Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 14th -16th May 2023

Tuesday, 16th May: Another bright, sunny morning, but still with a chill and brisk breeze, this time from the north-west.......

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly, there was very little happening this morning. Full log below.(SR/AH/IP),

(0700-0845hrs) (NW, F4)

diver sp - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 14W, 1os

Common Scoter - 3W

Kittiwake - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Swift - 2N, 3 present

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 9

House Martins (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just two Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Avocets, 22 Shelducks and a Great Black-backed Gull on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Great Black-backed Gull and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: It was quiet along the wall this morning with just a couple of Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings singing along the hedgerows, a Greenshank was in the still wet fields with a few Shelduck, and four Gadwall were on the Breech Pool with the resident Mute Swans and Great Crested Grebes.

Both Marsh Harriers were about, a few Swifts were overhead, and the Swallows were still by the stables. A Cuckoo made a brief appearance early on, and a Common Seal was in White's Creek, very close to the sluice, while further out on the mud there were six Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Grey Plovers. (LP/PC/GHi)

Swallow (above), Sedge Warbler & Gadwall at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - A handful of Swifts and c50 Swallows and House Martins were over the settling tanks this morning, but the hedges were very quiet, with just a couple of Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and a handful of Linnets about, and just a couple more Whitethroats and a couple of Yellowhammers along the Trail to Ham.

The pair of Stonechats were on the banks at Ham, but otherwise there were just a couple of Reed Buntings, a dozen or so Skylarks and Linnets present, with a couple of Reed and Sedge Warblers on the ponds, and a couple of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers around the houses and half a dozen Swallows over. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Blackcap, Whitethroat, Swallow & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a fair selection along the banks this evening, including a Cuckoo, a Stonechat, two Dartford Warblers, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, half a dozen Reed and Cetti's Warblers, ten Whitethroats, four Reed Buntings and good count of 15 Yellowhammers, whilst a female Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards and ten Swallows went over.

A Common Sandpiper was on the Stilt Pool, along with a Little Ringed Plover, five Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, seven Avocets, 32 Black-tailed Godwits and a Pied Wagtail.

There was also a mother Roe Deer with a very young fawn. (S&SaH)

Roe Deer fawn at Medmerry (SH)

Monday, 15th May: A bright morning dominated by a fairly strong northerly breeze, leaving it pleasantly warm in the sun, but distinctly chilly in the wind.......

Selsey Bill: Two Arctic Skuas were chasing terns offshore before going off west, with another going east, and a pair of Gadwall went west, but, otherwise, it was just the regular mix of species. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0700-0845hrs) (N, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 6E, 3W

Gadwall - 2W

Common Scoter - 11E

Arctic Skua - 1E, 2os then W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 4os

auk sp - 1E

Swallow - 2

Arctic Skua (above), Arctic skua and Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipes along the side of the pool this morning, with four Avocets, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Gadwall, eight Mallards and 24 Shelducks also present. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Avocet & Black-tailed Godwits and Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were no waders, or anything else, to be seen in the harbour at high tide, though c30 Little Terns were distantly viewable over their island on the far side.

Two Cattle Egrets were in the long grass at the front of the first Several, a Cuckoo was in the trees at the back of the horse field and a Gannet was offshore, but passerines were few and far between, with a handful of Linnets and a couple of Swallows along the Severals and just the odd glimpse of the occasional Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Cattle Egret, Chiffchaff, Swallow & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were 18 Mute Swans along White's Creek this morning, and further out on the mud there were 40 Grey Plovers and 20 Dunlin, but there were just two Tufted Ducks on the Breech Pool, along with the regular pairs of Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans. Also, a Cuckoo flew through, the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, and six Swifts, a Sand Martin and a couple of Swallows were overhead.

A Greenshank was in the flooded fields along with a Lapwing, a Curlew, a Gadwall and 12 Shelducks, and at Owl Copse the young Grey Herons were on their nest, a Cattle Egret flew in, and eight Little Egrets were also about. At Halsey’s Farm it was quiet with just a Jay and a few Skylarks present, and along the wall there was the usual mixture of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings. (LP/CT)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Reed Bunting & Grey Herons at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The two Temminck's Stint and the Little Stint were all still on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a pair of Little Ringed Plovers and just one pair of Avocets.

