Monday, 9th November: The fog came and went again overnight, leaving a cold and mostly grey morning in a freshening north-easterly breeze..........
Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety again this morning, including two Red-throated Divers east and a few Gannets offshore, though numbers remain low. Full log below. (AH/IP)
(0715-0900hrs) (NE, F3-4)
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 8E, 3W, 12os
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 1W
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W
Great Black-backed Gull - 2E
Razorbill - 4E, 2os
auk sp - 42W
Stock Dove - 9E
Wood Pigeon - 250E
Pied Wagtail - 2E
Meadow Pipit - 6E
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldfinch - 20
Red-throated Divers (above), Shag, Razorbill & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were again c250 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with c80 Shovelers and c50 Teal, with another c50 of the latter and similar of Wigeon in the channel opposite. (AH/TG-P)
Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)
Selsey: A Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders in the garden this morning. (SaH)
Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Selsey garden (SaH)
Church Norton: There were three Greenshanks among the roosting Redshanks near the concrete blocks on the rising tide this morning, with c50 Grey Plovers and c250 Dunlin around the metalwork and c100 Brent geese and c50 Wigeon and Teal on the water, along with a group of four Little Grebes.
Around 20 stock Doves and c60 Wood Pigeons went over heading east, but two Chiffchaffs in the churchyard were just about the only passerines noted. (AH)
Greenshanks (above), Little Grebes & Teal at Church Norton (AH)
East Side: There was a nice selection of birds along the side of the harbour this morning, before they were all moved off by the rising tide, including a Spoonbill that was out on the mud and the Barnacle Goose again with the Brent Geese, whilst there were good numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plovers, Knot, Golden Plovers, Redshanks, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, and Shelducks, as well as two Spotted Redshanks, and a few Shovelers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones and Oystercatchers.
Also, a Marsh Harrier flew over the far side and a Kingfisher shot through, whilst the bushes contained two Yellowhammers, a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (LP)
Spoonbill (above), Barnacle Goose and Brent Goose, Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Golden Plovers, Pintail & Yellowhammer along the East side (LP)
North Wall: This morning a Kingfisher was sat on the ladder at the sluice early on, and the two Spotted Redshanks were in close in White's Creek, whilst five Shovelers and a few Mallards were on the breach pool and along the wall there were about a dozen Yellowhammers, several pairs of Stonechats, three Rock Pipits, a male Marsh Harrier, with another at Owl Point, along with four Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kestrel. (DHo)
Kingfisher (above), Spotted Redshanks, Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit, Stonechat & Yellowhammer along the North Wall (DHo)
Medmerry: Windmill area - There were c60 Common Scoters feeding offshore this morning, with a couple of Sandwich Terns and a stonechat about, too. (AW)
Common Scoters (above), Sandwich Tern & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)
Sunday, 8th November: A very frustrating morning of dense fog that only started to clear towards midday.....
Selsey Bill: There was about as much offshore as would be expected with the sea not visible from the beach, and there was nothing in the gardens, either. Full log below. (SH/AT)
(0645-0815hrs) (NW, F1)
Pied Wagtail - 1
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Ferry Pool: There were c250 Lapwings roosting on the pool late this morning, along with four shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal. (AH)
Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: A male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were along Park Lane this morning. (SH)
Church Norton: The Hume's Leaf Warbler was heard once and seen briefly once before 0900hrs, but there were no further reports, despite plenty of people looking.
Otherwise, there were just a few Goldcrests in the wood, a visiting birder reported three Firecrests towards the Severals early on, a Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff were along the path between the Severals, a Blackcap was in the churchyard and a Fieldfare was along Rectory Lane.
The harbour was basically lost to the fog, though a few Brent Geese, Teal and Wigeon were near the concrete blocks and the odd Redshank and Curlew could be heard. (MRe/BI/JA/IP/PB/AGB/JBo/AH/AT et al)
Chiffchaff (above), Brent Goose & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: It was challenging in the dank and foggy conditions this morning, with only a few Wigeon and Mallards, a Redshank, a Curlew and a Grey Plover visible out in the harbour.
Six Brent Geese flew over the wall and a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool, where there was also a Pied Wagtail, a Teal and 15 Shovelers.
A Kingfisher flew off the wall, and three Rock Pipits were along the rocks, whilst it was busy along the bushes with c30 Reed Buntings, six Yellowhammers, four Stonechats, two Greenfinches, a Chaffinch, two Redwings, two Song Thrushes, 12 Long-tailed Tits and numerous Dunnocks and Robins.
It was quieter at Halsey’s Farm, with just a few Wigeon on the Rife, although a Firecrest was a welcome sight along Rookery Lane. (MRi/LP)
Redwing (above), Yellowhammer, Rock Pipit, Reed Bunting & Curlew at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection of raptors about this afternoon, comprising a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers, whilst out on the reserve there were a Snipe, c200 Golden Plovers and Lapwings, 100 Wigeon and 13 Brent Geese and a Greylag Goose among c100 Canada Geese.
