28th - 30th September 2022

Friday, 30th September: A still morning with the prospect of gale-force south-westerly winds arriving late in the afternoon...

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Selsey Bill: There was a gathering of hirundines this morning before they all moved off west but it was generally quiet...full log below:(SR/IP)

(0645-0830hrs) (NNW F1)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 11W, 7os

Brent Goose - 34W

Shelduck - 4E

Wigeon - 4E, 7W

Grey Heron - 1W

Turnstone - 4E, 7ob

Common Sandpiper - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1W 10os

House Martin - 225W

Sand Martin - 4W

Swallow - 205W

Meadow Pipit - 6W

Pied Wagtail - 12W

Yellow Wagtail - 3W

Chiffchaff -8p

dolphin sp. - 1 os

Two valiant seawatches in what were promising conditions later in the day were rather disappointing!

(1430-1530hrs) (SW F6-7) (BI)

Gannet - 15E, 9 os

Wigeon - 6W

Common Scoter - 1E

(1645-1745hrs) (SW F7) (SH):

Shag - 9W

Kittiwake - 2W

Hirundines, above, Brent Geese & Chiffchaffs at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: The pool was dominated by a large mixed Gull flock of around 250, comprising of Black-headed, Mediterranean and Herring Gulls, the odd ones out being the Brent Goose and four Shelduck. A Buzzard was in the hedge and a Cetti's Warbler called but it was otherwise very quiet. (SR)

Medmerry: The Red-backed Shrike was still at the Earnley car-park this morning/afternoon. (N.Oliver)

Church Norton: The new boardwalk is now complete and runs from the end of the car-park path to the steps beyond the hide. At the Severals, there was no sign of the Wryneck but there were a few Chiffchaffs in the bushes, two Cetti's Warblers and a flock of Linnets. (/BIDB)

The new boardwalk at Church Norton (BI)

North Wall: Three Spotted Redshanks were in Whites Creek this morning with a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 80 Redshank, 50 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 70 Wigeon and 20 Pintail.

A Grey Wagtail, three Rock Pipits, and six Chiffchaffs were by the sluice with a Kingfisher, eight Meadow Pipits, two Cetti’s Warblers, two Jays, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk along the wall. Another Kingfisher was at Halsey’s Farm along with a Jay and a few House Martins and Swallows. (LP/PC/CT)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Greenshank,Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher & Rock Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

 Thursday, 29th September: A decidedly chilly start to the day with light north-north westerly winds remaining...

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Selsey Bill: The highlight this morning was a Snipe that flew in off the sea and over the observer's shoulder heading north-west, a scarce bird at the Bill. Also notable was a flock of 17 Shags that went east... full log below. (SR/IP)

(0700-0900hrs) (NNW, F3)

Gannet - 19W

Shag - 21E (inc. a flock of 17)

Wigeon - 4W

Turnstone - 8W, 29 ob

Kestrel - 1p

Snipe - 1 NW

lark sp. - 1NW

Mediterranean Gull - 2e, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E. 3os

House Martin - 100p

Sand Martin - 1p

Swallow - 150p

auk sp. - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 27N

Pied Wagtail - 6E, 4W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Chiffchaff -9p

Chaffinch - 3p

Kestrel, House Martin and Snipe at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: There was little on the pool today just the regular Brent Goose, two Shelducks, 55 Lapwings whilst nearby were a Stonechat, a Chiffchaff and a Buzzard. The channel held a Spotted Redshank, eight Wigeon and 16 Teal. (SR)

Medmerry: The Red-backed Shrike was showing wwell this morning and into the afternoon, 300yds south of Earnley car park and a Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pools. (SM/RP/MT et al)

Later in the day, the Spoonbill was joined by two Greenshank and six Cattle Egrets on the Stilt Pools with a Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler along the gorse nearby.

Along the banks were five Yellowhammers, a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler and a Corn Bunting whilst c.150 Meadow Pipits, three House Martins, a Pied and a Grey Wagtail, and 23 Swallows went over. Also noted was a Common Sandpiper and two Egyptian Geese, and raptors included two Kestrels and a Barn Owl. (S&SaH)

Red-backed Shrike at Medmerry (top, RP, lower & Spoonbill, MT)

Wednesday, 28th September: A cool start to the day with light north-westerly winds...

Editorial note: OM & AH are off in search of rarities on the Shetland Islands for a week so please ensure all contributions to the blog are sent to: selseybirdblog@gmail.com

Selsey Bill: Two Woodlarks flew over heading north but it was generally quiet this morning. Full log below. (SR/IP/PD)

(NNW, F4)

(0700-0840hrs)

Gannet - 2E, 11W

Shag - 8E, 2os

Common Scoter - 3E

Turnstone - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 12e, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 16os

Woodlark - 2N

Swallow - 14e

Meadow Pipit - 91E

Pied Wagtail - 2E, 11W

Chiffchaff -1

Linnet - 4W

Ferry Pool/Tramway: A Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron were at the back of the pool which also held the Brent Goose, four Teal, two Shelduck, one Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Laowi8ng, two Mediterranean Gulls and c.100 Black-headed Gulls. 

In the surrounding fields were three Stonechats, a Common Buzzard, a Cetti's Warbler and also a feeding flock of c.150 House Martins. The Tramway was generally quiet bar five Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and a few Meadow Pipits over the harbour whilst an elusive Water Rail was briefly in Red Barn Ditch. (SR)

Waders and Gulls at the Ferry, above, Chiffchaff and Water Rail at the Tramway (SR)

North Wall: Three Curlew Sandpipers were in Whites Creek this morning along with 20 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 40 Lapwing, 8 Grey Plovers, two Curlews and 60 Wigeon, with a Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails around the sluice. Seven Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Teal were on the Breech Pool and a few House Martins and Swallows were overhead. At Halsey’s Farm, c100 Meadow Pipits were in the fields and a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings were in the hedges with another Kingfisher along the Rife and two Buzzards and a Kestrel overhead. Five Grey Herons were also around the fields. (LP/CT/PC/GHi) 

This evening there were up to five Tawny Owls calling around Halsey's Farm and a Cetti's Warbler and five Chiffchaffs were in the vicinity. Also, 95 Little Egrets and 63 Cattle Egrets flew into roost at Owl Copse. (S&SaH)

Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Wagtail, above, and KIngfisher at North Wall (LP/GHi)

Medmerry: The 1W Red-backed Shrike was still present and showing well south of Earnley car park this morning. There were also 750 Mediterranean Gulls on the plough. (CRJ/AB/LGRE et al)

Red-backed Shrike at Earnley (top, CRJ, middle & lower SaH)

More of the Red-backed Shrike below (A.Dennis)

Church Norton: The Wryneck was still along the Severals this afternoon and two Dartford Warblers, six Stonechats and three Chiffchaffs were in the area. 

Early on, a Spotted Flycatcher was noted and a Tawny Owl was heard calling and at 1459 a migrant juvenile Goshawk flew out to sea. (LGRE/SaH)

Wryneck at Church Norton (SaH)