28th - 30th September 2024

 Saturday, 28th September:  Another cold start with thermometers reading c.3C early on...dry and sunny with light northerly winds...

Selsey Bill: There was some overhead interest this morning with three Woodlarks heading west, the first Siskin & Rock Pipit of the autumn moving through. Two Stonechats were in the hedges with a scattering of Chiffchaffs but the sea remined quiet.  

Full log to follow... (SH/BI/SR/IP/P&LH et al)

(0645-0930hrs) (NNW F2-3)

Stonechat, top, & Oystercatcher at the Bill (BI)

Selsey Bill - gardens: A walk along the front found a Stonechat, 16 Chiffchaffs, a Yellow Wagtail, four Meadow Pipits and four Swallows mid-morning. (SR)

West Sands: There were two Wheatears, 50+ Meadow Pipits, 10 Pied Wagtails, a few Stonechats & Reed Buntings and a trickle of Swallows moving overhead today. (AW)

Wheatear at west sands (AW)

Ferry Pool & Long Pool: The Common Sandpiper was still on the ferry this morning along with c.10 Avocets and 30 Black-tailed Godwits plus the regular mix of wildfowl including several Shovelers. Along the Long Pool hedges were 20 Chiffchaffs, 25 Linnets, two Cetti's Warblers, four Stonechats and two Spoonbills flew over here. (BI et al)

Spoonbills over the Long Pool, above, Shovelers and Common Sandpiper on the Ferry Pool (BI)

Church Norton: A total of 32 Chiffchaffs were around the churchyard and paths this morning as were four Blackcaps, two Chaffinches, four Long-tailed Tits and a Green Woodpecker. A Jay was also present, a Raven flew over, as did five Rooks and a Skylark, 70 Swallows and 3 House Martins were also logged. Raptors here included a Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk.

At the Severals, three or four Green Woodpeckers were around, a lone Sand Martin flew over the Greenlease fields and two Blackcaps were in the trees that separate the two Severals. Two Jays flew over Priory Wood, whilst a Sparrowhawk flew into the wood and a Buzzard was soaring above surrounded by circa 100 Swallows. A Yellow Wagtail flew over and two female Stonechats were around the gorse bushes. 

In the Harbour, 58 Grey Plovers were around the metalwork and benches with 25 Dunlin, two Knot, six Turnstones, four Black-tailed Godwits, a Bar-tailed Godwit and two Whimbrel, along with the regular species which included 40 Curlews.  Plenty of Teal and Wigeon were also present with eight Pintail also. Two Common Gulls were roosting on the shingle whilst three Sandwich Terns flew east along the Spit before flying into the Harbour. A single Wheatear was on the Spit. (P&LH/IP)

25th - 27th September 2024

Friday, 27th September:  Feeling decidedly chilly in a brisk north-east breeze early this morning with a few heavy showers as well. .drying up towards late afternoon...

Selsey Bill: A much slower morning than of late with just a few Gannets heading east and little moving overhead.. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP)

(0700-0830hrs) (NNE F4-5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 12E

Shag - 2E

Common Scoter - 1W

Turnstone - 6

Great Black-backed Gull - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 3E 6W

Swallow - 6E

Meadow Pipit - 3E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm: Two Kestrels were along the lane this afternoon and four Wheatears and seven Chiffchaffs were in the area. Some migration was also logged with 30 House Martins, 20 Swallows and three Yellow Wagtails heading over. (SaH/SH)

Ferry Pool: Plenty of Lapwings, c.100, were on the pool early on and also noted were 8 Avocets, three Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and c.50 Black-tailed Godwits as well as three Shelduck & the regular mix of wildfowl. (BI) Later on, a Kingfisher was by the Discovery Area pool with a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker nearby. A Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and four Wigeon were with the Mallards, Redshanks and Curlews along Ferry channel whilst a Buzzard, two Swallows, a Sand Martin and five Meadow Pipits flew overhead. Along the adjacent hedgerows were a minimum of eight Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. (SR)

Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Shelduck & Avocets, top, & Greenshanks at the Ferry (BI), KIngfisher (SR)

Church Norton: A Mistle Thrush was in the churchyard this morning along with c.15 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Jay and two Green Woodpeckers. Found from the concrete wall to the Severals were a mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, seven Blackcaps, two Whitethroats, a Goldcrest and two Stonechats whilst a Sparrowhawk flew through. Forty Chiffchaffs were also in the area with vizmig consisting of four Pied Wagtails, 51 Meadow Pipits and 20 Linnets heading north-east. In the windy conditions there wasn't much to see in the harbour but a few Little Egrets were still about and two Great Crested Grebes were on the water opposite the benches. (BI/MRe)

Mistle Thrush, top, and Great Crested Grebes at Church Norton (BI)

Mill Lane Marsh: Two Greenshanks and a Black-tailed Godwit were the only waders present this morning along with c.10 Mallards and a few Teal. (BI)

East Side: As the tide receded, a good number of waders were returning to the harbour with Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Knot and numerous Redshanks, Curlews, Oystercatchers and Lapwings all dropping onto the mud, a Sandwich Tern was with the gulls, and a few Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and Great Crested Grebes were on the water. (LP/SP/TRH). At least twenty Chiffchaffs were also recorded, along Church Lane. (JDW)

