29th - 31st July 2019

Wednesday, 31st July: A fairly bright and blustery morning, with a fresh south-westerly blowing through plenty of cloud and the odd drizzly squall.....

Selsey Bill: It was quieter than yesterday, with less terns and Gannets, though an Arctic Skua went east and four Sanderlings dropped in on the beach. Full log below (BI/AH/IP) 
(0650-0855hrs)

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Sanderling - 4ob

Turnstone - 5W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Lesser black-backed Gull - 1W

Common Tern - 8W

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 53W

Sand Martin - 2S

Sanderlings (above) & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The main pool remains very full of water, still, though a Wood Sandpiper was among four Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers and three Little Ringed Plovers present on the hidden road-side pool, probably best viewed from the hide. 
Also, there were ten Teal and c30 Black-tailed Godwits present, with another dozen of the latter, plus a Whimbrel, in the channel opposite. (P&LH/AH/IP/BI)
The Wood Sandpiper remained around the concealed pool all day, before flying off into the harbour at 7.15pm. (CRJ/SR/AB/MB/DB et al)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpipers & Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were at least ten Sand Martins, 40 House Martins and 40 Swallows, plus two Swifts, around this evening. Also 12 Pied Wagtails and two Buzzards were around the fields and six Lapwings and three Sandwich Terns (two adults and a juvenile) went over. (SH)

Church Norton: A Yellow Wagtail out on the mud with c100 Dunlin was a surprise, though beyond the odd Swallow, there was little other evidence of migration.

There were still 100+ Sandwich Terns in the harbour, along with 50+ Mediterranean Gulls and just a handful of Common Terns, with up to five Whimbrel and Curlews, a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Redshank. There was also a pair of Ringed Plovers at the start of the spit with two very small chicks. (AH/IP)
Later on, on the high tide, a Common Scoter was well inside the harbour. (P&LH)
This afternoon a single juvenile Little Tern was among the gathered terns and gulls. (AB)

Yellow Wagtail and Dunlin (above), Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 30th July: A morning of gale force winds - starting in the south-east and slowly working south-west - with a bit of drizzly rain and the odd glimpse of sun......

Selsey Bill: Despite the favourable winds and hopes to the contrary, it was a bit of a let-down this morning and there was nothing too exciting. A gentle stream of Gannets went both east and west, as did a few Fulmars, whilst just a couple of Kittiwakes, nine Common Scoter and three Whimbrel went east and plenty of feeding Common and Sandwich Terns came and went. Five hours proved to be more than enough.....! Full log below..... 
0715-1215hrs: (OM/AH/IP)
Fulmar - 4E, 2W
Gannet - 88E, 36W
Common Scoter - 9E
Dunlin - 3E
Turnstone - 10 ob
Whimbrel - 3E
Common Tern - c.25 os feeding/drifting mainly E
Sandwich Tern - c.60 os - many still carrying fish to and fro
Kittiwake - 2E
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ob
Common Gull - 1E
Sand Martin - 1 S (out to sea)
Swift - 2 p

Fulmar (above), Kittiwake, Common Scoters, Gannet & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

1600-1830hrs: (BI/SH)

Common Scoter - 10E

Turnstone - 2W

Common Tern - 2E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 101W

Kittiwake - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Swift - 2W

 

Ferry Pool: Two Common Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers (adult and juvenile) were on the pool this morning, along with c40 Lapwing and c60 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a handful of Teal, whilst the channel opposite held a further two Common Sandpipers, five Whimbrel and a few more Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/IP/OM)

Common Sandpipers (above), Whimbrels & Black-tailed Godwit around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A fairly brief look at high tide produced a couple of Little Terns, c50 Common Terns and c150 Sandwich Terns roosting in the harbour, along with c50 Mediterranean Gulls, but waders were few - just a couple of Whimbrel and Curlew, plus 50 or so roosting Redshanks.
Passerines were more or less absent, though a handful of Sand Martins and a dozen Swallows were feeding low over a sheltered bit of the harbour. (AH)

Sand Martins (above), Swallow & Little, Common and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 29th July: A lovely summer's morning, with lots of warm sunshine, some scattered cloud and just a light easterly breeze....

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper dropped in briefly from the adjacent rife and there were also a Spotted Redshank, two Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers, 77 Black-tailed Godwits, six Redshank and c80 Lapwings on the pool, along with four Teal and a Shelduck.

There were three Whimbrel in the channel opposite and another two in the main channel from the Tramway, along with a few Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits.

