10th - 13th October 2022

Thursday, 13th October: A morning of persistent drizzly rain, brightening up a little later on, though mild in a light easterly breeze ...............

Selsey Bill: After a very slow start, a few bits were about, including a Razorbill on the sea and a Red-throated Diver, a Tufted Duck and 22 Bent Geese west. Full log below. (SR/AH/P&LH)

(0740-0930hrs) (E, F2-3)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 6E, 9W, 6os

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 22W

Wigeon - 31E

Tufted Duck - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Razorbill - 1os

Swallow - 3E

Meadow Pipit - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Linnet - 6E

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just four Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwings, six Shelducks and c30 Shovelers and Teal on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A couple of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard this morning, along with a few Long-tailed Tits, three Jays and a Mistle Thrush, with another pair of the latter along Rectory Lane, but otherwise it was very quiet beyond a Reed Bunting by the horse field and three Swallows and a dozen Meadow Pipits and Linnets over.

What would appear to be the regular wintering Whimbrel was back in situ near the benches, along with a Greenshank and a few Grey Plovers, whilst a flock of c120 Golden Plovers flew up from the north end of the harbour. (AH/P&LH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Chiffchaff, Jay, Reed Bunting, Mistle Thrush and long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

East Side: This morning there were c100 Lapwings, a, Sparrowhawk, a Sandwich Tern, a Kingfisher, a Cettis Warbler and four Chiffchaffs seen. (CRJ)

North Wall: A late Reed Warbler was in the Breech Pool this afternoon, with other birds seen including a Marsh Harrier, two Jays, ten Swallows, six Stonechats, two Grey Wagtails, two Cetti's Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, two Yellowhammers and six Reed Buntings, along with two Roe Deer. (CRJ)

This evening 66 Little Egrets and just 16 Cattle Egrets went in to roost in Owl Copse, whilst two Tawny Owls were calling and a Kingfisher, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler and 11 Swallows were also about. (S&SaH)

Also this evening, a Sedge Warbler was in the bushes by the Breech Pool and a Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm. (LP)

Reed Warbler at the North Wall (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Dartford Warblers were very active this afternoon, with three by the flint barn and three again along the bank opposite the Stilt Pool.

The Stilt Pool itself held a large number of wildfowl including 27 Egyptian Geese, the largest number I've seen here, and a mix of Teal and Wigeon with c50 Lapwings, a Greenshank, six Pied Wagtails, a Little Grebe and just one Canada Goose.

A Marsh Harrier successfully hunted in one of the scrapes, a Kestrel hunted nearby and three Yellowhammers, two Cetti's Warblers, 12 Linnets, three Skylarks and nine Stonechats were seen along the banks. (SR)

Dartford Warbler (above) & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (SR)

Wednesday, 12th October: It was initially very overcast, in a light southerly breeze, before brightening up as the breeze freshened and swung south-west...............

Selsey Bill: A quieter morning, though a Red-throated Diver, three Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Brent Geese went west. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0730-0900hrs) (S, F2-3) 

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 67W, 15os

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 19W

Wigeon - 15E

Common Scoter - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Kestrel - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 7E

auk sp - 4E, 282W

Swallow - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 32E

Pied Wagtail -- 17E

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 40E

Red-throated Diver (above), Swallow & Wigeon at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c75 Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Shovelers, c60 Teal, 12 Shelducks, the Brent Goose and a Grey Heron on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Shelduck, Grey Heron and Brent Goose & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Two Spotted Redshanks were feeding on the pool this morning, with a Water Rail nearby, though two or three Chiffchaffs were the only birds of note in the hedges and Ferry Channel just held a few Redshanks, Curlews and Wigeon. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshanks and Coot & Chiffchaff along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A fairly brief look this morning produced two Greenshanks in the harbour, with plenty of Grey Plovers and Dunlin out on the mud and at least 22 Little Egrets in the channel by Tern Island.

The bushes and the Severals were quiet, with just a handful of Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits seen. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher and the regular Greenshank were around the sluice this morning, with lots of Wigeon, and a few Teal and Pintail along White's Creek, together with a few Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks.

