Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 16th

Sunday, 18th September: Similar to yesterday; chilly to start, but dry and bright with a fresh NNW breeze, then becoming warmer in bright sunshine, before cloud developed by afternoon....

Selsey Bill: A fair selection this morning, including an Osprey, some early returning Brent Geese, another Green Sandpiper, nine Shags and a bit of 'vis.mig,' too. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/MB/PM/IP/AH/P&LH et al).

(0615-0930hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 2E, 219W

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 9W

Common Scoter - 15E, 4W, 4os

Wigeon - 3W

Pintail - 9W

Osprey - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Whimbrel - 1W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 7

Dunlin - 2W

Green Sandpiper - 1W

skua sp - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 3W

Common Tern - 4E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 15W

Guillemot - 1E

auk sp - 2E, 4W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Sand Martin - 9W

House Martin - 21W, 7 present

Swallow - 67W

Meadow Pipit - 54W

Tree Pipit - 1W

Yellow Wagtail - 16W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Wheatear - 5

Chiffchaff - 11

Linnet - 15

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 4W

Wheatears (above), Chiffchaff, Brent Geese & Shags at the Bill (AH)

(1330-1530hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 3E, 18W

Shag - 4W

Brent Goose - 5W

Common Scoter - 2W

Dunlin - 12E

Arctic Skua - 1os (chasing terns)

Mediterranean Gull - 18W

Sandwich Tern - 5W

Common Tern - 2E

Swallow - 23

Sand Martin - 1

House martin - 3

Wheatear - 1

Stonechat - 2 (on vegetation by the beach)

Chiffchaff - 1

Stonechat (above), Wheatear & Shag at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: Three Snipe were on the pool this morning, along with c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Lapwing, c40 Teal and the Brent Goose, with a Spotted Redshank in the channel opposite. (P&LH/AH/NS)

This evening a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm: Three Sparrowhawks were around this morning, whilst a Pied Wagtail went over, 20 House Martins were present over the houses and at least ten Chiffchaffs were scattered around the bushes. (IP)

Church Norton: A Wryneck was present briefly between the Severals early on, but could not be re-located later. (NS)

The Harbour was fairly quiet, with only singles of Whimbrel, Turnstone and Dunlin, along with the usual scattering of Redshank, Oystercatcher and Curlew. whilst 22 Grey Plovers flew in from offshore. Around 30 Great Crested Grebes were in the channel with a few Shelducks, a Kingfisher was flying around the metalwork and a lone Wheatear was along the fence line on the Spit.

Offshore two groups of four Brent Geese flew west along with two Sandwich Terns and a fairly close Gannet, whilst along the shoreline were a further 12 Grey Plovers.

There were three Spotted Flycatchers and a Blackcap behind the hide, a group of eight Stonechats were around the horse field, along with a Whitethroat; with a couple more of the latter, a Sedge Warbler and pair of Blackcaps around the Severals, where a Jay was also present and two Yellow Wagtails flew over.

Also, a Spotted Flycatcher was along Park Copse with a mixed tit flock, which included a few Long-tailed Tits. (IP/L&PH/AH/PBMB/PM et al))

Kingfisher (IP) (above), Stonechat& Whimbrel (AH) at Church Norton

This evening there were four Spotted Flycatchers and a couple of Chiffchaffs behind the hide, with another half a dozen of the latter and a couple of Goldcrests among a big roving flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Green Woodpecker was in the paddocks this morning and two Kingfishers were around the sluice where there were also two Willow Warblers and a few Blackbirds. A Marsh Harrier was seen out towards Owl Point and later on, possibly the same bird was behind the Breech Pool where there were also two Sparrowhawks, two Buzzards and a Kestrel.

In White's Creek there were lots of Wigeon and Teal and further down the Channel, a Spotted Redshank was with 30 Redshanks, 12 Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers, five Grey Plovers and a Golden Plover. (LP)

Golden Plover at White's creek (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin, a Marsh Harrier and seven Kestrels were seen hunting today, whilst five Cattle Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, a Greenshank, four Ringed Plovers, four Yellow Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail and c50 Meadow Pipits were out on the reserve, but the only birds of note on Stilt Pool were a Common Sandpiper and eight more Egyptian Geese.

