13th -15th October 2024

Tuesday, 15th October:  A dry day forecast with a misty start...light winds from the easterly quarter strengthening later...

Selsey Bill: Still some auk movement this morning, Meadow Pipits heading east and a big feeding flock of Black-headed, Mediterranean and Herring Gulls feeding offshore.
(0740-0910hrs) (E F3) (SR/P&LH) Full log below:
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 5E, 6W, 8os
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 5W
Wood Pigeon - 30E
Turnstone - 10
Dunlin - 16E
Mediterranean Gull - 3W, 30os
Razorbill - 77E, 32os
auk sp. - 33E
Swallow - 31E
Meadow Pipit - 210E
Pied Wagtail - 11E
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldfinch - 29E
Linnet - 41E
Common Seal - 1os

(0925-1125hrs) (OM) There was a flurry of eastward auk activity - those identified all being Razorbills - which continued until about 1100hrs. A good search of the gardens and area was not fruitful, producing just three Chiffchaffs. Log below:

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os, flew E

Gannet - 13os, 5E

Brent Goose - 1E, 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 26E

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 570E

auk sp - 225E

Swallow - 13E

Skylark - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 6E

Chiffchaff - 3

Goldfinch - 25

Razorbills heading east past the Bill and Mediterranean Gull (OM)

Waders passing the Bill, top two, and Gannet (LH)

Ferry Pool: A lot of sleeping birds on the pool today, 15 Avocet, 26 Shoveler, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 38 Shelduck, 39 Teal and 21 Wigeon. a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Stonechat, along with seven Greenfinches, were also in the area. The Greenshank was again tucked away in Red Barn Ditch, seven Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were around the tramway which was otherwise on the quiet side. (SR/P&LH)

Shelduck, Black-headed Gulls, Redshank, Shovelers and Avocets at the Ferry (SR)

Church Norton: Fourteen Brent Goose were in the harbour this morning along with eight Wigeon and six Pintail whilst waders included a Whimbrel 65 Redshank, four Grey Plovers and three Curlews. There were again Red-legged Partridges near the chapel with 15 noted and the churchyard also held a Jay, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel. Sixteen Swallows flew over as did a Pied Wagtail and three Meadow Pipits, three Chiffchaffs were in the hedges and two Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour. (P&LH)

Great Spotted Woodpecker, above, Great Crested Grebe & Grey Heron at Church Norton (LH)

Dell Quay: There were eight Greenshanks on the margins at mid-morning along with six Redshanks, three Turnstones and two Lapwings. A Kestrel was in the area and 18 Pied Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail were on the fields as were four Stock Doves. The Mute Swan horde numbered 75 and a Grey Heron was fishing in the channel. (P&LH)

Greenshanks, above, Yellow & Pied Wagtails at Dell Quay (LH)

North Wall: Late afternoon at the wall, a Little Owl was in the willow at Little Welbourne, and four Stonechats, three Chiffchaffs and a Green Woodpecker were in the paddock. A Raven was in the trees further back and a Kestrel was hunting over the fields. Along White’s Creek, two Spotted Redshanks were with the regular selection of Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Curlews, Wigeon and Teal, and a Yellow-legged Gull was out on the mud. (LP)

Little Owl and Stonechats at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: Two Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin and two Kestrels were the raptors about the reserve this evening. Along the banks were three Cetti's Warblers, a Dartford Warbler, a Goldcrest, three Yellowhammers and a Pied Wagtail whilst Stonechat numbers had dropped to four. (SaH/SH)

Monday, 14th October:  .A very damp start with heavy rain first thing...clearing to showers throughout the day....winds from the south...

Selsey Bill: (0740-0840hrs) (SSE F5) (SR/BI) There were a few Gannets around offshore this morning but in general it was a quiet morning in inclement conditions.

