17th - 19th October 2022

Wednesday, 19th October: A very blustery day in a freshening easterly breeze, though quite mild and brightening up after a cloudy start........

Selsey Bill: There were a lot of Linnets going east, but not as much 'vis-mig' as hoped for in the conditions, with the sea predictably slow. The gardens were also being well buffeted by the wind, but still produced a few Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits, plus a single Blackcap.

Full log below. (AH/SR/MO-W/OM)

(0730-1130hrs) (E, F5-6)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 5E, 19W

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 2E, 41W

Common Scoter - 6E

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 5W

Common Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 26E, 2W

auk sp - 30E, 2W

Skylark - 2E

Swallow - 9E

Meadow Pipit - 152E

Pied Wagtail - 52E

Stonechat - 1

Linnet - 458E

Goldfinch - 115E

Long-tailed Tit - 8

Chiffchaff - 5

Blackcap - 1

Razorbills (above), Shag, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat & Linnets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were five Avocets feeding together on the pool this morning, with 45 roosting Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Teal and c25 Wigeon and Shovelers the only other birds present. (AH)

Avocets (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Three Sandwich Terns were briefly offshore this morning, but there were just a few Redshank, Curlews and Teal in a windswept harbour. 

A pair of Stonechats by the horse field and a Mistle Thrush at Greenlease Farm were about the only passerines seen, save eight Swallows, a dozen Meadow Pipits and c50 Linnets that went over east. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 18th October: A lovely, warm morning, initially in  a light north-easterly, freshening later on........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of visible migration this morning, including four Woodlarks, 29 Skylarks, three Yellow Wagtails, 14 Swallows and a few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches, plus a Blackcap, two Stonechats and eight Chiffchaffs in the bushes, but the sea was pretty much the same as recent days. Full log below. (IP/ABi/AH/P&LH)

(0730-1000hrs) (ENE, F2)

Gannet - 2E, 15W, 2os

Shag - 3E

Little Egret - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 6E

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E

Guillemot - 4W

Razorbill - 7E, 72W

auk sp - 68E, 695W

Wood Pigeon - 34E

Stock Dove - 3E

Woodlark - 4E

Skylark - 29E

Swallow - 14E

Meadow Pipit - 24E

Yellow Wagtail - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 32E

Stonechat - 2

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 8

Goldcrest - 1

Magpie - 24E

Linnet - 45E

Goldfinch - 117E

(1335-1445hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 5W

Shag - 2W

Brent Goose - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 19W

Sandwich Tern - 7W

Razorbill - 14W

auk sp -26W

Swallow - 5E

Meadow Pipit - 18N

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Stonechat - 1

Shag (above), Sandwich Tern, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat (AH) & Blackcap (SR) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The Avocet, c25 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Lapwings were on the pool this morning, along with eight Shelducks, c50 Wigeon, c50 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

There was also a Migrant Hawker in the Discovery Area pond. (CRJ)

Migrant Hawker in the Discovery Area (CRJ)

North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers were behind the Breech Pool early this morning and a Rock Pipit was along the wall, whilst a Goldcrest was down the lane with at least six Chiffchaffs and a dozen Long-tailed Tits and a Jay was by the paddocks.

In Whites Creek there were 24 Shelduck, in addition to the regular Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, a Kingfisher was by the sluice, and another was at Halsey’s Farm where there was also a Sparrowhawk and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (LP/PC/GHi)

Also between the wall and the Crab and Lobster there were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Jays, seven Skylarks, three Chiffchaffs and two Greenfinches, five Stonechat and a Yellowhammer. (CRJ)

This evening a total of five Marsh Harriers were around the Breech Pool, including a pair interacting, another male and two female/juveniile types, and there were also a Sparrowhawk and a Snipe there, too.

In total, 82 Little Egrets and 28 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse, with up o four Tawny Owls heard calling in the vicinity and three (presumably) Pipistrelle bats were flying about. (S&SaH)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Kingfisher at the North Wall (GHi)

East Head: Two Dartford Warblers, a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff were in the low brambles by the car-park this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: It was quiet again here, with the two Whimbrel the only waders of note, though at least 200 Dunlin and 50 Grey Plovers were out on the mud, along with the other regulars.

A handful of Swallows, c50 Meadow Pipits and similar of Goldfinches went over, whilst a Stonechat was along the path to the beach, a couple of Jays, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard and two Red-legged Partridges, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around Greenlease Farm. (AH/PB/SaH/P&LH  et al)

Later on, a Dartford Warbler, four Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and ix Swallows were around the Severals and eight Sandwich Terns and six Mediterranean Gulls were offshore. (P&LH)

Goldcrest (above), Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Jay & Whimbrels at Church Norton (AH)

The RSPB undertaking the grim task of clearing the corpses from the tern colony on Tern Island (AH)

Medmerry: A male Hen Harrier was present over the reserve up to 1545hrs when it drifted off east. Two Marsh Harriers were also in the area, and a Short-eared Owl was seen by others.. (DY)

Distant male Hen Harrier at Medmerry (DY)

Monday, 17th October: After very heavy overnight rain, persisting until dawn, a very mild and mostly sunny morning in a moderate westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Balearic Shearwater went west, quite close in, this morning, along with two Red-throated Divers and a few auks and Gannets, but seven Swallows and a few Meadow Pipits was about it for visible migration. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/MO-W)

(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0845hrs)

Gannet - 2E, 76W

Shag - 23E

Little Egret - 1W

Brent Goose - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 20

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 2W, 7os

auk sp - 155W

Swallow - 7W

Meadow Pipit - 3W

Red-throated Divers (above), Shags, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An Avocet and 16 Black-tailed Godwits were the only waders on the pool, which otherwise held two Egyptian Geese, 14 Shelducks and c60 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Egyptian Goose and Shelducks (above) & Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher were around the sluice this morning and the regular Greenshank and a couple of Grey Plovers were in White's Creek, along with the usual selection of ducks. There were 40 Lapwing further out on the mud along with two Shelduck and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, but it was otherwise quiet, with just a few Mallards on the Breech Pool. (LP)

Church Norton: Despite the pleasant conditions, it was very quiet this morning, with a Mistle Thrush in the car-park, two Swallows over the beach and a Cetti's Warbler calling from the Severals the only passerines noted beyond a very few of the commoner species.

A Sparrowhawk went over, but the harbour was quiet, too, with just a Whimbrel and a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin, plus c50 Wigeon and Teal, of note. (AH)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Barn Owl was out hunting this evening, and there were also a Merlin, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk around, whilst a Greenshank was heard, but not seen.

At least two Dartford Warblers, four stonechats and c30 Linnets were along the banks and a flock of 17 Pied Wagtails few over. (S&SaH/AH)

Merlin (above) & Barn Owl at Medmerry (AH)