A look round the Tramway circuit produced three Lesser Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers, half a dozen Blackcaps and up to 20 Whitethroats, plus a Mistle Thrush over, a couple of Swallows, a couple of Song Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker, whilst Red Barn Ditch held a Greenshank, a Sedge Warbler and several Reed Warblers. (AH/IP)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank & Green Woodpecker around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Two Wheatears were along the fences at the start of the spit this morning, but the only other land-birds noted were a few Whitethroats and three Green Woodpeckers.

The harbour was teeming with terns, including up to 17 Little Terns (with one flock of 12 flying around together), c70 Common Terns and c250 Sandwich Terns, including many juveniles of the latter two species. There were also 200+ Mediterranean Gulls present, along with c20 Turnstones, c50 Dunlin and a couple of Whimbrels. (AH/IP)

Wheatear (above), Little Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Tern & Little, Common and Sandwich Terns (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This morning there was a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, two Ringed Plovers and a Little Ringed Plover on the Stilt Pool and another Greenshank and three Common Sandpipers as well as an adult Yellow-legged Gull from the Easton Viewpoint. (BI)

East side: Rather quiet during a brief late-morning visit, soon after the tide had begun dropping. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the mudflats amongst other gulls, with a second near-adult bird mainly recumbent nearby. Waders were few, but included a Common Sandpiper and 4 Whimbrels, whilst a Willow Warbler was in the tamarisk hedge and a frantically calling young Green Woodpecker just managed to escape a pursuing Sparrowhawk!  (OM) 

North Wall: The two Cattle Egrets were amongst ten Little Egrets and a couple of Grey Herons at the usual roost opposite Owl copse. (OM)

26th - 28th July 2019

Sunday, 28th July: A bright and breezy morning, with a fresh westerly blowing the white cloud swiftly through, quite chill early on before warming up...

Selsey Bill:  (0620-0730hrs) (BI)

Gannet - 7E, 21W

Turnstone - 11ob

Sandwich Tern - 34os

Common Tern - 6W, 10os

Later in the day there were three Yellow-legged Gulls at the Bill, two juveniles and an adult. (ESt)

Ferry Pool: There was a bit of a selection on the pool this morning, including two Spotted Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, four Redshank, 97 Black-tailed Godwits and c75 Lapwings, plus a Shelduck and four Teal.
A Kingfisher was by the sluice in the channel opposite, and there were 11 Whimbrels in the channel, along with a few more Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits. (SH/AH/IP)

Kingfisher (SH) (above), Spotted Redshank & Whimbrels (AH) around the Ferry

Long Pool: The reeds and hedges were quiet, though a Sedge Warbler sang briefly, whilst in Ferry Channel there was another Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank, plus more Redshank. (SH)

Church Norton: A juvenile Marsh Harrier went over the harbour this morning. (RJS/AF)
Early this afternoon a Peregrine went over, whilst a summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit was also present. At least 250 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour - with more flying in and out - plus at least 50 Common Terns, whilst two bright juvenile Willow Warblers were present in Bluebell wood. (S&SaH)
This evening a single Little Tern was among the many Sandwich and Common Terns, and couple of Whimbrel and a summer-plumaged Knot were on the mud, along with c150 Dunlin and a few Ringed Plovers. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Knot and Dunlin & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

East Head: There were ten Avocets in Snowhill Creek this morning, along with three Spotted Redshanks, c.30 Redshanks, a Greenshank and a few Dunlin. (BI)

Selsey, Park Farm: There were 9 Pied Wagtails and a mixed flock of 40+ House Martins and 20+ Swallows late morning (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Breach area - The Spoonbill was again in the big pool east of the breach this morning. (RJS/AF)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - There were two adult Yellow-legged Gulls on the bare ground waiting to be excavated this morning and a Greenshank near the second sluice by the Poplars.
Another four Greenshanks were on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with two Common Sandpipers and a few Lapwings, with half a dozen Dunlin and at least three Ringed Plovers split between the pool and the reserve, where there was also a Whimbrel.
One Yellow Wagtail was on the tidal area, opposite the Stilt Pool, along with up to a dozen Meadow Pipits and two or three Pied Wagtails, whilst Linnets, Goldfinches and Skylarks, plus the odd Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting were spread along the banks. Also, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, five Swifts and c20 Sand Martins and Swallows went over. (AH/IP/DB/MB)

Yellow-legged and Herring Gulls (above), Yellow Wagtail, Greenshanks, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Reed Bunting & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Ivy Lake: Present this afternoon were four Yellow-legged Gulls consisting of three juveniles and a 3rd-summer bird. (ESt)

North Wall: There were two Cattle Egrets in the roost again this morning and at least 30 Little Egrets and ten Grey Herons around the harbour. Thirty-four Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and c.40 Dunlin were counted around the high-tide islands but there were no birds at all on the Breech Pool except three Mallards. (BI)


Saturday, 27th July: A morning of little breeze and uninterrupted drizzly rain, only easing off at lunchtime.....