Full log below:
Brent Goose - 5E
Common Scoter - 4E
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 9E, 30W, 16os
Turnstone - 11
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2os
auk sp. - 12E
Razorbill - 4E, 4os
Swallow - 4E
Pied Wagtail - 4E

Gannets & Great Black-backed Gull at the BIll (BI)

Church Norton: There were four Chiffchaffs in the churchyard this morning along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Jay. A group of Pestle Puffball fungi was also noted here. In the fields to the rear were c.10 Red-legged Partridges and five Curlews and a Kingfisher was opposite the hide. (BI)

Red-legged Partridges, Kingfisher & Pestle Puffball at Church Norton (BI)

Ferry Pool: One side of the pool was occupied by the cattle but there were still a few birds roosting, avoiding the high tide. Forty-seven Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Avocets, 6 Shelduck, 30 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 22 Lapwings, and a Little Egret were present, with a flock of 75 Jackdaw on the field and a Cetti's Warbler calling from the bushes. (SR)

Avocets at the Ferry (SR)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail, four Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, a Meadow Pipit, a Greenfinch, and a flock of 30 Goldfinches were around the paddock this morning, a Kestrel was in the nearby trees, and c50 Swallows passed overhead. Out in the harbour around high tide, four Pintails were with the Wigeon, and a few Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Redshanks and Lapwing were on the saltmarsh, with 4 Common Seals on the far bank, and on the Breech Pool, six Teal were with the usual Mallards and Coots. (LP)

Teal, above, Seals, Grey Wagtail & Pintail at the North Wall (LP)

Mill Lane Marsh Area: Not surprisingly the marsh is now more of a duck pond, complete with Mallards, Coots and Moorhens and a single Shoveler, Little Grebe and Grey Heron were the only notable waterbirds. Also seen were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a pair of noisy Mistle Thrushes, a Cetti's Warbler, a Stonechat, three Goldcrests, four Stock Doves, two Chiffchaffs, two flocks of Long-tailed Tits and a satellite tagged and ringed Curlew. (SR)

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Mill Lane (SR)

Medmerry Trail: An unsubstantiated report of a Wryneck along the trail seen by a visiting birder was made to the RSPB centre today (per AT)

Sunday, 13th October:  A chilly start in NNW F3 winds...some sunny spells but mainly overcast...the possibility of showers later..

Selsey Bill: The first Redpolls of the autumn flew over this morning and there were other  finches moving including Siskins and Goldfinches; there was also the first 1000+ movement of Wood Pigeons  Offshore, distant auks were passing, mainly to the east, and two distant grey goose sp. also went east.

(0650-1000hrs) (NNW F3) (SH/BI/SR) Full log below;
Brent Goose - 9W

grey goose sp. - 2E

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Kestrel - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2W 1ob

Turnstone - 34

Mediterranean Gull - 4W 20os

Sandwich Tern - 1W

auk sp. 449E

Guillemot - 1E

Razorbill - 125E

Stock Dove - 25W

Wood Pigeon - 1625W

Skylark - 2W

Swallow - 32E

House Martin -30E

Meadow Pipit - 16W

Pied Wagtail - 74W

Yellow Wagtail - 8W

Magpie - 17W

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 18W

Redpoll - 2W

Siskin - 10W

Goldfinch - 106W

Wood Pigeons & Pied Wagtails at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were 21 Avocets on the pool early on but otherwise it was just the regular mix of Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck & Lapwing plus a Little Grebe. (BI)

Teal, above, & Avocets at the Ferry (BI)

Church Norton: Highlights this morning included the Spoonbill, out in the harbour mainly asleep, a Wheatear on the concrete, a Brambling over and plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks along the spit. There were also 37 Siskin noted, 26 Goldfinches, five Linnets, seven Pied Wagtails and 49 Swallows. (BI/RJS et al) The Spoonbill was still present this afternoon and ten Stonechats were along the beach. (GW/AW)

Wheatear, above, Green Woodpecker & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (BI)

Around mid-day, a Barnacle Goose (or possible hybrid?) was offshore at the second Several. (HK)

