26th - 28th October 2017

Saturday, 28th October: Despite the almost unbroken sunshine it was a considerably cooler morning, with a moderate westerly breeze and some cloud later.....

Selsey Bill: Another morning with a fair selection of visible migration, including a few Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Redwing and over 100 Stock Doves, but little moving offshore beyond Brent Geese. Full log below. (JA/IP/AH/GH)

(0725-0900hrs)

Gannet - 2W

Brent Goose - 87W

Shelduck - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W

Black-headed Gull - 47W

Mediterranean Gull - 8W

auk sp - 2E

Wood Pigeon - 382W

Stock Dove - 143W

Meadow Pipit - 14W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 11W

Redwing - 4W

Goldfinch - 107W

Siskin - 5W

Linnet - 32W

Lesser Redpoll - 1W

Chaffinch - 22W

Stock Doves (above), Shelducks & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: There was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike this morning, despite a thorough search around Marsh Barn and the surrounding area but a green Sandpiper did pop out of one of the ditches here. There were plenty of Stonechats and Meadow Pipits about the place, a dozen Pied Wagtails along the tracks and a few Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Linnets in the scrub. At the Stilt Pools there was a  Common Sandpiper, 12 Tufted Ducks, a trio of Gadwall, many Wigeon and more Pied Wagtails. Along the beach were more Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Stonechats & 14 Brent Geese went west offshore. (BI/BO'D/NM)

Medmerry, Ham: A few Meadow Pipits and Stonechats here too along with two groups of Tufted Ducks on the pools but again no sign of the Great Grey Shrike. (BI)

Medmerry: Toe end - There was no sign of yesterday's Black Redstart, though there was a Wheatear & Stonechat present, as well as a Peregrine, and 40 Brent Geese were moving west offshore. (SH)

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl was roosting in Owl Copse, being mobbed by thrushes and Magpies, but would not be dislodged. Early on, there was a bit of a fall of thrushes, with plenty of Blackbirds feeding on berries and at least 12 Song Thrushes and 2 Redwings, plus 6 Stonechats. A female Bullfinch was also present, and a Brambling flew over calling before dropping very briefly onto the top of a hedgerow amongst Reed Buntings, whence they all flew off. The latter seemed to be everywhere with a conservative count of c.40 including 14 in one bush alone! On the Breech Pool, a Water Rail was present amongst the usual wildfowl and one odd duck - presumably a hybrid/escape with perhaps some Shelduck (Cape?) features? Two Kingfishers were zooming about between the Pool and White's creek, where 2 Spotted Redshanks were also present. Also, c.400 Woodpigeons flew over west in the first couple of hours of daylight. (OM)

North Wall: Distant record shot of roosting Short-eared Owl, and escape/hybrid duck, (perhaps Cape Shelduck) (OM)

Pagham Lagoon: Much the same as recently on the lagoon, although now 2 Pochard and a Great Crested Grebe were present amongst the Tufted Ducks. No sign of the recent Bearded Tits (though lots of holidaymakers about today), but the damp hedgerows held a Firecrest, 5 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs. (OM)

Ferry Pool: A Spoonbill flew up the harbour from somewhere beyond the end of Ferry Channel this morning, a Rock Pipit went over west, calling, and two Grey Wagtails were chasing each other about by the pumps. 

On the pool itself there were four Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, c120 Lapwing, c90 Wigeon and c50 Teal, plus seven Shelduck, with a pair of Stonechats along the southern bank. (AH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Snipe & Wigeon around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two Fieldfare and six Redwings were working there way along Park Lane this morning, as was a Chiffchaff, whilst on the fields there were a Grey Wagtail, several Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Linnets, plus a Stonechat, with a couple of Buzzards and Sparrowhawks overhead. (AH/IP) The Sparrowhawk was still present this afternoon. (S/SaH)

Grey Wagtail (above) & Stonechat at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Church Norton: There were 100+ Brent Geese in the harbour, with more milling about offshore and a few moving west, and the drake and three duck Eider were also in the harbour, as was a Peregrine, a couple of Knot and a Common Gull, but there wasn't much else of note.

Two Fieldfares flew over the harbour, two Redwings were at Greenlease Farm, a visiting birder reported two Lesser Redpolls over Bluebell Wood and half a dozen Skylarks and a huge (300+ birds) mixed flock of Greenfijnches and Linnets were along the spit. 

