Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 1st

Friday, 3rd June: It was milder than of late, and the easterly breeze lighter, with plenty of warm sun early on before progressively clouding over.............

Selsey Bill: Three Kittiwakes were offshore and 11 Common Scoters went east this morning. (SR/JA/AH)

(0640-0810hrs) (NE, F3)

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 7E, 3W, 2os

Common Scoter - 11E

Kittiwake - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 45os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 3os

House Martin - 10

Sandwich Tern (above), Common Tern, Kittiwakes & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was again little going on, with just six Avocets, six Redshank, 25 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Shelducks on the pool. (AH)

Long Pool: A female Yellowhammer was along the hedges this morning and a Sedge Warbler was seen carrying food, but it was generally quiet, with little bird-song beyond the odd Reed Warbler and Whitethroat and just the odd Linnet and Reed Bunting about.

Also, a Little Grebe was on the pool and half a dozen Lapwings and c30 Mediterranean Gulls were along the west side fields, with a Cuckoo calling distantly from further along. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Yellowhammer, Mediterranean Gull & Little Grebe along the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: At least six Cuckoos were spread around Halsey's Farm and the fields to the north this morning, whilst the two Little Ringed Plovers and 24 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool, two Common Terns went over north and the pair of Marsh Harriers were seen passing food early on nearby..

A dozen Cattle Egrets were among the cows at Halsey's Farm, with two youngsters seen in Owl Copse, along with at least four young Grey Herons and five young Little Egrets.

Three Stonechats were at Owl Point, whilst Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were all singing, with two fledged young of the latter also seen, and there were Swallows around the stables still, and at Halsey's Farm.

There were also at least three Painted Ladies and several Small Tortoiseshells about.(S&SaH/AH/CT/GHi/JDW et al).

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Little Egrets, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch (AH) & Painted Lady (SH) at the North Wall

Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the Breech Pool this afternoon, whilst also a dozen Cattle Egrets were living up to their name amongst a herd of cattle on Halsey's Farm.

Also, two Cuckoos were singing, one seen, a Sparrowhawk went over Owl Copse, plus there was the usual selection of Cetti's Warblers, Reed Warblers and Whitethroats. (GM)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (GM)

West Itchenor and Birdham Pool: My weekly check on the nesting House Martins at the Harbour Office revealed four of the 13 artificial nests are being used and there is a half built natural nest.

It was high tide and few birds were encountered on my walk from Birdham Pool, although the hedges held Yellowhammers, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, and a Blackcap sang from the Spinney. A stand of nine Bee Orchids near Westlands Farm were an unexpected find and a Silver Y moth was in the grass nearby.

Birdham Pool itself held singing Sedge and Reed Warblers, a family of Mute Swans, two Great Crested Grebes, six Tufted Ducks, seven Little Grebes and nesting Coots. An impressive nesting raft has been placed on the pool but I fear it's probably too late in the season to be taken advantage of. (SR)

House Martin & Bee Orchids at West Itchenor (SR)

Church Norton: There were still c40 Ringed Plovers in the harbour this evening, but the Dunlin count had risen to c75.

There was little to report though, beyond the usual activity around the islands. (AH)

Ringed Plovers (above) & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 2nd June: A fairly cool morning of cloud and hazy sun in a fresh easterly breeze, though brightening and warming up later......

Selsey Bill: Four Sanderlings east and a Fulmar and three Shelducks west were the only birds beyond the regulars this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0640-0800hrs) (E, F3)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 3os

Shelduck - 3W

Sanderling - 4E

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 62os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 3os

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 10

Ferry Pool: There was very little on the pool this morning - just 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, 15 Shelducks and eight Mallards, though a Cattle Egret flew over. (AH)

North Mundham: A Coal Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the garden this morning. (MJ)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm and Ham Farm - At least 50 Swifts, along with 20 or so Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the fields at Porthole Farm, whilst at least half a dozen Whitethroats and Yellowhammers were along the hedges and a few Linnets and Skylarks were about, too. There was also a big and mobile flock of newly-fledged Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits present.

Just one Corn Bunting and several Reed Buntings were at Ham Farm, along with two pairs of Stonechats, at least three pairs of Swallows, singing Cetti's and Reed Warblers and many Skylarks and Linnets. (AH)

Swift (above), Swallows, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit & Spotted Orchid at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite were behind the stables this morning, a Cuckoo was calling from further back and a pair of Greylag Geese flew over.

