14th - 16th August 2024

Friday, 16th August: After a night of strong winds and rain, a return to summer this morning, with plenty of warm sun in a light breeze, north-easterly early on, veering to the south-west later.......

Selsey Bill: A Bonxie and a few Common and Sandwich Terns west, a Pintail east, a Sparrowhawk in from miles out and a Wheatear on the beach were the highlights this morning. Full log below. (SR/IP/RAI/AH/MO-W)

(0645-0845hrs) (NNE, F2-3)

Gannet - 8E, 6W, 10os

Pintail - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1N

Oystercatcher - 3E

Turnstone - 12

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 9W, 20os

Sandwich Tern - 54W

Common Tern - 10W

Swift - 1

House Martin - 6

Wheatear - 1

Early this afternoon, a Marsh Harrier - probably a juvenile - went over west along the beach. (ML)

Wheatear (above), House Martin, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper and the Little Stint, along with half a dozen Dunlin were offering nice comparisons  along the central bar all morning, whilst there were also a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, a Snipe, eight Avocets and c30 Black-tailed Godwits about, along with c40 Teal. (NM/MO-W/AH/ML/SR/TS et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Stint (above), Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Little Stint & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The best birds of the morning were in the dead tree at the back of the churchyard, with a Yellow Wagtail and a Meadow Pipit present early on, and then the first Tree Pipit of the year a bit later.

Otherwise, it was incredibly quiet, with just a handful of Whitethroats and two or three Blackcaps and Willow Warblers seen across all the likely areas, whilst c30 Sandwich Terns on the metalwork and a few roosting Redshanks was about all the harbour had to offer on the high tide. (SR/HR/DM/AH et al)

This afternoon, a Little Tern was reported from the harbour. (per Sussex Whatsapp)

Tree Pipit (above), Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (SR) & Sandwich Terns (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Around high tide this morning two Curlew Sandpipers were on the mud in the harbour, along with 28 Grey Plovers, 18 Dunlin, four Greenshanks, a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, and numerous Redshanks and Lapwings, and a few Swallows were passing overhead.

On the Breech Pool, the Great White Egret was still around, a Wood Sandpiper dropped in briefly before heading north, two Snipe were on the bank, two Kingfishers flew through, and six Gadwall were on the water with 26 Teal.

The cows in Honer 1 were accompanied by 32 Cattle Egrets, a Sparrowhawk flew across the fields and out across the harbour, and two Marsh Harriers were further back over the reeds, whilst at Halsey’s Farm, two Wheatears were along the fence, another Kingfisher flew along the channel, and a Raven passed over towards Sidlesham, but apart from a few Whitethroats and a Green Woodpecker, there wasn’t much activity along the hedgerows. (LP/SP/TRH/CT/JDW)

There were also our Greenshanks and a dozen Grey Plovers seen. (perSussex Whatsapp)

This evening a Wood Sandpiper and five Green Sandpipers were seen flying around together, with other waders.seen including five Snipe,, a Common Sandpiper,, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, two Spotted Redshanks and six Greenshanks.

Also, a Marsh Harrier was about, the Great White Egret was on the Breech Pool, the Barn Owl was out late on and 26 yellow Wagtails and c60 Sand Martins were over the wall (MRe)

Wheatear (above), Snipe & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham: A Raven went south over the garden this evening. (AH)

Chichester Canal: There was lots of activity along the canal west of Hunston early this morning, including two Ravens, a Bullfinch, and many warblers in mixed groups along the banks, including maybe 20 Willow Warblers (many singing), plus two Garden Warblers, two Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers, eight Whitethroats, four Cetti's Warblers, four Chiffchaffs and two Reed Warblers, with a mixed flock of 20+ House Martins, up to ten Sand Martins and half a dozen Swallows overhead..

Also, seen were two Buzzards, a Grey Heron, two Green Woodpeckers, six Greenfinches, several flocks of 15-20 Goldfinches, three Stock Doves and six Little Grebes. (RBe)

Reed Warblers (above), Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat & Sedge Warbler along Chichester Canal (RBe)

Thursday, 15th August: A much cooler morning, with a mix of sunshine and cloud in a brisk and freshening westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: Highlights this morning included a dark-phase Arctic Skua west, a Fulmar tha dropped in on the sea and eight Teal west, and there were a lot of Gannets and Sandwich Terns about, too. Full log below. (PB/PM/SR/AH/KT)

(0545-0900hrs) (W, F5)

Fulmar - 1os

Gannet - 17E, 74W, 17os

Teal - 8W

Common Scoter - 1E, 10W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Ringed Plover - 2

Turnstone - 25

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 7W, 12os

Sandwich Tern - 10E, 34W, 6os

Common Tern - 1W

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 1

(1715-1815hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E, 12W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 15W

Sandwich Tern - 11W

Arctic Skua (above), Gannet & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was on the pool early on, in the company of a dozen Dunlin, before later flying into the harbour, whilst later on, a Little Stint was with two Dunlin in the same area.

