10th - 13th May 2021

Thursday, 13th May: A swing round to a fresh south-easterly this morning, producing a cool and grey morning with the odd bit of light drizzle.......

Selsey Bill: Conditions initially looked very promising, with a favourable south-easterly and some drizzle raising observer expectations - but alas hopes were soon dashed as the reality of a fairly dire sea-watch kicked in! A Black-throated Diver and eight Common Scoters east were the only hints of migration, though plenty of terns were feeding offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH/OM/BFF/DM/DIS)

(0620-0950hrs) (ESE, F5) 

Black-throated Diver - 1E
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Gannet - 25E, 4W
Common Scoter - 8E
Dunlin - 12 ob
Little Tern - 6 os
Common Tern - 8E, 11os
Sandwich Tern - 11E, c.40 os
auk sp - 3E
Swallow - 1N
Whitethroat - 1 gardens

There were two dark phase Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and two Little Terns, along with the usual Sandwich Terns and Gannets, between 1300 and 1400hrs today. (PR)

(1525-1800hrs) (JA/SH)
Fulmar – 1E
Gannet – 35E, 3W
Sandwich Tern – 58os
Common Tern – 19os
Little Tern – 2os

Black-throated Diver (above), Sandwich Tern & Whitethroat at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just eight Avocets, five Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshank and 22 Shelducks on or around the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At least 50 Swifts and a handful of Sand Martins were over the fields at Porthole Farm this morning, along with 200+ Swallows and House Martins, whilst Whitethroats were widely spread along all the hedges, as were Linnets, with a handful of Yellowhammers about, too.

At Ham, two or three Corn Buntings were tucked away in the big barley field, whilst a couple of pairs of Stonechats and one or two Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were along the banks, along with lots of Skylarks and Linnets and a couple of pairs of Swallows were around the houses. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Whitethroat, Linnets, Skylark, Swift, House Martin & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: Eight Cattle Egrets were in the North fields this morning, whilst a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Breech Pool area and five Swifts were over the Wall. (AT)

Warner Lane paddocks: Very quiet; a Red-legged Partridge, a Buzzard, a couple of Swallows, four Linnets and several Whitethroats were about it! (OM)

Northcommon Farm: Equally quiet; two Shelduck – presumably a pair – were in the paddocks amongst the sheep and horses, but migrants were virtually absent bar couple of Swallows, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Whitethroats presumably on territory. (OM)

Medmerry: Toe End - There was a Rock Pipit around the rocks this morning, before being chased off by a Meadow Pipit. There was little else to report other than a pair of Stonechats gathering nesting material. (AW)

                                

Stonechat (above) and Rock Pipit at Toe End, Medmerry (AW)

Wednesday, 12th May: The wind remains fresh and from the west, producing another mostly bright, if not especially warm morning of blustery conditions.......

Selsey Bill: It would seem that offshore migration is largely done, with a single Brent Goose and a single Common Scoter the only birds going east. Full log below. (AH)

(0645-0815hrs) (WSW, F5) 

Gannet – 32E, 6W, 8os

Brent Goose – 1E

Common Scoter – 1E

Common Gull – 1W

Kittiwake – 2W

Sandwich Tern – c120os

Common Tern – 12os

Little Tern – 8os

Razorbill – 2E

auk sp – 4E

House Martin - 11

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver – 1os
Gannet – 11E, 4W
Sandwich Tern – 44os
Common Tern – 6os
Little Tern – 8os

Brent Goose (above), House Martins & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A very smart summer-plumaged Cattle Egret was on the field this morning, whilst a Little Ringed Plover, six Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Avocets and 18 Shelducks were on the pool.

Also, a Lesser Whitethroat was in the hedge opposite and a Reed Warbler was singing from the roadside reeds. (TG-P/AH)

A Hobby went over the Visitor Centre at 1.30pm today. (AT)

Cattle Egret (above), Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Whitethroat & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Red Kite went over the garden this afternoon. (A&YF)

North Wall: Five Cattle Egrets were in the fields beyond Bremere Bridge this morning, with a couple more in Owl Copse, whist a Marsh Harrier was up briefly at the back, a pair of Gadwall and eight Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool and a Lapwing and six Shelducks were on the flooded fields, but four Black-tailed Godwits in White's Creek were the only waders seen in the harbour..

