Wednesday, 6th September: Another very warm morning of unbroken sun, in just the lightest of easterly breezes.....
Selsey Bill: Five Shags and a Grey Heron went east and a Wheatear was on the beach, but there were no hirundines at all this morning. Full log below. (AH)
(0710-0810hrs) (E, F1)
Gannet - 2W
Shag - 5E
Grey Heron - 1E
Turnstone - 12
Mediterranean Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 4os
Wheatear - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Shags (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The six Spotted Redshanks and three Greenshanks were at the back this morning, with three Common Sandpipers also present, along with two Dunlin, ten Lapwings, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, four Little Egrets, two Shovelers, four Shelducks and c30 Teal. (AH)
Spotted Redshanks, Greenshanks and Black-tailed Godwits (above), Shoveler and Teal & Dunlin at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: The Osprey was again sat out on the mud in the middle of the harbour, and a Hobby was chasing the many Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins overhead.
Along White’s Creek, a Kingfisher was fishing, and along the banks there was a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, six Turnstones, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, a Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 60 Lapwings and three Wigeon, with 100 Curlew and nine Grey Herons further out on the mud.
A Cetti’s Warbler was by the sluice and a few Whitethroats and a Sedge Warbler were in the bushes by the rife, whilst a Wheatear was along the rocks, with another at Halsey’s Farm, together with three Lesser Whitethroats, a Whinchat and six Whitethroats, and two Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard drifted over Owl Copse, where there are still a few Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets including some very young ones. (LP/CT/AD et al)
This evening 16 Yellow Wagtails were among the cows, and later c50 flew in to roost in the Breech Pool, where there was also a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher, whilst c200 Swallows andc40 Sand Martins were overhead and up to seven different Cetti's Warblers were heard calling.
Also, a flock of 40 Knot was in the harbour, 38 Cattle Egrets were in the area and two female Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH)
Also, a visiting birder reported seeing the Bitten in the Breech Pool again early this morning. (Eds)
Wheatear (above), Cetti's Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egrets, Wigeon, Turnstones (LP) & Cetti's Warbler (AD) at the North Wall
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were very quiet this morning, with up to ten Whitethroats and similar of Linnets about the only birds seen, though a couple of Yellow Wagtails were on the reserve, three Meadow Pipits were by the Stilt Pools and five Wheatears were by the rocks, with another near Marsh Barn.
A Greenshank and a Whimbrel were by the poplars and three Cattle Egrets flew east, whilst on the Stilt Pools there were two Common Sandpipers, ten Lapwings, a few Teal and Gadwall and the Egyptian Goose family, plus 200+ Canada Geese that flew in, including the eight Cackling Geese.
There were also at least 200 Swallows, 30 Sand Martins and ten House Martins present, mostly around the Stilt Pools, with a couple of Clouded Yellows and quite a few Migrant Hawkers on the wing (AH/GT)
Later on, the six Spoonbills were reported again near the poplars. (per RBA)
Common Sandpiper (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipits, Egyptian Geese, Cackling Geese (AH) & Migrant Hawker (GT) at Medmerry
Chichester Canal: There was a mix of the usual common species along the canal early today, including several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, four Cetti's Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler, with seven Tufted Ducks and a pair of Gadwall on the water.
Highlight was an epic attempt lasting over 15 minutes where a Cormorant attempted to eat a very large eel. It managed to swallow all but the last 15cm, with the eel clearly twisting in the bird's gullet. Possibly the fish was longer than the available space, but eventually, it disgorged the fish, tried a few more times then gave up altogether. (RBe)
Cormorant at Chichester Marina (RBe)
Tuesday, 5th September: It remains very warm and sunny, though the breeze also remains brisk and from the north-east.....
Selsey Bill: Four Cattle Egrets went east offshore, but there was a lot less going over this morning, though still included a Tree Pipit, 13 Yellow Wagtails and several hundred hirundines. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH et al)
(0700-0830hrs) (ENE, F4-5)
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 3E, 5W, 4os
Shag - 1os
Cattle Egret - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 5os
Swallow - 198E
Sand Martin - 23E
House Martin - 194E
Yellow Wagtail - 13E
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Tree Pipit - 1E
Wheatear - 1
Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The six Spotted Redshanks were still on the pool this morning, along with a Greenshank, three Common Sandpipers, ten Lapwings, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, four Little Egrets, two Shovelers, four Shelducks and c50 Teal. (AH/TS/AM)
Common Sandpipers (above), Shoveler & Spotted Redshanks and Little Egret (AH), Spotted Redshanks & Little Egret (AM) at the Ferry
Church Norton: There wasn't much to see in the windy conditions this morning, with four Wheatears along the beach/spit and a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats in the bushes about it for migrants, though there were still 100+ Swallows, 50+ House Martins and a handful of Sand Martins over the bean fields at Greenlease Farm.
