Sunday, 13th August: Another morning with a very fresh breeze blowing, this time from the south-west, pushing through lots of white cloud, with sunny spells in-between........
Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua was offshore and 23 Common Terns and three Razorbills went west, but not much else was moving, though four Bottle-nosed Dolphins were offshore and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was along the wall. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/MRB/SR/AH/IP)
(0600-0815hrs) (SW, F4-5)
Gannet - 16E, 51W
Common Scoter - 1W
Oystercatcher - 1E
Turnstone - 32
Arctic Skua - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Kittiwake - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 14E, 12W
Common Tern - 23W
Razorbill - 3W
Sand Martin - 16W
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 4W
Hummingbird Hawk-moth - 1
Sandwich Tern (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just 14 Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Lapwings, nine Teal and seven Shelduck on the pool this morning, with a dozen Cattle Egrets with the cows at the back and a Common Sandpiper again in the channel opposite.
The Tramway circuit was very quiet, with just half a dozen Whitethroats and two Chiffchaffs seen. (AH)
Common Sandpiper (above), Cattle Egret & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)
This afternoon, a Little Ringed Plover and the Common Sandpiper were on the pool, whilst the juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit was again in the channel opposite. (CH)
Bar-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel (CH)
Park Farm, Selsey: The only noteworthy birds were a single Pied Wagtail in the fields and a Sparrowhawk high above. (IP)
Church Norton: This morning there were four Whimbrel, two Turnstones, two Knot, c35 Grey Plovers and c50 Ringed Plovers and Dunlin in the harbour, with a Peregrine over, whilst two Sandwich Terns were offshore and a Cattle Egret was in the horse field
There were a minimum of seven Wheatears on the fence line along the spit, but the only other migrant were two Swifts and a mixed flock of hirundines over the Severals, where there was both a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, too. (PB/PM/IP)
This afternoon there were still six Wheatears around the fences at the start of the spit. (RPa/AH)
Wheatears at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: The two Green Sandpipers were back on the Breech Pool this morning, along with a Redshank and a Lapwing, but around high tide there was just a Greenshank, six Black-tailed Godwits, two Oystercatchers, and a few Lapwing along White’s Creek.
A pair of Linnets and a Wheatear were along the wall, with another of the latter on the fence posts at Halsey’s Farm, but apart from the usual selection of Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets around their island, and a Peregrine chasing a Lapwing across the harbour, that was about it. (LP/DHi)
Green Sandpipers (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Oystercatcher at the North Wall (LP)
This afternoon a Hobby went over Halsey's Farm, and there was possibly a new record count of 81 Cattle Egrets, including 65 on the island, along with c30 Little Egrets and five Grey Herons.
There were also three Spotted Redshanks around, along with a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers and 18 Black-tailed Godwits, with two Buzzards and three Kestrels over, too. (S&SaH)
Green Sandpiper at the North Wall (SH)
Honer Reservoir: A Little Grebe, a Mute Swan and a Mallard were the only things on the reservoir, though eight Swifts, c20 Swallows and c50 Sand Martins went over, three Cattle Egrets were in the fields and a Reed Bunting, two Willow Warblers and a dozen or so Greenfinches and Goldfinches were in the hedges. (AH)
Reed Bunting at Honer Reservoir (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Five Dartford Warblers were along the banks, but they were generally quiet in the wind, with otherwise just two Whitethroats, four Willow Warblers, four Meadow Pipits and four Yellowhammers seen.
A Cattle Egret, a Common Sandpiper and two Whimbrel were on the reserve, with a Peregrine, two Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk,, a Swift and c30 Swallows and sand Martins going over, but the Stilt Pool just held two Common Sandpipers and the adult and three juvenile Egyptian Geese of note. (S&SaH)
Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - There wasn't much to report from here, with a pair of Egyptian Geese and three juveniles by the house, a Great Crested Grebe with a well-grown juvenile on Deep Lake and c60 Greylag Geese on Trout Lake East the only things of note on the water.
Two Swallows were the only hirundines seen, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaffs and a dozen Long-tailed Tits in one tight, mobile flock were the only other passerines seen. (AH)
Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Crested Grebes, Egyptian Geese & Greylag Geese at Chichester GPs (AH)
Later on, the Cape Shelduck was again on East Lake, alongside two Egyptian Geese and a few Greylags, whilst Triangle Lake had a Black Swan, two more Egyptian Geese, three Tufted Ducks, a family of Great Crested Grebes, eight Swallows and a family of Long-tailed Tits. Runcton Lake had another Great Crested Grebe family, 28 Tufted Ducks, five Common Pochard and three juvenile Egyptian Geese, plus two Willow Warblers in the hedge. (SR)
Pochard (above), Great Crested Grebe & Cape Shelduck at Chichester GPs (SR)
Saturday, 12th August: A mostly overcast and very blustery morning in a freshening westerly breeze, mild, but again humid and with the odd drizzly squall..........
