28th - 30th September 2017

Saturday, 30th September: A drier than forecast morning, but still very grey, if fairly mild, with a freshening south-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: One or two bits of interest this morning, including a Hobby chasing a Swallow and a first-winter Little Gull west, whilst there were good numbers of Gannets and Meadow Pipits going west.  
(0730-0900hrs): (SR/AH)
Gannet - 6E, 247W
Brent Goose - 1W
Hobby - 1 chased a Swallow before heading W
Turnstone - 6p.
Oystercatcher - 4W
Common Gull - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1W, 1OS
Little Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 2W
Razorbill - 2W
Guillemot - 1W
Swallow - 17W
Meadow Pipit - 1E, 134W
Pied Wagtail - 27W

Wheatear - 1 on beach
Chiffchaff - 1 in gardens
Linnet - 33W
Goldfinch - 40W

Little Gull (above), Common Gull & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Selsey, Warner Lane paddocks: There were a Whinchat, four Stonechats, two Whitethroats, a Reed Bunting, two Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs about the paddocks and half a dozen Swallows went over. (AH) 

Whitethroat (above) & Stionechat at Warner Lane paddocks (AH)

Medmerry: Toe End - There was just one Wheatear here this morning. (SH)

Ferry Pool: Just the Avocet, 23 Teal and c80 Lapwings were on the pool this morning. (AH)

North Wall/Halsey's Farm: The five Spoonbills were still in the harbour, being quite active this morning. Also, two Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek, along with up to four Spotted Redshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Dunlin, 30 Grey Plover and 50+ Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. 
Out in the harbour there were three Sandwich Terns, five Greenshank,  c30 Pintail, c100 Wigeon and at least three Yellow-legged Gulls, a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and c200 Mediterranean Gulls, whilst the Breech Pool held a couple of Snipe and c75 Black-tailed Godwits, with a couple of furtive Sedge Warblers in the reeds, two Stonechats on the hedges and a fly-by Kingfisher..
There was not much around Halsey's Farm beyond a couple of Blackcaps and Goldcrests and  half a dozen Chiffchaffs in the hedges, plus a handful of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails over. (AH et al)
Also, earlier on, the Egyptian Goose and the Cape Shelduck both flew out from the Breech Pool, heading west. (CM) Later in the day there were three Wheatears along the wall and two of the Spoonbills were feeding out in the harbour but there was no sign of the Great White Egret that was reported as present mid-afternoon. (BI/SH/SaH/IB)

Curlew Sandpipers (above), Spoonbills, Mediterranean Gull, Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit & Chiffchaff around North Wall (AH)

Northcommon Farm: Very little to report in the high wind. Sadly the Little Owl perch is no longer there and all I could come up with was 15 Meadow Pipits, 11 Pied Wagtails, 10 Swallows, 3 Goldcrests and 3 Chiffchaffs. (SR)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Spotted Flycatcher, a Stonechat, a couple of Blackcaps and 20+ Chiffchaffs were around the hedges on the farm this morning, with more Chiffchaffs in many of the hedges around the northern end of the village, too. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: Early this afternoon there were two Spotted Flycatchers, a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Firecrest, 10+ Goldcrests and 30+ Chiffchaffs in the sheltered hedges along the beach and a Sparrowhawk went over, whilst in the harbour there was a Little Stint. (S&SaH)

Later on, there were 20+ Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Blackcaps and Goldcrests around the Mound/hide area, whilst in the harbour there were five Sandwich Terns, two Common Gulls, a Greenshank, and a Whimbrel that flew around calling repeatedly and c30 Swallows feed high overhead.. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry, Earnley to the Stilt Pool: Generally very quiet this morning on the way from Earnley with just a small flock of Meadow Pipits and a few Linnets on the stubble maize fields. By Marsh Barn were a few Chiffchaffs and around the gorse opposite were two Whinchats, two Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs and a few more Linnets. The two Bar-headed Geese were out in the reserve with the Canada Geese horde and two Kestrels were along the banks here, too.
The only wader of note on any of the pools was a Common Sandpiper, a Wheatear was along the beach and four Sandwich Terns went east offshore. (BI)

Snowhill Creek: There were three Curlew Sandpipers this morning, two feeding in open water and one at the back of one of the islands along with plenty of Redshanks & Black-Tailed Godwits and four Dunlin. (BI) This afternoon there were still two Curlew Sandpipers  on the marsh and a Little Stint was present as were five Greenshank. (R.Fairbank)

Friday, 29th September: After a fairly wet start, it was a mild and muggy, fairly grey day despite a moderate south-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: Not too much variety, but over 150 Gannets and over 400 Swallows went west, along with a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets. Full log below......
0730-1000hrs:   (AH/SR/OM)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 10E, 171W
Brent Goose - 1W
Common Scoter - 2W
Wigeon -1W
Sandwich Tern - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Meadow Pipit - 27W
Pied/alba Wagtail - 6W
Swallow - 448W
Stonechat - 1 gardens
Chiffchaff - 3 gardens
Goldfinch - 70 area
Linnet - 25W