Also about were two Spotted Redshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, eight Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings and at least 40 Teal.. (AH/KT/PB/PM et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Dunlin and Lapwings (above), Little Stint, Dunlin and Lapwings & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper resurfaced mid-morning out on the mud, with at least 20 Dunlin and 50 Ringed Plovers, and there was also a Little Stint on the mud, with two or three Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper also about, along with a juvenile Common Tern, c25 Sandwich Terns and half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls.

A Wheatear and a Whinchat were around the concrete blocks, and around 40 House Martins were feeding overhead, with a handful of Sand martins and Swallows passing through, but the hedges were very quiet beyond just the odd Blackcap, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. (PB/PM/RJS/AH/KT/P&JW/JMo/EB et al)

Little Stint (above) (KT), Whimbrel, Common Tern and Sandwich Terns, House Martin, Swallow (AH) & Whitethroat (EB) at Church Norton

Wednesday, 14th August: A very warm morning, very muggy and grey early on after light overnight rain, but brightening up a bit, later on, in just a light southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: Finally, in fairly unpromising conditions, the first two Balearic Shearwaters of the summer appeared, heading west together along the Mile Basket Line at 0730hrs.

Otherwise, though, it was more of the same, with a few Gannets and Common and Sandwich Terns about and a few Sand Martins heading east, as did a pod of at least ten Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Full log below. (SR/AH/KT/P&LH)

(0710-0840hrs) (SE, F1-2)

Balearic Shearwater - 2W (0730hrs)

Gannet - 28E, 14W

Common Scoter - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 3W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 10W

Common Tern - 4E, 1W

Swift - 3

Sand Martin - 15E

House Martin - 10

Pied Wagtail - 2

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 10E

There was another Balearic Shearwater west at 1404hrs today. Full log below. (P&LH)

(1325-1425hrs)

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (1404hrs)

Gannet - 7os

Common Scoter - 2E

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Sand Martin - 3

House Martin - 3

A Black Tern west was the highlight this evening. Full log below. (SH)

(1620-1800hrs)

Gannet - 10E, 21W

Common Scoter - 12W

Mediterranean Gull - 29W

Sandwich Tern - 42W, 10os

Common Tern - 2W

Black Tern - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

Sand Martin - 15W

House Martin - 7

Sandwich Tern (above), Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was back on the pool this morning, in the company of three Dunlin and a Ringed Plover, whilst the Wood Sandpiper was again present, along with two Green Sandpipers, five Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, five Lapwings, just two Avocets and c35 Black-tailed Godwits, plus c30 Teal and four juvenile shelducks. (KT/AH/TR/PA/MO-W/P&LH et al)

There was also some insect news of note from this afternoon, with a Lesser Emperor seen catching an unfortunate Comma butterfly over Small Pool and a Southern Migrant Hawker seen patrolling Red Barn Ditch. Both are potentially firsts for the reserve. (RN)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper (above), Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much going on this morning, with the bushes very quiet, though a Wheatear was on the concrete blocks, a few Whitethroats were along the front and c30 Sand Martins went over, with another c50 along Rectory Lane.

At least 25 Sandwich Terns and a few Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour and a group of five Common Sandpipers together were on the mud by the metalwork, but otherwise there were just a couple of Whimbrel, a scattering of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and c40 Redshanks. (RBe/AH/KT/P&LH et al)

Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Whinchats and a Wheatear were along the fence at Halsey’s Farm, whilst a Green Sandpiper was in the channel there, and a few Swallows were over the fields.

Along the wall there were just a few Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats, moving along the bushes, and on the Breech Pool the Great White Egret was joined by 11 Little Egrets, four Grey Herons, three Cormorants, three Lapwings, a Spotted Redshank, a Little Grebe, two Great Crested Grebes, four Gadwall, 22 Teal and the regular Mallards, Coots and Moorhens.

A Greenshank was along White’s Creek, with three Whimbrels and the usual Redshanks, Lapwings, and Curlews, and around the paddock there were a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker. (LP/KT/P&LH)

Whinchats (above), Whitethroat, Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Great White Egret and Grey Heron & Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron and Cormorants at the North Wall (LP)

This evening the Wheatear and two Whinchats were still around Owl Point field this evening, but there was nothing else, save a single Whitethroat in the hedges and three Sand Martins over. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Whinchats at the North Wall (AH)