29th - 31st October 2014

Friday, 31st October: Dry and sunny with a moderate southerly breeze. The unseasonal summer-like weather continues and with it the prospect of the warmest Halloween night on record..... will the birding deliver a trick or a treat?  

Selsey Bill (0645-0930hrs): Sunny, SSE3-4. (Obs: JA et al)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 13W
Brent Goose - 4E, 46W
Eider - 1 os
R//b Merganser - 4W
Grey Plover - 56W
Med Gull - 4 os
Arctic Skua - 1W
Woodpigeon - 2046 SE
Stock Dove - 143 SE
Kestrel - 1 p
Sparrowhawk - 1 gardens
Razorbill - 2W
Pied Wagtail - 11SE
Swallow - 1 S
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 gardens
Skylark - 1 S
Linnet - 130 SE
Goldfinch - 900 SE
Greenfinch - 14 SE
Starling - 16 S
Meadow Pipit - 85 S
Magpie - 16 p

Selsey area: At Northcommon Farm this afternoon there were 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Long-tailed Tits, a Grey Wagtail, 200 Wood Pigeons and a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker (JA).

Ferry Pool: There were 4 Green Sandpipers on the pool again this morning, along with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Avocet and 50 Lapwing. (AH)

 

North Wall: Pleasant, but very quiet this morning - highlights were the Rock Pipit and c20 Reed Buntings along the wall, a single Snipe, 20 Teal and 20 Black-tailed Godwits on the Breach Pool, and another 20 of the latter in White's Creek. (AH/PC) This afternoon the Short-eared Owl put in another appearance and showed well (DSh}

 

Rock Pipit on North Wall (above), Grey Heron over it & Black-tailed Godwit in White's Creek (AH)

 

 

Pagham Spit: No sign of the Dartford Warbler or Snow Bunting along the spit, though there were 10 Skylarks and 30 Meadow Pipits present. The Peregrine was on its island and there were many hundreds of Brent Geese and Wigeon in the harbour. (AH) Later on, the Snow Bunting was reported again, further towards the caravan site golf course area though it remained generally elusive (per SR].



 

Peregrine (above) & Wigeon in /over Pagham Harbour (AH)

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, 30th October: Another balmy day, cloudy with some brightness and a light southerly 2-3; more reminiscent of high summer than mid-autumn, reflected in the mix of birds.... with an obvious fall of Black Redstarts today stealing the show; at least eight were present in the west Selsey to Church Norton area alone. My apologies to all those who tried to contact me but got no response today... I regret that O2's mobile signal in the Selsey area seemed to be just about useless this morning - on my phone anyway - both for texting and phoning; all very frustrating (OM).

 

Pagham Spit: A Snow Bunting was on the spit near the hide this morning. (BFF)

 

Selsey Bill 0800 - 0900hrs: S2-3. Dry, mild, cloud. I spent an hour checking the beach and gardens whilst keeping an eye on the sea, but there was little movement, with just 8 Gannets and a couple of Med Gulls logged and a Great Northern Diver offshore. A Skylark and 10 Meadow Pipits were running about on the Oval field, the regular Great Spotted Woodpecker was around the gardens and small numbers of Pied wagtails and Goldfinch passed through, but the best was a Black Redstart around the houses. (OM) There were a further 5 Black Redstarts along the western side of the Selsey coastline - see below. (SR)

 

Black Redstart at Selsey Bill (OM)

..... and another Black Redstart at West sands (SR). 

Selsey area:  A Black Redstart was at Coastguards (SR). At Drift Lane marsh there were 12 Snipe, and at Warner Lane paddocks 5 Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits (OM).

Northcommon Farm was uneventful, producing a Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Buzzard, 16 Curlew in the wet fields and just 3 Goldcrests in the trees (OM).

Medmerry: West Sands/caravan site - A juvenile/female Black Redstart in the car park; also

2 Stonechats on the rough ground, along with 4 Pied Wagtails and 6 Meadow Pipits. On the rubble heaps were another 2 Black Redstarts on the rocks, a Wheatear, c50 Linnets, c20 Meadow Pipits, 8 Pied Wagtails, and another clouded yellow butterfly. (SR).

