23rd - 25th May 2020

Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May: A very warm and sunny morning, with just a light and variable breeze.....

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua went east, then back west, chasing the terns as it went, nine Fulmars went west and a flock of 23 Common Scoters went east this morning, whilst plenty of terns were offshore. 
There has also been a Willow Warbler heard singing from Bill house garden several times recently. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/AH/SR/IP)
(0530-0830hrs) (N, F1-2)
Fulmar -6E, 9W
Gannet - 15E, 7W
Shelduck - 2E
Mallard - 3E
Common Scoter - 23E
Sanderling - 2
Turnstone - 5E
Arctic Skua - 1E, then W (l/p)
Kittiwake - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 32os
Common Tern - 7os
Little Tern - 3os
Razorbill - 3W
auk sp - 4E
Pied Wagtail - 1
Swallow - 4
House Martin - 12
Willow Warbler - 1

Arctic Skua and Sandwich Tern (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Also, of note, at least ten Storm-petrels were following the fishing boat out in the channel this morning, some 30 miles south of Selsey. (CW)

Storm-petrels out in the English Channel (CW)

Ferry Pool: There were five Dunlin on the pool this morning, along with a dozen Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, five Redshank and to Lapwings, plus a pair of Gadwall and c20 shelducks. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Red Kite went over the garage in the middle of the village early this afternoon, along with three Buzzards. (S&SaH)
Also, two different Cuckoos were calling quite near our garden today and a Hobby shot through late afternoon. (AH)

Church Norton: Most of the waders appeared to have moved off from the harbour, with just two Sanderling, a Grey Plover and a handful of Ringed Plovers present. along with plenty of terns.
Also, a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus the odd Whitethroat were along the front and a Sparrowhawk and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen at their nests. (IP/S&SaH)
Also, 100+ Smooth-hounds (a type of dog-fish for the uninitiated!) were swimming very close inshore off of the spit. (AT)

Sparrowhawk (IP, top & SH) & Great Spotted Woodpecker (SH) at Church Norton

North Wall: A lovely morning, but quiet on the bird front. Stock Doves were feeding young at Pagham Church, whilst on the Breech Pool were four pairs of Tufted Ducks, a few Mallard and a Little Grebe. 
The usual Warblers were along the Wall - Reed, Sedge and Cetti's, and also present were Reed Buntings, Linnets, Whitethroat, Wrens and Blue Tits, the latter two seen feeding young. Also, a Cuckoo was calling from Owl Copse and pair of Roe Deer were in Honer 3 field. (JDW)

Roe Deer at the North Wall (JDW)

This afternoon a Spotted Flycatcher was by the first gate at Halsey's Farm, with a Grey Partridge in the area and there were several Cattle Egrets coming and going from Owl Copse.
There were also plenty of Reed Warblers, Cetti's Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing along the wall. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A pair of Grey Partridges were in the barley fields beyond Marsh Barn and another new family of Stonechats, with at least two juveniles, was nearby. 
There were still plenty of Reed Warblers and the odd Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting singing from the pools, whilst the banks held numerous Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks, plus a pair of displaying Meadow Pipits, but, again, very few Yellowhammers. Also, Cuckoos were calling from west of Marsh Farm and over towards Ham.
Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, along with two Redshaks and a Lapwing, plus 14 Avocets, of which two, possibly three, birds might have been brooding. (AH)

Grey Partridge (above) Linnet, Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Little Ringed Plover, Avocet & Hedge Woundwort at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 24th May: After a cloudy start, another bright and sunny morning, with the breeze remaining fresh and from the west.....

Selsey Bill: There were a number of interesting things this morning, despite the unpromising conditions, including a Long-tailed Duck going through with a flock of Common Scoters, four Arctic Skuas going east together, pausing to have a collective go at the terns, a Black-tailed Godwit (surprisingly rare here) going west and another late eastbound Red-throated Diver. Full log later. (SH/BI/AH/IP/JA/SR)
(0530-0900hrs) (W, F5-6)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Fulmar - 3W
Gannet - 16E, 35W, 15os
Common Scoter - 12E, 9W
Long-tailed Duck - 1E
Kestrel - 1
Black-tailed Godwit - 1W
Arctic Skua - 4E (together)
Sandwich Tern - 37os
Common Tern - 3os
Little Tern - 1os
Razorbill - 3W
Guillemot - 2W
auk sp - 2E, 5W
Swift - 20
Swallow - 1
House Martin - 7

Fulmar (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c40 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with 16 Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, five Redshanks and c20 Shelducks, whilst later 15 Dunlin dropped in and 3 Lesser Whitethroats were singing along the Tramway. (AH/SH/CRJ et al)
Also, the Tawny Owl was back in its box this morning. (IL)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