Selsey Bill: A dark-phase Arctic Skua and 60 Common Terns, including a loose flock of 44, went west and a flock of 29 Sandwich Terns went east, with a feeding flock of Gannets and a couple of Bottle-nosed Dolphins offshore, too. Full log below. (KT/SR/AH/IP/P&LH)
(0650-0845hrs) (WSW, F4-5)
Gannet - 7E 13W, 22os
Sparrowhawk - 1
Dunlin - 1
Turnstone - 6
Arctic Skua - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 34E, 5W, 2os
Common Tern - 60W
Swallow - 3W
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 2os
(1030-1130hrs) (SH)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 4E, 2W
Shag - 1E
Turnstone - 8
Sandwich Tern - 13W
Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just two Avocets, seven Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Lapwings, four Teal and eight juvenile Shelducks on the pool this morning, with a Common Sandpiper, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel in the channel opposite.
There were also at least 33 Cattle Egrets among the cows in the fields by the road and three Swifts went over. (AH/MPr/P&LH)
Common Sandpiper (above) & Cattle Egrets at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: A Whinchat was along the hedges this morning, but otherwise there were just a couple of Whitethroats and a handful of Linnets seen, with nothing in Ferry Channel. (AH)
Whinchat (above) & Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: There were four Wheatears in the fields, along with 12 Pied Wagtails, a Sparrowhawk flew over the buildings and a lone Swift was heading south. (IP/RM)
Church Norton: Up to five Wheatears, two Chiffchaffs, a Swift, six Swallows, four House Martins and 15 Sand Martins were the only migrants seen, with a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and three Cattle Egrets also noted.
Five Whimbrel were in the harbour, along with two Turnstones, 27 Curlews,nine Redshanks and 56 Oystercatchers and a single Sandwich Tern, whilst two more of the latter and three Gannets were offshore. (P&LH/IP/RM)
This evening there were still four Wheatears by the concrete blocks, with c30 House Martins and a couple of Swallows over the car-park, whilst in the harbour there were three Whimbrel, a Grey Plover, a dozen Ringed Plovers and c80 Redshanks, with a Sandwich Tern and a Mediterranean Gull offshore. (AH)
Wheatear (above), House Martin, Grey Plover & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: Two Wheatears were on the fences at Owl Point and a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Whitethroats were about but, beyond a few Sand Martins and Swallows over, that was it for migrants.
Out in the harbour there were three Greenshank among c200 Redshanks, three or four Whimbrel, c30 Curlews and c50 Dunlin, whilst at least 37 Cattle Egrets, 11 Little Egrets and three Grey Herons were around their island.
Also, a Kingfisher flew along Owl Water, 21 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool, with another in the creek at Halsey's Farm, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Kestrels were noted. (AH/LP/SP/IH)
Wheatear (above), Whitethroat, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshanks and Redshanks & Grey Herons, Little and Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (AH)
Chichester GPs: Drayton House Pits - A very quiet day overall, with little on the water, the only exceptions being Pochards and Great Crested Grebes. The continuing importance of these pits for Pochard through the year was highlighted by the total of at least 65 summering and moulting birds still present (all but 10 on the North pit), whilst Great Crested Grebes numbered 31 (including well grown juveniles), divided almost equally between the two pits.
The only other highlights were a Kingfisher on South pit and 10 Grey Herons, all but one on North pit, but by way of contrast Coots were virtually absent – just 8 birds being logged!
A pair of Buzzards were also present, with a particularly noisy young bird calling continuously, and several Reed Warblers and half a dozen Willow Warblers were the best of the rest. (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - Up to 13 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, two Wheatears, nine Meadow Pipits and five Yellowhammers were seen along the banks this morning, with a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels, c40 Sand Martins and 15 Swallows going over.
Also, two Common Sandpipers were near the poplars, with four more, plus a Greenshank and an adult and the three juvenile Egyptian Geese wee on the Stilt pool, whilst two Sandwich Terns and four Gannets were offshore. (S&SaH)
Friday, 11th August: Another very grey, but warm and humid, morning in a moderate westerly breeze..........
Selsey Bill: There wasn't much to report this morning, beyond a couple of flocks of Common Terns going through, well offshore, and a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets going in both directions. Full log below. (SR/ABi/AH/IP)
(0645-0800hrs) (WSW, F3-4)
Gannet - 19E, 23W
Common Scoter - 1E
Turnstone - 4
Sandwich Tern - 15E, 21W
Common Tern - 3E, 22W
Swift - 1
House Martin - 6
Sandwich Tern (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There remains little to see on the pool, with just two Avocets, four Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen Lapwings and six juvenile Shelducks present this morning, whilst least half a dozen Cattle Egrets were in with the cows. (AH)
Avocet on the Ferry (AH)
Bar-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel (ABi)
Park Farm, Selsey: A look round this evening produced just a Whitethroat and three Willow Warblers in the hedges, though four Swifts,35 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows and 20 House Martins, plus a Kestrel, went over. (S&SaH)
North Wall: Two Green Sandpipers and the four Spotted Redshanks, in various stages of moult, were on the Breech Pool this morning, with another of the latter in Whites Creek, where there were also a Greenshank among the many Redshanks, a couple of Whimbrels and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plovers and Lapwings, whilst further out in the harbour there were c25 Grey Plovers and c200 Dunlin.