 

West Sands to the breach - The two Wheatears were still present near the viewpoint, and a very late Common Sandpiper was in the big pool. Otherwise just a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover and a Curlew on the pools and the usual 200+ Linnets and 20+ Meadow Pipits present. (AH)

 

Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)

 

Church Norton: There were two Black Redstarts in the churchyard early on, which (presumably) relocated to the barn along Rectory Lane when the slash-and-burn mob turned up in force with multiple mowers and strimmers. Otherwise there were a couple of Stonechats along the Severals and a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the oak copse, but no sign again of the Pallas's Warbler. (AH/CRJ et al). The Spoonbill was reported again roosting out in the harbour (per RBA et al). Two juvenile Peregrines were later seen (BFF/DM).

 

 

Black Redstarts (above) & Stonechat at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: One Green Sandpiper this morning, plus 40 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 7 Avocets, 60 Lapwing and 8 Teal. (AH)

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl was present at the North fields this afternoon (DSh).

Sidlesham Quay: Two Chiffchaffs, a Buzzard, 2 calling Water Rails and a Little Grebe (OM).
 

Wednesday, 29th October: A really dismal day, despite the mild temperature, with mist and drizzle interspersed with heavy showers and then prolonged heavy rain.... what a change from yesterday. Birding became increasingly difficult as conditions worsened, but a certain Mr Janman and I were not about to give up without a fight, each checking out various areas of potential and finally meeting up at Northcommon Farm, before eventually making a tactical and somewhat damp retreat! (OM).

 

Church Norton: No sign of the Pallas's Warbler this morning - or anything else much in the oak copse! A Redwing and a dozen or so apparent 'continental' Blackbirds were in the churchyard, and 3 Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Goldcrests were in the car-park. (AH)

 

Selsey Bill (0820-0920hrs): Almost no seabird activity over the flat calm sea, and around the gardens there were a just a couple of Chiffchaffs, two Song Thrushes (one in-off the sea) and a few newly-arrived Blackbirds. (OM)

Selsey area: An early visit to East Beach pool produced just a single Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests, a Sparrowhawk whizzing through and an obvious arrival of Blackbirds, with a dozen or more feeding voraciously on the hawthorn berries. Coastguards/Windmill field was similarly quiet with just a Stonechat and 10 Meadow Pipits of note. At Drift Lane  a Chiffchaff was calling but before I could explore further the heavens opened (OM).

Northcommon Farm: When the rain eased a bit a quick search failed to locate much at all; a couple of calling Goldcrests, a single Chiffchaff and 2 fly-over Curlews was about it! Before long though the rain returned and it became time to abandon our efforts (OM/CRJ).

 

Chris Janman checking it out in the rain at Northcommon Farm this morning; although we were not in luck today, such persistence will surely bring its rewards (please!) (OM)

 

Ferry Pool: A pair of Gadwall dropped in, there were 5 Avocets, 35 Lapwings, 20 Shoveler and at least 50 Wigeon and a couple of Curlews on the field. (AH)

 

Gadwall and Lapwings in the rain on the Ferry (AH)

 

 

27th - 28th October 2014

Tuesday, 28th October: Another glorious day, with a bit of southerly breeze and bright sunshine.... and with most of us local old boys out bush-bashing today, hoping to find a gem, it fell to Chris Janman to strike gold with a Pallas's Warbler in the oak copse at Church Norton (just west of the second Several).... well done CRJ! The Dartford Warbler was still present at Pagham and a Short-eared Owl was in the dunes at East Head; a flock of 12 Bearded Tits was then reported late afternoon.

Church Norton: A  Pallas's Warbler was present this morning in the oak copse (Bluebell wood), though it was being typically elusive. Also several Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff there, whilst a Black Redstart was briefly in the churchyard, and another near 'Wych Way' alog Rectory Lane. (CRJ)
The Pallas's Warbler was still present late afternoon. (SR)

 Pallas's Warbler at Church Norton (IL}

 

Selsey Bill: (0820-0940) SSW 5 Breezy and Sunny (CRJ et al)
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 1E
Common Scoter - 20E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E
Little Gull - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 3W

Medmerry: Chainbridge to the breach - This morning the Merlin was present again, along with 2 Wheatears, 3-4 Stonechats and 2 Kestrels. (PH)

Ferry Pool: Still 3 Green Sandpipers present, along with 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Lapwing, 18 Shoveler and 60 Wigeon. (AH)
A Sand Martin was with 3 Swallows over the pumps opposite the Ferry today. (AB)

Wigeon on the Ferry (AH)

Yeoman's Field: An unusual record of 12 Bearded Tits at this location this afternoon; it would seem likely they may have originated from Mill Pond Marsh (EM&P Raynor, per IL).

