25th - 27th September 2019

Friday, 27th September: Rather similar to yesterday weather-wise; blustery, grey and cloudy with heavy showers through the morning, but also with some brief brighter spells and the odd bit of sunshine. Remaining very windy, with a near gale-force south-westerly and low pressure still dominating....

Selsey Bill: There were six Arctic Skuas this morning and over 30 Sandwich Terns going west, plus five 'Commic' Terns; some or all of the latter could well have been Arctic Terns, but the prevailing conditions and distance meant that it was just not possible to clinch the ID. No shearwaters could be found however, although some were seen elsewhere in the Channel today. Meanwhile, over 400 Meadow Pipits and 80 Swallows also passed through, as did a few Yellow Wagtails. Full log below......
0700-1330hrs:  (SW5-7)  (C&ME/BI/IP/OM)
Gannet - 26E, 83W, 30os
Shag - 10E
Brent Goose - 1E, 21W
Common Scoter - 7E
Turnstone - 15 ob
'Commic' Tern - 5W
Sandwich Tern - 35W
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Arctic Skua - 6W (1 l/p, 5 d/p)
auk sp - 4E
Meadow Pipit - 475W
Pied Wagtail - 24W
Yellow Wagtail - 7W
Grey Wagtail - 2W
House Martin - 20W
Swallow - 85W
Goldcrest - 1 Bill House garden

Sandwich Tern (above), Meadow Pipit and Brent Geese at the Bill (BI)

North Wall: A fairly brief walk along the wall revealed a Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank visible from the sluice gates, and further along two Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and a glimpse of a Whitethroat, plus one Swallow flew over. (IH)

Ferry Pool/Tramway: Despite the blustery conditions, the Rose-coloured Starling was again located mid-morning, in the same area of the Tramway as previously (although there was no sign later in the day) whilst an Osprey over the harbour was also observed from here. There were also c.20 Pintail over the saltmarsh along with a number of Wigeon & Teal and two Chiffchaffs were along the path. (RJS/BI et al). The Ferry Pool held c.30 Black-tailed Godwits, two Shelducks and a few Teal. (BI)

Pintail over the Tramway (BI)

Thursday, 26th September: A morning that started very wet and ended up with bright and warm spells and heavy cloud, with a fresh and blustery but unexpectedly warm south-westerly throughout....

Selsey Bill: There was a surprising amount of westward tern passage this morning, consisting of a flock of 11 Arctic Terns close in, another more distant 39 'Commic' Terns (quite likely all or mostly further Arctics) and 35 Sandwich Terns, but the highlight was a flock of 3 Balearic Shearwaters west at 1310hrs. There was also a steady westward movement of Swallows and Meadow Pipits. Full log below..... 
0700-1415hrs:  (SW5-6/7)  (C&ME/OM/AH/PC et al)
Balearic Shearwater - 3W
Gannet - 5E, 15W
Shag - 2E, 1os
Brent Goose - 23W
auk sp - 1E
Arctic Tern - 11W
'Commic' Tern - 39W
Sandwich Tern - 35W
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Pied Wagtail - 5W
Meadow Pipit - 158W
Wheatear - 1
Swallow - 390W
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Shag & Meadow Pipits at the Bill (AH)

(1630-1800hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 1E, 12os
Common Scoter - 4E
Arctic Skua - 1W (l/p)
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 16W
'Commic' Tern - 3W

Ferry Pool: The Rose-coloured Starling was not reported all morning, but was eventually re-located early afternoon in the same area of the Tramway as yesterday. An Osprey was also seen from there over the harbour. Small numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in the bushes around the Discovery area., whilst a Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank were in the channel and two Whimbrel were out on the saltmarsh.(BFF/DM)

Also, a Kingfisher was in the channel, but the pool held just 40 or so Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks and c30 Teal. (AH)

Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A few Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and a Spotted Flycatcher were at Halsey's farm and from the North Wall we had another prolonged view of the fishing Osprey. (BFF/DM)

Church Norton: The most notable feature this morning was the 300 or so Swallows feeding low over the harbour, though there were also a Spotted Flycatcher and a handful of Blackcaps by the concrete wall and several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around the Mound area.
There were two Whimbrels present again, along with two Bar-tailed Godwits and a dozen Curlews, but the only other waders seen on the high tide were 50+ Redshanks. (AH)
This afternoon a Nuthatch was among a mixed tit flock in the car-park, whilst the Osprey was over the harbour and there were also three Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart and a Hobby seen, along with few Sand Martins among the Swallows and House Martins. (G Kinnard per Twitter)

Whimbrel (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Swallows at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 25th September: A wet and windy start as the unsettled conditions continue, with heavy cloud and rain and a strong W/SW wind.....becoming drier by mid-morning, with the odd glimpse of brightness and the risk of further heavy showers.

