7th - 9th October 2015

Friday, 9th October: Another beautiful day, with light NE winds and bright sunshine after a chilly and misty start.....

Ferry Pool: Little change from yesterday, though numbers were higher on the high tide. The Curlew Sandpiper was still present with half a dozen Dunlin, as were two Common Sandpipers, though Green Sandpiper numbers had risen to seven - a good count for this time of year. 

Also a Spotted Redshank, a Snipe and three Common Redshank were roosting on the pool and Avocet numbers were up to 16. There were also the usual flock of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit, six Shelduck, 50+ Teal and the Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk appeared briefly. 

There were 20+ Goldcrests, with similar of Long-tailed Tit and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the adjacent hedges. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshank with Lapwing, Sparrowhawk with Rook & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Kingfisher was in the creek along the west side and there were at least four Stonechats and a few Chiffchaffs along the gorse, whilst at least 50 House Martins and 300+ Swallows were feeding low over the harbour and pool. 

The Long Pool itself was quite quiet, with just a few Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs to be found, whilst the high tide kept wader numbers low. (AH)

Swallow (above), House Martin & Kestrel from Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: About 30 Siskins came out of the trees by the Mound early on, and there were at least that number of Goldcrests around the vicinity, plus at least a dozen Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

There were two Wheatears along the beach and 100+ Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches and a few Skylarks around, but not moving through. There were at least six Stonechats along the Severals, plus a few Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs, and small numbers of Swallows were overhead, but not too much other migrant activity. There were plenty of Wigeon and Pintail, plus lots of the commoner waders in the harbour. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Blackcap, Stonechat, Reed Bunting & Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were five Cormorants, three Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 36 Teal and 100+ Mallard on the Breech Pool this morning, two Wheatears were along the Wall and 3 Cetti's Warblers were calling. There were three Goldcrests in the small copse to the west of Honer Farm, but otherwise it was a quiet but lovely morning. 

There were also two Blackcaps in my nearby Pagham garden. (JDW)

Wheatear (above) & Cormorants, Grey Heron and Mallards from the North Wall (JDW)

Chi GPs - Ivy Lake: Seemed like there had been a bit of clear out with far fewer Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests than in the last few days with just a few of each present; the roving Tit flock was also absent this morning. Still plenty of Robins though! On the water, four Pochard were the highlight. Good numbers of Speckled Woods out in the sunshine, a few Red Admirals around the tree tops and a single Comma represented the butterflies. (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A Little Owl was back at a traditional site nearby; the first time I have seen one there since early in the year. There were a couple of Grey Wagtails in with 50+ Pied Wagtails on the settling tanks, and there were 30-40 Chiffchaffs in the hedges, with almost every bush being occupied! There were also a couple of Blackcaps in the hegdes and a couple of mobile flocks of Linnets about, and another Grey Wagtail was on the roof of the barns at Oakhurst Farm. (AH)

Little Owl (above), Grey Wagtail & Chiffchaff around Porthole Farm (AH)

Thursday, 8th October: What a contrast to yesterday! A glorious autumn morning after a misty start, with lots of sunshine and only a gentle breeze....though cloud building by afternoon.

Selsey Bill (0830 - 1000hrs) Sunny, W F2:  (SR)
Mute Swan - 3W
Gannet - 1E
Brent Goose - 14E
Oystercatcher - 10 on
Turnstone - 18ob
Sandwich Tern - 4W
Skylark - 2W
Wheatear - 1 ob
Meadow Pipit - 11N
Pied Wagtail - 64N
Swallow - 44W
House Martin - 7W
Chaffinch - 1
Greenfinch - 4
Goldfinch - 35
Chiffchaff - 8 gardens

Ferry Pool: The Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers and half a dozen Dunlin were just about viewable through the early mist! There were also ten Avocets and the usual Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing and Teal, plus a Grey Wagtail flew over. (AH)

Green Sandpiper on (above) & a misty view of the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Highlight was a summer-plumaged Red-throated Diver that flew in over the Stilt Pool before flying back out and settling on the sea. A Merlin also went out to sea, but disappeared into the distance towards the Isle of Wight. 

