22nd - 24th September 2023

Sunday, 24th September: A complete change to cloudy and very windy conditions, in a brisk south-south-west wind 5-6, though remaining dry and still quite warm, with occasional sunny interludes.....

Selsey Bill: Perhaps predictably, the change in conditions and wind direction prompted a notable change to the sea-watching prospects, and those observers present were treated to some interesting seabirds at last.....the morning producing eleven Sooty Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, an Arctic Tern and a tight flock of 19 Commic Terns, all heading west. Full log below.(BI/IP/SH/JA/P&MB)

(0630-0930hrs) (Wind SSW, F6)

Gannet - 4E, 11W, 40os

Shag - 5E, 1os

Common Scoter - 8E, 6W

Wigeon - 2W

Turnstone - 8

Knot - 2W

Sooty Shearwater - 2W (singles, 0745 & 0830)

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0819)

Arctic Skua - 3W (juvs)

Long-tailed Skua - 1W (juv 0805)

Mediterranean Gull - 98W

Black-headed Gull - 89W

Common Gull - 1W

Arctic Tern - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 11E, 22W

Guillemot - 1W

auk sp - 1E, 8W

Meadow Pipit - 9N

Swallow - 963W

(1030-1140hrs) (BI/RAI)

Gannet - 28W

Sooty Shearwater - 5W (1@1041, 1@1116, 1@1124, 2@1129)

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Arctic Skua - 1W l/p

Commic Tern - 19W

Sandwich Tern - 4W

auk sp. - 1W

Swallow- 24W

(1230-1500hrs) (SH/JA) 

Gannet - 40W, 40os

Shag - 2W

Sooty Shearwater - 4W (1@1240, 2@1305, 1@1405)

Turnstone - 30

Mediterranean Gull - 23W

Arctic Skua - 1W

Black Tern - 2W

Arctic Tern - 1W

Commic Tern - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 17W

Swallow - 36W

(1500-1730hrs) (CRJ/NC)

A mixed gull flock of at least 500 birds was offshore late this afternoon and additionally there were:

Shag - 14W

Mediterranean Gull - 20os

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Sunrise at the Bill, (PB); Mediterranean Gull & Turnstones at the Bill (BI)

East Side: A 1W Caspian Gull was with the Great Black-backed Gulls this afternoon before flying towards the beach. (IMcK)

North Wall: There were still four Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek this morning, along with the regular Greenshank, 12 Dunlin, two Spotted Redshanks, 50 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 5 Pintail, and the usual mix of Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews. A group of seven Golden Plover flew in and landed out in the middle of the harbour and there was a steady stream of Swallows with a few House Martins heading south. 

The water level on the Breech Pool has dropped again and there were 37 Black-tailed Godwits, another Greenshank, and five Little Egrets there, but the hedgerows were very quiet in the windy conditions with just a Reed Bunting and a Chiffchaff seen. A Kingfisher was by the sluice, a pair of Jays flew past, and a Marsh Harrier was with a Buzzard further back. (LP/DH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Breech pool, Reed Bunting on the North Wall and Curlew Sandpiper in White's creek (LP)

Church Norton: Four Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard along with ten Long-tailed Tits and a Cetti's Warbler whilst nine Red-legged Partridges were in the field to the rear. In the harbour there were two Pintail, 20 Wigeon, four Great Crested Grebes, four Sandwich Terns and just two Mediterranean Gulls. Waders however were more numerous; totals consisted of a Greenshank, two Sanderling, c.50 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Grey Plover, ten Knot, five Black-tailed Godwits and six Bar-tailed Godwits. 

The only birds offshore were a Common Tern and a Gannet, both going west, whilst at Greenlease farm orchard a Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders, though it was otherwise quiet in the wind. A black Adder was also noted along the Severals for its second day. (PB/MRB/IP/BI)

Greenshank (above) & black Adder at Church Norton (IP)

Runcton: A look around the area south of the village this morning produced a Grey Heron, 23 Egyptian Geese, eight Mallard, a Green Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff, (CRJ)

Egyptian Geese at Runcton (CRJ)

 

Saturday, 23rd September: Similar weather to yesterday; a chilly start after a clear night, then warming up to a fine and sunny day with a moderate north-westerly breeze 3-4, backing south-west later.

Selsey Bill: Two Arctic Skuas went west as did three Brent Geese, but sea passage was minimal, although there was some variety with vis.mig and over 200 Meadow Pipits flew north, whilst over 3000 hirundines moved through, of which the large majority were House Martins. Full log below. (PB/BI/SH/IP)

(0630-0900hrs)   (Wind WNW, F 3-4)

Gannet - 5E, 1W

Shag - 14E

Little Egret - 2W

Brent Goose - 3W

Common Scoter - 1E

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 6

Arctic Skua - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 29os

Guillemot - 1W

Wheatear - 9

Song Thrush - 1

Meadow Pipit - 235N

Yellow Wagtail - 5W

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Grey Wagtail - 4W

House Martin - 2600W

Swallow - 725W

Chiffchaff - 7

Wheatear at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm: It was generally quiet here this morning but a Pied Wagtail was on the barn roof and a minimum of four Chiffchaffs were in the general area whilst a Sparrowhawk flew over the fields and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was on a telegraph pole. (IP/RM)

North Wall: A Merlin was over the harbour and 12 Curlew Sandpipers were back in White’s Creek along with two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, six Curlew, 32 Dunlin, 28 Grey Plovers and numerous Redshank, Oystercatchers, and Lapwings; 60 Wigeon and 40 Teal were in the channel and there were a few Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits overhead. 

