Wednesday 4 October 2023

4th - 6th October 2023

Friday, 6th October: Overcast early on but clearing later with sunny spells, winds F4 from the western quarter..

Selsey Bill: Over 100 auks were moving offshore this morning and there was some limited overhead movement too. Full log below. (BI/SR/MO-W)
(0645-0845hrs)  (WSW F4)
Gannet - 2E, 42W
Shag - 7E, 2os
Brent Goose - 5E
Common Scoter - 1E
Turnstone - 16W
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Sandwich Tern - 8E
auk sp - 124E, 11W
Razorbill - 16E, 3W
Swallow - 39W
Meadow Pipit - 108N
Pied Wagtail - 39W
Goldfinch - 20

This afternoon five Brent Geese went west. (AW)

Shags heading east at the Bill (BI)

North Wall: The Little Owl was calling from directly behind the stables at 0530hrs this morning. (BI) 

Two Goldcrests were by the stables this morning and a Stonechat, four Chiffchaffs, 12 Long-tailed Tits and a few Blue Tits were around the paddock. A Grey Wagtail was on the sluice and a Kingfisher flew down White’s Creek, where there were two Turnstones, 12 Grey Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Black-tailed Godwits, five Dunlin, two Curlews, four Ringed Plovers, 70 Redshank and 40 Lapwing with a few Wigeon and Teal on the water, and the Yellow-legged Gull was again with the Lesser Black-backed Gull on the mud. 
A Marsh Harrier was behind the Breech Pool early on, and four Egyptian Geese flew over, heading towards Sidlesham. At Halsey’s Farm, two Stonechats were around the bushes with a few Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest was at Owl Copse, and overhead there were 30 Meadow Pipits, 16 House Martins and a Green Woodpecker. 
Two Greenfinches and five Goldfinches were in the north fields as were 35 Curlew & 20 Black-tailed Godwits. (CRJ/LP/MRH/SP/IH)

The Little Owl was again present this evening in the paddocks by the stables, a Barn Owl was to the right of the breech pool and a Tawny Owl was calling from Owl Copse. 
A Marsh Harrier was over the breech pool, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls & the Yellow-legged Gull were still on the mud, 18 Curlew came off the fields, a Snipe and 14 Teal flew into the breech pool and a surprise Crossbill flew over here heading north. A Chiffchaff was by the path in, three Cetti's Warblers were heard and four Linnets, a Greenfinch and nine Meadow Pipits flew over (LP/BI et al)

Stonechat (above), Turnstone & Grey Wagtail at the North Wall (LP), Kingfisher at the sluice (AD)



Church Norton: A Mistle Thrush was in the churchyard along with two Green Woodpeckers, two Jays & eight Chiffchaffs whilst out on the mud were 27 Dunlin, three Grey Plover and the regular Redshanks and Oystercatchers. It was birdless along the spit bar a Meadow Pipit and another Green Woodpecker and the Severals just held a few more Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits. (BI)

Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - A Marsh harrier (a 2nd cy male) was out this afternoon, as was a Peregrine, two Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. 
A good total of 12 Egyptian Geese were present, as were six Cattle Egrets and small birds included 19 Stonechats, three Chiffchaffs and four Yellowhammers (SaH/SH)



Thursday, 5th October: Light WNW winds to start today, picking up to F5 later with the possibility of some showers.........

Selsey Bill: It was much quieter today with just a little viz-mig the highlight. Full log below. (SR/IP/MO-W)
(0715-0830hrs) (WNW F3-4)
Gannet - 20W
Shag - 11E
Turnstone - 45E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 8W
Sandwich Tern - 2W
Swallow - 26W
Meadow Pipit - 66W
Pied Wagtail - 26W
dolphin sp. - 4E

This afternoon a Red-throated Diver, the first of the autumn, went west, along with nine Shags. (AW)


Red-throated Diver, above, & Shag at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: This afternoon there were seven Shoveler, a Shelduck, nine Teal, ten Lapwing, eight Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret on the pool, with a Kestrel and three Swallows overhead and two Stonechats in the field. (SR)

Shoveler on the Ferry (SR)

North Wall: This evening at 1840hrs a Little Owl was heard calling from the Salthouse area and two Tawny Owls were calling, one from Owl Copse and one from Halsey's Farm and also a Barn Owl was hunting over the breech pool. Two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, three Stonechats and seven Cetti's Warblers were noted and 20 Cattle Egrets went in to roost. (SaH/SH)




Wednesday, 4th October: An overcast start to the day but brightening up later and staying dry......