It is with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Beryl James, our longest-serving observer and a Peninsula stalwart. Beryl was a remarkable lady, being one of the original birding group who in the early 1960’s helped establish Selsey Bill as a bird-watching site, when the infamous rickety wooden hut was used as a base camp for observers.
My first memories of her were in the early 1970’s when she and husband Charles – then the SOS Hon Recorder - would visit the Bill from their home in Horsham. She was the first ‘proper’ female birder I had ever met, a bit of a rarity at the time and she was much respected. Always sharp-eyed, Beryl was also a cautious observer, not jumping to conclusions; a quality I tried to emulate back in the day. As a  keen young observer, I recall finding a Serin at the Bill, then loudly and excitedly yelling across to some friends, much to the disapproval of the Hon Recorder and other more established observers nearby; I’ve never forgotten the kind and knowing smile Beryl gave me as I learnt a lesson in fieldcraft!

As time went on, she eventually moved to Selsey where she soon settled and was always happy to be; no spring sea-watch was complete without Beryl cheerfully riding her trusty bike down to the Bill-tip to join the assembled crowd. In due course her enthusiasm for birding was passed on to her son Paul and grandson Gareth, both of whom she was very proud of.

Those that knew Beryl soon discovered she was a fiercely independent and capable lady, who liked to do all things for herself if possible, even when the advancing years began to catch up with her. She was always active with voluntary work, freely giving her time to a number of societies and in February this year the RSPB presented her with an award in recognition of her 30+ years of service at Pagham Harbour Nature reserve.

The last few years saw her health steadily decline but she resolutely battled on, not giving in to various medical conditions despite the need for hospital visits. She remained keen to know what birds were around, still finding time to make occasional birding visits to the Bill and the harbour with friends and family. What was to be her last Bill visit  - at the age of 90 - was as recently as 4^th September, just two days before she was admitted to hospital, where she passed away peacefully early on Monday morning (23^rd)^..

She was much loved and admired by all who met her. The Peninsula will be a poorer place with the passing of this lovely lady and our thoughts and condolences go to her family at this difficult time. Rest in peace Beryl - though I suspect you will have already volunteered to organise some birding event in a much higher place!  (OM) (Eds)

Beryl at the Bill in spring 2002 (OM)

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet this morning, with just a few Gannets offshore and a handful of Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits going west. 
(0700-0930hrs) (C&ME)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 5W
Shag - 1E
Common Scoter - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 2os, 1W
House Martin - 3E
Chiffchaff - 2

(1000-1040hrs) (PB/OM)
Gannet - 7E, 8W
Swallow - 15W
House Martin - 10W

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Shag - 4W
Sandwich Tern - 1W
Razorbill - 1W

Ferry Pool: The juvenile Rose-coloured Starling eventually gave itself up this morning, among a large and mobile flock of Starlings that were mainly feeding on the salt-marsh off the Tramway, though occasionally dropping onto the hedges along the Long Pool. 

Otherwise, a Hobby and a Sedge Warbler were the most notable sightings, along with a Spotted Flycatcher, a few Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits, plus a Kingfisher in the channel and a dozen Pintail and lots of Wigeon and Teal in the harbour. Also, a couple of House Martins, c30 Swallows, five Linnets and 10 Meadow Pipits went over.

The Pool itself just held c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Lapwing, plus six Shovelers, three Shelduck and a dozen Teal. (AH/IP/SR/OM/PB/AB et al)

Later, an Osprey was over the harbour, viewable from the Tramway. (AB)

Rose-coloured Starling and Starlings (above), Pintails & Wigeon from the Tramway (AH)

Long Pool: A Common Sandpiper was at the far end of Ferry Channel, where there were also a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank, but the bushes just held a couple of Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings. (AH/IP)

North Wall: Late this morning a Sparrowhawk was at Owl Point and three Cattle Egrets were at the west end of the North Wall, near the cattle there. (IH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Little Grebe with its late chick that it was feeding was on the privately owned mill pond this morning. There was also a Sparrowhawk, half a dozen Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs and a flock of Long-tailed Tits in the area. (SR)

Little Grebes on Mill Pond Marsh (SR)