Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 17th

Thursday, 19th August: The morning started very grey and cool again, before brightening up briefly mid-morning in the persisting westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Three was a very large feeding flock of gulls offshore, with a Kittiwake, a few Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns joining in or passing through. Full log below.(SR/AH/AW)

(0700-0815hrs) (W, F4)

Gannet - 2E, 32W

Turnstone - 6

Herring Gull - c400os

Great Black-backed Gull - c50os

Black-headed Gull - c200os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 8W, 10os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 22W, 44os

Common Tern - 21W, 8os

Wheatear - 1

Kittiwake (above), Mediterranean Gull & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint was still on the pool this morning, though elusive and often at the very back.

There were also six Spotted Redshanks, including a striking juvenile, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper (with two more in the channel opposite, early on), an adult and two juvenile Avocets, c40 Dunlin, c60 Lapwings, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, five Shovelers, eight Shelducks and c20 Teal present.

The Tramway circuit was again quiet, with just a handful of Blackcaps and a couple of Whitethroats noted. (AH/RJF/DB et al)

Temminck's Stint (above), Spotted Redshanks, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were finally a few migrants about this morning, with the fields and hedges around Halsey's Farm and Owl Point holding a male and a female Redstart, three Whinchats, half a dozen Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a handful of Whitethroats.

There were more Whitethroats along the North Wall, along with another Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Reed Bunting, whilst at least 50 Sand Martins went over west and a Kingfisher shot through.

At least four Greenshanks, a couple of Whimbrel and c40 Redshanks were in the harbour at high tide, joined by c50 Curlews and a few Black-tailed Godwits from the fields, whilst there were still at least a dozen Cattle Egrets in and around Owl Copse. (AH/LP/RJF/DB)

Female (above) and male Redstart at Halsey's Farm (LP)

Redstart (above), Whinchat, Whinchats and Whitethroat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Greenshanks and Redshank & Cattle Egrets around the North Wall (AH)

East Beach: A Whitethroat was calling from my garden this morning - presumably a migrant as they are unusual here. (SR)

Park Farm, Selsey: A juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting the fields this evening, whilst a Curlew, a Swallow and four Sand Martins went over. (S&SaH)

Marsh and Chalder Farms, Sidlesham: Seventeen Cattle Egrets, two Kestrels, 20 Linnets, two Yellowhammers, six Pied Wagtails and three Willow Warblers were around the hedges and fields, whilst two flocks of c250 Swallows, along with c50 Sand Martins and half a dozen House Martins went over, and there was also a Painted Lady butterfly about. (SR)

Church Norton: It was very quiet this afternoon, with no terns for the first time since March, and just a Greenshank, a Grey Plover, three Whimbrel and a dozen Ringed Plovers of note in the harbour.

Two Garden Warblers were in the churchyard and a Sedge Warbler and one or two Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were in the sheltered hedges, whilst c50 House Martins, c20 Sand Martins and a few Swallows were feeding over them. (RJF/DB/AW/AH)

Greenshank (above) (AW) & sedge Warbler (AH) at Church Norton

Wednesday, 18th August: Another very grey morning, muggy and drizzly in the persisting westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Fulmar and a Common Sandpiper went west, along with ten Common Scoter, whilst 32 House Martins were over Broadreeds estate. (SR/AH)

(0700-0815hrs) (FF4-5)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 41W

Common Scoter - 10W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Common Sandpiper - 1W

Turnstone - 40

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 8W, 1os

Sand Martin - 3W

House Martin - 32

Common Sandpiper (above), Turnstones, Sandwich Tern, Gannet & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint was present again this morning on the pool, where there were also two Common Sandpipers, two Spotted Redshanks, 48 Dunlin, c120 Black-tailed Godwits, five Shovelers and c25 Teal. (AH/TG/PD/OM et al)

The Temminck's Stint was still present this afternoon, whilst two Knot, a Spotted Redshank and a Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (PJ)

The Temminck's Stint was still present this evening, along with two Green and two Common Sandpipers. (AH et al)

Temminck's Stint (above), Common Sandpiper & Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was very quiet this morning in the harbour at high tide, with just two Sandwich Terns and ten Mediterranean Gulls among a few dozen Black-headed Gulls, and visible waders consisting of three Whimbrel and a handful of Ringed Plovers and Curlews.

