Thursday 29 October 2020

29th - 31st October 2020

Saturday, 31st October: A pretty spectacularly bad day's weather with a strong southerly rising to gale-force as the morning progressed, bringing with it a lot of heavy rain.....

Selsey Bill: The bad weather did produce a few birds this morning, including four Sooty Shearwaters (one east and three west), a Purple Sandpiper among the Turnstones and over 500 Gannets and 100 Kittiwakes. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/RP/AH/MO-W)
(0630-1100hrs) (S, F7-8)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 4W
Sooty Shearwater - 1E (0810hrs), 3W (0655, 0935 & 1020hrs)
Gannet - 5E, 549W
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 7W
Common Scoter - 9E, 3W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4W
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Turnstone - 30
Mediterranean Gull - 15W
Kittiwake - 4E, 107W
Guillemot - 1W
Razorbill - 3W
auk sp - 3W
Meadow Pipit - 9W
Redwing - 1N
Linnet - 89W
Goldfinch - 90W

(1215-1315hrs) (SH)
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Gannet - 2E, 3W
Kittiwake - 3W

This afternoon there were two Purple Sandpipers among the Turnstones on the beach. (AW)


Purple Sandpiper (above), Kittiwakes, Gannet, Great Crested Grebes & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)





Ferry Pool: There were nine Avocets on the pool this morning, along with three Black-tailed godwits and c30 Lapwings, but c40 Shoveler and five Shelducks were the only wildfowl present.
Most of the Wigeon and Teal were in the channel opposite, where there was also a Kingfisher and a few Redshanks. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocets & Shovelers around the Ferry (AH)


Park Farm, Selsey: There were just a Sparrowhawk and four Pied wagtails about the farm this afternoon. (S&saH)

Church Norton: A Red-breasted Merganser was feeding in the harbour this afternoon, whilst there were 75+ Brent Geese and a few Wigeon and Teal about, too., whilst waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit, a few Knot and Dunlin and 30+ Grey Plovers.
There were also a couple of Chiffchaffs and four Greenfinches along the beach, a Stonechat on the concrete blocks and a couple of Goldcrests in the churchyard. (S&SaH/AH)

Red-breasted Merganser (above) & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)





Friday, 30th October: Another morning of leaden skies and a near gale-force south-westerly, though mostly dry and quite mild.......until low cloud and drizzle moved in before noon.

Selsey Bill: An Eider went west, a Merlin flew in from well offshore and two Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver were about, too. (Frustratingly, there were also a couple of shearwater sp. and several flocks of passerines that were just too distant and/or briefly seen to permit identification). Full log below.... 
0650-1120hrs:   (wind SW6-7)  (BI/RP/AH/MO-W/OM/IP/GCa et al)
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Gannet - 13E, 31W
Brent Goose - 1W
Eider - 1W
Common Scoter - 8E, 12W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W, 2os
Merlin - 1N
Turnstone - 15 ob
auk sp - 1E
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Pied Wagtail - 4W
Meadow Pipit - 3W
Linnet - 23W

Red-throated Diver (above), Merlin, Red-breasted Merganser & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)



(1530-1630hrs) (SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 3W
Kittiwake - 1W

Ferry Pool: There were still ten Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c50 Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, whilst wildfowl included four Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and plenty of Wigeon and Teal. (AH)



North Wall: A morning of unpromising weather nevertheless brought a tally of 35 species, including a Grey Wagtail near the stables, a Spotted Redshank in White's Creek, two Rock Pipits along the Wall and at least ten Cattle Egrets with cattle at Marsh Farm. 
Two Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe were also in White's Creek, together with Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Common Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits while there were about 15 Dunlin on the mud opposite Owl Copse. The hedgerows were very quiet, though, and there was little in the Breech Pool other than another Great Crested Grebe. (IH/NR)

Rock Pipit at the North Wall (IH)

Church Norton: The Purple Sandpiper was present again this morning, roosting with Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at the very end of the spit, whilst a Red-throated Diver was fairly close offshore, along with a few Great Crested Grebes and Mediterranean Gulls.
In the harbour the Pale-bellied Brent Goose was again among 20 or so Dark-bellied Brent, whilst among the roosting waders there were ten Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 20 Grey Plovers, and there were also a few Wigeon and Teal.
Passerines were few, but included two or three Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and a handful of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. (AW/BI/AH/CRJ et al)

Red-throated Diver (AW), Purple Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit & Wigeon (AH) at Church Norton 





Pale-bellied and Dark -bellied Brent Geese (above) & Little Egret at Church Norton (CRJ)





Thursday, 29th October: Yet another damp and windy morning, with the strong south-westerlies persisting and blowing through a succession of drizzly squalls......