There were no birds on the Breech Pool but in the hedgerows along the wall there were plenty of Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and Stonechats, whilst a Water Rail was on Owl Water, where there were also four Little Grebes, and a Yellowhammer was at Halsey’s Farm. (LP,CT)

Later, at the Breech Pool there were 30 Black-tailed Godwits, five Stonechat and four Swallow, and along Owl Water there were two Little Grebe and a Water Rail.

At least four Cattle Egret were in the sheep field by Honer Farm and a Green Sandpiper flew over from the reservoir. Down the east side of the harbour there were eight Shelducks, a Snipe and a Kingfisher, with four Cettis Warbler a few Chiffchaff and a Jay around the area, but otherwise it was very quiet. (CRJ)

Stonechat (above) & Grey Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Tuesday, 11th October: After a chill start, a fine and warm morning in a light northerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: A Firecrest was in the ornamental garden in the Broadreeds Estate, with another two together in gardens along Seal Road, and a Yellow Wagtail was on the Oval Field, with a Merlin and a Peregrine seen and a bit of visible migration going on, but the sea was fairly slow. Full log below. (SR/P&LH/AH/OM)

(0730-0930hrs) (NNE, F2)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 3E, 48W, 15os
Shag - 8E
Brent Goose - 1E, 39W
Wigeon - 12E, 73W
Teal - 8W
Shoveler - 2E
Common Scoter - 3E, 2W
Merlin - 1W
Peregrine 1W
Curlew 1W
Turnstone - 6p
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 6W
Common Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 2E
Razorbill - 11E, 3W
auk sp - 107E, 292W
Jackdaw - 100E
Magpie - 19E
Skylark - 4N
Swallow - 19E
House Martin - 2E
Meadow Pipit - 51E
Yellow Wagtail - 1E
Grey Wagtail - 1E
Pied Wagtail - 52E

Long-tailed Tit - 7
Chiffchaff - 14
Firecrest - 3
Linnet - 182E
Chaffinch 2

(1430-1530hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 30os

Shag - 2W

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 2W

Turnstone - 5

Razorbill - 1W

Chiffchaff - 3

Yellow Wagtail (above), Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Linnets & Shag at the Bill (AH)

This motley collection of poor-quality record shots actually shows all three Firecrests at the Bill; the top two of the ornamental garden bird, the next two of one from the Seal Road garden and the lower shows the other bird there. I think I managed to get them all out of focus too..... (OM)

Ferry Pool: Around 150 Lapwings and 40 Black-tailed Godwits were roosting on the pool this morning, along with a Dunlin, c40 Shovelers, c60 Teal and ten Shelducks, whilst the lone Brent Goose was back and a Kingfisher went over. (AH)

Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least half a dozen Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were around the hide/churchyard area, along with a single Goldcrest, two Song Thrushes and half a dozen Blackbirds, with more Chiffchaffs and a flock of Long-tailed Tits along the path to the beach.

At least a dozen Stonechats were around the horse field and the Severals, with at least 500 Goldfinches, 200 Linnets, 50 Meadow Pipits and a couple of Swallows moving over east and two Sparrowhawks over trees.

Three Greenshanks were in the harbour, along with 31 Pintail, two Brent Geese, 21 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Little Egrets, c50 Grey Plovers, 23 Turnstones, c50 Wigeon and c20 Teal, plus the usual mix of regular waders, whilst six Brent Geese went west offshore. 

There were also four Green Woodpeckers at Greenlease Farm and a Mistle Thrush and two Pheasants in Rectory Lane (AH/P&LH)

Greenshanks (above), Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Stonechat, Song Thrushes & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek with six Dunlin and 20 Redshanks, along with a few Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, whilst there were three Black-tailed Godwits on the Breech Pool along with a few Teal, and a Water Rail was calling from the reeds.

There was lots of activity in the bushes along the wall with a flock of 30 Long-tailed Tits, 12 Chiffchaffs, six Stonechats, eight Reed Buntings and a Goldcrest, and at Halsey’s Farm there were a couple of Meadow Pipits and two more calling Water Rails. (LP)

Meadow Pipit (above), Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Chiffchaff & Long-tailed Tit at the North Wall (LP)

East Beach Pond: There had been a clear influx of Chiffchaffs, with at least 20, mainly in groups of three or four feeding in the willows but I wasn't able to find anything else of interest. (SR)

Warner Lane Paddocks: A pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, two Pied Wagtails, a Kestrel and a Curlew was all I could find. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - No wind, warm and perfect light - the highlights were a Marsh Harrier showing a golden head and an immature Merlin seen perched on a low bush out in the middle at 4.30pm, and there were also three Kestrels and two Sparrowhawks about. (D Yelland)

This evening the Barn Owl was out hunting again, along with a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels, and the banks held eight Stonechats, nine Yellowhammers and five calling Cetti's Warblers.