The White-fronted Goose was still on the Stilt Pool in the company of two Greylag Geese, the two Bar-headed Geese and about 300 Canada Geese. The only waders on the pool were a Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin, and just about the only other waders to be seen were two Green Sandpipers near the poplars, where a Rock Pipit was also seen

There were at least eight Wheatears about, including a couple of likely 'Greenland' types, with similar of Stonechat widely spread, whilst there were at least half a dozen (and probably more) Yellow Wagtails among the cattle by the beach and up to ten Chiffchaffs in the hedges. There were a couple of House Martins among the 50+ Swallows about, while Meadow Pipit and Linnet numbers were in the hundreds, and there were 20+ Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings present as well. (AH/A&YF)

Red-throated Diver (above), White-fronted Goose, 'Greenland' Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Bar-headed Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Selsey: East Beach pool - Not much to report but Chiffchaffs were very active with 25+ present, with perhaps up to ten Goldcrests in the trees and a few Siskins over. (OM)

Northcommon Farm - Similar here, with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests about, but fewer than at East Beach. At least 15 Long-tailed Tits were present, plus a Grey Wagtail, a couple of Blackcaps and two Buzzards, whilst 24 Curlew were feeding in the horse fields and several small flocks of Siskin passed overhead, mostly calling but largely invisible against the blue sky (OM)

Warner Lane area - Two Stonechats, several Chiffchaffs, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 70 Goldfinch and 20 Swallows (OM)

 Chiffchaffs at Northcommon farm (OM)

Church Norton: An early afternoon visit produced 8 Blackcaps and several Goldcrests around the mound and five Stonechats at the Severals. A look around the Oak copse produced a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests but nothing more exciting, and ditto Greenlease farm area, but apart from a few Swallows and a Buzzard there was little else to report (OM).

A large dark Pipit was skulking at the near end of Norton Spit this afternoon. It was along the wire fence line near the sea and disappeared when we tried to find it.  We reported the Pipit as a possible Richards. Also still a Short-eared Owl at the Pagham end. (T&P Raynor)This evening there were 3 Stonechats at Park farm and at least 8 more on the beach, also a Wheatear, 2  Sparrowhawks, 20+ Chiffchaffs and a remarkable 51 Magpies in one tree at the first Severals (SH)

Wednesday, 7th October: A real autumn day, with a brisk westerly, leaden skies and not much to commend it.....

Selsey Bill: Not much moving between 7.30 and 8.20am - just 40 Gannets and a Razorbill east, whilst there were 16 Mediterranean Gulls of various ages in with similar of Herring and Black-headed Gull along the beach and four Meadow Pipits went east overhead. (AH)

Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Curlew Sandpiper was again present, but with just half a dozen Dunlin, and there were still two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, ten Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c50 Lapwing, six Shoveler, five Shelduck and c80 Teal. Also the Kingfisher and Grey Wagtails both put in brief appearances. (AH)

At 16.15hrs there was a Common Sandpiper, 13 Avocets, 6 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 120 Lapwing, 15 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Teal.  In the far corner were some Dunlin; its possible the Curlew sandpiper was with them but the light was so bad by now it couldn't be confirmed (SR).

Kingfisher on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Very quiet again - just a couple of Blackcaps and Goldcrests among one of several big flocks of Long-tailed Tits in the bushes, and a Whimbrel among the Redshanks and Curlews in the harbour. There were also 30+ Pintail in with a couple of hundred Wigeon, and a single Brent Goose was flying around. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)

The substantial sea-defence work taking place on the east side of the harbour (AH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - Almost empty of birds; c100 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 1 Common Sandpiper and 4 Dunlin.  Easton Viewpoint - 17 Yellowhammers, 30 Linnets, c75 Meadow Pipits, 6 Wheatears, 2 Kestrels and c60 Med Gulls in the stubble field. (SR)

Easton lane to Marsh farm - An Osprey was seen briefly, low over centre of the reserve, sending several hundred gulls and duck up (mostly Teal). Also a Whinchat and a Green Sandpiper present (S&SaH)