Monday, 18th September: A real change in the weather this morning, as a brisk south-westerly early on increased towards gale force later, bringing leaden skies and some heavy rain as it did so......
Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much happening this morning, though a lone Brent Goose went east, a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets were offshore, plus a flock of nine Shags east, with 117 Meadow Pipits west the most notable overhead activity. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)
(0705-0820hrs) (WSW, F4)
Gannet - 5E, 27W
Shag - 9E
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 1W
Kestrel - 1
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 11W
auk sp - 1E
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 117W
Shags (above), Gannet & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were still four Spotted Redshanks and c30 Dunlin on the pool this morning, though the water level has risen again, with otherwise just 26 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Teal present, whilst a Whimbrel was in the channel opposite and five Golden Plovers flew over into the field. (AH)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Dunlin & Whimbrel at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A brief look between the showers this morning produced just a Whitethroat and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the hedges, with half a dozen Swallows over, with four Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, a dozen Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin, plus similar of Teal, the best in the harbour. (AH)
Later, a Wheatear was on the concrete blocks. (GR)
Whitethroat (above), Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: There were still nine Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek this morning, along with a Spotted Redshank, the short-billed Greenshank and plenty of Redshanks, with a few Wigeon further out.
A Whinchat was around the paddocks and a mixed flock of small birds was moving along the hedgerow including a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, and a few Chiffchaffs, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits.
Later, the Curlew Sandpipers had relocated to the Breech Pool, along with six Dunlin and a few Teal, but the water was rising rapidly on the pool and the muddy margins were disappearing fast. (LP/TRH)
This evening there were 11 Curlew Sandpipers and a spotted Redshank in White's Creek, in White's Creek, with two Snipe on the Breech Pool and two Cetti's Warblers calling nearby, whilst up to 150 Yellow Wagtails were flying around, waiting to come into roost.
Also, nine Sand Martins, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard went over. (S&SaH)
Curlew Sandpiper (above), Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin & Spotted Redshank at the North Wall (LP)
West Wittering: Not a bird we take a lot of notice of, but the flocks of feral Canada Geese are getting larger and larger, with over 1000 in the stubble field between East and West Wittering last night.
Meanwhile ,flocks of 500-1000 Mediterranean Gulls were on the foreshore between Ella Nore and the Horse Pond south of Itchenor. (GM)
Sunday, 17th September: A very muggy, overcast start eventually gave way to a freshening breeze and some very heavy, thundery showers by late morning......
Selsey Bill: Most of the interest was overhead again, with over 3000 hirundines - the vast majority being Swallows - going east across a wide band, along with 80 Yellow Wagtails and 172 Meadow Pipits, whilst a Marsh Harrier flew in off the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/CN/SR/IP/AH/P&LH)
(0615-0900hrs) (ENE, F3)
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 8E, 6W, 12os
Shag - 2E, 1os
Wigeon - 1W
Marsh Harrier - 1N
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sanderling - 1E
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 25E
Sandwich Tern - 23E
Swallow - 2859E
Sand Martin - 11E
House Martin - 166E
Yellow Wagtail - 80E
Grey Wagtail - 1E
Pied Wagtail - 3E
Meadow Pipit - 172E
Wheatear - 1
(1400-1515hrs) (P&LH)
Gannet - 18E
Shag - 1E, 1os
Kestrel - 1
Turnstone - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 4E
Razorbill - 1E
Swallow - 3E
Wheatear - 1
Swallow (above), Wheatear, Mediterranean Gull & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were six Spotted Redshanks on the pool this morning, along with two Snipe, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover, c40 Dunlin, four Shelducks and c40 Teal. (AH)
Later, in addition to the above, there were also seven Shovelers, 25 Lapwings, two Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, eight Redshank, three Wheatears and a Stonechat seen, plus at least 1500 Starlings in the fields at the back. (P&LH)
Also, two Spoonbills were reported flying into Ferry Channel, but there were no further reports or details. (per Birdguides)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Snipe & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: Two Sparrowhawks were seen over the fields this morning, along with a lone Pied Wagtail, whilst a Chiffchaff was in the bushes. (IP/CN)
Church Norton: Most of the interest was again waders in the harbour, including 20 Knot, c100 Dunlin, two Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwits, seven Grey Plovers, 20 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and a Turnstone, plus the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, whilst the first returning pair of Shelducks were also present, along with a dozen Great-crested Grebes, 100 Wigeon and 30 Teal.
A lone Wheatear on the shingle at the start of the spit was about the only passerine seen beyond a steady eastward movement of Swallows, plus a couple of Sand Martins and House Martins, with two Gannets east offshore and four Shovelers on the second Several the only other birds of note. (IP/CN)
This evening, at least three Spotted Flycatchers were around the churchyard/Mound area, along with half a dozen Chiffchaffs, a couple of Blackcaps and a dozen Long-tailed Tits.
The harbour was quiet, though, with just a Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwits, four Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Plovers and c20 Teal of note. (AH)
Spotted Flycatcher (above), Chiffchaff, Whimbrel & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: There were still up to a dozen Curlew Sandpipers spread along White's Creek this morning, where there were also a Spotted Redshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a Turnstone and a handful of Dunlin, whilst four Knot, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and plenty of Redshanks and Wigeon were at the far end.
A Kingfisher flew around the sluice area a couple of times and there were several sightings of Marsh Harriers, but the Breech Pool just held a couple of Snipe and c20 Black-tailed Godwits and Teal, and the wall just a Wheatear and two or three Whitethroats, Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings. (AH/LP/P&LH et al)
Curlew Sandpipers (above), Spotted Redshank, Whitethroat & Marsh Harrier at the North Wall (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There was an unusually pale Peregrine - possibly a juvenile - opposite the Stilt Pool this morning.
