Wednesday, 3rd July: A mostly bright and sunny morning, with the modest easterly breeze pushing through banks of white cloud.....
Pagham Harbour: We are grateful to Ivan Lang (Reserve warden) for the following update on the breeding situation at the reserve:
Ferry Pool: One Little Ringed Plover, six Redshank, six Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family was the sum on the pool this morning, whilst the Sedge Warbler continued singing from the Small Pool and a Blackcap was singing nearby. (AH/IP/TG-P)
Long Pool: The mother Gadwall still seems to have ten ducklings, which she was guarding closely from another interested female Gadwall on the pool, where there was also a Little Grebe present.
The reeds and bushes held a number of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a couple of Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat, plus a large and mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits, whilst Ferry Channel held a new Shelduck family with ten small ducklings, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Redshank and a couple of Teal. (AH/IP)
Church Norton: A minimum of 34 newly-fledged Sandwich Terns were out on the mud this morning and there was still a constant stream of fish-bearing adults arriving. There were relatively few Common Terns about, though some were seen arriving with fish, whilst there were at least 20 adult Little Terns loafing on the mud, though others were seen bringing food to both Tern Island and Peregrine Island.
Among waders seen were a Knot, 15 Turnstones, four Dunlin, two Whimbrel, two Grey Plovers, a handful of Ringed Plovers and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews, whilst a Swift and a Sand Martin went east over the spit and (presumably) the summering Brent Goose went west along the beach. (AH/IP)
Selsey: A Swallow-tail moth and a Buff Arches were in the trap this morning. (SH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A first-year Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool this evening, along with a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. (AB)
Medmerry: Ham Farm - There were at least three Corn Buntings in the big barley field this evening, with a Chiffchaff singing near the houses, several families of Whitethroats in the hedges, at least ten widely spread Yellowhammers, and a pair of Sparrowhawks drifting west. (AH)
Tuesday, 2nd July: Another warm and sunny morning, with the breeze dropping to a light north-easterly.....
So far
conservative counts include -
590 fledged
Black-headed Gulls
90 fledged
Sandwich Terns
10 fledged Mediterranean Gulls
8 fledged
Common Terns and
6 fledged Little Terns
Selsey Bill: (1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 30os
Little Tern - 2os
Common Tern - 1os
6 fledged Little Terns
Selsey Bill: (1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 3E
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 30os
Little Tern - 2os
Common Tern - 1os
Ferry Pool: One Little Ringed Plover, six Redshank, six Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family was the sum on the pool this morning, whilst the Sedge Warbler continued singing from the Small Pool and a Blackcap was singing nearby. (AH/IP/TG-P)
Little Ringed Plover (above) & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: The mother Gadwall still seems to have ten ducklings, which she was guarding closely from another interested female Gadwall on the pool, where there was also a Little Grebe present.
The reeds and bushes held a number of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a couple of Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat, plus a large and mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits, whilst Ferry Channel held a new Shelduck family with ten small ducklings, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Redshank and a couple of Teal. (AH/IP)
Lesser Whitethroat (above), Sedge Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Gadwall family & Shelduck family around the Long Pool (AH)
Church Norton: A minimum of 34 newly-fledged Sandwich Terns were out on the mud this morning and there was still a constant stream of fish-bearing adults arriving. There were relatively few Common Terns about, though some were seen arriving with fish, whilst there were at least 20 adult Little Terns loafing on the mud, though others were seen bringing food to both Tern Island and Peregrine Island.
Among waders seen were a Knot, 15 Turnstones, four Dunlin, two Whimbrel, two Grey Plovers, a handful of Ringed Plovers and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews, whilst a Swift and a Sand Martin went east over the spit and (presumably) the summering Brent Goose went west along the beach. (AH/IP)
Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern, Little Terns & Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)
Selsey: A Swallow-tail moth and a Buff Arches were in the trap this morning. (SH)
Swallow-tail moth (above) & Buff Arches in a Selsey garden (SH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A first-year Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool this evening, along with a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. (AB)
Medmerry: Ham Farm - There were at least three Corn Buntings in the big barley field this evening, with a Chiffchaff singing near the houses, several families of Whitethroats in the hedges, at least ten widely spread Yellowhammers, and a pair of Sparrowhawks drifting west. (AH)
Corn Bunting (above), Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer & Sparrowhawk at Medmerry (AH)
Selsey Bill: (0740-0840hrs) - An hour's sea-watch was quite enough this morning (!) with the only birds moving over the sea being the regular 20+ Sandwich Terns and a couple of Common Terns back and forth carrying fish towards Church Norton. At least 10 House Martins and 3 Swifts were also busy - presumably all local breeders. (OM)
Ferry Pool: Two Common Terns dropped in on the pool early this morning, but otherwise it was quiet save a Little Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit and the Shelduck family, whilst the Sedge Warbler continued its lonely vigil on the Small Pool and a family of Blackcaps were in the adjacent hedge. (AH/IP)
Long Pool: There were still a few Reed Warblers singing, a family of Sedge Warblers were in the hedges and one or two Reed Buntings and Linnets were about, too.
