Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 16th

Saturday, 18th September: Another fine autumn morning, after a grey start, with plenty of sun and a moderate easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: There were plenty of Swallows and Meadow Pipits, plus a few Yellow Wagtails going over east, whilst a Hobby chased and caught a passerine and flew out to sea. Three Common Terns, a few Sandwich Terns were offshore, too, as were plenty of Gannets. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/SR/AH/P&LH)

(0630-0930hrs) (E, F3)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 20E, 154W

Wigeon - 5E, 1W

Common Scoter - 11E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Hobby - 1S

Turnstone 8

Common Gull - 4E

Black-headed Gull - 900os

Mediterranean Gull - 40E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 19os

Common Tern - 3E

Guillemot - 1W

Swallow - 594E

House Martin - 144E

Sand Martin - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 181E

Yellow Wagtail - 7E

Grey Wagtail - 2E

Linnet - 6E

Greenfinch - 1E

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

Selsey: A White Stork was seen heading over the north of the village (JA) and then heading towards Medmerry (NB).

Later on, a Hobby went over the north of the village, too. (JA)

Ferry Pool: The only waders present were about 80 Lapwings, with a dozen Shelducks and c60 Teal the only other birds present.

The Tramway circuit early on produced a Reed Warbler, a handful of Chiffchaffs and Whiethroats and at least a dozen Blackcaps, whilst two Grey Wagtails were briefly by the pumps. (AH)

Blackcap (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Peregrine was sat out in the fields this morning, and a Jay was about, too. (IP)

Church Norton: The first three Brent Geese of the autumn for the reserve dropped in this morning, whilst an Osprey was sat out on Tern Island and a Merlin was out hunting, seven Spotted Flycatchers were in the churchyard and c250 Swallows, 40 House Martins and a couple of Sand Martins went over.

A Sandwich Tern flew out of the harbour, whilst a mixed flock of Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Turnstone, totalling c150 birds, were flying about, 12 Grey Herons and 20 Little Egrets were about and wildfowl included eight Pintail, 50 Wigeon, three Shovelers and four Gadwall. (AW/IP/P&LH)

Osprey (above) & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AW)

This evening there were sill at least four Spotted Flycatchers in the churchyard, along with seven Chiffchaffs, a Green Woodpecker and a flock of Long-tailed Tits, whilst a Whimbrel off the benches in a quiet harbour was hopefully our regular returning bird. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (top - SR) (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Osprey was distantly visible in the harbour this morning, whilst the three Ruff were back on the Breach Pool among c60 Black-tailed Godwits, and earlier three Spotted Redshanks were also present. Also, at least five Snipe flew out into the harbour.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a handful of Blackcaps were in the hedges at Halsey's Farm, whilst at least 100 Yellow Wagtails, a dozen Meadow Pipits and 20 Cattle Egrets were among the cows by the creek, with several more barely fledged young in Owl Copse and a family of Little Grebes on Owl Water below..

A Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher were in the Breech Pool, a Wheatear was along the wall and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats, plus half a dozen Chiffchaffs were also about. (AH/TG/SP/LP/P&LH et al)

Ruff (above), Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Warbler, Little Grebe & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was again on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Little Stint, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, two Green Sandpipers, ten Black-tailed Godwits, and 13 Egyptian Geese, whilst ten Snipe flew over.

An Osprey and a Marsh Harrier went over, along with a Buzzard, nine Kestrels, including six hovering together and 100+ Swallows.

Two Cattle Egrets were on the reserve, too whilst the banks held four Chiffchaffs, two Yellowhammers and 20+ Meadow Pipits. (MPr/NR/S&SaH))

Friday, 17th September: A fine and pleasantly sunny day with some high cloud and a light southerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Manx Shearwaters went west at 0725hrs and over 2000 Swallows went east, whilst a 'buzzard sp' drifted high west over the houses and a pod of at least five Bottle-nosed Dolphins passed east quite close inshore. Full details below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0645-0910hrs) (SSW, F3)

Manx Shearwater - 2W

Gannet - 26E, 7W

Hobby - 1S

Turnstone - 32

Mediterranean Gull - 21E

Swallow - 2016E

Sand Martin - 6E

Yellow Wagtail - 1E, 1W

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 9E, 10W

Wheatear - 1E

Chiffchaff - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 5E

Swallows (above), Chiffchaff & Bottle-nosed Dolphins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Little Stints were on the pool mid-morning (IL), whilst earlier there were just 60 Lapwings and a lone Spotted Redshank present, though three of the latter were also in the channel opposite.

There were also a couple of Shovelers, ten Shelducks and c60 Teal on the pool, whilst the Tramway circuit held two Lesser Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler and a handful of Chiffchaffs. (AH)

Spotted Redshank and Lapwing (above) & Chiffchaffs around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: An Osprey with a corvid escort flew over the sluice gates heading south this morning, whilst a Kingfisher sped by and six Turnstones were feeding.

Along the Wall were five Common Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear, a party of Long-tailed Tits and several Reed Buntings, whilst at the western end there were at least 25 Cattle Egrets amongst the cattle and a big flock of up to 200 Yellow Wagtails.

