14th - 16th October 2020

Friday, 16th October: A similar morning to recent days, with lots of sunshine tempered by a fresh north-easterly breeze.....,

Selsey Bill: Two Woodlarks went over north, whilst the Merlin shot through carrying prey, but otherwise it was much the same as recent mornings. Full log below. (BI/RP/SR/AH)

(0700-0830hrs) (NNE, F4)

Gannet - 9E, 27W, 35os

Brent Goose - 11W

Wigeon - 5E

Shoveler - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Merlin - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1os, then W

auk sp - 11E

Wood Pigeon - 45W

Woodlark - 2N

Swallow - 65E, 4W

House Martin - 3W

Meadow Pipit - 11E

Pied Wagtail - 11E, 14W

Chiffchaff - 3

Jackdaw - 60E

Linnet - 4N

Ferry Pool: The nine Egyptian Geese were on the pool again first thing, but had gone later. Otherwise four Snipe were asleep at the front and c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwings were roosting at high tide, whilst among the wildfowl present were c40 Shovelers, six Shelducks, c140 Wigeon and c120 Teal, and c25 Swallows went over. (AH)

Also this morning, a female Ring Ouzel flew north over Ferry Field (IL) and a Jack Snipe was flushed from the grass field south of the Ferry (JW).

North Wall: Most of the action this morning was at the sluice gates, with two Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, the regular Greenshank, a Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher all in White's Creek and there was the glimpse of a probable Marsh Harrier over the fields. 

Three Chiffchaffs were in the vicinity of the Breech Pool while Reed Buntings, two Stonechats and further Chiffchaffs dotted the hedgerows. Owl Point was quiet with only a male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff to be seen other than half a dozen Swallows flying above. (IH/TG/TH)

Later this morning. 60 Brent Geese were in the harbour, with five in the field behind the Breech Pool, whilst a Whinchat was on the fence wires close to the pool and nine Chiffchaffs, 11 Reed Buntings, four Stonechats and a Cetti's Warbler were between the North Wall and Halsey's Farm. 

To the west of the cycle track going north from Rookery Lane there was a mixed finch flock which contained at least 40 Linnets, 15 Yellowhammers and plenty of Goldfinches.

Also, two Cattle Egrets were at Marsh Farm and a Little Owl was close to Bramber Farm. whilst two Buzzards and four Jays were in and around Macrocarpa Copse. (JDW)

Reed Bunting at the North Wall (JDW)

Church Norton: There was a bit of eastward finch movement again this morning, including five Lesser Redpolls, c50 Siskins, c30 Linnets and 200+ Goldfinches, along with a House Martin, c50 Swallows and 100 Meadow Pipits.

Two Dartford Warblers were in the gorse on the beach, with another along the harbourside path, whilst a Sparrowhawk, up to four Stonechats and half a dozen Reed Buntings were in the vicinity. 

Also, two Lesser Redpolls were in the churchyard, along with a Blackcap, a couple of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs a, pair of Mistle Thrushes, a Jay and a Green Woodpecker, but elsewhere passerines were few.

The harbour held three Common Gulls and a few Mediterranean Gulls, along with the Whimbrel and a scattering of the regular waders. (AH/AW/A&YF)

Lesser Redpolls (above), Blackcap, Jay, Whimbrel, Green Woodpecker (AH), Dartford Warbler, Lesser Redpolls, Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk & Linnet (AW) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A female Merlin sat out briefly near the poplars this evening, and was later seen zipping through, whilst one, and quite possibly two, Marsh Harriers were about.

At least 15 Stonechats were spread along the banks, along with two Chiffchaffs, a handful of Skylarks, 50+ Meadow Pipits, 20+ Linnets and 100+ Goldfinches, with most of the latter in the thistly field by the car-park.

A Kingfisher and a Greenshank were in the first sluice, along with a couple of Redshanks and Curlews, whilst seven Egyptian Geese and c60 Canada Geese were on the Stilt Pool, along with a selection of other wildfowl. (AH/S&SaH)

Merlin (above), Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Stonechat & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 15th October: Another sunny but chilly morning, with the breeze shifting to due north and remaining brisk..........

