Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 13th

Wednesday, 15th June: A very warm and sunny morning in a moderate north-easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: Another day with nothing on the move, though there were a few Little and Common Terns among the Sandwich Terns offshore and a Sanderling was on the shingle bar. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0635-0750hrs) (NNE, F3)

Gannet - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3

Sanderling - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 34os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 5os

Swift - 3

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 6

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

It's behind you! AH in danger of being run over as he photographs the terns (SR)

Ferry Pool: There was a new family of eight tiny Shelduck-lings on the pool this morning, though it was otherwise quiet, with just a dozen adult Shelducks, 11 Lapwings, eight Black-tailed Godwits and six Redshank present, whilst at least two Cattle Egrets were still with the cows. (AH)

Shelduck family (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: I carried out a search for House Martin nests this morning and found eight occupied/partly built around the estate off Drift Road, compared with six found in June last year, but was unable to find any at all in the Selsey Gate estate, where last year nests had reduced to just one.

There were, however, a dozen Swifts around their nests in the Selsey Gate estate, where they use specially adapted nest sites, and a pair of Herring Gulls had chicks nearby. (SR)

House Martin in Selsey (SR)

North Wall: Both Marsh Harriers were up briefly this morning behind the Breech Pool, where two Cuckoos were calling, and the Swallows were busy around the stables, where there was also a Green Woodpecker.

Two Redshanks were the only waders seen in the harbour, whilst a dozen Lapwings and 15 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool. There were plenty of young Little Egrets and a couple of young Grey Herons in Owl Copse, but the only Cattle Egrets were a couple at Halsey' Farm.

Reed Warblers were still singing quite widely, but otherwise there were just a couple of Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings along the wall, together with handful of Linnets. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Cattle Egret, Swallow, Reed Bunting & Little Egret and Grey Herons (AH)

Tuesday, 14th June: The wind finally shifted round this morning, with a light north-easterly early on, freshening as it shifted to the south-east, but with warm, unbroken sunshine throughout.......

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, with just a Fulmar west and a Common Tern among the Sandwich Terns. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0800hrs) (NE, F2)

Fulmar - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 60os

Common Tern - 1os

House Martin - 6

Sandwich and Common Terns (above), Sandwich Tern, Fulmar & the Mile Basket on the low tide at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Black-tailed Godwits, five Lapwings, seven Redshank and 23 Shelducks on the pool first thing, with three Cattle Egrets among the cows on the fields. (AH)

Cattle Egret (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Green Woodpecker chicks appear to have successfully fledged as the nest hole was deserted this morning and there was no sign of any of them in the vicinity, though the Swallows were still very busy around the stables and there were a couple of Linnets and a Greenfinch along with six Goldfinches in the paddock.

The seven Black-tailed Godwits were back on the Breech Pool along with eight Lapwings and the Shelduck family, still with all seven ducklings, whilst behind the pool, a Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and two Buzzards were seen, and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees.

Another two Cuckoos were in the bushes along the wall and a fourth was calling from the Halsey’s Farm area where there was also a few Swallows, a Cattle Egret, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Cormorant and a Common Tern, fishing in the rife.

There was still lots going on at Owl Copse, too, with a few Grey Herons and Little and Cattle Egrets in the trees and out on their island. (LP)

Cuckoo (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Cormorant at the North Wall (LP)

This evening, both the Marsh Harriers were seen. (S&SaH)

Marsh Harrier at the North Wall (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were full of Linnets and Skylarks this morning, along with half a dozen Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, a couple of Reed Buntings and potentially two Stonechat families, whilst a Cattle Egret flew over and a Cuckoo was calling from the poplars.

There were four Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool, and though no young were seen I suspect they were present, but out of sight, but only one young Oystercatcher was seen, along with the three quite well-grown Avocets chicks.

A total off 22 adult Avocets were seen, along with a pair of Ringed Plovers, four Lapwings and eight Gadwall, plus the pair of Egyptian Geese and their gosling, but that was about it, save up to ten Swallows feeding low over the water.

There were also a couple of Large Skippers and plenty of Meadow Browns on the wing. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Ringed Plover, juvenile Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Swallow, Gadwall, Large Skipper & Meadow Brown at Medmerry (AH)

Chichester Canal: At least six Norfolk Hawkers were present this afternoon, just east of the Birdham road. (CRJ)

Norfolk Hawker at Chichester Canal (CRJ)

Monday, 13th June: Another bright and breezy day, with plenty of sunshine, some cloud and a light-moderate west-north-westerly breeze........

