19th - 21st September 2019

Saturday, 21st September: The easterly breeze was even fresher this morning, but there was still unbroken sunshine and warm, too, in the sheltered spots.......

Editorial note: At a recent informal meeting the Editors decided to make a couple of very minor changes to the regular sea-watch data from the Bill. It was felt that it would be useful to add the wind direction to the log, so we'll do our best to remember, whilst some minor adjustments will be also made to the abbreviations; for example, we will drop the 'p' for present. One or two other minor tweaks will also be adopted, which most readers probably won't even notice! Finally, we try to keep the list of observers updated with those who participate, so if you feel you have been missed, do please just let us know. Many thanks, Eds.

Selsey Bill: Five Avocets flew east and an Arctic Skua went west and a few Shags and Common Scoter went east, but again the most notable feature of the morning was the hirundine movement, with well over 1000 Swallows and a hundred House Martins heading out south-eastwards. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/AH/IP/CN)
(0630-0930hrs) Wind E/SE5-6    
Gannet - 38E, 28W
Shag - 13E
Common Scoter - 15E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Avocet - 5E
Sanderling - 12E
Arctic Skua - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 9E
Sandwich Tern - 9E
Sand Martin - 4E
House Martin - 123E
Swallow - 1754E
Meadow Pipit - 41E
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Yellow Wagtail - 3E

Avocets (above), Shags, Common Scoters, Sandwich Tern & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool remains very quiet, with just c80 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Teal currently using it to feed, though a Grey Wagtail went over and two Lesser Whitethroats were in an adjacent hedge.. (AH/IP)

Lesser Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was very quiet this morning, with the only passerines of note being three Stonechats on the spit, whilst the harbour held just a lone Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit, c30 Dunlin and c100 Redshank and thee second Several held a Shoveler and two Black-tailed Godwits. (IP/CN)

North Wall: A Kingfisher and a Peregrine both flew over mud flats, whilst White's Creek held a Spotted Redshank at the far end, a few Ringed Plovers and c50 Redshank and Lapwing, plus at least three Pintail and increasing numbers of Wigeon. Another Pintail was on the Breech Pool, along with c30 Teal and 25 Black-tailed Godwits.
There were 30+ Yellow Wagtails and two Cattle Egrets around the cattle, with two Sedge Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Reed Buntings along the hedges, whilst a Wheatear was at Owl Point and a few Swallows went over. (IH/AH)

Wheatear (above), Peregrine, Lapwings & Pintail at the North Wall (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Ruff was between Apuldram & the Lavant Outfall at about mid-tide this lunchtime, and a Kingfisher was seen several times in this area along with 50+ Black-tailed Godwit, 36 Turnstones, up to 15 Greenshank and the first Grey Plovers of the autumn here.
Also, a Bar-tailed Godwit was at Dell Quay, the rough ground south of Fishbourne Meadows held a Whinchat and five Stonechats and a few Common Gulls were on the mud nearby. (RW/HB)

Medmerry: Breach area to Ham Farm - An Osprey was fishing over the reserve again, whilst a Wheatear, eight Stonechats and three Sandwich Terns were in the Breach area.
There were another 11 Stonechats, a Whinchat, a Goldcrest and two Chiffchaffs around the banks and hedges at Ham, along with two Buzzards, but just a lone Swallow was seen. (S&SaH)

Osprey (above) & Stonechat at Medmerry (SH)

Friday, 20th September: Another very sunny morning, but with the easterly breeze freshening considerably as the day progressed.....

Selsey Bill: The first eight Brent Geese of the autumn were seen this morning, oddly all going east. The sea remained fairly quiet otherwise, but 2110 Swallows and 500 House Martins headed purposefully out in a south-easterly direction. Full log below. (C&ME/AH/BI/IP/OM)

(0645-1015hrs)

Gannet - 36E, 190W

Shag - 6E

Brent Goose - 8E

Wigeon - 1W

Common Scoter - 12E

Sanderling - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 11E, 2W

Swallow - 2110E

House Martin - 500E

Meadow Pipit - 75W

Pied Wagtail - 5W

Chiffchaff - 3

Brent Geese (above), Shags & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1630-1730) (SH)
Gannet - 30E, 21W
Shag - 1W
Bonxie - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 10W
auk sp - 1E
Swallow - 32E

Ferry Pool: It was very quiet this morning, with just 75 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Lapwing and 12 Teal on the pool, and another c100 Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were four Cattle Egrets feeding amongst the cattle this afternoon. (SA)

