7th - 9th June 2019

Sunday, 9th June: A pleasant morning of white cloud and sunshine, still early on, but then with a modest westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much happening this morning beyond Sandwich Terns feeding offshore and House Martins gathering mud. full log below. (SH/IP/BI/AH)

(0530-0830hrs)
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 12E, 5W
Common Scoter - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 16os
Common Tern - 3os
Razorbill - 3E
auk sp - 1E
Swift - 6p
Swallow - 1p
House Martin - 15p

Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two newly-fledged Swallows were around the stables this morning, with three or four Linnets by the balancing pond and a couple of Skylarks and Whitethroats were along the hedges, whilst two Sparrowhawks and four Buzzards were overhead. (S&SaH/AH/IP/RM)

Ferry Pool: There were eight Lapwings, a Redshank and the Shelduck family on the pool this morning, whilst a pair of Red-legged Partridge were on the field.. (AH)

Shelducks and Lapwings (above) & Red-legged Partridges at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was a steady procession of Sandwich Terns heading out to sea and returning with Sand-eels this morning, with up to ten Mediterranean Gulls, Common Terns and Little Terns among them. Waders were few, though, and comprised of three Curlews, a Dunlin, a Redshank and a couple of Ringed Plovers.
There were still singing Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a couple of Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets along the front, along with a single Lesser Whitethroat, whilst Chiffchaff and Blackcap were also heard. (AH/IP/RM)

Sandwich Tern (above), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler & Viper's Bugloss at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Barn Owl was out and hunting the banks early this morning, and a juvenile Stonechat (presumably one of the family reared here) was opposite the first viewpoint. There were plenty of singing Whitethroats, Reed Warblers, Skylarks and Linnets about, plus up to ten Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, whilst Stock Doves were also conspicuous, with several pairs displaying.
The two Spoonbills were still on the Stilt Pool, along with 14 Avocets, three Little Ringed Plovers, two families of Canada Geese and half a dozen Gadwall and Tufted Ducks. Also, a Fox was inside the fence on the Stilt Pool and a family of Moorhens was seen running along Easton Lane. (AH/SH)

Barn Owl (above), Spoonbills, juvenile Stonechat, Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Little Ringed Plover and Avocet, Fox (AH), Reed Warbler, Skylark & Moorhen family (SH) at Medmerry

This afternoon the Spoonbills were actively feeding on the Stilt Pool and a different (older) juvenile Stonechat was showing well. (S&SaH)

Stonechat (above) & Spoonbills at Medmerry (SH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: This evening a Sandwich Tern went over Church Farm Lane carrying a fish, whilst along the lane there were a Reed Bunting, several Whitethroats and Reed Warblers and a large family of Long-tailed Tits, whilst a couple of Brown Hares were in the fields. (AH)

Brown Hare at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Saturday, 8th June: A fairly bright morning, after early rain, but with a strong to gale-force westerly, gaining in strength through the day.....

Selsey Bill: Just short of 30 Manx Shearwaters went east his morning, with 200+ Gannets, a Bonxie and a dark-phase Arctic Skua seen, too, but little else was about beyond 60 or so Sandwich Terns and a handful of Little and Common Terns feeding offshore. Full log later. (SH/PB/BI/AH/IP)
(0515-1000hrs)
Manx Shearwater - 29E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 237E, 36W
Common Scoter - 10E
Eider - 1E
Dunlin - 2W
Arctic Skua - 1os (d/p)
Bonxie - 1E
Kittiwake - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 57os
Little Tern - 5os
Common Tern - 10os
Swift - 2os

(1230-1330hrs) (SH)
Manx Shearwater - 1W
Gannet - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 13os
Common Tern - 1os

(1715-1815hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 5E, 9W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 15os
Common Tern - 2os

Gannet (above), Sandwich Tern & Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just a lone Lapwing and the Shelduck family were on the pool this morning, with two Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite. (AH)

Lapwing (above) & Black-tailed Godwit around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Hobby low over the harbour was the most unusual bird seen, with just a couple of Whitethroats in the bushes and the only waders being a Redshank and a Ringed Plover, though there were dozens of Sandwich Terns coming and going from the harbour, along with a few Little and Common Terns. (AH/IP)

Little Terns (above), Sandwich Tern & Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Friday, 7th June: A thoroughly wet and miserable morning, with fairly persistent heavy rain and a strong easterly blowing, though easing off a little by midday.....

Selsey Bill: A steady eastward movement of Gannets and a few terns, mainly Sandwich, offshore was about the total this morning. Full log later. (BI/AH/IP/IL)
0555-0855hrs: (from South-east corner)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 38E 4W 2os
Little Tern - 1os
Common Tern - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 35os/E (all local birds, some carrying fish back towards harbour)
Kittiwake - 1W
Ringed Plover 1 1ob
Turnstone - 1ob

Sandwich Terns (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early on, there was just the Shelduck family on a very full pool, though later another dozen Shelducks, a couple of Redshank and Lapwing and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits had appeared.

A Cuckoo and a couple of Blackcaps were heard around the Discovery Area, but otherwise it was just the resident species in small numbers. (AH)

Shelducks (above) & Goldfinch around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A brief look along the wall between the heavy showers late this afternoon produced 14 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Teal and a drake Wigeon on the Breech Pool, one or two half-hearted attempts at song from the Reed and Sedge Warblers and two Great Created Grebes in the harbour. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Teal, Wigeon and Mallard & Great Crested Grebe from the North Wall (AH)