The two juvenile Whinchats were briefly at Halsey's Farm, but the bushes along the wall were quiet beyond two or three Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Bunting, plus c20 Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows over.
Also, a Kingfisher was briefly by the sluice and another half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool, whilst a Marsh Harrier flew over Owl Copse and half a dozen Cattle Egrets were with the cows in the back fields, and a dozen Little Egrets and seven Grey Herons were around their island. (AH/LP/CT/SP/KF)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Greenshanks, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Reed Warbler & Whitethroat at the North Wall (AH)
This evening a Barn Owl was out hunting over Halsey's Farm. (MT)
Barn Owl at Halsey's Farm (MT)
Church Norton: This evening there were at least six Wheatears around the concrete blocks and the start of the spit, with a couple of Willow warblers and Whitethroats in the bushes and c20 Sand Martins and a handful of House Martins over, but there wasn't much in the harbour beyond c30 Ringed Plovers, Turnstones and Dunlin, plus a couple of Sandwich Terns (AH/ABi)
Wheatears (ABi, top, AH lower two (above), Sand Martin & House Martin (AH) at Church Norton
Thursday, 10th August: The morning started bright and sunny in a brisk easterly breeze, before clouding over as the wind dropped, leaving it grey and muggy.....
Selsey Bill: There was a big early movement of Gannets east, and a few Common Terns were about, though it was generally quiet. Full log below. (KT/SR/IP/AH)
(0630-0830hrs) (ESE, F4)
Gannet - 129E
Shag - 2E
Common Scoter - 1E, 1W
Turnstone - 54
Sandwich Tern - 19E, 3W, 2os
Common Tern - 5E, 9W
Swift - 3
Swallow - 3E
Sand Martin - 22E
House Martin - 10
Common Terns (above), Sandwich Tern, Sand Martin & House Martin at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the pool this morning, along with an Avocet, three Black-tailed Godwits, eight Teal, five Shelducks, 51 Lapwings, a Curlew and three Mediterranean Gulls, whilst two Wheatears and half a dozen Cattle Egrets were in the fields.
There were also a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Dunlin, a Great Crested Grebes and lots of Redshanks in the channel opposite, whilst a Jersey Tiger was in the hedges there. (AH/KT)
Common Sandpiper (above), Cattle Egret & Jersey Tiger at the Bill (AH)
Later on, five Whitethroats, a family of Long-tailed Tits and a Blackcap were all I could find in the bushes, whilst a Greenshank was roosting with c20 Redshank along the channel, where there was also a Great Crested Grebe, and a Grass Snake was in the Discovery Area pool. (SR)
Grass Snake in the Discovery Area (SR)
Church Norton: Half a dozen Wheatears were around the concrete blocks again today, with up to 20 Willow Warblers, half a dozen Chiffchaffs and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps around the churchyard area and up to 20 Whitethroats spread along the front, plus just a couple of Swallows over.
A group of 18 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, before heading off east and at least a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were feeding on flying ants with the Black-headed Gulls, whilst a female Marsh Harrier went through the harbour and three or four Whimbrels, c20 Ringed Plovers and c50 Dunlin were on the mud. (AH/IP/KT)
Later on, a Pied Flycatcher was reported from the car-park. (per Birdguides)
Lesser Whitethroat (above), Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroats, Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: An adult Whinchat was at Halsey's Farm this morning, along with what appeared to be two very young juvenile birds, and there were four Spotted Redshanks on the Breech Pool, along with.12 Black-tailed Godwits and two Grey Herons, whilst a Greenshank and a Whimbrel were among plenty of Redshanks and Lapwings along White's Creek, and two Common Sandpipers flew over.
A few Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were still in the reeds and c100 Sand Martins were low over the water, with a Green Woodpecker and a few Whitethroats in the bushes along the wall, and there were just three Cattle Egrets and a Little Egret in Owl Copse, whilst at Halsey’s Farm, 16 Long-tailed Tits were along the hedgerows with a few Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and two Buzzards and a Kestrel were also about. (GHi/LP/SP/TRH)
The Barn Owl was out hunting over Halsey's Farm this evening. (LP)
Whinchats (GHi) (above), Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank, Cattle Egrets & Long-tailed Tit (LP) at the North Wall
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection along the banks this evening, including six Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, seven Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, two Dartford Warblers,, two Stonechats, a Meadow Pipit and eight Yellowhammers, with five Swifts, 50 swallows and 250 Sand Martins over, along with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel.
Also, four Common Sandpipers and three Black-tailed Godwits, plus the Egyptian Goose family, were on the Stilt Pool and a Greenshank was by the poplars. (S&SaH)
West Itchenor: A flock of 25 House Martins were around the quay area this morning. (SR)
House Martin at West Itchenor (SR)
Sidlesham: There was a constant stream of c500 Sand Martins and c200 Swallows, plus a dozen Swifts, feeding up high and drifting south over the garden until late into the evening. (AH)
Swallow over Sidlesham (AH)
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