11th - 13th August 2017

Sunday, 13th August: A fine, bright and sunny morning with a little light cloud, after a fairly chilly start and a light northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Nothing much moving beyond the odd Gannet and Sandwich Tern, though there were a handful of Willow Warblers in the garden, a handful of House Martins about and 27 Turnstones on the beach. Full log below......  

0630-0800hrs: (SH/IP/AH)
Gannet - 13E, 5W
Turnstone - 28ob
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Sand Martin - 6W
Swallow - 2W
House Martin - 5p
Willow Warbler - 5 gardens

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

There were about 100 Sand Martins feeding round the Bill and settling on wires at 1600hrs, today, and there were also 35 Turnstones on the beach. (R Smith)

North Wall: The Spoonbill was present out in the harbour, doing what a Spoonbill does best - standing on one leg and snoozing, with its bill tucked under its wing! There was however no sign of the Cattle Egret up to about 1015hrs, probably due to the lack of cattle in the adjacent fields. There were plenty of warblers and a single Whinchat along the hedgerows, with Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed and Willow Warbler all represented. Around the sluice a gathering of 40+ Swallows largely consisted of the local breeders from the stables, with fledged young being attended by their parents. Two Wheatears were along the wall and there was a Green Sandpiper in the creek at Halsey's Farm.(JD/DS/OM/BI et al) 

 Roosting Spoonbill and juvenile Swallows at the North Wall (OM)

Wheatear, above (BI) and Whinchat (P.Evans) along the North Wall 

This evening the Spoonbill was in the harbour, along with a Spotted Redshank, a couple of Whimbrel and up to eight Greenshank, whilst a juvenile Whinchat, a Wheatear, several Yellow Wagtails and two Kingfishers were along the wall and 100+ Sand Martins were overhead. (AH/IH/IB et al)

Juvenile Whinchat (above), Spotted Redshank and Greenshanks & ships offshore from the North Wall (AH)

East side: The three Eider were in the main channel, whilst waders were less conspicuous, but included two Greenshank, two Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 60 Redshank, 20 Black-tailed Godwits (one colour-ringed) and a handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. A juvenile Grey Wagtail was also around the sluice. (OM)

Further along, half a dozen Wheatears were near the Spit (KF)

 Colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel, White's Creek (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were two Little Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, two Avocets, nine Shelduck, c60 Lapwing and c45 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, with another Common Sandpiper and c75 Redshank in the channel opposite.

A Tree Pipit was briefly in the tall trees in the Discovery Area, and there were half a dozen Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers in the bushes. (AH)

Tree Pipit (above), Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat & Little Ringed Plover around Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were three or four Swifts overhead, along with many hundreds of Swallows, Sand and House Martins, whilst on the lettuce fields there were three Wheatears, a Skylark, a couple of Pied Wagtails, a Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat and at least 200 Mediterranean Gulls. (AH/IP)

Wheatear (above), Skylark & Sand Martin at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Church Norton: A Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher were in the first Several, half a dozen Wheatears were along the beach, and there were large numbers of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers all around, with the odd Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler among them.

Half a dozen Sandwich Terns were offshore, but there wasn't too much in the harbour beyond a couple of Common Sandpipers and the regular Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Curlews. (AH/IP et al)

Whinchat (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Warbler & Wheatear at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon the Spoonbill was feeding in the main channel, two Common Sandpipers and four Wheatears were around the concrete spit, a Sandwich Tern was in the harbour and a Sparrowhawk went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt pool - There were 8 Buzzards in the distance, including one over the car park. Not a great deal on the pools, a Greenshank and 3 Common Sandpipers being about the best, but 100+ Sand Martins, 50+ House Martins and 50+ Swallows were over the area. A total of around 30 Whitethroats and a single Sedge Warbler were around the flint barn, with totals of 12 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Meadow Pipits also present. (S&SaH)
A total of 30 Wheatears were recorded across the reserve during the WeBS count today. (per BO'D)

 Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Greenshank at Medmerry (SH)

Saturday, 12th August: A mainly cloudy day, with a moderate westerly wind, the threat of the odd shower and the promise of a few sunny spells........

A short reminder that next Saturday (19th) the Pom King trophy will be presented to John Faithfull at the Seal Hotel, Selsey. Some of us will be doing a bit of sea-watching at the Bill that morning, before meeting up in the Hotel from about 12.30 onwards; do pop in if you are able (Eds).

North Wall: The Cattle Egret was reported again around 0900, at the far end of the Wall in a field of cattle.(I Honeyman per SOS)

This afternoon the Spoonbill was roosting in the harbour and still there at 5pm. Also seen were a total of 29 roosting Little Egrets at Owl Point, 20+ Grey Plovers in the harbour, a Kingfisher, two Grey Wagtails, a Wheatear and a few Sand Martins and Swallows, with a family of five young of the latter on the sluice gates in White's Creek. (S&SaH/KJ)

Spoonbill from the North Wall (SH)

Selsey Bill: This morning there were two Sanderling and 20+ Turnstones on the beach and four Gannets and nine Common Terns offshore. (J Rowland)

Sanderlings (above) & Turnstones at the Bill (J Rowland)

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank was at the back early on, and the three Little Ringed Plovers were present again, along  with two Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Lapwings, whilst in Ferry Channel there were the Spotted Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, c25 Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Dunlin and c50 Redshank, with up to 100 Sand Martins feeding over the saltmarsh.

