10th - 13th October 2020

Tuesday, 13th October: A cool morning, with some sunshine between the clouds, though the moderate breeze had shifted to the north-west.......

Selsey Bill: A Merlin came in off the sea from way out and later what was presumably the same bird headed back out towards the Mile Basket. A Red-throated Diver was sat close offshore, but there was a lot less movement this morning, with just 46 Brent Geese going west. Full log below. (MO-W/SR/RP/AM/AH.CRJ)

(0700-0945hrs) (NW, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 4E, 10W

Brent Goose - 3E, 46W

Common Scoter - 6E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Merlin - 1 (possibly 2)

Turnstone - 28

Mediterranean Gull - 8os

Common Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 34W

Swallow - 40W

Meadow Pipit - 12W

Pied Wagtail - 11W

Chiffchaff - 1

Siskin - 7W

Red-throated Diver (above), Merlin, Sparrowhawk & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Selsey: A juvenile White-tailed Eagle (presumably from the Isle of Wight reintroduction scheme) went west over East Street at around 11am. (JH)

Ferry Pool: Two Snipe and two Redshank were briefly on the pool, along with c60 Lapwing, this morning but wildfowl dominated, including c25 Shovelers, 12 Shelducks, c80 Wigeon and c120 Teal. (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: The Red-throated Diver was still present this morning, though it briefly flew out into the harbour, before returning. (IH)

Church Norton: A female Marsh Harrier flew west along the harbour towards the Ferry, but it was generally quiet, with few waders evident on the high tide beyond c30 Turnstones on the beach and a few Grey Plovers, Curlews and Redshank in the harbour, along with just c30 Brent Geese and a few Wigeon on the water.

The bushes, too, were quiet, with two Mistle Thrushes flying over the Severals and a few Greenfinches and Linnets on the beach being about it. (AH/CRJ)

Mistle Thrush (above), Turnstones & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Common Sandpiper was in Whites Creek this morning together with Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits, Pintails, Redshank, Dunlin and Lapwing while further out were at least three Brent Geese. Fifteen Black-tailed Godwits were also in the Breech Pool with a Kingfisher, Mallard and a few Teal. 

The hedgerows contained about a dozen Reed Buntings, a party of Long-tailed Tits, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap, with a Water Rail calling near Owl Copse.  A Stonechat and three Meadow Pipits were perched on fencing at Owl Point.  (IH/PC)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - Two Stonechats, 16 Meadow Pipits and c25 Swallows were around the windmill area, a single Wheatear was along the beach being repeatedly chased off by one of the 10 or so Pied Wagtails, and a few more pipits were with them. 

 Two flocks of Brent Geese totalling 56 headed west and the pools behind the viewpoint held the usual birds, 92 Dunlin, 34 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstones, 4 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 36 Shelduck, 2 Stonechats and 7 Meadow Pipits. (SR)

Monday, 12th October: A mostly grey morning, with a fairly light, but freshening south-westerly breeze and the promise of rain later as the wind shifted west.......

Selsey Bill: There was quite a bit of westward movement this morning, including 388 Brent Geese, 92 Wigeon and 200+ auks (mainly Razorbills and all after 9am), whilst a Wheatear was on the field 310 Swallows were drifting through west. Full log below. (MO-W/RP/AM/AH)

(0700-0950hrs) (SSW, F2 -F4)

Gannet - 8E, 31W

Brent Goose - 388W

Wigeon 10E, 92W

Teal - 5W

Common Scoter - 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Dunlin - 3W

Turnstone - 37

Mediterranean Gull - 36W

Common Gull - 7W

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 4E, 116W

auk sp - 87W

Swallow - 310W

Meadow Pipit - 38W

Pied Wagtail - 16W

Wheatear - 1

finch sp - 40W

Razorbills (above), Kittiwake, Brent Geese, Wigeon, Swallows & Wheatear at the Bill (AH)

Late this afternoon a juvenile Kittiwake went west past the Bill (AW)

