4th - 6th September 2015

Sunday, 6th September: A fine and sunny day, with a gentle N/NW wind, though a little chilly at first...

Selsey Bill (0615-0930hrs): Sunny, N/NW2  (Obs: SH/JA/SR/C&ME)

The highlight was undoubtedly a Kingfisher, seen by some, but not all the observers present! According to the Selsey Log-keeper's records, this is only the third seen here in recent times  - the other two being on 5/9/81 and on 16/8/97. (AH)

Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 7E, 4W
Little Egret - 1E
Common Scoter - 8E, 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Hobby - 1
Kingfisher - 1 (flew up from groyne; a Bill tick for some!)
Commic Tern - 6W
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Arctic Skua - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 1E, 4W
Grey Wagtail - 1E, 1W
Yellow Wagtail - 2E
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Meadow Pipit - 3E
Sand Martin - 5E
House Martin - 50 present
Swallow - 17E
Wheatear - 1 gardens
Chiffchaff  - 3 gardens
Willow Warbler - 1 gardens
Goldfinch - 7E
Siskin - 76W

Ferry Pool: Pretty standard fare here - two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and eight Avocets were present, along with the usual Black-tailed Godwits , Lapwings, Teal and Shoveler. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

 Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet on the Ferry Pool (DM)

Church Norton: The Redstart was along the Severals again, with a few Whitethroats also present, and around the hide/churchyard/mound area there were up to ten Spotted Flycatchers, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a dozen Blackcaps. Not much of note in the harbour, though a Whimbrel was still present. (AH/C&ME/A&YF/RJS et al)

Redstart (above) & Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (AH)

 

This evening the Common Terns were still bringing food to the now fledged youngster, and also in the harbour were a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, five Knot and 200+ Dunlin. (AH)

 

North Wall: At least one Yellow-legged Gull was present this morning (DM)

 

adult Yellow-legged Gull at the North Wall (DM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A good selection here, particularly at the southern end. There were up to five Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper around the poplars, plus a dozen Gadwall in the small pool and a Jay over.

Along the banks there were many Linnets and several Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, plus a Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats and Willow/Chiffs around Marsh Barn. Along the stretch past Marsh Farm there were at least half a dozen Whinchats and Wheatears, up to fifty Yellow Wagtails with the cattle and a pair of Siskins were among the very numerous Goldfinches on the thistles. Also a Grey Partridge was with three Red-legged Partridges.

There were still three Little Stints on the Stilt Pool, and though there were rather less waders than yesterday, there was still half a dozen Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and 15 Dunlin present. The huge Canada Goose flock (c400 birds) contained a Barnacle Goose, the two Bar-headed Geese, four Greylags and the Black Swan, whilst offshore there were a couple of Sandwich Terns and a Peregrine went over east. (AH)

Ham: Kingfisher and Merlin both seen today by the gate halfway between Chainbridge to Ham View Point (G.Wilkerson)
 

Little Stint (above), Yellow Wagtails, Whinchat, Wheatear, Peregrine, Bar-Headed Geese & presumed-hybrid Barnacle and Greylag Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 5th September: Another autumnal day, cool and grey to start, but with just a light north-westerly breeze.... 

Selsey Bill (0600-0900hrs): Cloudy, NW2-3: (JA/SH/AH/SR)
Gannet 10E, 47W
Common Scoter - 5E
Kestrel - 1p
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 1W
'Commic' Tern - 2W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1p
Swallow - 3p
House Martin - 20p
Sand Martin - 2E
Tree Pipit - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 2W
Grey Wagtail - 3W
Yellow Wagtail - 1E
Pied Wagtail - 1W
Wheatear - 4p
Whitethroat - 2 in gardens
Chiffchaff - 10 in gardens
Willow Warbler - 2 in gardens
Siskin - 179W (including one flock of 50)

Wheatear (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: There were three Greenshank on the pool early on before relocating to Ferry Channel. Also on the pool were two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, five Avocets, nine Shoveler, and 40-50 each of Teal, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit.

It was fairly quiet along the Long Pool, though there were a couple of Sedge Warblers and a scattering of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, and there were 20+ Stock Doves on the fields. (AH)

Willow Warbler along Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Not much doing on the migrant front this morning, though there was a Redstart and a few Whitethroats along the first Several, and a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Blackcaps and Willow/Chiffs behind the hide, plus a brief flock of 20+ Siskins.

There were still a couple of Common Terns and a Whimbrel in the harbour, along with a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, a few Grey and Ringed Plovers and 100+ Dunlin. On the beach there were around 40 each of Turnstone and Grey Plover, and around 80 House Martins, with a few Swallows amongst them, came through ahead of a squall of drizzly rain. (AH/A&YF)
A later walk from Park farm to Norton produced a Common Sandpiper, 100+ Swallows, 100+ House Martins, 20+ Sand Martins, 5 Wheatears, a Whinchat, a Grey Wagtail, 10 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Cetti's Warblers (S&SaH).

