Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 14th

Tuesday, 16th August: An even bigger change in the weather this morning, with a band of - at times, quite heavy - thundery rain moving through on a light south-easterly breeze............

Selsey Bill: Mediterranean Gulls were the most numerous species, along with a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets, but a single House Martin was the only hirundine noted. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0640-800hrs) (SE, F1-2)

Gannet - 20E, 4W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 38E, 2W, 50os

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 1W, 1os

House Martin - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There were four Common Sandpipers, two Avocets, a Dunlin, two Redshanks, seven Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Teal and the Brent Goose on the pool, with two Buzzards nearby, whilst a Spotted Redshank, a Kingfisher and a satellite-tagged Curlew (X8) were in the channel opposite, and 14 Canada Geese went over. (AH/AHu/BFF/DM)

The Temminck's Stint unexpectedly reappeared this afternoon on the pool, and there were several Whinchats in the fields at the back. (AT/G Goater et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), tagged curlew (AHu), Avocet and Teal & Lapwings (AH) at the Ferry

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool -Two Ravens went over the reserve this afternoon. (NR)

Later on, there were four Common Sandpipers, four Avocets, ten Lapwings, a Snipe and three Black-tailed Godwits at the Stilt Pools, with a Wheatear, two Linnets, three Yellowhammers, including one carrying food and 16 Linnets along the banks and 43 Sand Martins and eight Swallows over. (SR)

North Wall: The Squacco Heron was showing very well this morning to a much smaller audience, and a Kingfisher flew down the rife, whilst a Redstart was along the fence line in Owl Point field together with a Willow Warbler.

At least 30 Cattle Egrets were amongst the various groups of cows along the wall and in the reeds around the Breech Pool there was a Snipe and a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, with a few Whitethroats and Willow Warblers in the bushes.

A Common Sandpiper was with 30 Redshank and a Great Crested Grebe near Heron Island, and in White's Creek there was a Greenshank, the lone cygnet and the usual, Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatchers, while a bit further out on the mud there were a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers, along with a Ringed Plover. (LP(BFF/DM)

Redstart (above) Squacco Heron, Snipe & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

There was no sign of the Squacco Heron this evening, though the Redstart was still in the hedges at Halsey's Farm and a Wheatear was along the wall, where several Yellow Wagtails, Sand Martins and Swallows went over.

There were also seven Greenshanks roosting in White's Creek, a doze Yellow Wagtails by the Salthouse, a Green Sandpiper and a Snipe on the Breech Pool and c50 Cattle Egrets widely spread. (AH/CS/LP/S&SaH et al)

Redstart (above) & Greenshanks at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: A Wheatear and two Linnets by the concrete blocks were about the only passerines seen this morning,, whilst in the harbour there were a Kingfisher and two Common Sandpipers by the metalwork, with up to three Whimbrel, a Knot, a few Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and plenty of Redshanks and Curlews also seen. (AH/BFF/DM et al)

Wheatear (above), Linnet, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel & Ringed Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 15th August: At long last a bit of a change in the weather, with a cooler morning of sunshine and cloud in a moderate south-westerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: Two Yellow Wagtails went west together, a Grey Heron went east and a few Sandwich Terns were offshore this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0645-0815hrs) (WSW, F3)

Gannet - 12E, 8W, 4os

Grey Heron - 1E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 9W, 10os

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 1W, 12os

Swallow - 6W

Sand Martin - 1W

House Martin - 6

Yellow Wagtail - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

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

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint would appear to have moved on, with three Common Sandpipers (plus one in the channel opposite) and a single Avocet the only birds beyond the regular c40 Lapwings, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, ten Redshank, 45 Teal, five juvenile Shelducks and the single Brent Goose, whilst there were also four Wheatears in the fields at the back. (AH/JW/OM et al)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Brent Goose at the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon a Lesser Whitethroat was around the RSPB car park, and at the rear of the Ferry field there were 33 Lapwing, whilst in the Discovery Area pond there were two immature Grass Snakes and a Marsh Frog. (CRJ)

Also, later on, a Spotted Redstart flew down Ferry Channel. (AH)

Grass Snake (above) & Marsh Frog at the Ferry (CRJ)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Around the sewage farm this afternoon there were three Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 40 Herring Gulls, 10 Sand Martins, a Swallow, two Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers, 35 Goldfinches and ten Linnets, a well as a female Southern Hawker. (CRJ)

Southern Hawker at Medmerry (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Glossy Ibis flew over near the second viewpoint this morning and a Marsh Harrier was near the poplars. (TS)

The Glossy Ibis was seen again this evening, feeding in front of Marsh Barn before flying off west, and here were also three Cattle Egrets, a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel in the vicinity.

A Redstart was on the rocks opposite the Stilt Pool, whilst a Wheatear and a Whinchat were nearby, and the banks also held a Corn Bunting, 15 Yellowhammers, eight Stonechats, three Whitethroats, a Cetti's Warbler and two Meadow Pipits, with c20 Swallows over

There were also six Common Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool, along with a Snipe, a Ringed Plover, two Avocets and a dozen Dunlin. (S&SaH)

Glossy Ibis (above) & Redstart at Medmerry (SH)

North Wall: The Squacco Heron was still in the rife at Halsey's Farm, and still drawing fresh admirers this morning, with at least 40 Cattle Egrets in the vicinity of Owl Copse, whilst there were two or three Kingfishers about and c100 Sand Martins and c50 Swallows overhead.