East Head: Good news to report from Snowhill Creek, where at least five, and possibly up to ten, pairs of Avocets have successfully nested, with up to ten chicks of various sizes now out and feeding. (GM/PH/MR)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - At least 50 Swifts were over the sewage farm this morning, with a family of Great Tits being fed in the nearby hawthorns. (A&YF)

Sidlesham: A Broad-bodied Chaser was in the garden today. (A&YF)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to the Stilt Pool - The Stonechat family with three young was near Ham Farm and along the path were a Corn Bunting and a Sparrowhawk. At the Stilt Pool there were just two Avocets and two Ringed Plovers; whilst in the rifes tadpoles were numerous - presumably from Marsh Frogs, and dragonflies included a Four-spotted Chaser. (S&SaH)

 Corn Bunting, Little Grebe, Marsh Frog and Four-spotted Chaser around Mermerry. (S&SaH)

North Wall: There was some Swallow activity at the stables this morning and a Pied Wagtail was busy nest building there, too. About 30 Ringed Plover and 40 Dunlin were out on the mudflats and a Lesser Whitethroat called in the hedgerow by Whites Creek.  
A Yellowhammer was present along the Wall, a Cuckoo called near Halsey's where two House Martins were also flying and there was also the regular appearance of a Common Tern by the Breech Pool.  (IH/TH)

Church Norton: The Curlew Sandpiper couldn't be found this morning, though at least 25 Sanderling were with c40 Dunlin and c50 Ringed Plovers in the harbour, along with a lone Bar-tailed Godwit.
There were a lot of Little and Sandwich Terns in the harbour, with another 80 of the latter and 20 Common Terns, plus a couple of Gannets, offshore.
Also, a Spotted Flycatcher was behind the hide, one or two Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats sang sporadically and several Skylarks were along the spit. (AH/PC/JW/MP et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Little Tern, Skylark, Sanderlings & Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

The Curlew Sandpiper re-appeared with the dropping tide, having been absent this morning, though it could still be elusive, among similar to earlier numbers of Sanderlings, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. Also a juvenile Mistle Thrush was behind the hide. (IL/AH/RP)

Curlew Sandpiper (above), Sanderling, Sanderlings and Dunlin, Dunlin (AH) & Mistle Thrush (RP) at Church Norton

Saturday, 23rd May: A bright and sunny morning, but with the west-south-westerly breeze approaching gale force at times.....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet, though a Red-throated Diver, a couple of Bonxies and Arctic Skuas and 100+ Gannets went east and a couple of Fulmars went west. Full log below.....
(0515-0900hrs) (WSW, F6)  (SH/BI/AH/IP)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Fulmar - 3E, 3W
Gannet - 135E, 10W
Little Egret - 1E
Common Scoter - 6E
Sanderling - 3 ob
Turnstone - 3W
Little Tern - 2 os
Common Tern - 8 os
Sandwich Tern - 21 os
Arctic Skua - 2E (d/p)
Great Skua - 2E
Swift - 5 os
Swallow - 5W
House Martin - 6

Fulmar (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

(1530-1700hrs) (SH)
Fulmar - 5W
Gannet - 10E, 7W
Arctic Skua - 1E (i/p)
Sandwich Tern - 16os
Common Tern - 2os
Little Tern - 5os
Swallow 1
House Martin 3

Ferry Pool: Six Dunlin dropped in briefly but otherwise it was much as other recent days, including 20 Avocets, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, four Gadwall and 15 Shelducks. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Dunlin at the Ferry (AH)

This evening, one of the Tawny Owlets was showing well in the box in the Discovery Area. (SR)

Tawny Owlet at the Visitor Centre (SR)

Northcommon Farm: One of the Little Owls was sat out at dusk this evening. (SR)

North Wall: The strong wind hampered viewing but a Cuckoo near Halsey's Farm, a Common Tern, three Swifts, a Greenfinch, a Song Thrush and about 12 Ringed Plover were all noted. (IH/SP/TH)

Church Norton: The summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was out on the mud again this morning, among a loose flock of 16 Sanderlings, c50 Ringed Plovers and c75 Dunlin, whilst a Grey Plover and six Turnstones were on the far side of the harbour and there was still plenty of tern activity, whilst two Fulmars went west offshore.

There were also two Spotted Flycatchers behind the hide, with another along the path between the Severals, though otherwise passerines were limited to one or two Blackcaps and a handful of Swallows. A newly-fledged Chaffinch was also being fed by its parents in an oak tree along the shore path and an adult and a young Stoat ere on the sleepers by the hide. (AH/SR/S&SH/BI/IP/AB et al)

Curlew Sandpiper with Dunin and Sanderlings (above), Little Tern & Spotted Flycatchers at Church Norton (AH)

 Recently fledged Chaffinch and Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (SR)

Stoat at Church Norton (AB)

The Curlew Sandpiper wasn't showing late this afternoon, though most of the morning's birds were, including up to a dozen Sanderling among the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and plenty of Little and Sandwich Terns. (AH)

Sanderlings (above), Little Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)