Also along the banks were a Redpoll, three Dartford Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, nine Stonechats, three Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a Pied Wagtail, c20 skylarks and c150 Linnets. (S&SaH/AH)
Merlin (above), Stonechat, Linnets & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)
Saturday, 7th November: After a misty start, a very pleasant morning of sun and light cloud in just a light north-easterly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: Another morning with a long list of species, though, again, no volume, with a briefly viewable Black Redstart the highlight, with other notable birds being a Merlin, two Slavonian Grebes and a couple of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers on the sea. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/PB/MRB)
(0645-0900hrs) (NE, F2)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os
Red-throated Diver - 2os
Slavonian Grebe - 2os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 3E, 3W
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 18E, 9W
Teal - 1E, 1W
Common Scoter - 11E, 28W
Red-breasted Merganser - 6E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Merlin - 1
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sanderling - 1E
Curlew - 1E
Turnstone - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 6W, 1os
Common Gull - 2E, 1W
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W
Great Black-backed Gull - 4os
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Razorbill - 2E, 41W, 12os
auk sp - 4W
Wood Pigeon - 120S
Stock Dove - 5S
Skylark - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 7W
Rock Pipit - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 7W
Black Redstart - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1
Jackdaw - 60W
Linnet - 11E
Goldfinch - 6
Black Redstart (above), Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Diver & Razorbill at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Three Snipe, three Curlews and c120 Lapwings were on the pool this morning, with 11 Avocets dropping in briefly, too, and there were also four Shelducks, c80 Shovelers and c150 Teal, with a Stonechat and half a dozen Pied Wagtails about, too. (AH/PB/MRB)
Snipe (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)
East Beach: A look along the front from East Beach towards Church Norton produced two Bramblings and a Siskin among 47 Chaffinches and 55 Goldfinches going over north, along with a Fieldfare, three Pied Wagtails and 20 Stock Doves.
Also, three Bent Geese went over heading south and eight unassignable grey geese went over, heading north. (MRe)
Church Norton: There was more northward visible migration over the Severals, too, including another Brambling, a Redpoll, a Corn Bunting, 12 Siskins, 28 Chaffinches, 72 Goldfinches, nine Skylarks and a Grey Wagtail.
There were also two Firecrests, six Goldcrests, six Chiffchaffs and a pair of Stonechats about, plus a male Merlin. (MRe)
Later on, there were up to four Firecrests and half a dozen Goldcrests between the Severals, plus a pair of Stonechats on the horse field and a few Linnets and Meadow ~Pipits along the front, whilst in the harbour at high tide there were three Greenshanks, c30 Grey Plovers and c60 Redshanks, along with c200 Brent Geese and plenty of Wigeon and Teal. (AH/PB/MRB)
A possible glimpsed Hume's Leaf Warbler at Bluebell Wood this morning turned into a definite this afternoon after another search, though it was very elusive and only seen a couple of times before disappearing again. (MRe/SH)
This is a new bird for the Peninsula, and the first new one since the Common Nighthawk in October 2020. (Eds)
There was no further sign up until dusk, with a couple of Goldcrests the only birds in the wood. Also of note, two Marsh Harriers were around the first several, looking like they were going to roost. (AB/CD/AH/CRJ/BI/IP)
Firecrest (above), Linnet, Greenshanks and Redshanks & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Short-eared Owl was flushed from the rocks this morning, and the male Marsh Harrier and two Buzzards were about, too, with two Water Rails, a good count of 21 Snipe, two Stonechats, five Cetti's Warblers and 21 Reed Buntings also noted. (S&SaH)
East Side: Early this morning there was a vast number of waders and wildfowl along the side of the harbour, before the majority were moved off by the rising tide. Waders included 1500 Lapwings, 500 Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, 150 Grey Plover, 40 Knot, 30 Ringed Plovers, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 26 Curlews, 17 Avocets, 120 Redshanks, four Oystercatchers and two Turnstones.
Also, the Barnacle Goose was on the water with 150 Brent Geese, 50 Pintail, 100 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 40 Shelducks, 11 Shovelers, five Great Crested Grebes, and two Little Grebes, along with two Rock Pipits, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Meadow Pipit, and three Skylarks. (LP)
Barnacle Goose and Teal (above), Rock Pipit, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit & Avocets and Lapwings along the East side (LP)
Medmerry: Windmill area - There were just a pair of Stonechats and a dozen or so Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails about this morning, though there was a Great Northern Diver on the sea, nine Brent Geese went east and a flock of c50 Common Scoters dropped in, well offshore. (AH)
Stonechat (above) & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)
