Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 22nd

Saturday, 24th September: A fairly cool but bright and dry start, with the fresh NNE wind 3-4 keeping the temperature down through the day despite the sunny periods....

Selsey Bill: A Balearic Shearwater went west and a dozen Shags went east, whilst a steady movement of Swallows passed through and a bit of vis.mig was again apparent..Full log below (SH/PB/BI/JA/SR)

(0630-0930hrs) (N2-3)

Gannet - 5E, 41W

Balearic Shearwater - 1W

Shag - 12E

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E, 6W

Oystercatcher - 4W

Turnstone - 7

Sparrowhawk - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W

Common Tern - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 2W, 5os

House Martin - 21E

Sand Martin - 2E

Swallow - 390E

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Yellow Wagtail - 4E

Grey Wagtail - 6W

Meadow Pipit - 63NE

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 3

Linnet - 20

also Common Seal - 1

Wheatear (above)& Sandwich Tern at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There was a steady flow of Swallows over the fields, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff called and a Stonechat was in the hedge. The pool itself held one Avocet, the Brent Goose, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, four Shoveler, 17 Teal, two Shelduck and 56 Lapwings, whilst in the channel opposite a Spotted Redshank was alongside c75 Teal. (SR)

Brent Goose on the Ferry Pool with Black-tailed Godwits and Black-headed Gulls (SR)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in Whites Creek this morning along with a few Common Redshanks, a Kingfisher and lots of Wigeon. Two Stonechats were in the paddock and 40 Teal, 12 Lapwing and eight Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool. At Halsey’s Farm, two Kingfishers were very active along the Rife, nine Tree Pipits and 26 Yellow Wagtails flew over, three Wheatears and three Stonechats were on the fences, four Little Grebes were in the rife, a Jay flew across the field, two Reed Buntings were in the bushes and a few Swallows and Linnets were also about. By Owl Copse, a few Chiffchaffs and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the trees and two Bar-tailed Godwits were out on the mud. (LP,SP,CT)

North Wall selection: from the top, Spotted Redshank, Lapwings, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting and Wheatear (LP)

Park Farm, Selsey: The fields held two Stonechats and two Whitethroats, whilst a male Blackcap was in the lane by the Farm, a Grey Wagtail was nearby and a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard went over. (IP)

Church Norton: The Wryneck was again to be found along the front of the first Severals this morning and then seen on and off over at least the next two hours. Also present there was a minimum of four Stonechats (probably a family group), a hunting Kestrel, two Yellow Wagtails that flew west and a steady flow of hirundines (mainly Swallows).

The second Severals held two Shovelers; there were also a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers and a good number of Chiffchaffs in the area.

The Harbour was very full of water (on a 5m tide) and waders were at a premium with just the regular Grey Plover (20), Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher and a small flock of Dunlin and Turnstone present. However, there were c.100 Teal and 30 Wigeon present along with five Pintail, whilst four Wheatears were on the metalwork beside the concrete spit and along the beach. A Common Tern also flew over the harbour and a Dartford Warbler was along the gorse. (IP/BI et al)

Wheatear at Church Norton (BI), Wryneck (P.Evans)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A distant Merlin was seen fro the Easton Lane watchpoint this morning. (MP)

Later on in the day a Marsh Harrier and five Kestrels were out hunting and a Kingfisher and a Cattle Egret were noted.

Along the banks were two Yellowhammers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Cetti's Warbler and seven Chiffchaffs, and birds moving overhead included c.50 Meadow Pipits, c.50 Swallows, nine House Martins and a Pied Wagtail. On the Stilt Pool a good count of 15 Egyptian Geese was logged. (SaH/SH)

Friday, 23rd September: A murky and fairly miserable morning of persistent rain and foggy conditions offshore, with a moderate and variable breeze, ranging from WSW3 to NE 2-3. Drier by afternoon with broken cloud and the odd light shower.

