29th - 31st October 2018

Wednesday, 31st October: Another slightly milder, if still grey morning, with a freshening south-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much moving, but there was a bit of variety, including two distant Manx Shearwaters, a Bonxie, half a dozen Kittiwakes and quite a few auks (all Razorbills that could be identified) going east, plus a Red-throated Diver each way, a Great Northern Diver on the sea and two Swallows over the Oval Field. Full log below..... 
0715-1145hrs: (PB/AH/BI/OM/MJ)
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Manx Shearwater - 2E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 46E, 8W
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 11E
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E
Razorbill - 24E
auk sp - 125E, 2W
Great Skua - 1E
Kittiwake - 24E, 8W
Common Gull - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Skylark - 2E
Pied Wagtail - 2 p
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Swallow - 2 S
Jackdaw - 40 p area
Linnet - 56E

Red-throated Diver (above), Red-breasted Merganser & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was just a Shelduck and six Lapwing on the pool, with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, ten Redshank, 20 Wigeon and c150 Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Wigeon (above) & Black-tailed Godwits in Ferry Channel (AH)

West Itchenor: There were a few Siskins over/around and calling this morning. (PH)
Church Norton: There was not much to report this morning, with passerines comprising a Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests skulking near the Mound and a couple of Meadow Pipits on the beach, whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit among a few Grey Plovers, Curlews and Redshanks were about the only birds in the harbour.
Also, a flock of c50 Linnets was along Rectory Lane, and there were also 20+ Lapwings on the lettuce fields. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Grey Plover, Meadow Pipit, Linnets & Lapwing at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 30th October: A cold and grey morning, with a brisk north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: With the wind swinging round to north-west it was very quiet this morning, with just two Mediterranean Gulls, a handful of Brent Geese and a few Pintail about early on... and nothing worthy of mention in the gardens. Full log below......
0715-0915hrs: (OM/AH/DF/DS)
Gannet - 3E
Brent Goose - 19E, 8W
Common Scoter - 3E, 1W
Pintail - 12W
Wigeon - 1E, 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool: There was just a solitary Shelduck on the pool this morning, though there were 300+ Teal, 50+ Wigeon and 25+ Redshanks along Ferry Channel.
A Stonechat was the only bird of note along the Long Pool, plus a Jay and a Buzzard over. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Jay & Teal from Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Oakhurst Farm to Ham viewpoint - This morning there were a pair of Stonechats and three Yellowhammers along the path, a Common Buzzard and three Kestrels over, with a Greenshank, eight Golden Plovers and 35 Lapwings on the reserve. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Wet side - A Little Owl was calling from the hedges just north of Marsh Farm buildings - the first report in a couple of years from what used to be a regular site for the species. (BO'D)

Church Norton: There was not too much to report this morning, though there were a scattering of Grey Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Dunlin, about, with the best being a single Bar-tailed Godwit, whilst a Peregrine was in their usual spot on the island. (MO-W)

North Wall: A Greenshank and two Spotted Redshank were in White's Creek, along with 50+ Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank, with a Kingfisher briefly by the sluice. There were plenty of Wigeon and a few Pintail at the far end of the creek, with 40+ Brent Geese in the harbour, but not much else beyond the regular waders.
The Breech Pool held half a dozen Snipe and Teal, but nothing much else, and passerines were confined to a few Reed Buntings keeping low, though there was a Water Rail on Owl Water, a Kingfisher by the sluice at the west end of the wall, and c100 Wigeon and a couple of Song Thrushes at Halsey's Farm. (AH/PC)

Kingfisher (above), Greenshank, Water Rail, Snipe, Redshanks & Wigeon along North Wall (AH)

Monday, 29th October: Another very cold but bright morning, with the brisk north-easterly persisting....

Selsey Bill: Predictably, it was much quieter than yesterday, but there was still a bit on the move offshore this morning, including 50+ Brent Geese, a Red-throated Diver and a few duck, and a bit of visible migration was going on, too, including three Bramblings and a few Siskins and Skylarks over. Full log below..... 
0715-1030hrs: (BI/GH/AH/OM/MJ)
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Diver sp - 1W
Gannet - 25 os
Brent Goose - 2E, 72W
Common Scoter - 7E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Teal - 3W
Wigeon - 19W
Pintail - 4E
Curlew - 2W
Lapwing - 1W
Stock Dove - 20W/N
Woodpigeon - 440W/N
auk sp - 5E
Pied Wagtail - 1 area
Meadow Pipit - 10N
Starling - 1S, 24N
Skylark -8N
Linnet - 13N
Goldfinch - 117N
Siskin - 2N
Chaffinch - 30N
Brambling - 3N

Red-throated Diver (above), Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal & Pied Wagtail at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were no birds at all on the pool early on - though 50 Lapwings were roosting on it later, and the channel opposite held very little beyond a Little Egret, a Grey Heron and a handful of Teal and Redshank. (AH)

Little Egret, Cormorant and Grey Heron in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: The only wader of note among the regulars were a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit, whilst there were plenty of Pintail and Wigeon in the main channel and 100+ Brent Geese on the far side, and a Buzzard in a tree near the concrete wall.