Barnacle Goose at Church Norton (HK)

North Mundham: A Coal Tit was in a garden here today. (MJ)

Coal Tit video (MJ)

North Wall: Two Dartford Warblers were in the gorse at Halsey’s Farm this morning and three Swallows flew over, there were lots of Long-tailed Tits in the bushes along the wall, together with two Chaffinches, a Greenfinch and a Song Thrush, and 22 Meadow Pipits flew off the fields. A Rock Pipit was along the rocks, and four Spotted Redshanks were in White’s Creek with the usual mix of Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews, and a Kingfisher flew out from the sluice. There was a lot going on around the paddock, with six Stonechats, a Meadow Pipit, three Reed Buntings, a Cetti’s Warbler, two Pied Wagtails,18 Goldfinches and a Wren in the bushes, a Sparrowhawk was close by, and three Marsh Harriers were over the reeds further back. (LP/MJa/MRi/JDW)

Wigeon, above, Dartford Warbler, Rock Pipit, Long-tailed Tit, Stonechat with Reed Bunting & Sparrowhawk at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry East Lane to the Stilt Pool: There were still at least 30 Stonechats along the banks this afternoon and also three Yellowhammers, four Dartford Warblers , a Reed Warbler and two Chiffchaffs. Two Buzzards were overhead and four Kestrels were noted, a Greenshank was by the sluice and eight Golden Plover flew over the reserve. Three Swallows, two Pied Wagtails and two Grey Wagtails were the best of the visible migration. A Dunlin and a Snipe were on the Stilt Pool and two Wheatears were nearby. (SaH/SH)

Greenshank, Kestret and Wheatear at Medmerry (SaH)

10th-12th October 2024

Saturday, 12th October:  A fairly dismal day early on with plenty of showers in a SSE wind...brightening up around mi-day but with more showers forecast later...

Selsey Bill: A quieter day than yesterday for visible migration but the sea was more productive with plenty of auks moving through and a Great Skua going west. There were also a couple of oddities along the front: a blue Lobster and an Olive Tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis), a migrant moth.

Full log below:

(0645-0900hrs) (SSE, F5) (SH/PB/BI/SR/P&LH)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 14E 35W 20os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 3W

Common Scoter - 21E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W 1os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 16

Mediterranean Gull - 16E 1W

Great Skua - 1W

Razorbill - 127E

auk sp. - 190E

Swallow - 11E

Meadow Pipit - 6E

Pied Wagtail - 5E 3W

Siskin - 9W

Reed Bunting - 1E

(0950-1150hrs) (P&LH):

Gannet - 20os

Wigeon - 14E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 6E

Swallow - 11E

(1445-1545hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Razorbill - 6W

Swallow - 4W

Turnstone, above, blue Lobster & Olive Tree Pearl at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: One Little Grebe, 12 Avocets, eight Black-tailed Godwits, 31 Lapwings, six Shoveler, 15 Shelduck, 11 Wigeon, and a Pied Wagtail were the sum early on in the rainy conditions but, later on, a Cattle Egret flew over and a Little Egret was at the Ferry.  A Greenshank and two Redshanks were in Red Barn Ditch. (SR/MO-W)

Greenshank at Red Barn Ditch (SR)

Sidlesham Churchyard: Four Firecrests were in the churchyard (where there are lots of berries) this morning as were two Goldcrests and two Chiffchaffs. (BI)

Firecrest at Sidlesham (BI)

Hunston: There were at least 20 Chiffchaffs along the hedges along here along with a male Blackcap and a large mixed Tit flock. The arable fields held c.40 Linnets and 10 Pied Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker was by the reservoirs and a Kestrel was hunting nearby. (BI)

Green Woodpecker at Hunston (BI)

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was in the harbour this morning and a Marsh Harrier was out hunting. (per SR)