The banks were fairly busy, with four Wheatears, six Stonechats, two Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, a Corn Bunting and five Yellowhammers seen, with two Sand Martins, two House Martins and c30 Swallows over. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 17th September: A very bright, but chill, start to the morning, though warming up later, despite the moderate north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: The highlight of the morning was heard rather than seen, with a Tawny Owl calling audibly to the north before dawn - the first record here in many, many years.

Otherwise, a Green Sandpiper went west, well offshore, and there was a bit of visible migration, including the first Reed Bunting of the year here, and a Common Tern and a few Wigeon went west. Full log below. (SH/PB/JA/BI/SR/IP/AH)

(0615-0930hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 5E, 14W

Shag - 4E

Grey Heron - 1W

Wigeon - 16W

Teal -2W

Common Scoter - 3E, 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 4W

Redshank - 1W

Green Sandpiper - 1W

Turnstone - 16

Mediterranean Gull- 1W

Sandwich Tern - 4W, 3os

Common Tern - 1W

auk sp - 2W

Tawny Owl - 1 (heard)

Skylark - 1

Swallow - 35W

House Martin - 13W

Grey Wagtail - 4W

Meadow Pipit - 45W

Wheatear - 6

Chiffchaff - 5

Linnet - 16W

Reed Bunting - 1

Wheatear (above), Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Shag, Sandwich Tern & Sparrowhawk at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 40 Black-tailed Godwits and 80 Lapwings were roosting on the pool, along with c40 Teal and the Brent Goose, whilst two Spotted Redshanks and c20 Redshanks were in the channel opposite and a Grey Wagtail flew over. (AH)

Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 100 Meadow Pipits flew over the fields and a single Whitethroat was close to the buildings this morning. (IP)

Church Norton: Two Whinchats and two Stonechats were in the horse field, with a Sedge Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler in the Severals, whilst a Wheatear was on the spit and wo Yellow Wagtails flew over, as did four Sand Martins and c75 Swallows.

The Harbour was largely empty on a low tide, however a female Peregrine was sat on the Tern Island fence and a Sparrowhawk cruised over, whilst a few Shelduck have returned and also present were a Kingfisher around the metalwork and four Brent Geese feeding on the eel grass.

The Greenshank was near to Tern Island, a flock of eight Dunlin flew towards the harbour mouth and four Avocets were feeding in the channel, whilst two Knot and 25 Grey Plovers were on the beach, with a Shag sitting out on a post opposite Park Lane.

Also, a Tawny Owl was heard in Priory Wood, with a Jay nearby, and a Shoveler was on the second Several. (IP/HG)

North Wall: It was fairly quiet this morning, with a Kingfisher, a Jay and a Reed Bunting by the sluice and two Stonechats in the paddock. An influx of Wigeon was apparent with c.250 birds which flew into the harbour, together with eight Gadwall, whilst in White's creek there were a small number of Pintail, with the usual Redshanks and Curlews also present, being joined later by two Spotted Redshanks and c.40 Black-tailed Godwits. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was also loafing on the mudflats with a few Grey Plovers nearby.

The Breech Pool held just 30 Teal and along the bushes there were up to ten Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and four Reed Buntings, while at Halsey’s Farm there were two Spotted Flycatchers, a Whinchat, two Blackcaps, a Green Woodpecker and four Buzzards, with a few Swallows and Sand Martins overhead. Nearby at Pagham beachfront there were four Clouded Yellow butterflies. (OM/LP/SP/BI)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Marsh Harrier gave close views over the reedbeds and a Corn Bunting was along the hedges this morning. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There weren't many migrants about this morning, though four Wheatears and a couple of Chiffchaffs were along the banks, a Whinchat was near Marsh Farm and there were up to a dozen scattered Stonechats, whilst half a dozen Sand Martins and c20 Swallows went over.

A Dartford Warbler, two Corn Buntings, a single Yellowhammer , 40 Meadow Pipits, c100 Linnets and c20 Stock Doves were also about, whilst a Marsh Harrier and four Kestrels were out hunting.

A Common Sandpiper, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers and c30 Lapwings were the only waders on the Stilt Pool, where there were also 11 Egyptian Geese, five Wigeon, seven Gadwall and c40 Teal, but only about 60 Canada Geese.

