28th-29th October 2013

Tuesday 29th October:

A bright and breezy north-westerly has never done much for the peninsula, and this morning was typically quiet.

Selsey Bill: An hour between 8.15 and 9.15 produced the following - 1 Shag os, 2 Great Crested Grebe W, 3 Kittiwake E, 8 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Common Gull os, 7 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit and 40 Linnet W, 3 Pied Wagtail and 60 Goldfinch on the field.

Common Gull, Selsey Bill 29/10/13 (AH)

 

SR and D Senior added the following from 10.20-12.20: Swallow 3 W, House Martin 4 W, Chiffchaff 1 in gardens, Meadow Pipits 19 W, Linnet 8 W, Skylark 9 W, Brent Goose 1 W, Great Northern Diver 1 W, Great Crested Grebe 4 W, Red-Breasted Merganser 1 E, Common Scoter 2 E, Razorbill 1 W, auk sp 1 W.

Church Norton: Couldn't see the Black Redstart on the concrete, just 5 Meadow Pipits there, 4 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs were behind the hide, and at least 100 Golden Plovers and 2-300 Lapwing went up from the far side of the harbour a couple of times.

Blackcap, Church Norton 29/10/13 (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: Few highlights noted except a single Goldeneye, Water Rail and 7 Mediterranean Gulls.
North Wall: High water level meant few birds except Calling Cetti's Warbler and 3 Reed Buntings. Three flocks of Stock Doves totalling 36 birds headed west over the reserve. (BFF & co)


Monday 28th October:

The morning after the 'great' storm was not much more than a typical autumn day on the peninsula, and the sea was as empty as recent days. However, there were still some interesting birds to report.....

Selsey Bill: There was no evidence of any displacement of sea-birds, but there was still a bit to see. The full log should hopefully be on later, but highlights were a close in female Scaup going west at 9.25,  a Bonxie, a few Kittiwakes, Gannets and auks on the move along with half a dozen Great Crested Grebes and a few Red-Breasted Mergansers.
The full log - 06.40-10.00.
Scaup 1 (female) W, Common Scoter 12 W 2 E, Teal 1 W, Wigeon 1 W, Red-Breasted Merganser 2 os 1 W, Brent  Goose 1 W, Red-Necked Grebe 1 W, Great Crested Grebe 10 W 1 E, Gannet 6 E 5 W, Grey Plover 2 W, Mediterranean Gull 3 os, Kittiwake 5 W, Common Gull 5 W, Bonxie 1 W, Razorbill 1 W, Auk sp 2 E, Meadow Pipit 1 w, Linnet 96 W
& 12.30-13.30
Mediterranean Gull 1 os, Kittiwake 5 W, Razorbill 1 W.

Park Farm, Selsey: 1 Stonechat (SH)
 

Stonechat, Park Farm, Selsey 28/10/13(Sam Hill)

Black Redstart, (just about discernable!) Church Norton  28/10/13 (AH)

Church Norton: The Back Redstart was still on the concrete blocks this morning, along with a Wheatear and 3 Meadow Pipits. In the harbour, 4 Knot and a dozen Black-Tailed Godwits amongst the usual suspects. (AH & CRJ)

Black-Tailed Godwit & Grey Plover, Church Norton 28/10/13 (AH)

Tramway: Trevor Gibson-Poole reported seeing 3 male Yellowhammers in with the large Goldfinch flock this morning, a surprisingly scarce bird on much of the western side of the reserve.

Pagham Lagoon: One Wheatear at the old carpark, a Sandwich Tern fishing beside the west-most groyne, and a Coot having apple for lunch (ARK)

Coot, Pagham Lagoon 28/10/13 (Alan Kitson)