1st - 3rd November 2022

Thursday, 3rd November: A night of heavy rain continued into the morning, with heavy drizzle persisting through much of the morning, though the south-westerly breeze was much lighter than of late.............

Selsey Bill: It was absolutely dead this morning! Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0715-0815hrs) (WSW, F3)

Turnstone -  3

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 4W

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with two Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Shelducks, c20 Shovelers and c60 Teal. (AH)

Avocets, Black-tailed Godwit and Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 100 Brent Geese were in the harbour this morning, including a distant probable Pale-bellied Brent Goose,along with similar numbers of Wigeon and a dozen Pintail and Teal, whilst waders included c100 Dunlin, c30 Grey Plovers and the usual Redshanks and Curlews, with a Kingfisher and half a dozen Little Egrets and Great Crested Grebes also present

Up to six Goldcrests were along the path by the Mound, together with a couple of Chiffchaffs, whilst two Green Woodpeckers and a Mistle Thrush were along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), probable Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Grey,Plover, Little Egret & Goldcrest at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - In a short period between showers this morning two Skylarks were singing, two Dartford Warblers were seen along with three Yellowhammers, a Stonechat, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Cetti's Warblers, a Red-legged Partridge and a Buzzard.

Then it rained, and rained, and rained ....... (SR)

In better weather, late this afternoon, a Merlin was near the car-park, a Barn Owl was out along the banks and two Swallows went over, heading south.

Also, at least six Dartford Warblers and six Goldcrests were in the gorse along the banks, plenty of Skylarks were singing and c150 Lapwings and a dozen Golden Plovers flew up from the reserve. (AH/ABi)

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

West Itchenor: A Black Redstart was on the rooftops next to he harbour office this afternoon. (PH)

North Wall: A Cetti’s Warbler and a Grey Wagtail were by the sluice and a Little Grebe, a few Wigeon, a Grey Plover and a dozen Redshank were along White’s Creek this morning. 

A Marsh Harrier was over the reeds behind the Breech Pool and in the fields, there were 20 Cattle Egrets and two Little Egrets, whilst a Kingfisher was by the rife at Halsey’s Farm, a Stonechat and a Song Thrush were by the paddock and a few Pied Wagtails were still in the field behind the stables. (LP)

Also, a Coal Tit has been coming to our garden feeders in Church Lane  over the last few days. (JDW)

Cattle Egret and Little Egret (above), Grey Plover & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Wednesday, 2nd November: Another blustery morning, a little cooler than of late, with a mix of sun, cloud and the odd drizzly squall in a freshening south-westerly........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much on the move again, though two Great Northern Divers, a Red-throated Diver, seven Red-breasted Mergansers and a steady flow of Meadow Pipits went west and the Purple Sandpiper was again present. Full log below. (PB/SR/MO-W/AH/P&LH/PD)

(0700-0900hrs) (WSW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 2W

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 3E, 3W

Gannet - 1E, 51W

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W

Common Gull - 

Kittiwake - 2E, 3W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 3W

Wood Pigeon - 135E

Skylark - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 133W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Long-tailed Tit - 12 (in Broadreeds Estate)

Linnet - 6W

(1235-1415hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Brent Goose - 4W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 13

Mediterranean Gull - 13W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Stock Dove - 1W

Purple Sandpiper (above), Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver & Red-breasted Meganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just two Avocets, eight Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Shelducks and c75 Teal on and around the pool this morning. (AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Black Redstart was in the garden of The Elms, along Rectory Lane, this morning, with a Mistle Thrush nearby, whilst half a dozen Stonechats were in the fields further along and two more were at the Severals. Also, a couple of Goldcrests were by the entrance of the car-park, four Jays were in the churchyard and a dozen Long-tailed Tits were along the sheltered hedges. . 

A Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Buzzard were  all seen, but the  harbour was quiet, with just a scattering of Grey Plovers, Dunlin and Redshanks, plus a few Wigeon an Teal and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, whilst seven Brent Geese went over, heading west. (AH/P&LH)

Black Redstart (above), Goldcrest, Stonechat, Grey Plover & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)

East side: A look along the side of the harbour produced 62 Brent Geese, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, 300 Starlings, 30 Pied Wagtails, two Chiffchaffs and three Reed Buntings this morning. (CRJ)

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl dropped into the reeds behind the Breech Pool this morning and a Marsh Harrier was further back, whilst a single Brent Goose was on the pool and five more were in the field behind.

A Kingfisher was around the sluice and there were c100 Wigeon in White's Creek, along with a few Teal and Pintail, a Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe, whilst lots of Redshank and Lapwing were out on the mud together with a few Grey Plovers, and more Brent Geese flew over.

Also, a Green Woodpecker was over the field at the end of Church Lane, where there were still a handful of Pied Wagtails. (LP,CT)

Marsh Harrier (above), juvenile Brent Goose & Wigeon at the North Wall (LP)

Tuesday, 1st November: A pretty wild and windy morning, after a night of gale force winds and heavy rain, with some heavy showers and some sunny intervals in a very strong south-westerly........

Some sad news: It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of long-standing birder Dave Smith (from Worthing). Dave will be well known to many, but had always been around for most of my time, as far as I can remember, having first been introduced to me by my birding buddy Bernie Forbes. Dave was a regular at Selsey Bill in those earlier days and I well remember myself and others giving him plenty of good-humoured banter as he arrived with the 'Worthing boys'. He was a very capable birder and always took things in his stride. He was also good company, accompanying me and Bernie on a number of trips in the UK and abroad. One in particular stands out - the (in)famous Trinidad & Tobago trip of 1999 where a good birding and social time was had by all! I've taken a cropped image from that memorable time showing Dave in party mode...though his binoculars were usually around his neck throughout. Although in later years his ill-health became apparent, his passing is a great shock and he will be sorely missed. Rest in birding peace old chum. (OM)  (Eds)

The late Dave Smith in party mode, Trinidad, 1999 (OM)

Selsey Bill: The strong winds failed produce anything of note this morning, with just a few Gannets and Brent Geese going west, though a Purple Sandpiper popped up again. (SR/IP/AH)

(0700-0845hrs) (WSW, F7-8)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 38W

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 47W

Teal - 2W

Common Scoter - 2E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 1W

Razorbill - 2W

(0940-1140hrs) (CRJ)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

(1540-1640hrs) (SR)

Brent Goose - 52W

Turnstone - 2E
Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Purple Sandpiper (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Gannet, Teal & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were four Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits roosting on the pool this morning, with c60 Shovelers, c80 Teal and c50 Wigeon also present. (AH)

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There wasn’t much about in the rather challenging conditions this morning, with just a few Wigeon and Mallards in White's Creek, along with a couple of Redshank and a group of 44 Pintail that then flew over the wall into the harbour. (LP)

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: There were 10 Little Grebes, four juvenile Mute Swans and lots of Coots and Mallards on the Lagoon, and along the Spit there were a few groups of Brent Geese, with about 100 in the harbour and another 80 out on the beach, but apart from a few Oystercatchers and a couple of Meadow Pipits that was about it. (LP)

Brent Geese at Pagham Spit (LP)