Tuesday, 14th September: The morning started grey and murky, but ended quite warm and sunny, though with the fresh south-westerly breeze prevailing....
Selsey Bill: There was a bit of visible migration this morning, including over 100 Meadow Pipits west, but a Little Tern heading west was the only thing of note offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP/AWi)
(0700-0930hrs) (SW, F4-5)
Gannet - 31W, 10os
Shag - 1E
Teaol - 2W
Common scoter - 1W
Oystercatcher - 1W
Dunlin - 4W
Turnstone - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os
Great Black-backed Gull - 47os
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 27W
Little Tern - 1W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 98W
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 121W
Wheatear - 1
Linnet - 56W
Two Balearic Shearwaters were seen going west offshore at 1000hrs. (S Gatley)
Little Tern (above) & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was no sign of the Little Stints this morning, with just four juvenile Shelducks, two Teal, the two Avocets, a Redshank and a few Black-headed Gulls on the pool.
There were, however, an adult and a juvenile Spotted Redshank in the channel opposite, along with half a dozen Redshanks and c20 Teal. (AH/CRJ)
This evening an Osprey was seen going over high, heading west. (PA)
Spotted Redshanks (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: A Snipe was on the pool this morning, along with two seemingly different Spotted Redshanks to those seen later in the channel, three Grey Herons and five Little Egrets, whilst the hedges held a Stonechat, two Whitethroats, a Blackcap, three Reed Buntings and ten or so Blue and Long-tailed Tits, and there were also 22 Redshanks in Ferry Channel. (CRJ)
Spotted Redshanks (above) & Reed Bunting along the Long Pool (CRJ)
This afternoon a Goshawk went over, being mobbed by Rooks and upsetting everything in the harbour.
Also, a Curlew Sandpiper was among the Dunlin roosting on the saltmarsh at the end of Ferry Channel, whilst four Whinchats and a Wheatear were in the fields and c30 Yellow Wagtails and c100 Meadow Pipits were in the more distant fields, all put up by a Marsh Harrier. (PA)
Goshawk and Rooks at the Long Pool (PA)
Church Norton: An Osprey was about this morning, though it was fishing offshore and then settled on the shingle bar off the end of the spit, whilst the harbour was quite quiet, with just two Greenshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Knot, six Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers and 55 Oystercatchers on the mud, plus a single Pintail, noted.
A Wheatear on the concrete blocks and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the hedges were about it for migrants, save a big mixed flock of hirundines over the harbour, comprising c80 Sand Martins, c40 Swallows and c20 House Martins. (AH/AWi)
Osprey (above), Greenshank & Sand Martin at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek this morning, whilst a long an otherwise quiet wall there were a couple of Grey Wagtails, a Reed Bunting, a Kestrel and a Redshank. (EB)
Spotted Redshank (above), Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Kestrel and Redshank at the North Wall (EB)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were quiet this evening, with just two Wheatears, three Yellowhammers, ten Chiffchaffs and five Meadow Pipits being the only things noted, whilst five Golden Plovers and a Kingfisher were on the reserve.
There was a bit of overhead activity, including a Sand Martin, five Swallows, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, two Sparrowhawks, two Buzzards and three Kestrels. (S&SaH)
Monday, 14th September: Another grey and muggy morning in a moderate south-westerly breeze, though brightening a bit later on.......
It is with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Dorian Mason, who slipped away yesterday evening after declining health in recent years. Dorian will have been known to many local birders as a fine photographer, often to be seen lugging around a camera with an enormous lens, which looked too much like hard work to me, but he certainly did produce some fine images! He was not a birder from way back in the early years; rather he was introduced to me by my old mate Bernie Forbes probably around the start of this century and he became a Peninsula regular for quite a while.
Always gentlemanly, polite and softly spoken, it belied the fact that he was very strong and robust, often so useful when helping with manual tasks, hide repairs and the like. He was always a joy to be with yet he was so modest about his abilities.
Dorian will be much missed on the local scene and the Peninsula has lost a fine man. I'm sure those that knew him will join me in offering sincere condolences to his wife Margaret and family. Rest in peace old chum. (OM/Eds)
Dorian Mason at Selsey Bill, May 2005 (OM)
Selsey Bill: The Guillemot was feeding close inshore again this morning, and a Little Tern and nine Common Terns went west, but after yesterday's big numbers, just 18 Swallows went west today. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)
(0630-0830hrs) (SW, F4)
Gannet - 1E, 36W
Shag - 3E
Little Egret - 1E
Wigeon - 3W
Teal - 1W
Turnstone - 4
Mediterranean Gull - 26W
Great Black-backed Gull - 33os
Sandwich Tern - 14E, 8W
Common Tern - 9W
Little Tern - 1W
Guillemot - 1os
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 18W
Yellow Wagtail - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 4W
Little Tern (above), Guillemot and SH and friends sea-watching at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Marsh Harrier was hunting over the field early this morning, and a Merlin was doing likewise later on, whilst the two juvenile Little Stints were showing well at the front of the pool again, with the adult and juvenile Avocets, two juvenile Shelducks, c75 Lapwings and a Redshank also present, with more of the latter and c25 Teal in the channel opposite.
