Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 13th

Wednesday, 15th September: A dry, grey and cloudy start, though fairly calm with a light northerly breeze, gradually brightening up to give sunny periods by late morning....

Selsey Bill: Although there was no 'vis mig' overhead there were some migrants to be found, including eight Wheatears and a Whinchat along the beach and a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the gardens. Offshore movement was limited, but did include over 150 Gannets, an Arctic Skua and a flock of nine Whimbrel heading west. Full log below. (AH/IP/MOW/OM)
(0700-0930hrs) (N, F2-3)
Gannet - 7E, 160W
Common Scoter - 2W
Turnstone - 7 ob
Whimbrel - 9W
Arctic Skua - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Sandwich Tern - 6 os
Razorbill - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Swallow - 1
Wheatear - 8
Whinchat - 1
Blackcap - 2
Chiffchaff - 3
Goldfinch - 15

Whinchat and Wheatears (above), Wheatears & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still seven Spotted Redshanks spread between the pool and the channel opposite this morning, but otherwise waders were few, with just two Greenshanks and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, with a few more of the latter, plus c30 Redshanks in the channel opposite.

A dozen Shelduck and Teal were also on the pool, with another 40 of the latter in the channel opposite, where two Grey Wagtails were being very active around the pumps. (AH)

Later on, an Osprey went west over the pool, heading for Medmerry (AT)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Redshank, Greenshanks & Grey Wagtails around the Ferry (AH)

Also, of interest, two interesting moths - a Blue Underwing and a Beautiful Marbled - were in the trap at the Visitor Centre this morning. (IL)

Blue Underwing at the Visitor Centre (IL)

Warner Lane & Northcommon Farm: There wasn't a great deal to be found at either site, but combined totals were two Buzzards, two Swallows, a Wheatear, a Sedge Warbler and three Chiffchaffs. (OM)

Church Norton: A quick look this evening produced a Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the harbour and a Wheatear by the benches, but a promising looking harbour was largely devoid of waders beyond the usual Curlews and Redshanks. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Wheatear at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were busy this evening, with nine Wheatears, two Whinchats, two Stonechats, 12 Yellowhammers and ten Meadow Pipits along them, whilst an Osprey, five Cattle Egrets, two Buzzards and four Kestrels were over the reserve.

The Spoonbill was still on the Stilt Pool, along with a Common Sandpiper, two Greenshanks, two Curlews, ten Black-tailed Godwits and three Egyptian Geese. (S&SaH)

Osprey (above) & Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)

Tuesday, 14th September: After the heavy overnight rain slowly cleared, it left a very murky and grey morning, with drizzly rain never far away, though mild in the light easterly breeze......

Late news: News received (via the RSPB, who were informed today), that a juvenile Purple Heron was seen and photographed along the North Wall at 0747hrs on Sunday 12th September, and subsequently identified by photo's (Steve Maddocks). (With thanks to all involved, Eds)

juv Purple Heron at the North Wall on 12th September (S. Maddocks)

Selsey Bill: There was virtually no 'vis mig' this morning, and just the regular species in modest numbers were offshore, whilst a flock of six Little Egrets going east along the shoreline was unusual. (Full log below) (SR/AH)
(0715-0830hrs) (E, F3-4)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 11E, 12os

Shag - 1E

Little Egret - 6E

Common Scoter - 3E

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 6E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 8os

Swallow - 6E

House Martin - 10E

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was in the channel opposite this morning, whilst six Spotted Redshanks were on the pool, along with ten Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Shelducks and c25 Teal. (AH)

Church Norton: There were quite a few Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs scattered around the hedges this morning, but the only other migrants were a Reed Warbler in the hedges by the hide and half a dozen Swallows over, whilst a Miistle Thrush was back in the big tree in the car-park for the first time this autumn.

The harbour was equally quiet, with just the odd Grey Plover and a few Curlews among c50 Redshanks, but little else beyond a dozen Wigeon that flew through the harbour mouth. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush and Blackbird, Grey Plover & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham Quay: An Osprey was circling high over the north of the harbour at 1700hrs today. (A Haines)

Osprey over Sidlesham Quay (A Haines)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Ospreys were about the reserve again this afternoon/evening, with both seen with fish, whilst the Spoonbill was again on the Stilt Pool, along with two Greenshanks and 15 Egyptian Geese, and three Cattle Egrets were in the fields.

Along the banks there were two Stonechats, eight Yellow Wagtails and ten Meadow Pipits, whilst 100+ Sand Martins, ten Swallows, a Sparrowhawk and four Kestrels went over. (SH/TB/AW/MT)

Spoonbill (top two AW) (lower) & Osprey (MT) at Medmerry

Monday, 13th September: A grey and overcast morning, but fairly mild despite the fresh north-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: After yesterday's big movement of House Martins, it was the turn of the Swallows this morning, with a constant passage of over 1500 east, along with just a few House Martins, a couple of Sand Martins and a few Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/MO-W/P&LH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NE, F3-4)

Gannet - 23E, 1W, 10os

Common Scoter - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 9

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 22E

Sandwich Tern - 39E, 1W, 9os

Swallow - 1698E

Sand Martin - 2E

House Martin - 51E

Yellow Wagtail - 49E

Meadow Pipit - 73E

Wheatear - 1

Yellow Wagtail (above), Swallow, Mediterranean Gull and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were five Spotted Redshanks on the pool this morning, but not much else beyond a couple of Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Shelduck andc40 Teal. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Red-backed Shrike appears to have finally departed, and it was generally quiet, though an Osprey was out in the harbour for most of the morning.

Otherwise, a few Yellow Wagtails and Cattle Egrets were around the cattle at Halsey's Farm, a Kingfisher was by the sluice there and c100 Swallows and c20 House Martins and Sand Martins went over east, but a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler was about it along the wall.

A couple of Greenshanks were in the harbour, a Common Sandpiper and 20 Lapwings were in White's Creek and c100 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Curlews were split between the harbour and the fields. (BI/AW/AH/JDW/CT/MP et al)

Osprey (above), Cattle Egret, Sand Martin, Lapwing & Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the churchyard again today, and a Wheatear was on one of the benches. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey was sat on a dead tree out on the reserve, and a Kingfisher was by the poplars this morning, whilst the Stilt Pool held a Spoonbill, a Ruff, three Cattle Egrets and a a Common Sandpiper, with two possible Greenland Wheatears and 20+ Yellow Wagtails nearby. (TR)

This evening there were two Ospreys and two Marsh Harriers out on the reserve again, along with a Hobby, a Sparrowhawk, seven Kestrels and five Cattle Egrets, whilst 200 Swallows, House Martins and 20 Sand Martins were also about.

Also, nine Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear, two Whinchats, two Stonechats, ten Yellowhammers and 50+ Meadow Pipits were along the banks, whilst the Stilt Pools held a Ruff, a Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and 11 Egyptian Geese. (S&SaH/AW)