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Saturday, 19 September 2020

19th - 21st September 2020

Monday, 21st September: A sunny and unseasonably warm morning as the fresh north-easterly finally abated...…..

Selsey Bill: A much quieter morning on the lighter winds, though there were still a few migrants on the move. Full log below. (RP/IP/AH)
(0655-0835hrs) (NNE, F3)
Gannet - 40os
Brent Goose - 2W
Turnstone - 6
Mediterranean Gull - 60os
Sandwich Tern - 5os 
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 4E
Yellow Wagtail - 3E
Pied Wagtail - 8E
Meadow Pipit - 25E
Chiffchaff - 4
Siskin - 5E
Chaffinch - 2

Chiffchaff (above), Brent Geese & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)



Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much to report this morning beyond four Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Lapwings, eight Shelducks, c25 Teal and c40 Mediterranean Gulls, plus a vocal Cetti's Warbler, whilst a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above) & Shelduck and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)


North Wall: The cows were back at Halsey's Farm this morning, and with them were c30 Yellow Wagtails and a handful of Meadow Pipits, whilst the adjacent hedges held a pair of Stonechats and a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats.
It was quiet along the wall beyond the odd Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit, with the Breech Pool full of water again and just holding a few Teal and Mallard, though a Kingfisher dropped in briefly a couple of times and two Avocets (that had earlier been in the harbour) flew over.
Two Greenshank were in White's Creek, along with plenty of Redshank, a couple of Golden Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers and 40 Lapwing were on the mud and there were also a Bar-tailed Godwit, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Pintail and c200 Wigeon in the harbour. (AH et al)



Yellow Wagtails (above), Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Greenshank & Pintail around the North Wall (AH)








Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the churchyard today. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - Two Spoonbills were out in the middle of the reserve this evening, viewable distantly from the viewpoint, and there was also a Greenshank calling on the reserve.
The banks and hedges were very quiet beyond a Kestrel, a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, but there was a constant stream of (mostly) Mediterranean Gulls coming in from the north-east (presumably from the harbour) and totalling at least 500 birds. (AH)

Spoonbill (above), Kestrel & Mediterranean Gulls at Medmerry (AH)



Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm - There were actually four Spoonbills viewable from this side of the reserve, whilst the banks held a Wheatear, five Stonechats, ten Yellow Wagtails and at least 20 Meadow Pipits and Yellowhammers.
Also, a Kingfisher and ten Shovelers were around the tidal areas, whilst a Peregrine, a Buzzard and four Kestrels went over. (S&SaH)

Kingfisher at Medmerry (SH)




Sunday, 20th September: Cool and cloudy to start and similar to yesterday, with sunny periods gradually developing and the brisk N/NE wind persisting…..

Selsey Bill: A similar pattern to recent days, with a bit moving offshore and a good bit of easterly visible migration going on, including two Hobbies, a few Siskins, Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, plus a steady stream of hirundines. 
Offshore a Bonxie and two Velvet Scoters went east and three Brent Geese went west, whilst over 300 Mediterranean Gulls were sat on the foreshore and drifting off east. Full log later. (SH/JA/BI/IP/MO-W/RP/SR/AH)
(0630-0930hrs) (NNE, F4)
Gannet - 55E, 6W, 30os
Shag - 1os
Brent Goose - 3W
Wigeon - 13E, 29W
Pintail - 2E
Teal - 8W
Common Scoter - 3E
Velvet Scoter - 2E
Hobby - 2E
Turnstone - 6
Bonxie - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 336E
Sandwich Tern - 4os
Swallow - 349E
Sand Martin - 6E
House Martin - 146E
Yellow Wagtail - 2E
Grey Wagtail - 2E
Pied Wagtail - 2E
Meadow Pipit - 241N/E
Chiffchaff - 1
Linnet - 9
Goldfinch - 2E, 21 present
Siskin - 11E
Reed Bunting - 1E


Hobby (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)



Ferry Pool: There were 20 or so Yellow Wagtails and at least six Meadow Pipits around the concealed pool this morning, whilst the main pool was dominated by gulls, comprising approximately 650 Mediterranean Gulls, 150 Black-headed Gulls and 60 Herring Gulls.
Otherwise, a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher flew through, whilst the regulars included eight Dunlin, three Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Lapwing and a dozen Teal. (AH)


Yellow Wagtails (above), Dunlin & Mediterranean Gulls at the Ferry (AH)


Park Farm, Selsey: Three Siskins went over the farm this morning, whilst a Grey Wagtail went over our garden, nearby. (S&SaH)
Also a Song Thrush was present and 11 Brent Geese went over west at midday. (IP)


Church Norton: Up to 60 Siskins went over this morning, along with a Sand Martin, a Grey and two Pied Wagtails and a steady stream of 100+ Meadow Pipits and 200+ House Martins and Swallows. Other passerines were few, though, beyond a Wheatear by the concrete blocks, and a Whitethroat and three Chiffchaffs at Greenlease Farm.
Two Sandwich Terns were offshore, a Kingfisher was on the metal work, whilst the harbour held 400 Wigeon, 200 Teal, two Pintail, a Shelduck, a Bar-tailed Godwit, six Grey Plovers and c30 Dunlin. (S&SaH/IP)


Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm: A Short-eared Owl was flushed from by the trail path early this morning and flew into Ferry Field.
Later there were a selection of warblers in the sheltered bits of hedge, including a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Blackcaps, up to ten Whitethroats and at least 20 Chiffchaffs, along with a dozen Yellowhammers and Linnets, the odd Goldcrest and several Jays.
There were a couple of hundred Swallows and House Martins over the sewage works and fields early on, with a dozen Yellow Wagtails, four Meadow Pipits and two Grey Wagtails also moving about. (A&YF/AH)


Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Yellowhammer around the Medmerry Trail (AH)



North Wall: At least four Curlew Sandpipers and the regular Greenshank were in White's Creek this morning. (IH/PC)
The four Curlew Sandpipers were still in the channel along with over a hundred Wigeon later on. Also, twenty Siskins went over and there were about ten Chiffchaffs and two Sedge Warblers in the reeds along with five Cetti’s Warblers, whist in amongst the cows in the most western fields there were four Cattle Egrets. (RAI)


Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There weren't too many migrants about this evening, though ten Brent Geese went over west and there were still 40+ Yellow Wagtails, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 20+ Swallows, two Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, four Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail along the banks, as well as four Corn Buntings and two Yellowhammers.
An Avocet and a Greenshank were on the Stilt Pool, with another Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the channels opposite, whilst there were still 500+ Mediterranean Gulls around the tidal areas. (S&SaH)

Bar-tailed Godwit at Medmerry (SH)





Saturday, 19th September: High pressure still dominating, but rather cloudier this morning, eventually giving way to sunnier periods, with a brisk NE wind 5-6 along the coast keeping the temperature down...

Selsey Bill: A good bit of variety this morning with a few early returning Brent Geese moving through, a Merlin offshore, eight Black-tailed Godwits (always scarce on a sea-watch) and some 'vis mig' including 50 Siskins and 12 Yellow Wagtails.  Full log below.
(0630-0930hrs)   (Wind NE5)   (SH/BI/SR/IP/JA/MO-W/AH/RP) 
Gannet - 50 os
Brent Goose - 8E
Common Scoter - 2E, 2W, 3os
Wigeon - 7E, 29W
Teal - 7W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W
Black-tailed Godwit - 8W
Turnstone - 6ob
Merlin - 1 female os
Kestrel - 1 
Sparrowhawk - 1
Sandwich Tern - 4os
Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 3W
Common Gull - 1E
Stock Dove - 12E
Swallow - 177E
House Martin - 196E
Meadow Pipit - 302NE
Pied Wagtail - 11E
Grey Wagtail - 3E
Chiffchaff - 1
Siskin - 50E
Linnet - 8E
Goldfinch - 25E
Greenfinch - 1E

Ferry Pool: There were just 80 roosting Lapwing and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits and Teal on the pool itself, with another 100 Teal, five Wigeon and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite. (AH)

Teal (above) & Black-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: There were 200 Wigeon, 100 Teal, three Pintail, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 40 Grey Plover in the harbour, along with two Common Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull, whilst along the beach and offshore 300 Swallows, 100 House Martins, two Sand Martins, three Yellow Wagtails, 20 Siskins, 20 Linnets and c150 Meadow Pipits moved eastwards. 
Two Sparrowhawks were also present along the beach and offshore were five Sandwich Terns and a Gannet, whilst 24 Brent Geese went east.
Around the Greenlease Farm area there were also two Wheatears, 50 Yellow and four Pied Wagtails. (S&SaH/IP/AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Grey Plover, Sparrowhawk & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)



Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: The most noteworthy sightings during a slightly early WeBS count this morning were a Marsh Harrier, two Kingfishers, nearly 100 Pochard, 44 Shoveler and 15 Chiffchaffs. (OM)

East Head: The first WeBS count of the autumn today produced a single Whinchat, a Wheatear and four Greenshank as the only birds of note. Otherwise there were 150 Redshank and a few dozen Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Teal and Dunlin. (GM)

North Wall: Six Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek early on, though only one remained to mid-morning, when there were also a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank present, along with two Grey Plovers, a few Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits and numerous Redshank, along with two Kingfishers. 
There were two or three Greenshanks out in the harbour, too, where there were also an Avocet, at least two Golden Plovers among the Grey Plovers, and c30 Pintail among the numerous Wigeon.
Two Pintail were on the Breech Pool, which otherwise contained c25 Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Teal and Mallard, but beyond a steady flow of Swallows, the wall itself offered very little, whilst the hedges at Halsey's Farm produced a Whinchat, a couple of Stonechats and two or three Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus about 20 House Martins and a handful of swallows. Around the southern hedges and Owl Point were seven Stonechats, two Whinchats and a Wheatear with plenty of Meadow Pipits moving over the harbour. (IH/AH/MO-W/MI/MR/BI et al)

Whinchat (above), Whitethroat, Pintails, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank & Spotted Redshank around the North Wall (AH)





Medmerry Trail: A Red Kite went over this afternoon. (AW)

Red Kite over the Medmerry Trail (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Purple Sandpiper was with a flock of 40 Dunlins and a Knot just on the west side of the breach today, though it couldn't be refound later.
The Osprey was again seen with a large fish this afternoon and two female-type Marsh Harriers were also about, along with a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and four Kestrels.
The banks held a Whinchat, two Wheatears, four Stonechats, 70+ Yellow Wagtails and 40+ Meadow Pipits, with 20+ Sand Martins and 100+ House Martins and Swallows over, whilst three different Kingfishers were seen.
At least 1000 Mediterranean Gulls were on the fields and tidal areas, whilst two Sandwich Terns were offshore, but the only waders noted were a Snipe, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 20 Ringed Plovers and 40 Dunlin in the tidal areas, though a visiting birder reported a Purple Sandpiper on the sea-defence rocks. (IC/S&SaH/SR)

Osprey and Marsh Harrier at Medmerry (SH)




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