29th - 31st August 2023

Thursday, 31st August: A pretty dismal morning of uninterrupted drizzly rain, occasionally becoming heavier, and decidedly cool in the light north-easterly breeze........

Selsey Bill: A  total of seven Wheatears along the beach and a Yellow Wagtail over were the highlights of a slow morning. (SR/AH)

(0655-0810hrs) (NE, F2)

Gannet - 10E, 1W

Shag - 1os

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 21E, 15W

Common Tern - 3W

House Martin - 14

Sand Martin - 4E

Yellow Wagtail - 1W

Wheatear - 7

(1625-1725hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 41E, 2W

Shag - 2W

Common Scoter - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Sandwich Tern - 11E

Common Tern - 1E

Swift - 2

Swallow - 2E

House Martin - 12

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

Ferry Pool: There were just a Common Sandpiper, two Avocets, four Black-tailed Godwits, three Shelducks and six Teal on the pool this morning, with up to ten Cattle Egrets among the cows. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), & Common Sandpiper and Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were three Yellow Wagtails in with the cows at Halsey’s Farm and five Wheatears were along the fence there, a Kingfisher was by the outfall and a Buzzard was in the field.

In the bushes along the wall there were a few Whitethroats, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a few Blue Tits, whilst 12 Cattle Egrets and 6 Little Egrets were in the trees at Owl Copse, and 50 Curlews were in the fields. On the Breech Pool there were 12 Black-tailed Godwits and ten Teal, and along White’s Creek the usual Greenshank was with lots of Redshanks and Lapwings, but, apart from a hundred or so Swallows and Sand Martins flying over, that was about it in the persistent rain. (LP/TRH)

Church Norton: All the small birds seemed to be in one big flock around he large oak at the foot of the path to the harbour, and included a Spotted Flycatcher, a Blackcap and at least half a dozen Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, among a vast number of Blue and Long-tailed Tits.

Otherwise, a Peregrine was sat out on Tern Island and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers, three or four Whimbrel and c30 Curlews and Ringed Plovers were among the 100+ Redshank that predominated. (AH/MO-W)

Blackcap (above), Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Peregrine & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 30th August: After a chilly start, a fairly warm morning of hazy sun and cloud in a light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was no repeat of yesterday's excitement this morning, the sea being very quiet, with a Hobby flying in and five Wheatears on the beach the highlights. Full log below... (OM/SR/CN/CRJ/LP/SP/IH/AH et al)

(0630-1000hrs)  (W/NW, F4)

Gannet - 3E, 51W

Common Scoter - 2E, 1W

Hobby - 1N

Turnstone - 8

Sandwich Tern - 36W

Common Tern - 2W

Swallow - 18W

Sand Martin - 12W

House Martin - 20W

Wheatear - 5

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

Ferry Pool: There were a few birds on the pool this morning, including a Spotted Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpipers, two Avocets, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelducks and c25 Teal, with at least a dozen Cattle Egrets around the cows. (AH/OM et al)

Later on, a Hobby went over the Tramway and two Wheatears were at the back of the pool. (HB)

Spotted Redshank (above), Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpipers & Cattle Egrets at the Ferry (AH)

Birdham: A Nuthatch was in my garden this morning - first time I have seen one here! (GT)

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was here, too, this afternoon, with one heard calling near Chalkdock Copse. (PH)

West Wittering: First successful 'noc-mig' last night,where I actually heard something other than Tawny Owls, with quite a few Whimbrel and a Little Ringed Plover recorded going over. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - It was quiet this evening, with just a Willow Warbler and four Yellowhammers along the banks, a Greenshank and 16 Yellow Wagtails, plus a Kestrel over, around the reserve, and, again, just a common sandpiper and the Egyptian Goose family among the Canad Geese on the Stilt Pools. Unusually, for this time of year, not a single hirundine was seen. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - There were five Whinchats, seven Stonechats and at least a dozen Wheatears seen around the banks and fields, along with 30+ Skylarks and a few Linnets and Reed Buntings, with at least a dozen Whitethroats and two Willow Warblers in the hedges. (MW/AH)

