7th - 9th August 2021

Monday, 9th August: After very heavy overnight rain, initially a grey and squally morning in a fresh south-westerly, before eventually brightening up....

Selsey Bill: The most unusual sight this morning was of two Little Ringed Plovers, that flew more or less straight out to sea together, presumably heading off despite the windy conditions.

Otherwise a few Common Terns were going west, including a flock of nine together, along with a few Sandwich Terns and a Fulmar. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/AW)

(0710-0825hrs) (WSW, F6)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 14E, 27W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Little Ringed Plover - 2W

Turnstone - 2

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 18W, 9os

Common Tern - 1E, 15W

Grey Seal - 1os

Fulmar (above), Gannet & Common Terns at the Bill (AH)

There wasn't much happening later in the morning although four Kittiwakes did go west. (BI)

(1030-1115hrs) (SW, F6) 

Gannet - 9E, 2W. 9os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 6

Kittiwake - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 6W

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank and a Whimbrel were in the channel this morning, whilst the pool held four Common Sandpipers, c60 Lapwings, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, eight juvenile Shelducks and c20 Teal. (AH)

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

North Wall: The female Marsh Harrier and two juveniles were soaring around over the back of the reed-beds this evening, whilst a Wheatear was at Halsey's Farm, a Whimbrel was in the harbour, at least 30 Cattle Egrets were around the Owl Copse area and ten Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were up to 200 Sandwich Terns in the harbour this morning, along with at least 20 Common Terns and a few Mediterranean Gulls, but waders of note comprised  two Grey Plovers, at least four Whimbrel and c20 Ringed Plovers, including a chick, and Dunlin.

A Wheatear was again around the concrete blocks, whilst a family of Chiffchaffs and the regular Swallows were around the hide and a Sand Martin went over. (AH/AW)

Common Terns (above), Sandwich Terns, Grey Plover and Curlew, Whimbrel & Ringed Plover chick at Church Norton (AH)

The ringed Roseate Tern was back in the harbour this afternoon and there were at least two Little Terns present, too, among the Sandwich and Common Terns,

Around 120 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plovers were roosting on the beach near the harbour mouth at high tide, with some of them back on the mud later. Also, up to a dozen House Martins and a few Sand Martins and Swallows were feeding around the sheltered hedges near the hide. (AW/AH)

Roseate Tern with Common and Sandwich Terns (above), Little Terns, Sandwich Tern, Swallow & Sand Martin and House Martin at Church Norton (AH)

AH watching the Roseate Tern(to his left) (AW)

Sunday, 8th August: Another pretty miserable morning, with a near gale-force south-westerly pushing through banks of heavy rain and prolonged periods of lighter drizzle, though drying up later....

Selsey Bill: Two Whimbrels and a Sanderling west were the best of a slow morning. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/SR/IP/AW)

(0600-0900hrs) (WSW, F6-7)

Gannet - 36E, 20W

Sanderling - 1W

Whimbrel - 2W

Turnstone - 6W

Sandwich Tern - 20W, 12os

Common Tern - 3W

Swallow - 1W

(1630-1730hrs) (SH)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3E

Sanderling - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 30W, 21os

Little Tern - 1os

Sanderling (above), Whimbrel (AW) & Gannet (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Early this morning there were two Spotted Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, two Whimbrel, a Curlew, six Redshanks and c40 Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite, whilst the pool held another two Common Sandpipers, three Avocets, c50 Lapwings and c50 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH/AF/RJS)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was nothing to be seen along the banks in the very windy conditions beyond a flock of 26 Canada Geese in the fields, whilst at the Stilt Pool there were at least five Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, an Avocet and a Pochard, with 50+ Sand Martins and a couple of Sandwich Terns over. (S&SaH)

Chichester Canal: A walk of the length of the canal this morning produced highlights of a pair of Bullfinches at Stockbridge, around 40 Sand Martins with Swallows at Hunston, around ten Little Grebes with young, a Willow Warbler, a pair of Whitethroat, a Swift and a cute Water Vole. 