Also, a Stonechat, a Willow Warbler, a handful of Blackcaps and at least 20 Chiffchaffs were around the tramway, along with a flock of c80 Goldfinches, with a Grey Wagtail in the channel, a Water Rail in Red /Barn Ditch and c40 Sand Martins and c20 House Martins and Swallows feeding low down. (PA/AH/TG-P/RBe/B FF/RW et al)
Little Stints (above), Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Blackcap & Goldfinches at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The long staying, if elusive, Ring-necked Parakeet popped up again over the Severals early this morning, whilst later on two Spotted Flycatchers were around the hide area, with two Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail and 15 Meadow Pi[pits along the beach.
Also, a Little Stint was among 15 Knot and 35 Dunlin in the harbour, with a Greenshank, eight Pintail and a Marsh Harrier also about. (Pa/RWi/AWi).
Later on the Osprey was perched on a post in the harbour, before catching a fish and settling on New Island to eat it.
Also seen were a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, a Whimbrel, a Grey Plover, seven Pintail, four Teal in the harbour, a Willow Warbler in the hedges and a dozen Swallows going over. (PA/IP)
Redstart at Church Norton (PA)
North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek and a Grey Wagtail flew over, but otherwise it was just the regular species out in the harbour.
There was a bit of activity along the bushes, though, with eight Blackcaps, two Reed Buntings, a Willow Warbler, six Chiffchaffs, two Reed Buntings, 12 Long-tailed Tits, a Stonechat and a few Whitethroats, whilst a Hobby flew through, and 16 Curlews were in the fields.
At Halsey’s Farm, four Spotted Flycatchers were along the path and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Kestrels, and a few more Blackcaps and Whitethroats were along the trees, also a Kingfisher was along the rife, 24 Cattle Egrets were with the cows, and c100 Swallows passed overhead. (MJa/TRH/IH/LP/CT/PB et al)
Spotted Redshank (above) & Spotted Flycatchers at the North Wall (LP)
Pagham Spit: An Osprey was sat out on New Island around high tide and a Rock Pipit was along the spit along with at least seven Wheatears, a Skylark, and five Linnets whilst a few Ringed Plover and Dunlin were on one of the shale banks. A Common Gull was about, and 27 Little Egrets were with three Grey Herons on Tern Island, whilst a steady stream of Swallows passed overhead.
Four Little Grebes, four Great Crested Grebes and 18 Tufted Ducks were on the Lagoon and a flock of 23 Wigeon flew over and across the harbour. (PA/LP/TG)
Osprey (above), Wheatear, Skylark, Common Gull & Tufted Ducks at Pagham Spit (LP)
East Side: Highlight along the East side this afternoon included a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper among 110 Dunlin and 60 Ringed Plovers, with two spotted Redshanks, five Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits and 34 Black-tailed Godwits also about.
The Osprey was seen from here, too, along with a Peregrine, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a couple of Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, 15 Sand Martins and c100 Swallows. (PA)
Osprey (above), Yellow-legged Gull & Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin along the East side (PA)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The female Merlin was out on the reserve again this morning, as were 18 Egyptian Geese, whilst a Whinchat and a Wheatear were along the banks, together with a Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and eight Yellowhammers, with c100 Swallows, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel going over. (SH)
Sunday, 13th September: A grey morning throughout, quite mild and muggy in the moderate south-westerly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: There were a few bits of interest this morning, including a first-winter Little Gull west, a Guillemot and a Gannet on the sea, close offshore, and over 1200 Swallows heading west on a broad front. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/P&LH)
(0630-0900hrs) (SW, F4)
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 79W, 24os
Shag - 2E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Dunlin - 1W
Turnstone - 17
Little Gull - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 29W
Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 6W, 7os
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 22W, 6os
Common Tern - 8W
Guillemot - 1os
Swallow - 1210W
Sand Martin - 2W
House Martin - 20W
Wheatear - 1
Little Gull (above), Guillemot, Gannet & Sandwich Tern at the Bill ((AH)
(1315-1415hrs) (P&LH)
Gannet - 1E, 10W
Shag - 1W
Kestrel - 1
Oystercatcher - 5
Turnstone - 19
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 3W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 40os
Common Tern - 1W
Little Tern - 1W, 1os
Swallow - 5W
Little Tern at the Bill (LH)
Ferry Pool: The two juvenile Little Stints were on the pool again this morning, along with the adult and juvenile Avocet, a Redshank, 14 Lapwings, two juvenile Shelducks and c40 Black-headed Gulls. (MaJ/MRi/IP/AH et al)
Little Stints (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: The bushes were fairly quiet this morning, though a Reed Warbler, a Blackcap, two or three Willow Warblers, half a dozen Whitethroats and up to a dozen Chiffchaffs were widely spread, and there were also a Wheatear along Rectory Lane and c25 Swallows and c50 House Martins going over.
There were two Gannets, two Sandwich Terns and two Great Crested Grebes offshore, but the harbour held few birds, though including a Greenshank, two Black-tailed Godwits, a summer-plumaged Golden Plover, a dozen Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin. (IP/AH/P&LH et al)
Later on, an Osprey was in the harbour again, and two Kingfishers were sat on the metalwork together. (GW)
Reed Warbler (LH top, AH lower) (above), Chiffchaffs & Greenshank (AH) at Church Norton
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Hirundine activity was the most notable thing today, with c150 Swallows, 38 sand Martins and two House Martins over, along with two Kestrels and three Buzzards, but it was quiet otherwise, with just two Stonechats, seven Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler and three Meadow Pipits along the banks and ten Egyptian Geese on the reserve. (SH)
Later on, a Black Tern was offshore from the Stilt Pool and a female Merlin was out on the reserve. (HB)