Redstart (above), Whitethroat & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool and the breach - 

It was quiet on the way down - just two Wheatears, one Whitethroat and a Yellowhammer. There was still plenty on the Stilt Pool, though, including one Little Stint, two Ruff, two Curlew Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, ten Dunlin, an Avocet, the two Bar-headed Geese and 250 Canada Geese.

There were another eight Wheatears, a Meadow Pipit and a big flock of Linnets along the beach path, and a Common Sandpiper, six Dunlin, 30 Teal and two Kestrels on the reserve.

It was generally quiet around the breach, with just a few Oystercatchers about as the tide flowed out. (BI)

Later in the day the Wood Sandpiper was close to the path and keeping company with two Little Stints, with another further along the shore. Also notable was the large number of hirundines, mostly Sand Martins and Swallows, over the pool and I couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the Mute Swan family as they were in a corner of the enclosure trying to find a way out, nibbling at and even trying to push themselves against the wire fence. I do hope they gain their wings soon! (SR)

And to add to the above, there were also five Greenshank, two Little Ringed Plovers, eight Common Sandpipers and 30+ Dunlin around the pools, and from the banks a female Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, six Whinchats and 55 Yellow Wagtails, plus two Sandwich Terns offshore. (S&SaH)

Little Stint (above), Wheatear & Common Sandpiper at Medmerry (BI)

Ham Farm area - The Wheatears were atop their straw bails again - some bails had two or three on them - with around 18 birds in total. At Chainbridge there was a single Whinchat with 11 Whitethroats. (SR)

Early evening a Marsh Harrier went over Ham Lane heading south-west, but little else was about bar a couple of Whitethroats and a Blackcap, two young Green Woodpeckers and half a dozen Stock Doves. (AH)

Marsh Harrier & Green Woodpecker at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 4th September: A downright chilly start to the day, with a north-westerly breeze and persistent heavy cloud.....

Selsey Bill (0640-0900hrs): Cloud, NW2-3: (Obs: JA/IP/GH/C&ME/OM/SR )
Not much moving at all this morning, though there was another small passage of Siskins over and a few Gannets offshore. Full log below...

Gannet - 16E, 41W
Shag - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 10W
Kestrel - 1 p
Jay - 1 gardens
House Martin - 25 p
Swallow - 6W
Sand Martin - 5W
Siskin - 39W
Yellow Wagtail - 5W
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Blackcap - 1 gardens
Whitethroat - 3 gardens
Willow Warbler - 2 gardens
Chiffchaff - 3 gardens

A dark phase female Honey Buzzard slowly circled over Selsey before drifting south east at 11.50am. The bird showed the classic combination of long wings, long tail, small head and wings held slightly drooped. (G Beck per SOS)
 

Ferry Pool: Three Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and six Avocets this morning, plus the usual 40 or so Black-tailed Godwits and c80 Lapwing, plus a couple of young Shelducks and at least 50 Teal. (AH)
I took a lunch-hour in the hide (1215-1315hrs) and in that time wader numbers varied considerably... starting off with one Green and one Common Sandpiper, and peaking at five Green and two Common. Also logged were eight Shoveler, 20 Teal, four Avocets, 35 Lapwing and 65 Black-tailed Godwits (OM).

Young Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

And to conclude a day of variety on the pool, there were five Spotted Redshanks and a Greenshank roosting on the water this evening, with the big tide in the harbour, and a Hobby went over east. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Breach area - The only highlight was a Spoonbill in the tidal area late morning, roosting with the Cormorants, though otherwise it was quiet. There were very few waders - just 18 Grey Plover, 15 Ringed Plover, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and two Dunlin! Four Wheatears and 30 Linnets were the best of the rest. (OM)

Distant record shots of the inactive Spoonbill at Medmerry doing what they usually do... snoozing and preening! (OM)

Easton Lane to Stilt Pool: As usual, most of the activity was around the Stilt Pool, though there were a Greenshank and two Green Sandpipers near the poplars. 

Around the Stilt Pool there was a good selection of waders, including two Little Stints, a Wood Sandpiper, three Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, at least six Common Sandpipers, four Little Ringed Plovers, a Knot, ten Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Dunlin and at least eight Avocets.

Siskins were heard overhead, with a likely - but distant - flock of 25 seen offshore, whilst there were 20 or more Yellow Wagtails and many Sand Martins and Swallows, plus a few House Martins around the pool and banks. The only other passerine migrant seen was a single Wheatear.

Among the 400 or so Canada Geese were the two Bar-headed Geese and a Black Swan, whilst there were at least 100 Teal present, too. (AH/PS/IP/C&ME)

Wood Sandpiper, Medmerry Stilt Pools (CE)

Little Stint (above), with Dunlin, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail & Bar-headed Goose at Medmerry (AH)

West Wittering: At Snowhill Creek, a Spotted Redshank with the Redshank flock, six Curlews and a Wheatear. In the dunes, two small Linnet flocks and a dozen Meadow Pipits and a Whitethroat, whilst offshore there were a few Sandwich Terns feeding. (BI).

Church Norton: Around 30 Siskin went over this morning, while around the churchyard/hide area there was a Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler, along with over 20 Blackcaps, three Spotted Flycatchers and a flock of Goldcrests. (A&YF)