Selsey Bill: Two Great Northern Divers were around again, whilst 23 Brent Geese and six Kittiwakes went west, but it was generally pretty slow-going. Full log below.  (SR/RP/IP/AH/BFF/DM/DIS)
(0655-0845hrs) (SW, F4-5)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 4E, 4W
Brent Goose - 23W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W
Turnstone - 16
Mediterranean Gull - 8os
Common Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 6W
auk sp - 2E
Meadow Pipit - 24W
Pied wagtail - 6W
Linnet - 7W
Goldfinch - 41





Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite again this morning, along with a few Redshank and Teal, whilst three Snipe flew over.
About 30 roosting Black-tailed Godwits among the 100+ Lapwing was the only change from recent days, with at least 40 Shoveler, ten Shelducks and 100 Wigeon and Teal still present. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above) & Snipe around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A pair of Green Woodpeckers were in the Welbourne horse field this morning and a Rock Pipit was by the sluice gates, whilst along the wall there were seven Reed Buntings, two Stonechats and two flocks - of 14 and 9 - Long Tailed Tits . There just a few Mallard on the Breech Pool, though there were 22 Black-tailed Godwits in the field behind. 
Along Honer Lane there were hundreds of gulls and corvids foraging on harvested maize fields, whilst at Honer reservoir there were 42 Mallard, 20 Coot, nine Tufted Ducks, four Shovelers, two Gadwall and a Mute Swan, with two Chiffchaffs along the boundary hedge. (JDW)

Church Norton: A Purple Sandpiper was among the Turnstones on the beach first thing this morning. (AW)
It couldn't be found later among the many Turnstones and Ringed Plovers, plus a few Dunlin, along the strandline, whilst offshore a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were the only birds of note.
At least 25 Brent Geese, including several juveniles,, along with a few Wigeon and Teal were in the harbour, whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit was among the few Grey Plovers and Redshank present. 
Passerines included half a dozen Reed Buntings along the path to the beach and similar numbers of Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits along the spit. (AH)


Purple Sandpiper (AW) (above), juvenile Brent Geese, Turnstone, Grey Plovers & Ringed Plovers and Dunlin (AH) at Church Norton










Monday 26 October 2020

26th - 28th October 2020

Wednesday, 28th October: Another grey and blustery morning, with a strong south-westerly and leaden skies, though mostly dry......

Selsey Bill: Two Merlins were seen together chasing a passerine in from the Mile Basket area, seemingly successfully just before they made land towards the Lifeboat Station. 
Also, a Peregrine went over and a Gannet was sat unusually close offshore, though it flew in and appeared uninjured and unoiled. Full log below. (MO-W/SR/RP/IP/AH)
(0700-0905hrs) (WSW, F6)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 1E, 33W
Wigeon - 1W
Merlin - 2
Peregrine - 1
Ringed Plover - 10
Turnstone - 40
Mediterranean Gull - 6os
Kittiwake - 3E
auk sp - 3E, 1W
Meadow Pipit - 47W
Pied Wagtail - 5W
Linnet - 13W

Great Northern Diver (above), Meadow Pipit & Gannet at the Bill (AH)



Ferry Pool: Most of the wildfowl was disturbed by a digger going along the field, though there were still 50+ Shovelers, 100 Wigeon and Teal, along with four Gadwall and eight Shelducks moving between the pool and the harbour, along with the ten Avocets and 100+ Lapwing. (AH)


Avocets (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl went over the wall this morning, heading west across the harbour. (TG-P)

Pagham Spit: The Red-throated Diver was in the newly breached little lagoon on the spit this morning. (RaH)

Church Norton: An apparent Pale-bellied Brent Goose was on the water with ten Dark-bellied Brent and a few Wigeon and Teal, but waders were restricted to a few Grey Plovers, Redshank and Curlews roosting around the concrete blocks on the big high tide.
Passerines were few, too, beyond a couple of skulking Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the churchyard and a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits around the beach. (AH/A&YF)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above), Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Teal & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)







Tuesday, 27th October: A pretty dismal morning, with a near gale force south-westerly pushing through band after band of drizzly rain......

