20th - 23rd August 2017

Wednesday, 23rd August: After a very grey and flat clam start, the wind picked up from the west, but it remained overcast and humid....

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank, briefly, and an Avocet were the only birds on the pool beyond the regular c60 Lapwings and c50 Black-tailed Godwits, though Ferry Channel was a bit better, with a Kingfisher and two Yellow Wagtails over, and two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper among the hundred or so Redshanks present.

Also, around the Tramway circuit there were at least a dozen each of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, plus a few sand Martins and Swallows over. (AH)

Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Redshank (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Avocet & Willow Warbler around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Redstart and a couple of Whitethroats were along the hedges this evening and c100 Sand Martins and a few Swallows were feeding over the pool. (AH)

A Southern Migrant Hawker was present in the Small Pool (between Long Pool and Ferry) this afternoon until at least 4.50pm,  patrolling the grassy edge (where the Wasp Spiders get) and seeing off a Common Darter. This only the 3rd for Sussex and must be a 1st for the peninsula!! (AB)

Southern Migrant Hawker on the Small Pool (AB)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: At least one Cattle Egret was around the cows this afternoon, though hard to see, and a Hobby went over. (AB)

North Wall: There were no waders at all in the over-full Breech Pool this morning, where it was back to duck-pond status with just a handful of Mallard there! Whilst I do understand the difficulties involved with managing this particular site, it still remains a crying shame that the pool cannot reach its great potential at this peak time of year for waders. A briefly singing Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Warbler or two were about it here. (OM)

Along Church Lane there were 34 Collared Doves feeding in the recently harvested maize field. The Swallows have left the Welbourne stables having, apparently, successfully raised three broods. Later a Spotted Redshank was close to the sluice gates on White's Creek, 2 Wheatears were on the rocks below the Wall and 3 Common Whitethroats were in the bushes. Further inland there were several small flocks of Swallows heading west. At Honer reservoir were 2 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank, the first I have recorded there. (JDW)

White's Creek/East side: A bit more life was present along the creek and channel, with two Spotted Redshanks, five Greenshank, c.30 Black-tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers, two Golden Plovers, five Grey Plover, two Whimbrel, 45 Ringed Plover and 120+ Dunlin, A thorough check of the latter revealed great variability, ranging from a 'not-quite-a Curlew Sandpiper' to a 'nearly Little Stint'; alas they were all actually Dunlin and nothing unusual could be found amongst them.
In the channel were eight Great Crested Grebes, plus the three moulting Eider nearer the harbour entrance, whilst on the mudflats were ten Mediterranean Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and five Yellow-legged Gulls which spent most of their time roosting. Three Sandwich Terns were patrolling the area and five Willow Warblers were along the hedgerows. (OM)

 
Spotted Redshank in White's Creek and (below) two Common Sandpipers on Honer Res. (JDW)

distant Golden Plover on White's Creek (OM)

Northcommon Farm:  A Little Owl was back on the woodpile behind the cottage early this morning, and there was also a Sparrowhawk along the lane, a Whitethroat, a family of Long-tailed Tits, seven Goldcrests and two Green Woodpeckers nearby, whilst the Golf Club rife held a family of Reed Warblers and four Sedge Warblers. (SR)

Little Owl at Northcommon Farm (SR)

Church Norton: Most of the hedges were very quiet, but the ones around the hide were full of birds early on, including a Redstart, two Spotted Flycatchers, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps, at least five Whitethroats and 10+ Willow Warblers. The only other places with migrants were the horse's field, with a Whinchat and several Whitethroats present, and the concrete blocks where there were three or four Wheatears to be found.
The harbour was quiet beyond a couple of Whimbrel and 50 each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, whilst offshore there were four Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns among c40 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, and a party of eight Grey Plovers dropped in on the foreshore. (AH)

Whinchat (above), Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Plover, Whimbrel & Sandwich and Common Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This evening there were two Greenshanks, four Black-tailed Godwits and a Kingfisher around the Poplars, and along the banks there were 50+ Yellow Wagtails with the cattle, plus another dozen over the car-park, along with four Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Sand Martin with 20+ Swallows and four Kestrels.

Around the Stilt Pool there were four Avocets, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and three Black-tailed Godwits. (S&SaH)

Whinchat (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)

Tuesday, 22nd August: A very muggy and grey start, before a modest north-easterly breeze freshened the air, though didn't clear the cloud....

Ferry Pool: There were five Green Sandpipers together at the back this morning, along with a Little Ringed Plover, and there were also three Avocets, c60 Lapwings and c80 Black-tailed Godwits present, with two Whimbrel and c50 Redshank in the channel opposite.