Half a dozen Sand Martins over west were the only indications of migration, with the Swallows still around the hide and a Whitethroat along the sheltered hedges just about the only other birds seen. (AH/TG)

Whimbrel (above), Sand Martin, Sandwich Terns & Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were 40 Sandwich Terns and five Whimbrel in the harbour, whilst a big flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits were roving the hedges, though there were no warblers with them. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton to the Stilt Pool - The pools were dominated by c300 Canada Geese, amongst them was a Greylag and a domestic-type white goose plus a couple of odd hybrids, one with a speckled face. Around 200 hirundines fed over the pools, mainly Sand Martins with a few House Martins along with eight Swifts.

A Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper were about but in the windy conditions viewing was tricky, whist along the banks was a family of Linnets, three Yellowhammers and a Marsh Harrier was out hunting. There was also a large flock of around 150 Starlings and a Kestrel. (SR)

Later on, a Whitethroat, a Stonechat and a Willow Warbler were along the banks, whilst a Swallow, four Yellow Wagtails and 100+ Sand Martins went over.

There were also two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, an Avocet and a Pochard on the pool. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 17th August: An unseasonably cool and very grey morning in a strengthening westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was much quieter than yesterday, with a few Common Terns west and a Grey Wagtail east about the only thing of note. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0700-0800hrs) (W, F4-5)

Gannet - 9E, 8W

Common Scoter - 2W

Oystercatcher - 4W

Turnstone - 18

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 17W

Common Tern - 29W

Sand Martin - 2W

House Martin - 1

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Willow/Chiff - 2

(1015-1145hrs) (PB)

Gannet - 19E, 52W

Common Scoter - 6E

Grey Plover - 1W

Turnstone - 37

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 25W

Common Tern - 1W

Gannet (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The stint that was lurking at the back of the pool yesterday came a little closer this morning, and revealed itself to be a Temminck's Stint.

There were also a Greenshank, five Spotted Redshanks, three Common Sandpipers, 19 Dunlin, 47 Lapwings, 131 Black-tailed Godwits, five Shovelers, eight Shelducks and c30 Teal present, whilst a Cattle Egret flew over west. (AH/PB/BFF et al)

Temminck's Stint (above), Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

The Temminck's Stint remained on the pool all day, whilst later on two Green Sandpipers, two Spotted Redshanks and a Greenshank were present, too. (AW/SR/AB/CRJ et al)

Temminck's Stint on the Ferry (AW)

Park Farm and North Selsey: This evening there were two Swifts, 20+ Swallows and 100+ House Martins feeding low down, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat was in the hedges. (S&SaH)

North Wall: The Breech Pool was extremely quiet, due to a very high-water level. Out in the harbour our highlights were three Common Buzzards overhead, a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull and 32 Cattle Egrets. (BFF)

Six Yellow Wagtails dropped into the reeds in the Breech Pool this evening. (SP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Reaching the exposed pools, conditions were not great, but there were a few good birds among the large numbers of Canada Geese present, including two Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpiper, a single Avocet and an eclipse Wigeon, with at least 50 Sand Martin plus a few Swallows feeding over it. (BFF)

Church Norton: Early on, around 500 Sand Martins were feeding low over the harbour towards the North Wall, but later on, a couple of Wheatears and Whitethroats along the spit and a handful of Swallows over were the only other migrants seen.

In the harbour there were just two Sandwich and four Common Terns, along with a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, whilst waders included two Bar-tailed Godwits, three Black-tailed Godwits, at least four Whimbrel, a couple of Grey Plovers, a single Knot, c50 Dunlin and at least 100 Ringed Plovers. Also, of note, there were four Gannet offshore. (PB/AH/BFF et al)