Selsey Bill: A quieter morning than of late, though the Merlin and plenty of Swallows were about again and a few Brent Geese continued to move west. Full log below. (RP/MO-W/AM/SR/AH)

(0715-0900hrs) (N, F4)

Gannet - 3E, 52W

Brent Goose - 71W

Shelduck - 2W

Wigeon - 15E, 21W

Common Scoter - 10W

Merlin - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

auk sp - 2E, 3W

Wood Pigeon - 45W

swallow - 59E, 7W, c30 present

Meadow Pipit - 18N

Pied Wagtail - 7E, 4W

Chiffchaff - 4

Jackdaw - 120N

Common Seal - 2os

Chiffchaff (above) & Wigeon and Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning there were nine Egyptian Geese on the pool, along with the usual mix of c100 Lapwings, c40 Shovelers, six Shelducks and 100+ Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Later this morning at least five Cattle Egrets were among the cows on Ferry Field. (RP)

Egyptian Geese on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was a Short-eared Owl briefly over the Severals this morning, and two Red-breasted Mergansers were out on the sea, whilst there was still some passerine passage, mainly of Goldfinches and Greenfinches. 

Apart from a few Meadow Pipits and two Sparrowhawks around the horse field, and small groups of Brent Geese in the harbour, though, there was little else to report. (AW)

Short-eared Owl (above), Red-breasted Merganser & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: The Common Sandpiper was again in White's Creek this morning, whilst a Grey Wagtail and three Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks.

There were plenty of Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Wigeon out in the harbour, along with a few Brent Geese, but the wall was very quiet save a dozen or so Swallows feeding overhead. Most of the passerine activity was around Owl Point, where there were at least ten Yellowhammers, 20 Reed Buntings and 50 Meadow Pipits, plus a couple of Skylarks busy among the dead trees in the tidal inlet. (AH/TB/NR)

Yellowhammer (above), Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting & Wigeon at the North Wall (AH)

Wednesday, 14th October: A cool and bright morning, with the north-easterly breeze decidedly fresh..........

Selsey Bill: A Merlin was about again this morning, as was the close Red-throated Diver, an Arctic Skua and a Bonxie, whilst there were also plenty of Swallows and Meadow Pipits about. Full log below....... (MO-W/OM/SR/RP/TR/AH)

0715-0945hrs:   (wind NE 4-5)

Gannet - 10E, 65W, 60 os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Brent Goose - 87W

Common Scoter - 6E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 3W

Wigeon - 17E, 5W

Pintail - 1E

Teal - 2W

Merlin - 1N

Lapwing - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 5W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Great Skua - 1E settled os

Razorbill - 8W

auk sp - 15W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Skylark - 3N

Pied Wagtail - 23E

Meadow Pipit - 60N

Swallow - 380E

House Martin - 8E

Chiffchaff - 3

Red-throated Diver (above), Arctic Skua, Red-breasted Mergansers, Mediterranean Gull & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

The following, observed at the Bill this morning, really cannot go without comment....

The nice clump of tamarisk along the beach and near the bungalows - a valuable piece of habitat which is used by many migrant birds through the year - has again been ransacked by workmen from Chichester DC and hacked right back to the stumps, exposing all the litter in the process and removing any shelter for wildlife. 

Why, oh why is this thought necessary? How does this fit with the Council's biodiversity plan? Protestations to the workmen by OM were ignored and it proved impossible to contact CDC by phone during the process to try and halt the destruction....a dreadful situation. The photos below show the destruction in progress; representations will be made in due course. (Eds)

Hardly conservation in action - and not exactly sympathetic pruning - bad form CDC !! (OM)

Ferry Pool: Just the usual mix this morning, including c80 Lapwing, c30 Shovelers, ten Shelducks and c100 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were at least two Ring Ouzels and a Dartford Warbler around the North Wall this morning. One was feeding on hawthorn berries at Bremere bridge copse, but was fairly elusive and eventually moved out of sight deeper into the copse. A pair of Stonechats and a pair of Pied Wagtails in the Welbourne horse field, whilst on a rising tide the regular waders were in White's Creek, including 76 Black-tailed Godwits. (GK/JDW)

Earlier, a Common Sandpiper, the stubby billed Greenshank and a Kingfisher were all present in White's Creek this morning in addition to the usual waders. Further out, a Peregrine was perched amongst the Spartina grass and about 250 Canada Geese flew north from the harbour in small groups while three Brent Geese circled about. 

