23rd - 25th August 2023

Friday, 25th August: A mostly bright and sunny - but decidedly cooler - morning in a light to moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Over 30 Yellow Wagtails went over west and a Whitethroat and eight Wheatears were along the front, but there were just a few Sandwich Terns, plus a Common Tern, offshore. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/IP/AH/OM et al)

(0600-0845hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Gannet - 10E, 59W

Shag - 1os

Little Egret - 8E

Common Scoter - 8W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 3W

Sanderling - 2W

Dunlin - 9W

Redshank - 3W

Turnstone - 21

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 13W

Common Tern - 1W

Swallow - 12W

Sand Martin - 10W

House Martin - 75W

Yellow Wagtail - 32W

Wheatear - 8

Whitethroat - 1

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

Ferry Pool: The two Spotted Redshanks were on the pool again first thing this morning, along with a Little Ringed Plover, up to three Common Sandpipers, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, five Shelducks, seven little Egrets and c30 Teal, whilst a Green Sandpiper was on the (now the cows have trampled the reeds, not so!) concealed pool and a least 15 Cattle Egrets were with the cows.

The tramway circuit and Yeoman's field were very quiet, beyond a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and half a dozen Whitethroats, plus c20 Swallows and c30 Lapwings over. (AH/MO-W/OM) 

Green Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshanks, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing & Cattle Egrets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Most of the action this morning was in Owl Point field where there was an impressive total of 35 Wheatears, a Pied Flycatcher, four Spotted Flycatchers, six Redstarts, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Whinchat and 12 Whitethroats, with another Whinchat and two more Wheatears along the wall, where there was also more Whitethroats, 12 Long-tailed Tits, two Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff.

The cows in Honer 1 were accompanied by 24 Cattle Egrets, whilst 42 Curlews were in the field behind the Breech Pool and several Yellow Wagtail were seen/heard overhead. Also, two Greenshanks were along White’s Creek, along with two Whimbrel and the usual selection of Redshanks, Lapwings, and Black-tailed Godwits. There were also nine more Wheatears along the quay path along with two Redstarts, four Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher. (LP/BFF/RB/JDW/TRH/BI et al)

Pied Flycatcher (above), Redstart, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tit & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (LP)

This afternoon, at Halsey's Farm, the Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat were in the hedges, with 28 Wheatears still around Owl Point, with ten Swallows, 20 Sand Martins, a Buzzard and two Kestrels over. (S&SaH)

Later on, the Pied Flycatcher, two Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart were still about, with up to 30 Wheatears still in the fields at Owl Point, with 30+ Cattle Egrets and a few Yellow Wagtails in Honer 1 field. (GM/AH/TG/RHa/CS e al)

Spotted Flycatcher (GM) (above) & Wheatears (AH) at the North Wall

Pagham Spit: There were eight Wheatears along the spit this morning. (BFF/RB)

Church Norton: It was quiet again, with just a couple of Wheatears along the beach, with just a handful of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats, plus at least 20 Whitethroats around the hedges, though at least 100 House Martins went over. Eventually, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Garden Warbler were located in the sheep field by the mound.

The harbour was quiet, too, with just two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover and a handful of Whimbrel among the regular waders.  (AH/BI et al)

Willow Warbler (above), Whitethroat & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a remarkable 39 Wheatears along the banks, between Marsh Barn and the beach, with the banks also holding a Dartford Warbler, a Chiffchaff, four Willow Warblers, four Meadow Pipits and four Whitethroats, with 34 Yellow Wagtails on the reserve, along with a Cattle Egret and a Whimbrel.

Also, a House Martin, 50 Swallows, 150 Sand Martins, two Buzzards, four Kestrels and three Sparrowhawks went overs. (S&SaH)

Later, a casual walk from Easton Lane revealed 300 Canada Geese and a Common Sandpiper on the Stilt Pools, and a juvenile male Marsh Harrier and five Wheatears on the reserve. (CRJ)

West Itchenor: There was no sign of the reported Red-backed Shrike this afternoon. (BI/SR)

Thursday, 24th August: A mostly heavily overcast and humid morning, with some spells of drizzly rain and the odd brief sunny interlude in a light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, though a Hobby was watched coming in from way out to sea, a Wheatear was along the front and a few hirundines - mainly House Martins - were heading east, and there were also four Bottle-nosed Dolphins going east offshore. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0650-0835hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 17E, 19W

Shag - 4E

Hobby - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3E

Sanderling - 2E

Turnstone - 49

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 39W, 9os

Common Tern - 1E

Swift - 2

Swallow - 59E

Sand Martin - 9E

House Martin - 89E

Wheatear - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 4E

Shags (above), Sandwich Tern, Wheatear, House Martin & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Spotted Redshanks were on the pool again, early this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, eight Little Egrets, six young Shelducks and c30 Teal, with at least 20 Cattle Egrets among the cows at the back.

A look round the Tramway circuit was very unproductive, with just a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats in the bushes and a couple of Reed Warblers in Red Barn Ditch, whilst a Kingfisher was in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Lesser Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was much quieter than yesterday, though three Spotted Flycatchers were around the churchyard/hide area, along with a Sedge Warbler and a handful of Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers, with just the odd further Whitethroat seen elsewhere.

A Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Sandwich Tern and half a dozen Whimbrel were in the harbour, along with c30 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, plus the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers. (AH/RJS/MG et al)

Sedge Warbler (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: An impressive selection of birds, including a Pied Flycatcher, two Spotted Flycatchers, three Redstarts, four Lesser Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 18 Goldfinches, two Great Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Blue Tits were in the hedges by the new path at Halsey’s Farm. with five Wheatears were on the fences at Owl Point.

The cows were back in the Honer fields and there were 32 Cattle Egrets with them, and two Buzzards were in the adjacent trees, but the Breech Pool was again empty of birds, but a Whinchat was in the hedgerow behind, and a juvenile Marsh Harrier was overhead.

In the bushes behind the sluice there was another Redstart, two Lesser Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers and numerous Whitethroats, and along White’s Creek there were three Knot, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, two Whimbrels and eight Black-tailed Godwits, along with the regular Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews, plus a single Greylag Goose and 138 Canada Geese further out. (LP/SP/TRH/JDW)

Redstarts (TRH top two, lower LP) (above), Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Redshank & Whimbrel (LP) at the North Wall 

West Itchenor: One House Martin family was still at the Harbour Office and along the shore there were a flock of c200 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plovers, three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and four Little Egrets, with a Jay, two Willow Warblers, two Swallows and a Green Woodpecker nearby. (SR)

Also, an adult male Red-backed Shrike was reported as present today by a visiting birder. (per SOS)

House Martins (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at West Itchenor (SR)

Wednesday, 23rd August: A beautiful late summer's morning of unbroken, warm sunshine in just a light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There were good numbers of Common and Sandwich Terns around the beach this morning, with two Arctic Skuas lingering offshore, whilst two Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail went over east, three Wheatears were along the beach and there was a big gathering of Sand Martins and House Martins, plus just a few Swallows, on the wires. Full log below. (IP/MO-W/KT/P&LH et al)

(0655-0830hrs) (NNW, F2)

Gannet - 2E, 8W

Oystercatcher - 4E

Turnstone - 45

Arctic Skua - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 106W

Common Tern - 14E (in one flock), 19W

Swift - 3

Swallow - 20

Sand Martin - 200

House Martin - 80

Yellow Wagtail - 2E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Wheatear - 3

Common Terns (above), Common and Sandwich Terns, Wheatear, Sand Martin, House Martin & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff, a Little Ringed Plover and two Spotted Redshanks were on the pool early on, along with two Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, an Avocet, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Teal and four Shelducks, whilst at least 25 Cattle Egrets were with the cows. (AH)

Later on, there were a Whinchat and two Wheatears at the back, with a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and three Whimbrel in the vicinity. (KT)

Ruff (above), Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & Cattle Egret at the Ferry (AH)

North Selsey: A dozen Swifts went over our garden, to the north of the village, this afternoon. (AW)

Swifts over Selsey (AW)

Long Pool: At least 20 Whitethroats were along the hedges this morning, along with half a dozen Willow Warblers, a couple of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a juvenile Stonechat, two Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets. (AH)

Willow Warbler (above), Whitethroat & Reed Bunting along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher were behind the hide his morning, along with a Garden Warbler, two Willow Warblers and two Blackcaps. 

There were also a Greenshank, a Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and two Grey Plovers in the harbour, plus a Marsh Harrier over, whilst, oddly, a Whimbrel was in the long grass in front of the first Several. (P&LH)

Also, two Redstarts were along the path in front of the Several (P&JW).

Pied Flycatcher (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (LH)

Late this afternoon there were hundreds of hirundines - mainly Swallows - feeding high up, with lots of Black-headed Gulls and a few Common Terns also up high, presumably feeding on flying ants.

Also, two Spotted Flycatchers and the odd Willow Warbler and Whitethroat were around the churchyard/hide area, whilst a Whinchat and at least five Wheatears, plus a Sparrowhawk were along the beach, and a couple of whimbrel were in the harbour. (AW/AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (AW), Whinchat, Wheatear, Whimbrel & Sparrowhawk (AH) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A few Wheatears and Whinchats were along the banks and good numbers of Sand martins and Swallows were overhead this morning, whilst two Cattle Egrets and six Yellow Wagtails were among the cows and another c30 of the latter went over.

Also, two Common Sandpipers, four Egyptian Geese and nine 'Cackling-type' Geese were at the Stilt Pool. (NBd)

This evening there were c50 Yellow Wagtails around the reserve, with c600 Sand Martins and c50 Swallows overhead, along with a Raven, a Hobby, a Kestrel and a Buzzard.

Four Whinchats and a Stonechat were along the banks, along with a Dartford Warbler, a Whitethroat, three Willow Warblers and five Yellowhammers, whilst two Greeshanks were near the poplars and ten sandwich Terns were offshore, but again the stilt Pools were quiet, with just two Common sandpipers, four Black-tailed Godwits and the Egyptian Goose family of note. (S&SaH)

Yellow Wagtail (above) & Sand Martins at Medmerry (SH)