7th - 10th October 2018

Wednesday, 10th October: Another unseasonably warm and sunny morning, despite the moderate easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much moving offshore, though there was a bit of visible migration, including a few Siskins, Linnets and Meadow Pipits, plus a few Swallows. Full log below....
(0715-1045hrs)  (C&ME/AH/OM)
Gannet - 2W
Brent Goose - 3W
Common Scoter - 7E, 2W
Dunlin - 12W
Sanderling - 3 ob
Turnstone - 32 ob
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1p
Skylark - 19E
Swallow - 16E
Meadow Pipit - 63E
Pied Wagtail - 31E
Chiffchaff - 3 gardens
Siskin - 21E
Linnet - 25E
Goldfinch - 55E

    Sunrise at the Bill (AH)

Sanderlings on the shoreline at the Bill (OM)

Selsey, East beach pond: Three Chiffchaffs were present but there was little else of note. (OM)

Warner Lane paddocks: Two Stonechats and several Meadow Pipits were about it. (OM)

Meadow Pipit at Warner Lane paddocks (OM) 

Selsey, Northcommon farm: It was equally as quiet here, with little to show for my efforts...just one Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, and two each of Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker. (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were just six Black-tailed Godwits and around 20 or so Lapwing, Teal and Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

North Wall: The highlight this morning was seven Cattle Egrets amongst sheep in the field due east of Honer reservoir. There was very little water in the reservoir but it still held 42 Teal, three Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, a Common Sandpiper and a Pied Wagtail, with a pair of Green Woodpeckers close by. 
A Whinchat was at the back of the horse field, a Kingfisher was at the Breech Pool and there were two Cetti's Warblers along the Wall. In the back fields there was a very noisy flock of some 60 Jackdaws. They made two fly-arounds into the harbour and on return the whole flock harassed a passing Sparrowhawk. Large parts of Pagham Rife is once again clogged up with Pennywort. (JDW)

Cattle Egrets (above) & Jackdaws at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: Despite the promising wind direction, there was little evidence of visible migration, with eight Siskins, four Swallows, 30 Goldfinches and 25 Meadow Pipits east being about it. At least half a dozen Stonechats were still around the horse field, with a few Jays, a Mistle Thrush and a Sparrowhawk also present.
The Greenshank was still in the harbour, along with a Bar-tailed and several Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Grey Plovers and a dozen Wigeon. (AH/AW/A&YF)

Greenshank (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Stonechat, Shoveler & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Ivy Lake: A Hobby was hunting over the back of the lake this afternoon. (AB)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier was behind the Breech Pool late this afternoon. (IH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - A Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool late this afternoon. (IL)

West Itchenor: The Nuthatch was calling and briefly showed in the wood by Chalkdock Marsh, and there were also three or four Redwings and a Song Thrush there. (AH) Also, at least 50 Brent Geese were in the harbour. (JW)

Tuesday, 9th October: A very pleasant, warm and sunny morning, with a light southerly breeze....

We're back!.... and our thanks go to deputy editor Bart Ives for his sterling efforts with the blog during our absence. It is pleasing to note he coped admirably, maintaining the daily coverage and updates, so our record of not missing a single day's output in over five years continues. Grateful thanks to the regular contributors are also in order; we noted from afar that the sea-watchers in particular put in some good shifts, none more so than C&ME. A good team effort! (OM/AH)

Selsey Bill: Three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie went west, though otherwise there wasn't much moving. Full log below.... 
0715-1045hrs:  (C&ME/GH/DF/DS)
Gannet - 14E, 5W
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Brent Goose - 4W
Common Scoter -  6E,12W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 2E, 2W, 2os
Arctic Skua - 3W
Great Skua - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 12W
Common Gull - 4W
Kestrel - 1 area
Meadow Pipit - 22W
Pied Wagtail - 18W
Swallow - 42W
Skylark - 8E
Linnet - 22W
Siskin - 2W
Greenfinch - 1W
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Ferry Pool: There were just c60 Lapwing and 20 or so Shelduck and Teal on the pool this morning, with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Teal in the channel opposite and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the adjacent hedges. (AH) A Spotted Redshank was on the pool this afternoon. (GK)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was quiet this morning, with a Greenshank and a few Pintail and Grey Plovers the only birds of note in the harbour, with migrants comprising of just half a dozen Blackcaps, a couple of Chiffchaffs, up to four Stonechats and a dozen Swallows. 

