4th - 6th October 2022

Thursday, 6th October: A warm and bright, if somewhat breezy, morning in a moderate westerly....

Selsey Bill: There was still a bit of a westerly auk movement - all those identified were Razorbills - along with nine Skylarks and seven Brent Geese, but otherwise it was quiet. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0745-0900hrs) (W, F4-5)

Gannet - 2E, 7W

Shag - 11E

Brent Goose - 7W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Razorbill - 32W

auk sp - 473W

Skylark - 9W

Swallow - 14W

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Sandwich Tern (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just wildfowl on the pool this morning , namely c30 Shovelers, c60 Teal, five Shelducks and the Brent Goose. (AH)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

East Beach Pond: A Water Rail was skulking in the sallows, a Kingfisher and a Pied Wagtail flew across the pond and there were seven Chiffchaffs in the willows. (SR)

Chiffchaff at East Beach Pond (SR)

Church Norton: This morning a Spotted Flycatcher and a Blackcap were around the hide, a Mistle Thrush, three Chiffhcaffs and four Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the churchyard, and c30 Swallows went over, but the hedges and Severals were quiet, though there were a number of Hornets along the path to the beach. 

Two Wheatears were along the beach, with two Cetti's Warblers heard, whilst a lone Goldcrest was in Bluebell Wood, with nine Teal and five Tufted Ducks on the second Several. 

Also, a huge Grey Seal was basking close offshore. (AH/CRJ)

Later, as the tide dropped, a Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper were among the Dunlin out on the mud. (RJS/MG/KJ et al)

This evening, a Whimbrel and a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin were the only birds of note in the harbour. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow, Hornet, Whimbrel (AH) & Mistle Thrush (CRJ) at Church Norton 

North Wall: There were four Stonechats in the horse field at Welbourne, whilst along the Wall were two Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Stonechats and at least 12 Reed Buntings, with 33 Black-tailed Godwits on the Breech Pool and a Kingfisher at Owl Water. (JDW)

There were also two Jays and two Reed Buntings at Halsey's Farm (CRJ)

Later on, a Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by a Kestrel north of the Breech Pool and a Kingfisher was perched on the harbour side of the wall, whilst three (presumalby) Common Seals were out in the harbour. (CEv)

Kingfisher at the North Wall (CEv)

Honer Reservoir: There is now a large flock of sheep in the field north of Honer Cottages, and this morning they were attended by 27 Cattle Egrets, whilst at Honer reservoir there were three Shovelers and four Common Sandpipers. (JDW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Short-eared Owl hunting near the car-park at dusk was the highlight this evening, with otherwise four Cattle Egrets, c200 Wigeon and c50 Lapwings on the reserve, a Chiffchaff, two Yellowhammers and c30 Meadow Pipits along the banks and a Swallow and two Kestrels over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: The Red-backed Shrike was showing very well again this morning, along the road just south of the RSPB car-park, and there were also a couple of Stonechats and c30 Meadow Pipits in the vicinity. (AH et al)

Red-backed Shrike at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 5th October: A very windy day, with a near gale-force south-westerly blowing.....

Selsey Bill: Over 750 auks went west on an otherwise quiet morning. Full log below. (SR/CRJ)

(0700-0945hrs) (SW F7)

diver sp. - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 5E. 110W,

Shag - 13E

Brent Goose - 2E, 2W

Wigeon - 2W

Common Scoter - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 1ob

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 18W

Sandwich Tern - 7W

auk sp. - 41E, 757W

Razorbill - 33W

Guillemot - 1W

Swallow - 4S

(1630-1745hrs) (WSW F5) (SH)

Gannet - 1W, 3W, 11os

Shag - 16W

Grey Plover - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Sandwich Tern - 4W

auk sp. - 1E, 2W

Gannet & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (SR/CRJ)

North Wall: It was predictably quiet along the wall this morning at high tide and in very windy conditions. There were 32 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret on the Breech Pool along with a few Teal, and a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were over the reeds behind the pool. A flock of 200 Wigeon flew over into the harbour but that was about it. (LP) Nine Pintail were also on Church Barton reservoir and two Common Sandpipers were at Honer (JDW)

Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wall (LP)

Ferry Pool: Being close to high tide there was an increase in waterfowl with 63 Teal, 22 Shoveler, 18 Wigeon, 9 Shelducks and the Brent Goose. The only waders on the pool were four Black-tailed Godwits and there was a Buzzard present, with c50 Stock Doves in the adjacent field. (SR)

Wigeon at the Ferry (SR)

Medmerry: The Red-backed Shrike was still present near Earnley car-park today. (per BG)

Fisher: A White-tailed Eagle was near Bramber Farm at midday before flying from a willow tree towards Hunston. (JDW)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher and two Green Woodpeckers were behind the hide whilst the highlights in the harbour were 33 Dunlin and five Grey Plovers (SR)

Tuesday, 4th October: The wind was from the WSW this morning, gusting to F4, hopefully remaining dry throughout the day...

Selsey Bill: There was a good eastward movements of auks this morning and the first Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn was also logged... full log below. (SR/IP/P&LH et al)

(0700-0900hrs) (W F4)

Gannet - 8E. 40W, 25os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Shag - 37E

Brent Goose - 27W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Common Scoter - 7W

Turnstone - 2p

Oystercatcher - 2p

Kestrel - 1p

Merlin - 1N

Sandwich Tern - 4E. 1os

auk sp - 672E, 55W

Razorbill - 58E

Swallow - 27W

Meadow Pipit - 14N

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Yellow Wagtail - 2W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Linnet -36W

(1350-1530hrs) (SW F5) (P&LH):

Gannet - 52os

Shag - 4W

Brent Goose - 3W

Sandwich  Tern - 14os

auk sp - 30E

Razorbill - 14E

(1630-1800HRS) (SW F5) (SH)

Gannet - 8E, 43W

Shag - 19W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 5ob

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 17os

auk sp. - 73E, 43W

Razorbill - 5E, 2os

Guillemot - 1E

Also, a Raven flew over the Wave roundabout this morning. (P&LH)

We don't often feature other sites on the blog but a certain log-keeper of this parish had a particularly notable (and envy-inducing!) seawatch this morning in Scilly: "in 90 minutes (!): 2800 Great Shearwaters, 400 Sooty Shearwaters, 200 Balearic Shearwaters ,100 Cory's Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater"...! (JA)

Brent Geese & Kestrel at the Bill (SR)

Ferry Pool: The Brent Goose, eight Teal, 12 Shoveler, 44 Lapwings and 24 Black-tailed Godwits were present today as was the regular Kingfisher and 30 Goldfinches. (SR)

Shoveler at the Ferry (SR)

Medmerry: The Red-backed Shrike was still showing well 200m south of Earnley car-park this morning. Also, the were 150 Mediterraean Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull around the track to Flint Barn and two Stonechats and 12 Yellowhammers along the banks. 

Two Little Grebes were on the barn pool, six Cattle Egrets were nearby and a Greenshank and three Ringed Plovers were also noted as were c.50 Swallows overhead. (P&LH)

North Wall: The four Curlew Sandpipers were still along Whites Creek this morning along with two Greenshanks, eight Grey Plovers, and plenty of Redshank and Lapwings. There were lots of ducks around, with at least 200 Wigeon, 30 Pintail and 24 Mallards along the creek. 

A Grey Wagtail was by the sluice and four Stonechats were around the paddock but other than a couple of Great Tits and a Wren it was quiet along the bushes. (LP/PC)

Church Norton: There seemed to have been an arrival of Blackbirds in the churchyard this morning with eight present, also a Spotted Flycatcher and up to six Chiffchaffs in the area. Also present a Jay, seven Meadow Pipits, two Stonechats, 10 Skylarks, a Greenshank and the usual close Whimbrel. (CRJ)

Fishbourne Creek: An adult Yellow-legged Gull was out on the mud this morning (SM)