13th - 15th September 2020

Tuesday, 15th September: The fine weather continues, with another warm and sunny morning in just a light easterly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: There was visible migration evident again this morning, including 18 Grey Wagtails, three Yellow Wagtails, 14 Siskins and 56 Meadow Pipits east, whilst a pair of Stonechats moved along the beach and a very colourful Cockatiel was contentedly eating lichen off a nearby roof. Full log below. (SR/IP/M-OW/AH/RP)

(0650-0840hrs) (ENE, F2-3)

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Shelduck - 1W

Teal - 1W

Wigeon - 1W

Common Scoter - 5E, 3W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2W

Dunlin - 4E

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 9os

Swallow  139E

Sand Martin - 1E

House Martin - 8E

Meadow Pipit - 56E

Yellow Wagtail - 3E

Grey Wagtail - 18E

Stonechat - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

Siskin - 14E

Cockatiel - 1

Stonechat (above), Turnstone, Sandwich Terns & Cockatiel at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Snipe popped out of the reeds early this morning, and there were also a Wigeon and two Shovelers among the usual mix of c30 Dunlin, c50 Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing, a dozen Shelducks and c75 Teal. (AH/M-OW)

Snipe (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: A flock of six Siskins went over our garden to the north of the village this morning. (SaH)

This evening 17 Swallows were on wires near East Beach, with 40 more feeding high up. (SR)

Church Norton: The first Coal Tit of the autumn was in the churchyard, along with a few Chiffchaffs this morning, whilst two Stonechats were in the horse field and a few Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Pied Wagtails were along the Severals. (A&YF)

Later on, a Whinchat, a Stonechat, a Hobby and an Osprey were seen. (AW)

Osprey (above), Hobby & Whinchat at Church Norton (AW)

East side: A Tree Pipit, a Lesser Redpoll and eight Siskins went over east early on, whilst six Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps and 23 Long-tailed Tits were in the hedges around the Slipe Field and a flock of 31 Grey Plovers were in White's Creek. (IMcK)

North Wall: A walk from the stables to the Breech Pool produced a Stonechat and a Whinchat at the horse paddocks and four Curlew Sandpipers in White's Creek, while in the Breech Pool there was an Avocet, a few Black-tailed Godwits and a brief Curlew Sandpiper (probably flown from White's Creek).  (IH/PC)

Also, a Spotted Flycatcher, three Sedge Warblers (together), five Reed Warblers, six Cetti’s Warblers, a Whinchat, a Stonechat, 26 Blackcaps and eight Whitethroats were along the wall, with a flock of 24 Siskins over east in one flock.

The Breech Pool held two Spotted Redshanks, a Snipe, an Avocet, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Lapwings and a Kingfisher, whist a Marsh Harrier flew west over Honer Farm.
A big flock of at least 700 House Martins, with c50 Swallows among them, were settling in the hedges at Halsey’s Farm, where there were also at least three Chiffchaffs, four Whitethroats and six Blackcaps, plus ten Siskins went over.
At least 80 Yellow Wagtails were among the cattle towards Owl Point, with ten Cattle Egrets dropping in, too, whilst a Whinchat, two Stonechats and two Wheatears were also present. (IMcK/AH/DHi)

This evening an Osprey went over the harbour, heading west and a Marsh Harrier hunted for a time in the fields beyond the Breech Pool. (TH/IH/SP et al)

Whinchat (above), Spotted Redshank (IMcK), Yellow Wagtails, Cattle Egret, House Martins, Swallow, Whitethroat & Avocet (AH) around the North Wall 

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the stilt Pool - The Osprey came out of its tree and flew over the reserve, before heading off seawards at about 0845 this morning. (GT)

Presumably the same Osprey (and that seen earlier over the harbour) flew back in from the east to roost, at 1830hrs this evening, though the highlight was undoubtedly seven Spoonbills on the Stilt Pool.

Six were together, with another feeding nearby, when five of the six got up, and after circling round for a couple of minutes headed off south-west until lost to view.

Otherwise, there were a Wheatear, two Whinchats and three or four Stonechats along the banks, with just the odd Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit moving around, whilst a flock of 3-400 Linnets flew about briefly.