It was quiet around the hedges, with just a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats about, and a couple of Reed Warblers were in the rife beside the Ferry. (AH)

Green Sandpipers (above), Little Ringed Plover & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was no sign of the Spoonbills early this morning, though most of yesterday's birds were still present, including a Greenshank in the second sluice, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel near the poplars and three Common Sandpipers, five Black-tailed Godwits, ten Lapwing and an Avocet on the Stilt Pool.

There were very few migrants about - just a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Warblers along the banks, but at least 20 Yellow Wagtails and a few Meadow Pipits were around the cattle, half a dozen Wheatears were on the beach and c200 Sand Martins and c100 Swallows were around the Stilt Pool. 

Also, there were a dozen Gadwall and a mother Tufted Duck and three young on the Stilt Pool, two Sandwich Terns went west offshore and a Lesser Black-backed Gull and c200 Mediterranean Gulls were out on the reserve.(AH)

Yellow Wagtails (above), Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Greenshank & Common Sandpiper at Medmerry (AH)

Church Norton: This afternoon a Raven was on the beach and at 1643hrs an Osprey was flying over the north end of the harbour towards the Visitor centre. The three Eider were also again present, viewable towards the east side. Other sightings included a good number of Mediterranean Gulls, several Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, a Wheatear and an adult Peregrine. (KJ et al)

This evening there were five Wheatears around the beach area, 30+ Sandwich Terns and 10+ Common Terns offshore, four Whimbrel and two Common sandpipers in the harbour and 20+ Sand Martins, a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk overhead. (S&SaH)
The three Spoonbills were in the harbour today. (per Pagham Visitor Centre)

Wheatear at Church Norton (SH)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening there were two Swifts over the north of Selsey, and around the farm there were a Spotted Flycatcher, six Yellow Wagtails, five Pied Wagtails, three Wheatears, 10+ Willow Warblers and 200+ Mediterranean Gulls. (S&SaH)

Yellow Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey (SH)

Monday, 21st August: After yet another wet night, a very warm, muggy and grey day, with just a light westerly breeze....then mist and drizzle closing in from late morning but feeling increasingly humid......

Selsey Bill: There were just a few Common and Sandwich Terns going (mainly) west this morning, plus five Willow Warblers in the gardens, before thick drizzly mist closed in.  Full log below.......

(0730-1130hrs:) (OM/SR)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 10W
Common Scoter - 2E
Turnstone - 15 ob
Ringed Plover - 1ob
Oystercatcher - 3W
Common Tern - 23W
Sandwich Tern - 11E, 38W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
House Martin - 12 (a pair apparently still attending nest)
Swallow - 17W
Wheatear - 2 ob
Willow Warbler - 5 gardens

Ringed Plover at the Bill (SR)

Northcommon Farm: Desperately quiet this morning with nothing more to report than a handful of Willow Warblers, a single Goldcrest, a small number of Swallows and a Green Woodpecker............things must improve soon! (OM)

Warner Lane: There were 20 Swifts overhead this afternoon. (SH)

Ferry Pool: There was a Green Sandpiper early on, and a couple of hundred Canada Geese flew noisily over heading for Medmerry, but  otherwise just eight Teal and the usual roosting Lapwings - c60, and feeding Black-tailed Godwits - c40, on the pool, plus a Reed Warbler at the front and c50 Redshank in the channel opposite. (AH/OM)

North Wall: There were three Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank in the harbour this morning, but nothing on the Breech Pool, a couple of Yellow Wagtails went over and there were a few Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers in the bushes. (TR/RS)
Later on there were two Spotted Flycatchers in the hedges in the fields north of the wall. (TG-P) 
In the late afternoon there were still three Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek joined by three Greenshank, a Whimbrel & two Yellow-legged Gulls. A Swift went over as did a constant stream of Sand Martins. In the early evening gloom one of the Barn Owls was out over the fields, two Wheatears were along the wall and 15 Yellow Wagtails came into roost. (N.Bond)
Also a Marsh Harrier was present this afternoon. (D Meager per SOS)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler and up to half a dozen Lesser Whitethroats were around the hide/churchyard area, along with plenty of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, with lots of the latter two species present all the way along the Severals, though the only other migrants seen were eight Wheatears on the beach.

Around 10 Common Terns and 12 Sandwich Terns were lingering offshore, among a huge flock of Mediterranean Gulls both on the sea and the beach and numbering in excess of 500 birds. There was not much of note in the harbour beyond half a dozen Whimbrel, c50 Ringed Plovers and c200 Dunlin. (AH/A&YF/MJ)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gulls, Whimbrel & Turnstone at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This afternoon there were three Spoonbills on the marsh near the poplars. (TG-P)
They were still there this evening, along with a Green Sandpiper, nine Dunlin, 41 Black-tailed Godwits and an Egyptian Goose, whilst along the banks there were 25 Y.ellow Wagtails, a Sand Martin, 20+ Swallows, a Buzzard and five Kestrels.
Around the Stilt Pool there were a Greenshank, three Common Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit, ten Ringed Plovers and 20 Dunlin, whilst thee were also seven Wheatears on the adjacent beach. (S&SaH)

Spoonbills at Medmerry (SH)

Sunday, 20th August: A lovely sunny morning with a moderate westerly wind, but increasing cloud likely to develop later.....