Sadly, too, following last week's spate of dead birds, there was a dead Grey Heron in the water west of Crosbie Bridge at Donnington. (RBe)

Little Grebes (above) & Water Vole  along Chichester Canal (RBe)

Church Norton: A Roseate Tern was among c120 Sandwich and 25 Common Terns in the harbour this morning, but there were few waders beyond a lone Dunlin, a Grey Plover, eight Ringed Plovers, two Whimbrel and a few Curlews and Redshank.

A Wheatear was along the track to the spit, a Peregrine went over, the Swallows were still around the hide and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the orchard at Greenlease Farm, but that was it. (AH/IP/AF/RJS)

Roseate Tern, Sandwich Terns, common Tern and Black-headed Gull (above), Roseate and Sandwich Terns, Common Tern, Sandwich Terns, Whimbrel & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon, a juvenile Cuckoo was seen near the carriage houses, just beyond the western end of the reserve. ( H & R Lumley)

This evening the Roseate Tern was again present, and four Little Terns - two adult and two juveniles - were among c30 Common and c150 Sandwich Terns, but again there were few waders beyond a handful of Ringed Plovers, including at least one chick. 

There were also two Green Woodpeckers and a Mistle Thrush along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Roseate Tern, Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls (above), juvenile Little Tern, Little, Common and Sandwich Terns, Sandwich Terns, Ringed Plover chick, Mediterranean Gull & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

Saturday, 7th August: A blustery day with heavy cloud and frequent showers early on and a strong south-south-westerly wind, becoming drier with sunny spells and grey cloud later, before heavy rain again in the afternoon.....

Selsey Bill: The promising strong onshore wind failed to produce anything other than standard fare this morning, though a steady trickle of terns and Gannets passed through and a Bonxie went east. (SH/PB/PM/BI/AH/SR/CRJ/OM)

(0600-1130hrs)  (SSW, F6-7)   

Fulmar - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 64E, 44W

Common Scoter - 1E, 5W

Sanderling - 4 ob

Turnstone - 35 ob

Great Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 4W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Tern - 16W

Sandwich Tern - 42W, 15 os

Swift - 4 out SW

Sand Martin - 26W

House Martin - 6 Broadreeds estate (& 3 occupied nests)

House Sparrow - flock 70+ (some adults feeding fledged young)

Not a species that receives much attention at the Bill, but House Sparrows are actually doing rather well there; this morning's flock of 70+ included several families of fledged young being fed by adults (as at centre foreground). (OM)

A first-summer bird was among a flock of six Common Terns that went west together this evening.  (AW/SH) 

(1530-1730hrs)

Gannet - 5E, 13W

Whimbrel - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 17W, 21os

Common Tern - 7W

Common Terns past the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A late morning visit produced 42 Dunlin, 118 Black-tailed Godwits, five Common Sandpipers, two Avocets and 45 Lapwings. 

Also, in the area were two Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and two Stock Doves, whilst 85+ Swifts were going south. (PB/PM) 

Earlier on, a Green Sandpiper and four Shovelers were also present, whilst two Spotted Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel were in the channel opposite, a pair of Blackcaps were near the hide and a Marsh Frog was sitting out at the pond in the Discovery Area. (BI/AH)

Common Sandpipers (above), Spotted Redshank, Blackcap & Marsh Frog around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: This morning there were two Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a Pied Wagtail, whilst overhead were four Swifts and ten each of Swallow and House Martin (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Little Tern was on the metalwork in the harbour, whilst earlier two flew west along the spit, and there were also at least 150 Sandwich Terns, 30 Common Terns and 20 Mediterranean Gulls present, but waders were restricted two two or three Ringed Plovers and Whimbrel, half a dozen Curlews and c40 Redshank.

Two Wheatears were on the concrete blocks before heading west along the beach, whilst three Sand Martins went along the beach, a Water Rail was in the first Several and both young Sparrowhawks were calling continuously from cover close to Bluebell Wood. (S&SaH/AH)

 

Wheatears (above), Sandwich Terns, Common Tern & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)