A Greenshank and a Redshank by the poplars were the only waders noted, whilst c100 Mediterranean Gulls were about, ten Shovelers flew over north and c150 Canada Geese were on the Stilt Pool. (AH/S&SaH)

Spoonbills (above), Osprey, Wheatear & Greenshank at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 14th September: Another fine morning of almost unbroken sun, quite warm despite the breeze shifting round to a moderate east-south-east.........

Selsey Bill: There was bit of visible migration going on this morning, including the first five Lesser Redpolls of the autumn, 95 Siskins and 334 Swallows. Full log below. (RP/MO-W/IP/AH/CN et al)

(0650-0850hrs) (ENE, F3)

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Gannet - 1E, 27W

Shelduck - 1E

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4os

Swallow - 334E

Sand Martin - 2

House Martin - 1E

Yellow Wagtail - 5E

Grey Wagtail - 4E

Meadow Pipit - 4N, 6 on beach, then E

Willow Warbler - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Lesser Redpoll - 5E

Siskin - 95E

Goldfinch - 8E

Chaffinch - 1

Siskins (above), Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Swallow & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Not much out of the ordinary this morning, with the 30 or so Dunlin still present, along with c60 Black-tailed Godwits, c90 Lapwings, 23 Shelducks and c80 Teal. (AH)

Dunlin (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A brief early morning walk revealed two Kingfishers and four Curlew Sandpipers at White's Creek and an Avocet in the Breech Pool. (IH/TH)

Later this afternoon, two Spotted Redshanks were in White's Creek, whilst at Halsey's farm nine Cattle Egrets and 17 Yellow Wagtails were around the cattle fields. (LGRE)

The Short-eared Owl appeared briefly in the early evening. (IH/TH/SP)

Curlew Sandpiper (above), Avocet and Kingfisher at the North Wall (IH)

Pagham Beach: Two Wheatears were on rocks and seven species of butterfly were noted including Clouded Yellows. (IH/TH)

Clouded Yellow at Pagham Beach (IH)

Church Norton: There were another 42 Siskins over here, too, going east, along with a couple of Yellow Wagtails and 20 Meadow Pipits, with up to 40 on the beach, whilst at least 200 Swallows, nine Sand Martins and five House Martins also moved through at a more leisurely pace.

Four Stonechats were still around the horse field and adjacent beach, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat, a few Chiffchaffs and plenty of Blackcaps were noted, along with a big roaming flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits, whilst a Cetti's Warbler was calling near the hide.

Beyond the two Peregrines on their island, though, the harbour was quiet on the high tide. (AH/IP/CN/A&YF/P&JW et al)

Whitethroat (above), Stonechat, Swallow & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

Hunston Copse: A Tree Creeper was in the copse again today. (SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Osprey was still roosting in the dead trees out on the reserve this morning, whilst the four Spoonbills flew around for a while and then dropped out of view, later re-appearing for a snooze opposite the Stilt pools. 

It was fairly slow going along the paths and hedgerows, with three Whinchats, several Chiffchaffs, a couple of fly-over Yellow Wagtails and just a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits present, plus c.50 Swallows, 50 House Martins and several Sand Martins around Marsh Farm. Two or three Clouded Yellow butterflies were also logged. (OM/MJ)

Later, the Osprey was seen eating a good sized fish out in the harbour, where a Greenshank was present and another Whinchat and a single Corn Bunting were along the banks. (CN/RP)

This evening the Osprey was still about, along with a male Merlin, two Ravens, a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.

There wasn't too much along the banks, though there were still a Stonechat, 40+ Yellow Wagtails and 20+ Meadow Pipits about, along with 20 swallows over. (S&saH)

A fairly typical view of the four sleeping Spoonbills this morning (OM)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - The Osprey was seen from near the viewpoint, carrying a fish over the reserve this evening.