The bushes were very quiet, though a couple of Skylarks, c25 Pied Wagtails, c50 Linnets and similar of Lapwings were on the lettuce fields in Rectory Lane. (AH/AW)

Greenshank (above), Lapwing & Skylark at Church Norton (AH)

Buzzard near the concrete wall (AW)

North Wall: A Ruff which temporarily gave hopes of something scarcer was seen by a visiting birder on the Breech pool, and later reported to the Visitor centre, before a photo fully resolved the issue (per RN), although the bird in question didn't linger. The water level in the pool had dropped nicely by early afternoon, allowing 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshanks, a Dunlin, 15 Snipe and a Water Rail to take advantage of the conditions. (BI/OM)

Medmerry - West side: Along the path down there were 4 Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels. Also seen were 5 Stonechats, 3 Corn Buntings and 10+ Meadow Pipits. A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse bushes opposite the metal barn. There were 5 Gadwall on the Stilt Pools but no waders. (AW)
Later on, the Hooded Crow re-appeared, just west of the breach. (GT)

(above) Corn Buntings (with Stonechat) and (below) Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (AW)

East side - Breach viewpoint: Disappointingly little, with just 15 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover and 4 Grey Plover on the mudflats, and 2 Kestrels hunting the last remnants of rough ground at Toe End - where 2 Meadow Pipits were the only other birds present. (OM)

26th - 28th October, 2018

Sunday, 28th October: Another cold and blowy morning, with a strong north-easterly breeze and a mix of sun and grey cloud....

Selsey Bill: It proved to be a very interesting morning, with plenty of sea-passage and visible migration, involving a wide range of species. Highlights of visible migration included a Short-eared Owl, three Lapwings, a Crossbill, three Woodlarks, two Lesser Redpolls, eight Siskins and six Bramblings in off the sea, along with 341 Chaffinches and 486 Linnets, with a Mistle Thrush and a Swallow also seen.
Brent Geese were the main species moving offshore, totalling 510 west, though there were also two Red-throated Divers west and 118 Wigeon west and 69 east among a range of duck species seen. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/IP)

(0630-1130hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Gannet - 65os

Brent Goose - 510W

Wigeon - 69E, 118W

Teal - 2E, 64W

Shoveler - 2W

Pintail - 7W

Tufted Duck - 1W

Common Scoter - 17E, 7W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 6W

Kestrel - 1p

Lapwing - 3N

Grey Plover - 2W

Sanderling - 7W

Curlew - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Common Gull - 5W

Kittiwake - 22W

Razorbill - 1E

Short-eared Owl - 1N

Woodlark - 3N

Skylark - 4N

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Pied Wagtail - 3p

Swallow - 1W

Chiffchaff - 3p

Starling - 457N

Blackbird - 1N

Mistle Thrush - 1N

Linnet - 486N

Siskin - 8E

Lesser Redpoll - 2N

Goldfinch - 45E

Crossbill - 1N

Brambling - 6N

Chaffinch - 341N

Reed Bunting - 1N

Short-eared Owl (above), Brent Geese, Gannet & Wigeon and Teal at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Shelducks present early on, with c100 Teal in the channel opposite, and just c40 Lapwing and a dozen Teal present later. (AH/IP)

Teal in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was in the harbour again this morning, with c25 Avocets, c60 Brent Geese and a dozen Pintail in the main channel and a few Grey Plover, Dunlin and Redshank out on the mud.

Half a dozen Goldcrests were in the churchyard, one or two Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits were along the front and seven Shoveler were on the second Several, whilst c50 Lapwing, c50 Linnets and c20 Meadow Pipits were along Rectory Lane. (RJS/AH/IP/BI)

Shovelers (above), Brent Geese, Grey Plover & Curlew at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon a Spoonbill was on Peregrine Island, with 250+ Brent Geese in the harbour, though little else was seen during a rainstorm except a Buzzard being hassled by a Magpie. Earlier a pair of Stonechats were just beyond the western end of the reserve by the carriage homes. (AW/S&SaH)

Stonechat (SH) (above), Spoonbill, Buzzard & a rainbow over Tern Island (AW) at Church Norton

Saturday, 27th October: A very bright but very cold morning, after a sharp early frost and a clear starlit night, with a fresh northerly breeze....certainly not the conditions for producing grounded migrants!

