17th - 19th October 2018

Friday, 19th October: A mix of sunshine and cloud morning, with a lighter north-easterly keeping temperatures down a little.....

Selsey Bill: Two Woodlarks went over at 8.35am, among fairly light visible migration, and over 150 Brent Geese went west. Full log below. (GH/C&ME)
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 122os, then E
Brent Goose - 156W
Common Scoter - 1W, 3os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Curlew - 1W
Sanderling - 3E
Wood Pigeon - 772N/W
Stock Dove - 22N
Skylark - 18N
Woodlark - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 76N
Pied Wagtail - 43N
Swallow - 7p
Chiffchaff - 3p
Starling - 3N
Jackdaw - 150p
Magpie - 45p
Linnet - 18N
Siskin - 12N
Chaffinch - 18N
Goldfinch - 348N
Grey Seal - 2os

Woodlarks (above) & Stock Doves and Wood Pigeons over the Bill (GH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers and two Snipe on the pool this morning, plus 50 Lapwings and large numbers of wildfowl, including two Shovelers, 37 Shelducks, 45 Wigeon and 150 Teal, with similar numbers of the latter two, plus a Stonechat, in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpipers and Snipe (above), Shovelers & Teal around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was another good morning for visible migration, with approximate numbers going east along the beach and over the harbour, thus - 500 Linnets, 500 Goldfinches, 300 Meadow Pipits, 50 Pied Wagtails, 50 Skylarks (including a flock of 40+ high up), 30 Siskins (most of which dropped into the trees by the concrete wall briefly), 12 Chaffinches, 10 Swallows, 10 Greenfinch, five Reed Buntings and two Song Thrushes.
Also, a Marsh Harrier was soaring high over the beach, the Jays were still busy acorn-gathering, a couple of Chiffchaffs and three or four Blackcaps were among the roaming tit flocks, c300 Wood Pigeons and c50 Stock Doves went over, heading inland, and around 50 Brent Geese were moving west offshore, with another 30 in the harbour. (AH/AW)

Marsh Harrier (above), Stock Doves, Brent Geese, Blackcap, Linnets, Skylark (AH), Marsh Harrier, Pied Wagtail & Goldfinches (AW) at Church Norton

This afternoon there was a group of 12 ducks out at sea - possibly Wigeon and Teal, two juvenile Gannets among a flock of feeding gulls, whilst there was a Clouded Yellow along the spit, looking good in the afternoon sunshine. (AW)

Gannets (above) & Clouded Yellow at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - There were a Merlin, a Whinchat, nine Stonechats and two Sparrowhawks in the area between Easton Lane car-park and Ham Road this morning. (BO'D) 

There were also two Wheatears and a Clouded Yellow near Easton viewpoint and up to eight Stonechats along the banks. Near Ham there were two flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches of c.50 birds each and very many Meadow Pipits out in the fields. (BI)

Wheatears at Medmerry (BI)

North Wall: Two Cattle Egrets were seen in flight behind the Breech Pool and 60 Golden Plover, a couple of Spotted Redshanks and a Greenshank were in White's Creek, plus a Grey Wagtail at the sluice, along with plenty of Wigeon and Pintail in the channel, and there were also half a dozen Stonechats and Snipe about, and two Chiffchaffs in the hedgerows. (OM/TG/PB) Halsey's Farm held a few Reed Buntings, several small flocks of Meadow Pipits & two Chiffchaffs but little else this morning. (BI)

East side /Lagoon: Numbers of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal are steadily increasing and a few Brent Geese were in the harbour, but nothing out of the ordinary. Near the Lagoon the bushes along the footpath held a Firecrest, four Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a dozen Long-tailed Tits and a Cetti’s Warbler, with a Grey Wagtail near the walkway bridge. (OM)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A look along Church Farm Lane late this afternoon produced at least six Stonechats, c50 Linnets, c20 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, a couple of Chiffchaffs , a Little Egret and half a dozen Stock Doves and Lapwings. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Stonechats and Linnets at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Thursday, 18th October: A bright and sunny morning, but with a brisk and freshening north-easterly making it feel a little cooler.....

Selsey Bill: A few Brent Geese were moving west offshore this morning and there was a bit of visible migration, mainly involving Meadow Pipits. Full log later. (C&ME/AH)

(0730-1030hrs) 

Gannet - 15E, 91W

Brent Goose - 38W

Wigeon - 1W

Common Scoter - 2W

Curlew - 1E

Sadnderling - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Meadow Pipit - 178N

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Grey Wagtail - 1N

Swallow - 1E

Chiffchaff - 6p

Siskin - 4E

Linnet - 25E

Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers tucked into the concealed pool this morning, and at least 250 Lapwings, 50 Teal, 30 Wigeon and 25 Shelducks were on the main pool.
Also, two Spotted Redshanks were along Ferry Channel, as were a few Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits and at least 300 Teal, whilst Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails could be heard from the Long Pool. (AH)

Green Sandpipers (above), Spotted Redshank and Teal & Lapwings around the Ferry (AH)

At lunchtime there were four Green Sandpipers together on the pool. (AW)

Green Sandpipers on the Ferry (AW)

