Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 17th

Friday, 18th August: A really nasty shock after recent days - drizzly and windy, though not as wet as predicted by mid-morning at least...

Selsey Bill: Nothing really moving despite the south-easterly breeze, with just a few Gannets and Common Scoters and a couple each of Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull to show for our efforts, plus a Wheatear and a few Willow Warblers along the front, but no sign of the Dartford Warbler so far today..... Full log below....

0715-0930hrs: (Obs: OM/SR/AH)
Gannet - 15E
Common Scoter - 9E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 2E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Wheatear - 1ob
Willow Warbler - 4 gardens

Mediterranean Gull at Selsey Bill (AH) and Sandwich Tern (below) which paused briefly before moving off W (OM)

Ferry Pool: A selection of waders were present mid-morning, but nearly all singles, including Ruff, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Dunlin, along with seven Black-tailed Godwits and 25 Lapwing. Also there were six Shelduck and 55 Teal present.

A look around the Tramway and Discovery Area produced a dozen Whitethroat, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and a handful of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers. (AH)

Ruff and Redshank (above), Little Ringed Plover and Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap & Whitethroat around Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look at didn't produce a lot - just half a dozen Willow Warblers and a couple of Blackcaps in the churchyard and two Common Terns, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and 30 Curlew and Redshank in the harbour. (AH) Around mid-day a Whinchat was along the beach path. (BI)

Willow Warbler at Church Norton (AH) & Whinchat (BI).

North Wall: In the drizzle this morning there were 15 Black-tailed Godwits, seven Dunlin and a lone Avocet on the Breech pool with three Whinchats along the fence line at the back. In White's creek were 40 Redshank, the Kingfisher was around the sluice, two Greenshanks were in the harbour and a Green Sandpiper flew over. (BI)

Thursday, 18th August: After a little overnight rain, a largely dry morning with cloud and the promise of some brighter interludes and light variable winds, but the prospect of the weather going downhill by evening.......

Just a short reminder to the regulars at least; on Saturday morning (20th) JF - the new Pom King - will be attending to receive the trophy. We will assemble at the Bill for a morning sea-watch (conditions look interesting with strong winds forecast) and thereafter the presentation will take place, with time for a quick drink in The Seal. Do make it if you can.....

Selsey Bill: A Nightingale was in the waste ground in Ursula Square (behind the Bill) this morning, and a Wheatear was along the beach. Very little activity otherwise this morning.... 3 Willow Warblers, 18 House Martins and 43 Turnstones on the beach along with 7 Ringed Plovers, three of them being juveniles (SR) Also the Dartford Warbler was still in the Bill House garden. (SR/BFF/MJ)

Ferry Pool: Early on there were six Knot on the pool, though they had gone by mid-morning. Otherwise it was much the same as yesterday, with the Ruff, two Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, the juvenile Redshank and four Black-tailed Godwits present, plus half a dozen Teal and Shelduck.

It was very quiet around the bushes, with just a few Blackcaps and Whitethroats among the numerous Chaffinches and Goldfinches. (AH/BFF) Also, there was a Spotted Flycatcher near the hide. (C&JM)

Spotted Flycatcher by the Ferry (C&JM)

Knot (above), Ruff, Common Sandpiper & Blackcap and Whitethroat around Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: This morning there were 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, a Common Redstart and 6 Blackcaps in the Churchyard. (BFF/MJ)

This evening an Osprey was over the east side of the harbour, at one point chased well out to sea by the gulls, before drifting away westwards at about 6.40pm. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was very quiet overall, with the exception of Sand Martins, with at least 1000 birds around the fields and pools, and a couple of hundred Swallows among them. Otherwise passerines were almost non-existent - just a couple of Yellow Wagtails over and no more than two or three each of Yellowhammer, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler along the path.

