Birding the Selsey Peninsula

Thursday, 20th August: After heavy overnight rain, a quite warm morning of sunshine, white cloud and the odd shower in a blustery westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were good numbers of Gannets again this morning, flying into the massive offshore feeding flock from the east and then slowly drifting off west, with a few Common and sandwich Terns going west, too. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0650-0820hrs) (W, F5)

Gannet - 425W

Oystercatcher - 6W

Dunlin - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 500os

Common Gull - 2W, 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 20W

Common Tern - 29W

Swallow - 9W

House Martin - 3

Common Tern (above), Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just an Avocet on the pool and four Redshanks in the channel, with more interest in the vicinity in the form of a Glossy Ibis over the Visitor Centre mid-morning, three or Willow Warblers near the hide and two Cattle Egrets in the field south of the pool. (RP/AH)

Willow Warbler (above) & Cattle Egret at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A juvenile/female Redstart was showing well behind the hide this morning, a Spotted Flycatcher was in the bushes around the horse field and a couple of Willow Warblers were around the churchyard, but, otherwise the hedges were very quiet.

Also, a Green sandpiper flew over the Severals, an immature Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour and a few Swallows flew through, but two or three Whimbrel, half a dozen juvenile Shelducks and the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers was it for the harbour. (CRJ/KB/AH/KT/EB et al)

Redstart (CRJ top, AH lower) (above), Whimbrel (AH) & an abandoned yacht on the beach (CRJ) at Church Norton

North Wall: Two Willow Warblers and two Jays were down the lane by the stables, but elsewhere it was very quiet, with just a Spotted Redshank and a few Redshanks along White’s Creek, and nothing on the Breech Pool or along the wall.

At Halsey’s Farm, two Kingfishers were along the rife and six Teal, a Little Grebe, a Lapwing, two Black-tailed Godwits and two Snipe were on the mud, while a few Reed and Sedge Warblers were in the reeds, and a Sparrowhawk, four Buzzards and a Kestrel passed overhead. (LP/SP/KU)

Wednesday, 19th August: A very unexpectedly wet morning, with heavy rain from before dawn until nearly midday, when the sun came back out, leaving it bright and breezy in the fresh westerly.........

Selsey Bill: There was a massive westward movement of 566 Gannets in two hours this morning, with many stopping to feed among the huge gull flock, which also drew in a Bonxie which lingered offshore, and there were also two Kittiwakes, 63 Sandwich Terns and 36 Common Terns heading west, too. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)

(0630-0830hrs) (W, F5)

Gannet - 6E, 566W

Oystercatcher - 7W

Sanderling - 2W

Turnstone - 4

Great Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 59W, 500os

Common Gull - 1W, 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 63W

Common Tern - 36W

Common Terns (above), Sandwich Tern, Gannet & Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Ferry (AH)

Ferry Pool: The were just a Lapwing and a handful of Black-headed Gulls on the pool this morning, with just an adult and a young Avocet and six Redshanks in the channel opposite. (AH)

Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: This evening c20 Sand Martins and c50 Swallows were feeding over the adjacent Yeoman's Field. (AH)

Sand Martin (above) & Swallow at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek this morning, along with six Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Redshanks, a Whimbrel, a Curlew and two Lapwings, whilst a Kingfisher was by the sluice and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was sat out on the mud.
A lone Redshank was on the Breech Pool and there were still a few Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers in the reeds, but it was quiet along the wall with just a lone Wheatear along the rocks.
At Halsey’s Farm, two Mistle Thrushes were by the house, a Buzzard was in the trees, and a Sparrowhawk flew over, but otherwise there were just a few Whitethroats along the bushes, and a Cattle Egret, two Little Egrets, two Teal, a Lapwing and four Black-tailed Godwits by the rife. (CT/LP/SP/JDW et al)

This afternoon there were 18 Cattle Egrets, six Yellow Wagtails and a Whitethroat about, plucs c20 Sand Martins and two Swallows over. (S&SaH)

Wheatear (above), Spotted Redshank, Redshank & Buzzard at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Three Whimbrel and a handful of Ringed Plovers were on the mud this morning, along with a dozen Curlews and c30 Redshanks and Oystercatchers, with a couple of Sandwich Terns among c50 Black-headed Gulls, but that really was it in the poor conditions early on. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Ringed Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - All the Common Terns appear to have finally departed, whilst there were just a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, four Redshanks and half a dozen Lapwings and Oystercatchers on the Stilt Pool.
The banks were fairly quiet, too, with just a Dartford Warbler, a Willow Warbler, seven Whitethroats, eight Yellow Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits and eight Stonechats present, plus four Swifts, c100 Sand Martins and Swallows, two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and four Buzzards going over. (SH)

Tuesday, 18th August: It was again very grey this morning, and surprisingly warm and muggy despite the fresh and blustery westerly.......

