17th - 19th October 2020

Monday, 19th October: A bright and sunny morning, quite mild in the moderate southerly breeze.....,

Selsey Bill: It was fairly slow this morning, though a few finches went through too distantly to identify, along with a few Swallows and Gannets. Full log below. (BI/MO-W/IP/RP/AH)

(0730-0900hrs) (S, F4)

Gannet - 37W

Wigeon - 4E

Teal - 1E

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 1W

auk sp - 18W

Swallow - 9E

Meadow Pipit - 6E, 2W

Pied Wagtail - 1E, 19W

Linnet - 51W

This afternoon there was a Sanderling among the Turnstones at high-tide. (AW)

Gannets at the Bill (AH) and Sanderling at high tide (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks feeding together in the channel opposite this morning, and there was also a Kingfisher, half a dozen Redshanks and a few Wigeon and Teal present, whilst the pool itself held at least 100 more of the latter two, along with c40 Shovelers and c150 Lapwings. (AH) 

Spotted Redshanks (above), Kingfisher & Shoveler around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Black Redstart briefly on the corrugated roof of the barn along Rectory Lane and a skulking Dartford Warbler in the gorse by Reedy Marsh were the only birds of note this morning, with otherwise just half a dozen Stonechats and similar of Swallows along the Severals and just the odd Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit about.

The harbour was quiet, too, though there were four Bar-tailed Godwits present, along with 20+ Grey Plovers and a scattering of the regular waders. (AW/AH)

Black Redstart (above), Goldcrest (AW), Bar-tailed Godwit, Stonechat & Grey Heron (AH) at Church Norton

Sunday, 18th October: A fairly overcast but still morning, with the breeze slight and from the north-west.....,

Selsey Bill: It was generally quiet, but a Red Kite appeared briefly before retreating inland and a few Reed Buntings, Lesser Redpolls and Swallows went over and a Great Northern Diver and a Red-throated Diver were offshore. Full log later. (SH/BI/SR/MO-W/AH)

(0715-0915hrs) (NNW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1os, then W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 9W

Brent Goose - 10W

Wigeon - 12E

Pintail - 6W

Common Scoter - 2E

Red Kite - 1W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 2W

Skylark - 9E

Swallow - 30E, 4W

House Martin - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 16W

Pied Wagtail - 5E, 16W

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 1

Linnet - 36E

Lesser Redpoll - 14E

Goldfinch - 26E

Chaffinch - 3E

Reed Bunting - 3E, 5W

Red-throated Diver (above), Red Kite, Mediterranean Gull & Reed Bunting at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen briefly along the Tramway and then head a bit later on, though it was not seen subsequently. (IL et al)

Earlier, a Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite the Ferry, whilst on the pool itself there were c80 Lapwing, six Shelducks and plenty of Shovelers, Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Later, a Marsh Harrier went east over the Tramway. (RJS)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Wigeon around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A brief visit searching the bushes produced two Cetti's Warblers, two male Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests, a Pied Wagtail, four Swallows and 10 Reed Buntings. In the fields a covey of 62 Red-legged Partridges was flushed by a couple of walkers. (SR)

Late afternoon from the Long Pool to the West side were a Kingfisher, a Spotted Redshank, 18 Reed Buntings, four Stonechats and eight Chiffchaffs, plus 28 Brent Geese over .  (S&SaH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Hobby went over the farm this morning, along with a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard, whilst 20+ Meadow Pipits, 100+ Pied Wagtails and 150+ Linnets were on the fields. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Marsh Harrier was over the Severals early on and visiting birders reported a Red Kite over the churchyard, but generally it was quiet this morning, with just a couple of small flocks of Lesser Redpolls over and just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the churchyard, plus a Jay burying acorns along the path to the beach, where there were also half a dozen Reed Buntings.

Two Bar-tailed Godwits and a few Grey Plovers were in the harbour, along with the usual Redshanks and Curlews and there were c40 Brent Geese in the main channel, whilst another dozen went over west. (AH/A&YF et al).

Later on, a Dartford Warbler, five Stonechats, two Goldcrests and three Chiffchaffs were spread along the front, whilst five Skylarks, a Grey Wagtail, 20 Pied Wagtails, ten Meadow Pipits, 20 Goldfinches and 40 Linnets went over east.