Fishbourne Creek: A Ruff was in the creek this afternoon. (HB)

East Head: At least two Golden Plover, a Knot and a Dunlin were present today (I.Rowe)

Medmerry: Breach area - An Osprey was over the east side of the reserve this morning. (BI)

North Wall: A local photographer reported a Barn Owl at dawn, whilst an hour or so later, a walk along the wall with fellow North Wallers TH and SP produced a Grey Wagtail at the sluice gates, with a few Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps in the bushes together, along with a single Stonechat, though the Breech Pool held nothing of note.
Small groups of Swallows and House Martins were passing overhead and a Hobby scythed through. While watching about 100 Yellow Wagtails around the cattle, two Cattle Egrets flew over, and we briefly saw a Marsh Harrier over the salt marshes, being mobbed by crows along with a Kestrel hovering over the fields. 
A short walk east of Whites Creek not long after low water produced a Greenshank but little else of note. (IH et al)
Later,three Wheatears and half a dozen Blackcaps were around Halsey's Farm, with another Wheatear and several Reed Buntings along the wall, too. (AH/IP)

Yellow Wagtails (above), Wheatear & Cattle Egrets along the North Wall (AH)

Thursday, 19th September: Another bright and breezy morning, with some warmth in the sun, after a chill start, despite the fresh north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A fairly quiet morning, though still with 750 Swallows over east. Full log below...
(0645-0945hrs)  (C&ME/PC/RP)
Gannet - 14E, 35W
Shag - 2E
Shelduck - 3E
Common Scoter - 2E
Turnstone - 3p
Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 3W
Swallow - 750E
House Martin - 67W
Meadow Pipit - 64N
Pied Wagtail - 3W
Chiffchaff - 3p
Also, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was in a local garden

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in a Selsey garden (RP)

......and sadly, this young Herring Gull has been around for a couple of days.... (RP)

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank was on the pool early on before flying back into the harbour, but otherwise there were just c50 Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, plus a few Teal, with 100+ of the latter, plus a Whimbrel, in the channel opposite.

The tramway circuit was quiet, with just a few Linnets, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats seen and two Cetti's Warblers unseen, but calling enthusiastically. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Linnet around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was very quiet here, with three Ravens that circled over the Priory before drifting off west being the only birds of note. 

Otherwise, just the odd Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat were seen in the bushes, plus a few Swallows over, and the harbour held few waders, but did include the Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwits and half a dozen Dunlin and Grey Plovers. (AH)

Ravens (above), Whimbrel & Grey Plover and Redshank at Church Norton (AH)

At lunchtime there were six Stonechats along the front near the spit, along which there were two Clouded Yellows. In the harbour there were also 70 Grey Plovers and six Knot. (AW)

 Stonechat and Clouded Yellow at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: Despite plenty of searchers, the Lapland Bunting could not be re-found this morning, though there were a few warblers around, including up to ten Lesser Whitethroats, half a dozen Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and one or two Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus two Stonechats. 
A Kingfisher was around the western end of the Wall, at least half a dozen Reed Buntings were widely spread and 50+ Swallows and a few House Martins went over, whilst White's Creek held a Curlew Sandpiper, two Knot, two Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. 
The circuit through Owl Point and Halsey’s Farm added a Spotted Flycatcher and just a few more Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats, plus four Blackcaps and little else bar a gathering of 50 House Martins.(AH/OM/SR/KF/PD/AW/IM/A&YF et al)

Just to confuse things, these Reed Buntings were feeding on the lower path this morning, where yesterday's Lapland Bunting was! (AW)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Knot & Greenshank and Redshanks around the North Wall (AH)

East side: In the channel were 35 Wigeon and 3 Pintail, whilst 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were roosting on the mudflats in the usual location. A flock of 50 Dunlin and a single Knot contained nothing unusual and along the hedgerows a Cetti’s Warbler, another 6 Chiffchaffs and a Reed Warbler were the best on offer. (OM)

 Yellow-legged Gulls from the East side (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pools - An Osprey flew into the dead tree line this evening, and there were 100+ Mediterranean Gulls spread around, whilst other sightings included a Greenshank, 30+ Grey Herons (including a flock of 23 flying around), a Whinchat, seven Stonechats and four Chiffchaffs.
The only waders on the Stilt Pool were a Greenshank, four Avocets and a single Dunlin. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - There were four Stonechats, a couple of Reed Buntings and a Skylark around the scrubby field, with a dozen Swallows going over and there were also two Buzzards sat together on the telegraph posts by the farm. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Buzzards at Medmerry (AH)