Woke up, it was a Selsey morning..

Another birding Friday found us heading west on a beautiful crisp clear Winter morning. It was chilly but the sun bright in a blue sky and we were well wrapped up in gloves, woolly hats and in my case several welcome Christmas presents in the form of thermal socks, big pullover and cosy jacket.

We first headed to Burpham and Amberley where we saw a Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Stock Dove, Redwing, Wood Pigeons, Red-legged Partridge (but not grey this time), Pheasant and Skylarks. We also managed to see the Bewick Swans this time but not the Burpham Rough-legged Buzzard.

Getting moving again we headed for Pagham harbour where after some exploring we sat and had a slightly chilly picnic but one with a stunning view over the gradually encroaching blue water with the sea in one direction and distant views of Chichester Cathedral in the other.

Here we saw Cormorant, Grey Heron, Canada and Brent Geese, Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, another Kestrel, Moorhen, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, both Black-tailed AND Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Great Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gulls. Joyfully for me we also saw plenty of Oystercatchers, the first of the year for me and my favourite and signature bird.

Before leaving we headed down to the beach for a bit of seawatching where my birding guru spotted several things far out to see using the scope. It was some time before I actually managed to see one of these as they had a nasty habit of diving or moving while he was handing over to me. He saw several mergansers and other ducks but the one we both saw was a rather exciting Slavonian Grebe.



Finally we headed for Selsey front (after a pleasant stroll in St Winefred's church yard) and saw a large number of excitable black-headed gulls who had in their midst a Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull. The icing on the cake was distant but clear views of more Mergansers and a Great Northern Diver through the 'scope.

A marvellous day's birding with a couple of life ticks for me as well as a large number of firsts for the year.