Around 20 Wigeon and 50 Teal were in the harbour, but a Greenshank, two Whimbrels and a handful of Grey and Ringed Plovers were the only waders of note. (AH/TS et al)
Wheatear (above), Swallow & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
This evening, at least three Spotted Flycatchers were around the churchyard, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, whilst four Whimbrels were together in the harbour. (AH/AM)
Whimbrel (above), Spotted Flycatcher (AH) & Great Spotted Woodpecker (AM) at Church Norton
North Wall: An Osprey was fishing out in the middle of the harbour at low tide, before sitting out on the mud for a while, with a possible second bird also reported.
The Greenshank was again along White’s Creek together with a good selection of Redshank, Lapwings, Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, with two Wigeon also out on the banks, whilst at least two Kingfishers were about, with multiple sightings throughout the morning, but the water level on the Breech pool remains high and there were just a couple of Teal and a few Coots on the water.
Just three Cattle Egrets were with the cows in Honer 1 and a couple of Yellow Wagtails were spotted, but very elusive in the long grass. At Halsey’s Farm a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat were moving through the bushes, and overhead there were at least 500 Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins. (LP/KJ/NR/TB et al)
Osprey (above), Kingfisher & Sand Martins and Swallows at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A group of six Spoonbills were on the reserve, opposite Marsh Barn, with three Cattle Egrets and 20 Yellows Wagtails also on the reserve, whilst a female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Kestrel and 30 Swallows went over.
Also, three Wheatears, three Dartford Warblers, a Reed Bunting and eight Yellowhammers were along the banks, a Greenshank was near the poplars, two Green Sandpipers flew out from a path-side pool and the family of Egyptian Geese were on the Stilt Pool, with another nine out on the reserve. (S&SaH)
Spoonbills at Medmerry (SH)
Selsey Bill: There was another big eastward movement of hirundines this morning, with two Swifts and 56 Yellow Wagtails among them, but again the sea was quiet. Full log below. (SR/MO-W/P&LH/AH/TR et al)
(0655-0915hrs) (NE, F3-4)
Gannet - 5E, 9W
Little Egret - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2
Kestrel - 1
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sanderling - 5
Turnstone - 16
Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 1os
Sandwich Tern - 13E, 5W
Swift - 2E
Swallow - 1332E
Sand Martin - 153E
House Martin - 939E
Yellow Wagtail - 56E
Grey Wagtail - 3E
Pied Wagtail - 1E
Wheatear - 3
Swift (above), Yellow Wagtail, House Martins, Wheatear & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The six Spotted Redshanks were present again early this morning, along with a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, a Lapwing, four Shelducks and c50 Teal. (AH/RBe)
Later, a Ruff was on the pool again. (TG-P)
Common Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshanks (AH), Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpipers (RBe) at the Ferry
North Wall & East side: An Osprey was seen catching a big fish and settled in the harbour to eat it. Earlier, a Pied Flycatcher was by the stables and a Cetti’s Warbler was by the sluice, whilst the Greenshank was again along White’s Creek. Further along were 24 Grey Plover, two Little Grebes, four Dunlin, six Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Redshanks and Lapwings.
Two Linnets were along the Wall, as well as a two Reed Buntings, three Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler and six Whitethroats, and a Kingfisher flew over the Breech pool. Twelve Cattle Egrets were around the cows and 20 Yellow Wagtails were along the hedgerows nearby, but it was quiet at Halsey’s Farm with just a single Whinchat along the fence. (LP/OM/TRH/CT/MR)
The Whinchat was still at Owl Point this afternoon, with a Greenshank in the adjacent harbour and seven Cattle Egrets were in the fields, with c20 Sand Martins and c50 Swallows going over.. (P&LH)
This evening three Marsh Harriers, a Merlin and a Sparrowhawk were all seen going over along with two Yellow Wagtails, c40 Sand Martins and c30 Swallows, whist c30 Cattle Egrets were around Owl Copse, three Green sandpipers were around the Breech Pool and two Cetti's Warblers were calling. (SH)
Whinchat (above), Spotted Flycatcher & Linnets at the North Wall (LP)
Church Norton: The Osprey was distantly visible at the far end of the harbour, but there wasn't much else to report beyond a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit, three Whimbrel and a handful of Grey and Ringed Plovers.
Four Wheatears were along the beach, but the hedges were quiet in the breeze, with a couple of Spotted Flycatchers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats, plus a few Willow/Chiffs and Long-tailed Tits around the Mound/hide area and a few more Whitethroats along the Severals.
There was a huge flock of hirundines - mainly Swallows over the bean fields at Greenlease Farm, with a single Swift among them, and c70 Yellow Wagtails were around the crop itself. (AH/NR/P&LH/AW et al)
Greenshank (AW), Swallow, Long-tailed Tits, Whimbrel & Ringed Plover (AH) at Church Norton
This evening, the first three Pintail of the autumn were back in the harbour, whilst at least two Spotted Flycatchers and a Blackcap were behind the hide. (AH)
Pintails (above), Spotted Flycatcher & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)
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