Thursday, 17th October: Another dry start with light south-westerly winds moving northerly later in the day...
Selsey Bill: There was a small movement of Wood pigeons but it was otherwise quiet this morning.
(0745-0900hrs) (W F4)(SR/AW)
Wigeon - 3W
Eider - 3E
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Turnstone - 4
Razorbill - 42E, 38W
auk sp - 2E, 11W
Swallow 1W
Jackdaw + 20W
Magpie - 18W
Meadow Pipit - 13W
Pied Wagtail - 12W
Linnet - 8W
Goldfinch - 17W
North Wall: A juvenile Ring Ouzel was in the bushes behind the Breech Pool along with 2 Song Thrushes and two Blackbirds, and four Rock Pipits were along the rocks. Both male and female Marsh Harriers were about, as were three Buzzards, a Kestrel and two Sparrowhawks.
Around high tide there was just a few of the regular species out in the harbour although eight Snipe and 12 Black-tailed Godwits flew up as the water level rose. A Yellowhammer was along the wall and there were a few Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits along the bushes.
There was still plenty of activity in and around the paddock with at least 20 Stonechats, 50 Goldfinches, two Chiffchaffs, two Greenfinches, a Pied Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, two Jays, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the field and the area behind. (LP/IH/TRH/SP/TH/MJa/GHi/CT/JDW)
Marsh Harrier, above, Ring Ouzel, Common Buzzard and Rock Pipit at the North Wall (B
Sidlesham Mill - Marsh Farm: Very little about today just two Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a flock of Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest, a Pied Wagtail, a Jay, five Chiffchaffs, 22 Meadow Pipits feeding in the stubble, 17 Goldfinches feeding on the sunflower heads and a Buzzard. (SR)
Runcton: A brief walk around the village this morning produced a Great Spotted Woodpecker, my first Redwing of the season, several Blackbirds, a pair of Stonechats and just a single Chiffchaff, CRJ
Wednesday, 16th October: A dry start with the prospect of yet more sporadic and heavy showers through the day...winds south easterly veering south westerly later..
Selsey Bill: (0710-0910hrs) (ESE F4) (SH/SR/MO-W) Fifty-two Brent Geese went east this morning and there were still fair numbers of Razorbills moving. Full log below:Goldfinch - 50E
Linnet - 20E
North Wall: A Ring Ouzel was in the bushes behind the sluice early on (but not later) along with four Redwings, a Song Thrush and eight Blackbirds, and it was busy again around the paddock with at least 12 Stonechats, four Chiffchaffs, five Swallows, two Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, two Reed Buntings, a Jay, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker. Out in the harbour around high tide, 19 Brent Geese were with 37 Shelducks and many Wigeon and Teal, a Kingfisher was along the bank and a selection of Redshanks, Lapwings, Grey Plovers and Dunlin were out on the remaining mud. Two Snipe flew out from the harbour, four Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and in the wet Honer fields a Greenshank was on one of the newly formed pools. (LP/MJa/JDW/SR) Other sightings included a Marsh Harrier over the reeds, a Kingfisher, c.5 Cetti's Warblers calling and seven Egyptian Geese. Two Little Grebes were on the Breech Pool and c.100 Wigeon were out in the harbour; at least 20 Cattle Egrets were also sighted. (PB)