1st - 3rd August 2021

Tuesday, 3rd August: After a very gloomy start, with low, black cloud hanging over the Peninsula, it slowly brightened up to leave a pleasant morning of sun and white cloud as the breeze swung round to become a moderate south-easterly......

Selsey Bill: It was mostly just a mix of the regular species, though a Willow/Chiff was calling in the garden and a flock of eight Collared Doves appeared to come in off the sea. (SR/IP/AH)

(0700-0800hrs) (NW, F2)

Gannet - 10E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 29

Sandwich Tern - 14E, 12W

Common Tern - 7E

Collared Dove - 8N

Swift - 1

swallow - 1

House Martin - 1

Willow/Chiff - 1

Grey Seal - 1os

Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

A walk around the Bill-tip at 10am produced a flighty Wheatear and 12 Sand Martins heading east, 88+ Turnstones, three House Martins tending to a nest of young at Marine Gardens and a Grey Seal offshore. (SR)

Wheatear (above) &Grey Seal at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: Two Green Sandpipers flew down the channel opposite early on, when there were also two Common Sandpipers, two Whimbrel and c40 Redshank present, whilst later on 11 Cattle Egrets were among the cows in the field.

The pool itself was busy, but nothing unusual except two Shovelers, a Common Sandpiper and 14 Dunlin, with the regulars including four Avocets, c80 Lapwing, c150 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Shelducks and a dozen or so Teal. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper, Cattle Egrets, Shoveler & Dunlin and Lapwings around the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pools - A Wood Sandpiper remained on the Stilt Pool today, along with up to five Common Sandpipers and a few Lapwing, whilst a Pochard was an unusual addition to the regular wildfowl, which included c275 Canada Geese, plus a hybrid-type.

Around 40 Sand Martins and the odd Swallow were feeding over the banks, but they were generally quiet beyond two or three Willow Warblers, several families of Whitethroats, a few Yellowhammers and Skylarks and lots of Linnets and Goldfinches. (AH/HR/DMe)

This evening a Raven went over - the first on the Peninsula since the spring, whilst nine Willow Warblers were near the car park and five Stonechats were along the banks.

Three Wood Sandpipers were back on the stilt Pool, along with four Common Sandpipers, an Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit and an Egyptian Goose, whilst c50 Sand Martins were feeding over the water. (S&SaH)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Pochard and Canada Geese & Canada Geese plus hybrid at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall & East side: The female Marsh Harrier and two juveniles were out together thermalling mid-morning, eventually going very high before drifting northwards. Later a juvenile and another bird - possibly the male - were over the back fields. Small birds were rather few, although family parties of Reed Warblers were obvious near the Breech Pool and at least three Willow Warblers were in the hedgerows.

Along White's Creek and the East side, just after the high tide, there were at least 135 Redshanks roosting, together with 11 Greenshanks, three summer-plumaged Knot, three Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers and several Oystercatchers, whilst three Whimbrel and the regular Curlews were feeding out on the mudflats. Most of the roosting gulls were Black-headed, but there were also several Mediterranean amongst them and two Common Terns - the latter occasionally fishing along the creek. (OM)

Redshanks and summer-plumaged Knot and Dunlin roosting along the East side (OM)

There was also still plenty of Cattle and Little Egret activity at Owl Copse. (EB)

Cattle Egrets (above) & Little Egrets at the North Wall (EB)

Medmerry: Porhole Farm to Ham Farm - It was fairly quiet this evening around Porthole Farm, with just a Reed Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a few Whitethroats and Yellowhammers in the hedges.

Only two Corn Buntings were evident in the big oat field, which seemed to hold a lot of birds, including numerous Skylarks, several Reed Buntings and young Stonechats, a couple of Sedge Warblers and a flock of Greenfinches and Linnets, though otherwise along the banks there were just a couple of pairs of Stonechats, a pair of Meadow Pipits and more Skylarks, whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the breeding pair of Swallows were around the houses.. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Stonechat, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Swallow & Great Spotted Woodpecker at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 2nd August: A fairly dire morning's weather for the time of year, with persistent heavy drizzle and heavier spells of rain from first light, pushed through on a brisk and chilly north-easterly..

Selsey Bill: A flock of 22 Common Scoters and 17 Sand Martins east and a Fulmar west were the only things of note. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0655-0825hrs) (ENE, F4)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 24E, 7W

Common Scoter - 22E

Sanderling 1

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 15

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 23E, 17W

Common Tern - 1W

Sand Martin - 17E

There were plenty of Swifts, Sand and House Martins feeding and drifting west this evening, but there were no terns at all offshore. (SH)
(1700-1800hrs) (SW, F4)
Gannet - 2E, 10W
Turnstone - 3
Swift - 24W
Swallow - 3W
Sand Martin - 157W (+50 over Grafton Road)
House Martin - 30W

Common Scoters (above), Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Turnstone & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks again on the pool this morning, along with eight Dunlin, five Avocets, c100 Lapwing,c150 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Shelducks and c20 Teal.

Also, at least four Cattle Egrets were with the cows and a Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Shelduck, Cattle Egret & Whimbrel around the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: The first Nuthatch recorded on the Peninsula this year was calling from trees between the public car-park and the north shore boatyard this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: There were at least 15 Whimbrel in the harbour this morning, along with a flock of eight Ringed Plovers, four Turnstones, up to ten Curlews and at least 60 Redshank.