The early morning hedgerows contained about a dozen Reed Buntings and a Chiffchaff, three Black-tailed Godwits were in the Breech Pool, a Kestrel hovered above and a distant Buzzard was visible. (IH/PC)

The somewhat elusive Ring Ouzel at Bremere bridge copse, North Wall (JDW)

Later this afternoon there was no sign of any Ring Ouzels, but there were two Fieldfares and three Mistle Thrushes along the hedgerows. (AW)

Fieldfare at the North Wall (AW)

Church Norton: There were a lot of Linnets, Goldfinches, Siskins and Meadow Pipits going along the beach this morning, along with a few Swallows and Pied Wagtails, but the bushes were quiet beyond a few Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard, a single Chiffchaff in Bluebell wood and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the orchard at Greenlease Farm.

Around 40 Brent Geese went over and a few Wigeon were on the water, but the harbour was quiet on the high tide, though c40 Curlews were on the stubble fields at Greenlease Farm, along with a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. (AW/CRJ/AH)

Brent Geese (above), Great Spotted Woodpecker & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)

Behind the hide there were a Chiffchaff and seven Magpies, along the beach a Sparrowhawk, a Stonechat, another Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting and in the fields 60 Curlew. Moving into the NE wind along the beach between 0830 and 0930 were 400 Goldfinches, 82 Siskins, 65 Linnets, 10 Meadow Pipits, three Pied Wagtails and 13 Jackdaws. 

From the spit roosting in the harbour there were 30 Turnstones, 42 Ringed Plovers and 17 Dunlin, whilst in the harbour there were 17 Shelducks and 30 Teal. (CRJ)

There was a big movement of passerines east along the spit this early morning - mostly Goldfinches and Greenfinches, but also a few Siskin and a large flock of Redpoll. A single Golden Plover flew over high heading south and a diver sp flew west towards the Bill. There was also a female Blackcap in the churchyard. (AW)

Lesser Redpolls (above), Siskin and Goldfinch, Goldfinches, Golden Plover & Blackcap at Church Norton (AW)

This evening along the west side there were 11 Fieldfares, two Chiffchaffs and six Goldcrests in the hedges and 14 Great Crested Grebes and nine Brent Geese out in the main channel. (S&SaH)

Fieldfare along the west side (SH)

Fishbourne Creek: A quick look at the upper part of the Fishbourne Creek at high tide this morning was pretty much the usual fare. The upper salt marsh at Fishbourne held two Stonechats whilst roosting in the harbour were about 50 Redshanks, nine Grey Plovers, four Ringed Plovers and a few Lapwing and Turnstones, and about 40 Black-tailed Godwits were in flight over the creek. 

Most of the Wigeon and Teal were close to the west shore, where many Curlew were roosting below the Lavant Outfall. Off the Lavant Outfall were three Great Crested Grebes, and the 111 Mute Swans were towards Fishbourne. (RW)

Warner Lane paddocks: A look around the paddocks and surrounding area produced two Red-legged Partridges, a Kestrel, two Stonechats and four Chiffchaffs, plus c.20 Swallows overhead. (OM)

Kestrel near Warner Lane paddocks (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the poplars - A quick look this evening along the overgrown field just beyond the car-park, was surprisingly productive, with a Whinchat among at least ten Stonechats and at least 50 Linnets, 100 Goldfinches and 30 Meadow Pipits present, too. 

Also, seven Egyptian Geese flew out from the new reservoirs and headed off east.(AH)

Whinchat (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)