The bushes were quiet, though, beyond the odd Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler, plus a calling Cetti's Warbler, with the Breech Pool all but dried up and bereft of birds, whilst two Greenshank were in White's Creek and a Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrel and five Dunlin were out in the harbour. (AH/AHu/LP/CT/PC et al)

Squacco Heron (above), Cattle Egrets, Mediterranean Gulls, Greenshank & Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)

Northcommon Farm: A disappointing visit, with little to be found this morning. Two Whitethroats and two Willow Warblers were along the hedgerows, whilst a search of the paddocks and sheep fields produced just a Wheatear and four Pied Wagtails. There were also at least 30 Swallows and four House Martins feeding above and two Green Woodpeckers were back and forth. (OM)

Selsey: A Hummingbird Hawk-moth flew into my house for the second day running! (IP)

Church Norton: Two Wheatears were around the concrete blocks this evening, with at least three Whimbrels in the harbour and c30 Swallows went over west. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 14th August: The very hot weather continues, with another day of temperatures around the 30C mark, though slightly hazier than of late and with a moderate easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Another slow morning, with just a Yellow Wagtail west and a few Swallows and Sand Martins east. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)

(0600-0800hrs) (NE, F3)

Gannet - 15E, 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 64E, 25os

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 5W

Common Tern - 6E, 2W

Swallow - 11E

Sand Martin - 6E

House Martin - 7

Yellow Wagtail - 1W

Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Temminck's Stint was still at the back of the pool this morning, along with two Common Sandpipers, six Avocets, including two quite young juveniles, a dozen Redshank, five Dunlin, 50 Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Teal, five juvenile Shelducks, the Brent Goose and a Red-legged Partridge.

A look round the Tramway circuit produced just a handful of Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats and up to a dozen Whitethroats, plus a few Sand Martins over. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Avocets, Red-legged Partridge, Lesser Whitethroat & Willow Warbler around the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Up to six Willow Warblers were along Park Lane this morning, whilst a Kestrel was over the building site and four Pied Wagtails were on the fields. (IP)

North Selsey: Three were 14 Swifts over the house this evening, along with 39 Sand Martins, three House Martins and seven Swallows. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: Three Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore, with two also seen heading west, whilst the harbour held three Shelducks, a single Whimbrel, c250 Dunlin, with two Knot in partial summer-plumage associating with them, and c50 Ringed Plovers, with c20 Turnstones on the beach.

Two Wheatears were on the spit, with a Meadow Pipit going over, a Lesser Whitethroat was on the Severals, where there were also three Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Greenlease Farm.

Though less than yesterday, there were also quite a few hirundines - c400 birds, of which at least half were Sand Martins. (IP)

North Wall: The Squacco Heron was again showing well this morning along the Rife at Halsey's Farm, and there were a couple of Lesser Whitethroats along the bushes there too, whilst 34 Cattle Egrets were amongst the cows in the Honer fields, but the Breech Pool held just a solitary Lapwing.

A Whinchat was again in the bushes by the pool and two Greenshank were in White's Creek, whilst the Great White Egret was also reported by a couple of birders, flying across the harbour, (LP) and then seen again later (RJS).

This afternoon a Great White Egret appeared over Owl Copse and flew south over the harbour, whilst the Squacco Heron continued to show well,, and a Grey Heron, 21 Little Egrets and 42 Cattle Egrets completed a full house of herons! (S&SaH)

This evening c25 Yellow Wagtails were on the newly ploughed field along Church Lane, with c40 House Martins on the wires there. (AHu)

Whinchat (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Cattle Egrets & Greenshank at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester Canal: A good variety along the canal early today. Besides the magnificent Mute Swans with their nine cygnets, there were several Reed and Cetti's Warbler families, likewise Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen with young, plenty of Willow Warblers, Goldfinches and Greenfinches about.

Also of note, two Kingfishers flew across the canal north of Hunston and towards the gravel pits, whilst a Tree Pipit was seen just east of the Birdham Road. (RBe)

Tree Pipit at Chichester Canal (RBe)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were busy this morning, with a Whinchat, five Wheatears, a Dartford Warbler, seven Stonechats, four Corn Buntings, six Yellow Wagtails, for Meadow Pipits, ten Whitethroats, 15 /yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting and a Cetti's Warbler all noted, whilst five Swifts, c50 Swallows, c200 Sand Martins, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and two Kestrels all went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - The hedges around Porthole Farm were quiet, with just a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, two families of Whitethroats, a family of Stonechats and 50+ Linnets seen, along with a Buzzard and c500 Sand Martins over the bean field between the farms.

The banks at Ham held a Whinchat and at least eight Wheatears, along with two families of Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and a few Linnets, but there was a spectacular gathering of very roughly 2000 Sand Martins and 1000 Swallows on the wires across the fields by the farm, all put up in a swirling frenzy by a passing Sparrowhawk. (AH)