Tuesday, 16th July: After very heavy overnight and early morning rain, another pretty dismal day of overcast skies, unseasonably low temperatures and a fresh south-westerly breeze..........
Selsey Bill: There were just a few terns and Gannets about this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)
(0700-0815hrs) (SW, F5)
Gannet - 2E, 15W
Oystercatcher - 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 21W
Common Tern - 2E, 3W
Little Tern - 1E, 3W
Swift - 4
Common Tern (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were three adult and five juvenile Avocets around the pool this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover and nine Black-tailed Godwits, whilst six Teal, the Shelduck family and another adult and two juvenile Shelducks were also present and eight Cattle Egrets were among the cows. (AH/BFF/DM)
Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plover & Avocet and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)
There were also two Little Terns, at least eight Common Terns, including a juvenile and c50 Sandwich Terns present, along with a probable juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and c40 Mediterranean Gulls, plus a Swift and six Sand Martins over. (AH/SR/BFF/DM et al)
Sanderling (above), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern & probable Yellow-legged Gull at Church Norton (AH)
This evening a Roseate Tern was among the roosting flock, which also contained five Little Terns, 13 Common Terns, including a juvenile and a first-winter bird, 62 Sandwich Terns, the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and and 49 Mediterranean Gulls,
There were also good numbers of waders about, including a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, the Sanderling, ten Dunlin, five Turnstones, three Whimbrel and 16 Ringed Plovers, whilst a Sparrowhawk flew across the harbour, carrying prey. (MRe/AH)
Sparrowhawk (above) & Common Terns, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: There were just a few of the regular species about in the rather unseasonal conditions this morning, with a few Redshanks and Lapwings down White’s Creek, a Green Woodpecker by the paddock and the usual Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets around Owl Copse.
The Great Crested Grebe family was on the Breech Pool with the well grown juvenile joining the adult pair and the three young chicks from the second brood, and two Common Terns were busy fishing overhead. (LP)
The Great Crested Grebe family was on the Breech Pool with the well grown juvenile joining the adult pair and the three young chicks from the second brood, and two Common Terns were busy fishing overhead. (LP)
Common Terns (above) & Great Crested Grebe family at the North Wall (LP)
Monday, 15th July: After yesterday's brief respite, back to the poor weather with a vengeance this morning, with a surprisingly cold and very grey morning in a moderate to brisk easterly breeze, with rain setting in later.......
Selsey Bill: A pod of a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins east was the highlight, with just a few of the regular species about in small numbers. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)
(0700-0815hrs) (ENE, F3)
Gannet - 9E
Common Scoter - 20W
Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 5W, 1os
Sandwich Tern - 18E, 9W
Common Tern - 4E, 3W
Little Tern - 2E
Swift - 10
House Martin - 3
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 12E
Common Tern (above), Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There wasn't much change this morning, with the pool holding the two Spotted Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers and an adult and two juvenile Avocets - plus three more adults that flew in, too, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family. (AH)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There were ten Little Terns, four Common Terns, c60 Sandwich Terns and a good count of 225 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour early this morning, with waders including four Dunlin, two Turnstones, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Lapwings, six Ringed Plovers, two Whimbrel and 28 Curlews.
There were also two Meadow Pipits, a Sparrowhawk and a Gadwall about. (MRe)
East Side: An adult Yellow-legged Gull was out on the mud this morning, just beyond the end of White's Creek, whilst a Little Tern and two Common Terns were feeding up near the harbour mouth and a reasonable selection of waders included four Whimbrels, half a dozen Curlews and Grey Plovers, c20 Dunlin and at least 100 Redshanks. (AH)
Yellow-legged Gull (above), Common Tern, Whimbrel & Whimbrel and Curlew along the Est side (AH)
North Wall: It was very quiet along the wall, with just the odd Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting singing, a dozen Swallows over and just a handful of Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets in the fields.
Also, four Lapwings were in White's Creek and a couple of Green Woodpeckers were in the trees there. (AH/LP et al)
Cattle Egret (above), Lapwing & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (AH)
Sunday, 14th July: After a very warm and almost still start, the breeze shifted south-west and freshened, bringing increasing amounts of cloud as it did so.......