Ferry Channel was quite busy, with the two Spotted Redshanks and two elusive Common Sandpipers among c50 Redshanks and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Whimbrel and a Common Tern went over. (AH/IP)
North Wall: A Kingfisher was reported briefly from either end of the wall, whilst there was plenty of Reed and Sedge Warbler activity along the Breech Pool and a Chiffchaff was still singing from Owl Copse.
A Greenshank was in the harbour, as were two Whimbrel, a dozen Lapwing and c20 Mediterranean Gulls, whilst up to 100 Black-tailed Godwits were commuting between the channel at the back of the Breech Pool and White's Creek. (AH/IP/IH/PC)
Church Norton: The only waders noted were half a dozen Oystercatchers, the same of Curlew and a single Black-tailed Godwit, but activity around the tern/gull colony was as frenetic as expected. Many Black-headed Gull chicks are now well grown or fledged, whilst an increasing number of young Sandwich Terns are now to be seen; fortunately all seem to be receiving a good supply of food from their parents. However, I failed to see a single young Little Tern - hopefully just due to my ineptitude - but there were 25 adult birds on the mudflats in front of the island, some of which were displaying and food-presenting, so I'm not quite sure what to think! (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to stilt pool - Three Buzzards and a Greenshank were noted, whilst 20+ Sand Martins and 10+ Swallows were also present, the former hinting at some early return passage. Along the hedgerows were 10+ Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Reed Buntings and 4 Yellowhammers. (SH)
Monday, 1st July: A very pleasant morning, with lots of sunshine and a moderate north-westerly breeze...
Common Tern (above), Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Sedge Warbler & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There were still a few Reed Warblers singing, a family of Sedge Warblers were in the hedges and one or two Reed Buntings and Linnets were about, too.
Ferry Channel was quite busy, with the two Spotted Redshanks and two elusive Common Sandpipers among c50 Redshanks and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Whimbrel and a Common Tern went over. (AH/IP)
Spotted Redshank and Redshanks (above), Whimbrel & Reed Warbler along the Long Pool (AH)
North Wall: A Kingfisher was reported briefly from either end of the wall, whilst there was plenty of Reed and Sedge Warbler activity along the Breech Pool and a Chiffchaff was still singing from Owl Copse.
A Greenshank was in the harbour, as were two Whimbrel, a dozen Lapwing and c20 Mediterranean Gulls, whilst up to 100 Black-tailed Godwits were commuting between the channel at the back of the Breech Pool and White's Creek. (AH/IP/IH/PC)
Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Mediteranean Gull, Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (AH)
Church Norton: The only waders noted were half a dozen Oystercatchers, the same of Curlew and a single Black-tailed Godwit, but activity around the tern/gull colony was as frenetic as expected. Many Black-headed Gull chicks are now well grown or fledged, whilst an increasing number of young Sandwich Terns are now to be seen; fortunately all seem to be receiving a good supply of food from their parents. However, I failed to see a single young Little Tern - hopefully just due to my ineptitude - but there were 25 adult birds on the mudflats in front of the island, some of which were displaying and food-presenting, so I'm not quite sure what to think! (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to stilt pool - Three Buzzards and a Greenshank were noted, whilst 20+ Sand Martins and 10+ Swallows were also present, the former hinting at some early return passage. Along the hedgerows were 10+ Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Reed Buntings and 4 Yellowhammers. (SH)
Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover, three Avocets, eight Teal and the Shelduck family was the sum on the pool this morning, whilst in the channel opposite there was a Kingfisher, briefly, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a few Redshank and Lapwings.
The Sedge Warbler was still singing from the Small Pool, a Blackcap was singing nearby and a Chiffchaff family was busy in adjacent trees, whilst half a dozen Swifts went over. (AH/IP)
The Kingfisher was again by the sluice this evening and a Common Sandpiper was in the channel. (AB)
The Kingfisher was again by the sluice this evening and a Common Sandpiper was in the channel. (AB)
Kingfisher (above), Chiffchaff, Little Ringed Plover, Avocets & Teal around the Ferry (AH)
North Wall/East side: An adult-type Yellow-legged Gull was out on the saltmarsh this morning, mainly very inactive and distant, before briefly flashing its legs, whilst a Kingfisher and a drake Wigeon were in White's Creek and a Cuckoo was again calling. (OM/IH)
Poor phone-scoped record shots of the distant Yellow-legged Gull from the East side and the Wigeon in White's creek. (OM)
Kingfisher at the sluice gates this morning (GH)
Church Norton: There was a bit of activity along the sheltered hedges, including a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat family near the concrete wall, several Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and lots of Long-tailed Tits.
A Whimbrel was in the harbour, along with a dozen Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits and a handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, plus a few Mediterranean Gulls, whilst there were at least 20 Little Terns in the harbour and an endless stream of Common and Sandwich Terns bringing in fish. (AH/IP)
This afternoon, 2 or 3 Purple Hairstreak butterflies were around the oak tree on the way to the beach. (CRJ)
Blackcap (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tit, Whimbrel, Little Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
Purple Hairstreak at Church Norton (CRJ)
Selsey: There was a big haul of Elephant Hawk-moths in the trap this morning. (SH)
Elephant Hawk-moths in a Selsey garden (SH)
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