28th - 30th September 2015

Wednesday, 30th September: More of the same, with sunshine and clear skies, a brisk north-easterly wind and high pressure dominating..... all very pleasant, but currently there are diminishing returns on the birding front, for the crystal clear starlit nights have doubtless assisted with the clear-out of many lingering migrants, whilst not being conducive to the grounding of new arrivals!

Selsey Bill: (0745 - 1045hrs): Sunny, E/NE4-5  (Obs: C&ME)
Gannet  -15E, 7W
Fulmar - 1W
Brent Goose - 12W
Common Scoter - 14E
Wigeon - 7E, 40W
Sparrowhawk - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 8E                              
Mediterranean Gull - 8E 
Razorbill - 1E                                                                             
Grey Wagtail - 3E
Pied Wagtail - 30E, 7ob                             
Meadow Pipit - 182N  
Swallow - c.300
House Martin - c.170                      

Ferry Pool: The Curlew Sandpiper was still present this morning, along with five Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, c40 Dunlin, 36 Black-tailed Godwits and up to 80 Lapwing. A Kingfisher shot through and a Grey Wagtail and several Pied Wagtails were present, too. (AH)

 Curlew Sandpiper (above), with Dunlin, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper & Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was in the harbour this morning, along with what is hopefully going to be a wintering Whimbrel and 30+ Curlews. 

There was very little in the bushes bar a few unseen calling Goldcrests and a couple of Sparrowhawks over Priory Wood, but there was quite a bit of visible migration along the beach/Severals, with birds all heading eastwards, approximate totals thus - Yellow Wagtail - 4, Pied Wagtail - 8, Meadow Pipit - 250, Swallow - 180, House Martin - 2, Siskin - 85, Linnet - 60, Goldfinch - 120, Reed Bunting - 3. (AH)

Spoonbill (above), Siskin, Sparrowhawks & Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 29th September: Another bright morning and - initially, at least - less breezy than yesterday....

Ferry Pool: An adult Curlew Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, among a good selection of waders, including a Knot, four Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and c40 Dunlin, along with the regular five Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c120 Lapwing. A Grey Wagtail came and went several times and there were 100+ Pied Wagtails in the adjacent ploughed field. (AH/DF/JD/DS/OM) Nearby, a Spotted Flycatcher was around the Discovery area and c.10 Chiffchaffs between there and the Visitor centre car parks (OM).
A Marsh Harrier flew across the back of the pool late this afternoon. (SH)

Two views of the Curlew Sandpiper (OM)

Curlew Sandpiper (below), Grey Wagtail & Knot on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were 30+ Reed Buntings again early this morning along the bushes, and there was a Reed Warbler and three or four Blackcaps in among 20+ Chiffchaffs and similar of Long-tailed Tit, whilst there were also 20+ Linnets and 50+ Goldfinches about, and at least 100 Teal in the channel. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff & Long-tailed Tit along Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm to Chainbridge Field - There was a male Stonechat and a couple of Yellowhammers along Ham Lane, plus a big mixed Linnet and Goldfinch flock, whilst there were a couple of Chiffchaffs around the farm, but not much else.

There were 20+ Meadow Pipit and Skylarks along the banks, and three or four Sand Martins among the 80 or Swallows that went over. There was not much of note out on the reserve - a Common Sandpiper, two Grey Plovers and a dozen Dunlin being the only waders present, whilst there were around 25 Mediterranean Gulls in with the Black-headed Gulls. Also a Sparrowhawk went over, there were 60 Canada Geese on the stubble and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the last dead tree before the breach! (AH)

Stonechat and Yellowhammer (above), Great Spotted Woodpecker & Mediterranean Gull at Medmerry (AH)

Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - This evening there were four Stonechats and a Whinchat along the track, plus numerous Swallows and Meadow Pipits about, and a Peregrine went over. There was also a Kingfisher, a Greenshank and two Green Sandpipers near the poplars, but no sign of the Garganey - just four Gadwall and two Wigeon on the pool. (SH/AH)