Wader-wise there were two Greenshank briefly in the pools between Marsh Barn and Farm, a Green Sandpiper by the first sluice and at least six Common Sandpipers, five Little Ringed Plovers and two Black-tailed Godwits on the Stilt Pool and two Ringed Plovers on the beach. Also on the Stilt Pool there were an adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern, single Shoveler, 20 Teal and the mother and six juvenile Gadwall, with another half dozen on the first pool, and an adult and juvenile Little Grebe were on one of the smaller pools. (AH)

Sand Martins (above), Shoveler, Sandwich Terns, Black-tailed Godwits & Little Grebe at Medmerry (AH)

Halseys Farm: A walk from the North Wall to Halsey's Farm via Honer farm proved to be productive, especially the hedgerows around Honer which seemed full of warblers; apart from a Sparrowhawk, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, there were 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, several Whitethroats, at least 6 Spotted Flycatchers and 2+ Pied Flycatchers. (C&JM)

Pied Flycatcher at Honer farm (North Wall) (C&JM)

An early evening visit produced just a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and two Willow Warblers. (SH)

North Wall and Breech Pool: There were 8 Greenshank, 4 Spotted Redshanks, a single Avocet and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls this morning. At 1210hrs an Osprey flew south over the harbour but did not appear to linger. (BFF)

Additional to the above, there were 4 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, an Avocet, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Tern, a Wheatear, a Redstart, 2 Blackcaps, 7 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler and 3 Reed Warblers on a walk from the North Wall to Halsey's farm (C&JM)

This evening there were 5 Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, 60+ Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe, a Water Rail and a Kingfisher, plus at least 40 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows overhead. (SH)

Water Rail and Kingfisher around the Breech Pool (SH)

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank (above) & Sparrowhawk at the North Wall (C&JM)

Spotted Redshank (above), Kingfisher, Sand Martins and Swallow & Swallows around North Wall (M. Rose)

Wednesday, 17th August: The fine weather continues, with a breezy, slightly cloudy, but very warm day......

North Wall: There was no sign of the Aquatic Warbler around Owl Point (or anywhere else!) this morning, and generally it was quiet for warblers, with just a couple each of Sedge, Reed and Willow Warblers, plus Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat encountered in the whole area. There were two or three Wheatears along the wall, though, and 500+ Sand Martins, with a few Swallows among them, feeding over the harbour all morning.

The Breech Pool held two Little Stints early on, though they could not be found later, along with seven Spotted Redshank, three Greenshank, three Common Sandpipers, three Dunlin,, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c150 Redshank, along with 20 or so Teal, and a Kingfisher flew up the central channel.

There was a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and c50 Redshank in White's Creek, whilst out in the harbour there was a Grey Plover among a big flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. Also a hungry young Fox was taking advantage of some untended dog-food at the stables. (OM/BI/PB/AH/TG)

This evening (1700-1930) a walk produced 45 species, the highlights being a Water Rail (juv), an eclipse Shoveler, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Redstarts (along the east hedgerow 'Cow field' below Honer Cottage), 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, a Common sandpiper, a Kingfisher, 3 Wheatears along the path, several Whinchats and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls on mud near the sluice gates (KJ et al)

Wheatear (above), Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Lapwing and Redshanks, Sand Martin & Fox from North Wall (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Ruff was still present this morning, along with three Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and a juvenile Redshank, along with eight Teal and six Shelduck, though the bushes were more or less devoid of bird activity. (AH)

Ruff, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover (above) & Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

This evening there were five Green Sandpipers together at the back and the Ruff, the juvenile Redshank, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper at the front, and there were 200+ Sand Martins and Swallows over the Long Pool. (AH)

Ruff (above), Little Ringed Plover & Green Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

Park farm, Selsey: This evening there were 300+ Sand Martins over stubble fields with a few Swallows and House Martins, 3 Reed Warblers along the ditch and 2 Sparrowhawks over (SH).

Church Norton: Three Tufted Ducks flew along the beach and there were 30+ Mediterranean Gulls in the area. A single Common Tern flew over the island and nearby was a Common Sandpiper. (SH)

Medmerry (west side): Early this morning there were six Wheatears on the rocks opposite the stilt pool and one Wheatear near the Easton Lane car park. There was also around 8 Yellow Wagtails together on the shingle bank. Along the path was a Sedge Warbler, two Reed Warblers, and some Whitethroats. (TRo)