A Cetti’s Warbler was by the sluice and a few Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs were in the bushes. Two Marsh Harriers were further back, and two Jays flew by, but it was quiet along the wall with just a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards over Owl Copse and two juvenile Cattle Egrets still in the trees. 

Six Little Egrets were in the Breech Pool and seven Cattle Egrets at Owl Copse. Five Stonechats were along the fences and bushes at Owl Point, also seen were Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting and a Raven was heard several times.  (LP/CRJ)

Curlew Sandpiper (above), Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel & Spotted Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - On the way down there were three Buzzards, a juv male Marsh Harrier, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel, plus three Cattle Egrets, two Cetti's Warblers, ten Stonechats and 25 Chiffchaffs.

Over the reserve there were c.400 Meadow Pipits (of which 300 came up together), and also seven Yellow Wagtails, five Wheatears, two Whinchats, eight Dartford Warblers and 13 Yellowhammers, with 50 House Martins and a couple of Swallows overhead. The only birds of interest on the Stilt pool were a Common Sandpiper and a Snipe. (S&SaH)

Medmerry Trail to Ham: A few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were along the trail this morning but most noticeable was an increase in Stonechats with c.20 logged up to Ham. Otherwise, a Peregrine was on a kill near Ham viewpoint and there were c.50 hirundines over the sewage works. (BI)

Stonechat, top, & Peregrine at Ham (BI)

Ferry Pool: A brief view of the Ferry at around 0900hrs produced four Greenshank that flew off north together and a lone Sand Martin. (IP/RM)

Church Norton: A Mistle Thrush was in the churchyard this morning along with 21 Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits whilst behind the hide a Kestrel was preening in the conifers. The fields at Greenlease Farm held 56 Curlew and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Severals before being chased off by a territorial Crow. A Sparrowhawk flew over the treeline and three Buzzards were thermalling overhead. Along the beach were four Stonechats and six Wheatears and six Sandwich Terns went through offshore. Also, two Shovelers were present at the second Several. In the harbour were were a variety of waders, predominantly Dunlin, but also including three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 20 Grey Plovers, c.20 Ringed Plovers, four Turnstones and the regular Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers. Wildfowl included c.30 Wigeon and a pair of Pintail and also a Raven flew over heading east. (IP/BI)

Kestrel, top, and Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (BI)

Friday, 22nd September: A cool, but mostly bright morning in a light to moderate north-westerly breeze, warming as the day progressed with sunshine and scattered cloud.

Selsey Bill: A couple of Arctic Skuas were again offshore, whilst three Wheatears were along the beach and overhead some vis.mig was noted, the majority being Meadow Pipits, but it was otherwise routine fare. Full log below. (IP/P&LH) 

(0700-0905 hrs)  (NW, F3)

Gannet - 6E

Shag - 3E

Oystercatcher - 2

Turnstone - 4E

Arctic Skua - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Wheatear - 3

Meadow Pipit - 171W

Yellow Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

House Martin - 2

Chiffchaff - 4

Linnet - 13E

Sandwich Tern & Wheatear at the Bill (P&LH)

The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn, the earliest record this century by nine days,  was in a Selsey garden today along with at least 20 Chiffchaffs. (AW)

Yellow-browed Warbler in Selsey. (AW)

Ferry Pool: Two Greenshanks were on the concealed pool this morning, but the main pool just held 23 Black-tailed Godwits, four Lapwings, four Shelducks and c30 Teal, whilst a Kingfisher, two Spotted Redshanks and c50 Teal were in the channel opposite and a Marsh Harrier went over.
The Tramway circuit was quite busy, with at least two Whitethroats, c12 Blackcaps and c20 Chiffchaffs, plus innumerable Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Spotted Redshanks and Teal, Marsh Harrier & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were still at least ten Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek this morning along with a Spotted Redshank, six Dunlin, 34 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover and lots of Redshank and Lapwings, with a few Teal and Wigeon on the water. Three Wheatears were along the wall, a Kingfisher flew through, and a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool. A roving flock of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, and Chiffchaffs were moving along the hedgerows, together with four Lesser Whitethroats, five Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers, six Reed Buntings and two Reed Warblers. 

A Red Kite was over Owl Copse and c150 Rooks were in the fields at Halsey’s Farm, with three more Wheatears on the fence. Overhead throughout the morning, there was a steady stream of birds including 100 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 50 Meadow Pipits and eight Siskins.   (LP/GaJ/CT/IH/NR)

Wheatear (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Red Kite at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit: The Dartford Warbler was still present this morning and there were three Wheatears along the spit, whilst three adult Mediterranean Gulls went north over the harbour and 140 Swallows flew south out to sea. (GaJ)

Church Norton: In an around the churchyard were a Mistle Thrush, two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs and a couple of Green Woodpeckers. A few Swallows and House Martins were overhead whilst 32 Red-legged Partridges were in the adjacent field. Behind the hide, two Spotted Flycatchers, eight Blackcaps, two Whitethroats and four Chiffchaffs were also logged.

A Marsh Harrier appeared over the harbour, disturbing a single Sandwich Tern, and waders which included four bar-tailed Godwits, 25 ringed Plovers, six Grey Plovers and 50 Curlew. Along the harbour edge another Spotted Flycatcher was seen, plus five Stonechats, five Wheatears, up to ten Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers, whilst 200 Swallows and 15 House Martins were feeding above. (P&LH) 

Lesser Whitethroat, above, Wheatears & Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (P&LH)