Editorial note: Regular visitors to this site may notice a few changes - and perhaps also a few less photos - over the next couple of weeks due to 'staff absence' - although at least we won't blame it on Covid like many places! Our regular compiler AH is away all weekend, leaving the blog in the custody of OM & BI, then a couple of days later, both OM and AH will be away for a week, leaving just BI to hold the fort. Your usual help and understanding would be appreciated. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: A brave observer effort in fairly dire conditions for sea-watching.....but predictably little recorded. Full log below (BI/SR)

(0650-0800hrs) (WSW F3, rain & fog)

Ringed Plover - 1 ob

Turnstone - 12

Sandwich Tern - 8 os

Grey Seal - 1 os

Common Seal - 1 os

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (BI)

North Wall: Firstly a belated report of a Nightjar (D.Illman) per the following posting taken from the SOS website recent sightings page:-

"Pagham Nightjar: A two-hour walk from North Wall to Hunston golf course and back, was enjoyed in the pleasant warm evening. Nearly back at my start point, at around 7:45, I was delighted to be visited by a particularly inquisitive Nightjar. The critter circumnavigated me four or five times, while giving the gentle little chock-chook call. I had actually seen the beast in the same place, two nights before, but the light was much better second time."

(David, if you read this, are you able to give more precise site details for your sightings and did you manage a photo at all? Eds.)

Update: The Nightjar was in the fields to the north of Owl Copse but was not present on Thursday 22nd September although a Barn Owl and a Tawny Owl were seen in the area. (LP) A check tonight didn’t turn up anything unusual but there were four Tawny Owls and two Barn Owls in the general area and, just before dusk, a Spotted Flycatcher was at Honer Farm. (BI)

Today it was busy around the paddock this morning with four Stonechats at the back, two Jays busy planting acorns, a dozen Long-tailed Tits in the bushes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees. There were three Kingfishers around the sluice, where there was also a Wheatear and a Song Thrush. Around high tide there was just 60 Wigeon and eight Pintail in the harbour with a single Grey Plover and a few Redshank being the only waders seen. On the Breech Pool the 60 Teal were joined by a single Wigeon and eight Black-tailed Godwits whilst a Peregrine shot through chasing a Lapwing. It was quiet at Halsey’s Farm with just another Kingfisher along the Rife and a Blackcap and a Whitethroat along the hedges. (LP)

Jay, above, Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Wheatear at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: The Wryneck was still present along the Severals this afternoon and a Whinchat was nearby with at least five Stonechats around the old horse field. Two Shovelers and eight Teal were on the second Severals. At least 10 Meadow Pipits were around the spit and a single Wheatear was found further along.

A Curlew Sandpiper was among the Dunlin in the harbour while a group of five Wigeon was on the sea before heading west. Also of note was the constant passage of Swallows heading east, both along the beach and out to sea. Finally, two Goldcrests were seen in the churchyard.

Work on the new raised walkway seems to be well underway. The path down to the harbour is, not surprisingly very muddy so visitors need to come prepared! From the benches on a rapidly rising tide it was clear the number of Wigeon has recently increased, at least 150 were along the main channel, plus five Pintail, 11 Great Crested Grebes, c75 Dunlin, a group of 11 Little Egrets, a Kestrel and 14 Swallows. The churchyard held a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (AW/SR)

A good selection from Church Norton: from top, Wryneck, Wigeon, Shoveler, Goldcrest, Curlew Sandpiper, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit with Stonechat and Whinchat (AW)

And more from Church Norton: the boardwalk being spruced up, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Kestrel (SR)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening there was a Dartford Warbler, four Stonechats, two Green Woodpeckers, four Pied Wagtails, three Yellow Wagtails and four Meadow Pipits. (S&SaH)

Ferry Pool: Two Stonechats were in the field and a Cetti's Warbler was calling along with a Chiffchaff. The Brent Goose was at the back of the pool and there were two Avocets, 13 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, c25 Teal, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Lapwing and at least two sleeping Spotted Redshanks along with a couple of Common Redshank.