 

Long Pool: The Water Rail was in the Small Pool again, there were 3 Spotted Redshank in the channel, about a dozen Reed Buntings, 20 Long-tailed Tits and 20 Goldcrests were along the hedges and about 15 Grey Partridges in the adjacent stubble field. (AH)

 

Long-tailed Tit & Reed Bunting (above) & Grey Partridge along the Long Pool (AH)

 

North Wall: Along the wall this morning there was a Rock Pipit, 4+ Stonechats, 10+ Reed Buntings and 30 Linnets over. A Water Rail was on the Breach Pool along with 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Teal and 8 Wigeon, but there were few waders in White's Creek. (AH)

 

Water Rail (above), Stonechats & Rock Pipit from the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit/Lagoon: The Dartford Warbler was still present along the same area of the spit as at the weekend, though it flew off into the saline vegetation and didn't reappear! Not much else to report, though there were plenty of Brent Geese dropping into the harbour and 200+ Wigeon and 50+ Pintail on the water.
On the Lagoon there were 30+ Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes and 20 Tufted Duck. (AH)

 

Little Grebes on the Lagoon (above) & Brent Geese over the harbour (AH)

 

East Head & West Wittering: An early start this morning was a wise move, as by ten o'clock the place was absolutely heaving with traffic, dog walkers and families taking advantage of the sunny weather and half term holidays. Best bird here was the Short-eared Owl, out on the Head in the dunes, but there wasn't a lot of other interest to go with it.... several Stonechats, a Spotted Redshank in the harbour, Brent Geese in increasing numbers, 10 Sanderlings on the sand flats and just a couple of Great Crested Grebes in the channel. A brief scan of Snowhill Marsh found nothing out of the ordinary, and with the imminent arrival of a junior outing it was time to move on. We scoured the sallows and churchyard looking for eastern promise but only came up with 3 Chiffchaffs and 6 Goldcrests. There was a bit of vis mig going on, with finches passing through and also c.30 Skylarks, 120 Woodpigeons, 20 Stock Doves, 4 Jays and a flock of c.200 Jackdaws, but with the visitors by now flooding in, it was definitely time to leave. (OM/BFF/DM).

Short eared Owl at East Head (DM}

 

Fishbourne Creek: At least 2 Greenshank were in the channel and a dozen Yellowhammers in the bushes, with a couple of Stonechats on the fences and a Chiffchaff and several Goldcrests calling nearby. However, before we could get into our stride we got a phone call from CRJ...... exit stage left and we were soon on our way to Church Norton! (OM/BFF/DM).

 

Monday, 27th October: Another unseasonably mild morning, bright and breezy with the wind from the south...

Selsey Bill (0750 - 0930hrs): Sunny, wind S 3-4.(Obs: OM/AH) Three juvenile Pomarine Skuas were reported moving west early on (per GH), but otherwise little activity offshore during the above times, though there was a Great Northern Diver on the sea and quite a few passerines moving about, many moving east but others not particularly in any direction. Log.....
Great Northern Diver  1 os
Gannet - 30E, 5W
Little Egret  1E
Brent Goose - 1E, 4W
Kestrel - 1W
Woodpigeon - 120 SW
Med Gull  6 os
Razorbill - 1E
Swallow - 2 SW
Skylark - 9 SE
Pied Wagtail - 5 SE
Linnet - c.250, (various directions!)
Goldfinch - 300, mainly E

Selsey area: A look around various sites this morning produced the following:
Northcommon Farm - 1 Buzzard, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff
Warner Lane Paddocks - 5 Stonechats
Coastguard Field - 1 Stonechat
Chainbridge Field to Porthole Farm - 67 Brent Geese feeding on grass. (CRJ/OM)
Additionally at Drift Lane marsh there were 13 Snipe and a single Chiffchaff (OM).

