Saturday 1 August 2020

1st - 3rd August 2020

Monday, 3rd August: Another pleasant and sunny morning after a chill start, though the fresh north-westerly breeze persists.......

Selsey Bill: A gathering of terns was feeding offshore early on and a Wheatear was briefly present, though it was generally quiet. Full log below...... 
0630-0800hrs:  (wind W/NW4)   (AH/IP/MO-W/OM)
Gannet - 3E, 3W
Common Scoter - 2E
Turnstone - 16 ob
Sparrowhawk - 1
Little Tern - 4 os
Common Tern - 6 os
Sandwich Tern - 40 os
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Swift - 9
Sand Martin - 4E
House Martin - 5
Wheatear - 1


Sandwich Tern (above), Little Tern, Turnstones & Wheatear at the Bill (AH)




Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with an Avocet, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, ten shelducks and 14 Teal, though there was nothing in the channel opposite early on as a man was flying a drone low over it and there was just a Whimbrel present later. (AH/OM)
Later, there was a bit of activity in the sallows at the overflow car park, where at least five Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler and four Blackcaps were present, whilst further along the cycle track were 10 Whitethroats, two more Blackcaps and another Willow Warbler. (OM)
This evening a ringed female Kingfisher was along Ferry Channel. (AW)


Avocet (above), Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwit around the Ferry (AH)




Willow Warblers in the VC car park (OM)

North Wall: The Breech Pool this morning at one time, unusually, held a Curlew and a Cattle Egret as well as a single Black-tailed Godwit and several Teal while there was burst of song from a nearby Cetti's Warbler.  
There were a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Tern in Whites Creek and another two Greenshanks further out in the harbour, together with at least one Whimbrel and a scattering of Dunlin, whilst near Heron Island there were eight Cattle Egrets with a Kestrel in the distance. (IH)

Church Norton: There were still a dozen Little Terns and 40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour this morning, though there were just a couple of Whimbrel and a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers among the numerous Redshanks present.
A Reed Warbler was feeding two freshly fledged young outside the hide, with a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps nearby, whilst a Sedge Warbler was feeding at least three young on the first Several, where there were also a handful of Whitethroats. (AH) 


Reed Warblers (above), Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat & Little and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)





This evening there were at least 350 Dunlin and 80 Ringed Plovers out on the mud, including what would appear to be the pair plus juvenile that had been frequenting the mud by the concrete slabs, There were also several very young Sandwich Terns among the 30 or so present.
There were also c25 Swallows, presumably two or three families with many juveniles being fed by their parents, around the hide and a huge fast moving flock of c75 birds - comprising Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and Willow.Chiffs - went through the churchyard. (AH)


Sandwich Terns (above), Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Swallows & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)





Fishbourne Creek: About 90 Mediterranean Gulls were present early on, and later two Common Gulls - my first of the autumn - were also about. Around the sluice north of the sewage works there were about 40 House Sparrow as well as single Reed Bunting and Linnet.
Off Dell Quay there were ten Greenshank and 79 Redshank on the far shore, whilst along the length of the creek above Dell Quay there were ten Turnstones, five Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Oystercatchers, about 100 Curlew and five Whimbrel .(RW)

Greenshanks (above) & Turnstones at Fishbourne Creek (RW)


Northcommon Farm: Just for the record - a whole circuit this morning produced nothing more than a calling Willow Warbler I didn't see and several Swallows. Quiet!! (OM)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening there were 40+ Swifts, 80+ Sand Martins, 40+ House Martins and 20+ Swallows over the farm. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Whimbrels, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and four Buzzards around the tidal area by the poplars this afternoon, but there were few birds along the banks.
Another three Greenshanks and Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool, along with a Dunlin, plus two Yellow Wagtails and ten sand Martins. (S&SaH)






Sunday, 2nd August: A very similar day to yesterday, with lots of warm sun and a fresh westerly breeze, after a grey and cool start.......

Selsey Bill: After yesterday's flock of eight, there were 13 Cattle Egrets west early this morning, and later reported along the coast in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven and then back at Farlington. 
Otherwise it was fairly quiet, though at least three Wheatears were present and over 20 Common Terns went west. Full log below. (SH/BI/IS/IP/AH/SR/RP)
(0555-0900hrs) (WNW, F4)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 7E, 13W
Cattle Egret - 13W (0633hrs)
Teal - 4W
Common Scoter - 4E, 24W
Turnstone - 1E, 8W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 9W
Sandwich Tern - 24E, 37W, 30os
Common Tern - 22W
Little Tern - 1W
Swallow - 3W
House Martin - 14
Sand Martin - 20W
Wheatear - 3


Cattle egrets (SH) (above), Common Scoters & Common Terns (AH) at the Bill





Cattle Egrets at the Bill video

Ferry Pool: Two Green Sandpipers were at the back of the pool early on, and there was also an Avocet, six Black-tailed Godwits, five Shelducks and 16 Teal present.
The Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and two Whimbrels were again all in the channel opposite, along with another eight Black-tailed Godwits, but the bushes were very quiet beyond the odd Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. (AH).