Wheatears (above), Stonechat & Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 29th August: A fairly warm morning of hazy sun and cloud in a light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was an unprecedented influx of Balearic Shearwaters this morning, shattering all previous Peninsula and county records. A total of 238 birds went east, including two huge flocks that joined together to make one massive flock of 200 birds, heading east in a long line at 0745hrs, followed by 38 more in two flocks at 0755hrs, with just 13 stragglers heading back west. Over 500 were also reported passing the south of the Isle of Wight and 125 were seen passing Hayling Island, suggesting a very significant movement of this globally threatened species.

Beyond that, all else was a bit of an anti-climax, though a Tree Pipit, 20 Yellow Wagtails, nine Swifts and plenty of all three hirundine species went over, and a few of the regular species were seen offshore. Full log later. (PB/PM/SR/IP/MO-W/AH et al)

(0600-0930hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Crested Grebe  2W

Balearic Shearwater - 238E (including a flock of 200!), 13W

Gannet - 35E, 29W

Shag - 1E, 1os

Teal - 7W

Shoveler - 3W

Common Scoter - 1E, 10W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 5E

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 10

Sandwich Tern - 23os

auk sp - 1W

Swift - 9W

Swallow - 129W

Sand Martin - 75W

House Martin - 122W

Yellow Wagtail - 20W

Grey Wagtail - 2W

Tree Pipit - 1E

Willow Warbler - 1

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 11E, 2W, 7os

Turnstone - 2

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4W

Common Tern - 4W

distant Balearic Shearwaters (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was quiet this morning, with just a Common Sandpiper, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, a Lapwing, four Shelducks and 25 Teal present, with a dozen or so Cattle Egrets among the cows. (AH)

Later on, the three Spotted Redshanks were back on the pool. (ESt)

Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Also, a Wasp Spider was in nearby vegetation. (RS)

Wasp Spider at the Ferry (RS)

North Wall: A Turtle Dove - finally, the first of the year - flew down by the rife at Halsey’s Farm before settling briefly in a nearby bush and then heading north, whilst a Whinchat, a Wheatear, eight Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat were also in the same bush, with a Spotted Flycatcher nearby, and three Yellow Wagtails, 80 Sand Martins and 100 Swallows overhead.

An adult Water Rail was along the reeds in the Breech Pool along with two Reed Warblers and three Cetti’s Warblers, with two Spotted Redshanks, a Redshank, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Teal on the water.

In the fields there were 62 Curlews, and 23 Cattle Egrets were around the cows, with lots more Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap along the hedgerows. Out in the harbour on a rising tide there were c100 Grey Plovers, a Greenshank, 20 Ringed Plovers, 12 Dunlin, three Knot and lots of Redshanks and Lapwings, with three newly arrived Wigeon and four Great Crested Grebes on the water. (LP/SP/NR/PB/PM/BI at al)

Turtle Dove (above), Turtle Dove and Goldfinch, Spotted Redshanks & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: It was generally quiet, though up to seven Spotted Flycatchers were spread around the churchyard/hide area, the concrete wall and the Severals, with a scattering of Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs about, plus 15 Yellow Wagtails and hundreds of hirundines over.

A handful of Knot and a couple of Whimbrel were the highlights from the harbour at high tide. (AH/ESt et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Sand Martins at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Beach: A Long-tailed Blue butterfly was seen along the beach this afternoon. (TH)

Long-tailed Blue at Pagham Beach (TH)

26th - 28th August 2023

Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August: A cool, but pleasant, morning of sun and cloud in a light to moderate north-westerly......

Selsey Bill: The most significant thing this morning was the number - 29 - of Balearic Shearwaters about, with 15 east, comprising two at 0630hrs, ten together at 0735hrs three more shortly afterwards, and 11 west, comprising the first at 0620hrs, a flock of nine at 0635hrs, three at 0655hrs and the last at 0858hrs. 

