20th - 22nd August 2021

Sunday, 22nd August: The breeze was back round to the west this morning, bringing a fairly pleasant morning of sunshine and cloud.....

Selsey Bill: There were 68 Sandwich and 14 Common Terns feeding offshore this morning, whilst two Fulmars and a few Gannets went west and a Wheatear was along the beach. Full log below. (SH/PB/SR/AH/IP)

(0600-0830hrs) (WNW, F4)

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 6E, 38W

Ringed Plover - 1

Dunlin - 3W, 2 on beach

Turnstone - 10

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 68os

Common Tern - 14os

Sand Martin - 37W

Swallow - 21W

House Martin - 52W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Wheatear - 1

Willow Warbler - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Gannets & Emperor dragonfly at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint was still tucked away at the back this morning, whilst there were also a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, c40 Dunlin, c100 Lapwing and c100 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a few Teal and Shelduck, on the pool. 

Also, a  Hobby, a Grey and a Yellow Wagtail went over, along with a few Sand Martins, whilst two Spotted Redshank, another Common Sandpiper and 20 Redshank were in the channel opposite. (AH/RAI/RJS et al)

Greenshank (above), Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & Redshank around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were several Lesser and Common Whitethroats, male and female Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler behind the hide, whilst a Redstart and several Common Whitethroats were along the Severals first thing this morning. (A&YF)

Later there were three Wigeon in the harbour, along with just two Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, a Whimbrel, 13 Dunlin and five Ringed Plovers.

The most unusual sighting, by far, of the morning was a Silver-washed Fritillary on the Buddleia by the lychgate to the churchyard. (DIS/RAI/BI)

Silver-washed Fritillary at Church Norton (BI)

By late afternoon the Fritillary had been replaced with a Jersey Tiger Moth and there were two Spotted Flycatchers, a female Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, a Green Woodpecker and a family of Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard. (SR)

Also, a Curlew Sandpiper was reported as present among the Dunlin. (per RBA/Birdguides)

Later, there was also a Garden Warbler about. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher (SR) (above) & Garden Warbler (AW) at Church Norton

North Wall: Most of the activity this morning was at Halsey's Farm, with three Spotted Flycatchers together, plus a Garden Warbler, in the hedges, and at least three Whinchats and half a dozen Wheatears around the tidal inlet in the field by Owl Point.

Otherwise, there were a few Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats about, with c30 Sand Martins over, but the only other migrant was a Wheatear along the wall.

At least 20 Cattle Egrets were around the fields and Owl Copse, but waders consisted of four Greenshank and a couple of Whimbrel in the harbour and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Redshanks in White's Creek. (AH/GM)

Spotted Flycatchers (above), Whinchat, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Whimbrel & Cattle Egret around the North Wall (AH)

This afternoon there were two male Redstarts at the eastern end of Owl Copse, whilst there were still five Wheatears around Owl Point and a juvenile Marsh Harrier and 20+ Swallows and Sand Martins went over.

There were 48 Cattle Egrets around the rife at Halsey's Farm, comprehensively outnumbering the 37 Little Egrets present! (S&SaH)

There were also 2000+ Black-headed Gulls hawking flying ants over the east side of the harbour this afternoon. (RJS)

Redstart at the North Wall (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Little Stint was still on the stilt Pools, along with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, four Common Sandpipers, three Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, an Avocet, two Black-tailed Godwits and the drake Pochard.

Two Whinchats and three Wheatears were along the banks, along with two Willow/Chiffs and 20+ Whitethroats, whilst 100+ Sand Martins, 20+ Swallows, four Sparrowhawks, four Kestrels and eight Buzzards went over. (S&SaH/PB/IP)

This afternoon, an Osprey went over the reserve. (IL)

The Little Stint was still present this evening, along with up to five Common Sandpipers  and 20+ Yellow Wagtails. (NM)

Little Stint (above), Whinchat & Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)

Birdham: A Pied Flycatcher was in our garden this evening, showing well! (AB)

Pied Flycatcher in a Birdham garden (AB)

Saturday, 21st August: Another grey and muggy day, with the breeze shifting south-easterly and bringing some light rain by mid-morning.....

Selsey Bill: There were a surprisingly large number of Sandwich and Common Terns going east this morning, along with two Bar-tailed Godwits and 47 Sand Martins. Full log below. (SH/PM/BI/SR/CN/AH/IP)

(0600-0900hrs) (ESE, F4)

Fulmar - 2E

Gannet - 40E, 16W

Teal - 5W

Common Scoter - 4E, 10W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E

Common Sandpiper - 1E

Turnstone - 49

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 2os

Sandwich Tern -82E, 10W

Common Tern -93E (inc flocks of 32 and 20), 6W

Swallow - 1

Sand Martin - 47E

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

Ferry Pool: The pool was looking really good this morning, with the water levels just right and packed with a wide range of species finding plenty to feed on. 

The Temminck's Stint was again present, whilst other waders comprised three Spotted Redshanks, including the juvenile, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel briefly, c40 Dunlin, a handful of Redshank, c80 Lapwing and c120 Black-tailed Godwits, along with a few Teal and Shelducks.

Also, a noisy flock of six Greenshank flew over, heading west, as did a few Sand Martins, whilst a couple of Common Sandpipers and a Spotted Redshank were in the channel opposite early on, too, but the Tramway circuit was very quiet, with just the odd Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat on offer. (AH et al)

Temminck's Stint (above), Green Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least half a dozen Wheatears were along the spit and around the concrete blocks, whilst a flock of 150 hirundines went west over the harbour early on, and later c50 Sand Martins, plus a few Swallows were feeding over the water at high tide, including the Swallows in the hide, which were feeding four young inside. 