Kittiwake at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A Great White Egret flew over west early this morning, whilst the pool was full of wildfowl, including c30 Shoveler, c80 Wigeon, c120 Teal and 15 Shelducks, along with 25 Black-tailed Godwits, a lone Redshank and c80 Lapwings. (AH/MO-W)

A flock of c75 Brent Geese went over  west at 6pm this evening. (AH)

Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: The Red-throated Diver was still present this morning, whilst a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse along the edges. (AM) 

The Red-throated Diver was still present this afternoon when a Kingfisher flew across and at least half a dozen Stonechats were in the surrounding gorse.(AT)

North Wall: Along White's Creek there were 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 48 Lapwing, 23 Redshank, two Grey Plovers, around 150 Wigeon and two Great Crested Grebes, whilst on the Breech Pool there were another 48 Black-tailed Godwits, two Common Snipe and a Spotted Redshank. 

It was generally quiet elsewhere on the Wall - a pair of Stonechats, seven Reed Buntings, nine Goldfinches and a Goldcrest being the best, though it was a good morning for hirundines, with at least 200 Swallows and 30 House Martins present, many stopping to drink from flood water in Honer 1 field and the Breech Pool. (JDW)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There were 15 Cattle Egrets between Marsh and Chalder Farms this afternoon. (TG-P)

East Head: Up to 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were present this morning, mostly on the lagoon, whilst 300 Linnets, 100 House Martins and a single Sanderling were also about. (GM)

Church Norton: A flock of 15 Eider went went close inshore, whilst at least 500 Brent Geese and 100 Wigeon also went west, with at least another 100 Brent Geese dropping into the harbour.

Also, a  Merlin was behind the churchyard, a Sandwich Tern was offshore and a Greenshank was among just a few waders  - including several Knot - evident in the harbour, whilst four Siskins went over west and at least 30 House Martins and 50 Swallows were feeding over the harbour, though the bushes were quiet beyond the odd Stonechat, Blackcap and Goldcrest. (AW/AH)

Later, a good scout around this afternoon produced only a Common Buzzard, two Kestrels, two Jays, three Swallows and five Chiffchaffs. (CRJ)

Eider (above), Brent Geese, Sandwich Tern & Stonechat at Church Norton (AH)

Knot and Merlin at Church Norton (AW)

Dell Quay - Fishbourne Creek: Dell Quay itself was very quiet but around the outfall there were a Greenshank and a juvenile Ringed Plover amongst plenty of Redshank and a few Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Curlew. Four Stonechats were also around and I had a brief but good view of a Cetti's Warbler. There were also some large Grey Mullet around the outfall. (AM) This morning there were at least six Rock Pipits around the saltings. (BI)

Sunday, 11th October: A day of light north-westerly winds, warming up as sunny spells broke through the early cloud...

Selsey Bill: (NW F2) (0700-0900hrs) (SH/RP/SR/BI/MO-W/AM): A quiet day all round with little offshore of note other than a Red-throated Diver and not much moving over.....
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Gannet - 3W, 20os
Brent Goose - 7W
Common Scoter - 4W
Mediterranean Gull - 8W
Sandwich Tern - 3os
Swallow - 8W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 2E
Pied Wagtail - 70W
Meadow Pipit - 8W
Chifchaff - 4
Goldfinch - 3N, 20p
Siskin - 15W

Turnstone - 5W

Park Farm, Selsey: Today there were four Buzzards, two Kestrels and c.20 Swallows overhead and ten Pied Wagtails, 20 Meadow Pipits and five Stonechats in the general area. (SaH/SH)

East Beach: A Redwing was heard going over this evening. (SR)

Church Norton: There were three Dartford Warblers in the gorse along the beach today, including two males, and there were also 10 Stonechats and 20 Chiffchaffs in the adjacent bushes. The Short-eared Owl put in an appearance flying towards Greenlease Farm, a Sparrowhawk flew through and two Buzzards were thermalling overhead. On the concrete spit were found a Kingfisher and a Wheatear. (SaH/SH/RJS/P&JW et al)

Dartford Warbler (above) & Short-eared Owl at Church Norton (SH)