There were still at least 200 Sandwich Terns and 20 Common Terns about, too, with just a few Mediterranean Gulls among the diminishing number of Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Ringed Plover & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Toe End - A flock of six Sanderlings were in the tidal area near the breach this morning. (TG-P)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pools - A Wood Sandpiper could be seen rather distantly on the far bank of the Stilt Pool and there were also a minimum of three, possibly even five, Common Sandpipers there, too, whilst there were also a Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe among the Tufted Ducks and Lapwngs.
A flock of c30 Swallows with a few Sand Martins was overhead and a Cetti's Warbler gave a single call. Yellowhammers were still singing and a Whitethroat was near the car park, whilst an Egyptian Goose flew across the path toward the reservoir and a Bright Wave moth was near the flint barn. (SR)

Runcton: A juvenile Bullfinch was in our front garden this afternoon. (CRJ)

juvenile Bullfinch in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Along Church Farm Lane, by the junction with the path across the field, there were a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler in the reeds beside the track, a Willow Warbler was flitting about in the bushes, with a Wren, and a Yellowhammer also about. (T & B Randall).

Reed Warbler (above), Sedge Warbler & Yellowhammer at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (T Randall)

Sunday, 1st August: There was a distinctly autumnal feel early on, quite cool under leaden skies and a moderate north-westerly breeze, though it did brighten up and warm up later.....

Selsey Bill: A dark phase Arctic Skua and a few Sand Martins went west this morning, and four Sanderlings were on the beach, though it was generally quiet. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP/SH/AW/P&LH) 

(0705-0820hrs) (NW, F4)

Gannet - 7E, 5W, 15os

Sanderling - 4

Turnstone - 27

Arctic Skua - 1W (d/p)

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 5W

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 2

Sand Martin - 23W

House Martin - 1

Sanderlings (top AW, lower AH) & Turnstones (AH) at the Bill

Later in the day 15 Common Scoter were offshore from Hillfield Road. (BI)

The first Balearic Shearwater of the year went west along the Mile Basket line at 1525hrs and the first two returning Bonxies also went west together. Full log below. (SH)

(1500-1630hrs)

Balearic shearwater - 1W (1525hrs)

Gannet - 1E, 6W

Common Scoter - 3E, 9W

Whimbrel - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Great Skua - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 19W, 19os

Common Tern - 1W

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper on the pool this morning, along with two Avocets, c25 Lapwing, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, ten Teal and 14 Shelducks. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: At least two Willow Warblers were present, whilst a big mixed flock of c250 each of House Martins and Swallows, plus a few Sand Martins, were over the fields. (IP)

Selsey: A smart Stock Dove was in the vicarage garden this morning. (AW)

Stock Dove in a Selsey garden (AW)

Church Norton: There were still plentiful Sandwich Terns and 20+ Common Terns in the harbour, but again waders of note were few, comprising a Greenshank, a Knot, Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a few Curlews.

There were a number of Willow Warblers spread about, with up to ten Whitethroats along the front, but the only other passerines were 150+ Sand Martins moving over the Severals.

The Sparrowhawk chicks appear to have fledged, with two of them seen in flight over Priory Wood and being very vocal in the adjacent trees, whilst there were still two young Little Grebes and a Tufted Duck-ling on the second Several, and the pair of Red-legged Partridges were on the spit again. (IP/P&LH)

Knot (above) & Red-legged Partridge at Church Norton (IP)

This evening a ringed Roseate Tern was in the harbour, among c40 Common Terns and at least 300 Sandwich Terns, many of which were feeding in several big flocks inside the harbour, along with lesser numbers of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls.

There weren't many waders about, though, beyond a handful of Turnstones and a couple of Ringed Plovers, Whimbrel and Curlews. (AH)

Roseate, Common and Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two young Marsh Harriers were in the bushes behind the Breech Pool this morning, whilst half a dozen Cattle Egrets and 20+ Little Egrets were around Owl Copse and Halsey's Farm.

At least 50 Curlews, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Whimbrels were in Honer 2 field, with ten more of the latter in the harbour, whilst a couple of Greenshanks, a Common Sandpiper and c40 Redshank were in the White's Creek area.

A Sparrowhawk and a few Sand Martins and Swallows went over, but passerines were keeping low, though a few Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers popped up and half a dozen Willow Warblers were among a big roving mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits at Halsey's Farm. (AH/DHi/PC/LP et al)

Cattle Egrets (above), Common Sandpipers, Greenshank and Redshank, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler & Long-tailed Tit around the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Golf Links Lane to Ham Viewpoint - There weren't many migrants about, beyond a couple of Reed Warblers and a few Swallows, though two Corn Buntings, a Reed Bunting and two Stonechats were around Ham. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Wood Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, an Avocet and an Egyptian Goose were on the Stilt Pool this morning, with a Wheatear in the field near the beach and two more by the rocks and two Snipe were in the pools by Marsh Farm. 

Also, a male and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were by the poplars, with four Buzzards, two Kestrels, a Swallow and 25 Sand Martins overhead, whilst three Grey Wagtails were by the car-park and 100+ Mediterranean Gulls were in the fields. (S&SaH/M & L Hunt)

Wood Sandpiper and Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)