There was some other interest, too, including a Ruff over east, a Common Sandpiper and six Yellow Wagtails over west and a Sedge Warbler and six Wheatears along the front. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/SR/DB/MB/KT/MO-W/AH/RHa et al)

(0600-0900hrs) (NNW, F2)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Balearic Shearwater - 15E, 14W

Gannet - 9E, 9W, 8os

Shag - 2os

Grey Heron - 2E

Common Scoter - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Ruff - 1E

Common Sandpiper - 1W

Turnstone - 22

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 15E, 7W

Common Tern - 13E

auk sp - 1W

Swift - 3

Swallow - 4W

Sand Martin - 1E

House Martin - 15

Yellow Wagtail - 6W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Wheatear - 6

Sedge Warbler - 1

Willow Warbler - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 3W

Common Sandpiper (above), Sandwich Tern & Wheatear at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The three Spotted Redshanks were on the pool again this morning, along with the juvenile Little Ringed Plover, four Common Sandpipers, two Avocets, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelducks and c30 Teal, with up to ten Cattle Egrets among the cows. (AH/AHu)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The fields held a minimum of 11 Yellow Wagtails and four Pied Wagtails, a Wheatear and a Whinchat this morning, with two Reed Warblers in the rife and a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Sparrowhawk about, too.

Also, a minimum of 500 hirundines were over the fields and continued to be seen in pulses all morning, with all three species well represented, whilst a Wheatear was along Park Lane and a pair of Red-legged Partridges were on the beach there. (IP)

Wheatear (above) & Red-legged Partridge at Park Farm, Selsey (IP)

Church Norton: The trees between Greenlease Farm and the Orchard were alive with birds, including a minimum of five Willow Warblers, lots of common passerines and a single Spotted Flycatcher, with the fields to the east producing a mobile flock of 20 Yellow Wagtails.

The first Several held a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and plenty of Whitethroats, with a Wheatear, a Blackcap and a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, plus a huge mixed hirundine flock, at the second Several, whilst there were seven Wheatears, two Whinchats and a Stonechat along the spit, with a female Redstart, a couple of Spotted Flycatchers and a big mixed flock,containing a dozen Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Willow Warblers and Blackcaps and numerous Long-tailed Tits, were moving along behind the hide.

There was a surprise at the second Several, where a Water Rail flew across the pool, landing briefly in the water before scuttling into the reeds, whilst the Whimbrel was again in the long grass in front of the first Several, two Sandwich Terns flew west offshore, a Peregrine and, for a while, a Merlin were both sat out on Tern Island, but waders were few on the full tide, with a summer plumaged Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank that flew north calling, two Whimbrel and six Turnstones the highlights. (IP/AH/AHu/MB/DB/CRJ et al)

Merlin and Peregrine (above), Whimbrel (AHu), Grey Plover (IP), Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sand Martin & Swallow (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: A Redstart, four Wheatears and lots of Whitethroats were at Halsey’s Farm this morning, and a Whinchat and another Wheatear were along the wall.

A Spotted Redshank was on the Breech Poo,l along with a Redshank, four Black-tailed Godwits, eight Teal and a few Mallards, while in the fields there were 52 Curlews and 12 Black-tailed Godwits, and a Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel were around the Paddock, with a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff in the surrounding trees. (LP/TRH/CT)

Redstart (above), Whinchat, Wheatear & Spotted Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

This evening, there were just six Wheatears and a couple of Whitethroats around Owl Point, whilst the cattle around the creek at Halsey's Farm brought half a dozen Yellow Wagtails, a dozen Cattle Egrets and a huge flock of c200 Swallows and c400 Sand Martins into the vicinity. (AH/TH)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Wheatears & Sand Martins and Swallows at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Hobby and two female-type Marsh harriers went over this morning, along with two Sparrowhawks, five Buzzards, four Kestrels, c50 Swallows and c400 and Martins.

