14th - 16th August 2020

Sunday, 16th August: The day started a little less muggy than of late, in the light and variable breeze, before heavy showers moved in late in the morning.....

Selsey Bill: A surprisingly interesting morning, for a good turn-out of watchers, produced a Pomarine Skua and five Garganey (a three and a two) going west, a Pochard east and three Wheatears along the beach. Also, a pod of c10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins went west. Full log below. (SH/BI/MO-W/IP/RP/AH/SR/CN)
(0600-0900hrs) (SE, F2)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet  - 46E, 9W
Garganey - 5W
Teal - 2W
Pochard - 1E
Common Scoter - 4E, 3W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Dunlin - 5W
Turnstone - 17
Pomarine Skua - 1W (0725hrs)
Mediterranean Gull - 23E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 11W
Common Tern - 5E
Swift - 2
Green Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 1
House Martin - 1
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Wheatear - 3
Willow Warbler - 1
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - c10W

Wheatears (above), Pochard, Common Tern, Gannet & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A fishing Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper were the only birds of note, though there were also c20 Black-tailed Godwits, c35 Lapwing, six Shelducks and c70 Teal present, with a Whimbrel in the channel opposite. (AH/CN/AT)

This afternoon a Green Sandpiper was again present. (AW)

Common Sandpiper (above), Whimbrel & Teal around the Ferry (AH)

Northcommon Farm: A Pied Flycatcher and two Spotted Flycatchers were around the hedges this morning. (BI/CN) 

Pied Flycatcher at Northcommon Farm (BI) (BI

The Pied Flycatcher was still showing well this afternoon, and there was also a Garden Warbler in the vicinity. (AW)

Pied Flycatcher (above) & Garden Warbler at Northcommon Farm (AW)

A video of the Pied Flycatcher is here

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just two Sparrowhawks, a single House Martin and a few Swallows present today. (IP/S&SaH) 

Church Norton: Two Sandwich Terns flew into the harbour (one with a fish), and there were also c100 Dunlin and three Turnstones present, whilst a Kingfisher was on the metalwork, a Peregrine was on its island and four Wheatears were along the beach. also a flock of 124 Mediterranean Gulls flew into the harbour, with another 50 still offshore. (IP/P&JW)
Later, there were four Grey Plover, six Sandwich Terns, two Peregrines, 50+ Swallows and two Sand Martins around the harbour and three Gannets west offshore. (S&SaH)
Late this afternoon there were at least four Spotted Flycatchers around the churchyard/hide area, along with similar numbers of Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, whilst at least five Whimbrels were in the harbour.
Also, a Swift was among c40 Swallows over the Severals, and a Silver-Y Moth was along the front. (AW/AH)

Lesser Whitethroat (AH) (above), Spotted Flycatchers (AH top, AW lower) & Silver-Y Moth (AW) at Church Norton

North Wall: There were three Whinchats and a Hobby over at Halsey's Farm, with four Whimbrel, seven Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen or so Curlews on the fields there, plus 20 Sand Martins over.
The Wall was generally quiet for passerines, though three Wheatears were on the rocks beside the path. The odd Whitethroat, Willow, Reed and Sedge Warbler was noted, whilst the Breech Pool - still looking perfect for passage waders - held two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwings and c20 Teal. A Green Sandpiper, calling several times, flew over the pool and clearly thought about settling, before moving on, heading off north-west. Another Greenshank also flew around the harbour, where three more Whimbrel were seen, whilst 16 Cattle Egrets and 12 Little Egrets were sat out near their favoured island at high tide. (OM/IH/AH/BI)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel, Cattle and Little Egrets & Sedge Warbler around the North Wall (AH)

East side: A Greenshank was in White's Creek early on, as was a Whimbrel and a Kingfisher, but apart from the regular Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks and Lapwings, there was little else of interest. Further out on the mudflats however, there were 28 Grey Plovers, 3 Knot, 15 Dunlin, another Greenshank, two Whimbrel and 15 Ringed Plovers. 
Surprisingly, a party of six Little Terns (three adults, three juveniles) was roosting on the mudflats amongst them for quite some time - before the rising tide pushed them all off. 
Ten Sand Martins also flew over heading west and two Willow Warblers were in the tamarisk hedges. (OM) 

Dunlin, Grey Plover, Knot, Greenshank and Little Tern (above) and Little Terns (below)  (OM) 

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Before the rain came, there were three Wheatears and a Whinchat en route to the Stilt Pool, whilst a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper were on the pool itself. (CN)
This afernoon, after the rain passed, the banks were busy, with a Yellow Wagtail, four Corn Buntings, 20+ Yellowhammers, three Reed Buntings and 20+ Whitethroats seen, plus a Kingfisher, a Whimbrel  and 80+ Mediterranean Gulls, by the poplars and 20+ Swallows and three Sand Martins over.
There was plenty of activity around the Stilt Pool, too, including a Whinchat, seven Stonechats, nine Wheatears, a Reed Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and six Meadow Pipits, with seven Egyptian Geese, three Common Sandpipers and three Ringed Plovers on the pool itself. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 15th August: Another very grey and humid morning, with barely a breathe of breeze, with persistent light drizzle setting in for most of the morning.....

