at the Severals the following day. From the middle of October onwards there were frequent reports from Pagham, Medmerry and a couple from East Head, and on 13th December there were at least 4 around Medmerry/Chainbridge Field area.

Short-eared Owl at East Head on 28th October (DM)

Another bird that made life hard for observers was Wryneck. There were four records – a fairly typical showing – but none were at their favoured site around the Severals, and none of them chose accessible sites or lingered long. The first one was in a tiny undeveloped plot behind the gardens at the Bill on 28th August, followed in September by one on the North Wall on 12th, one at Warner Lane paddocks, Selsey on the 14th and another on the North Wall on the 22nd.

Wryneck at Selsey Bill on 28th August (AH)

Kingfishers seem to have had a great couple of years and turned up throughout the year at the usual sites, and many more besides, with a couple of autumn birds along the North Wall, in particular, being unusually tame and photogenic.

Kingfisher on North Wall sluice on 2nd October (AH)

Larks/Pipits/Hirundines

Woodlarks remain a very scarce bird on the Peninsula, but there was one at Medmerry on 17th May, and there was a flurry of October records from Selsey Bill, totalling around half a dozen birds.
There seems to have been an increase in autumn records of that other heathland speciality, the Tree Pipit, following on from last year, with just two records in the spring of possibly the same bird at Medmerry on 11th/12th April, but half a dozen autumn records, including multiples in August at Halsey’s Farm – two on the 17th, Church Norton - five on the 19th and Medmerry – four on the 21st and several more singles into September.

Tree Pipit at Medmerry on 11th April (AH)

Water Pipits made a welcome return this year after a blank one last, with several records from the Breach Pool. One was seen on 16th/17th March, then it, or another, was around from 30th March to 3rd April, on which latter date there were two together. Finally there was a very brief appearance at the same location on 1st November.
 

Water Pipit on the Breach Pool on 3rd April (AH)

It was a pretty middling year for Yellow Wagtails, with just 14 seen at the Bill in the spring, and few big build-ups in the early autumn in the cattle fields. There was a day of notable passage on 31st August, when 41 went west at Church Norton and 49 went west at Selsey, and the only three-figure count was an estimated 120 in a maize field at Medmerry on 1st September.

Yellow Wagtail on the paddocks by the North Wall on 28th April (JDW)

It would seem that 2014 was a bumper breeding season for all three hirundine species, with some huge counts, particularly in September, with several days of totals well into the thousands – nearly all of which appeared to be juveniles. Late last dates were a feature, too with Sand Martin last recorded on 28th October, House Martin on 6th November and Swallow on 26th November.

Juvenile Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin by Pagham Lagoon on 9th September (AH)

Thrushes

After such a poor year last year, one Ring Ouzel in particular put on a show for everyone. Two birds appeared in the fairly unlikely location of the Warner Lane paddocks on 14th April, and though one bird quickly disappeared, the other settled in for a full week, seemingly unconcerned by a steady stream of admirers. Another couple put in a brief show at Church Norton on 22nd April, but the autumn was back to normal, with just two brief sightings, on 14th/15th October, despite numbers appearing plentiful to the east of us again.

 

Ring Ouzel at Warner Lane paddocks on 15th April (DM)

The mild winter meant that few Redwing or Fieldfare were seen, though a flock of 40 or so lingered at Medmerry until the very end of March, and there was an unseasonal record of one in off the sea at the Bill on 25th April.
Nightingale remains a real scarcity on the Peninsula, even compared to other coastal sites, so one heard (though never seen) at Greenlease Farm on 11th April was a welcome addition to the year-list.
It was a good year for a number of our migrant chats, none more so than Whinchat, which seemed to be getting scarcer every year, but bucked the trend this year. There were numerous spring days with several sightings, and on 14th May it was double figures, including eight at the Severals. The autumn was even better, with 20+ recorded across the Peninsula on 31st August and an amazing 29 birds at Medmerry alone on 2nd September.

Whinchat on Pagham Spit on 24th April (AH)

Stonechats, too, must have had a good year, with counts of 11 at Church Norton on 1st October and 10 at Medmerry on the 14th being the pick.
Redstart had a good year, too, with several good spring days – particularly 14th April when at least 15 birds were found around the area, and there were several double figure days in the autumn, too. One strange record was of a very young-looking juvenile bird at Church Norton on 10th-12th July.