A short editorial on the subject of reports and/or photos submitted to the blog.......We are most grateful for your submissions but please bear in mind we really need them as soon as possible on the day in order to meet our tight daily deadlines. There is inevitably a bit of a rush by evening to get everything edited and sorted before publishing and the system we try to operate involves the first available editor doing the work. Please be sure to include all three editors (addresses on title page) with every submission to allow this - it makes life a bit easier this end - though unfortunately the Blogger system only allows one editor to operate at any time (and as we know to our cost, with more than one it usually wipes out the preceding entry which has to be re-done later!)

We are also always on the look-out for potential title page photos of actual Peninsula sightings - we try to vary them every few weeks or so to keep things current - but such photos do need a bit of headroom above (e.g. sky) without too much cropping -  in order to allow the blog title banner to fit in without encroaching on the subject. If you are able to offer such a shot (for free!) we'd love to hear from you!  Many thanks. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Slow again, with a handful of Sandwich Terns passing, three Wheatears and a few hirundines being about the best...........
(0730-0900hrs)    (SH/IP/AH/JA)

Gannet - 6E, 4W

Dunlin - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 12W
Mediterranean Gull - 4W
Wheatear - 3ob
Sand Martin - 3W
House Martin - 2 p
Swallow - 24W
Willow Warbler - 2 gardens 

Wheatear (above), Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Selsey - Northcommon Farm - Eleven Yellow Wagtails flew over, and a Grey Wagtail was on the buildings. (SH)

Grey Wagtail at Northcommon Farm (SH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The two Cattle Egrets were again present at Marsh Farm dairy. Also a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk in the area. (SH)

Cattle Egrets at Marsh Farm (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Avocets and a Buzzard this morning, and nearby a Kingfisher was at the sluice. (SH) Also there were c40 Lapwing, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and two Avocets, but not much else! (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were a total of five Redstarts this morning - one at Greenlease Farm, one by Bluebell Wood, one by the horse field and two behind the hide. Other migrants included five Wheatears around the concrete blocks, a Spotted Flycatcher by the concrete wall, a Garden Warbler, several Lesser Whitethroats and two Reed Warblers around the hide, with another of the latter by Bluebell Wood, a couple of Yellow Wagtails over and a Sedge Warbler in the second Several, and plenty of Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs all round.

Also a Kingfisher flew through the Severals, a couple of Peregrines were airborne, a Goldcrest was at Greenlease Farm and four Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, and another offshore.

The only waders of note were a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Whimbrel, plus a party of three Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/IP/A&YF/RJS/P&JW/TS et al)

Redstart (above), Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler & Peregrine at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were eight Wheatears in the concrete spit area, 12 Grey Plovers in the harbour, a Common Tern and a Sandwich Tern offshore, 20+ Willow Warblers along the front, with the odd Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat among them and 50+ Sand Martins overhead. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Breach area - All four species of falcon were at the breach this morning, with a female Merlin chasing finches along the banks opposite at Ham Farm, a Hobby high over, chasing hirundines, a Peregrine over the west side and three scattered Kestrels.

Also about were three Wheatears on the banks and 100 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plovers, a Whimbrel, two Grey Plovers and two Redshank roosting on the beach. (SH)

Coastguard Station to the breach: Five Wheatears were on the beach by the cliffs.  By the Oasis Centre an impressively large flock of c75 Grey Plover initially headed west before wheeling round and coming ashore at Medmerry, a Great Crested Grebe flew east and a Sandwich Tern west. 
There was also a steady flow of Swallows, House and Sand Martins east.  At Breach Viewpoint there was a Wheatear, a Pied Wagtail, 18 Linnets, c20 Grey Plover, c100 Dunlin, c50 Ringed Plover and a Kestrel, plus hundreds of Swallows House and Sand Martins, as well as one young Herring Gull that had taken a white sock down to the water and was trying to eat it - thankfully it soon gave up! (SR)

Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Not too much here, though all three hirundine species were present, plus a Skylark and a few Linnets. (AH/IP)
This evening a Swift went over and there were two Wheatears on the fields. (S&SaH)

North Wall: Forty+ Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool early this morning along with two Kingfishers on the back fence but there were no Spotted Redshanks showing. In White's Creek were over 100 Redshanks but nothing better could be found with them and there was no sign of the Spoonbill. At Halsey's Farm there were two Cetti's Warblers, a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and three pairs of Lesser Whitethroats but it was generally quite quiet here. Owl Point was similarly quiet with just a Wheatear showing here. (BI)