10th - 12th June 2018

Tuesday, 12th June: The breeze remains resolutely from the north-east, but it was a sunnier and warmer morning before the cloud thickened later on....

Of interest (!)..... 
I don’t think this will be claimed as a genuine vagrant, but thought I’d pass it on…

What appears to be a White-cheeked Turaco was photographed in a  garden in Emsworth back in March, and it was photographed again in W Itchenor yesterday. Quite a bird, having seen some pics of it, so thought I’d let you guys know..... in case you get a description of green-bodied, purple-winged, red and white-faced crested pigeon thing! (PH)

(Thanks Pete....even we might be able to spot this one if it appears! Eds)

Ferry Pool: The summer-plumage Spotted Redshank was on the pool again early this morning before flying back into the harbour, though it later re-appeared. Otherwise, there was a Green Sandpiper about, along with two Little Ringed Plovers, 24 Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Redshanks and seven Lapwings. Also, a mother Gadwall with nine ducklings was in the adjacent rife.
A look round the Tramway circuit didn't produce much beyond the usual Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats, plus a Reed Warbler singing in Red Barn Ditch. (AH/CRJ/MJ)
Also a Black-tailed Skimmer on the new Discovery pond. (CRJ/MJ)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Gadwall family, Blackcap & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a couple of Whitethroats along the path,but nothing beyond Mallards and Coots on the Breech Pool this morning. Also, a mother Roe Deer was in the field with two young fawns. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Reed Bunting & Roe Deer fawn from North Wall (AH)

East Side/Pagham Lagoon/Pagham Spit: As the tide rose there were six Grey Plovers (three in summer plumage),six Ringed Plovers and c40 Black-tailed Godwits on the mud, plus at least 50 Shelducks, whilst the lagoon held three or four Great Crested Grebes and 20+ Coots.
There was nothing much on the spit beyond a few Linnets and Greenfinches, whilst up to a dozen Little Terns and half a dozen Common and Sandwich Terns were feeding at the harbour mouth. (AH)

Grey Plovers (above) & Ringed Plover from East side, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern & Common Tern from Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - There were three young Stonechats, six Reed Warblers, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Kestrels and 10+ Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats along the banks this evening. 

On the Stilt Pools there were 20+ Avocets, but only two chicks and three sitting birds among them, four Little Ringed Plovers, three Ringed Plovers, six Redshanks, a Teal and two Shovelers, with a swift over. (S&SaH)

Monday, 11th June: After a chilly and grey start, a fairly pleasant morning of sunshine and cloud, but with a brisk north-easterly breeze....

Ferry Pool: A summer-plumage Spotted Redshank (the first return migrant?) was on the pool early this morning, but was not present later on, when the Greenshank and at least two Little Ringed Plovers had re-appeared. Also about were 16 Avocets, 12 Redshank, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, five Lapwing, three Teal and the fast-growing Shelduck family. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank and Little Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck-lings & Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The only waders evident in the harbour were half a dozen Turnstones, with c25 Mediterranean Gulls and plenty of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns around the island, with a few feeding offshore, but the bushes are going very quiet, with just the odd Linnet to be found, plus the Swallows around the hide. (AH)

Common Tern (above), Mediterranean Gulls, Swallow & disturbance on Tern Island at Church Norton (AH)

Long Pool: A look along the pool this evening produced a few singing Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a Reed Bunting, with a Greenshank, a Grey Plover, 25 Redshank, ten Black-tailed Godwits, five Teal, two Gadwall and c50 Shelducks in Ferry Channel and a Cuckoo calling sparingly from the hedges to the south. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above) & Greenshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher from Long Pool (AH)

Sunday, 10th June: A warm and muggy morning, with a light easterly breeze and plenty of cloud....

Selsey Bill: A couple of Barnacle Geese (of unknown origin!) went east and two Arctic Skuas mobbed a Sandwich Tern before drifting off west, but otherwise not too much was moving. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP/JA)

(0630-0830hrs)

Gannet - 8E, 1W

Barnacle Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 8E
Arctic Skua - 2W

Kittiwake - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 15os

Common Tern - 1os

auk sp - 1E

Swift - 2N (from way out), 6p

House Martin - 10p

Swallow - 1p

Barnacle Geese (above), Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Swift & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The Avocet was again on the balancing pool in Manor Lane, but otherwise there was not much beyond a few Swifts, Swallows and House Martins over this morning. (AH/IP)

Avocet (above) & Swallow at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

A Cream-spot Tiger was in the moth-trap nearby this morning. (SH)

Cream-spot Tiger in a Selsey garden (SH)

Ferry Pool: The Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and 24 Avocets were present this morning, along with five Lapwing, 16 Redshanks, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family, plus a pair of Red-legged Partridges on the spit in the middle until the Redshanks shooed them off (AH/SH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Redshank & Red-legged Partridges on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A dozen Turnstones, plus the odd Curlew, Black-tailed  Godwit, Dunlin and Ringed Plover were in the harbour, whilst offshore there were a handful of Little, Sandwich and Common Terns feeding, with the latter seen repeatedly bringing small fish back in, suggesting chicks may have hatched.

There was little beyond the regular warblers, Linnets and Skylarks about, though a Mistle Thrush that dropped into the trees at the back of the churchyard was unusual for the time of year. (AH/IP/S&SaH)

Common Tern (above), Turnstones & Skylark at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - A Cuckoo was in the dead poplars this afternoon, and nearby yesterday, there was a pair of Stonechats with at least two young. (IP)