Friday, 22nd September: A cool, but mostly bright morning in a light to moderate north-westerly breeze, warming as the day progressed with sunshine and scattered cloud.
Selsey Bill: A couple of Arctic Skuas were again offshore, whilst three Wheatears were along the beach and overhead some vis.mig was noted, the majority being Meadow Pipits, but it was otherwise routine fare. Full log below... (IP/P&LH)
(0700-0905 hrs) (Wind NW, F3)
Gannet - 6E
Shag - 3E
Oystercatcher - 2
Turnstone - 4E
Arctic Skua - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 10os
Wheatear - 3
Meadow Pipit - 171W
Yellow Wagtail - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 2W
Grey Wagtail - 3W
House Martin - 2
Chiffchaff - 4
Linnet - 13E
The first Yellow-Browed Warbler of the autumn, the earliest record this century by nine days, was in a Selsey garden today along with at least 20 Chiffchaffs. (AW)
Yellow-Browed Warbler in Selsey. (AW)
Ferry Pool: Two Greenshanks were on the concealed pool this morning, but the main pool just held 23 Black-tailed Godwits, four Lapwings, four Shelducks and c30 Teal, whilst a Kingfisher, two Spotted Redshanks and c50 Teal were in the channel opposite and a Marsh Harrier went over.
The Tramway circuit was quite busy, with at least two Whitethroats, c12 Blackcaps and c20 Chiffchaffs, plus innumerable Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. (AH)
North Wall: There were still at least ten Curlew Sandpipers along White’s
Creek this morning along with a Spotted Redshank, six Dunlin, 34 Black-tailed
Godwits, a Grey Plover and lots of Redshank and Lapwings, with a few Teal and
Wigeon on the water. Three Wheatears were along the wall, a Kingfisher flew
through, and a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool. A roving flock of Blue Tits,
Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, and Chiffchaffs were moving along the hedgerows,
together with four Lesser Whitethroats, five Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers, six Reed
Buntings and two Reed Warblers. A Red Kite was over Owl Copse and c150 Rooks were
in the fields at Halsey’s Farm, with three more Wheatears on the fence. Overhead
throughout the morning, there was a steady stream of birds including 100
Swallows, 10 House Martins, 50 Meadow Pipits and eight Siskins.
(LP,GaJ,CT,IH,NR)
Church Norton: In an around the churchyard were a Mistle Thrush, two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs and a couple of Green Woodpeckers. A few Swallows and House Martins were overhead whilst 32 Red-legged Partridges were in the adjacent field. Behind the hide, two Spotted Flycatchers, eight Blackcaps, two Whitethroats and four Chiffchaffs were also logged.
A Marsh Harrier appeared over the harbour, disturbing a single Sandwich Tern, and waders which included four bar-tailed Godwits, 25 ringed Plovers, six Grey Plovers and 50 Curlew. Along the harbour edge another Spotted Flycatcher was seen, plus five Stonechats, five Wheatears, up to ten Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers, whilst 200 Swallows and 15 House Martins were feeding above. (P&LH)