Saturday, 22nd October: A glorious start to the day, crisp and bright and still, and though the breeze picked up from the north it remained mild and sunny.....
Selsey Bill: (0700-0900hrs) (SH/PB/AB/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 4E
Gannet - 4E, 1W
Little Egret - 2E
Brent Goose - 20W
Shoveler - 14W
Wigeon - 17W
Teal - 8W
Sparrowhawk - 1p
Ringed Plover - 1p
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Razorbill - 8E
Guillemot - 1E
auk sp - 4E
Rock Pipit - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 5p
Swallow - 20p
House Martin - 14p
Jackdaw - 23p
Chiffchaff - 3p (in gardens)
Greenfinch - 5p
Goldfinch - 9p
Siskin - 2W
A look round between 9am and 10am was productive. The Dartford Warbler, clearly a late riser, had a burst of activity for 20 mins around 9.15am. I could hear the call of a Buzzard somewhere behind Bill House but couldn't see it - AB thought he'd seen one fly down between the houses briefly earlier so this seems to confirm there was one about somewhere. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew east together and a third was in the gardens, 5 Pied Wagtails flew east, 2 female Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs and 2 Meadow Pipits east. (SR)
Selsey, West Beach: This afternoon there were 26 Pied Wagtails, 4 Stonechats, 2 Kestrels and 11 Meadow Pipits. (SR)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Raven flew over mobbed by crows this morning and a Blackcap was also about. (S&SaH)
Church Norton: The highlight was a group of three Bearded Tits (two males and a female) that flew out of the first Several, and along the beach towards the second Several, where they could be heard, but not seen. This is the first record in two years on the peninsula. (Eds).
Among other birds seen were 20 + Swallows, six Chiffchaffs, a couple of Stonechats, two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk, with 200+ Brent Geese in the harbour. (S&SaH)
Chichester Gravel Pits: Around the Ivy Lake complex this morning there were a Black Swan, 60 Greylag Geese, a Bar-headed Goose, 30 Canada Geese, 25 Pochard, a Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, 8 Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch. (CRJ)
Ferry Pool/Long Pool: On the pool there were two Green Sandpipers, two Snipe, six Teal and 16 Lapwing, whilst in the channel opposite there was a Spotted Redshank first thing before it flew off to the other end of the channel, where there were also a dozen Avocets.
Half a dozen Redwing were in the trees at the start of the Long Pool early on, in the company of several Song Thrushes and Blackbirds, before moving along the hedges and then over to the Tramway. There were also at least 20 Reed Buntings, a pair of Stonechats and several Wrens and Chiffchaffs along the hedges, and a couple of squealing Water Rails were in the reeds and a couple of Snipe flew out. (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: There were a couple of Dartford Warblers, also present yesterday, in the gorse near the first viewpoint this morning. (JH)
Also about along the banks were at least four pairs of Stonechats, 20+ Yellowhammers, half a dozen Reed Buntings, 10+ Skylarks, 20+ Meadow Pipits and 50+ Goldfinches, plus one or two Song Thrushes, whilst a Kingfisher was near the first sluice, a Grey Wagtail went over, a Merlin shot through towards Marsh Farm, a Peregrine was sat out on the reserve and several Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Kestrels were also present.
The only waders seen were a single Snipe, couple of Curlew and c30 Lapwing, and wildfowl included a Shoveler, plenty of Wigeon and Teal and the Bar-headed Geese on the Stilt Pool with c50 Canada Geese.
Also there were as many as half a dozen Clouded Yellow butterflies along the banks.(AH)
There was no sign of the Dartford Warblers this afternoon, though there was a Fieldfare by the poplars and the Merlin put in a couple of appearances. (S&SaH)
Friday, 21st October: Another dry day with a chilly but fairly light northerly wind and a mix of sunshine and cloud....becoming quite pleasant by midday in sheltered spots.
Selsey Bill: (0700-0900hrs) (SH/PB/AB/SR)
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 4E
Gannet - 4E, 1W
Little Egret - 2E
Brent Goose - 20W
Shoveler - 14W
Wigeon - 17W
Teal - 8W
Sparrowhawk - 1p
Ringed Plover - 1p
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Razorbill - 8E
Guillemot - 1E
auk sp - 4E
Rock Pipit - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 5p
Swallow - 20p
House Martin - 14p
Jackdaw - 23p
Chiffchaff - 3p (in gardens)
Greenfinch - 5p
Goldfinch - 9p
Siskin - 2W
A look round between 9am and 10am was productive. The Dartford Warbler, clearly a late riser, had a burst of activity for 20 mins around 9.15am. I could hear the call of a Buzzard somewhere behind Bill House but couldn't see it - AB thought he'd seen one fly down between the houses briefly earlier so this seems to confirm there was one about somewhere. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew east together and a third was in the gardens, 5 Pied Wagtails flew east, 2 female Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs and 2 Meadow Pipits east. (SR)
Dartford Warbler at the Bill (SR)
Also, the Yellow-browed Warbler is still in my garden near East Beach Pond. (SR)Selsey, West Beach: This afternoon there were 26 Pied Wagtails, 4 Stonechats, 2 Kestrels and 11 Meadow Pipits. (SR)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Raven flew over mobbed by crows this morning and a Blackcap was also about. (S&SaH)
Church Norton: The highlight was a group of three Bearded Tits (two males and a female) that flew out of the first Several, and along the beach towards the second Several, where they could be heard, but not seen. This is the first record in two years on the peninsula. (Eds).