Selsey Bill: Up to eight fairly mobile Wheatears were around the houses this morning, whilst two Common Sandpipers went west along the beach and nine Common Terns (including seven together) went east offshore. Also, seven Foxes - two adults and five well-grown cubs - were seen along the beach. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/RP/MO-W/AH)
(0600-0830hrs) (NE, F1)
Gannet - 7E, 4W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Sanderling - 3W
Whimbrel - 4W
Common Sandpiper - 2W
Turnstone -53
Sandwich Tern - 8E, 2W
Common Tern - 9E
Sand Martin - 1
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Wheatear -8
Willow Warbler - 6
Fox - 7 along beach

Wheatears (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1615-1715hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 7E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1W
Common Tern - 1E, 1w
Swallow - 5
House Martin - 6
Willow Warbler - 1

Birdham: A very vocal Stone-curlew went south-west over the house this evening at 2230hrs. (AB)

Park Farm, Selsey: At least 50 Swallows and a few House Martins were present early afternoon, plus 30 Collared Doves around the grain barn. (S&SaH)

Paddock Lane, Selsey: A Pied Flycatcher was in the garden briefly at 1600hrs, and then again for a few minutes at 1830hrs, before being seen off by a Robin. (JW)

Ferry Pool: The two Wood Sandpipers dropped in together from somewhere at the back of the pool this morning, whilst there were also still three Common Sandpipers present, along with c20 Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Shelducks and c40 Teal, and a Wheatear was out in the field. (AH/IP)
This afternoon there were three Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats at the back of the pool, whilst a Green Sandpiper and the two Wood Sandpipers were on the pool itself. (AW)

Wood Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Greenshanks were in White's Creek this morning and, although the Breech Pool continues to offer apparently ideal conditions, the only waders present were a further Greenshank and a few Black-tailed Godwits which were accompanied by 30 Teal. 

About 20 Curlew were in a field near Halsey's Farm, together with a Kestrel and a Whitethroat in the otherwise quiet hedgerows. (IH)

Church Norton: A quick look this morning suggested it was very quiet, with two Whimbrel the only birds of note in the harbour and just the odd Whitethroat and Blackcap, plus a handful of Swallows on the landside. (AH)
Early afternoon there was a Grey Plover plus two Sandwich Terns in the harbour, with 100+ Swallows and 50+ Sand Martins overhead. Two Wheatears were on the beach, whilst the bushes held two Blackcaps, three Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler and two Cetti's Warblers (S&SaH)
This evening there were five Whimbrel and a Sandwich Tern in the harbour, along with a flock of c300 Linnets on Tern Island, whilst c50Swallows, c25 Sand Martins and c25 House Martins were feeding over the Mound/car-park area. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was generally quiet along the banks, beyond numerous Whitethroats and Linnets, with the highlight being at least six Corn Buntings, with similar of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers around their favoured bushes and the adjacent stubble fields. Up to six Wheatears were in the vicinity of the Stilt Pool, as were a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Reed and Sedge Warblers, whilst c30 Swallows went over.

Five Snipe and at least five Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool, along with a Greenshank, two Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers and a dozen Lapwings, whilst a lone Wigeon and an Egyptian Goose were among the many Gadwall present. 
Also, a Kingfisher was by the poplars, a Sandwich Tern went west offshore and at least 200 Canada Geese were out on the reserve, but the tidal areas held just a couple of Curlew and c30 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Snipe, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit & Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 14th August: The hot spell has finally broken, with a very grey and overcast morning, punctuated by very heavy and slow-moving showers pushed through on the light north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Wheatears and a Ringed Plover were on the beach and five Common Terns went east this morning. Full log below. (BI/RP/MO-W/IP/AH)

(0615-0800hrs) (NE, F3)

Gannet - 26E, 5W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 2W

Ringed Plover - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2W

Common Tern - 5E

Wheatear - 2

A bit later, a Fulmar went west offshore and a Red-legged Partridge was in Hillfield Road car-park. (KJ)

Wheatear (above), Ringed Plover, Sparrowhawk, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

East Beach: This evening c30 Swifts and c100 Swallows were feeding low over Albion Road. (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Common Sandpipers were the only waders present, beyond the regular 20 or so Black-tailed Godwits, and there were also six Shelducks and c30 Teal present. 

The Tramway circuit was quiet, too, with a Garden Warbler, a couple of Blackcaps and half a dozen Whitethroats, plus a few Linnets, being about it. (AH/IP/MO-W)

Garden Warbler (above) & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Late afternoon, there were two Green Sandpipers, the Wood Sandpiper, three Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher on the pool, plus a Jersey Tiger near the hide. (AW)

 Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher & Wood Sandpiper and Jersey Tiger at the Ferry Pool (AW)

Church Norton: Two Wheatears on the beach and a Willow Warbler and a pair of Linnets by the first Several were about the only passerines seen, whilst a Green Woodpecker was in the churchyard and a Peregrine flew in over the beach carrying prey.

Two Greenshanks were in the creek by the horse field, whilst a couple of Whimbrel and a dozen Turnstones and Curlews were about the only waders in the harbour. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Linnet, Peregrine, Greenshanks, Whimbrel & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon, after the rain, there were six Grey Plovers dotted around the harbour, with a single Little Tern and two Sandwich Terns also present. A Common Sandpiper and a Wheatear were around the concrete blocks, while a Lesser Whitethroat was behind the hide. (AW)

Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear at Church Norton (AW) 

Fishbourne channel - Dell Quay: This morning there were 6 Greenshank, 3 summer plumaged Golden Plover, plenty of Curlew, Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwits and about 150 large gulls including an apparent adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with pale pink legs!

In the Rookwood area- the gull flock included at least 2100 Mediterranean Gulls, 450 Herring Gulls and 380 Black-headed Gulls. (PH/HB)