North Wall: There were 15 Fieldfares sat in the hedges behind the Breech Pool this morning, and a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were also present, as was a squealing Water Rail. Other birders reported a Marsh Harrier and a Spoonbill in the area, too. (DP/MP)

Fieldfares from the North Wall (MP)

Church Norton: There was a lot of visible migration activity along the beach and spit this morning, with at least 1000 Meadow Pipits, 500 Goldfinches and 500 Linnets going east, along with c50 Siskins, 12 Reed Buntings, two Swallows, three Grey Wagtails, ten Chaffinches and five Pied Wagtails. 
Also, a Wheatear and three or four Stonechats were on the spit, with several more of the latter around the horse field area, a Buzzard and at least three Sparrowhawks were about and six or more Jays were coming and going from the Holm Oak by the gate to the churchyard. (AH/AW)

Wheatear (above), Goldfinches, Buzzard (AW), Sparrowhawks, Stonechat & Jays (AH - top & MP) at Church Norton

It was much quieter this afternoon along the spit with just a few Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and Skylarks, and there were also a dozen Brent Geese near the harbour entrance. (AW)

Brent Goose (above) & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AW)

East Head. There were between 70 and 80 Brent Geese in the harbour this morning. (MR)

Brent Geese at East Head (MR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - This afternoon a Greenshank was near the poplars, a Wheatear, four Stonechats, three Corn Buntings and 20+ Yellowhammers were along the banks and three Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

Wheatear (above) & Buzzard at Medmerry (SH)

Wednesday, 17th October: A much greyer and cooler day, but with barely a breath of breeze....

Selsey Bill: Nothing was really moving offshore, but there were five Chiffchaffs in the garden and a few Siskins were among the small amount of overhead movement. Full log later. (OM/C&ME/GH)
(0730-1045hrs)
Gannet - 7E, 110W
Shag - 1E, 1os
Brent Goose - 47W
Wigeon - 2W
Teal - 4W
Common Scoter - 4W
Curlew - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Common Gull - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Woodpigeon - 200 over , mainly SW
Skylark - 12E
Pied Wagtail - 4E
Swallow - 8W
Chiffchaff - 5p
Goldfinch - c.100 area 
Siskin - 40 over, various directions
Linnet - 185 over
Greenfinch - 10 area
Reed Bunting - 1 p

Selsey, East beach pond: Two Chiffchaffs and two Goldcrests were in the trees and a Swallow was over the pond. (OM)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was on the pool again, along with a Redshank, four Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Wigeon, c60 Teal and c30 Shelducks, whilst two Grey Wagtails went over and a Spotted Redshank and a few Black-tailed Godwits, plus at least 100 Teal, were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Wigeon on the Ferry (AH)

This lunchtime 5 Spoonbills circled over the Ferry before heading off towards Medmerry. A Peregrine also went over and there were 3 Green Sandpipers on the Pool. (AW)

 Spoonbills flying over the Ferry (AW)

Church Norton: A Short-eared Owl, initially being chased by a Peregrine, appeared over the old horsefield and flew over the first Several and into the woods near Greenlease Farm this morning.

Also, there were three Jays in the churchyard, along with a mixed group of smaller birds including at least two Chiffchaffs, whilst around the Mound there were five Blackbirds and a Song Thrush. 

A Marsh Harrier was over the spit heading for Pagham, while a Sparrowhawk was circling over Priory Wood. A large number of Meadow Pipits are still present in the area and three Brent Geese flew along the coast heading west. (AW)

Short-eared Owl at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier was showing well, mid-morning, perched up on a Hawthorn bush at the back of the Breech Pool. (PC)

Sidlesham Churchyard and Church Farm Lane: A pair of Coal Tits and a couple of Goldcrests were in the churchyard this morning, plus at least 40 Goldfinches, but nothing else of note.

There was a reasonable selection of species along Church Farm Lane, including a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and a couple of Goldcrests among a big Long-tailed and Blue Tit flock, a Mistle Thrush at Church Farm, at least ten Yellowhammers and 40 Goldfinches in the hedges and a few fly-over Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (AH)

Coal Tit in Sidlesham churchyard (above), Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush and Goldfinch along Church Farm Lane (AH)

At least one Coal Tit was still present this afternoon. (S&SaH)

Coal Tit in Sidlesham churchyard (SH)

Long Pool: Late this afternoon there were four Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, five Pied Wagtails, four Goldcrests and two Snipe along the Long Pool. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were more or less birdless - save a couple of Stonechats and a few Skylarks - all the way to the Stilt Pool, where c200 Meadow Pipits and c100 Linnets were frequenting the rough ground behind the beach on the reserve side.

The Stilt Pool itself held a Greenshank and a few Lapwing, along with a dozen Gadwall, c20 Wigeon and c50 Teal, with at least 200 of the latter, along with a few Redshank and Shelduck on the mud by the poplars. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Greenshank & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

East Head: Three Black Swans - presumably those seen recently at Medmerry - were in the harbour by Snowhill Creek this morning. (MR)

Black Swans at East Head (MR)

Chi. Marina and Birdham pool: Other than the regular couple of Cetti's Warblers, and a couple each of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, there was little of note at the Marina this morning, whilst on Birdham pool were 26 Little Grebes, a Water Rail and a Kingfisher. (OM)

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