The banks held eight Wheatears, two stonechats,, four Dartford Warblers, four Chiffchaffs, six Willow Warblers, two Whitethroats and six Yellowhammers, whilst c40 Yellow Wagtails and two Greenshanks were on the reserve, but again the Stilt Pools just held a Common Sandpiper and the Egyptian Goose family, plus lots of Canada Geese. (S&SaH)

Sunday, 27th August: A mostly bright and quite breezy morning in a freshening north-westerly......

Selsey Bill: A loose flock of seven Balearic Shearwaters went east this morning, and another single went west a little later, all fairly distantly, whilst four Cattle Egrets flew in from far offshore and seven Wheatears were along the front. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/BI/SR/IP/MO-W/AH/CN/P&LH)

(0600-0830hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Balearic Shearwater - 7E (0720hrs), 1W (0750hrs)

Gannet - 3E, 26W

Shag - 1E

Cattle Egret - 4E

Shelduck - 3W

Common Scoter - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Ringed Plover - 2E

Sanderling - 1W

Turnstone - 17

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 4W

Swallow - 8

House Martin - 8

Yellow Wagtail - 2W

Wheatear - 7

Willow Warbler - 1

Sanderling (SR) (above), Cattle Egrets, Mediterranean Gulls & Shelducks (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The three Spotted Redshanks were again on the pool this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, an Avocet, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Teal, with a Whinchat and a Stonechat on the fences at the back and up to a dozen Cattle Egrets were with the cows, but a couple of Willow Warblers and half a dozen Whitethroats were all that could be seen around the Tramway circuit. 

There were also four Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, nine Dunlin and nine Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite. (AH/PB/MRB/P&LH)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Spotted Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwit & Common Sandpiper at the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Two Swifts were over the north end of the village and both a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were over the farm this morning, whilst in the fields there were two separate flocks of Yellow Wagtails, totalling 13 birds, along with a Pied Wagtail and two Wheatears. (IP/CN)

Later, there were eight Wheatears, tn Yellow Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, a sparrowhawk, ten Sand Martins, and c50 House Martins and Swallows around the fields. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There were at least 25 Yellow Wagtails in the fields at Greenlease Farm, with up to a dozen Wheatears along the beach, though a Sparrowhawk appeared to take one that was feeding on blackberries. Otherwise, plenty of Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers and a Blackcap were the only other migrants noted, with two juvenile Green Woodpeckers, a Jay, a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Reed Bunting also seen.

A flock of nine Common Terns flew west along the shoreline, whilst in the harbour, there were a Knot, two Turnstones, two Bar-tailed Godwit, two mixed flying flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover numbering c75 birds, five Grey Plovers, two Whimbrel, two Common Sandpipers  and 19 Little Egrets, with a Peregrine, a Buzzard, two Swifts, 25 Swallows, 15 House Martins and c40 Sand Martins over. (IP/CN/P&LH)

Later, there were still ten Wheatears along the beach and c50 Sand Martins went over. (S&SaH)

North Wall: Most of the activity this morning was around Halsey's Farm, where two Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, couple of Willow Warblers and a handful of Wheatears and Whitethroats were seen, though another eight Wheatears were in the Honer fields and a few Swallows and Sand Martins went over.

A juvenile Water Rail on the Breech pool was an unusual sighting, with otherwise 16 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Teal present, plus a fly-by Kingfisher, with a couple of juvenile Cattle Egrets still in Owl Copse, but the harbour was quiet. (GM/SP/IH/AH/NM/PB/MRB et al)

At least four Whinchats and four wheatears were in the fields at Owl Point this afternoon. (IP/CN)

Redstart (above), Whitethroat, Black-tailed Godwits & juvenile Cattle Egret at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were four Whinchats, seven Stonechats, 13 Wheatears, four Dartford Warblers, ten Meadow Pipits, three Yellow Wagtails, six Whitethroats, a Cetti's Warbler and four Willow Warblers were seen from along the banks this morning, with 65 Sand Martins and 25 Swallows going over.