There were plenty of warblers in song, including lots of Sedge and Reed Warblers along the wall (with one of the latter singing from the bamboo hedge at Halsey's Barn!) and several Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus a couple of Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats in the sheltered hedges. There was also a Jay at Halsey's Farm and several widely-spread Reed Buntings, too. (AH)

Also, a Hobby went over at 11am. (AT)

Marsh Harrier (above), Cattle Egrets, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Jay & Reed Bunting around the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: A Hobby went over this afternoon. (AT)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Cuckoo was seen well this afternoon, and there were a couple of Painted Ladies about, too. (C Evans)

Cuckoo at Medmerry (C Evans)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Half a dozen Swifts were among c200 House Martins and c300 Swallows over the settling tanks this evening. (AH)

Swift (above), House Martins & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 11th May: Another bright and progressively breezy morning, with the wind veering from the south to south-westerly.......

Selsey Bill: It was a decidedly quiet morning, with a few flocks of Common Scoter about the only thing going east, though three Great Northern Divers were about and a Common Sandpiper flew in. Full log below..... 

(0500-0915hrs): (wind SSE3-SSW 4-5) (AM/IP/AH/MO-W/OM/SR)

Great Northern Diver - 3 os

diver sp - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Gannet - 35E, 6W

Common Scoter - 98E

Sparrowhawk - 1 area

Sanderling - 12E

Common Sandpiper - 1

Kittiwake - 3E

Little Tern - 1 os

Common Tern - 12E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 65 os

auk sp - 2E

Skylark - 1SE

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 9E, 2N

House Martin - 8 present (local/collecting mud)

(1700-1830hrs) (SH/AH)
Fulmar – 1W
Gannet – 41E, 5W
Sandwich Tern – 66os
Common Tern – 19os
Little Tern – 10os
Razorbill – 1W
auk sp – 2W

Great Northern Diver (above), Sandwich Tern & Sanderlings at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a dozen Avocets, three Black-tailed Godwits, five Redshank, a Gadwall and ten Shelducks on the pool, with just two Whimbrel in the channel opposite.

There were lots of Whitethroats and just the odd Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the Tramway circuit, with a couple of Swallows over and distantly calling Cuckoo, and there were also half a dozen Painted Ladies about. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: The first Holly Blue of the spring was in the garden this afternoon. (A&YF)

Church Norton: We spent a couple of hours searching for yesterday's Golden Oriole at the Severals without any luck. In fact, I don't think we found any migrant passerines although good number of Sedge and Reed Warblers were in and around the reeds and there were three Lesser Whitethroat singing between Church Norton and the Severals.

The rest of the time was spent scanning the harbour from the  bench on a rising tide. Huge numbers of Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, loafing around in the air, on the island and resting on the mudflats. We briefly found a Roseate Tern alongside two Common Terns amongst the melee of terns on the mud, having decent scope views for a short time before it took off within the flock of Sandwich Terns. Despite a long search on the rising tide, we were unable to locate it again. (BFF/DM)

This evening there wasn't much to report beyond c20  Little Terns and c80 Sandwich Terns on the mud. (AH)

Little and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Little Ringed Plover was on the much-reduced floods in Honer 1 field, whist a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier were also about. (CS)

East Head:The Avocet colony is down to 13 birds from 40 a few weeks ago and there is no longer any nesting activity, sadly, after a lot of promising activity earlier in the spring. (GM)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Just three Cattle Egrets were seen (in flight) this morning, and there wasn't much else beyond lots of Whitethroats and the odd Blackcap and Chiffchaff, though a couple of Shelduck flew over a few Linnets and Skylarks were along Church Farm Lane and at least half a dozen Painted Ladies were seen. (AH)

A walk around Marsh and Halsey’s Farms from 3-5pm produced eight Cattle Egrets, a Whimbrel overhead, a male Marsh Harrier, a Cuckoo, lots of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Reed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, three Skylarks, three Hares and three Painted Ladies. (CRJ,SM)

Cattle Egret (above), Linnet, Blackcap & Painted Lady at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 32 Avocets and four Egyptian Geese on the Stilt Pool, whilst two Sanderlings were along the beach. (AT)

Monday, 10th May: A bright and very breezy morning, cool early on, though warming up, with the wind south to south-westerly......

