Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 29th

Tuesday, 31st May: A cool and unsettled morning, with periods of heavy cloud and the odd sunny interval in a freshening westerly breeze............

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with four Sanderlings dropping in on the spit and two Common Scoters being the sum of migration, though there were lots of terns feeding offshore, as was a Common Seal and a Fox was in the gardens. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0650-0820hrs) (WNW, F2-3)

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Sanderling - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 80os

Common Tern - 5os

Little Tern - 4os

House Martin - 8

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 158W, 30os

Common Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 1W

Swallow - 1

Little Tern (above), House Martin & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't much to report here, beyond the two Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin at the back, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Shelducks, plus two Cattle Egrets among the cows. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Little Tern was sat out on the mud in the Breech Pool this morning, until disturbed by a Roe Deer, whilst eight Black-tailed Godwits were feeding there, too, the male Marsh Harrier popped up briefly from the reeds behind and there were also a pair of Linnets, a Sedge Warbler and lots of Reed Buntings about.

A pair of Mute Swans with four cygnets were in Whites Creek and further out there were two Curlews and a few Oystercatchers. The Swallows were very active in and out of the stables, where there was also a Green Woodpecker, and a pair of Stock Doves flew over but there was no sign of the Little Owl this morning.

Also of note was a remarkable flock of 51 Long-tailed Tits travelling north along the west side hedge in Honer 1 field, and there remains lots of Grey Heron, Little and Cattle Egret activity in Owl Copse. (LP/JDW)

Little Tern (above), Black-tailed Godwits (LP), Grey Herons, Green Woodpecker & Roe Deer (JDW) at the North Wall

West Itchenor: A female-type Common Scoter was well up the harbour, off Chalkdock, this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: There were at least five Sanderlings with c50 Dunlin and c30 Ringed Plovers out on the mud this morning, but otherwise just a couple of Curlews, whilst there seemed to be a steady procession of Sandwich Terns, plus the odd Common and Little Tern, bringing fish into the harbour.

A Chiffchaff, a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats and the regular Swallows were the only passerines of note, though three Cattle Egrets were in the horse field and half a dozen Small Tortoiseshells and a couple of Painted Ladies were along the beach.. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Sanderlings, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, Sandwich Tern, Cattle Egret & Small Tortoiseshell at Church Norton (AH)

Chalder and Marsh Farms, Sidlesham: A drake Mandarin Duck came as a nice surprise, on the small pond next to Chalder Farm, keeping company with several Mallards, a Grey Heron and a family of Moorhens.

The windy conditions kept most birds out of sight but a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, two Linnets, a Song Thrush, three Swallows and two Sedge Warblers were seen, along with a Chiffchaff and several Long-tailed Tits, with Whitethroat and Blackcap heard. Also there was a Brown Hare in the fields. (SR)

Mandarin (SR top, AH lower) (above) & Brown Hare (SR) at Chalder Farm

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A flock of 15 Black-tailed Godwits went over west this evening, whilst at least 60 Swifts and 100+ Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the settling tanks. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Swallow & Swifts at Medmerry (AH)

Monday, 30th May: Another cool morning, despite the moderate breeze coming from the south, with heavy cloud cover after a brighter start.........

Selsey Bill: A total of 20 Sanderlings going east was the only thing of note this morning. (SR/IP)

(0625-0805hrs) (SE, F3-4)

Gannet - 7E, 1W

Mallard - 5os

Sanderling - 20E

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 50os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 2os

House Martin - 8

(1645-1800hrs) (SH)

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Black-headed Gull - 180W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 216W

Common Tern - 1os

Sandwich Terns at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: At least 100 Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, along with eight Avocets, the drake Shoveler and 22 Shelducks, with a Reed Warbler singing at the front and Cattle Egret with the cows at the back. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

Later in the morning, a pair of Garganey were on the pool, though they did not linger, and the two Little Ringed Plovers were also present, whilst a pair of Tufted Ducks flew over. (IP)

Garganey on the Ferry (IP)

North Wall: A Little Owl was along the path by the stables this morning, until flushed by a jogger, whilst a Marsh Harrier was up briefly, the Swallows were still busy around the stables themselves and a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the adjacent trees.