There was also a Weasel along the banks and a couple of Clouded Yellows.(AH/MT/SR et al)

This afternoon there were seven Wheatears and two Whinchats along the banks, together with a Yellow Wagtail, two Cetti's Warblers, four Corn Buntings and nine Yellowhammers, with c100 Swallows overhead.

A Green Sandpiper, nine Dunlin and a Snipe were on the reserve, with ten Egyptian Geese on the Stilt Pool, whilst three Marsh Harriers,, two Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard and six Kestrels were seen, too. (S&SaH)

Whinchat (above), Wheatear, Sand Martin, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Common Sandpiper & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 16th September: A distinctly cool and brisk morning in a freshening northerly breeze, though with more sunshine than the last few days.....

Selsey Bill: Eight Shags east was the highlight offshore, though a Redstart, three Wheatears and a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were around the Bill House and 483 House Martins and 25 Siskins west were the most notable bits of 'vis-mig'. Full log below. (BI/SR/JA/AH/IP)

(0630-0900hrs) (NNW, F3)

Gannet - 3E, 3W, 5os

Shag - 8E

Little Egret - 1W

Kestrel - 1

Curlew - 1W

Sanderling - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 7W

Stock Dove - 2W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 28W

Sand Martin - 3W

House Martin - 483W

Meadow Pipit - 33N, 57W

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Yellow Wagtail - 4W

Pied Wagtail - 20W

Wheatear - 3

Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Willow Warbler - 3

Siskin - 15W

Goldfinch - 25

Redstart (above), Wheatear, Chiffchaff & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Curlew Sandpiper and two Spotted Redshanks were in the channel early on, along with three Dunlin, c30 Redshanks and c50 Teal, whilst the adjacent hedges held at least half a dozen Chiffchaffs, but the pool only held c50 Lapwings, c20 Shovelers, c50 Teal, nine Shelducks and the Brent Goose. (AH)

Curlew Sandpiper (above) & Spotted redshank at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: An Osprey went west along the channel this morning. (PH)

East Head: There was a good selection of waders on Snowhill Creek this afternoon, including the first two Ruff of the autumn, two Greenshanks, six Snipe, ten Golden Plovers and c70 Black-tailed Godwits. (PH)

Runcton: A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was in the trap this morning. (CRJ)

Convolvulus Hawk-moth in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

Church Norton: Three Spotted Flycatchers were in the trees by the concrete wall this morning, with half a dozen Blackcaps were by the Mound and c20 Chiffchaffs were widely spread around the sheltered hedges, but the Severals were birdless beyond a Reed Bunting and a dozen Swallows and Meadow Pipits going over.

The harbour was quiet, except a Greenshank, two Whimbrels, a dozen Grey Plovers and c80 Dunlin. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Ham to Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Wheatears and several Chiffchaffs along the banks this morning and a few Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails around the fields, along with a. Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker.(MT)

Wheatears (above) & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (MT)

Later in the day there seemed to be a fall of Chiffchaffs with most of the bushes around Ham holding ones and twos with six together near the set-aside fields south of the stables. Also along the banks were four Yellowhammers, four Cetti's Warblers, two Stonechats and a Whitethroat.

A calling Tree Pipit flew over the car park and there were good numbers of Meadow Pipits heading north from offshore as did four Skylarks. Raptors included two Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and five Kestrels and there were c.200 hirundines distantly over the reserve.

The Stilt Pools held c.250 Canada Geese, three Egyptian Geese and c.30 Wigeon whilst nearby were three Clouded Yellow and one Painted Lady butterflies. (BI)

Yellowhammer, above, Clouded Yellows and Painted Lady at Medmerry (BI)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At least 20 Chiffchaffs were along the hedges by the settling tanks this evening, along with a Stonechat, with a dozen Sand Martins, c20 Swallows and c50 House Martins feeding overhead, whilst a Mediterranean Gull and c20 Stock Doves, plus c50 Linnets and c500 Starlings were among the gulls and Wood Pigeons on the fields.

The hedges between the farms very very quiet, as was Ham Farm, with just another Stonechat and a few more Chiffchaffs seen, along with a Greenshank and c20 Redshanks on the tidal area. (AH)