20th - 22nd August 2019

Thursday, 22nd August: Another lovely morning of almost unbroken warm sunshine and just a light south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A few Sandwich and Common Terns were still about, but not much was on the move. Full log below. (C&ME)
(0645-0900hrs)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 4E, 10W
Common Scoter - 1W
Sanderling - 5E
Turnstone - 20W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 9W, 45os
Common Tern - 4E
Swallow - 12W
House Martin - 15W
Pied Wagtail - 2W
Chiffchaff - 2p

Ferry Pool: The juvenile Spotted Redshank and four Greenshank were on the pool early this morning, along with two Little Ringed Plovers, four Avocets, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, c90 Lapwing, c75 Teal and six Shelducks.
A Tree Pipit sat out along the cycle-path towards the Tramway was a surprise, but save half a dozen Whitethroats it was very quiet, though c40 Sand Martins and c20 Swallows went over. 
Also, there were four Emperor Dragonflies present. (AH/RP)
Later on, three Whinchats were sat out on the thistles at the back of the Ferry (AB)

Tree Pipit (above), Whitethroat, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank (AH) & Emperor Dragonfly (RP) around the Ferry 

North Wall: White’s Creek this morning held 2 Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper. The least said the better about the Breech Pool at the moment, but a Kingfisher flew through there and a few Sand Martins and Swallows passed over. Along the Wall a few migrants were in evidence, where 12 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Reed Warblers, a Wheatear and several Willow Warblers were logged.

A Green Sandpiper was flushed from the small pool near Owl Point, but Halsey’s Farm proved to be the best area, producing 2 Cattle Egrets, 3 Whimbrel, a Redstart, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat and another half a dozen Whitethroats.(OM)

 Cattle Egrets at Halsey's Farm and Greenshank at White's Creek (OM)

Church Norton: It was generally very quiet, though the Spotted Flycatcher and two Redstarts were still about, if elusive. Otherwise there were just a couple of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps around the churchyard/hide area and a scattering of juvenile Whitethroats in the vicinity and along the front, plus a few Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows over.
The harbour was quiet - though nine Grey Herons on the mud was unusual. Around 20 Sandwich Terns and a couple of Common Terns were on the mud, with another 100+ of the former and half a dozen of the latter, plus at least 300 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach. (AH/A&YF/PD et al)

Sandwich Terns (above), Grey Herons & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)

This evening one of the Redstarts was still behind the hide, whilst there were still c150 Sandwich Terns split between the harbour and the beach, along with similar numbers of Mediterranean Gulls.

There were also a Greenshank and a Knot in the harbour and a few Swallows and Sand Martins over. (AH)

Redstart (above), Greenshank and Redshank & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - There were 100+ Sand Martins, plus a Swift and the odd Swallow over the first field from the car-park, and three Sparrowhawks were together nearby, but the banks were quiet, with just the odd Yellowhammer, Skylark and Whitethroat, plus 100 or more Goldfinches, seen.

A Common Sandpiper was by the Poplars, but two more on the Stilt Pool were the only waders present there, though three Greenshank flew in and back out again and two Avocets and a dozen Ringed Plover and Dunlin were on the reserve opposite.

The two Spoonbills were on the islands, along with the female Pintail, 20+ Gadwall and a few Teal, but the pool was dominated by the 300+ Canada Geese - plus the two Bar-headed Geese - that have settled back in to moult. There were also 50+ Sand Martins around the pool, along with a few House Martins and Swallows. (AH/PD)

Spoonbills (above), Yellowhammer, Common Sandpiper with Canada Geese & Bar-headed Geese at Medmerry (AH)

East Head: The female Kingfisher, presumably the one present last winter, was back in its usual spot this morning on Snowhill Creek. (MR)

Kingfisher at Snowhill Creek (MR)

Wednesday, 21st August: A morning that started quite cool, absolutely still and bright, before slowly clouding over, though the breeze remained light and the temperature rose....becoming warm by afternoon.

Selsey Bill: A slow morning again, though some hirundines were clearly starting to move...
Full log below.  (C&ME)
(0645-0915hrs) 
Gannet - 7W
Common Scoter - 6W
Curlew - 7W
Turnstone - 18W
Sanderling - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 11E, 19W, 50os
Mediterranean Gull - 3W
Swallow - 61W
House Martin - 90W
Blackcap - 2 gardens
Willow Warbler - 3 garden

Ferry Pool: A juvenile Spotted Redshank, a Dunlin and three Greenshank were on the pool early on, though they all soon returned to the harbour, and there were also still the four Avocets, three Shovelers, thee Shelducks and c80 Black-tailed Godwits, with similar of Lapwing and Teal present, plus a Whimbrel in the channel opposite.
The bushes around the Discovery area were quite busy early on with Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus the odd Lesser Whitethroat, whilst a Spotted Flycatcher was present there later on. (AH/TG/TG-P)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Blackcap & Lesser Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Around 30 Sand Martins and a few Swallows were feeding over the pool, but the bushes were quiet, save a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Whitethroats. (AH)

Sand Martins over the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: There was a bit of a change of birds since yesterday, but there were still a Spotted Flycatcher and two Redstarts in the vicinity of the hide, along with c40 Willow Warblers, c20 Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a handful of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps.
Three Whinchats were between the concrete wall and the horse field, but the front was very quiet except for Whitethroats, which probably numbered 20.
Around ten Common Terns, 120 Sandwich Terns and 250 Mediterranean Gulls were sat out on the beach at low tide, along with c25 Grey Plovers and 40 Turnstones, but the harbour was quiet, aside from the regular Redshanks, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. (AH/A&YF/TG/AB et al)