Among other birds seen were 20 + Swallows, six Chiffchaffs, a couple of Stonechats, two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk, with 200+ Brent Geese in the harbour. (S&SaH)
Chichester Gravel Pits: Around the Ivy Lake complex this morning there were a Black Swan, 60 Greylag Geese, a Bar-headed Goose, 30 Canada Geese, 25 Pochard, a Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, 8 Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch. (CRJ)
Ferry Pool/Long Pool: On the pool there were two Green Sandpipers, two Snipe, six Teal and 16 Lapwing, whilst in the channel opposite there was a Spotted Redshank first thing before it flew off to the other end of the channel, where there were also a dozen Avocets.
Half a dozen Redwing were in the trees at the start of the Long Pool early on, in the company of several Song Thrushes and Blackbirds, before moving along the hedges and then over to the Tramway. There were also at least 20 Reed Buntings, a pair of Stonechats and several Wrens and Chiffchaffs along the hedges, and a couple of squealing Water Rails were in the reeds and a couple of Snipe flew out. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above), Redwing, Reed Bunting & pintail from Long Pool (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: There were a couple of Dartford Warblers, also present yesterday, in the gorse near the first viewpoint this morning. (JH)
Also about along the banks were at least four pairs of Stonechats, 20+ Yellowhammers, half a dozen Reed Buntings, 10+ Skylarks, 20+ Meadow Pipits and 50+ Goldfinches, plus one or two Song Thrushes, whilst a Kingfisher was near the first sluice, a Grey Wagtail went over, a Merlin shot through towards Marsh Farm, a Peregrine was sat out on the reserve and several Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Kestrels were also present.
The only waders seen were a single Snipe, couple of Curlew and c30 Lapwing, and wildfowl included a Shoveler, plenty of Wigeon and Teal and the Bar-headed Geese on the Stilt Pool with c50 Canada Geese.
Also there were as many as half a dozen Clouded Yellow butterflies along the banks.(AH)
There was no sign of the Dartford Warblers this afternoon, though there was a Fieldfare by the poplars and the Merlin put in a couple of appearances. (S&SaH)
Yellowhammer (above), Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Bar-headed and Canada Geese & Clouded Yellow at Medmerry (AH)
Friday, 21st October: Another dry day with a chilly but fairly light northerly wind and a mix of sunshine and cloud....becoming quite pleasant by midday in sheltered spots.
Selsey, East Beach: The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in my garden near East Beach this morning. (SR)
Pagham Lagoon: The Black-necked Grebe was still present and showing well this morning. (PC)
Selsey Bill: There were 35+ Swallows around the Oval Field again and one or two Goldcrests and several Chiffchaffs present, but not much evidence of migration early on. Things did pick up somewhat later, with a westerly passage of 300+ Brent Geese, a small movement of Wigeon, a few auks, a Great Northern Diver offshore and a particularly active Merlin which caught a presumed Meadow Pipit then tried to eat it on the wing offshore, only to be interrupted by gulls, before it eventually lost its prey. It didn't give up though and an hour or so later it was back, chasing incoming migrants. Full log below.....
