7th - 9th September 2021

Thursday, 9th September: Overnight thunderstorms broke the spell of fine weather, with the morning very overcast and occasionally drizzly in a moderate southerly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: There was next to nothing seen in murky conditions and rolling banks of sea mist, with 16 sandwich Terns sat on the shingle bar the only thing of note. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0700-0815hrs) (S, F3-4)

Gannet - 1W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 16os

Swallow - 2E

House Martin - 5

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

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks in the channel opposite this morning, but the pool was quiet, with just a dozen Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Shelducks and c55 Teal present.

The Tramway circuit was equally quiet, with just a handful of Whitethroats seen, plus three Cattle Egrets and 20 Swallows over. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks and Teal (above), Cattle Egrets & Swallow around the Ferry (AH)

Warner Lane Paddocks: A Lesser Whitethroat and five Whitethroats, plus a few Swallows over was it this morning. (AH)

Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat at Warner Lane paddocks (AH)

North Wall: The Red-backed Shrike was still on the south-west side of Owl Copse this morning, whilst a Whinchat and two Wheatears were in the fields towards Owl Point. (DIS/P&LH)

Also, a Male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Breech Pool before dropping in behind it, and a Common Sandpiper was flying around the re-flooded pool looking to land.

Along the wall there were totals of four Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers and seven Reed Warblers, whilst White's Creek held a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 108 Wigeon, with 61 Blck-tailed Godwits spread between the harbour and the fields. (IMcK)

The Red-backed shrike was still around Owl Copse this evening, along with a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats, whilst two Whinchats and c20 cattle egrets were around Owl Point, whilst at least 200 Yellow Wagtails were over the wall, preparing to go to roost. (AH/NM/SP)

Red-backed Shrike at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit: A Willow Warbler was in an isolated bush on the spit, whilst a Golden Plover and 12 Bar-tailed Godwits were out in the harbour. (IMcK)

Church Norton: Two Willow Warblers in the churchyard, plus 20 or so Swallows and House Martins over, was it on the land side, whilst the harbour held a Whimbrel, an Avocet, c20 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and a few Curlews and Redshanks. (AH/P&LH)

Willow Warbler (above) & Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - An Osprey was over the reserve this morning, whilst a Ruff, a juvenile Spotted Redshank and six Cattle Egrets were around the Stilt Pools. (RJF)

The Black Tern was also present, along with a Common Sandpiper, three Snipe, a Pintil and nine Wigeon on the pool, with a Whinchat towards the beach. (P&LH)

This evening there were 300+ Swallows and 200+ Sand Martins over the area, whilst eight Yellow Wagtails and three Wheatears were along the banks and six Cattle Egrets were among the cows.
Also, an Avocet, two dunlin, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and 16 Egyptian Geese were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 8th September: Another warm, bright morning, though with the breeze coming from due east and quite fresh...........

Selsey Bill: Three Balearic Shearwaters went east this morning, one at 0719hrs and two at 0845hrs) (PB/PM), whilst there were 700+ Swallows and House Martins and 83 Yellow Wagtails also heading east, mainly offshore and a Fulmar spent at least five minutes prospecting over the houses of Broadreeds Estate. Full log below. (PB/PM/SR/AH/MO-W)

(0615-0915hrs) (E, F4)

Balearic Shearwater - 3E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 69E, 6W, 10os

Teal - 2E

Common Scoter - 8E

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 4W, 5os

Swallow - 910E

Sand Martin - 85E

House Martin - 1275E

Yellow Wagtail - 87E

Wheatear - 4

Yellow Wagtail (above), Fulmar (PM), Fulmar, Wheatear, House Martin & Swallow (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The juvenile Spotted Redshank was on the pool again this morning, whilst four adults were in the channel opposite, along with two Grey Wagtails, but otherwise it was quite quiet again, with just c40 Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and Teal and eight juvenile Shelducks present. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Grey Wagtail at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Red-backed Shrike was again around Owl Copse this morning. 

Also, a Grey Wagtail, two Kingfishers, a Little Egret, a Great Crested Grebes and the short-billed Greenshank were around White's Creek and the sluice, whilst a Peregrine went over. (AW/GHi)

Also, an Osprey was fishing over the harbour mid-morning. (LP)

Red-backed Shrike (AW, top, lower two GHi), Peregrine,Grey Wagtail, Greenshank & Lapwings (GHi)

The Red-backed Shrike continued to show well this afternoon and was still present this evening. (NR/CS/P Appleton)

Red-backed Shrike at the North Wall (P Appleton)

East side: This morning at high tide 18 Sandwich Terns, 33 Knot, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits and 57 Grey Plovers were in the harbour, whilst a Hobby went over and there were also a Wheatear and three Yellow Wagtails about. (IMcK)

Sandwich Terns, Grey Plovers & Knot along the east side (IMcK)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - Up to ten Wheatears were around the more sheltered areas by the viewpoint this morning, most of which appeared to be big, bold and bright 'Greenland' types.