Nine Egyptian Geese flew over the reserve, with another 20 on the Stilt Pool, whilst two Golden Plovers, six Black-tailed Godwits and three Kingfishers (including two on the Stilt Pool) were also seen. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A walk to the Medmerry viewpoint this morning produced a Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, six Kestrels, a flock of 30 Lapwing over towards the Stilt Pools and nine Chiffchaffs in the hedges, along with three Roe Deer. (CRJ)

Marsh Harrier (above), Stonechat & Roe Deer at Medmerry (CRJ)

Monday, 10th October: A really mixed morning, starting mild, with persistent heavy drizzle in a light westerly, before slowly brightening up as the breeze freshened considerably from the north east, until it finally settled into sunshine in a more moderate northerly........

Selsey Bill: A total of 142 Brent Geese went west and c140 Gannets were feeding offshore this morning, whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit dropped in briefly on the beach, but there was very little else on the move. Full log below. (SR/AH/GSh)

(0730-0930hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Gannet - 158W, 140os

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 142W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Turnstone - 18

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 49W, 15os

auk sp - 39E, 365W

Swallow - 8W

Meadow Pipit - 27W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Tern & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Raven dropped in on the pines by the EA yard, before flying off north and a Kingfisher flew down the rife, but otherwise it was just c60 Lapwings, a handful of Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Shovelers, c20 Teal and 11 Shelducks. (AH/GSh)

Raven (AH) & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers (GSh) at the Ferry 

West Itchenor: The first two Redwings of the autumn went over this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: At least 20 Gannets were feeding offshore this morning, whilst a steady flow of c200 Goldfinches, c150 Linnets, c40 Meadow Pipits and a handful of Swallows went east along the beach, where 50+ Knot and a few Dunlin and ringed Plovers were roosting again,but the harbour was quiet beyond c50 Teal, c30 Wigeon and a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers. (AH/GSh)

Gannets (above), Linnets  (AH) & Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (GSh) at Church Norton

Chichester Gravel Pits: Around Ivy Lake this afternoon there were a pair of Black Swans, 50 Canada Geese, four Greylag Geese, a Kingfisher, a Cettis Warbler and 15 Chiffchaffs, (CRJ)

East Side: There was a good selection of waders along the East Side this morning, including two Spotted Redshanks, 18 Golden Plovers, eight Turnstones, 12 Ringed Plover, 30 Grey Plover, eight Knot and numerous Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwings, Oystercatchers and Curlews, and there were plenty of Wildfowl, too,, including c 200 Wigeon, 50 Pintail, 100 Teal and three Great Crested Grebes. (LP)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Golden Plovers & Knot, Ringed Plover and Grey Plovers along the East side (LP)

North Wall: A Goldcrest was down the lane by the stables and two Stonechats, a Jay and a Green Woodpecker were around the paddocks, with a flock of Long-tailed Tits with a few Chiffchaffs among them, and a Reed Bunting were by the sluice.

On the Breech Pool there were 12 Black-tailed Godwits and two Lapwings, with the usual Mallards and Teal, whilst a couple of Curlews and 40 Lapwing in the field behind. A Kingfisher was by Owl Water, where there were also two Little Grebes and at Halsey’s Farm there were two Stonechats and a few Meadow Pipits on the fences and a Snipe was out near Heron Island. (LP/CT)

This evening 73 Little Egrets and 71 Cattle Egrets went into roost at Owl Copse, with two Water Rails and a Wheatear nearby, and Tawny Owls could be heard from three different locations. (S&SaH)

Kingfisher at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Mash Barn - A Barn Owl was out hunting this evening, whilst a Greenshank was in the creek by the poplars and two Corn Buntings were on their favoured bushes, with 50+ Linnets in the adjacent hedges. (AH)

Barn Owl (above), Greenshank & Corn Buntings at Medmerry (AH)