26th - 28th August 2021

Saturday, 28th August: Another bright and breezy morning of sunshine and cloud, quite warm despite the freshening northly....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including 14 Yellow Wagtails and a few hirundines over and a few Common Sand Sandwich Terns offshore. Full log below. (SH/IP/BI/AH)

(0600-0845hrs) (N, F3-4)

Gannet - 7E, 11W, 20os

Little Egret - 2W

Teal - 5W

sparrowhawk - 1

Sanderling - 1E

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 21W, 51os

Common Tern - 7os

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Sand Martin - 6W

House Martin - 31

Swallow - 8W

Yellow Wagtail - 14W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Willow Warbler - 1

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

Ferry Pool: Four Spotted Redshanks, including the juvenile, were feeding at the front of the pool again this morning, whilst two Greenshanks were at the back and there were also c25 Dunlin, c50 Lapwings and c80 Black-tailed Godwits present, along with eight Shovelers, eight shelducks and c40 Teal.

The Tramway circuit was still quiet, though a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps and up to a dozen Whitethroats were in the bushes. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat & Blackcap around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 75 House Martins and more Swallows and Sand Martins were over the farm this morning, along with four Sparrowhawks and a Buzzard. (IP)

At least 20 Yellow Wagtails were around the farm later, with 100+ Swallows and House Martins and 50+ Sand Martins overhead. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Whinchat and four Wheatears were along the front early on, and a Marsh Harrier and two Peregrines were about, whilst there were 95 Wigeon in the harbour. (AW)

Later, there were just a few scattered migrants this morning, including a Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear on the spit and a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat  and a Whitethroat around the horse field and quite a few Sand Martins and Swallows over.

There were two Grey Plovers, two Whimbrel, three Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plovers in the harbour, but the only two Sandwich Terns seen were offshore, and the only other birds noted were a Gadwall on the second Several, two Sparrowhawks, two Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (IP)

Later still, five Wheatears were on the beach and two Yellow Wagtails and 50+ Swallows went over Greenlease Farm. (S&SaH)

Whinchat at Church Norton (AW)

Sidlesham Quay: There were two Whinchats and a few Lesser Whitethroats in the hedges between the Quay and Owl Point this morning. (BI)

West Wittering: A Marsh Harrier went over the garden heading west, this afternoon. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Early on, the Spoonbill was feeding right out in the middle of the reserve and two Marsh Harriers were near the poplars. (BI)

Later on, four Little Stints were on the Stilt Pool, albeit fairly briefly, along with two Common Sandpipers, a Knot, four Ringed Plovers, ten Dunlin, four Lapwing and c40 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst the Greenshank was again by the poplars.

There were also half a dozen Wigeon, a couple of Shovelers, c50 Teal, c20 Gadwall and two Egyptian Geese among the 300+ Canada Geese, whilst the eight hybrids - six looking Barnacle like and more Cackling Goose like, were also still present.

There were maybe up to 1000 Sand Martins, along with about 100 Swallows, feeding across most of the south of the reserve, particularly the Stilt Pool and further west two, but the banks were quiet, with just three juvenile Stonechats, a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and half a dozen Whitethroats, plus the usual flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches, seen. (AH)

This afternoon, five Wheatears, three Cattle Egrets and c50 Yellow Wagtails were about and the Sand Martin count had risen to 1500. (S&SaH)

Little Stints (above), Little Stints, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Knot and Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Willow Warbler, Stonechat & Sand Martins at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 27th August: After a breezy start, the north-easterly finally abated somewhat, leaving a pleasant late summer's day....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a Merlin in off the sea, a few Common Terns going west and a bit of a gathering of House Martins. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP/P&LH)

(0700-0830hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Gannet - 8E 15W, 20os

Little Egret - 1E

Wigeon - 2os

Teal - 5W, 1os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Merlin - 1N

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 10E, 14W

Common Tern - 15W

Swallow - 33E

Sand Martin - 26W

House Martin - 77

Grey Wagtail - 2E

Wheatear - 1

Wheatear (above), House Martins, Sandwich Tern & Fox at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Four Spotted Redshanks were feeding together on the pool first thing this morning, along with c30 Dunlin,, c60 Lapwing, c80 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Shovelers, a Pintail, ten Shelducks and c50 Teal, with a Greenshank and ten Redshank in the channel opposite and two Whimbrel in the channel off the Tramway. Also, a dozen Cattle Egrets went over the Tramway, going west and were later in the fields.