Selsey Bill: Ten Spoonbills went west, close along the shoreline at the Bill this morning and a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea. Full log below. (SR/IP/MO-W/P&LH)  
(0710-0900hrs) (WNW F4)
Gannet - 2E, 13W
Shag - 2E
Wigeon 4W
Spoonbill - 10W
Ringed Plover - 3W
Turnstone - 15E
Mediterranean Gull - 10 os
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Short-eared Owl - in off the sea, then E
Skylark - 4W
Swallow - 31W
Meadow Pipit - 368W
Grey Wagtail - 5W
Pied Wagtail - 51W
Linnet - 49W
Wheatear - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldfinch - 75

Spoonbills at the Bill (SR above), LH lower two)

Spoonbill video (MO-W/IP's ear!)

Ferry Pool: It was fairly quiet here this morning but there were still four Spotted redshanks  present along with six Little Egrets. 37 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Lapwings, four Mallards, six Teal, 12 Shoveler, a Shelduck, two Moorhens and two calling Cetti's Warblers and a Blackcap. In the channel opposite were singles of Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Moorhen and Great Crested Grebe. Later, a Ruff flew in to the pool. (MO-W/P&LH)

Blackcap at the Visitor Centre (EB)

Runcton: This morning noted were: ten Mallard, a Grey Heron, 60 Wood Pigeon, 10 Stock Dove, 21 Rooks, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, two Swallow, a Cetti’s Warbler, and nine Chiffchaffs. (CRJ)

North Wall: A pair of Stonechats were in the paddock this morning with two Jays in the trees and a few Swallows overhead. A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were by the sluice and the usual selection of Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing were along White’s Creek together with a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Dunlin, a Grey Plover, two Ringed Plover and 30 Wigeon, and the Yellow-legged Gull was again on the mud with a Lesser Black-backed Gull. In the bushes along the wall, 20 Long-tailed Tits were with 12 Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, and three Chaffinches, and in the fields, there were 30 Curlews and 20 Meadow Pipits. 
At Halsey’s Farm, a Wheatear, two Reed Buntings, three Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, six Meadow Pipits and three Goldcrests were in and around the fields, and a few Jays were also about. (LP/CT/GHi)


Stonechats, above, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinches and Black-tailed Godwit at the North Wall (LP)



West Side Pagham Harbour: A walk down the west side towards Church Norton (a reminder that the Church Norton car park is currently closed) yielded highlights of 25 Chiffchaffs, 18 Stonechats, four Yellowhammers, 11 Grey Plover, 45 Lapwings and 75 Dunlin, three Bar-tailed Godwits and a Peregrine Falcon. (P&LH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pools - It was very quiet in the hedges with only a Whitethroat seen but there were, however, numerous Meadow Pipit around. A Cattle Egret was behind Marsh Barn. The only thing of note on the Stilt Pool was a Great Black Backed Gull on the big island, but the arrival of an RSPB work party with strimmers scattered most of the birds. (JMo) 
This evening was equally quiet with just a Buzzard, seven Egyptian Geese, four Cattle Egrets, seven Stonechats and singles of Yellow hammer and Wheatear seen. The only waders noted were two Greenshank in the channels. (SaH/SH)

Medmerry Trail: This afternoon there were four Blackcaps, 14 Swallows, a Cetti's Warbler, two Pied Wagtails, seven Chiffchaffs and a Buzzard along the trail (SR)






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