28th - 30th September 2020

Wednesday, 30th September: Another mild morning, with a mix of sunshine and banks of cloud pushed through on the fresh south-westerly....

Selsey Bill: Two Bonxies west together was the highlight offshore, whilst a limited amount of visible migration included two Yellow Wagtails dropping in on the beach. (SR/RP/MO-W/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (SW F4, backing towards S, F5)

Gannet - 4E, 51W, 30os

Shag - 1E

Wigeon - 11W

Common Scoter - 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 16

Bonxie - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Swallow - 37E

Yellow Wagtail - 2W

Grey Wagtail - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 6W

Meadow Pipit - 6E, 47W

Goldfinch - c50

Bonxies (above), Yellow Wagtail, Wigeon & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

(1600-1715hrs) (SH)

Balearic Shearwater - 1E (1610hrs)

Gannet - 6E, 1W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 4E

Ferry Pool: This morning there were two Dunlin, six Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Lapwing, 12 Shelducks and c100 Teal on the pool, along with 40 Mediterranean Gulls. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Breech Pool this morning contained a Snipe, about 30 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Egret as well as Mallard and Teal and in the field beyond about 15 Curlew fed. 

Along the Wall there were three Blackcaps, a Wheatear, several Reed Buntings, flocks of Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits, a Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker while at least 20 Swallows moved through and a Kingfisher sped across the harbour. (IH/LP/PC)

Church Norton: A Wheatear and a few Linnets were around the concrete blocks, whilst at least ten Stonechats and 50 Meadow Pipits were along the Severals and horse field area, as was a fleeting Kingfisher,  and at least 100 Swallows and 20 House Martins were overhead.

A Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit were the most notable of the fairly few waders present on the rising tide, though at least 50 each of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal were present, as was the big female Peregrine, sat on a kill that looked like a Teal. (AH/P&JW)

Wheatear (above), Swallow, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit & Peregrine at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Two Stonechats were at Fishbourne, whilst in the harbour were a number of Wigeon and Teal, about 20 Dunlin, similar of Oystercatcher and plenty of Redshank. Before the high tide there were 15 Greenshank and about 10 Lapwing off Dell Quay, plus a Sandwich Tern and about 30 Turnstones on moored boats, with a few along the shore. 

 A Cetti's Warbler was heard at the Lavant Outfall where there was a Grey Wagtail, whilst in the harbour were a Bar-tailed Godwit and about 10 Black-tailed Godwits, which were later in the high tide roost along with 4 Ringed Plovers and a few Grey Plover. (RW)

Bar-tailed Godwit (centre) with Grey Plover and Black-tailed Godwits (RW)

Tuesday, 29th September: A mild but fairly grey morning, brightening up as the westerly breeze picked up.....

Selsey Bill: There were 34 Brent Geese west in small flocks, whilst 102 Meadow Pipits and  67 Linnets west were the most numerous species overhead. Full log below.  (MO-W/SR/RP/IP/AH)

(0645-0845hrs) (WNW, F3-4)

Gannet - 5E, 13W

Brent Goose - 34W

Common Scoter - 6W

Turnstone - 17

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 21 os

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Swallow - 65W

House Martin - 22W

Yellow Wagtail - 3W

Grey Wagtail - 4W

Pied Wagtail - 1E, 11W

Meadow Pipi - 102W

Chiffchaff - 2

Goldfinch - 1W

Linnet - 67W

Later, two Goldcrests, three Chiffchaffs and two Greenfinches were around the Broadreeds estate, with a Pied Wagtail, a Meadow Pipit, two House Martins and 12 Swallows over. (SR)

Sandwich Tern (above), Mediterranean Gull, Common Scoters & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just the usual selection this morning, including ten Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Lapwings, seven Shelducks, a Wigeon, c60 Teal and c100 Mediterranean Gulls. (AH)

Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were a dozen Pied Wagtails flitting about in the trees in the churchyard, and there were also two Mistle Thrush, several Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker about, whilst six Stonechats were in the horse field.
Also, a Kingfisher flew along the beach and there were hundreds of House Martins overhead. (A&YF)

Later, a visiting birder saw the first returning Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn in the harbour near Tern Island. (per Twitter)

North Wall: A young Hobby was putting on a display over Halsey's Farm late this morning, whilst the hedges towards Owl Point contained at least six Stonechats and a few Chiffchaffs, whilst 50+ Meadow Pipits and a couple of Skylarks were on the fields and 20+ Swallows and House Martins went over.
A Curlew Sandpiper was among the many Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshank in the harbour towards high tide, whilst 60+ Black-tailed Godwits and 20+ Lapwings were on the Breech Pool, along with a few Teal.
There were plenty of active (if elusive) warblers along the wall - including a Whitethroat, two Reed Warblers, several calling Cetti's Warblers and numerous Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps - along with half a dozen Reed Buntings and Long-tailed Tits and at least four Stonechats. (KF/AH/IP)

Hobby (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff & Long-tailed Tit along the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguards to Breach -  Three Wheatears and 2 Meadow Pipits were along the beach and 8 Swallows headed west, whilst 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Turnstones and 3 Stonechats were on the rocks and a single Linnet was by the go-kart track. 