Around the paddock there was a Jay, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, six Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches and eight Long-tailed Tits, a Blackcap was singing in the trees and the Swallows were very active around the stables although rather ominously a Magpie was also hanging around.

In the Breech Pool there was a Little Ringed Plover, a Redshank and three Black-tailed Godwits, whilst out in the harbour there were just a few Oystercatchers, some Shelduck and a Curlew. (LP/PC/SP)

Marsh Harrier (above), Greenfinch & Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Later on, at Owl Copse the young Grey Herons raised a smile as they craned their necks to the sky, looking out for their parents, whilst Little Egrets were heard rather than seen and a couple of Cattle Egrets were visible amongst the foliage.

Twenty-eight Black-tailed Godwits were on Breech Pool along with a Shelduck, and a distant Cuckoo could be heard along with the usual Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers and three Reed Buntings were about.

At the stables six Swallows were flying about the paddock, looking and sounding alarmed as a Magpie appeared from inside - we can only hope for the best.

Also, two Drinker moth caterpillars were along the wall, and and there were also a Snout moth, a Painted Lady and three Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. (SR)

Swallow (above), Grey Herons & Drinker Moth caterpillar at the North Wall (SR)

Church Norton: This evening there were five Sanderlings, c25 Dunlin and c60 Ringed Plovers out on the mud, with plenty of Little and Sandwich Terns still about and a Chiffchaff was singing by the Mound. (AH)

Sanderlings (above), Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 1st June: A sunny start to the morning in a light breeze, but clouding up as it picked up from the west.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of 20 Sanderlings (possibly the same birds as a couple of days ago) dropped in on the spit before heading off east, but it was otherwise quiet. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0625-0810hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Gannet - 2E, 7os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sanderling - 20os, then E

Sandwich Tern - 82os

Common Tern - 7os

Little Tern - 7os

Swift - 2

House Martin - 10

Little Tern (above), Gannet & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just four Avocets, three Redshanks, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were two newly fledged young Kestrels sitting out this evening. (SH)

Chalder Farm, Sidlesham: The drake Mandarin was again in the small, overgrown pond near the farm buildings this morning, but difficult to see. (SR)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo was calling at the back of the Severals this morning and a Cattle Egret flew up from the reeds, whilst the only waterfowl seen were nine Tufted Ducks (only one was female) and a Little Grebe.

A Water Rail was squealing close to the path at the second Several where there was a Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, several Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus two Linnets and a Green Woodpecker. (SR)

Reed Bunting at Church Norton (SR)

This evening there was a surprisingly large late flock of 17 Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour, along with a dozen Dunlin and a Grey Plover, whilst a fast-moving flock of at least 25 Long-tailed Tits went along the hedge by the hide. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Little Owl was again in trees near the stables this morning. (SP)

It was quiet along the wall, with just a Shelduck and a Grey Heron on the Breech Pool first thing, and later three Black-tailed Godwits were feeding at the front edge, and a juvenile Robin was by the sluice gates.

The juvenile Grey Herons were doing a lot of wing stretches and Little and Cattle Egrets were coming and going from Owl Copse.

Around Halsey Farm there were excellent views of three Cuckoos around the concrete bridge, and also present were a Whitethroat, three Buzzards, a Kestrel and several Cattle Egrets amongst the cows. (GHi)

Cuckoos (above), Whitethroat, Robin & Black-tailed Godwit at the North Wall (GHi)

This evening the Little Owl was out again briefly, whilst a late Spotted Flycatcher was around the paddocks and a Cattle Egret was seen carrying a large rodent prey. (AW)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were plenty of Whitethroats, Skylarks and Linnets along the banks this morning, along with a handful of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, plus the odd bit of Reed and Sedge Warbler song.

There were still up to 20 Avocets on the Stilt Pool, including five apparently sitting on eggs, whilst the Oystercatcher pair had one, and probably two, youngsters on the big island, and a pair of Ringed Plovers were there, too, but the only other waders were four Lapwings, two Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.

The Egyptian Geese and their gosling were still present, as was the drake Wigeon, four Cattle Egrets were about the edges and up to four Swallows were feeding over the water, but that was about it for birds, though a pair of Brown Hares were out relaxing in the sun on the edge of the tidal area on the reserve opposite. (AH)