Also, a Great White Egret flew south-west over the reserve, with a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and four buzzards also going over, whilst a Greenshank and a Kingfisher were near the poplars and, again, the Stilt Pool just held a Common Sandpiper ad the Egyptian Goose family. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 26th August: A morning of brief sunny spells and heavy showers under a lot of cloud, quite cool in the moderate westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A Balearic Shearwater went west this morning, along with a juvenile Arctic Skua, three Sanderlings and four Redshanks, with 15 Yellow Wagtails and two Grey Wagtails also going west overhead. Full log below. (SH/PB/PM/BI/SR/MO-W/IP/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (W, F4)

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0720hrs)

Gannet - 2E, 40W

Shag - 1W

Common Scoter - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2W

Sanderling - 3W

Redshank - 4W

Turnstone - 12

Arctic Skua - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 12W

Swift - 3

Green Woodpecker - 1

House Martin - 27

Yellow Wagtail - 15W

Grey Wagtail - 2W

Wheatear - 2

Wheatear (above), Sandwich Tern, Sanderlings & Redshanks at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Spotted Redshanks on the pool this morning, along with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks and c30 Teal, whilst at least a dozen Cattle Egrets were among the cows. (AH/PB/PM)

Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshanks & Cattle Egret at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The fields held four Pied Wagtails, with three Sparrowhawks playing over the trees and a Kestrel was also present, whilst my walk back up Park Lane produced a female Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat - both uncommon species here. (IP)

Church Norton: There were plenty of Common Whitethroats around the first Several when the rain abated, but they were the only warblers seen other than three Sedge Warblers together in the gorse by the second Several, and there was one Wheatear seen at the beginning of the Spit with two more on the beach.

Waders in the harbour were slightly more interesting, though, with two summer-plumaged Grey Plovers and five Bar-tailed Godwits feeding in the channel, along with two Common Sandpipers, three Whimbrel, c40 Dunlin and c60 Ringed Plovers.

The only other things of note were two very vocal and active Green Woodpeckers around the orchard at Greenlease Farm, two Teal flying over the horse field, and a bedraggled young Reed Bunting in the hedge there. (IP/BI)

This evening at least four Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide, with several Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers also present, whilst a Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits were the only waders of note in a quiet harbour. (AH)

Spotted Flycatchers (above), Willow Warbler, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Grasshopper Warbler was in the hedgerows at Halsey’s Farm this morning, along with a Tree Pipit, four Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Lesser Whitethroats and numerous Whitethroats, whilst two Whinchats and a Wheatear were behind the Breech Pool, and a Yellow Wagtail, four Sedge Warblers, 16 Long-tailed Tits and more Whitethroats were along the bushes. with a Green Woodpecker by the stables.

Also, there were 14 Curlews and 12 Cattle Egrets in the fields, and a Peregrine was again chasing Lapwings over the harbour, whilst along White’s Creek there were a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, five Grey Plovers, a Whimbrel and lots of Redshanks, (LP/SP/TH/BI/MB/KT et al)

Tree Pipit (above), Redstart and Whitethroat, Greenshank & Curlew at the North Wall (LP)

This evening there were still two Redstarts around Halsey's Farm and a Barn Owl was out hunting there. (SR)

Redstart (above) & Barn Owl at the North Wall (SR)

West Itchenor: There was no sign of the reported Red-backed Shrike between Rookwood and Itchenor this morning, though 2500+ Mediterranean Gulls were on the foreshore, with a Greenshank, a Wheatear, a few Whitethroats and other usual suspects were also about. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were a male Redstart, six Whinchats and 11 Stonechats along the banks this afternoon, along with three Dartford Warblers, four Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers and a Yellowhammer, with three Sand Martins, 20 Swallows , a Yellow Wagtail, a Hobby, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk over.

A Greenshank and a Whimbrel were near the poplars, but the Stilt Pool remains quiet, with just a Common Sandpiper and the Egyptian Goose family of note. (S&SaH)