The bushes were quiet again, with a couple of Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats and a handful of Whitethroats all that were seen. (AH/GM)

Later, three Spotted Redshank, eight Knot and c150 Dunlin were around the pool and channel. (P&LH)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Greenshank and Redshank, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshanks, Shelduck and Dunlin (AH) & Teal (GM) at the Ferry

Park Farm, Selsey: Ten Yellow Wagtails were on the fields, but it was quiet otherwise beyond a few hirundines overhead. (S&SaH)

North Wall: An Osprey went over Halsey's Farm late this morning, whilst the hedges towards Owl Point held a Redstart, five Whinchats, five Wheatears and at least half a dozen Yellow Wagtails. (IH/M/P&LH)

Later 48 Cattle Egrets were in Honer 2 field, with another 14 by the rife at Halsey's Farm, and there were also two Spotted Flycatchers present, along with the other birds present earlier. (SP)

Whinchat (above) & Whinchats and Wheatears at the North Wall (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey was over the Marsh Barn area early on, whilst 100+ Yellow Wagtails were along the beach. Also, the eight Barnacle-type hybrid geese were again on the Stilt Pool. (BI)

Later the collection of geese were joined by the very scruffy Brent Goose, and there were also seven Wigeon, some 50 Black-tailed Godwits and single Knot, Common Sandpiper and Avocet. (ARK per SOS)

Thursday, 26th August: After a very grey start, a mix of sunshine and cloud in the continuing fresh north-easterly....

Selsey Bill: A Kittiwake that dropped in on the sea before going off west was the pick of a fairly slow morning. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0710-0825hrs) (NNE, F4)

Gannet - 2E, 7W, 3os

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 14E, 1W

Kittiwake - 1os, then W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 24W

Swallow - 10E, 2W

House Martin - 10

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

Ferry Pool: Three Spotted Redshanks were on the pool this morning, along with six Redshanks, c30 Dunlin, c80 Black-tailed Godwits (with another 30 in the channel opposite), eight Shoveler, ten Shelducks and c60 Teal. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above) & Black-tailed Godwits around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Little Stint was again on the mud from the benches this morning. (BFF/DIS)

North Wall: About 20 Yellow Wagtails were among the cows at Halsey's Farm this morning, whilst 40 Cattle Egrets were with the cows in Honer 2 field. (LP)

This evening a Whinchat and three Wheatears were in Owl Point field, with three more of the latter along the wall, with at least 50 Yellow Wagtails and 400 Sand Martins, plus a few Swallows buzzing about around the various cattle fields. 

There were also at least 40 Cattle Egrets about, whilst the harbour held a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, at least three Snipe, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, a Shoveler, two Wigeon and 11 Pintail, and c50 Curlews were on the fields. (AH/KJ/NR/CEv et al)

Wheatears (top CEv) (above), Whinchat, Cattle Egrets & Pintail( AH) around the North Wall 

Drayton Pits: An Osprey went over west, near the pits, this morning, with an entourage of gulls in tow. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Ruff was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, a Knot, seven Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and half a dozen Lapwing, whilst the motley selection of geese included c300 Canada Geese, a Greylag, two Egyptian Geese, a Cackling-type Canada Goose and seven Barnacle-type hybrids.

At least 40 Yellow Wagtails were around the pool and the fields opposite, whilst 50 or so Sand Martins and a few Swallows went over east, but the banks were very quiet, with just a family of Stonechats, two families of Meadow Pipits and a handful of Yellowhammers and Whitethroats seen, with three Kestrels being the only raptors noted. (AH)

In addition to the above, there were six Wheatears and 60 Yellow Wagtails in the Stilt Pool area, with half of the wagtails on the beach and the other half among the cattle, along with four Cattle Egrets.

There were also two Common Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool and c200 sand Martins and c40 Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Stonechat, Stonechats and Meadow Pipit, Ruff. Knot, Avocets, Egyptian Geese & Cackling-type Goose at Medmerry (AH)

Ivy Lake: Late this afternoon, there was a pair of Great Crested Grebes with chicks still on the mother's back, as well as an almost full size juvenile, presumably from an earlier brood. On two of the other lakes, there was an adult with an equally large juvenile each. (CEv)

Great Crested Grebes at Ivy Lake (CEv)