On Owl Water there was a pair of Little Grebes with two well developed chicks and in Honer 3 field two Ruff were amongst the mixed flock of c.100 Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew, though the two Ruffs (later joined by a third bird) and Curlews later relocated to the Breech Pool, where there were also three Spotted Redshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 80 Black-tailed Godwits and a Water Rail. A steady southward movement of Swallows was also noted. (JDW/IH/AH))

Ruffs (above), Spotted Redshank, Water Rail, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Wheatear was on the new building site this evening, whilst three Chiffchaffs were in the hedges and a Sparrowhawk and 15 Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Sidlesham: Just before dawn this morning, a Little Owl was calling in our garden, along with the regular Tawny Owls. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - A Ruff and a Spoonbill were on the Stilt Pool this morning. (BI)

Also seen were two Stonechats, six Yellow Wagtails, two Green Woodpeckers, two Egyptian Geese, eight Pintail and few Teal, Shelducks and Tufted Ducks. (RP)

Spoonbill (above) & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (RP)

The Spoonbill was still present this evening. (MT)

Spoonbill at Medmerry (MT)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - It was fairly quiet this evening, though a Wheatear and a couple of Stonechats were along the banks, and there were also half a dozen Yellow Wagtails and Swallows, plus a least 20 Meadow Pipits flying about.

Also, 14 Sandwich Terns were feeding around the breach. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Yellow Wagtail at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 16th September: A beautiful, still and warm morning, with the breeze picking up slightly as the day progressed.....

Selsey Bill: It was busy overhead this morning, with over 2000 hirundines and a few Yellow and Grey Wagtails and Meadow Pipits going over mostly west, whilst a Hobby flew straight out to sea and two Spotted Flycatchers were in the trees on the Oval field. Full log below. (SR/MO-W/IP/PM/AH/CN/GHo et al)

(0650-0900hrs) (NW, F1-2)

Gannet - 1E, 14W, 50os

Teal - 17W

Common Scoter - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Hobby - 1S

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4W

Swallow - 104E, 802W

Sand Martin - 15W

House Martin - 1,270W

Meadow Pipit - 104N

Yellow Wagtail - 32W

Grey Wagtail - 1E, 4W

Wheatear - 1 on field

Chiffchaff - 3 on field

Blackcap - 1 male on field

Spotted Flycatcher - 2 on field

Dunnock - 1W

Also, a Common Seal, Common Blue and Comma butterflies and an Emperor dragonfly were seen

Spotted Flycatcher (SR), Hobby, Wheatear, Sand Martin, House Martin & Sandwich Tern (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A Little Stint was on the pool early on, along with two Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, ten Black-tailed Godwits, ten shelducks and c50 Teal. (AH/IP/PM/CN/GHo)
Later on, two White Storks, presumably - but not definitely! - from the Knepp Estate went over east. (P&LH)

White Storks (PH) (above), Little Stint and Lapwings, Greenshank & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: About 100 Swallows went over Manor Lane, and two Grey Wagtails were at the barns. (SaH)

Church Norton: An Osprey went over the harbour this morning, as did 200 Swallows and 400 House Martins, whilst a busy churchyard held a Wheatear, five Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two or three Whitethroats and half a dozen Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. (P&LH/CS)

Also, a Hobby and another 200 hirundines, including 30 House Martins were over the beach, with two Cattle Egrets at the Severals. (SaH)

Wheatear (CS) (above) & Cattle Egret (SaH) at Church Norton

This evening there were still five Spotted Flycatchers in the churchyard, along with a handful of Chiffchaffs and a Wheatear, with another two of the latter on the concrete blocks, but the harbour was very quiet. (AH)

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

North Wall: A Kingfisher was present at the sluice gates this evening and it was good to see that the Breech Pool water level was low enough for some 25 Black-tailed Godwits, one Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank as well as three Spotted Redshanks. There were also a steady flow of Swallows above the pool and a Marsh Harrier over the reeds behind.

At the end of the Wall the cattle attracted some 200 or more Yellow Wagtails and at least ten Cattle Egrets while at Owl Point there were two Wheatears. (IH/SP)

West Itchenor: Possibly two different Ospreys went over this morning, drifting west. (PH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey being mobbed by crows, a Hobby, a Red Kite, eight Buzzards together and at least four Kestrels were over the reserve this morning, along with several hundred House Martins and Swallows, with a Tree Pipit and at least a dozen Sand Martins and Yellow Wagtails among them.

The banks, though, were very quiet beyond two Spotted Flycatchers near the car park and a handful of Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, whilst a couple of Stonechats, at least four Wheatears, c30 Meadow Pipits and c50 Linnets were around the southern end of the reserve.

A late juvenile Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool, along with a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, at least five Snipe, two Dunlin and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, plus at least six Cattle Egrets, whilst wildfowl included the lingering Pochard, a Pintail, plenty of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Tufted Ducks, with at least 14 Egyptian Geese, three Greylag Geese and the eight hybrid birds among at least 500 Canada Geese. (AH/IP/PM/CN/GHo)