In the channel opposite was another Spotted Redshank, a Great Crested Grebe, two Wigeon, c40 Teal and a Little Egret, with a Kestrel hunting overhead. (SR)

Black-tailed Godwit & Little Egret at the Ferry Pool (SR)

Thursday, 22nd September: A still and grey start, though brightening and freshening up as the breeze picked up from the south-west during the morning.....

Selsey Bill: Swallows again dominated the morning, with over 2000 heading east, but otherwise it was pretty quiet, though a Mistle Thrush dropped in briefly. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0700-0930hrs) (NE, F2)

Gannet - 16E, 29E

Little Egret - 1E

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 10W

Wigeon - 15E, 3W

Common Scoter - 11E, 8W

Turnstone - 9

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 1W

Swallow - 2322E

Pied Wagtail - 3E

Grey Wagtail - 3E

Meadow Pipit - 18N

Mistle Thrush - 1

Mistle Thrush (above), Brent Geese & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Avocet was the only bird on the pool this morning beyond the usual c50 Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c20 Shoveler, c50 Teal and the Brent Goose. (AH)

Later on, there were two Spotted Redshanks and a Curlew Sandpiper in Ferry Channel. (P&LH)

Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Late this afternoon the two Spotted Redshanks were still present in Ferry Channel, though there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper.

In the Discovery Area pool a Marsh Frog was showing nicely, a Grass Snake was in the undergrowth and there were still a number of Emperor Dragonflies about, though no birds! (SR)

Redshank (above) & Marsh Frog at the Ferry (SR)

North Wall: There were 14 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Lapwing on the Breech Pool, along with the usual Teal and a couple of Wigeon and over the fields behind the pool there were a Jay, a Green Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk, along with a few Swallows.

In the hedgerows there were a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler, while out in the harbour a Brent Goose was with the Wigeon and Teal, a few Grey Plovers, Dunlin and a Knot were out on the mud and a Kingfisher and a Great Crested Grebe were by the sluice. (LP/TG/PC)

Also, between Halsey’s Farm and Owl Copse there were two Little Grebes, a Little Egret, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Kingfisher, five Jays, a Garden Warbler and two Chiffchaffs, with a Peregrine, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and two Reed Buntings towards Owl Point, whilst three Snipe dropped into the saltmarsh from the north and c50 Swallows went over west. (CRJ)

Lapwing (above) & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

This evening a Glossy Ibis was on the Breech Pool and two Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek, along with a Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Egret, with a Yellow Wagtail, a Kingfisher and two Jays near the sluice. (SP/MT)

Glossy Ibis at the North Wall (MT)

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: On the lagoon there were 14 Little Grebe and 12 Tufted Ducks, whilst around the harbour mouth there were three Kingfishers and a female Sparrowhawk and there were also two Grey Seals, unfortunately shooed out of the harbour by two people following them too closely. (P Gomersall)

West Itchenor: A White Wagtail was at Chalkdock saltmarsh this afternoon. (PH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were no indications of migration beyond a steady eastward movement of 500+ Swallows, with just a handful of Sand Martins and House Martins among them, whilst the banks held a Dartford Warbler, two Corn Buntings, half a dozen Yellowhammers, c50 Linnets, c100 Goldfinches and just a handful of Meadow Pipits.

Three Cattle Egrets were near Marsh Farm, and then out on the reserve, whilst a Common Sandpiper, two Redshanks and a dozen Lapwings were the only waders on the Stilt Pool, where there were also three Egyptian Geese, c30 Wigeon, c50 Teal and 60 Canada Geese. (AH)

This afternoon an Osprey went over west and the Glossy Ibis was seen again, going west over the Stilt Pool.

Other additions to the morning list included a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, five Kestrels and two Swallows over, ten Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, six Pied Wagtails and four Stonechats along the banks and a Snipe on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Cattle Egret (above), Swallows, Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Geese & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AH)

Church Norton: There were still two Spotted Flycatchers, together with a handful of Chiffchaffs, behind the hide this evening, whilst the relatively few waders in the harbour included a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two juvenile Knot and four Grey Plovers, whilst two Snipe went over west and a Peregrine was sat out on Tern Island. (AH)