Medmerry: West Sands to the Breach - The two Wheatears were still along the sea-defence rocks, and there were c200 Linnets, c50 Meadow Pipits, c20 Skylarks and c10 Pied Wagtails around, plus the regular Kestrel, though the only waders were a single Curlew on the pools and c150 Lapwing and c40 Golden Plover out in the middle. (AH)

 

Wheatear (above) & Kestrel at Medmerry (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: There were 3 Green Sandpipers again this morning, plus the 7 Avocets, 40 Lapwing, 16 Shoveler and 60 Wigeon (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & drake Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

 

Church Norton: Not much to report on a walk round Greenlease Farm and the Severals. No sign of the Marsh Tit or the Black Redstart in the breezy conditions, though there were 200+ Linnets on the newly cultivated fields, and half a dozen Pied Wagtails around the farm buildings. Also the Whimbrel and the leucistic Curlew were in the harbour. (AH)

Pied Wagtail at Greenlease Farm (AH)

 

Chi. G Pits: Drayton Pits - A pretty routine visit with the regular common wildfowl present in fairly low numbers. Eighteen Shoveler and 24 Gadwall were probably the most notable of the bunch, whilst a low-flying Buzzard scattering the ducks provided some brief excitement, and 4 Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler were the only other birds worthy of mention (OM).

 

25th - 26th October 2014

Sunday, 26th October: Generally cloudy with a moderate to fresh south-westerly breeze and the risk of occasional light showers. 

 

Selsey Bill (06.45 to 10.00hrs): Cloud, SW 3-4  (Obs: SH/JA/PB/AH/JD/DS) Not a great deal moving this morning, though a few Brent Geese continued to head west; there were 2 Great Northern Divers offshore and a single distant Arctic Skua went east. Full log .....
Great Northern Diver - 2os, 1W
Gannet - 5E, 108W
Little Egret - 1W
Brent Goose - 2E, 195W
Eider - 2os
Common Scoter  - 19E, 29W, 20 os
R/b Merganser - 10W
Wigeon - 1W
Dunlin - 6W
Redshank - 1E, 1W
Curlew - 1W
Arctic Skua - 1E, chasing gulls
Skua sp  - 1W (almost certainly a Pom but distant - chasing G.B-b Gulls!)
Kittiwake - 2W
Med Gull - 5W, 2os
Auk sp - 1E, 7W
Razorbill - 1W, 5 os

 

Selsey area: Drift Lane Marsh: 4 Snipe busily feeding.  Warner Lane horse paddocks: 4 Stonechats (SR).

Pagham Spit: The Dartford Warbler was still present this morning, along the path to the hide. (TG/BI)

 

Dartford Warbler on Pagham Spit (TG)

 

Church Norton: Best birds were a Black Redstart on the roof of Greenlease Farm (C&ME, C&JM); a Merlin in the harbour (JD et al), and 5 Swallows which went over the Severals (IP). Additionally, on their regular walk to Norton, the Ruddy Shelduck and Spoonbill were seen, also the Black Redstart, 3 Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher (S&SaH, PB) From the beach a Gadwall went through with a flock of Brent Geese (of which 40+ headed west in small groups), a Red-breasted Merganser also went west, a Common Scoter went east, and half a dozen Gannets and double that of Mediterranean Gulls were offshore, along with a couple of Great Crested Grebes.

There were plenty of waders in the harbour, including the Whimbrel, 20+ Black-tailed Godwits and good numbers of Grey Plover and Dunlin, and the Peregrine also put in an appearance. (AH/IP et al)

 

Gadwall with Brent Geese offshore (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was again present early on, along with a single Green Sandpiper, 7 Avocets and 30 Lapwing. A flock of 20+ 'released' Grey Partridges flew across the road and landed near Compton's Farm Shop before moving on again. (AH)

 

Grey Partridge near the Ferry (AH)

 

Medmerry: West Sands: Around the rubble heaps were 2 Wheatears, 17 Meadow Pipits, 4 Pied Wagtails and a Kestrel (SR).