Whinchats (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean Gull & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Whinchat (above)& Redstart at Church Norton (AB)

Runcton: A Portland Ribbon Wave, (a Red Data Book species), was in the trap this morning. (CRJ)

Portland Ribbon Wave at Runcton this morning (CRJ)

Ivy Lake complex: A casual look around the trees and lakeside vegetation this morning produced a number of migrants, including a Spotted Flycatcher, two Lesser Whitethroats, six Reed Warblers, two Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and at least 20 Willow Warblers. There was also a Kingfisher about and several young Great Crested Grebes. (OM/AB)

 A fine morning at Ivy Lake, looking towards Chichester Cathedral (OM) 

Great Crested Grebes on Ivy Lake (AB)

Drayton House Pits: There were small numbers of Willow Warblers at both pits, though in general it was quiet with just standard fare present. Highlights were few, but on the North pit were a juvenile Bullfinch and a family party of Jays, whilst on the South pit a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were the best on offer. (OM)

Common Sandpiper at Drayton House pits (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - Two Spoonbills and 3 Greenshank were on the Stilt Pool early evening, whilst along the paths and banks were 100+ Sand Martins, 50+ Swallows, 10 Yellow Wagtails, a Hobby, a Sparrowhawk and a Common Sandpiper. (SH)

North Wall: A Kingfisher was on the Breech Pool and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was nearby this afternoon. (AB)

Hummingbird Hawk-moth at the North Wall (AB)

Tuesday, 20th August: A lovely late summer's morning, with a lighter breeze, from the west, and lots of sunshine.....

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua went west this morning and 100+ Sandwich Terns were logged again, whilst four Wheatears were along the front. Full log below...... 
0645-0845hrs:  (C&ME)
Gannet - 32W
Common Scoter - 2E
Turnstone - 11 ob
Little Tern - 4W
Common Tern - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 26E, 33W, 60 os
Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 10W
Arctic Skua - 1E (d/p)
House Martin - 7W
Swallow - 5W
Wheatear - 4 ob
Pied Wagtail - 3W
Chiffchaff - 1 gardens
Willow Warbler - 3 gardens
        

Ferry Pool: Two Common Sandpipers and four Avocets were on the pool, along with c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c80 Teal, whilst there were just a couple of Whimbrel and half a dozen Curlews around the channel opposite.

The Tramway circuit was very busy, with at least one Garden Warbler, a probable Redstart, half a dozen Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps, two or three Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and at least 25 Whitethroats around the bushes and a couple of Swifts and 20+ Sand Martins over. (AH/IP)

Garden Warbler (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap & Common Sandpiper around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall & East side: The Breech Pool was full of water as ever, with just a few Mallards and two Teal to show for it! Along White's Creek there were three Spotted Redshanks, four Greenshanks and two Common Sandpipers, with two adult Yellow-legged Gulls in their usual area of the mudflats. 
At least 18 Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and three Whimbrel were amongst 60+ Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plovers along the East side, with another two Common Sandpipers on the margins of the Lagoon. At least 15 Whitethroats were spread along the hedgerows, with just a single Reed Warbler, though an active Sparrowhawk didn't make for easy counting.  (OM/BFF/DM)

 Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper in White's Creek (OM)

Fishbourne Creek: There were two Firecrests in Apuldram churchyard this morning, whilst the creek held five Greenshanks, three juvenile Buzzards and 450 Mediterranean Gulls. (BFF/DM)

Church Norton: There were good numbers of commoner migrants about this morning, including a Spotted Flycatcher behind the hide, along with a bright male Redstart, with two more female types in the churchyard and another between the Severals. 

Small numbers of Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were widely scattered, with a few Reed and Sedge Warblers around the second Several, whilst there were three Whinchats near the concrete blocks and at least 15 Wheatears spread along the beach.

Two Little Terns were feeding offshore, with about 20 Sandwich Terns and similar of Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, but the harbour just held the usual suspects, including a few Ringed Plovers and 50+ Dunlin.

There was also a Red Underwing moth in the churchyard and plenty of Painted Ladies on the wing. (AH/IP/A&YF/C&ME/Ga&RH)

Redstarts (above), Whinchats, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap & Red Underwing at Church Norton (AH)

Then later (early afternoon), there was a good deal of activity in the churchyard, when a smart Pied Flycatcher was found (Ga&RH et al) - eventually showing well after being elusive - plus at least four Redstarts and a Whinchat, with the Spotted Flycatcher still in situ. 
Also, two young Peregrines were chasing each other around over the spit late this morning, whilst around high tide there were five Little Terns, 18 Sandwich Terns, a Knot, a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the harbour..(Ga&RH/BFF/DM/OM/RP/IP/KJ et al).

Pied Flycatcher (DM top & RP) (above) & juvenile Peregrines (GaH) at Church Norton

DM struggling to photo the Pied Fly in the churchyard, as IP gives directions and BFF looks on! (OM)

Northcommon Farm/Warner Lane paddocks:There was just a single Whitethroat on offer around 'Flycatcher corner' but at the paddocks there were at least eight of the species, plus a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers, whilst a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were hunting the area. (OM/BFF/DM)
This evening, at Flycatcher corner, there was a Spotted Flycatcher, a Wheatear and a Whitethroat. (SH)

Selsey, Park Farm: This evening there were 2 Wheatears, 40 Yellow Wagtails, 50+ Swallows, 50+ House Martins, a Green Sandpiper and a Sparrowhawk. (SH)