7th - 9th August 2023

Wednesday, 9th August: A lovely summer's morning of warm sun and white cloud, in just a light north-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: Four Shags went east and three Willow Warblers were along the front and there was a good selection of Swifts and hirundines about. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH

(0645-0900hrs) (NNW, F1-2)

Gannet - 5E, 1W, 1os

Shag - 4E

Common Scoter - 5E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 5E

Turnstone - 56

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 5W

Swift - 59

Swallow - 36W

Sand Martin - 22W

House Martin - 28

Willow Warbler - 3

(1350-1500hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 1W

Turnstone - 9

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 11os

Swallow - 1W

Sand Martin - 57E

House Martin - 21

Wheatear - 3

Shags (above), Sandwich Tern, Turnstone (AH), House Martins (AH above, SR)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Curlew, a Little Egret, five Black-tailed Godwits, seven young Shelducks and c75 Lapwings on the pool this morning, with half a dozen Cattle Egrets in  with the cows. 

Another Common Sandpiper and three Whimbrel were in the channel opposite, but the Tramway circuit was quiet, except for at least 25 Whitethroats, with otherwise just half a dozen Willow Warblers in one little group and two or three Reed Warblers in Red Barn Ditch. 

Later on, a Whinchat and three Wheatears were on the fences at the back of the pool. (AH/TG-P/NR/P&LH/KT)

Common Sandpiper (above), Whimbrel, Lapwings, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat & Willow Warblers around the Ferry (AH)

There was also a Green Sandpiper on the pool this afternoon, and a Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite. (KT)

Green Sandpiper on the Ferry (KT)

Long Pool: It was very quiet along the pool, with just a few Whitethroats and Linnets seen, though an adult and three juvenile Yellowhammers were at the far end, four Teal were on the water and c60 Redshanks were in the channel. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above) & Whitethroat along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two parrot sp - possibly Ring-necked Parakeets - were in gardens before flying off across the fields.

There were also 11 Pied Wagtails spread around, a close knit flock of six Wheatears and a Red-legged Partridge were in the north-east corner, and at least four Willow Warblers were around the farm. (IP)

Church Norton: The three Great Northern Divers were offshore again this morning, along with an Arctic Skua, whilst there were 25 Sandwich Terns, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, two Knot, 27 Grey Plovers, two Dunlin and five Whimbrels in the harbour, plus a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine chasing a Starling over the beach, which the latter caught and flew off onto the saltmarsh to eat.

Also, four Wheatears were on the concrete blocks, with five others around the area, with  three Garden Warblers, four Lesser Whitethroats, ten Whitethroats and five Willow Warblers also noted, and a Kestrel and four Red-legged Partridges were along Rectory Lane.. (BFF/DM/IP/P&LH/SR/KT et al)

Red-legged Partridges at Church Norton (SR)

This evening at least ten Wheatears were split between the path to the spit and the concrete blocks, with up to 20 Sandwich Terns around, along with a couple of Dunlin and c25 Turnstones. (AH)

Wheatears (above) & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey was seen catching a huge fish and a Short-eared Owl was sitting out along the banks this evening, with a female marsh Harrier and a Buzzard also about.

At least 700 Sand Martins were around the Stilt Pools, with six Swifts and 50 Swallows also seen, but there was just a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and the Egyptian Goose family of note there.. 

The banks were quite busy, with a Whinchat, two stonechats, two Wheatears, two Meadow Pipits, 12 Willow Warblers, six Whitethroats, four Dartford Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and nine Yellowhammers seen. (S&SaH)

Earlier, a Quail was reported to have been flushed from the banks. (per Birdguides)

Osprey (above) & Short-eared Owl at Medmerry (SH)

Chichester GPs: The escaped Cape Shelduck was still on the pits today. (TRH)

Cape Shelduck at Chichester GPs (TRH)

Tuesday, 8th August: A very grey, cool and overcast morning, with intermittent belts of light, drizzly rain in the freshening south-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: A pale phase Arctic Skua, a Sanderling and a flock of 20 Common Terns went west this morning, whilst a Shag was offshore. Full log below. (SR/IP/HR/DMe/AH/AW)

(0650-0820hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 1os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 4W

Sanderling - 1W

Turnstone - 21

Arctic Skua - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 7W, 2os

Common Tern - 21W

Swift - 4

Swallow - 13E

House Martin - 6

Hummingbird Hawk-moth - 2

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 7W

Turnstone - 16

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 8W

Common Tern - 12W

House Martin - 2

Arctic Skua (above), Common and Sandwich Terns (AH), Sanderling (AW) & Shag (SR) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper flew in and back out again, but otherwise there were just 14 Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Lapwings, five Teal and four Shelducks on the pool and c12 Cattle Egrets among the cows at the back. (AH)

Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Northcommon Farm: I walked the length of Golf Links Lane but there wasn't much on offer, though a flock of 28 House Martins flew overhead and seven Swallows were over the fields, with a Kestrel overseeing, and a single Linnet on the telephone wires. 