 

  



 

Saturday, 25th October: A dry and fairly bright day in prospect with westerly based winds still set to continue for the next couple of days at least. The sea-watching was back to normal this morning after the excitement of the last couple of days, with just routine fare being logged in small numbers. However, early afternoon reports were then received of a Great Grey Shrike, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart at East Head (per AH), a Marsh Tit at Church Norton (per SH), and a Dartford Warbler on Pagham Spit (per TG).

Selsey Bill 0730-0930hrs:  Dry, fairly calm, cloud and brightness, wind WSW3. 
(Obs: SH/C&ME/SR et al).
Gannet - 4E, 3W
Little Egret - 1 ob
Brent Goose - 125W
Eider - 2 os
Common Scoter - 3W, 11os
Pintail - 4W
Dunlin - 1W
Peregrine - 1W
Med Gull -  4os, 4W
Kittiwake - 4W
Auk sp - 3W, 2os
Swallow 3p
Woodpigeon - 150 SW
Stock Dove - 2 p
House Martin - 1
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens
Magpie 15 present
Additional watch 0930 - 1210hrs:  (Obs: C&ME et al)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1 os
Gannet - 5W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Brent Goose - 2E, 38W 
Pintail - 1E
Common Gull  3W
Med Gull - 3W
Razorbill - 2W
Grey Wagtail - 4 N from sea
Swallow - 7
Starling - 35 N from sea
Jay -- 1

East Head: An excellent morning culminated in a Great Grey Shrike at the back of Snowhill Creek, which then flew across the field to the hedge along the path to the car-park, before being lost to view. Also a Black Redstart was along the fences with a couple of Stonechats nearby, and a Short-eared Owl did a couple of circuits of the salt-marsh before gaining height and drifting away.

To complete a good morning there were 4 Greenshank, and 3 Spotted Redshank in Snowhill Creek, which were joined by around 200 Golden Plover at high tide. (AH)

 Great Grey Shrike (above) & Short-eared Owl at East Head (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was back on the pool early, before flying into the harbour, and there were still 3 Green Sandpipers and 7 Avocet present.

Ruddy Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Marsh Tit was along the path between the Severals today. It was quite possibly the same one seen some weeks ago in this relatively unwatched area. (S&SaH)

Marsh Tit just about visible at Church Norton! (SH)

Pagham Spit: A Dartford Warbler was in brambles along the path to the hide late this afternoon. (TG)

Dartford Warbler on Pagham Spit (TG)

Long Pool: A Water Rail was on the Small Pool, there were at least 20 Reed Buntings on the Long Pool, and there were 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank in Ferry Channel, plus Snipe and a Mistle Thrush over. (AH)

Selsey area:  Coastguards: A female Eider was close inshore this morning (BI).
Northcommon farm: around Paddock Lane a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests and a flock of Long-tailed Tits plus 2 Jays. At Warner Lane horse paddocks there were 8 Curlews (BI).

Medmerry - West beach area: Around the rubble were a Stonechat, 2 Wheatears, a few Meadow Pipits and plenty of Linnets (BI).

22nd - 24th October 2014

Friday, 24th October: A grey and breezy start before brightening up considerably - totally contrary to the weather forecast of a thoroughly wet day - and in fact the rain stayed away all morning before it became eventually overcast early afternoon and some patchy light drizzle began. The wind was a fairly light to moderate SW3, but the passage of skuas and Kittiwakes continued from where it had left off yesterday....

 

Selsey Bill (0745-1415hrs): (Obs: AGB/OM/AH). A steady stream of Kittiwakes went west this morning, often in the company of Common and Mediterranean Gulls, and with them were at least 6 juvenile Pomarine Skuas, 10 juvenile Arctic Skuas (with 2 east also) and another 5 unidentified skua 'spp.' Also the first Great Northern Diver appeared offshore, with 3-4 Eider and some Common Scoter, whilst there was a continual, if modest, movement of Brent Geese west and a few Swallows and Skylarks were seen heading out to sea. Much of the action occurred before 1000hrs, but I managed to stay the course for a six and a half hour watch, by which time passage had died (OM). Full log below .............
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 3E, 66W
Brent Goose - 289W
Shelduck - 4W
Eider - 3+ os
Common Scoter - 14 os, with some birds (presumed same) moving E & W
R/b Merganser - 3W
Dunlin - 4W
Turnstone - 35 ob
Grey Plover - 90W
Arctic Skua - 2E, 10W (all probably juvs)
Pomarine Skua - 6W (juvs)
Skua Sp - 5W
Kittiwake - 60E, 220W (inc. large flock os which eventually moved W).
Common Gull - 30+ W
Med Gull - 70 os, with flocks (presumed same) moving E & W
Great Black-backed Gull - 34W
Guillemot - 3W
Razorbill - 3W
Auk sp - 7W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1W high over Oval field
Swallow - 12 SW
Skylark - 10 SW

