Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 10th

Tuesday, 13th July: After yet another night of heavy rain, a fairly bright and breezy morning in a freshening north-westerly ..............

Selsey Bill: A predictably quiet morning! (SR/AH/IP)

(0655-0755hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Gannet - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2os

Sandwich Tern - c25os

Little Tern - 2os

Swift - 5

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 4

Sandwich Tern (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least four Cattle Egrets in the field again, whilst a Knot was among c50 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, along with 12 Avocet, c65 Lapwing and a dozen Teal and two Spotted Redshanks were along the channel opposite. (AH/BFF/DIS)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Avocet, Knot and Black-tailed Godwits & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Glossy Ibis was seen flying along the east side of the harbour this morning, apparently heading for the beach, but not subsequently relocated.

Also, the adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the harbour a Cattle Egret was seen feeding two young in Owl Copse and a juvenile Peregrine went over.

Two Grey Plovers and a Greenshank were in the harbour, too. (BFF/DIS)

Later, a couple of Whimbrel were in the harbour, whilst c40 Black-tailed Godwits were in the fields. (AH)

Cattle Egrets (above), Sedge Warbler & Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: At least 30 Little Terns were fishing offshore and bringing a continuous supply of fish into their island, whilst a handful of Common Terns and a mass of Sandwich Terns were doing likewise.

Two Peregrines went high over the harbour together, but waders were few beyond a Whimbrel, two Dunlin and a few Curlews and Redshank, whilst ten Turnstones and six Ringed Plovers were along the beach. Also, a flock of eight Teal flew in, dropping on the sea for a while before heading into the harbour. (AH/BFF/DIS)

Later, there were lots of Purple Hairstreaks in Bluebell Wood. (SR)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Terns, Whimbrel, Turnstones & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Marsh/Chalder Farm: Quiet here today with just four Yellowhammers, a Blackcap, five Chiffchaffs, two Whitethroats, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Stock Doves, calling Reed Warblers, a family of Pied Wagtails, three Kestrels, five Swifts and a flock of c25 Sand and House Martins. I was enjoying watching the latter when a Buzzard swept through and plucked one, causing the remainder to instantly disappear. Also it was good to see a field margin of Borage being enjoyed by the bees. (SR)

Common Buzzard in the Marsh Farm area (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Greenshank was again by the poplars, whilst the banks held five Stonechats, including two newly fledged juveniles, 20+ Yellowhammers and Whitethroats and three Green Woodpeckers, whilst a Peregrine, four Swifts, a Sand Martin and 50+ Swallows went over.

Two Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool, along with another Greenshank, a Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and two Egyptian Geese. (S&SaH)

Monday, 12th July: After heavy overnight rain, a grey and humid morning in a light north-easterly breeze............. ..

Selsey Bill: This afternoon a Glossy Ibis went east past the Bill - possibly the bird seen in the harbour yesterday or possibly the arrival of another one.

A flock of Common Scoters went through at the same time, whilst an immature Mediterranean Gull was also seen, as well as a steady flow of Sandwich and Little Terns back and forth. (AW)

Glossy Ibis (above), Common Scoters & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AW)

Earlier, there were just a handful of Little Terns offshore, along with the regular Sandwich Terns, with a few Common Scoter moving offshore. Full log below. (SH/SR/IP/AH)

(0615-0815hrs) (NNE, F2-3)

Gannet - 37E, 2os

Grey Heron - 1E

Common Scoter - 12E, 30W

Curlew - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 5os

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 2

Sandwich Tern (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least four Cattle Egrets tucked in among the cows on the field this morning, with a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin, eight Avocets, c25 Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Lapwing and six Teal on the pool, and the Spotted Redshank was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper, Cattle Egret, Spotted Redshank & Spotted Redshank and Redshank around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There was no sign of the Glossy Ibis this morning, though both Marsh Harriers were seen and there were several Cattle Egrets and a couple of juvenile Grey Herons among the Little Egrets in Owl Copse.

There were also two Common Terns feeding over the Breech Pool and a Whimbrel was in the harbour. (IP)

Later on a Barn Owl was hunting along the wall, whilst two juvenile Cattle Egrets were among the many juvenile Little Egrets in Owl Copse. (S&SaH)

East Side: Some 400 Black-headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls were far out on the mud, while near the channel there was a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a single Dunlin, two breeding plumage Black-tailed Godwits and one Little Tern. Beyond the channel a Shelduck minded a small group of young. (IH/LP/TG)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A female Garganey was among seven Teal on the Stilt Pool this morning. (DC)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm and Ham Farm - Two or three family groups of Swallows were around the wires at Porthole Farm and along Ham Road, whilst the first two returning Common Gulls were among a mixed flock of Mediterranean, Black-headed and Herring Gulls on the rye stubble fields.

Yellowhammers, Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks were all widespread between the farms, with several Reed Buntings about, too, whilst the big field between Ham banks and the breach held at least three singing Corn Buntings.

Two families of Stonechats were also at Ham, along with several singing Reed Warblers and a family of Little Grebes on the ponds and a pair of Egyptian Geese tucked away near the breach, whilst a Chiffchaff sang near the houses and a Silver-Y moth was in the verges. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Common Gulls, Stonechat, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Little Grebes & Silver-Y moth at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 11th July: After a bright and still, if cool, start it slowly clouded up as the wind freshened from the south......... ..