Pagham Lagoon: The Red-throated Diver was on the lagoon this morning. (BI)

Red-throated Diver at Pagham Lagoon (BI)

North Wall: Around/on the Breech Pool were six Little Grebes, 33 Teal, six Long-tailed Tits and two Cetti's Warblers. Along the wall was a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, two each of Meadow Pipit and Chiffchaff and five Reed Buntings. (CRJ)

Ferry Pool: Nine Cattle Egrets were with the cows this morning and nine Egyptian Geese were on the main pool. Also present were 160 Canada Geese, 2 Gadwall, 10 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 20 each of Shelduck and Shoveler, c.40 Teal and c.50 Wigeon. A Buzzard was at the back and 20 Lapwings and a Redshank were in the margins. (MO-W)

Medmerry: Easton lane to the Stilt Pools - A Cattle Egret and a Greenshank were around Ruth's Marsh and a KIngfisher was near the sluice whilst a Merlin shot through low nearby. Two Buzzards and two kestrels were about as were 50+ Swallows, 50+ Meadow Pipits and 33 Stonechats. 

Ten Chiffchaffs were along the paths, a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse and one Yellow Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails were also noted. On the Stilt Pool were five Egyptian Geese with a Wheatear near the rocks. (SaH/SH)

Cattle Egret (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)

Runcton: Seventy Rooks were out on the fields this afternoon and a Buzzard, a Wheatear and 12 Chiffchaffs were also seen along with three smart Roe Deer. Also, along Brookside, was a Grey Wagtail. (CRJ)

Saturday, 10th October: A chillier start than of late but dry with a WNW breeze and sunny spells breaking through......

Selsey Bill:  A Crossbill was an overdue addition to this year's Bill list but otherwise it was pretty standard fare for the time of year. Full log below. (SH/RP/SR/BI)

(0700-0900hrs) (WNW F4)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 11W, 30os

Brent Goose - 10W

Common Scoter - 10E 2W

Golden Plover - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 44W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Skylark - 2W

Swallow - 37W

Pied Wagtail - 109W

Meadow Pipit - 119W

Chifchaff - 2

Linnet - 18W

Goldfinch - 20

Siskin - 29W

Crossbill - 1W

Grey Seal - 1os

Grey Seal offshore at the Bill (SR)

Park Farm: Today there were at least 20 Swallows and 2 House Martins around the buildings as well three Skylarks and four Stonechats present. (SaH/SH)

Kestrel at Park Farm (SH)

Northcommon Farm: A good look at all the hedges and trees this morning in the blustery wind turned up just six Chiffchaffs and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. (CRJ)

Church Norton: This morning a Snipe was roosting at the horsefield and a Merlin was chasing a Sparrowhawk here whilst later on a Buzzard & three Stonechats were present. The Sanderling was again in the harbour along with two Bar-tailed and one Black-tailed Godwits & a few Grey Plovers. 

A Little Grebe was near the old pier and on the concrete were three Stonechats, a Wheatear, a Reed Bunting, two Skylarks and a Kingfisher. Three Sandwich Terns were out on the mud, three Gannets were offshore and and c.50 Swallows were overhead. Earlier, a Kestrel was hunting near the hide. (AW/SaH/SH)

Snipe, above, Sanderling & Little Grebe (AW), Reed Bunting (SH) at Church Norton 

Sidlesham Quay - Owl Point: There were c.6 Stonechats along the hedges this morning and a few Chiffchaffs were in with a mixed Tit flock but there was little else of note. (BI)

Pagham Lagoon: The Red-throated Diver was back on the lagoon opposite "Laguna" again this afternoon. (TG)

Ferry Pool/Long Pool/West side: A Spoonbill was on the Long Pool this afternoon as were four Avocets, a Snipe and four Spotted Redshanks. Four Stonechats, a Whitethroat & a Blackcap were in the hedges and two Swallows went over. Earlier, the Ferry Pool held the usual mixture of wildfowl including Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck and c.40 Lapwings. (BI/RP/SaH/SH)