18th - 20th September 2013



 

Friday, 20th September: A fine autumn day as we approach the equinox.

 

Fishbourne Creek: I started here for a change; nothing unusual was present but it was nice birding. The tide was well up on my arrival, pushing many of the waders to the far side, but the following were noted: Mute Swan - 174 (only 2 juvs), Black Swan - 1, Curlew - 210, Greenshank - 3, Black-tailed Godwit - c.60, Grey Plover - 10, Snipe - 3, Med Gull - 15, Chiffchaff - 12 and Spotted Flycatcher - 2 (OM).

 

 

 Two views from Fishbourne Creek this morning: Mute Swans drifting in on the big tide, and Chichester cathedral looking splendid in the sunshine (scoped for a Peregrine but no joy!)

 



Selsey Bill (1150-1320hrs) Dry, sunny, wind light W/SW.  (Obs: OM) A lunchtime watch on the high tide produced no sea-passage to speak of, but a few migrants were in the gardens.

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Turnstone - 72 ob

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 2W

Wheatear - 1 gardens

Chiffchaff - 8 gardens

Clouded Yellow - 1 gardens

 

 

Northcommon Farm (Selsey) was quiet early afternoon except for 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler and a particularly noisy flock of 150+ Jackdaws bombing around the horse paddocks (OM). The 3 Whinchats and a Whitethroat are still at the horse paddock off Warner Lane this afternoon but stubbornly refuse to come near enough to photograph, at one stage all four were lined up on a bramble (SR).    

 

 

 

Turnstones huddled on the beach at Selsey Bill during high tide, part of today's flock of 72.

 

Pagham Hbr: At Church Norton this morning: Hobby - 1, Redstart - 1, Spotted Flycatcher - 2, Blackcap - 9, Chiffchaff - 40+, Whitethroat - 4, Stonechat - 2 (juvs) (C&ME, TR).

 

Evening walk: Selsey to Church Norton (1645hrs)  (S&SaH)

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3
Wheatear - 1
Stonechat (female) - 1
Swallow - 30+
House Martin - 20+
Sandwich Tern - 5
Whitethroat - 1
Chiffchaff - 20+
Willow Warbler - 1
Blackcap 2
Long-tailed Tit - flock 20+

 

Stonechat (fem) near Church Norton (photo: S. Hill)

 

 And finally... Forget the Tour of Britain, today it was the 25 mile tour of the Peninsular with Chris ( Brad ) Janman:- Chi Canal, Chi Marina, Birdham Pool, West Itchenor, East Head, East Wittering,Earnley, Easton, Sidlesham, Fisher back to Runcton. Unfortunately not many birds to report, apart from a few Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Terns at West Itchenor, and a roosting flock of 99 Mediterranean Gulls on the edge of Chichester Harbour at Rookwood, 4 Buzzard at Easton and 3 more at South Mundham.

 

 

Thursday, 19th September: Calm at first, becoming windy by mid-morning, then rainy by afternoon.

 

Pagham Hbr: North Wall (0830-1030hrs): Female Redstart and 3 Green Woodpecker near stables,  7 Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Spotted Redshank Whites Creek,  32 Yellow Wagtail amongst cattle,  also 10  Chiffchaff, 3 Grey Wagtail,  3 Wheatear in area (CRJ). 

Church Norton: Quiet in the bushes - a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps being about it, but large numbers of hirundines feeding over the Severals and churchyard area - very approx 2-300 House Martins, 100 Swallows, 50 Sand Martins.  Ferry Pool: Dead! (AH)

Selsey Bill 1710-1830hrs:   Cloud. SW4
Gannet - 3E
Ringed Plover - 4 ob
Turnstone - 11 ob
Med Gull - 3 os
Sandwich Tern - 11os, 31W
C/A Tern - 1W
Common Tern - 1W
Little Tern - 1 feeding os then W


 Wednesday, 18th September: Many thanks to Andy for running the blog  so capably whilst I made a short visit to Strumble Head (Pemb's), where bizarrely the sea-watch obs there held four of the Selsey regulars; Eric Soden, John Faithfull, Mervyn Jones and yours truly! On with today's news..

Greenshank at Church Norton (photo: AH)

In the horse paddock off Warner Lane (Selsey) this afternoon were 3 Whinchats and 2 Whitethroats (SR).

Pagham Hbr: Ferry Pool: Very quiet - 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Lapwings was it!

Church Norton: Much quieter than the last few days - 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the bushes, a few Meadow Pipits, Swallows and House Martins over, and a Greenshank in the creek by the horse field was all I could find (AH).

Breech Pool: 56 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 each of Spotted Redshank, Snipe and Common Sandpiper. North Fields: 11 Common Whitethroat, 5 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 52 Curlew, 28 Yellow Wagtails and 17 Meadow Pipits. 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel and 1 Sparrowhawk (JW).

Evening walk Selsey to C/ Norton: (Obs: S & SaH)
Wheatear - 5
Chiffchaff- 10+
Swallow - 1
Common Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2
Golden Plover -10