White's Creek just held a single Gadwall and a pair of Shelducks, whilst further out there were five Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin and a few Oystercatchers.

At Owl Copse the young Grey Herons were still very entertaining and at Halsey’s Farm there were ten Cattle Egrets amongst the cows with a similar number of Swallows overhead and a few singing Skylarks. (LP/PC/CT/SR)

Cattle Egrets (above), Grey Herons, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (AH)

The Little Owl was back in the trees near the stable again this evening. (MT)

Little Owl at the North Wall (MT)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo was still calling behind the Severals, early this morning, whilst a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat were all active near the hide.

A Whimbrel, five Curlews and a couple of Ringed Plovers were the only waders in the harbour, where there were still lots of Little and Sandwich Terns sitting on the mud. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Whimbrel, Sandwich Tern, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Greenfinch at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - It was nice to see so many Swallows around the water treatment works this evening - there were at least 60 including a group of 11 sitting together on telephone wires nearby. Swifts and House Martins were abundant too with at least 75 of each species around the settling tanks.

Also seen were 22 Mediterranean Gulls, three Pied Wagtails, a pair of Kestrels, a Stock Dove, six Linnets and a number of calling Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Yellowhammers and Blackcaps. (SR)

Swallows at Medmerry (SR)

Sunday, 29th May: A fairly cool and blustery day of sunshine and cloud, after overnight rain, with the fresh breeze remaining resolutely from the north.....

Selsey Bill: Two Eider going west were the most unusual birds, with otherwise just three Common Scoters east and at least ten Little Terns among the many Sandwich Terns offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0645-0715hrs) (N, F4)

Gannet - 4E, 4W

Eider - 2W

Common Scoter - 3E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 6W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 75os

Common Tern - 2os

Little Tern - 11os

House Martin - 5

Common Scoters (above), Little Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 120 Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, along with six Avocets, four Redshanks, a drake Gadwall and c25 Shelducks.

Also, the Grass snake was in the pond in the Discovery Area. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Grass Snake at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Half a dozen Lapwings were around the fields before flying into Ferry Channel, whilst a Cuckoo was calling from the west side, before flying towards the Tramway, where another could be heard.

One or two Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Linnets were out on the hedges, but the Reed and Sedge Warblers were keeping low and singing sparsely. (AH)

Cuckoo (above) & Lapwing at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Two Cuckoos were around the horse field this morning, with a Buzzard over Priory Woods, but nothing else of note was about.

Up to 50 Little Terns were among the Sandwich Terns in the harbour, whilst waders comprised seven Ringed Plovers, c15 Turnstones, three Dunlin, two Grey Plovers, two Curlews and a lone Black-tailed Godwit. (IP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Cuckoo and a Cattle Egret were on the reserve, whilst the banks were quite busy this morning, with 20 Whitethroats, six Yellowhammers, five Stonechats, two Reed Warblers and four Reed Buntings seen, plus two Buzzards, two Kestrels, two Swifts, two House Martins and six Swallows over.

The Stilt Pool was quiet, though, with just the pair of Egyptian Geese, plus their gosling and 15 Avocets noted, though there were no chicks seen. Also, two Sandwich Terns were offshore. (S&SaH)

North Wall: Both the male and female Harriers were out briefly this morning, and a couple of Cattle Egrets were among the cows, but it was generally very quiet, with almost no water in the Breech Pool, just a little Whitethroat, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler song and no waders in the harbour, though the Swallows were active around the stables. (AH/PC)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)

This afternoon the male Marsh Harrier was about, along with a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and three Buzzards, whilst three Cuckoos were heard/seen and the two Little Ringed Plovers were back on the Breech Pool.

Also, there was a Four-Spotted Chaser and a Drinker moth caterpillar present, too. (S&SaH)

Four-spotted Chaser (above) & Drinker moth caterpillar at the North Wall (SH)

Pagham Spit: There were at least 50 Sandwich Terns, two Common Terns and a dozen Little Terns feeding in the harbour, with the latter species being very active around the two newer islands.

A few Linnets were the only birds along the spit, with the only other thing of note was the huge gathering of gulls and Sandwich Terns around the outer edge of the new spit and the harbour mouth. (AH)