Spotted Redshanks, above, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin with Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover & Sandwich Tern at the East Side (LP)

North Wall: This morning around high tide there was just a single Brent Goose, three Wigeon and eight Teal out on the water, and a Common Sandpiper along the wall. A Peregrine flew north across the harbour and a dozen Swallows passed through, but it was otherwise quiet in the cold and blustery conditions. In the paddock, three Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were around the dung heap, a Pied Wagtail was in the grass, and a Jay was in the nearby trees but other than a Buzzard over the trees further back, that was it. (LP/SP/TRH)

Common Sandpiper, above, Brent Goose, Pied Wagtail & Stonechat at the North Wall (LP)

Thursday, 26th September: A morning of sunshine, fast moving cloud and the odd heavy squall, in a brisk and blustery south-westerly ........

Selsey Bill: A Merlin was hanging about a long way offshore this morning, 19 Shags went east and there were a few more auks about than of late. Full log below. (MRe/IP/SR/

(0700-1000hrs) (SW, F6-7)

Gannet - 73E, 200W

Shag - 19E

Merlin - 1os

Whimbrel - 1E

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 6E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 17E

Guillemot - 2W

Razorbill - 7W

auk sp - 2E, 12W

Swallow - 25W

This afternoon a juvenile Arctic Tern went west and a Wheatear was on the beach. Full log below. (MRe)

(1445-1545hrs) 

Gannet - 19W

Shag - 5W

Arctic Tern - 1W (juvenile)

Wheatear - 1

Shag (above), Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just one Spotted Redshank and one Green Sandpiper present early this morning, along with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, c75 Lapwings, eight Avocets, four Shelducks and c30 Teal. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were two Spotted Flycatchers, at least three Blackcaps and 25 Chiffchaffs around the hide and adjacent hedges this morning, with c40 Swallows going over.

In the harbour there were six Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Knot and a dozen Grey Plovers, but nothing else beyond the regulars. (AH et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were 21 Pintail in the harbour, along with two Whimbrel, the six Bar-tailed Godwits, five Grey Plovers and c20 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Pintails (above), Wigeon, Whimbrel & Bar-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was busy around the paddocks this morning, with seven Whinchats, a Redstart and a Stonechat along the fences and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees, and further back a Marsh Harrier was over the reeds.

A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were by the sluice and there was a good selection along White’s Creek, with lots of Wigeon and Teal joined by a Pintail, a Great Crested Grebe, eight Black-tailed Godwits, a few Dunlin and the usual Redshanks and Lapwings. but elsewhere it was very quiet in the windy conditions.(LP/SP/TRH/JDW)

Redstart (above), Whinchat, Stonechat & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Wednesday, 25th September: Another grey morning in a moderate south-westerly breeze, though the threatened rain missed us........

Selsey Bill: A total of 15 Shags went east this morning - the highest count so far this autumn, whilst seven Yellow Wagtails, 152 Meadow Pipits and eight Brent Geese went west. Full log below. (IP/SR/AH)

(0705-0835hrs) (SW, F4-5)

Gannet - 4E, 33W

Shag - 15E

Brent Goose - 8W

Turnstone - 36

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 6W

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Swallow - 5E

Yellow Wagtail - 7W

Meadow Pipit - 152E

Chiffchaff - 1

(1615-1730hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 24E, 10W, 5os

Shag - 6W, 1os

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Shag (above), Brent Geese & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was a fair selection on the pool early on, including a Ruff, five Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Spotted Redshanks, two Redshanks, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, c200 Lapwings, four Shovelers, four Shelducks and c30 Teal. (AH)

Spotted Redshanks (above) Greenshanks, Greenshanks and Black-tailed Godwits & Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Northcommon Farm: Three Spotted Flycatchers, 17 Chiffchaffs, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, three Pied Wagtails, four Swallows and 22 Meadow Pipits were seen today. (SR)

Spotted Flycatcher at Northcommon Farm (SR)

North Wall: A Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and 18 Pintail were with numerous Wigeon, Teal, Redshanks and Lapwings along White's Creek this morning, and further out two Common Seals were hauled out on the banks.

After the heavy showers, a female Marsh Harrier was seen over the saltmarsh, five Little Grebes were on Owl Water and two Buzzards were over the stables. (P Gomersall)

Pagham Spit: Two Wheatears were on the spit, near the harbour entrance this afternoon, with a Little Egret and a dozen Turnstones in the vicinity, whilst seven Great crested Grebes, 12 Ringed Plovers and 24 Dunlin were around the newly-forming offshore lagoon. ( Gomersall)

West Itchenor: An Osprey was seen heading north up the harbour early this afternoon. (PH)

Church Norton: Two Spotted Flycatchers, three Blackcaps and c20 Chiffchaffs were around the churchyard/hide area and adjacent hedges this morning, but there was nothing along the Severals beyond another handful of Chiffchaffs and c50 Swallows over.

There wasn't too much in the harbour of note beyond a Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwits and three Black-tailed Godwits, plus around 30 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Chiffchaff & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)