Green Sandpipers (above), Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Avocet & Shelduck around the Ferry (AH)






Long Pool: There was little to report this morning beyond the odd Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat, plus a dozen Linnets, and Ferry Channel just held c40 Redshanks and a couple of Curlew and Teal. (AH)


Sedge Warbler (above) & Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)


Park Farm, SelseyThere was a large mixed hirundine flock over the farm this morning, and there were also a Wheatear, two Willow Warblers, six Pied Wagtails, a Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker present. (IP/s&SaH)

Church Norton: A Pied Flycatcher was behind the hide this morning, a Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were in the bushes at the end of the path to the harbour, four Wheatears were on the concrete slabs and there were also the odd Willow, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler about.
There were still at least ten Common Terns, 20 Little Terns and 40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, but there were only a dozen Dunlin, 15 Turnstones and a few Ringed Plovers and Curlews present, whilst a Teal, a Gadwall and a juvenile Little Grebe were on the second Several and a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk went over.. (HB/IP/A&YF/RJS/S&SaH).


Pied Flycatcher (above) & Garden Warbler (HB) & swallow (SH) at Church Norton 



North Wall: A Greenshank and a few Black-tailed Godwits were in Whites Creek this morning, while further out were two Grey Plovers, about 50 Dunlin and a fishing Common Tern.  
There was a lot of exposed mud in the Breech Pool which also showed the effects of cattle entering it last week, but the only birds of note were 25 Black-tailed Godwit and a few Sand Martins and Swallows above. 
At least six Cattle Egrets were positioned near Heron Island, a Barn Owl was seen early this morning towards Marsh Farm and apparently the Little Owl was seen early yesterday near the stables.  (IH)
Later, there were at least 16 Cattle Egrets present around the island, along with at least 20 Little Egrets and five Grey Herons.
A Greenshank was briefly among c80 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Redshank on the Breech Pool, at least three Whimbrel were in the harbour and c50 Mediterranean Gulls were among c250 Black-headed Gulls around the fields.
Passerines were very few, though, beyond the odd Whitethroat and Reed Warbler, plus a group of Long-tailed Tits, whilst 20+ Swallows and a Buzzard passed overhead. (AH)


Cattle Egret (above), Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons & Whimbrel at the North Wall (AH)





Northcommon Farm: It was very quiet this morning, with just a confiding Buzzard, half a dozen Swallows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker to report. (SR)




Buzzard at Northcommon Farm (SR)



Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: Disappointingly little to report today (with no sign of any Marsh Harriers again - they have certainly moved on). The meagre highlights were a Common Tern feeding over the lakes, a pair of agitated Goldcrests which were clearly nesting and three pairs of Great Crested Grebes on North pit, each with a brood of young. Just a few Swifts and Sand Martins were present, plus a dozen or more House Martins, with family parties of Reed Warbler and several Chiffchaffs moving about, but the rest was all very mundane. (OM)



Skulking Reed Warbler at Drayton House pits (OM)





Saturday, 1st August: After a grey start, another warm and mostly sunny morning, with the cloud pushing swiftly through on the fresh westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of eight Cattle Egrets going west early on and a Wheatear on the beach briefly were the highlights, with otherwise, just a mix of the regular species being seen. Full log later. (SH/BI/IP/IS/AH)
(0550-0900hrs) (WNW, F4)
Gannet - 15E, 21W
Cattle Egret - 8W (0605hrs)
Common Scoter - 1W
Sanderling - 1E, 1W
Turnstone - 4E, 8W, 6 present
Whimbrel - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 32W
Common Tern - 20W
Little Tern - 3E, 5W
Swift - 1
Swallow - 8W
Sand Martin - 9W
House Martin - 3
Pied Wagtail - 3
Wheatear - 1
Willow Warbler - 1


Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet, Turnstone & Starlings at the Bill (AH)




Ferry Pool: There were just five Black-tailed Godwits, five juvenile Shelducks and 12 Teal on the pool this morning, whilst the channel opposite still held a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrels and a few Redshank. (AH)


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



Park Farm, Selsey: Around 20 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows and 40 House Martins, plus a Sparrowhawk, were over the farm this morning. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were still at least 20 Little Terns, ten Common Terns and 50 Sandwich Terns in the harbour this morning, along with a new arrival of c50 Mediterranean Gulls, but waders were few beyond a handful of Whimbrels, Curlews and Redshanks.
The bushes were generally quiet, though a Wheatear was on the concrete spit, two or three young Reed and Sedge Warblers, along with similar numbers of Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were along the sheltered hedges, with a Pied Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk at Greenlease Farm
A dozen Linnets and a couple of Reed Buntings were about, too, whilst 20 or so Swallows were over the harbour and Greenlease Farm, with a few more, plus a few Sand Martins drifting off south.. 
Also, a Purple Hairstreak was in the big Oak along the path to the harbour and a Jersey Tiger moth was near the hide. (AH/S&SaH/A&YF)


Reed Warbler (above), Willow Warbler, Swallow, Linnet, Little and Sandwich Terns, Jersey Tiger (AH) & Purple Hairstreak (AF) at Church Norton







Sidlesham: This afternoon there were c30 Swifts,c30 Swallows and up to a dozen Sand Martins over and around our garden on the west of the village. (AH)


Sand Martin (above), Swallow & Sand Martins and Swallows in Sidlesham (AH)



Ivy Lake: Quite a few Small Red-eyed Damselflies were around the lake today - they were obviously breeding! 

There was not much else to report, other than two adult and two immature Egyptian Geese. (AB)


Small Red-eyed Damselflies at Ivy Lake (AB)










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