Greenshank at Medmerry (AH)

Honer Farm: A look early this evening produced 5 Buzzards, a pair of Stonechats and a Chiffchaff, whilst there were c100 Rooks and 30 Stock Dove in the fields, and 4 Little Grebe, 6 Tufted Ducks and 4 Coots on the reservoir. (CRJ)

Monday, 28th September: A bright but breezy morning, with a strong north-easterly taking the edge off the sunshine....and certainly hindering my attempts at digging out something of interest from the trees and bushes! However, with persistent easterly-based winds, and lots of eastern gems being found way up north, it may only be a matter of time before it's our turn as stuff filters down south. Let's hope so; meanwhile, whilst I was searching without success, I came across a certain Mr Janman doing much the same thing as me at Church Norton.... now he knows a thing or two about rarity finding and his radar had clearly been activated....watch this space. (OM)

Selsey Bill (0745-1000hrs): Sunny, NE5 (Obs: OM/C&ME/SR/AH) Over a dozen Sandwich Terns  moved through and there was just a little movement offshore, plus a steady inward arrival of Meadow Pipits. Swallows and House Martins were also steadily drifting through... full log below: 

Gannet - 23E, 5W, 15os

Shag - 7E

Brent Goose - 7W

Common Scoter - 11E, 4W

Teal - 8W

Pintail - 3W

Wigeon - 4E, 18W

Razorbill - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 14E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 6W

Pied Wagtail - 23E

Meadow Pipit - 76N

Swallow - 450E

House Martin - 60E

Chiffchaff - 5 gardens

Goldfinch - 60E

Linnet - 3E

Sandwich Tern past the Bill (AH)

Selsey (Northcommon Farm): The strong north-easterly was blasting through the trees and few birds were on offer, but in the more sheltered spots there were several Chiffchaffs and a few Goldcrests, but otherwise nothing worth a mention. (OM)

Selsey East Beach pool: Much the same as above...six Chiffchaffs and several Goldcrests in the sheltered spots. (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper present early on, along with a Snipe, five Avocets, 24 Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Lapwing. Dunlin numbers had increased to at least forty by mid-morning and Avocets to eight, and there was a huge number - 700+ - of Black-headed Gulls on the pool with 30 Mediterranean Gulls among them. (AH/OM/C&ME)

Dunlins (above), Common Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gulls on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill in the harbour near Tern Island was notable, but there was little else to report in the strong north-easterly. A couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were around the mound/churchyard area, 80+ Meadow Pipits with three Pied Wagtails among them went east along the beach and there were 50+ Swallows and the occasional House Martin feeding overhead. A walk round Greenlease Farm was more or less devoid of birds! (AH)

Spoonbill (above) & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AH)

A walk up to the oak copse and back produced very little, just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, 14 Meadow Pipits in the horse field and 50 Great Black-backed Gulls in the harbour. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Breach area - From the viewpoint on the east side  in a gusty easterly wind there were a few Grey Plover, twelve or so Dunlin, a Spoonbill associating with plenty of Cormorants, and a Gannet which nearly flew into the intertidal area but not quite and decided to fish offshore instead. Around the rubble there were four Wheatears and several flocks of Meadow Pipits, with a few Linnets & Pied Wagtails about, too (BI)

In addition to the above, a Kingfisher was heard but not seen, three Kestrels were about, a distant flock of c40 Lapwing were out on the reserve and there were 53 Mediterranean Gulls among a large mixed gull flock on the water. (SR)

Wheatear at Medmerry (BI)

Coastguard Field: - 1 Stonechat, 17 Swallows, 9 Meadow Pipits. (SR)

Chainbridge Field: 2 Buzzards hunting at the sheltered end, 1 calling Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs. (SR)

Ham Viewpoint: Very windy and few birds - 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Kestrels, 20 Goldfinch, 2 Wheatears. (SR)

25th - 27th September 2015

Sunday, 27th September: Another lovely day, though with the north-easterly breeze picking up during the morning.....

