Monday, 6th September: Another very warm and sunny morning, with almost no breeze.....
Selsey Bill: There was a good deal more passerine activity than of late, with some welcome variety. The first Pied Flycatcher actually at the Bill for some years was in the trees along the edge of the Oval Field, along with a Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, whilst the gardens also held a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Whitethroats and a few Yellow Wagtails and plenty of Swallows went over. Full log below. (IP/SR/AH/CN/OM/JA et al)
(0700-0930hrs) (E/NE, F2)
Gannet - 14E, 2W
Shag - 1E
Common Scoter - 1W
Teal - 1W
Turnstone - 17W
Mediterranean Gull - 10W
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 2W
Swallow - 290E
Sand Martin - 6E
House Martin - 24E
Yellow Wagtail - 10E
Grey Wagtail - 3E, 1W
Willow Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 2
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Oval Field
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Pied Flycatcher (above) & Swallow at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The juvenile Spotted Redshank was again on the pool this morning, with four more in the channel opposite.
Otherwise, the pool held a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 120 Dunlin, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, just a dozen Lapwings, ten Shelducks and c60 Teal. (AH/OM et al)
Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank and Dunlin, Dunlin & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: The Red-backed Shrike was in the hedge between the fields between Halsey's Farm and Owl Point this morning, before reappearing towards Sidlesham Quay at midday. Later, at around 1430hrs. the shrike was seen to move to the area of Owl Copse.
Otherwise, an Osprey went over, heading west across the harbour and the short-billed Greenshank and two Kingfishers were seen, whilst there were three Redstarts, at least six Whinchats, a couple of Wheatears, two Spotted Flycatchers, two Garden Warblers, five Lesser Whitethroats and plenty of Yellow Wagtails, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaffs in the fields and hedges around the area. (CN/AW/M&LH/LGRE/IMcK/GHi et al)
Red-backed Shrike (top two IMcK, lower GHi lower) & Greenshank (IMcK) at the North Wall
Pagham Lagoon and Slipe Field: A Kingfisher and a Wheatear were at the lagoon, whilst two Lesser Whitethroats, seven Whitethroats, three blackcaps, a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler and 14 Chiffchaffs were in the hedges around the Slipe Field. (IMcK)
Wheatear at Pagham Lagoon (IMcK)
Church Norton: There were at least eight Spotted Flycatchers around the churchyard and hide area, along with a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, whilst at least 100 Swallows went over east.
A Greenshank was out in the harbour, calling, whilst otherwise there were a handful of Grey Plovers, c50 Dunlin, c50 Redshanks, c30 Ringed Plovers and a handful of Curlews. (AH)
Also, of interest, there was a Wasp Spider and its web along the west side. (R Smith)
Spotted Flycatchers (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Grey Plover (AH) & Wasp Spider (R Smith) at Church Norton
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Black Tern was hawking over the Stilt Pool for about an hour, before disappearing mid-morning, whilst an Osprey was roosting in the dead trees and over the reserve again and there were still 16 Egyptian Geese present amongst the masses of Canada Geese. Several hundred Swallows were feeding and moving through eastwards, along with a Swift and a small number of Sand and House Martins. Waders included a Ruff, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers, a dozen Dunlin and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits., with a Meadow Pipit and a Skylark also about (AW/OM/AB/GHi et al)
Juvenile Black Tern at Medmerry stilt pool (AW) This instructive bird appears to show a nice dark 'saddle' with a white rump and pale innerwing panels, whilst not apparently showing the distinctive upperside smudges characteristic of the species in these top two photos. These features are suggestive of White-winged Black Tern, and discussion followed as to the correct identity......!
The three lower shots however (AW) put a different complexion on things....perhaps due to the light being less fierce, the upperbreast smudges can be picked out, the saddle and rump are much less defined amongst other things, whilst the bill and structure all suggest Black Tern.
Ruff (above), Little Ringed Plover, swift, Meadow Pipit (AW), Skylark, Canada Geese & sunrise (GHi) at Medmerry
The Black Tern was back on the Stilt Pool this evening, along with three Common Sandpipers, an Avocet and six Dunlin.
Along the banks there were nine Whinchats, ten Wheatears and six Whitethroats, with a distant Osprey, two Snipe and the 16 Egyptian Geese out on the reserve.
There was also a huge gathering of 2000+ Swallows over the reservoirs and poplars area at dusk.(BI/S&SaH/MT)
Black Tern at Medmerry (MT)
Sunday, 5th September: A lovely warm and sunny morning after a grey start and despite the breeze continuing from the north-east.....