Also, a Kingfisher and a Greenshank were in the harbour near the concrete blocks. (S&SaH)

This afternoon the first Slavonian Grebe of the autumn was offshore and a flock of 16 distant grey geese went west. (IL)

Jay (above), Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Chi GPs - Drayton House pits: A very still and quiet WeBS count day at the pits, with numbers of wildfowl comparatively low. The best on offer was a count of about 100 Pochard between both pits, whilst Shoveler numbers barely reached a measly 25. Eight Chiffchaffs, several Goldcrests and a Blackcap were in the hedgerows and bird of the day was probably the Marsh Harrier which appeared only briefly. (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This morning a Marsh Harrier was over the Stilt Pool (per Twitter), whilst this evening the Merlin was chasing Meadow Pipits near Marsh Barn, where there were also a pair of Stonechats, whilst a Kingfisher was by the first sluice. (AH)

Saturday, 17th October: A cool and overcast morning after a bright start, but with just a light north-easterly breeze.....,

Selsey Bill: There was still a bit of visible migration going on, including a few Lesser Redpolls and few Swallows, but it was slow offshore, with two Greylag Geese west the most unusual sighting. Full log later. (SH/BI/RP/MO-W/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NE, F2)

Greylag Goose - 2W

Brent Geese - 2E, 22W

Common Scoter - 11W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Wood Pigeon - 290W

Stock Dove - 1W

Skylark - 1W

Swallow - 38E

Meadow Pipit - 15N

Pied Wagtail - 14W

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 1

Jackdaw - 50

Chaffinch - 1E

Linnet - 7E

Lesser Redpoll - 17W

Greylag Geese (AH) and sunrise at the Bill this morning (SH)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite early this morning, whilst at least 150 Lapwings were on the pool, along with the usual mix of c40 Shoveler, half a dozen Shelducks and 100+ Wigeon and Teal.

A few Goldcrests were in the adjacent hedges, with one or two more, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a few Long-tailed Tits along the first part of the Medmerry Trail. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Goldcrest, Chiffchaff & Shovelers around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two Lesser Redpolls went over, as did four House Martins and ten Swallows, whist a Chiffchaff and ten Pied Wagtails were around the farm, with another 40 of the latter towards Greenlease Farm. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Dartford Warbler was showing well along the beach in the company of up to four Stonechats this morning, with two Chiffchaffs in the Severals, whilst there was still a fair amount of finch passage, including 20+ Siskins and Lesser Redpolls, 120 Linnets and 300+ Goldfinches, along with 50+ Swallows, five Skylarks, nine Pied Wagtails,  and 20+ Meadow Pipits.

Half a dozen Lesser Redpolls were in the churchyard early on, whilst another flock of 20 dropped in fleetingly later, when there were also two or three Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests among a large flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits.

The harbour was fairly quiet, though a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the far side and a Bar-tailed Godwit was out on the mud, whilst a Kingfisher was by the concrete blocks. Also, a Sandwich Tern was offshore and at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls were among the large flock commuting between the beach and Greenlease Farm. (AH/MO-W/MI/A&YF/S&SaH et al)

Dartford Warbler (above), Stonechat, Chiffchaff & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

Birdham Pool:   There were 19 Little Grebes, 13 Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret and a Chiffchaff with three Grey Wagtails at the canal sluice and 17 Stock Doves and 9 Pied Wagtails on a nearby field. (SR)

North Wall: Two Marsh Harriers flying together over fields behind the Breech Pool were the highlights this morning although there was much else to see.  A Kingfisher was present at Whites Creek which also contained an Avocet and Greenshank together with the usual Wigeon, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Golden Plover (only a few), Dunlin and six Brent Geese.  

A Song Thrush and Chaffinch (not so often seen) were near the stables while there were abundant Reed Buntings in the hedgerows as well as a Goldcrest, Chiffchaffs, three Greenfinches, a Blackcap, a Green Woodpecker and at least six Stonechats.  At Owl Point there was a Jay, Skylark and another Green Woodpecker and Kingfisher. (IH/SP et al) 

The walk up to Owl Point from the Quay produced c.10 Stonechats, a dozen Reed Buntings and, a rarity for here, a Yellowhammer. Six Snipe came off the saltmarsh and 24 Black-tailed Godwits flew over. (BI)

Pagham Spit: A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse along the spit this afternoon. (TH)

Medmerry: East side - Around 50 Pied Wagtails were feeding on the roof of the Oasis centre in the caravan park late this afternoon before going into the reed-bed at Toe End, where they were joined by more birds. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 18 Stonechats were spread along the banks this evening, whilst the regular Greenshank, 30 Golden Plovers, 150 Lapwings and eight Shovelers were around the poplars area.

Also a Green Sandpiper was on the Stilt Pool, along with two Greylag Geese - presumably the two that went west past the Bill this morning. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - Yet another Dartford Warbler was here, too, skulking in the gorse by the viewpoint this evening, though otherwise it was very quiet, with just a female Merlin, a male Sparrowhawk and two Stonechats noted. (AH)

Sparrowhawk at Medmerry (AH)