 

 

Juvenile Pomarine Skuas (above), Kittiwake & Brent Geese passing the Bill (AH)

 

 

Ferry Pool: The 4 Green Sandpipers were still present this morning, along with 7 Avocets, 16 Shoveler and 40 Lapwing. (AH)

 

Green Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

 

Medmerry: This morning an Arctic Skua went east over the 'Stilt' Pool. (PH)

This evening a Little Owl was calling around the buildings at Easton Farm. (AH)

 

North Wall: A Kingfisher and Little Grebe on White's Creek along with an assorted cast of Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Curlew, Dunlin and Lapwing. The Spoonbill was further out in the Harbour. Along the wall at least 6 Common Stonechats, 9 Reed Buntings and 3 calling Cetti's Warblers, whilst 7 Yellowhammers at Owl Water was a bonus. Across the back fields I estimated that there were up to 700 Corvids, mainly Rooks but at least 200 Jackdaws. (JDW).

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Egret and Jackdaw gathering at the North Fields (JDW)

 

 

 

Thursday, 23rd October: A real gloomy autumnal day, though mild, with periods of light rain and drizzle. The wind had abated somewhat, but by afternoon there was a fresh SW 4 to 5 blowing again. We start with a public service announcement for anyone visiting the North Wall over the next few weeks.... be careful when driving/parking in Church Lane! Basically there are some major works going on which involves tractors and lorries moving tons of soil in Slipe Field; this has made pedestrian access there impossible and it seems the footpath is closed. Heavy lorries are thundering down Church Lane but have to go to the far end to do a three point turn... passing perilously close at times to the parked cars in the layby there, and there are inevitable delays whilst the lorries unload. One other unfortunate spin-off is that the local dog-walkers cannot now use Slipe Field; if this morning is anything to go by most of them seem to now be using the North Wall. 

Birding highlights today were bagged by those who stayed long enough at the Bill, for after a slow start reports were received of a flurry of activity including Kittiwakes and 4 Pomarine Skuas, with a Balearic Shearwater and some Arctic Skuas late in the day. (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were 4 Green Sandpipers at the back of the pool this morning, along with 7 Avocets, 60 Lapwing and 18 Shoveler. (AH)

Selsey Bill: Around 15 Kittiwakes, a Pintail and a Razorbill going west were among the birds seen this early morning. (JD/DS). Later the watch became far more productive...........

0810 - 1345hrs. (Obs: C&ME, et al)
Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Gannet - 2E 16W

Brent Goose - 78W

Shelduck - 17W

Eider - 3 os, 8W

Red-breasted Merganser - 14W

Common Scoter - 41 os

Tufted Duck - 1W

Pintail - 1W

Wigeon - 4W

Dunlin - 17W

Pomarine Skua - 4 W (all juv's)

Skua sp - 1W

Kittiwake - 163W

Common Gull - 25W

Med Gull - 9W

Razorbill - 1E, 9W

Black Redstart   1 - by dog bin!
Chiffchaff  - 1 gardens 

 

(1725-1810) (SH)

Balearic Shearwater - 1W along 'Mile Basket line'

Brent Goose - 196W

Eider - 3os
Arctic Skua - 5W & further 5 lingering offshore chasing gulls
Pomarine Skua  -1W, well inside mile basket line, & 2 distant birds that were 'possibles'
Mediterranean Gull - 2W

 

Church Norton: Both the Spoonbill and the Ruddy Shelduck flew away west along the Ferry Channel as the tide rose, whilst there were also 2 Spotted Redshanks there and 4 Swallows over. Also seen along the west side were 8 Reed Buntings, 20 Skylarks, 80 Linnets, a Buzzard, a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk.