Selsey Bill: There was a steady eastward movement of Swallows and Yellow Wagtails this morning, with a Swift and a few Sand and House Martins among them, though it remained slow offshore. Full log later. (SH/PB/IP/BI/AH/SR/JA)
(0600-0900hrs) (F3, NNE)
Gannet - 30E, 6W
Wigeon - 13W
Shoveler - 3E
Common Scoter - 2E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Turnstone - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 39os
Common Tern - 1W
Swift - 1E
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 308E
Sand Martin - 16E
House Martin - 30
Yellow Wagtail - 66E
Wheatear - 2
Linnet - 27E
Goldfinch - 20
Yellow Wagtail (above), Sparrowhawk & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was still at least one Curlew Sandpiper on the pool this morning, among c150 Dunlin, whilst there were also two Spotted Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper, an Avocet, c30 Lapwings and c50 Black-tailed Godwits present, along with c50 Teal and a few Shelducks and Shovelers. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above), Common Sandpiper & Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin on the Ferry (AH)
Sidlesham Quay: A juvenile-first winter Red-backed Shrike was in the harbourside hedges towards Owl Point this morning, before working its way along and settling in the bushes around the field just east of Sidlesham Quay.
There was also a lot of other activity along the hedges there, including a Redstart, a Whinchat, a Wheatear, a Sedge Warbler, several Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats and eight Yellow Wagtails, whilst at least five Cattle Egrets and a steady eastward movement of Swallows went over. (OM/BI/AH et al)
Red-backed shrike (above), Red-backed Shrike and Redstart, Redstart, Wheatear & Sedge Warbler at Sidlesham Quay (AH)
More images of the Red-backed Shrike & Cattle Egret at Sidlesham Quay (AB)
North Wall: There was a bit of interest along the Wall - which seemed particularly busy with human traffic this morning - including several Reed Warblers and Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear, 10 Yellow Wagtails, a Spotted Flycatcher, 20 Sand Martins and several Swallows.
Initially there were no waders and just a dozen Teal on the Breech Pool, but later, as the high tide approached, there were 20 Redshank, at least five Spotted Redshanks, five Black-tailed Godwits, several Lapwings and a Dunlin.
At White's Creek and the East side there were two Greenshank (including the stumpy-billed bird), 65 Wigeon and 12 Pintail, plus three roosting Sandwich Terns, then near high tide a small flurry of waders dropped onto the remaining mud islands to roost, including five Bar-tailed Godwits, two Grey Plover, seven Knot, half a dozen Dunlin and another bird which was very probably a partly-obscured juv Curlew Sandpiper but I just couldn't get enough to fully clinch it! (OM et al)
Redshanks, Spotted Redshanks and Teal at the Breech Pool (OM)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Willow Warbler, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the only birds of note present this morning. (IP)
This afternoon three Wheatears were on the building site and two Yellow Wagtails, a SAnd Martin and 20+ swallows and House Martins went over. (S&SaH)
Church Norton: Around 400 Swallows and 100 House Martins, plus a single Sand Martin, went east over the harbour this morning, whilst other migrants included four Wheatears, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap and a few Whitethroats, plus a Grey Wagtail over.
The harbour held a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, a dozen Turnstones and plenty of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, along with five Pintail and 12 Wigeon, whilst a Gadwall and three Shovelers were on the second Several and three Sandwich Terns were offshore. (IP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey was viewable from the first viewpoint this morning. (CRJ/P&JW)
Also, this morning, there were four Wheatears, two Whinchats, eight Yellow Wagtails, two Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher along the banks as far as Marsh Barn, whilst 40+ Swallows and two Sand Martins went over. (S&SaH)
This evening an Osprey was out on the reserve, whilst at least six Whinchats and ten Whitethroats were along the banks, but not much else though at least eight Cattle Egrets were among the cows and a Greenshank and a flock of ten Pintail went over, whilst at least 500 Mediterranean Gulls and 1000 Black-headed Gulls were hawking flying ants all across the reserve.
An attempt to count the Canada Geese on the Stilt Pool reached a figure of c750, with 16 Egyptian Geese, three Greylags and the assorted hybrids among them, but there wasn't much else between a dozen each of Wigeon, Gadwall and Tufted Duck, a family of young shelducks and c20 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH).
Whinchats (above), Osprey, Whitethroat, Cattle Egret, Mediterranean Gull, Pintails & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)
Saturday, 4th September: A mostly overcast, but quite muggy day, with the breeze still from the north-east, though easing as the day progressed.....