A family of Wrens tumbled out of the hedge, three Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat family and another eight adults were seen, too, together with a family of three Green Woodpeckers. (SR)

Wren at Northcommon Farm (SR)

North Selsey: A steady stream of Swifts were moving over the north of the village this morning. (AW)

Church Norton: The sheltered hedges were quiet this morning, with just a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the churchyard/hide area, though five Wheatears and similar numbers of Willow Warblers and Whitethroats were scattered along the front, with a Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler in the second several and a dozen Swallows over.

Two Sandwich Terns were offshore, but the harbour was very quiet beyond a handful of Whimbrels and Curlews and c75 Redshanks. (AH/HR/DMe)

This afternoon there were three Great Northern Divers, close in, offshore from the cottages at the west end of the reserve. (HL)

Wheatears (above), Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was still along White’s Creek this morning, along with two Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers, 60 Redshank, ten Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Lapwing, two Oystercatchers and three Curlews.

It was quiet along the wall, with just a few Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Linnets along the hedges, and three Little Grebes in Owl Water. There were 11 Cattle Egrets in the trees at Owl Copse, but it was quiet at Halsey’s Farm, with just a Buzzard and a pair of Kestrels around the fields. (LP/TRH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, Whitethroat & Buzzard at the North Wall (LP)

Monday, 7th August: A pleasant morning after a cool start, with plenty of sunshine in a light north-westerly early on, freshening as it moved to the west........

Selsey Bill: An Osprey, that flew west, well out to sea, apparently heading towards the Solent, was the highlight of a fairly quiet morning, though two pale-phase Arctic Skuas went west, a pod of at least six Bottle-nosed Dolphins went east and four Willow Warblers were in the gardens. Full log below. (SR/KT/IP/AH)

(0655-0825hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 2W

Common Scoter - 5W

Osprey - 1W

Oystercatcher - 6W

Turnstone - 51

Arctic Skua - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 10W

Swift - 30

Swallow - 19W

Sand Martin - 2W

House Martin - 20

Willow Warbler - 4

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 6E

House Martin (above), Sandwich Tern, Turnstones & Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill (AH)

This evening there were at least 60 Sanderlings on the beach, whilst ten Common Terns, two Razorbills, a Shag and a Kittiwake went west offshore. (AW)

Sanderlings (above), Shag, Razorbills & Kittiwake at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A probable Whinchat and two Wheatears were on the fences at the back this morning, with ten Cattle Egrets among the cows, but the pool just held c60 Lapwings, an Avocet, two Teal and four Shelducks. (KT/AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Hobby flew over the fields by Owl Copse, and a Marsh Harrier and two Sparrowhawks were overhead, with three Kestrels and a Buzzard also about. 

The usual mix of Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets were around their island and a Wheatear was along the wall. Small birds were limited to a couple of Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers, two Reed Buntings, two Greenfinches, two Linnets, a Reed Warbler and a dozen Long-tailed Tits, and in White’s Creek the Spotted Redshank was still around, along with two Greenshanks, 30 Redshank, two Curlews, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 30 Lapwing. (LP/IH/CT)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were surprisingly quiet this morning, with a dozen Whitethroats the most conspicuous species, with otherwise two juvenile and an adult Stonechat, three Willow Warblers, a briefly singing Reed Warbler, half a dozen Yellowhammers and Skylarks and the usual mobile Linnets, with c20 Sand Martins and c30 Swallows going over.

The Stilt Pools were dominated by the 150+ Canada Geese present, with eight Greylag Geese, the Egyptian Goose family and a dozen Gadwall among them, with two Common Sandpipers and 16 Lapwings the only waders seen, though a Greenshank was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Willow Warbler, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Geese, Gadwall & Migrant Hawker at Medmerry (AH)

This evening two Spoonbills were on the Stilt Pool, along with a Common Sandpiper, four Whimbrel and two Dunlin. (S&SaH)

Spoonbills at Medmerry (SH)

West Itchenor: There was plenty of House Martin activity here this morning, with the south facing terrace of five artificial nests all being occupied, and a newly discovered natural nest on Jetty House, overlooking the sea, also holding a family of nestlings. 

A couple of Swallows passed overhead, but all I could find along the shore was eight Black-tailed Godwits, eight Mute Swans, a Little Egret and a Pied Wagtail.

The village pond held just eight Mallard, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Willow Warblers and two families of Long-tailed Tits. The insects were doing well here; they included Migrant Hawker, Red-veined Darter, Mint Moth, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and Gatekeeper. (SR)

House Martin (above) & Green-veined White at West Itchenor (SR)