0730-1400hrs: (Obs: AH/OM/C&ME)
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 13E, 6os
Brent Goose - 310W
Shelduck - 2W
Common Scoter - 4E
Wigeon - 65E, 92W
Sparrowhawk - 1 gardens
Merlin - 1 os (hunting, 1150-1300hrs)
Woodpigeon - 75 out SW
Collared Dove - flock 17 gardens
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Razorbill - 9E
auk sp - 13E, 5W
Swallow - 35 Oval Field area, drifted off E
House Martin - 5, drifted E
Starling - 25N
Skylark - 1W
Pied/alba Wagtail - 22W
Meadow Pipit - 91 W/N
Goldcrest - 2 gardens
Chiffchaff - 15 gardens
Goldfinch - 45E
(also Clouded Yellow butterfly)
At the Bill this morning... (above) A fine sunrise reveals many vapour trails, (centre) AH, being a model dog-walker (is this a first?) and (lower) the new plaque showing that the Oval Field is now saved as a green space (OM)
Goldcrest (above) & Collared Doves at the Bill (AH)
Heavily cropped and poor record shots of the Merlin in action...(above) with recently caught prey, (centre) struggling to eat it on the wing, and (lower) after prey released (OM)
Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers, three Snipe, three Teal and 16 Lapwing on the pool this morning. (AH)
Green Sandpipers (above) & Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: Another quiet one here, with just the odd Goldcrest and Chiffchaff in the hedges, two or three Jays about and two Swallows over. A Sparrowhawk went over, a Peregrine was upsetting the gulls in the harbour mouth, nine Brent Geese went west offshore and there were plenty of Dunlin out on the mud, but that was about it. (AH)
A later circuit this morning including the beach, the Oak Copse and returning down Grange Lane produced only the following; 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting, 25 Goldfinch east, 3 Siskin east, 2 Brent Geese east, 5 Shoveler on the second Several, 6 Swallows, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. (CRJ).
Peregrine (above), Sparrowhawk & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: On the Breech Pool the highlights were a Ruff that flew in while I was there, joining two Greenshank. Half a dozen Snipe were dotted about the edges and a Water Rail and Kingfisher had been seen by another observer. (SR)
Medmerry: Easton Lane - At dusk tonight a Barn Owl was out and hunting near the first viewpoint and a Merlin shot through low and fast. Also there were a couple of Stonechats present and at least 300 Teal by the poplars. (AH)
Barn Owl at Medmerry (AH)
Thursday, 20th October: A cool, grey and chilly start with the wind from the north, though brightening up slowly....with the wind easing back by late morning.Selsey Bill: There was a gathering of 65+ Swallows and a couple of House Martins around the Bill Point houses this morning, but not too much else early on, with a few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches moving overhead, a large Jackdaw flock arriving and a few Brent Geese heading west. However, as the day progressed it turned into an interesting session with a variety of species - nothing rare but good autumn fare - enough to keep the observers interested anyway! Full log below......
0725-1400hrs: NW3-4 easing to N2 (Obs: OM/PC/C&ME)
Great Northern Diver - 2 os (first of the autumn)
Gannet - 3E, 8os
Brent Goose - 2E, 124W
Common Scoter - 9E, 2W
Wigeon - 4E
Teal - 6W
Oystercatcher - 5W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 6W
Short-eared Owl - 1N, high up, mobbed by gulls (1320hrs)
Woodpigeon - 110 SW
Razorbill - 8W
auk sp - 45W
Swallow - 65+ around Bill Point, eventually drifted off E
House Martin - 2p, eventually departed E
Skylark - 1W
Redwing - 2 (1 N from sea dropped onto Oval field, 1 gardens)
Pied/alba Wagtail - 3E, 23 W
Meadow Pipit - 70 N/W
Jackdaw - 120 N (one flock)Chiffchaff - 9 gardens
Greenfinch - 8W
Goldfinch - 155 E
Swallows gathering at the Bill this morning (OM)
Flock of Jackdaws arriving from the sea (OM)
This Redwing just about made it over the sea and dropped onto the first bit of land it could find at the edge of the Oval field (OM)
Short-eared Owl arriving from the sea at the Bill, high-up (OM)
Selsey, East Beach: I had a brief but clear view of a Yellow-browed Warbler in my neighbour's apple tree at
4.30pm today, having heard it for a while, and it took some time before it showed itself. (SR)
Pagham Lagoon: The Black-necked Grebe was still present, along with 21 Little Grebes, four Great Crested Grebes and the Red-breasted Merganser. (IL)
Birdham: A Barn Owl flew over the Birdham Strait, just north of the village this evening. (AH)
Birdham: A Barn Owl flew over the Birdham Strait, just north of the village this evening. (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper, a Snipe and two Curlews were among 60 Lapwing on the pool, with a single Shelduck and a few Teal also present, and a Kingfisher was briefly in the channel opposite. (AH)
Kingfisher (above) & Green Sandpiper around Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: It was very quiet this morning, with the very low tide and northerly wind making the harbour look very empty, and just a handful of Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and a couple of Jays, plus a flock of Long-tailed Tits around the churchyard/hide area, and little along the Severals beyond a Grey Wagtail that dropped in briefly, and a few Pied Wagtails, Linnets and Goldfinches over. (AH)
Grey Wagtail (above), Long-tailed Tit & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)
Sidlesham: A lone Swallow went west over our garden early on. (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane - A quick look around the fields that were being cultivated produced a couple of hundred Pied Wagtails, fifty Goldfinches and similar of Mediterranean Gulls among the Herring and Black-headed Gulls. (AH)
Pied Wagtail at Medmerry (AH)
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