Selsey Bill: The most notable event this morning was a prolonged westward movement of 187 Gannets. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0655-0825hrs) (W, F5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 7E, 187W

Grey Heron - 1W

Oystercatcher - 2E

Dunlin - 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 100os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 3W

Common Tern - 2W

Swallow - 17W

Sand Martin - 3W

House Martin - 2

Lesser Black-backed Gull (above) & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 14 roosting Lapwings on the pool this morning, with a couple more in the channel opposite, along with a Kingfisher, an adult and a juvenile Avocet and six Redshanks, plus a Grey Wagtail flying over. (AH)

Kingfisher (above) & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: An Osprey was seen further down the harbour this morning, whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Snipe were in Bremere Rife, a Common Sandpiper was out in the harbour and six Black-tailed Godwits, three Lapwings, three Curlews and 26 Redshanks were in White's Creek.

Also, a Wheatear and two Curlews were at Halsey's Farm, along with a Kingfisher, but four Linnets was about it along the wall, whilst three Cattle Egrets and half a dozen Little Egrets were also about. (GR/GW/GHi)

Church Norton: A pair of Ravens were in the field behind the churchyard this morning, a Marsh Harrier was over the far end of the harbour and a Peregrine was about, whilst a Wheatear was again on the concrete blocks and a Tree-creeper and a couple of Willow Warblers were among a roaming mixed tit flock by the concrete wall, but beyond a couple more of the latter and a couple of Whitethroats the bushes were very quiet.

There was little in the harbour beyond three or four Whimbrels, a few Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and the regular Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers. (IH/SP/LP/TRH/AH et al)

Peregrine (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 17th August: Another mostly overcast and muggy morning in a moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Little Egret flew out and landed on the Mile Basket rocks and two Grey Herons went west, but otherwise it was just the usual species this morning. Full log below. (AH/P&LH)

(0645-0900hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 2W

Little Egret - 1os

Grey Heron - 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 80os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3os

Great Black-backed Gull - 11os

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 11W, 40os

Common Tern - 2W, 7os

Swallow - 9W

Sand Martin - 2W

House Martin - 14

Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

A quick look before high-tide found a dozen Turnstones along the beach, mostly in summer plumage, whilst a Kittiwake and c50 Sand Martins went west. Full log below. (AW)

(1400-1500hrs)

Turnstone - 12

Kittiwake - 1W

Sand Martin - 50W

Kittiwake (above), Sand Martins & Turnstones at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: An Avocet and a Lapwing were on the pool this morning, and two more Lapwings, four more Redshanks, Whimbrel and five Black-tailed Godwits were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrel & Avocet and Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A juvenile Turtle Dove dropped into our garden in Mill Lane early this afternoon, though sadly it didn't linger, and, also, a Raven went over. (LL)

Turtle Dove at Mill Pond Marsh (LL)

Church Norton: A Wheatear was on the beach, half a dozen Whitethroats were along the front and a handful of Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were around the churchyard/hide area, but beyond c250 Sand Martins, c60 Swallows and a couple of Yellow Wagtails that went over, that was it for migrants.

Also, a Common Sandpiper was in the harbour, along with six Whimbrel, a couple of Ringed Plovers, half a dozen Curlews and c25 Redshanks and Oystercatchers, but that was about it. (PA/AW/AH/P&LH et al)

Willow Warbler (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Also of note, a dead Water Stick-insect - a native British species not familiar to most, was on the car bonnet in the car-park this morning. (RS)

Water stick-insect at Church Norton (RS)

Pagham Spit: Around 200 sandwich Terns, three Common Terns, two probable juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Common Gulls and 40 Turnstones were among the roosting birds this afternoon, whilst earlier, up to 1000 Mediterranean Gulls were among a huge offshore feeding flockj. (PA)

North Wall: Four Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek this morning, along with a Curlew, a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, four Greenshanks and c30 Redshanks, with the Mute Swan family and two Shelducks on the water.

In the reeds behind the sluice there were a few Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers, and in the bushes a Willow Warbler was with a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches, whilst a female Pheasant was along the reeds in the now almost completely dry Breech Pool, and one of the Spotted Redshanks briefly dropped into the remaining small puddle there.

The bushes along the wall were very quiet and there were just two Cattle Egrets in Owl Copse, although another eight were out by their island, and at Halsey’s Farm two Kingfishers were together at the end of the rife, a Water Rail was seen briefly in the reeds, and a Snipe, a Wheatear, a couple of Whitethroats, Swallows and a Reed Buntings were also present.

Also, the Salt House was looking resplendent in its new thatch, which has now been completed. (LP/CT/MJa/SP/PA/TRH/P&LH et al)

Sedge Warbler (above), Spotted Redshanks and Redshanks, Kingfishers, Cattle Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Pheasant and the newly re-thatched Salt House at the North Wall (LP)