Update: Eastern Stonechat. Oct 2020 at Medmerry RSPB: Unfortunately, it seems that the faecal sample obtained did not provide suitable DNA, despite several attempts by the Aberdeen team seeking to analyse it (per ME). This being the case, we would assume there is now insufficient evidence under existing guidelines for the  full ID of this bird (as a Stejneger's) to be established. Sadly then, one that got away! (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A Pomarine Skua went east at 0632hrs, and five Arctic Skuas, 43 Common Scoters and 26 Common Terns also went east and 15 Sanderling were on the beach. Full log below. (JA/IP/AH/MO-W)

(0540-0900hrs) (SSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver – 2os

Fulmar – 3E, 3W

Gannet – 101E, 10W

Common Scoter – 43E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher – 3E

Sanderling - 15

Pomarine Skua – 1E (0632hrs)

Arctic Skua – 5E (4 l/p, 1 d/p)

Mediterranean Gull – 4E

Kittiwake – 11W

Sandwich Tern – 24os

Common Tern – 26E

Razorbill – 2E

Guillemot – 1E

auk sp – 5E, 1W

Swallow – 2

House Martin - 3

Sanderlings (above) & Fulmar at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 14 Avocets, six Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshank and 15 Shelducks on the pool, whilst a Greenshank was in the channel opposite, a Hobby went over and two or three Painted Ladies were in the hedges. (AH)

Greenshank in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: The male Golden Oriole showed briefly at 0620hrs in the trees where it was seen yesterday, before being chased by a Magpie and flying towards the wood between the Severals. (AW) It was then seen at 1005hrs flying over the Severals (TG-P/IL) and then at 1014hrs (SR) and 1114hrs (BI) in the vicinity of Bluebell Wood.

There were also Spotted Flycatchers in the orchard at Greenlease Farm and by the hide and a Wheatear on the beach, whilst several Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats were in the hedges, at least 20 Little and a dozen Common Terns were in the harbour among the Sandwich Terns and three or four Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Curlew and a couple of Ringed Plovers were on the mud, with the pair of Peregrines and a pair of Gadwall also present..

Also, at least half a dozen Painted Ladies were around the hide area. (AH/IP)

Golden Oriole (AW), Spotted Flycatcher, Little Terns, Common Terns, Whimbrel, Curlew & Painted Lady (AH) at Church Norton

After being absent during the afternoon, the Golden Oriole was again re-located at 1740hrs, moving from the Severals to the trees at the bottom of the path from Norton car park to the reserve. (BL et al)

There were also a Hobby, a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine present, plus lots of Little and Common Terns. (S&SaH/AB/AT/AH)

Little Terns (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There was a little bit of interest around the farm this morning with a Grey Heron on the balancing pool in Manor Lane, a singing Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes, a low flying Swift over the buildings, a Sand Martin amongst the swallows and a Grey Wagtail by the reservoir, having been absent for a month. (IP)

This evening, two Grey Wagtails were present. (S&SaH)

Grey Wagtail at Park Farm, Selsey (IP above & SH, lower)

North Wall: The White's Creek wind tunnel was devoid of birds this morning, though in Honer 1 field there was a steady procession of Shelducks in and out with a top count of 27, and a lone Bar-tailed Godwit was a rare sighting for this field. Also, several Chiffchaffs were singing in Owl Copse. (JDW)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Cattle Egrets were well spread out this morning, with three east of Marsh Farm, five to the south of the farm and two close to Macracapra Copse where there was also a singing Cetti's Warbler and nesting Greenfinches.

On the cycle track from Marsh Farm to Rookery Lane there were five Common Whitethroats and a Yellowhammer, and there were also seven Painted Lady butterflies. (JDW)

Yellowhammer (above) & Painted Lady at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (JDW)

Medmerry: Coastguards and Windmill area - An Arctic Skua went east past the Coastguards this morning, and a flock of 14 Sanderlings west past there, seemed to settle further up the beach towards the Windmill. (AH)

Arctic Skua at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Egyptian geese on a pool up from the Stilt Pool this morning, whilst the pool itself held 22 Avocets on the first islet, along with a pair of Gadwall, two Great Black-backed Gulls and at least three groupings of Canada goslings.

A Cuckoo and a Cetti’s Warbler were both heard calling in the vicinity of Marsh Barn, with otherwise good numbers of Whitethroats, Linnets and Reed Buntings along the banks, and Reed Warblers heard but not seen.

There was also a Brown Hare on land opposite the poplars. (GT)