Pagham Spit:  A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse at the far end of the spit and a Stonechat, a Sedge Warbler, a Wren, two Rock Pipits, a Meadow Pipit, seven Skylarks and c50 Linnets were in the same area. Out in the harbour, 11 Brent Geese and c60 Wigeon were on the water, a Greenshank, 30 Turnstones, 25 Oystercatchers, 24 Redshank, 12 Curlews, 20 Ringed Plovers and six Grey Plovers were on the mud, and a Marsh Harrier drifted over and back towards the North Wall. (LP)

North Wall: A Stonechat, a Song Thrush and two Jays were around the paddock this morning and a flock of mostly Long-tailed Tits, together with a couple of Chiffchaffs were moving through the trees along the lane. It was busy in White’s Creek where two Gadwall, a Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were with 150 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 38 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Lapwings and 12 Redshanks, but it was quiet elsewhere in the wet and windy conditions. (LP/CT)

Waders & wildfowl in White's Creek and Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool:  There was a good count of 32 Stonechats this afternoon and there was also a Whitethroat, five Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, seven Yellowhammers and five Cetti's Warblers along the banks. Raptors included a sub-adult Marsh Harrier, five Kestrels and a Merlin, 18 Swallows flew over and c.100 Golden Plovers were out on the reserve. (SH/SaH)

Friday, 11th October:  The day after the Northern Lights was chilly to start with but dry and sunny in light northerly winds...

Selsey Bill: Over 600 Wood Pigeons moved west this morning and there was plenty of other visible migration including at least 40 Pied Wagtails dropping onto the Oval Field before moving east. The sea remained quiet though except for some distant auks passing to the west. 

Full log below: (0700-0830hrs) (N, F1) (BI/MO-W/SR et al)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Brent Goose - 12W

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 7E

Turnstone - 9

Grey Heron - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 3W

auk sp. - 165W

Swallow - 13E

Jackdaw - 85E

Wood Pigeon - 610W

Stock Dove - 4W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 53E 8W

Meadow Pipit - 85E

Rock Pipit - 1E

Skylark - 1W

Chiffchaff - 6

Goldfinch - 16E

Linnet - 77E

Brent Geese, above, Chiffchaff & Pied Wagtails at the Bill (BI

Coastguards: Twelve Sandwich Terns and 20 Mediterranean Gulls were lingering offshore and a Razorbill was sat on the sea mid-morning. (BFF)

Northcommon Farm to Warner Lane: Flycatcher Corner was generally quiet bar a few Chiffchaffs in the hedges but at Warner Lane paddocks a large flock of c.40 Meadow Pipits was present. (BI)

Meadow Pipit at Warner Lane (BI)

Ferry Pool: The water level was very high in the pool today which held 41 Teal, nine Shoveler, two Greenshank, ten Avocets, 38 Black-tailed Godwits and one Little Egret with one Pied Wagtail, three Meadow Pipits and 28 Brent Geese heading toward Medmerry. Nine Wigeon were tucked away on the concealed pool. Six Snipe, a Common Sandpiper and a Cattle Egret were also present as were two Rock Pipits. The Tramway area was fairly quiet apart from a pair of Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, a Buzzard, a flock of Long-tailed Tits plus half a dozen Chiffchaffs, whilst Ferry Channel could only muster a few Redshanks and a Little Egrets. A Sedge Warbler was also noted. (SR/BFF/WD)

Wildfowl & waders on the Ferry Pool, below, and Reed Bunting (SR)

Church Norton:  

Please note that there will be a service at Church Norton Chapel from 10am tomorrow (Saturday 12/10/24)  lasting approximately 45 minutes-please be respectful and avoid the car park at this time. (Eds) 

There was some migration here this morning with a Brambling, 26 Siskin, 60 Linnets, 19 Reed Buntings, 75 Meadow Pipits, four Rock Pipits, 20 Skylarks, seven Chaffinches and 33 Pied Wagtails being noted. Three Greenfinch were along the Severals, a Sparrowhawk flew through, as did a Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 28 Jackdaws went north and at least 100 Wood Pigeons moved south. Nineteen Chiffchaffs. four Goldcrests and 11 Blackcaps were in the hedges and four House Martins and c.40 Swallows flew over. Two Golden Plover were over the harbour, a Kingfisher was recorded and there was an increase in Jays to eight today with two Song Thrushes and 11 Blackbirds also in the area. (BFF/MRe).