Juvenile Redstart at Church Norton on 12th July (AH)

After a fairly average spring of just three records, the autumn brought a Black Redstart bonanza to the coast around Selsey, with as many as 25 different birds being recorded, including eight different birds at various sites on 30th October, and 6 together at Medmerry on 18th November.

Black Redstart at Greenlease Farm on 29th March (AH)

That peninsula favourite, the Northern Wheatear was another migrant species that seemed to have had a good year. The first records were on 9th March - from both Medmerry and Church Norton, and spring passage was good, with numerous ‘double-figure’ days, and a peak on 14th April, with at least 70 birds at various sites. The autumn was good, too, with barely a day from mid-July to the end of October without a report, and there were at least 100 recorded on 31st August (a big fall day for many species). There were late double-figure counts, too, including 18 at Medmerry on 3rd October and 12 on the 14th. The last bird of the year was at this site, too, on the late date of 22nd November.
There was also a ‘Greenland’ Wheatear at Warner Lane paddocks on 21st September.

Greenland Wheatear at Warner Lane on 21st Sept (OM) & the last Wheatear of the year at Medmerry on 22nd November (AH)

Warblers/’crests/Flycatchers

The rarest warbler of the year was seen by just one visiting birder – a Subalpine Warbler that was along the Tramway on the afternoon of 21st April, but melted away when the sun went in and was never seen again.
Compensation was had in the autumn, when both those little sought-after eastern jewels, Yellow-browed Warbler and Pallas’s Warbler put in an appearance. One of the former was very obliging along a short stretch of path at Northcommon Farm, present from 13th-18th October and allowing most seekers a decent view. Another bird turned up on the 17th at East Beach Pond, but was only ever heard and disappeared unseen.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Northcommon Farm, Selsey on 16th October (DM)

The only Pallas’s Warbler was a one-day wonder in the oak copse at Church Norton on 28th October, rewarding the finder for his perseverance in this perennially disappointing site! It showed well to a good few while the sun shone, but never reappeared after the weather broke.

Pallas’s Warbler at Church Norton on 28th October (IL)

Dartford Warblers were few – with the very elusive singleton at East Head, remaining mostly unseen from the start of the year till 30th January, being the only record for the first half of the year. The autumn wasn’t much better, though one on Pagham Spit from 25th-28th October allowed a few people a glimpse, and there were a couple of reports from East Head in November.

Dartford Warbler on Pagham Spit on 25th October (TG)

 There was just a single Grasshopper Warbler record, of one flushed from dense vegetation at Drayton Pit on 13th September.
One other bird of note was a ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff that was around Pagham Lagoon from 27th February until at least 13th March.

 

'Siberian' Chiffchaff at Pagham Lagoon on 27th February (AH)

There were some surprisingly late ‘last sightings’ among the commoner warblers, including Sedge Warbler on 5th October and Reed Warbler on the 11th, both on the Breach Pool.

It was a very disappointing year for Firecrests, with just two spring records – of one near the North Wall on 8th February and two at Church Norton on 1st March, and very few in the autumn – one at Selsey Bill on 1st October, and a run of sightings at Church Norton, starting with two on 18th November, and several subsequent sightings of one bird there.

Firecrest at Church Norton on 18th November (DM)

After a blank spring, a couple of Pied Flycatchers put on a good show at Northcommon Farm, Selsey at the end of August. Following a fleeting one at Church Norton, two were found along the hedges at the afore-mentioned site on the 31st, and were seen on and off until 7th September, whilst another was briefly at Park Farm, Selsey on the 5th.

 

Pied Flycatcher at Northcommon Farm on 31st August (AH)

It was a long wait for a Spotted Flycatcher in the spring, but when they finally arrived on 10th May, at least 15 appeared around the Peninsula, including nine at Church Norton. In what was generally a good autumn for the species, there were a couple of notable days in September, too, with somewhere around 30 birds being seen between Church Norton and Northcommon Farm on the 5th and up to 15 similarly spread across the south of the peninsula on the 19th.

Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton on 29th August (AH)

Starlings/Tits/Crows/etc

Arguably the scarcest Peninsula bird of the year was a Marsh Tit, found not once but twice by the same lucky observer between the Severals – on 30th August and again at the same site on 25th October. It is ten years or more since the last local sighting of a species that breeds commonly on the north side of Chichester!

Probably the only picture ever taken of a Marsh Tit at Church Norton! 25th October (SH)

For some reason Bearded Tits remained uncharacteristically scarce this year, with none in the first half, and just two records in the autumn – one an unusual sight of a group of a dozen or so going over the Yeoman’s Field , presumably between reed-beds, then a more typical sighting of 2 in the Breach Pool reeds on 1st November.

Another great Peninsula scarcity, the Nuthatch, allowed a few lucky people to add it to their list, when one took up residence around the Priory, occasionally straying into more accessible areas from the start of the year till 14th April. Another was seen a couple of times in a Mundham garden in September, too.
Treecreepers remained almost as elusive; although a pair often breed in the Priory wood, only a couple of birds put in an appearance at Church Norton – one on 12th-15th January, and another on 14th March.

Two rarely photographed Peninsula birds – Treecreeper on 12th January (SR) & Nuthatch on 12th April (CE), both at Church Norton

There was just a single record of Great Grey Shrike for the year, of a bird at Snowhill Creek, East Head, watched for a matter of minutes by a handful of observers on 25th October.

Great Grey Shrike at Snowhill Creek on 25th October (AH)

One of the biggest surprises of the year was a Hooded Crow turning up on the spit off Hillfield Road, Selsey on the morning of 15th May. Sadly it only lingered until the tide covered the spit and was probably next seen at Portland.

Hooded Crow at Selsey Bill on 15th May (AH)

Less of a surprise these days is the appearance of a Raven, though there were rather fewer records than of late. In fact they were noted on only two dates early in the year, though on the first – 30th January, there were three different sightings of possibly the same bird from Church Norton, Sidlesham and Fishbourne Creek, with the other from Medmerry on 19th March. Later in the year there was just one record a month for September, October and November, then a run of reports in December, all around Pagham Harbour.

Raven and Carrion Crow at Church Norton on 14th December (IP)

It was a good autumn for Jays – or at least for those of us watching them – as the very poor acorn crop brought more than usual through, with good numbers lingering about the Peninsula.

Jay at Church Norton on 18th October (AH)

Finches/Buntings

It was a poor year for migrant finches, with none around in the early winter, and autumn migration all but absent. There were just three reports of Brambling – of seven over the Bill on 7th October, a single male at Drift Lane on 20th October and another male at Church Norton on 30th December, whilst there were just a couple of days with Siskin sightings – 20th September when around 40 were seen going over Church Norton, and 4th November when two were at the same location.
The Bullfinch is a hard bird to find on the Peninsula, with Ivy Lake one of the most reliable sites, though there were only three reports – all in March – for the year. Otherwise they popped up at a traditional site in Sidlesham a handful of times during the year, and a pair was seen at the Severals on 30th November.

One of the unexpected bonuses of the Medmerry project was the creation of plenty of perfect bunting habitat, and that has been rewarded by a boom in numbers. In recent years, Corn Buntings have clung on around the old Westfields area, but last year saw a boost in numbers and it was carried on in this, with as many as 15-20 singing males spread around the new bank from Selsey to Bracklesham, but concentrated around Ham and Greenwood Farms.

  

Corn Bunting at Medmerry on 8th June (AH)

Yellowhammers, too, appear to be thriving at Medmerry, too, with winter flocks of 20-30 birds regularly being seen around the banks and a count of 70 birds on 9th February, and encouragingly there appear to be good numbers around the North Wall/North Fields area and at Apuldram.

Yellowhammers at Medmerry on 1st November (AH)

  

What was presumably one of last autumn’s influx of Snow Buntings hung on at East Head until at least 1st March, though it disappeared for long periods, but this autumn was a return to normal, with a typically evasive bird around Pagham Spit from 30th October to 1st November, and another reported just once from East Head a week later.

Snow Bunting at East Head on 19th February (AH)