Sunday, 21st June: Another cool, bright and breezy day, with the wind in the north-west.... But just when you think the mid-summer doldrums have struck - another major rarity appears - a Terek Sandpiper in the harbour from Church Norton!
Church Norton: Visiting birder, Alan Lewis, turned up another mega this morning, whilst looking for the Hudsonian Whimbrel (which was showing early on, but not well) - with a Terek Sandpiper in the harbour, favouring the area in front of Tern Island, and it was still present at 11am.
This is only the sixth county record and the third for West Sussex. It is also the second for the Peninsula, the only other record also being at Church Norton back in May 1969. Amazingly, this area of the harbour was hosting two major rarities today; don't know what we've done to deserve it but long may this purple patch continue and well done to the finder. And who knows... perhaps one of us regulars might actually find the next one! (AH/OM)
This is only the sixth county record and the third for West Sussex. It is also the second for the Peninsula, the only other record also being at Church Norton back in May 1969. Amazingly, this area of the harbour was hosting two major rarities today; don't know what we've done to deserve it but long may this purple patch continue and well done to the finder. And who knows... perhaps one of us regulars might actually find the next one! (AH/OM)
Terek Sandpiper at Church Norton (DM above & AH)
The crowd watching the Terek Sandpiper at Church Norton (BI below, OM lower three) including father and son duo Paul and Ads Bowley in high spirits (thanks for the call Ads)!
The Terek Sandpiper was still showing at 7pm, and the Hudsonian Whimbrel was reported from various points in the harbour during the day. Also this evening there were two Little Terns and a few Common and Sandwich Terns in the harbour, plus a Peregrine, a Dunlin, several Ringed Plovers and a couple of Curlews. (AH)
Terek Sandpiper at Church Norton (AH)
Ferry Pool area: The Nightingale were still making noises in the bushes along the cycleway, but were reluctant to show this morning, though several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats were more amenable.
On the pool there were four Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Avocets, a few Redshank and Lapwing toing and froing, plus five Teal and at least 100 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/SH/IP/PB et al)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Chiffchaff & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)
Pyramid Orchid & Bee Orchid near the Visitor Centre (above), and a gathering of the local birders 'twitching' the orchids and failing to be the ones to spot the Terek Sandpiper! (AH)
Selsey Bill: Not much moving, just a Manx Shearwater east, a few Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns going both east and west, plus a couple of Fulmars, and half a dozen House Martins around the puddles. Full log below. (AH/SH/PB)
(0600-0800hrs)
Manx Shearwater - 1E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 11E, 43W, 10 os
Curlew - 2W
Common tern - 13os
Sandwich Tern - 10os
auk sp - 1E, 1W
Swift - 11p
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was pretty quiet in a gusty Westerly wind but there were still a few Meadow Brown butterflies about on the wild flower banks. On the Stilt Pools there were 14 Avocets at least, with some with chicks, and three Little Ringed Plovers. A few Skylarks overhead and also a few Yellowhammers. There was a family of Canada Geese on the reserve side and plenty of Gulls in the low tide roost. (BI)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Avocet & Meadow Brown at Medmerry (BI)
Church Norton: The Hudsonian Whimbrel was not showing to a small, but growing, crowd early this morning, and there was no news by late morning. Otherwise it was the usual fare - calling Cuckoo, Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the car-park area, Reed and Sedge Warblers plus Reed Bunting and Linnets along the Severals and one or two Common and Sandwich Terns in the harbour. (AH) The Hudsonian Whimbrel was later reported, and was still present at 1305hrs in its 'usual' area near the Hide (per RBA). Later it became more erratic but was still being sighted from the west side of the harbour.
Sedge Warbler (above) & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)
Ferry Pool area: The Nightingale family were still present, with at least two juveniles seen, along the cycleway, and there were several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats present, too, plus three Sandwich Terns and a Curlew went over west.
The Barn Owl was once again in the field south of the Ferry, and five Swifts went over.
On the pool there were eight Avocet, six Redshank, nine Lapwing, six Teal and c80 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a Reed Bunting and a couple of pairs of Reed Warbler. (AH/C&ME/IL)
Barn Owl at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There were two young Little Grebes with their parents, and the Great Crested Grebe family was also present, along with plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers, including a very young one of the latter. There were at least a dozen Redshank and similar of Lapwing in the channel. (AH)
Reed Warbler (above) & young of Sedge Warbler, Little Grebe & Great Crested Grebe on Long Pool (AH)
Selsey Bill 15.50-17.30hrs: (Obs: SH)
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 40E, 14W
Common Scoter - 14W
Guillemot - 2W
Auk sp - 1W
Little Tern - 3os
Common Tern - 8os
Sandwich Tern - 13os
Kittiwake - 1W
Medmerry: Easton Lane /W side to breach: An afternoon visit produced 26 adult Avocets and 10 chicks including 4 nearly fledged birds on pool rear of the beach. Could only find 3 Little Ringed Plovers, but plenty of Yellowhammers and Whitethroats, and a Hobby flew overhead twice (SH).
Friday, 19th June: Another dry and fairly sunny day with light cloud and a NW breeze 3-4, though the cloud is set to increase later....
Visitors to Church Norton, please note the following: Advance notice is given that Church Norton car park at RSPB Pagham Harbour will be closed from 24th June to 26th June 2015 for resurfacing works. Please find alternative car parking at the Visitor Centre on Selsey Road. The footpath will remain open. Thank you for your co-operation. IL (Warden).
Church Norton: No reports of the Hudsonian Whimbrel this morning.....but after initial reports of a probable from the North Wall area, the bird was reported as present again by afternoon, in the general area of the Hide (per RBA).
Ferry Pool area: The Nightingale family were still along the cycleway, making plenty of noise, but only showing occasionally, a Cuckoo flew over into Yeoman's Field and there were several Whitethroats and Blackcaps calling nearby.
Ferry Pool area: The Nightingale family were still along the cycleway, making plenty of noise, but only showing occasionally, a Cuckoo flew over into Yeoman's Field and there were several Whitethroats and Blackcaps calling nearby.
The Barn Owl showed briefly, but very well, at around 8am in the field south of the pool before disappearing again.
On the pool itself there was a single Green Sandpiper, eight Redshank, c110 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Lapwing, seven Teal and the Shelduck family, plus a singing Reed Bunting, but not a single Avocet for the first time in a while. (AH/SR/C&ME)
Barn Owl (above), Reed Bunting & Teal at the Ferry (AH)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - Half a dozen Yellowhammers and similar of Whitethroats were along the tracks between the farms, with a few Skylarks in the fields. There were two or three singing Corn Buntings along the banks at Ham Farm, plus a Reed Bunting and several Reed Warblers in the pools, along with a pair of Gadwall. There were numerous Skylarks and Linnets around the general area, a Cuckoo was calling distantly and at the Breach there were c40 Grey Plovers and similar of Shelduck. There were plenty of Meadow Brown butterflies on the wing, too. (AH/PH)
Yellowhammer (above), Whitethroat & Meadow Brown at Medmerry (AH)
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