Meadow Pipit (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

A disconsolate-looking AH at the Bill, sheltering from the rain, patiently (!) waiting for the shower to pass (SR)

Selsey East Beach: There were still a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around East Beach Pond, plus a Grey Heron sat out on the willows. (OM/AH)

Grey Heron at East Beach Pond (AH)

Selsey, Warner Lane paddocks: There were 2 Whinchats and a Redstart - presumably the same birds lingering from last week (?) - and also a Stonechat, a Blackcap and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (OM)

 Redstart in the gloom and Great Spotted Woodpecker, at Warner Lane paddocks. (OM)

Medmerry Cliff: There were two Wheatears along the top this morning. (SH)

North Wall: After the rain had cleared early on, about 9-15am, I was standing on the North Wall sluice, scanning the creek and harbour. I happened to look across to the Breech Pool  and saw what was obviously a Great White Egret at the very back of the pool. (Only the neck and yellow bill were visible as the bird was behind the reeds.)

I walked further along the wall to just past the wooden steps and, looking back across the Pool, the Egret appeared in full view for a couple of minutes before it took flight.

Initially it headed out across the Harbour in the direction of Church Norton before changing course and heading in the general Owl Point. It alighted briefly somewhere in this area but was immediately moved on by a Little Egret (obviously with an attitude problem !).

Also present from the North Wall were the 5 Spoonbills, a Greenshank and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls. (I Tamon)

Ferry Pool: Just the Avocet and three Teal on the pool, with c80 Lapwing circling around, but not wanting to settle. (AH)

Lapwings over the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The bushes were very quiet, with just a couple of calling Goldcrests in the churchyard, though there were still four Stonechats along the Severals and c30 Swallows went over.

In the harbour there were two Sandwich Terns, ten Mediterranean Gulls, a Greenshank and c40 Grey Plover, with another 50 of the latter flying along and settling at the far (western) end of the beach. (AH/AW)

Sandwich Terns (above), Greenshank, Stonechat & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

There wasn't much about this evening, but a Mistle Thrush and three or four Jays were around the churchyard. (AH)

Mistle Thrush (above) & Jay at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 28th September: Rain overnight, giving way to another very mild and pleasant autumn day, with plenty of sun and just a light westerly breeze....

Selsey East Beach: A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard again, but not seen, around Marine Drive (SR), where a Firecrest was also present, but nearby at East Beach Pond there were just a few Goldcrests and six Chiffchaffs. (SR/OM)

Selsey Bill: Little to report from the sea-watch this morning, whilst the gardens held two Stonechats and 20 Chiffchaffs, but little else......
0745-1045hrs:  (C&ME/OM/MJ)
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 4E, 78W
Shag - 1E
Common Scoter - 6E
Turnstone - 14ob
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 4W
Razorbill - 1E
Swallow - 5W
Meadow Pipit - 39N
Pied /alba Wagtail - 15W
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Stonechat - 2 gardens
Goldcrest - 2 gardens
Chiffchaff - 20 gardens/Oval field

Stonechat at the Bill (OM)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Toe End - Around the Chainbridge area this morning there were a Wheatear, a Whinchat, four Stonechats and a Sparrowhawk, whilst around Toe End there were another Wheatear and two Stonechats. (SH)

Ferry Pool: Just the usual this morning - an Avocet, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and c120 Lapwing. (AH)

Avocet and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Two Curlew Sandpipers were among a few Dunlin and a couple of Knot in the harbour, though few other waders were about beyond a Greenshank, a few Redshank, Curlew and Ringed and Grey Plovers. An adult Peregrine was also present on its regular island.

A Lesser Whitethroat was in the churchyard and several Blackcaps were behind the hide, with a dozen Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs spread between the two, whilst two Stonechats, a Green Woodpecker and several Jays were in the horse field area. (AH/BFF/DM)

A walk from Park Copse to the Bluebell wood (Oak copse) and both Severals, failed to produce anything more than 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Cetti's Warblers, several Goldcrests, a Buzzard and a Clouded Yellow butterfly. (OM)

Curlew Sandpiper (second from left) with Dunlins at Church Norton (DM)

Curlew Sandpiper - on left, Dunlin, Grey and Ringed Plovers (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall/Halsey's Farm: The five Spoonbills were still roosting at the end of White's Creek this morning, and there were four Spotted Redshank, three Greenshank, two Bar-tailed Godwits, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Grey Plover and a few Dunlin along the creek. Also there were six adult Yellow-legged Gulls and three or four Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the mud and there were at least 40 Pintail and 100 Wigeon present.

There was nothing but Mallard on the Breech Pond, and passerines were few, but included a pair of Stonechats, a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Reed Buntings along the wall, and half a dozen Meadow Pipits and Swallows over, whilst two Kingfishers chased each other around Owl Water.

There were about a dozen Yellow Wagtails among the cattle at Halsey's Farm, and similar of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs along the hedges. (AH/BFF/DM/IH et al)

Spoonbills - (top DM) including two with colour rings (above), Yellow-legged Gull, Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank and Redshank, Yellow Wagtails, Stonechat, Pintails & Wigeon around North Wall (AH)