Selsey Bill: Six Little Terns went west, four Little Egrets flew in from way out to sea and a few hirundines were about, though it was generally slow-going. Full log below. (SH/AH/SR/IP)
(0615-0830hrs) (N, F1-2)
Gannet - 10E, 9W, 3os
Little Egret - 4N
Common Scoter - 10E, 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 22W
Sandwich Tern - 6E, 10W
Little Tern - 6W
Swift - 12
Green Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 10
Sand Martin - 11
House Martin - 11
Pied Wagtail - 1
(1500-1615hrs) (SH)
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 33W
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1W
Swallow - 1
House Martin - 4
Mediterranean Gull (above), Little Egrets, Sand Martin & Swallow at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was again a bit of a selection at various points in the morning,including the two now heavily-moulting Spotted Redshanks on the pool early on, with, otherwise, two Common Sandpipers, the Snipe, two adult Little Ringed Plovers, six Lapwings, the two adult and three juvenile Avocets, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family, with the Greenshank in the channel opposite and half a dozen Cattle Egrets with the cows. (AH/SH)
Spotted Redshanks (above), Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Snipe, Common Sandpiper & juvenile Avocet at the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: A Pied Wagtail on the farm roof, a Sparrowhawk at the eastern end of the fields and a Green Woodpecker at the eastern end of Park Lane were about it this morning. (IP)
Church Norton: There were at least 120 Sandwich Terns and 18 Common Terns in the harbour this morning, along with c80 Mediterranean Gulls, before virtually the whole lot took off, circled round several times and headed out to sea together, looking like they may well be off.
Otherwise, a couple of Whimbrel, c20 Redshanks and a few Curlews and Oystercatchers were all that could be found on the mud whilst, also, a (probable juvenile) Marsh Harrier drifted over from the north.
The bushes were very quiet, with a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler heard briefly, one or two Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks, plus a pair of Stock Doves, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were along the front and an adult and a juvenile Little Grebe were on the second Several. (AH/IP/S&SaH et al)
Sandwich Tern and Common Terns (above), Marsh Harrier & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
This evening there were just c60 Sandwich Terns and c20 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, with a Whimbrel, a couple of Curlews and half a dozen Oystercatchers the only waders seen. (AH)
This evening there were 80-100 Sandwich Terns with a good number of juveniles, 100+ Mediterranean Gulls with one or two juveniles, a Great Black-backed Gull with juvenile, three Common Terns, nine Ringed Plovers, 12 Curlews and a distant flock of hirundines. (SR)
Sandwich Terns (above) & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: There were 67 Redshank along White’s Creek, together with 23 Lapwings, a Grey Plover and a Curlew, and three Common Terns were fishing over the Breech Pool, which still held the Great Crested Grebe family and a few Mallards.
There was lots of activity along the reeds and hedgerows with many Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and a Cetti’s Warbler seen and heard, whilst a juvenile Marsh Harrier was over the reeds further back and a Sparrowhawk flew low over the fields, five Swallows were higher up and the usual mix of Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets were around Owl Copse. (LP)
Reed Warbler (above), Common Tern & Great Crested Grebe family at the North Wall (LP)
East side: A look along the east side today produced 40 Sandwich Terns, four Common Terns, including a juvenile and c80 Mediterranean Gulls, with waders including two Common Sandpipers, four Lapwings, 11 Curlews and 43 Redshanks, whilst four Cetti's warbles, a Blackcap and four Linnets were along the hedges. (MRe)
Chichester Canal: There was plenty of activity along the canal early today, most noteworthy being: six Green Woodpeckers in pairs (probably juvenile and parent), at least ten Reed Warblers, several each of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Whitethroats, two Grey Herons, a dozen Swallows, eight House Martins, and numerous Coot, Moorhen and Mallard families, some with recently hatched chicks.
Also, a particularly vocal Raven in a fir tree just east of Crosbie Bridge at Donnington - it seemed distressed, but I couldn't identify the problem and it eventually flew to a nearby tree and settled down. (RBe)
Raven, Green Woodpecker (above), Reed Warbler & Mallard family at Chichester canal (RBe)
Fishbourne Creek: It was fairly quiet at low tide: around 150 Mute Swans, 20-30 Curlews, a pair of Whimbrel, a pair of Greenshanks, several Oystercatchers, twelve Little Egrets and five Grey Herons the only birds of any note. Curlews don't usually seem aggressive but two of them had quite a fight. (RBe)
Curlews (above) & Mute Swans at Fishbourne Creek (RBe)
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