At the breach 3 Greenshank were on the pools with 2 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Dunlin, 9 Curlew,17 Shelduck, 8 Little Egrets and 24 Mediterranean Gulls with a flock of c30 Linnets overhead and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.(SR)

Greenshank at Medmerry breach (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm -  A ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin were both out hunting on the reserve this evening, whilst a count of Stonechats from the car-park to Marsh Farm reached a remarkable total of 55 birds, including 21 in the cabbage field by the car-park and similar numbers around the hedges by the Yellowhammer bushes.

Also, the Greenshank was by the poplars and a Wheatear and a few Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits were along the banks. (S&SaH/AH)

Hen Harrier (above), Wheatear, Greenshank and Little Egret & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

East Head: There was not much about this morning, beyond a posing juvenile Cormorant and 30 Redshanks. (MR)

Cormorant at East Head (MR)

Monday, 28th September: A bright and breezy day, quite warm despite the moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were 65 Siskins, 80 Meadow Pipits and a flock of eight Yellow Wagtails west overhead, but 14 Brent Geese west were the only birds of note offshore. Full log below. (MO-W/RRP/IP/BI/AH)

(0645-0830hrs) (WNW, F3-4)

Gannet - 11W, c40os in feeding flock

Brent Goose - 14W

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 10W

Peregrine - 1

Turnstone - 42

Mediterranean Gull - 35os

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 3E, 1W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Skylark - 2E

Swallow - 2W, 30 present

House Martin - 4W, 3 present

Yellow Wagtail - 8W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 12W

Meadow Pipit - 80W

Chiffchaff - 2

Greenfinch - 3

Siskin - 65W

Sandwich Tern (above), Meadow Pipit, Brent Geese & Grey Wagtail at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Dunlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Lapwings, eight Shelduck, four Wigeon and c60 Teal on the pool, along with c100 Mediterranean Gulls this morning. (AH)

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

North Wall: A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was hunting at the western end of the Wall at 0750hrs this morning. (GaH)

A couple of Chiffchaffs and two Jays were in a Pagham garden this morning, whilst White's Creek was full of birds on an incoming tide; 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 48 Lapwing, 30 Redshanks, three Curlew and two Spotted Redshanks plus two Great Crested Grebes, 11 Pintail and at least 240 Wigeon.

A Marsh Harrier was around the reeds at the back of the Breech Pool, whilst the hedgerows this morning contained six Stonechats and at least as many Reed Buntings together with a Willow Warbler and a few Long-tailed Tits. A Kingfisher flew past and there were a steady trickle of Swallows and House Martins above while the Breech Pool, with a slightly lower water level, held a Snipe and about 20 Black-tailed Godwits. Between the western end of the Wall and Halsey's Copse were nine Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps and two Stonechats.

At least 27 Cattle Egrets were amongst the cattle at Bramber, whilst from Halsey's Farm to Marsh Farm via the cycle way were 14 Chiffchaffs, 11 Yellowhammers, three Blackcaps, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 12 Long-tailed Tits. A small but steady eastward movement of hirundines, mainly Swallows but also a few House and Sand Martins. (IH/JDW)

Just viewable Cattle Egrets near Marsh Farm (JDW)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher and a handful of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were behind the hide this morning, with 20 or more of the latter scattered around the hedges, whilst a Wheatear was on the concrete blocks, at least six Stonechats were around the horse field and 20 Swallows went over. In the churchyard were two Goldcrests, a Song Thrush and 14 Siskins.

Two Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, along with c80 Pintail and a few Brent Geese, but not many waders on the high tide, whilst a Peregrine was on its island. (AH/AW/P&JW et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Stonechat, Chiffchaff & Pintail and Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Song Thrush, Siskins, Peregrine and Brent Geese at Church Norton (AW)

West Wittering: At least 10 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler were chasing around the hedgerows this morning (MP)

Willow Warbler at West Wittering this morning (MR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Farm - There was definitely one, and possibly two, Dartford Warblers along the banks, along with five Stonechats, six Chiffchaffs and 30+ Meadow Pipits, whilst a Greenshank, a Sparrowhawk and four Kestrels were around the poplars. (S&SaH)

Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (SH)