Selsey Bill (06.40 - 10.00hrs):   Sunny  NE4-5  (Obs: JA/SH/SR/C&ME/IP)
Gannet - 28E, 34W
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Shag - 9E
Brent Goose - 61W
Shelduck - 11W
Common Scoter - 4W
Teal - 2E, 12W
Wigeon - 20E, 64W
Pintail - 1E, 1W
Dunlin - 10E, 2W
Sanderling - 18W
Sparrowhawk - 2p
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1N
Common Tern - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 7E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 3os
Razorbill - 2W
Auk sp - 8E
House Martin - 805E
Sand Martin - 1E
Swallow - 1450E
Meadow Pipit - 8E, 164N
Pied Wagtail - 17E, 7N
Yellow Wagtail - 7E 
Grey Wagtail - 1E, 1W, 1N
Chiffchaff - 8 gardens
Siskin  - 13E, 2N  
Linnet - 8E
Goldfinch - 22E
Chaffinch - 2E

Church Norton: On a walk via the fields at Park Farm, there were singles of Yellow and Grey Wagtail and Stonechat, whilst 25+ Siskin passed through. Around the orchard at Greenlease Farm a Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher were still present, accompanied by a few Chiffchaffs. A single Wheatear was on the beach and two Sandwich terns were offshore, but the highlight was probably the female Marsh Harrier that flew over the harbour. (S&SaH/IP)

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks, three Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Snipe and 24 Dunlin on the pool at high tide, along with half a dozen Lapwing, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c80 Lapwing. There were also 25 Shoveler and over 100 Teal present - with the drakes starting to come out of eclipse plumage, plus eight Shelduck and around 400 Black-headed Gulls, with the whole place looking very busy! (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Snipe, Shoveler & Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake area - No sign of the Black Tern this morning, and fairly quiet bar a large roaming flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, plus 15 or more Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers and six Goldcrests. (OM)

Drayton pits were no better; apart from Coots, wildfowl numbers were surprisingly low with the only interest being 20 Gadwall and a single drake Wigeon still in partial eclipse (doubtless the same bird that summered in this exact area). Two Cetti's Warblers were present and about a dozen Chiffchaffs were in the hedges, whilst a single Snipe put in an appearance, but these apart, the only other interest was up to four Jays collecting acorns and a family party of three Green Woodpeckers (OM). 

Gadwalls at Drayton GPs (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The two Garganey were still present this morning, and there was a Green Sandpiper and six Gadwall on the pool, and a dozen Yellow Wagtails were flying around nearby. Along the banks/path to the Stilt Pool there were up to four Whinchats, eight Wheatears, two Stonechats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a few Chiffchaffs and two Corn Buntings, along with 30+ Stock Doves, 100+ Linnets and Goldfinches and up to 500 Meadow Pipits. There was a continuous flow of hirundines - most of which were House Martins, though there were a fair few Swallows and 30+ Sand Martins among them. Also a female/juvenile-type Marsh Harrier was over the sea.

There was not much on view out on the reserve, bar a few Curlew and plenty of Teal, and the two Bar-headed Geese with the Canada Geese early on. The Pool itself was quiet, with just two juvenile Avocets and eight Dunlin being the only waders present. (AH/A&YF/RJS/PH)

An Osprey was fishing over the east side again this afternoon at around 14.45. Also a few barrel jellyfish (I think!) stranded on the mud, see pic. (PH)

Whinchat (above), Wheatear, House Martin, Meadow Pipit & Stock Doves at Medmerry (AH)

presumed Barrel jellyfish at Medmerry (PH)

Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This afternoon there was a female Merlin causing havoc amongst the Linnet and Meadow Pipit flocks, as well as a Buzzard, two Sparrowhawks and four Kestrels about.
There were 300+ Mediterranean Gulls among the gull flocks, and a Green Sandpiper, an Avocet, a Snipe and a Dunlin were also present.
Among migrants seen there was a Whitethroat, 13 Stonechats, six Yellow Wagtails, two Wheatears and 400+ Swallows over, whilst there was also 5 Corn Buntings, 10+ Reed Buntings and 30+ Yellowhammers about. (S&SaH)

North Wall area: There were some 300 Wigeon in and around White's Creek this morning, whilst on the Breech Pool there were 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Snipe and 1 Spotted Redshank. A flock of 11 Long-tailed Tits was along the Wall, with another eight in Owl Copse along with two Goldcrests. 