Other passerines included two Garden Warblers by the Mound again,, a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Willow Warblers and a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the churchyard, whilst another Garden Warbler flew onto the beach from the small oaks by the first Several.

A flock of nine Common Terns dropped in briefly early on, whilst later two were in the harbour along with 25 Sandwich Terns.

Waders included three Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 50 Dunlin, five Grey Plovers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 73 Redshank and half a dozen Turnstones, with four Mediterranean Gulls and three Great Crested Grebes also about. (AH/AW/BI/IP/RM/SR)

This afternoon there were still five Wheatears, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat around the concrete spit, with ten or so more of the latter along the front of the Severals, whilst a Sparrowhawk, five Swifts, 20+ Swallows and House Martins and100+ Sand Martins went over, mostly drifting south. (S&SaH)

Wheatear (above), mixed hirundines (AW), Sandwich Terns, Sand Martin, Swallow (AH) & young Swallows (SR) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Little Stint was again present today on the Stilt Pool, along with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. a Ringed Plover, four Common Sandpipers, three Black-tailed Godwits and the drake Pochard.

The banks held nine Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, two Stonechats and at least ten Whitethroats, whilst 50+ Sand Martins, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards and three Kestrels went over. (S&SaH)

Friday, 20th August: The westerly breeze had eased overnight, leaving a mild and muggy morning of sunny spells, but mostly overcast.....

Selsey Bill: There were a few Common and Sandwich Terns about, along with three Swifts, whilst 39 Sand Martins went west. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/AH)

Also, in the Broadreeds Estate this morning there were two Wheatears and two flocks of House Martins totalling 32, some of them prospecting the old nests while others formed a large chattering feeding flock high in the clouds. (SR)

(0620-0805hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Gannet - 6E, 17W

Common Scoter - 6W

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 17W, 19os

Common Tern - 10W

Swift - 3

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 4E

Sand Martin - 39W

House Martin - 2W, 35 present

Wheatear - 2

Later, a pod of seven Long-finned Pilot Whales was reported moving west past the Bill at about 1400hrs (per RBA; no other details)

Wheatears (above), House Martin (SR), Sandwich Terns & Turnstone (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint was again present this morning, along with three Spotted Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, c40 Dunlin, c80 Lapwings, c120 Black-tailed Godwits, five Shoveler and a few Teal and Shelducks. 

Also, two Bar-tailed Godwits and around 200 Sand Martins went over in several pulses early on, heading west.(AH/CN et al)

Temminck's Stint (above), Temminck's Stint, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits & Bar-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Both the male and the female Redstarts were again at Halsey's Farm, along with two Whinchats, six Yellow Wagtails and at least six Wheatears in the fields towards Owl Point. 

There were also at least four Greenshanks in the harbour. (BI/OM/CN et al)

East side: I watched here for over two hours on the rising tide, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. My log was:- two Grey Plover, 16 Knot, c.80 Dunlin, two Bar-tailed Godwits, five Black-tailed Godwits, four Whimbrel, five Greenshank, 40 Ringed Plover, plus the usual Redshanks and Curlews. An adult-type Yellow-legged Gull was on the mudflats and at least three Willow Warblers were in the tamarisk hedgerow. (OM)

Knots, Yellow-legged Gull and (below) Yellow-legged Gull and Herring Gull on the East side (OM)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Green Sandpiper dropped into the balancing pond on Manor Lane early this morning. (SH)

This evening a Willow Warbler was in the hedges and a Sparrowhawk, two swifts, five Swallows, ten House Martins and at least 50 Sand Martins went over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: Two Garden Warblers, the first of the autumn, were in the churchyard this morning, along with a Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaffs.(P&LH)

The Garden Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, one or two Willow Warblers and up to ten Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard this evening, and two Spotted Flycatchers were by the Mound. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler (above), Garden Warblers & Willow Warbler at Church Norton (AW)

Ivy Lake complex: A Spotted Flycatcher was at Deep Lake this morning, along with the two Black Swans, two juvenile green Woodpeckers, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff, whilst there was also a probable Brilliant Emerald dragonfly present, as well as Holly Blue, Red Admiral an Gatekeeper butterflies.

There were just two Swallows and six Sand Martins over Ivy Lake, whilst a Norfolk Hawker and a Migrant Hawker were on Nunnery Lake. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A juvenile Little Stint was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Dunlin, five Common Sandpipers, two Snipe, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, a handful of Lapwings and at least 300 Canada Geese.

At least 500 Sand Martins, with a just a few Swallows among them, were over the Stilt Pool and adjacent bits of the reserve - particularly the newly harvested barley fields, but the only other migrants noted were half a dozen Yellow Wagtails among the cattle, a Wheatear on the Marsh Farm buildings and around a dozen Willow Warblers in the willows along the path from the car-park.

Several families of Whitethroats and a couple of Stonechats, Skylarks and Yellowhammers, plus a few Linnets were the only other birds along the banks, whilst a Greenshank and c20 Redshanks were near the poplars and a Sparrowhawk and a Sandwich Tern went over. (AH)

The Little Stint was still on the Stilt Pool to 1630hrs at least (BI) but couldn't be found again late in the evening when there were five Dunlin, at least five Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and c.500 Sand Martins present. (CN/IP)

Little Stint (above), Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sand Martin, Sparrowhawk & Sandwich Tern at Medmerry (AH)