Up to five Mistle Thrushes and similar of Jays were around, and a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails went over, whilst a number of butterflies were about, including a Clouded Yellow, a couple of Small Coppers and a Comma. (AH/A&YF/MJ et al) A colour-ringed Spoonbill was present this afternoon. (GK)

Greenshank (above), Greenshank and Redshank, Jay & Blackcaps at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall/East side: The Breech Pool was full again but held 45 Black-tailed Godwits, three Snipe and 12 Redshank. Along the hedges to Halsey's farm there was very little on offer - just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus half a dozen Reed Buntings and a single Goldcrest. The trees around the horse paddocks near the Salthouse held a large flock of up to 20 Long-tailed Tits, with other tits mixed in and at least one Chiffchaff. 

Along the East side a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were in the channel with the Wigeon and Pintail, and further on towards the lagoon another flock of 10+ Long-tailed Tits, whilst nearby were two Goldcrests and another three Chiffchaffs. (OM)

West Itchenor: A very vocal Nuthatch was in the shoreline woodland just west of Itchenor at Chalkdock (near where this spring's Golden Oriole was!) (PH)

Selsey Golf Club: A Hobby was hunting here today, and a Clouded Yellow and a Stoat were also seen. (JW)

Medmerry: west side- A male Merlin was over the Stilt Pool early this afternoon. (BO'D)
Later on, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, four Kestrels and three Sparrowhawks were out hunting, whilst two Greenshanks were near the poplars and four Chiffchaffs, a Corn Bunting and 30+ Yellowhammers were along with banks. (S&SaH)

Monday, 8th October: Overcast with a gentle wind from the SW..the prospect of some easterly winds mid-week...

Selsey Bill: (0705-1030) (C&ME/GH)
Gannet - 12E 16W
Shag - 1os
Brent Goose - 1E 18W
Shelduck - 11W
Wigeon - 2W
Teal - 6W
Common Scoter - 5E 10W
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W
Dunlin - 2W
Curlew - 1W
Common Gull - 10W
Mediterranean Gull - 3E 22W
Auk sp.- 2E
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1W
Swallow - 41E
House Martin - 12E
Rock Pipit - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 48N
Pied Wagtail - 22E
Grey Wagtail - 4W
Chiffchaff - 2 in gardens
Linnet - 38W
Greenfinch - 3W
Siskin - 1W

Selsey East Beach: A Black Redstart was around the fishing huts mid-morning. (GH)

Selsey South: A look around the plots and trees didn't turn up anything other than a handful of Chiffchaffs early on. (BI)

Selsey North: Two Spoonbills went west over our garden early today. (SH/SaH)

Church Norton: A juvenile Hobby was in the churchyard and then behind the hide this morning. Later there was a Merlin around the old horsefield with a mixture of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and tits in the hedgerows. Three Brent Geese flew in off the sea and there were a dozen Swallows over the Severals. A Marsh Harrier was also over the harbour before drifting towards the visitor centre. (AW/MJ)

Hobby, above, & Merlin at Church Norton (AW)

Ferry Pool: This afternoon there were ten Spotted Redshanks present (GT) and earlier on the there were six Redshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 116 Lapwings, a Grey Heron, three Stock Doves, 22 Shelduck and eight Teal present. (C&ME). First thing this morning the channel held a Spotted Redshank and there was a Water Rail & Snipe on the Long Pool. (AW)

Water Rail at the Long Pool & Spotted Redshanks on the Ferry Pool (AW)

Sunday, 7th October: A bright day, chilly in the N wind, but warm out of it, set fair for the rest of the day...