There were also a Yellow Wagtail and two White Wagtails about, and three Cattle Egrets and a pair of Marsh Harriers went over. (AW/OM/SR et al)

This evening just the Little Stint was showing on the Stilt pool, along with the pair of Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, four Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit and three Whimbrel, whilst, unusually for this side of the reserve, a Corn Bunting was sitting on the fence.

Two Cuckoos, 15 Yellowhammers, a Dartford Warbler, 12 Whitethroats, four Reed Warblers, three Cetti's Warbles, three Reed Buntings and two Stonechats were along the banks, whilst a female Marsh Harrier, two Egyptian Geese and four Brown Hares were out on the reserve. (S&SaH)

Temminck's Stint (above) & Little Stint at Medmerry (AW)

Sunday, 14th May: After a murky, misty start, a fairly pleasant and mild morning of hazy sunshine in a light north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Six Whmbrel, ten Sanderling and a Dunlin went west, and a flock of Gannets were feeding close in, but it was generally very quiet. Full log below. (SH/SR/BI/AH/IP)

(0530-0800hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 7E, 9W, 27os

Shelduck - 1W

Common Scoter - 8E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 10W

Dunlin - 1W

Whimbrel - 6W

Kittiwake - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 16os

Little Tern - 2os

(1645-1800hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Kittiwake - 30W

Sandwich Tern - 23os

Little Tern - 14os

House Martin - 2

Sandwich Tern (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just two Avocet, c75 Black-tailed Godwits, five Mallards and 16 Shelducks on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A male Marsh Harrier was briefly hunting over the far end this morning, but most of the small birds were keeping low, with just a handful of Reed and Sedge Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and four Linnets noted.

Right out in the middle of the harbour, there was a distant wader flock, which looked like c200 Dunlin and c30 Grey Plovers. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Thee were just a dozen Swallows and two Pied Wagtails seen this morning. (IP)

Church Norton: Highlight of the morning was two dark phase Arctic Skuas that fling east off the second Several at half mile range disturbing, all the gulls gathered on the sea here (which included two Mediterranean amongst them), whilst there were also two Gannets going east and ten Sandwich Terns offshore.

In the harbour, at least 20 Little Terns came up from their island, whilst waders comprised a few Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers, with singles of Curlew, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit the only others present.

Also, a female Cuckoo flew along the shoreline, appearing to have emerged from Bluebell Wood, a battered looking Raven went over Greenlease Farm, two Jays, a few Swallows and a few of the usual warblers were around the Seveals and three Meadow Pipits were on the spit. (IP)

This evening, a Spotted Flycatcher was along the boardwalk by the hide, but a very quiet harbour just held four Dunlin, six Grey Plovers and c20 Ringed Plovers. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above) & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The female Marsh Harrier was out a couple of times this morning, whilst a Cuckoo was calling and being active on the heron's island in the harbour, with a pair of agitated Meadow Pipits in close attendance.

Otherwise, it was pretty quiet, with a pair of Swallows around the stables, a steady scattering of Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a couple of Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats spread along the wall, a few Cattle and Little Egrets, plus a couple of young Grey Herons in Owl Copse and six Gadwall, c20 Shelducks and c60 Black-tailed Godwits on the still flooded fields. (AH/DHi/CT et al)

A brief visit this afternoon produced three Marsh Harriers behind the Breech Pool -a male and two females, all up at the same time, and though not normally noteworthy, but given this year's problems, there were approx 120 Black-headed Gulls in the two flooded fields beyond the Breech Pool. (A Roberts)

Sedge Warbler (above), Swallow, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting & Cattle and Little Egrets at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - One - and probably two - Temminck's Stints were on the big island on the Stilt Pool this morning - the third year running they have been recorded on the Peninsula, after just two in the preceding decade.

Also, the banks held two male Dartford Warblers near Mash Barn, a dozen Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, three Reed Buntings, a Sedge Warbler, six Reed Warblers,, two Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap, and a Cuckoo was on the reserve and 11 Swallows and three Buzzards went over. (S&SaH/SR)

Temminck's Stint at Medmerry (SH)

This afternoon, there were definitely two Temminck's Stints, together with a Little Stint, on the big island on the Stilt Pool, and there were also a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, two pairs of Ringed Plovers and five Avocets about, though none of the latter were on their island.

Also, a Red Kite and several House Martins went over, a Yellow Wagtail dropped in on the Stilt Pool and a Cuckoo was calling near the poplars. (J Hodge/AH/IP/BI/CRJ et al)