Important: At the moment, we should all be aware of the presence of bird flu in the Channel area, suspected at multiple colonies, and of the advice not to touch but report bird corpses. A potential case has recently been discovered with a Sandwich Tern at Pagham and the RSPB are well aware of the situation. It's not yet confirmed, but time will tell if this is indeed avian flu when the test results are known - however if so the potential for it to spread locally is obvious to all. Please be aware and be careful. (Eds)

Breeding Common Pochards: The name Common Pochard belies the fact that this is a declining and red-listed species of high conservation concern, with just a few pairs usually breeding in Sussex annually. These records are submitted to the 'British Birds' Rare Breeding Birds panel - and, for example, in 2019 there were no more than 11 breeding pairs in the County, whilst the total for 2020 was 13 pairs, of which eight pairs were located at the Chichester Gravel Pits, (the others being well to the east at Rye and Pett Level).All the Chichester Gravel Pits are included in the Peninsula recording area and the breeding records from here are significant on a national basis. Whilst the more well known pits get visited frequently, others do not and it is possible some are missed, so anyone discovering a breeding pair is asked to ensure they submit the record to the SOS, or alternatively to the blog editors who can ensure its submission. Experience has shown that broods of this species often don't appear until quite late - even mid to late July is not unusual - so please keep an eye out. Many thanks. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A notably quiet morning except for the regular Sandwich Terns fishing offshore. Full log below.(SR/AH)
(0640-0740hrs) (WNW, F3)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 os
Little Tern - 1 os
Sandwich Tern - 48 os
auk sp - 1W
Swift - 2
House Martin - 4

Ferry Pool: On the pool this morning were 17 Avocets, 40 Black-tailed Godwits, five Lapwings, 12 Redshank and six Shelduck, whilst a Cuckoo was calling somewhat distantly from the Tramway area. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit and Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were just a couple of Reed Warblers and Whitethroats singing early this morning, with a Reed Bunting and a few Linnets about, too, whilst c40 Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Lapwings were on the fields and a handful of Redshank were in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Reed Bunting (above), Linnet & Mediterranean Gull along the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It is pleasing to note that the pair of Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool this morning currently still have all four young chicks. Also, a fully summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank - perhaps the first returning migrant - was asleep on the far bank of the pool.

There was a good selection of other birds, too, including a drake Teal, another Little Ringed Plover and two pairs of Ringed Plover plus a Redshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit and six Lapwings.

There were plenty of young birds about, too, including the juvenile Oystercatcher and two Avocet families of two and one, together with five apparently still sitting, the Egyptian Geese and their gosling and up to 25 Canada Geese, including two goslings.

Also, Stonechats could be heard but were staying low and Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warbler were all singing along with the usual Yellowhammers, Linnets and Skylarks, and seven Swallows flew over. (SR)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet chick & Oystercatchers at Medmerry (SR)

This evening a Barn Owl was out along the banks, and three Cattle Egrets were on the reserve, whilst among other species seen were a Stonechat, a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff, four Yellowhammers, five Whitethroats, a Swallow and a Buzzard. (S&SaH)

Barn Owl at Medmerry (SH)

North Wall: The Green Woodpeckers appear to have fledged at least some of their young this morning with a few sightings around the paddock, although at least one was still looking out from the nest hole. The Mute Swan family were again in White's Creek, along with a Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Gadwall, whilst further out there were five Lapwings, a Curlew, a Redshank and a few Black-tailed Godwits.

The Shelduck family were on the Breech Pool, still with all seven ducklings, and there were also seven Redshank and seven Black-tailed Godwits present, whilst behind the pool a Marsh Harrier was seen briefly, and a pair of Kestrels were also about.

Also, a Cuckoo was calling from the trees behind the pool and a female was seen in the bushes down near Owl Copse, and there were a few Sedge and Reed Warblers about along the wall, together with a few Reed Buntings. (LP/PC/CT)

Sedge Warbler (above), Green Woodpecker & Shelduck family at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Beyond the steady stream of Sandwich Terns bringing in fish, there wasn't much to report, though a couple of Mediterranean Gulls, Common and Little Terns were feeding in the harbour, six Curlews were on the mud and a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and two Swallows were around the hide. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Common and Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean Gull & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester Canal: At least four Norfolk Hawkers were on the section opposite the turning to the Marina this afternoon, along with a few Red-eyed, Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies, a Grey Heron and a couple of Reed Warblers. (AH/AM)