There were plenty of Brent Geese in the harbour, with several flocks heading on westwards, though waders were hard to see on the high tide, bar 2 or 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Grey Plover and 50+ Redshank.

A group of 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and singles of  Common Scoter and Great Crested Grebe headed west offshore, with 4 of the latter on the sea, but there was very little to be seen along the beach save a couple of Skylarks and 50+ Goldfinch moving about. (AH)

 Spoonbill (above), Ruddy and Common Shelducks, Grey Plover & Buzzard at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A total of 11 Spotted Redshanks in the harbour was noteworthy. Also 3 Stonechats and half a dozen Chiffchaffs were along the wall, 3 Snipe were on the Breach Pool, a Buzzard went over and 70 Black-tailed Godwits and 100 Golden Plover were in the White's Creek area. (OM/CRJ) Further along the Creek on the east side were 2 more Chiffchaffs and a couple of Goldcrests and c.40 Brent Geese, the latter apparently comprising a number of family parties. I haven't seen any big numbers of Brent thus far, but those flocks I have seen seem to contain a healthy proportion of juveniles, presumably indicating a good breeding season (OM).

 Family parties of Brent Geese on the east side; above adult (swimming) with 3 juv's, and below adults (in water) with 2 juv's (centre, on mud). (OM)

 

 

Wednesday, 22nd October: Another bright and breezy day and much cooler than of late, with a brisk north-westerly wind..... never the best for any sea movement in our part of the world! As it turns out, the ubiquitous Woodpigeon probably stole the show this morning!

Selsey Bill (0800-1030hrs):  Sunny with light cloud, wind WNW 4. (Obs: C&ME/OM). Unsurprisingly, given the wind direction, there was not much activity offshore, though there was a big south-westerly passage of Wood Pigeons, many of the birds arriving in large flocks, then swirling around for a while before heading S/SW out to sea.

Brent Goose - 75W

Eider - 1 os

R/b Merganser - 6W

Woodpigeon - 2,700 out SW or W

Stock Dove - 38 SW

Med Gull - 3 os

Swallow - 2W

Pied/alba Wagtail - 8W

Meadow Pipit - 30W

Skylark - 2W

Linnet - 50W

Goldfinch - 420W

Jay - 1W

Selsey area: I decided to work the local patches of habitat in the area this morning but in truth it was slow going and I drew a blank in several places. Those sites worthy of a mention were: Drift Lane marsh where 11 Snipe were on the flooded marsh and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the sallows; Warner Lane paddocks where 7 Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were present and Northcommon Farm where just a single Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests were in the trees and 15 Curlews feeding on the damp fields (OM).

 

Curlews feeding in the fields at Northcommon Farm (OM).
 

West side: Two Short-eared Owls were seen (flushed from grass) by a visiting birder mid-morning on the west side path. At about 14.00hrs I watched a tremendous Peregrine chase – it failed to catch a small wader (Dunlin?) over the middle of the harbour, but it pursued it all over the place for about 2 mins, culminating in it diving repeatedly at a patch of saltmarsh where the wader had hidden (PH).

 

North Wall area: There was a big movement of Wood Pigeons here, too, with at least 1000 birds over west, with 100+ Stock Doves amongst them. Along the wall there were a pair of Stonechats, a Rock Pipit, 6 Reed Buntings and several calling Cetti's Warblers, whilst on the Breach Pool there were 3 Snipe (with 2 more over), 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Grebes and 20 Teal.

Not much in White's Creek, bar 100+ Wigeon and 60 Black-tailed Godwits, but in the wider harbour the Spoonbill was again roosting out in the middle, a Peregrine went over a couple of times, putting up a Greenshank on the second occasion, and 30+ Golden Plovers went up with 200+ Lapwing. There were also 200+ Brent Geese scattered about, with more appearing from the east as the tide rose, and there appear to be reasonable numbers of juveniles again this autumn. (AH)

 

 

Stonechats along the North Wall (above), Brent Goose family & Wigeon in White's Creek (AH)

 

Pagham Lagoon: There were at least 40 Little Grebes and 8 Great Crested Grebes on the water this morning, along with 30 Brent Geese, 4 Wigeon and 20 Tufted Ducks, and a Redshank was along the edge. (AH)

 

Little Grebe (above) & Redshank on Pagham Lagoon (AH)