There were also at least five Whinchats and similar of Stonechats, at least six Corn Buntings, including several juveniles, a couple of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, a dozen Meadow Pipits and c50 Linnets around the area, with c50 Swallows over and two or three Whitethroats in the hedges by the farm. (AH) 

Wheatears (above), Whinchat, Corn Bunting & Reed Bunting at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - Somewhat surprisingly, Monday's juvenile Black Tern re-appeared today, hawking over a busy Stilt Pool, where there were also two Ruff, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Ringed Plover, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, at least 12 Egyptian Geese, plenty of Wigeon and Teal and at least 600 Canada Geese.

An Osprey was viewable distantly on the reserve, whilst a few Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were about, along with at least four Wheatears and a Kingfisher, whilst three more Greenshanks were near the poplars. Also, at least 50 Sand Martins and 200 Swallows went over. (PM/PB/AH)

Black Tern (above), Kingfisher (PM), Black Tern, Ruff, Greenshank, Sand Martin (AH) at Medmerry

Tuesday, 7th September: The splendid Indian Summer weather continues, with another warm and sunny morning, though with just a little more of a north-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Over 700 Swallows, plus a few Yellow Wagtails, and House Martins and a single Sand Martin went east this morning, whilst one of six Wheatears seen was sat on a green triangle offshore, and a Peregrine went over, too. (IP/SR/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NE, F3)

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Peregrine - 1E

Dunlin - 5W

Turnstone - 24

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 702E

Sand Martin - 1E

House Martin - 51E

Yellow Wagtail - 31E

Wheatear - 6

Willow Warbler - 2

At least 300 Swallows went east along the beach during a quick look at 1800hrs. (SH)

Wheatears (SR, top one), Peregrine, House Martin & Swallow (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Early on there were five Spotted Redshanks in the channel opposite, with the juvenile on the pool, whilst later on, two adults were on the pool.

It was generally quieter than of late, though, with otherwise just 25 Dunlin, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Teal and Shelduck present. (AH)

Also, a Grass Snake was near the hide. (IMcK)

Spotted Redshanks (AH) (above) & Grass Snake (IMcK) around the Ferry

Church Norton: There were two Redstarts, six Spotted Flycatchers, four Garden Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs and nine Blackcaps around the churchyard/hide area, whilst another Redstart, a Whinchat and three Wheatears were along the Severals, where a Corn Bunting and six Yellow Wagtails  flew over east.

Also around the Severals were more warblers, including two Garden Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Reed Warblers, six Chiffchaffs, eight Blackcaps and 16 Whitethroats, whilst 34 Linnets were on the saltmarsh.

An Osprey went over south-west at 0905hrs and a Greenshank was in the harbour among the Redshanks. (IMcK)

Osprey at Church Norton (IMcK)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - Half a dozen Wheatears and Meadow Pipits and a couple of Stonechats and Whinchats were along the generally quiet banks this morning, with c20 Yellow Wagtails around the Stilt Pools and a handful of Sand Martins and 200+ Swallows went over east.

Among the 500 or more Canada Geese on the Stilt Pool there were a Ruff, a Snipe, two Common Sandpipers, an adult and a juvenile Ringed Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and c30 Black-tailed Godwit, along with a Common Gull and a few Mediterranean Gulls,  two Greylag Geese, six Egyptian Geese, c30 Wigeon, c20 Gadwall and c50 Teal. (AH)

This evening 1500 Swallows and seven Sand Martins flew in and were briefly over the reservoirs before drifting off west, and there was also a Yellow Wagtail about. (S&SaH)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Yellow Wagtail and Snipe, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Sand Martin, Ruff and Teal, Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Gull & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Pagham Spit: Two Wheatears and four Yellow Wagtails were on the spit this evening, with four Greenshank, four Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Knot, 76 Grey Plovers, 53 Turnstones and 68 Ringed Plovers out in the harbour. (IMcK)

North Wall: The Red-backed Shrike was eventually located late morning at the SW corner of Owl Copse, where it was reported as showing well at 1124hrs (TS).

In White’s Creek there were three Spotted Redshanks, three Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 60+ Wigeon and about eight Pintail, though nothing more unusual. Along the Wall were half a dozen Whitethroats, a couple of Willow Warblers and a Whinchat, plus at least 13 Cattle Egrets and 30+ Yellow Wagtails in the fields around cattle and c.65 Curlew and 15 Black-tailed Godwits in the adjacent Honer field.

Interestingly the Yellow Wagtails all settled for some while along the top of a line of hedgerow where they seemed to be feeding, apparently on berries? Another observer also reported witnessing an unfortunate Yellow Wagtail nearer Halsey's Farm which was taken from around the feet of cattle by a Cattle Egret and promptly devoured! (OM/MRi/MS et al)

Amongst the reports from the Halsey's Farm area were a Garden Warbler, several Wheatears and Whitethroats and two Whinchats. (NR et al)

OM and MRi at the East side this morning - the latter being on a birthday visit from Surrey by special request!

The Red-backed Shrike continued to show well on the western side of Owl Copse up to 1900hrs at least, with the adjacent hedges holding up to half a dozen Lesser Whitethroats, two or three Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs and a big roaming mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. (AB/JH/AW//AH/SP et al)

Red-backed Shrike (above) & Lesser Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)