Also, there were at least 22 Yellow Wagtails amongst the cattle at Marsh Farm and four Stonechats amongst the maize at Bramber. (JDW) 

Yellow Wagtail at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (above) & Stonechat at Bramber (JDW)

Saturday, 26th September: A fine, dry and sunny morning with some scattered cloud and a gentle E/NE breeze; with high pressure now dominating the weather seems set fair for the week ahead....

Selsey Bill (0640 - 0900hrs):  Sunny, ENE2-3  (Obs: SH/PB/SR/C&ME/JA)
Gannet - 13E, 11W, 8os
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Brent Goose - 3W
Common Scoter - 3E
Sandwich Tern - 7E
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Kittiwake - 5W
Auk sp -1W, 2os
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3 present
Meadow Pipit - 120E
Yellow Wagtail - 18E
Pied Wagtail - 24E
Grey Wagtail - 1E, 1W, 3N
Swallow - 1510E
House Martin - 633E
Skylark - 1W
Chiffchaff 13 - gardens 

Siskin - 13E
Chaffinch - 10E
Greenfinch - 11E
Goldfinch 16 - p
Linnet - 2W

Church Norton: Around the orchard at Greenlease farm were a Redstart, 3 Blackcaps and a Spotted Flycatcher, whilst along the beach were 3 Stonechats and a Wheatear, a Peregrine hunting and 6 Sandwich Terns offshore. A Willow Warbler was in the bluebell wood plus a couple of Chiffchaffs and 3 Goldcrests in the area (S&SaH/PB/IP)

North Wall: Fairly quiet today, but sightings included Whitethroat and lesser Whitethroat, and a Grey Heron devouring a large fish! (CG)

Grey Heron with large fish, North Wall(CG)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - The Black Tern was still there at 9am and again at 1pm. There was also a large roaming mixed Tit flock with 12+ Chiffchaffs among them along the paths. (BI)

Black Tern on Ivy Lake (BI)

Medmerry: The two Garganey were still present on Easton pool early morning with four Gadwall, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret and a Little Grebe. A Whinchat and four Stonechat were around Marsh Barn and lots of Meadow Pipits over & around. 

A Peregrine was in the middle of the reserve and a Razorbill was on the sea by the defences and later at the breach. Twelve Grey Herons, a Curlew and two small groups of Dunlin were along the way to the breach and three Sandwich Terns were fishing successfully offshore. Only a single Wheatear was on the fenceline but again there were many Meadow Pipits, and there were still plenty of Canada Geese on the stilt pools along with an Avocet and nine Dunlin. (BI)

A Spoonbill was on the east side of the reserve this morning (PH).

An Osprey was also present, and later only one of the Garganeys could be located (CG)

Razorbill (above) & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (BI)

Garganey and Wheatear at Medmerry (CG)

Ferry Pool: There were four Green Sandpipers early on, along with six Avocets and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, and a Kingfisher shot through. (AH)

Long Pool: There was a huge amount of activity early on, mostly involving c60 Chiffchaffs and 30+ Reed Buntings, but there were also two Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler and at least a dozen Blackcaps present, along with a Yellowhammer, briefly, and two or three calling Cetti's Warblers. A Kingfisher was in the channel, a Greenshank went over and there were 200+ Swallows feeding overhead. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Blackcap & Chiffchaff along Long Pool (AH)

Friday, 25th September: A lovely autumn's day after a cloudy start....