Also, a flock of 19 Shovelers went west over Greenlease Farm, two Kingfishers chased each other around by the horse field, with another in the harbour, there were several more Sparrowhawks present, three Reed Buntings were in the first Several and a few Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits went over west. (AH/IP)

Later on, a Bearded Tit was in the first Several, three Buzzards drifted over and there were four Stonechats along the bushes. (S&SaH)

Skylark (above), Kingfisher & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Along the west side this morning there was a Dartford Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs, plus four Siskins over, with 60 Shelduck and 8 Avocet in the harbour. (CRJ)

Late this afternoon there were at least 25 Avocets along the west side, along with the Whimbrel, two Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, a few Pintail and at least 400 Brent Geese, with a Sparrowhawk sat out in Rectory Lane. (AH)

Sparrowhawk (above), Whimbrel and Curlew & Avocets at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A pleasant afternoon to view the Fishbourne channel on the rising tide. There was one chiffcaff in the bushes and in the harbour a big increase in wildfowl since I last got out, including -

Goosander 1 (redhead) 

Wigeon 394

Pintail 10

Teal 13 

Shoveller 1 

Brent Geese 6 

Mute Swan 73 

and waders including -

Curlew 13

Redshank 106

Greenshank 1

Grey Plover 1 

Black-tailed Godwit 3 

Ringed Plover 8 

Oystercatcher 29 (RW)

Selsey: A fine Flame Brocade - a migrant from the continent - was in the trap this morning. (SH)

Flame Brocade in a Selsey garden (SH)

Friday, 27th October: A fantastic autumn morning, with a welcome change to blue skies, bright and warm sunshine with scattered cloud and just a light (but cooler) northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A lovely sunrise was greeted with a small flurry of early activity - flocks of Brent Geese heading west and a bit of visible migration overhead, including 19 Redpolls and at least four Siskins - but things tailed off all too soon.......  

(0730-1030hrs):    (OM/AH/MJ)
Great Northern Diver – 1E
Gannet – 2E
Brent Goose – 183W
Red-breasted Merganser – 1W
Sparrowhawk – 1 gardens
Sandwich Tern – 2W
Mediterranean Gull – 9W, 6os
Woodpigeon – 55W
Stock Dove – 5W
Skylark – 1W
Meadow Pipit – 15W
Long-tailed Tit – 10 Bill House/Oval field
Magpie – flock 13E
Jackdaw – flock 40W
Chiffchaff – 4 gardens
Goldcrest – 2 gardens
Siskin – 4W
Lesser/Common Redpoll – 19W
Linnet – 25W
Goldfinch – 20p

Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet, Jackdaws (AH) & a glorious sunrise at the Bill (OM)

Selsey, West: Rather mundane overall.....Drift Lane/Warner Lane produced a single Snipe, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats and 2 Siskins over heading W.

Northcommon farm was similarly slow, with 3 Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a single Great Spotted, plus a Chiffchaff and another fly-over Siskin. (Nothing at all at Coastguards!) There were plenty of butterflies on the wing, mainly Red Admirals, but also Speckled Woods and a Comma or two. (OM)

 Stonechat at Warner Lane and Comma at Northcommon farm (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - A Great Grey Shrike was around the area all day (per visiting birders) and was still present west of Marsh Barn at dusk. Also, two Little Stints were on the Stilt Pool, three or four Dartford Warblers and several Stonechats were along the banks and a Green Sandpiper was by the first sluice. (BO'D/IP/AH/S&SaH)

A record shot of the Great Grey Shrike at Medmerry (SaH)

Medmerry: Toe End - A female Black Redstart was by the viewpoint this morning and a Wheatear and two Stonechats were still on the rough ground, whilst five Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea and 70 Brent Geese went west, and a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards were also about. (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers at the back and five Snipe in the concealed pool, along with four Black-tailed Godwits, c120 Lapwing, c80 Wigeon, c60 Teal and six Shelducks. (AH)

Green Sandpipers, Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was quiet again, though at least 50 Brent Geese flew around the harbour several times before departing west, and a few Wigeon and Teal were about, as was the Whimbrel.. A pair of Stonechats were in the first Several, but the hedges were quiet despite the sunshine, though c30 Linnets and c60 Goldfinches were flying about. (AH)

Brent Geese (above), Sparrowhawk & Wigeon and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

A Lesser Redpoll was among a small flock of Goldfinches along the west side, though there was not too much else except lots of Stonechats, and there were more along the Severals, where there was also a Mistle Thrush and thgree Blackbirds, together with six or so Magpies, in same area, but no sign of yesterday's Ring Ouzel. (AW)

Lesser Redpoll and Goldfinch (above), Meadow Pipit & Chinook at Church Norton (AW)

Long Pool: There wasn't too much to report this afternoon, though a couple of elusive Spotted Redshanks were calling continually along Ferry Channel and at least 20 Avocets were at the far end. Also three Reed Buntings were in the reeds on the pool and a Stonechat and a flock of Long-tailed Tits were in the hedges. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Avocets along Long Pool (AH)

Mid-channel, off Selsey: This little chap stayed on and around the boat while we where working mid Channel yesterday from 11-12.00 noon. (CW)

Goldcrest on a boat off Selsey (CW)

Thursday, 26th October: At long last the winds have abated, leaving another grey and mild morning, with no hint of sunshine but only a gentle westerly....