Selsey Bill: The undoubted highlight this morning was a tight flock of seven Balearic Shearwaters going east at 8.30am, though other birds of note included the autumn's first Red-throated Diver, a total of 156 Yellow Wagtails and 329 Swallows, plus a Swift, over east and four Wheatears along the front. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/AH/P&LH)
(0600-0900hrs) (NE, F4)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Balearic Shearwater - 7E (0830hrs)
Gannet - 14E, 4W, 40os
Shag - 1E
Kestrel - 1
Sanderling - 3E
Turnstone - 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull- 3os
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 9os
Guillemot - 1os
Swift 1E
Swallow - 329E
Sand Martin - 3E
House Martin - 16E
Yellow Wagtail - 156E
Grey Wagtail - 1E
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Wheatear - 4
Goldfinch - 40
Four more Balearic Shearwaters went east together at 1220hrs. (BI)
Guillemot (SH) (above), Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Tern & Yellow Wagtails (AH) at the Bill
Ferry Pool: The Two Curlew Sandpipers were again present today, among c200 Dunlin, whilst later on a Little Stint was present as well.
Also around were a Common Sandpiper, the juvenile Spotted Redshank,, c30 Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, c60 Teal and a few Shelducks and Shovelers.
A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were in the channel opposite, whilst the Tramway circuit held a Spotted Flycatcher, along with a handful of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus a dozen Whitethroats, and a Greenshank was in Red Barn Ditch and six Cattle Egrets went over. (AH/GM/CM/AW/S&SaH et al)
Kingfisher (AW) (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail (AH), Little Stint (SH), Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper & Curlew Sandpipers and Dunlin (AH) around the Ferry
Park Farm, Selsey: A Wheatear, a Chiffchaff, a dozen Yellow Wagtails and a Sparrowhawk were around the farm this morning. (IP)
Church Norton: There was a lot of activity around the churchyard and hide area this morning, including a Hobby, a Redstart, three Spotted Flycatchers, half a dozen or more Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, whilst at least six Wheatears were along Rectory Lane. (GM/P&LH et al)
Also, there was a constant eastward passage of up to 2000 Swallows, with just a few House and Sand Martins among them, whilst eight Wheatears, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a fly-over Meadow Pipit were along the beach and Severals.
A Common Tern and five Sandwich Terns were offshore, with another five of the latter in the harbour, along with a Peregrine, 50 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plovers, two Turnstones, 15 Wigeon, two Pintail and a Shoveler, with another three of the latter on the second Several, as well. (IP)
North Wall: The wall was excellent for migrants this morning, with Common Whitethroats seen the whole length of the path, plus four Wheatears, two Sedge Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, a female Blackcap and a Spotted Flycatcher.
The rejuvenated Breech Pool held good numbers of waders, including seven Spotted Redshanks, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c20 Lapwing and c75 Redshank, along with 40+ Mallard and Teal, a Tufted Duck, a Pintail and a Great Crested Grebe.
At Macrocarpa Copse there were three Common Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff and pair each of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Stock Doves.
Two Whinchats were on the harbour side of the hedges and at least 30 Yellow Wagtails and a couple of Cattle Egrets were amongst the cattle in the fields towards Owl Point, with another half a dozen of the latter seen in flight. There was also a very young Egret - probably Cattle - still in Owl Copse. (JDW/AH et al)
Wheatear (above), Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher & Spotted Redshank and Redshank around the North Wall (AH)
Runcton: A pair of Little Owls were seen today at a private site south of the village where they have been present for a little while. (CRJ/BI)
Little Owl at Runcton (BI)
West Wittering: Three Spotted Flycatchers were in the garden today, along with a very young Blackcap. (GM)
Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Blackcap in a West Wittering garden (GM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Ospreys were up over the reserve this morning, along with a Red Kite, 150+ Swallows, six House Martins and five Sand Martins, whilst the banks held 20+ Yellow Wagtails, seven Wheatears, two Whinchats, a Stonechat,, a Willow Warbler and six Whitethroats.
Also, nine Cattle Egrets and ten Egyptian Geese were on the reserve and a Little Stint, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpipers, six Dunlin and 40+ Black-tailed Godwits were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH/P&LH/C Harrison)
This evening an Osprey was sat out on the reserve, but the banks just held three Wheatears and two Linnets, with a Yellow Wagtail over, whilst a Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank were near the poplars.
A Little Stint was reported by others on the Stilt Pool, where there were also nine Egyptian Geese, three Greylag Geese and c500 Canada Geese. (IP)
Osprey (above), Cattle Egret & Stonechat at Medmerry (SH)
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