Selsey Bill: A count of 34 Little Terns were feeding offshore this morning, along with eight Common and 30 Sandwich Terns, whilst a Whimbrel went east and a few Common Scoters and Gannets were moving about. Full log below. (SH/AH/SR/IP)

(0600-0830hrs) (SSW, F4)

Gannet - 16E, 6W

Common Scoter -14E, 10W, 6os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Whimbrel - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Common Tern - 8os

Little Tern - 34os

auk sp - 1E

Swift - 6 (+10 along Grafton Road)

Swallow - 2

Pied Wagail - 1

(1640-1740hrs) (SE, F3) (SH)

Gannet - 3E, 4W

Common Scoter - 1E

Curlew - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 32os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 5os

Common Seal - 1os (hauled up on rocks by Mile Basket)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite again early this morning, whilst the pool held a Common Sandpiper, eight Avocets, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, eight Teal and four Shelducks. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Common Sandpiper & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Glossy Ibis flew out of Owl Copse late this morning, dropping into Honer 1 field briefly, before it flew around over the wall, inspecting the harbour then turning back again, heading towards Pagham.
Also, three Cattle Egrets were seen in Owl Copse along with eight Little Egrets and a juvenile Grey Heron, whilst a Greenshank and 11 Black-tailed Godwits were along White's Creek and one of the Marsh Harriers was distantly seen over the reedbeds. (GM/SR)

Glossy Ibis (above) & juvenile Grey Heron at the North Wall (SR)

Later, the Glossy Ibis was showing well, feeding on the marsh grass out in the harbour. (AW/NM et al)

Glossy Ibis at the North Wall (AW)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two or three Sand Martins went over today, whilst a Kestrel was on the houses in Park Lane. (IP/S&SaH)

West Itchenor: Three Brent Geese were on Stakes Island, seen from the horse pond this afternoon. (BFF)

Church Norton: There were up to 50 Little Terns in the harbour this morning, along with too many young Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls to count, whilst waders included two Whimbrel, a handful of Curlews, three Ringed Plovers (including a well-grown juvenile), four Dunlin, and five Redshanks.

Among the few passerines seen were four Reed Buntings and a Sedge Warble on the first Several, whilst two Grey Herons were in a dead tree and a Green Woodpecker was also seen and two Teal went over. (IP)

Later Sparrowhawk chicks could be seen in the nest, with an adult nearby, whilst Bluebell Wood held a Marbled White and a Purple Hairstreak. (S&SaH)

Sparrowhawk (above), Marbled White & Purple Hairstreak at Church Norton (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a Greenshank and a Whimbrel near the poplars again this morning, whilst the banks held several families of Whitethroats and Linnets and a few Skylarks and Yellowhammers, plus a couple of Stonechats and 20 House Martins were over the new reservoirs.

At least 50 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows were around the Stilt Pool and adjacent fields, whilst the pool held a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, an adult Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers, three Dunlin and two Lapwing, along with the two Egyptian Geese.

Also, the first Gatekeepers were on the wing and up to a dozen Marbled Whites - usually a scarce species at the south of the Peninsula - were about, too. (AH)

juvenile Little Ringed Plover (above), Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Greenshank, Sand Martin, Whitethroat, Linnet, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Field Scabious & Lady's Bedstraw at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 10th July: A still, grey and murky morning, with persistent drizzle from early on before brightening a little later on.... ..

Selsey Bill: A few Common Scoters were moving about, whilst eight Mediterranean Gulls and plenty of Little and Common Terns were offshore. Full log later. (SH/AH/SR)

(0600-0800hrs) (SW, F2)

Gannet - 12E, 3W

Little Egret - 1W

Common Scoter - 12E, 5W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 8os (inc 1 juvenile)

Sandwich Tern - 52os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 17os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 2

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite this morning, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on Ferry Pool, along with ten Avocets, three Dunlin, half a dozen Redshanks and c40 Lapwings and c20 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

This afternoon there were no less than three Spotted Redshanks on the pool. (AB)

Spotted Redshank (above), Common Sandpiper & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There wasn't much along here early on beyond the odd Sedge and Reed Warbler and a few Linnets. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Reed Warbler along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't too much variety this morning, but there was a mass of activity among the young Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls, with a couple of young Common Terns and Mediterranean Gulls noted, too, whilst the Little Terns were still busy around their island.

Also, at least two Whimbrel, four Ringed Plovers and a few Curlew and Redshank were on the mud, whilst the Swallows were still around the hide. (AH)

juvenile Common Terns (above), juvenile Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Greenshank and a Whimbrel near the poplars, which also held four Green Woodpeckers, whilst there were 30+ Whitethroats, 20+ Yellowhammers, four Stonechats, four Reed Warblers and two Reed Buntings along the banks, with three Buzzards, three Swifts, 100+ Sand Martins and 30+ Swallows over.

Two Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool, along with three Dunlin, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Ringed Plovers, two Egyptian Geese and a Sandwich Tern, whilst a Gannet was offshore. (S&SaH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Sandwich Tern & Swallow at Medmerry (SH)

North Wall: A Glossy Ibis flew in over Owl Copse late this afternoon and circled over the Breech Pool before dropping out of sight, where it remained until mid-evening, when it popped its head up a couple of times in the south-east corner the of the field behind the Breech Pool where it adjoins the reeds.

Also seen during the course of the day were the Yellow-legged Gull and a couple of Greenshanks in the harbour, both Marsh Harries at various times, including a food-pass, three Cattle Egrets, three Buzzards,, a Common Tern, half a dozen Sand Martins and the usual Reed, Sedge and Cetti;'s Warblers. (AB/S&SaH/RHa/AH/LP/IP et al)