Firstly, a bit of news about Peter Callis, North Wall and Bill regular. He hasn't been around for a few weeks due to heart problems, but he is now back home from hospital and we all wish him a swift recovery. (AH/OM/BI & all the regulars.)

Selsey Bill: There was quite a bit moving this morning, even if nothing was particularly scarce, including 352 Brent Geese, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 19 Stock Doves, c300 Wood Pigeons and a mix of gulls west, whilst a flock of a dozen Long-tailed Tits (that flew around the Oval Field before settling in the Bill House garden) is always noteworthy here. Full log below. (AH/GH)

(0730-0930hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 1W
Little Egret - 1W

Brent Goose - 352W

Wigeon - 2W

Teal - 8W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 17W

Turnstone - 8W
Redshank - 4W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 12W

Common Gull - 10W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W, 4os

Black-headed Gull - c400W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

auk sp - 1os

Stock Dove - 19W

Wood Pigeon - c300W

Swallow - 4W

Meadow Pipit - 12W

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 19W

Long-tailed Tit - 12p

Jackdaw - 6W

Magpie - 11p together

Linnet - 40W

Goldfinch - 120W

Red-breasted Mergansers (above), Red-breasted Merganser and Teal, Brent Geese, Sandwich Tern, Common Gull & Lesser Black-backed Gulls past the Bill (AH)

East Beach: The Rose-coloured Starling re-appeared this morning in Ruskin Close, near Selsey Common. Also, the common had a pair of Stonechats on it, and two Swallows, c30 Goldfinches and six Brent Geese went west, whilst the pond had 20+ Goldcrests - they were everywhere, along with eight Long-tailed Tits and two Chiffchaffs in the trees, and something I'd not seen here before - a Water Vole. (SR)
Also, earlier, a Firecrest was at East Beach Pond. (MJ)

Selsey village: Redwings could be heard going over the north of the village before sunrise this morning. (SH)

Medmerry: Toe End -  A good selection today included two Wheatears, four Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail around the rough ground, three Siskins over west, 180 Brent Geese and a Red-breasted Merganser west offshore, plus a Common Scoter on the water, and this afternoon a Merlin over the mudflats and a Short-eared Owl hunting the banks. (SH)

Medmerry: Also seen were a Little Stint on the Stilt Pool, with the Short-eared Owl seen from there, and an amazing 51 Stonechats recorded on a survey of the farmland managed by RSPB. (H Bagguley/M White per BO'D)

Ferry Pool: There were no Snipe this morning, or yesterday's reported Ruff, though a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank were with c60 Lapwing at the back and two Black-tailed Godwits were at the front. Also, there were the three Shoveler, nine Shelducks, c60 Wigeon and c80 Teal. (AH)
Also, there were still a dozen Siskins in the Alders by the Visitor Centre today. (BO'D)

Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Lapwings (above) & Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There was a fair selection this morning, though no sign of yesterday's Bearded Tits, including a Dartford Warbler, a pair of Stonechats, a Wheatear and a dozen Meadow Pipits around the brambles and adjacent field at the far end of the pool, and several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, plus four Song Thrushes along the pool itself.

Also, there were three Spotted Redshanks in Ferry Channel and 18 Avocets, along with five Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Redshank and lots of Teal and Wigeon in the harbour at the far end. (AH) 

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshanks and Redshank, Avocets and Redshanks, Wheatear, Stonechat & Meadow Pipit around Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: It was really quiet here, with just a lone Firecrest and barely a handful of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs in the hedges, and just the usual waders in the harbour, though there were c50 Brent Geese on the mud, including a couple of small flocks that dropped in, whilst another c30 carried on over, heading west. On the beach there were four Stonechats and a single Wheatear and out in the harbour there were three Peregrines roosting. (AH/BFF/DM)

Brent Geese (above) & Kestrel at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon a Ring Ouzel was out eating sloes along the start of the first Several. Also about were the Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Peregrine and 20 Pintail in the harbour, three Wheatears and a small flock of Greenfinch at the start of the spit, and at least six Song Thrushes and a Redwing along the west side.
There was what looks like a Great Norther Diver - see pic - offshore, as well. (AW)

Ring Ouzel (above), Wheatears, Song Thrushes, Whimbrel & probable Great Northern Diver at Church Norton (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening four Siskins flew out of the second row of poplars, a Grey Wagtail was nearby and two Chiffchaffs were in a mixed tit flock. (S&SaH)

Chichester Harbour: We took the easy option this morning of scanning the harbour from Dell Quay, normally a excellent place to find waders. Checking north and south little was evident, with only a Kingfisher and 73 Curlew of note. The Marina reed bed was quiet, too, with only 2 Stonechats and 2 squealing Water Rails to report. (BFF/DFM)