Selsey Bill (0715-0930hrs): The most notable aspect today was the visible migration going on overhead, although the totals herewith for the period shown are a little disjointed and without doubt do not reflect the entire morning's passage.... (Obs: GH/JA/C&ME/SR/OM)

Mute Swan - 1E
Gannet - c.20W in half an hour
Common Tern - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Kestrel - 1 gardens
House Martin - c.400W
Swallow - c.250W
Pied Wagtail - 28W
Yellow Wagtail - 7W
Grey Wagtail - 2W
Meadow Pipit - 50W
Greenfinch - 20W
Goldfinch - 158W
Linnet - 28W
Siskin - 62W
Chiffchaff - 16 gardens
Blackcap - 3 gardens

Selsey East Beach pool: An early look around the pool produced 12 Chiffchaffs, plus 15 Siskins and 5 Pied Wagtails moving west. There was also an apparent influx of Blackbirds, with 15 in this small area alone. (OM)

Selsey (West): Warner Lane paddocks/area: A few migrants in this little patch, with two Stonechats, a Whitethroat, five Chiffchaffs, 10 Meadow Pipits and a dozen Siskin W, plus a stream of Swallows overhead. (OM) 

Northcommon Farm: Not overly productive here, though a Redpoll flew over calling, followed by a few Siskins, but otherwise there were just c.10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Kestrels and a Grey Wagtail in the puddles! (OM)

Grey Wagtail at Northcommon Farm (OM)

Almost an action replay of yesterday, with six Spotted Redshanks, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a Snipe all present, along with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and six Avocets. (OM/AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above) & Green Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were three Spotted Redshank in White's Creek, along with an Avocet, 60 Black-tailed Godwit and 80 Redshank. Along the east side there were two Greenshank, five Yellow-legged Gulls, 40 Knot, 75 Grey Plover and c200 Dunlin, along with a single Brent Goose, up to a dozen Pintail and 100+ Wigeon and Teal.

A Common Sandpiper was along the wall, a Peregrine went over east and a steady flow of Swallows and House Martins went west but, bar a few Chiffchaffs, migrants were few, though there were a pair of Stonechats present by the sluice, along with ten or more Reed Buntings. Very little was on the Breech Pool except 50 or so Black-tailed Godwits and similar of Teal. (AH/PC)
Later, by early afternoon on the falling tide, there were 40 Pintail, two Brent Geese and eight Great Crested Grebes in the channel, but only a single Yellow-legged Gull. The Spotted Redshanks and Greenshank were still present but numbers of other waders had reduced considerably. A few Siskins were on the move heading west, and two calling Redpoll circled low overhead before also heading west. (OM)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Yellow-legged and Herring Gulls, Peregrine & Stonechat around the North Wall (AH)

North Wall regular Peter Callis and friend (!!) taking a breather on the North Wall (AH)

Yellow-legged Gull, east side (early afternoon) (OM)

Church Norton: There were six Chiffchaffs behind the hide and a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs along the beach today. (BI)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake - The juvenile Black Tern was present again today. (BI)

Black Tern on Ivy Lake (BI)

Medmerry: Breach area - From the east side later today, the Osprey was sat in the middle of the reserve and there were six Wheatears, a Stonechat, a flock of Linnets and plenty of Meadow Pipits around what remains of the rubble. (BI)

Very distant (!) Osprey at Medmerry (BI)

Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - The Osprey was in centre of the reserve eating a fish, before going over towards the east side (see above), an immature Spoonbill was present on the reserve (RJS), and the two Garganey were still on the  first pool. Other birds seen included 14 Stonechat, 3 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and  2 Reed Bunting, along with 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, a Redshank, 4 Dunlin and 3 Common Sandpiper. (CRJ)

Between the Stilt pool and the breach there were at least 12 Wheatears and probably more, two Stonechats and very many Meadow Pipits and Linnets along the fence line and beach path. There were twenty Dunlin, twenty Teal and a Curlew around the pools on the reserve, a Sandwich Tern was offshore and a few Pied Wagtails went over. (BI)

Stonechat (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (BI)