Selsey Bill: Six Whimbrel and a Little Tern went west and 80 Gannets went east on a fairly quiet morning.... 

(0620-1100hrs) (SH/OM)

Gannet - 80E, 3W

Common Scoter - 1E (fem), 1W (male)

Whimbrel - 6W

Turnstone - 3E, 14 ob

Sandwich Tern - 65os

Little Tern - 1W

Common Tern - 41os, mainly drifted E

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was at the back of the pool with three Redshanks this morning, whilst there were also a dozen or so Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits and four Teal present. Later however, at around noon, numbers had increased, with 75 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Lapwings, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper present.

There were up to 20 Whimbrel spread between Ferry Channel and the main channel, with the former also holding c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Lapwings. (IP/AH/OM)

Spotted Redshank (above), Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit & juvenile Black-headed Gulls around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Twelve Mediterranean Gulls and 30 or so Pied Wagtails were on the fields this morning, with at least 20 Swallows and House Martins over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were still at least 200 Sandwich Terns and 50 Common Terns in the harbour, including plenty of juveniles of both species, along with 100+ Mediterranean Gulls, which by comparison seem to have very few juveniles with them.
At least ten Whimbrel were spread around the mud and there were also c80 Dunlin, c60 Redshanks and a few Curlews about, but small birds of note comprised two juvenile Sedge Warblers on the Severals, c30 Sand Martins over east and two Swallows around the hide. (AH/S&SaH)

Sandwich and Common Terns (above), Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, Whimbrel & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A late afternoon walk to the upper reaches of the Fishbourne Creek found a juvenile Cuckoo on the path through the reed-bed. The creek held eight Whimbrel and a single Greenshank, whilst in with the many Black-headed Gulls were 10 Common Gulls and at least 124 Mediterranean Gulls. (RW)

Friday, 26th July: A much cooler and greyer day, though still very humid, with a little sunshine and a modest westerly breeze....

Ferry Pool: Early on there were just two Teal and c60 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, though later on the three Little Ringed Plovers had re-appeared.

A Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel were the only birds of note in the channel opposite, though c115 Lapwings were present, along with c30 Redshank and c20 Black-tailed Godwits. 

There was also a Common Blue - which have been anything but common this summer - on the Small Pool. (AH/IP)

Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit & Common Blue around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were 31 Pied Wagtails on the fields this evening. (SH)

Church Norton: The harbour was full of terns on the dropping tide, including five Little Terns, c30 Common Terns and c150 Sandwich Terns and there appeared to have been a big influx of Mediterranean Gulls, with at least 300 present among the numerous Black-headed Gulls. 

Waders included a couple of Whimbrel, a few Turnstones and Ringed Plovers along with 100 or so Dunlin, whilst a very large female Peregrine disturbed everything as it headed over towards the spit

There was also a bit of activity behind the hide, including a Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Blackcaps, whilst it seems that the Swallows are nesting in the hide again. (AH/IP/BFF/DM)

 Swallow with nesting material at Church Norton hide (DM)

Willow Warbler (above), Blackcap, Swallow, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Little Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Terns & mixed terns at Church Norton (AH)

A rough count of terns this evening produced c60 Common Terns (including at least a dozen juveniles) and c250 Sandwich Terns, though no Little Terns, along with c200 Mediterranean Gulls, plus a Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Common Terns & Common and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Cattle Egrets were in the island roost this morning along with four Grey Herons and five Little Egrets but the harbour remained quiet with just a single Black-tailed Godwit in White's Creek though the female Peregrine (see above) did fly through putting up some Black-headed Gulls from the mud.The Breech Pool is full to the brim yet again and consequently held little bar four Cormorants, two Teal and a few Mallards. Two or three Reed Warblers were heard from the reed-beds but there were few small birds to be found. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt pool - It was pretty standard fare this morning with five Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, two Little Egrets and a Grey Heron on the Stilt Pools but little else of note. The banks held the usual Linnets and Yellowhammers and two Reed Warblers were still singing from the car park ditches. (BI)