Selsey Bill: There was nothing moving offshore except for three Common Scoter that dropped onto the sea, and no obvious visible migration overhead, so most of the time was spent searching the gardens and area......which also proved to be almost dead! Log below:
0745-0945hrs: (SH/OM/MJ)

Common Scoter - 3os

Common Buzzard - 1 over Selsey, viewed from Bill (SH)

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 on trees Oval field

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Goldfinch - 30 area

Linnet - 10 area

Chiffchaff - 1 gardens

Selsey, East beach - Around the pond there were 2 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. (OM)

Chiffchaff at East beach pond (OM)

Selsey, Warner Lane paddocks: Two Stonechats and a Buzzard were the only birds of note (OM)

Stonechat at Warner Lane (OM)

Northcommon Farm: No migrants - just a Buzzard and a couple of Green Woodpeckers. (OM)

Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Stonechats were on the fields where they wintered last year, whilst a Blackcap was in the hedges and a Grey Wagtail went over. (IP)

Ferry Pool: Four Spoonbills flew over from out of the harbour, heading west, at 7.45am this morning. (IP) Also about were four Shovelers and a few Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck, with a handful of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits, plus a few more Teal, in the channel opposite. (AH/IP)

Pagham Beach: A fairly close pod of 15-20 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were seen heading in the direction of Pagham from Aldwick at lunchtime today. (BC)

Church Norton: The long-staying, but ever-elusive, Hooded Crow flew from the Severals and along the spit towards Pagham this morning.

Also, along the spit this morning there were two large flocks (50+) of Linnets with smaller flocks of Greenfinches and Goldfinches, along with a few small groups of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. (AW)

In the harbour a Spoonbill was on Peregrine Island, there were 27 Avocets, 22 Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes, c25 Pintail and c40 Brent Geese along the main channel and two Bar-tailed Godwits and a Knot were among the Dunlin and Grey Plovers.

Three or four Reed Buntings, a couple of Song Thrushes and a couple of Meadow Pipits were along the path to the beach and a Mistle Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around the car-park/churchyard area.. 

A pair of Stonechats were at the west end of the reserve, three Shovelers and a Little Grebe were on the second Several, and a couple of Jays, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels were about, too. (AW/AH/IP)

Hooded Crow (above), Little Grebe (AW), Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting, Avocets & Fox (AH) at Church Norton

Fishbourne Creek: A look along the harbour from Apuldram Church produced three Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, c80 Black-tailed Godwits, c400 Wigeon and c120 Mute Swans, but only around 30 Brent Geese.

Along the edges there were up to eight Rock Pipits, a dozen Meadow Pipits and four Reed Buntings, plus a fly-over Grey Wagtail, but not too much else. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Grey Plover, Meadow Pipit & Wigeon at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Friday, 26th October: A mixed morning, with a grey but fairly mild start, despite the fresh westerly breeze, followed by heavy drizzly rain and then bright and breezy, if decidedly cooler.....

Selsey Bill: There was a selection of species, both overhead and offshore, but only in low numbers. Full log below. (C&ME/AH)

(0730-1000hrs)

Gannet - 2E, 25W

Little Egret - 1W

Mute Swan - 5W

Brent Goose - 4W

Common Scoter - 6E

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 18W

Mediterranean Gull - 16W

Razorbill - 1os, then W

Guillemot - 1E

auk sp - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 23W

Pied Wagtail - 27E

Goldfinch - 40W

Linnet - 25W

Siskin - 6W

Guillemot (above), Brent Goose, Meadow Pipits & Mute Swans at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c150 Lapwings, c80 Teal, two Shoveler and a dozen or so Wigeon and Shelduck on the pool, with another 150 Teal, plus a handful of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite.

A Water Rail was busy catching small fish in Red Barn Ditch, but the Tramway circuit just held a lone Reed Bunting and a few Goldfinches, Long-tailed and Blue Tits. (AH)

Water Rail (above), Reed Bunting & Teal and Shoveler around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was very little to report in some dire weather, with a Greenshank in the harbour the only wader of note among the scattering of Grey Plovers, Redshank and Dunlin, though a dozen Brent Geese and a Peregrine were also present.

Also, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests were among a mixed tit flock by the concrete wall. (AW/AH/BI)

Ringing recovery: Of interest a ringed Great Black-backed Gull was found recently dead at Church Norton on 10.10.2018. Enquiries reveal it was ringed in Norway in 2014. (IL)
The details and previous sightings were as follows:
History; Rung at Vest-Agder, Mandel Norway on 30.06.2014
28.08.2014 50°43'34''N, 001°35'04''E (FR07), Boulogne-sur-Mer Port [891 km/207]
20.10.2017 50°36'36''N, 003°25'49''W (GBDV), Dawlish Warren NNR [1080 km/225]
02.11.2017 50°42'00''N, 003°04'00''W (GBDV), Axe Estuary, Seaton [1057 km/224]
10.10.2018 50°45'11''N, 000°45'51''W (GBXW), Church Norton [960 km/217] (201) 2018-01749

Greenshank and Mallard (AW) (above) & Grey Plovers (AH) at Church Norton

Pagham churchyard: A quick look before the rain this morning produced a Blackcap, 2 Coal Tits and a couple of Goldcrests. (OM)

Pagham Lagoon: The footpath near the Lagoon held a Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, a Cetti's Warbler and a dozen Long-tailed Tits. (OM)

Halsey's Farm: Generally quiet this morning, the highlights being a few Reed Buntings, two flocks of Goldfinches and  a small passage of Meadow Pipits overhead. (BI)

Warner Lane: Two Fieldfares were in the paddocks this morning. (BI)