Selsey Bill: (0700-1030hrs) (PB/SH)
Gannet - 33E 116W
Spoonbill - 1W at 0905hrs
Brent Goose - 78E
Pintail -3W
Wigeon - 12W
Teal - 2W
Common Scoter - 1E 4W
Great Skua - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 16W
Sandwich Tern - 1E 3W
Razorbill - 1E
Skylark - 2N
Meadow Pipit - 41N
Swallow - 61E
House Martin - 50E
Pied Wagtail - 11N 25 Oval Field
Grey Wagtail - 1E
Chiffchaff - 8 in gardens, 5 Grafton Rd
Linnet - 38N
Goldfinch - 12p
Grey Seal - 1os

North Wall: A juvenile Merlin was showing very well this afternoon, perching up on the bushes and fences around the Breech Pool and catching dragonflies. A Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour, a Short-eared Owl came from behind the pool and dropped into the saltmarsh and four Cattle Egrets flew past at the back. Two Kingfishers were also about and there were a few Reed Buntings in the rushes. (AB/BI/IH/NM et al) 

Merlin (above) & Short-eared Owl at the North Wall (AB)

Church Norton: There were up to five Mistle Thrushes around the car park/churchyard this morning along with a couple of Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Along the hedges were a few Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits and half a dozen Swallows were overhead as well as a constant stream of Meadow Pipits. Out in the harbour, two Peregrines put up the Lapwings near the North Wall before returning to their island, a Brent Goose was on the mud, and ten more flew in, followed by another twenty and then another eighteen. There were c.30 Little Egrets present and a Spoonbill was out in the middle channel before settling on Peregrine Island. Two Bar-tailed Godwits were among the usual waders present, roosting at high tide on Tern Island. Up at the horsefield and nearby hedgerows there were 12 Stonechats and a Red Kite was over the first Several whilst the second Several held 12 Shovelers, three of which were drakes. There were also five Gannets offshore. (P&JW/A&YF/BI/IP/SH/SaH/PMu et al)

Stonechat at Church Norton,top,  (BI) & Brent Geese (PMu) 

Red Kite over the Severals (SaH)

Ferry Pool/Tramway: There was a late Willow Warbler in the scrub here this morning but the pool was largely quiet with just the usual Shelducks, Lapwings & Black-tailed Godwits on view. The Teal had decamped to the channel were there were c.150 along the margins. A look along the Tramway & Yeoman's Field produced little other than a Jay, a flock of Goldfinches & Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits,. (IP/BI)

Warner Lane Paddocks: No thrushes here this morning and the best were three Pied Wagtails along the fenceline. (BI)

Pied Wagtails at Warner Lane  (BI)

Park Farm: Park Farm had three Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and three Stonechats as well as a  Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtail. There were also four Buzzards over, four Skylarks, five Chiffchaffs & a Shoveler and six Brent Geese west. (IP/SH/SaH)

Medmerry: East Side - There were nine Stonechats around Chainbridge late afternoon and at Toe End a Short-eared Owl was hunting the banks, 12 Brent Geese went west  and a Sandwich Tern was offshore. From Ham viewpoint there was a large 200+ Linnet flock, a Sparrowhawk, two more Stonechats and a Spoonbill flew over heading north. (SH/SaH)

Short-eared Owl at Medmerry (SaH)

Medmerry: West Side - Two Barn Owls were out this evening, one along the fenceline near Marsh Barn and the other towards the Stilt Pool. (GJT)

The Spoonbill was feeding, and showing well, before flying further into the reserve. The three Black Swans were still there, and there was also a Greenshank, a couple of Meadow Pipits, a couple of Black-tailed Godwit, plus some Teal and Wigeon. On the bank above were a couple of Stonechats. (JSnell)