Otherwise, it was fairly quiet in the deteriorating conditions, but two Marsh Harriers were also seen, along with two Wheatears and five Yellow Wagtails, with a couple of Dartford Warblers heard, a few Swallows and a House Martin over, a Common Sandpiper on the Stilt Pools and a Greenshank in the channel opposite. (HB)
Peregrine at Medmerry (HB)
This afternoon, after the rain cleared, there were a few more small birds about, including a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, three Dartford Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, eight Willow/Chiffs, five Stonechats, four Wheatears, 13 Yellow Wagtails, a Reed Bunting and c40 Yellowhammers, whilst a Hobby, two Ravens, three female-type Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards and three Kestrels went over.
Also, a Greenshank, a Snipe, a Whimbrel and eight Egyptian Geese were on the reserve and a Common Sandpiper was on the stilt Pool. (S&SaH)
Wheatear at Medmerry (SH)
Saturday, 16th September: After a cool start, a very warm and sunny morning in a fairly light easterly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: The first five Siskins of the autumn went over east, along with a few Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits and a steady flow of hirundines - mostly House Martins. Full log later. (SH/JA/BI/SR/AH/IP)
(0615-0900hrs) (E, F3-4)
Gannet - 6E, 12W
Shag - 2E, 3os
Common Scoter - 3E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sanderling - 6E
Dunlin - 2W
Turnstone - 30
Mediterranean Gull - 6os
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Swallow - 342E
Sand Martin - 18E
House Martin - 1034E
Yellow Wagtail - 6E
Grey Wagtail - 6E
Pied Wagtail - 3E
Meadow Pipit - 109E
Wheatear - 3
Chiffchaff - 1
Siskin - 5E
House Martin (above), Swallow & Shag at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were five Spotted Redshanks on the pool this morning, along with three Snipe, 11 Dunlin, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, two Shovelers, four Shelducks and c30 Teal. (AH)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits & Snipe and Teal at the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Yellow Wagtail flew in and landed near the farm, where there was also a minimum of two Chiffchaffs, a Common Whitethroat and a female type Blackcap, with seven Pied Wagtails in the fields and both a Buzzard and Sparrowhawk about overhead. (IP)
Church Norton: A Wheatear was along the beach and another along Park Road, and six Pied Wagtails were briefly on the mud, whilst two Grey Wagtails and a minimum of 100 Meadow Pipits flew through in an easterly direction, and there was a continuous flow of Swallows and House Martins overhead, though only two Sand Martins were among them.
There was a mix of waders in the harbour, which included a Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrel, three Knot, two Grey Plovers, a Turnstone, three Ringed Plover and a minimum of 75 Dunlin, along with two flocks, numbering c100, of Wigeon along with about 50 Teal. A Marsh Harrier was also hunting at the back of the Severals. (IP/BI)
This evening, a Mistle Thrush and a few Chiffchaffs were around he churchyard, with a Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of Grey Plovers the only waders of note in the harbour. (AH)
Mistle Thrush (above) & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: There were still at least 12 Curlew Sandpipers around this morning, moving between White’s Creek and the Breech Pool, and a Spotted Redshank, four Turnstones and the regular Greenshank were by the sluice. A Water Rail was on the Breech Pool, along with six Dunlin, five Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Teal, a Sparrowhawk flew over and a Marsh Harrier was further back over the reeds.
Also, a Whinchat and three Wheatear were along the wall and five Yellow Wagtails were still in the reeds early on. (LP/TG/DHi/JDW/GaJ)
Curlew Sandpipers (above), Spotted Redshank & Water Rail at the North Wall (LP)
East Side: An Avocet was out in the harbour and a Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Ringed Plover, 40 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 100 Redshank and 20 Curlews were along the far end of White’s Creek, a Common Seal was hauled out on the mud and six Pintail were on the water, along with 50 Wigeon and three Great Crested Grebes, while overhead there were six Meadow Pipits, 50 Swallows and 20 House Martins. (LP/TG)
Pintails (above), Avocet & Common seal along the East side (LP)
Fishbourne Creek: An Osprey flying south put c1000 gulls up, that included plenty of Mediterranean Gulls and 35 Common Gulls among a good mix of Herring and Black-headed Gulls, with single Yellow-legged Gull seen separately nearby.
A good total of 16 Greenshank was counted, whilst a Kingfisher was at the outfall along with a Grey Wagtail, three Dunlin, seven Turnstones and the usual supporting cast of Mute Swans, Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings and Little Egrets.
The hedges held two Reed Buntings, three Yellowhammers, a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Green Woodpecker, whilst two Snipe flew over. (AHu)
Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Viewpoint - There were three Whinchats, eight Stonechats, three Wheatears and four Whitethroats around the banks and fences this morning, whilst four Yellow Wagtails, a Sand Martin, 200 Swallows, 50 House Martins, a a Marsh Harrier, five Buzzards and two Kestrels went over. (S&SaH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were quite quiet this morning, though a Whinchat, three Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits, a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Buntings and at least a dozen Yellowhammers and Linnets were seen, with four Yellow Wagtails, three Skylarks, c50 House Martins, c100 Swallows and a couple of Sparrowhawks going over.
A Greenshank, a Whimbrel, a colour-ringed Little Egret and two Common Sandpipers were near the poplars, with another of the latter on the Stilt Pools, along with c20 Lapwings, half a dozen Teal and Gadwall and at least 300 Canada Geese, with three Cattle Egrets in the long grass by the beach there and four Egyptian Geese in the fields by the car-park. (AH/AHu/S&SaH)
Whinchat (above), Stonechat, Skylark, Common Sandpiper, Cattle Egret (AH) & colour-ringed Little Egret (AHu) at Medmerry
No comments:
Post a Comment