Selsey Bill: A Merlin went out to sea his morning, whilst two Great Northern Divers dropped in and two Red-throated Divers went east, with another offshore. Full log below. (AH/SR/OM/IP)
(0700-0900hrs) (WSW backing S, F6-7)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 2e, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 3W
Gannet - 2E, 12W
Brent Goose - 10W
Common Scoter - 2W
Merlin - 1
Grey Plover - 1W
Turnstone - 13
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 4W
Common Gull - 2W
Kittiwake - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 11W
Pied Wagtail - 4W

Merlin (above), Great Northern Diver, Brent Geese, Mediterranean Gull & Gannet at the Bill (AH)




(1515-1645hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Great Crested Grebe -2w
Gannet - 1E, 8W
Shag - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Common Gull - 2W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 1os

Selsey East beach: On a gloomy morning in the East beach area a Sparrowhawk was seen in the garden, before feeding on a Goldfinch. (SR)

Sparrowhawk awaiting prey in an East beach garden (SR)

Ferry Pool: The ten Avocets were still on the pool this morning, along with two Snipe, five Gadwall, 56 Shovelers, 12 Shelducks, 85 Wigeon, 60 Teal and 80 Lapwing, with another 50 on the adjacent arable fields. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Gadwall, Avocets, Lapwings, Wigeon and Mallard on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were at least six Chiffchaffs and ten Goldcrests along the sheltered hedges, but not much in the harbour on the full tide beyond five Brent Geese, ten Pintails and a couple of dozen Wigeon and Teal, plus a scattering of Redshank and Curlews. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Goldcrest & Pintails at Church Norton (AH)






Monday, 26th OctoberA bright and breezy morning, warm in the sun but with a freshening westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A Merlin flew in from way out, eight Swallows and three Redwings west were among a limited amount of passerine movement, whilst presumably the same Pale-bellied Brent Goose as yesterday went past west, along with two Gadwall. Full log below. (BI/RP/IP/MO-W/AH)
(0620-0835hrs) (WSW, F5)
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Gannet - 2E, 16W
Brent Goose - 3E
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1W
Gadwall - 2W
Common Scoter - 9E
Merlin - 1W
Turnstone - 6
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 12W
Common Gull - 4W
Kittiwake - 6W
Wood Pigeon - 107W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 8W
Meadow Pipit - 41W
Pied Wagtail - 24W
Redwing - 3W

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above), Mediterranean Gull & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)


Ferry Pool: Ten Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with a Snipe, c30 Shovelers, six Shelducks and c50 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)


North Wall: This morning was a typical autumn day at the Wall: some 200 Wigeon, a similar number of Lapwing, about 100 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Pintail were in White's Creek and a Kingfisher flew from the sluice gates. 
The Breech Pool, very full, held a couple of Mute Swans, a few Teal, two Little Grebes and 20 or so Mallard while the hedgerows along the Wall were quiet apart from a few Reed Buntings. On leaving, the tree-lined path leading to Church Lane was occupied by a mixed flock of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits. (IH)
Later, on the North Fields, a small flock of Fieldfares and six Cattle Egrets were present (TG-P).

Church Norton: It was pretty quiet this morning, though a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse along the path to the harbour and a Firecrest was among a big mixed flock with also included a couple of Chiffchaffs, several Goldcrests and lots of Long-tailed Tits.
Also, two pairs of Stonechats were along the front, along with a few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Greenfinches, whilst three Swallows went over west.
A very odd-looking white-headed Brent Goose was in the harbour, but it was very quiet on the high tide beyond the regular Whimbrel and a few Grey Plovers and Turnstones. (AW/A&YF/AH)

Dartford Warbler (above), partially albino Brent Goose (AW), Swallow, Stonechat, Skylark, Greenfinches & Whimbrel (AH) at Church Norton







Medmerry: This afternoon, a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse immediately west of the path from Easton Lane car park and seven Stonechatswere in the thistly field. (IP)