"Viz-mig" from along the spit returned 36 Brent Geese moving west, 14 Stonechats, 200 Woodpigeons over, 27 Skylarks, 150 Swallows & two House Martins, 24 Pied Wagtails, 35 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit, 13 Chaffinches, two Brambling, 65 Linnets, 62 Siskins and 12 Reed Buntings. In the region of the first Several were two Firecrests, a Spoonbill was in the harbour with 50+ Golden Plover and a Marsh Harrier and Peregrine were also noted. (PA) 

Stonechats along the spit, Spoonbill in the harbour and Brambling at Church Norton (PA)

North Wall: In and around the paddock this morning there were two Meadow Pipits, two Reed Buntings, a Pied Wagtail, and three Jays with three Song Thrushes in the bushes further back and both male and female Marsh Harriers were also about. Along White’s Creek there was the usual mix of Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Redshanks, with 48 Curlews, and 80 Lapwing out on the mud, and a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice. There were just a few Mallards on the Breech Pool, but c200 Swallows with a few House Martins were overhead, two Water Rails were calling from the reeds and four Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and three Greenfinches were in the adjacent bushes. Along the wall a Green Woodpecker and numerous Chiffchaffs were along the bushes, a Reed Warbler was in the reeds, and at Halsey’s Farm, 70 Meadow Pipits were around the fields, two Stonechats were on the fence, two Ravens flew over, and a Sparrowhawk flew through low over the hedgerow. (LP/SP/MJa/TRH/IH/JDW)

Reed Warbler, above, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Jays and Meadow Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham: A White-tailed Eagle was over Sidlesham village this afternoon. (per PA)

White-tailed Eagle at Sidlesham (per PA)

Thursday, 10th October: It was pretty miserable early on, with persistent rain in a fresh and cold northerly, though slowly drying up as the breeze eased.....

Selsey Bill: Over 100 Brent Geese went west and a Red-breasted Merganser was around offshore, whilst a Rock Pipit was on the beach again and there was just a bit of visible migration. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0720-0850hrs) (N, F4)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2W

Brent Goose - 103W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1os

Sparrowhawk - 2

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 7W, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 16os

auk sp - 8W

Swallow - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 64E

Meadow Pipit - 26E

Rock Pipit - 1

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 6

Brent Geese (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Tern, Chiffchaff, Rock Pipit & Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow at the Bill (AH)

Late this afternoon a juvenile Hobby landed on a roof at the Bill before carrying on west. A Rock Pipit was on the beach, while seven Brent Geese flew west and around twenty Razorbills were drifting by out at sea. (AW)

Hobby, above, and Rock Pipit at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Avocets, c30 Lapwings, six Shelducks, c25 Shovelers and Wigeon and c40 Teal around the pool this morning. (AH)

Shovelers (above) & Lapwings a the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Half a dozen Chiffchaffs, a Mistle Thrush, four Jays, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel was as good as it got around the hedges, whilst in the harbour there were eight Bar-tailed Godwits, three Knot, c20 Grey Plovers and c40 Dunlin among the regular waders, with half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, four Great Crested Grebes and a few Wigeon and Teal the only other birds about. (AH/CRJ)

Later on, four Firecrests and 14 Chiffchaffs were around the hedges and 14 Brent Geese were in the harbour, whilst a bit of visible migration along the spit included 35 Swallows, five Reed Buntings, ten Skylarks, 86 Meadow Pipits, 36 Pied Wagtails, 118 Linnets and 209 Goldfinches. (PA)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Grey Plover & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)