There was a big mixed flock roaming around the Tramway/Visitor Centre area, including several Lesser Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler and at least 20 each of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler and many more Blue and Long-tailed Tits. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above), Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill was out in the harbour late this morning, viewable from the spit, where there were also a couple of Wheatears. (S&SaH)

Also three Peregrines were in/over the harbour, up to eight Sandwich Terns were in the harbour or offshore, and a smart summer-plumage Grey Plover and a Common Sandpiper, along with c30 Ringed Plovers and c50 Dunlin were on the mud.

A Garden Warbler and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats were around the hedges near the hide, and another Garden Warbler, the odd Blackcap, Reed Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaffs were among 50+ Willow Warblers around Bluebell Wood. Also 12 Gadwall and four Teal were on the second Several and three Sparrowhawks flew over there together. (AH/IP/J Rowland et al)

Peregrines (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Grey Plover & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Willow Warbler (above) & Lesser Whitethroat at Church Norton (J Rowland)

Warner Lane, Selsey: Ten Swifts went over this morning. (SH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around Park Farm and the North of Selsey there were 20+ Swifts and 50+ Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows, but just a Pied Wagtail and a Willow Warbler at the farm. (S&SaH/IP)

Friday, 11th August: A very pleasant morning, after and chilly and grey start, with plenty of sunshine and a light westerly breeze....

North Wall: The Cattle Egret re-surfaced this morning, initially with cows on the fields at Halsey's Farm, and then roosting with Little Egrets on the island off the North Wall. (BI/AH)
One of the regular Barn Owls was also out hunting the fields behind the stables, remaining until about 0815, but otherwise there was little from the Breech Pool area, bar a few Sand Martins and six Teal. Also about were plenty of warblers, including several Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats and Willow, Reed and Sedge Warblers along the hedges(OM/BI/AH).

Cattle Egret and Little Egrets from the North Wall (AH/BI)

Swallows were feeding young behind the sluice gates this morning, along White's Creek were 13 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Little Egrets and on the Breech Pool were 30 Mallard, 2 Teal, 3 Cormorants and 36 Lapwing in the field behind. 

At least 10 young Willow Warblers around Honer Farm, whilst in the hedgerows around Honer reservoir there were small numbers of Reed Warblers, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats and on the reservoir were 27 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and a Kestrel on a pole. (JDW)

Reed Warbler (above) & Kestrel around North Wall (JDW)

Whites Creek/East side: Two summer-plumaged Knot were in the creek area with 40 Dunlin, plus three Common Sandpipers, five Ringed Plovers, two Greenshank, three Whimbrel and a flighty Spotted Redshank. Two Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and near-adult) were on the mudflats, whilst a single Common Tern was fishing the channel and a handful of Sand Martins passed through. (OM)

Yellow-legged Gull, Knots and Shelduck, White's Creek (OM)

 
Selsey Bill: Predictably quiet again, given the clear sky and westerly wind. Log below......

0915-1045hrs:  (OM/ES/MJ)
Gannet - 4W
Common Scoter - 2E
Turnstone - 30 ob
Sandwich Tern - 5W
Sand Martin - 18W
House Martin - 10 p ('local')
Swift - 4 area
Willow Warbler - 12 gardens

Northcommon Farm, Selsey: The Little Owl was at the tennis courts at Northcommon Farm at 5am. (SR)

Medmerry: Ham Road - A single Yellow-legged Gull was among a big gull flock, including a Lesser Black-backed Gull, c100 Mediterranean, c200 Black-headed and c200 Herring Gulls on one of the harvested sweet-corn fields. (AH)

Yellow-legged Gull at Medmerry (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Little Ringed Plovers, three Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, two Avocets, c35 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Lapwing on the pool, along with seven juvenile Shelducks and five Teal.

The adjacent bushes were quiet save the odd Whitethroat and Willow Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and a Grey Wagtail that flew over twice. (AH)
Later, two Green Sandpipers and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were present at the small obscured section of pool. (OM/ES)

Common Sandpiper (above), Shelducks & Willow Warbler around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were plenty of warblers about, once the sun came out, including 4+ Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats, plus one or two Willow Warblers and a Garden Warbler around the hide, and 4+ Lesser Whitethroats, 10+ Whitethroats and 5+ Willow, Reed and Sedge Warblers along the front of the Severals. There were also three Wheatears on the beach, with c250 Mediterranean Gulls along the strandline at low tide, and four Grey Herons sunning themselves at the front of Priory Wood..

There was not too much of note in the harbour beyond a handful of Whimbrel, c50 Ringed Plovers and c200 Dunlin. (AH/A&YF et al)

Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Mediterranean Gull & Grey Herons at Church Norton (AH)