Otherwise, thouugh, it was quiet, with just a pair of Stonechats, a handful of Whitethroats, a couple of Yellowhammers and a couple of Chiffchaffs around the banks, a dozen Swallows over and two Greenshank distantly out on the reserve. (AH)

Osprey (above) & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 13th September: A pleasantly warm and sunny autumn morning, with a moderate south-westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much beyond the regular species this morning, though a few Meadow Pipits and Grey Wagtails went over and a Wheatear was along the beach. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/RP/SR/AH)

(0615-0845hrs) (SW, F4)

Gannet - 19E, 56W

Common Scoter - 5E

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 22E, 14W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 5E, 3W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 2w

Meadow Pipit - 14N

Wheatear - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Wheatear (above), Gannet & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was present early on, whilst 35 Dunlin were still present, along with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Lapwing, 12 Shelducks and just c50 Teal.

Also, two Grey Wagtails were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Grey Wagtail around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A female Redstart was nearby in Manor Road, whilst a Yellow Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk went over, a few House Martins were over the new estate and 20 Meadow Pipits were on the fields. (S&SaH/IP)

Church Norton: Three Wheatears were along the beach, four Stonechats and a Whinchat were around the horse field, a Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats and two Chiffchaffs were along the Severals.

Also, five Cattle Egrets flew west across the harbour, a Bar-tailed Godwit was among the few waders present, a Kingfisher flew over the second Several, with it, or another, by the concrete spit and there was a continuous flow of Swallows west, with a few of Sand and House Martins among them. Also, a Yellow Wagtail went over east and 20 Meadow Pipits went north. (S&SaH/IP)

North Wall: Two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek again this morning, along with an Avocet, 248 Redshanks and six Greenshanks, three of which flew later  onto the Breech Pool. 

Along the wall and hedges there were two Redstarts, two Sedge Warblers, two Wheatears, four Chiffchaffs, nine Whitethroats and 17 Blackcaps.

There were another 23 Blackcaps, six Whitethroats and three Chiffchaffs around Halsey's Farm, along with a Spotted Flycatcher. (IMcK)

This evening, the Short-eared Owl was out again (PC), whilst earlier two Greenshank and two Spotted Redshank, plus an Avocet, a Dunlin and a Snipe were on the Breech Pool, with another ten of the latter flying out into the harbour.

At least 20 Cattle Egrets and 40 Yellow Wagtails were spread between the two cow herds, whilst five Wheatears, two Stonechats and a Whitethroat were in the fields at Halsey's Farm. (AH)/PC)

Wheatears (above), Whitethroat, Avocet, Spotted Redshank & Cattle Egret around the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Lagoon and Beach: Despite the presence of an inflatable rowing boat, there were a few birds about, including two Wheatears, a Chiffchaff, a Meadow Pipit, 12 Swallows, six Little Grebes, 11 Great Crested Grebes and nine Tufted Ducks. 

The beach-front held five Clouded Yellow butterflies, a Painted Lady, three Common Blues, a Small Copper and a Silver Y moth. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Osprey was sat out on the trees on the reserve this morning, though there was no sign of the Spoonbills.

The banks were fairly quiet, though a Redstart, a Whinchat, five Wheatears and six Stonechats were noted, along with a couple of Corn Buntings, a dozen Skylarks and 200+ Linnets, whilst 23 Siskins, c40 Meadow Pipits and c100 Swallows went over, with three Sand Martins and a House Martin among them.

Waders were few, though a Whimbrel was heard out on the reserve, a handful of Redshanks were by the poplars and a Greenshank and half a dozen Lapwings were on the Stilt Pool, where there were also 22 Gadwall and c150 Canada Geese. (AH/HB et al)

Later, the four Spoonbills were again present at 1415hrs. (HB)

Greenshank and Lapwing (above), Wheatear, Stonechat & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)

This afternoon the Osprey caught a fish and was seen to eat it, whilst a good selection of raptors included a Merlin sat on a post and a Hobby. 

Also, two Kingfishers and a Spoonbill were by the poplars and 20+ Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, four Wheatears, two Whinchats, five Stonechats, five Corn Buntings, four Yellowhammers, 40+ Meadow Pipits, a Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat were along the banks.

Three more Spoonbills were on the big pool opposite the Stilt Pool held, which also held a a Greenshank and a Common sandpiper, whilst two Sandwich Terns were offshore. (S&SaH et al)

Osprey at Medmerry (SH)