28th - 30th September 2024

Monday, 30th September:  After a very rainy and stormy night, it slowly brightened up as the wind shifted from south-west to west, with the already brisk breeze freshening all the while......

Selsey Bill: There were a few unexpected bits this morning in pretty dire conditions, including a Balearic Shearwater, a juvenile Arctic Tern, a juvenile Hobby and a flock of 11 Sand Martins, all going west and a dark-phase Arctic Skua lingering offshore. Full log below. (MRe/SR/AH/IP)

(0710-0925hrs) (WSW, F6)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0825hrs)

shearwater sp - 1W

Gannet - 24W

Common Scoter - 1E

Hobby - 1W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Turnstone - 15

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Common Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2E 1W, 4os

Arctic Tern - 1W (juvenile)

auk sp - 8W

Sand Martin - 11W

Arctic Tern (above), Sandwich Tern, Hobby & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

In what has been a bumper year for them, there were two Black Terns lingering offshore this afternoon ad the first Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn went west, though there wasn't too much else going in. Full log below. (P&LH/AW/CRJ)

(1245-1530hrs)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2E, 7W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W, 2os

Common Gull - 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W, 3os

Black Tern - 2os

Swallow - 7W

House Martin - 2

Wheatear - 1

(1630-1730hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 5W

Shag - 1os

Common Scoter - 2W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Black Terns (above) (LH), Red-breasted Merganser & Lesser Black-backed Gull (LH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Despite the water level being very high, there were a few birds present this morning, including a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, five Greenshanks, ten Avocets, c25 Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Shelducks, eight Shovelers and c30 Teal, with a Kingfisher and a Marsh Harrier passing through, as well. (AH/BFF/SL)

Green Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper & Greenshanks and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The two Spoonbills dropped in to roost near Tern Island at high tide  this morning, with a Greenshank, three Whimbrels, five Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, five Grey Plovers, three Turnstones and c40 Redshanks also about, along with a Mediterranean Gull, a pair of Pintail and a few Wigeon and Teal.

Also, a Peregrine was chasing waders, a Hobby went over and a Kingfisher flew along the side of the harbour, but a couple of Blackcaps and a dozen Chiffchaffs were all that could be seen in the hedges, whilst three Swallows went over Rectory Lane, where at least eight Lesser black-backed Gulls were among a big roost of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls on the stubble fields. (AH/BFF/SL/P&LH et al)

Spoonbills (above), Grey Plovers, Mediterranean Gull, Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshanks & Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Firecrest was along the lane by the stables, together with 12 Long-tailed Tits, four Chiffchaffs and a few Blue Tits and Great Tits, and there were still two Stonechats around the paddocks.

Around high tide in the difficult conditions, there was just a Common Sandpiper along the rocks, a Great Crested Grebe on the water and four Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Redshanks, 12 Grey Plovers, seven Shelducks, and the Yellow-legged Gull on the remaining areas of mud. (LP)

Stonechats at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit: The two Spoonbills were visible by Tern Island, with 11 Little Egrets. but there wasn’t much else about, beyond two Meadow Pipits and eight Linnets along the spit and two Teal and a lone Wigeon on the water. (LP)

Spoonbills seen from Pagham Spit (LP)

Sunday, 29th September:  A dry start to the day with winds from the south-southeast gusting to force six...rain and possible stronger winds forecast later...

Selsey Bill: It was an interesting morning with the highlights including a Nightjar heading east well inside the mile basket line early on, a juvenile Pomarine Skua offshore, a Great Skua & several Arctic Skuas moving through and three Balearic Shearwaters heading west. Full log below: (SH/BI/CRJ/SR/IP/MRB/JA/JDa)

(0620-1000hrs) (SSE F5) 

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Shag - 3E

Gannet - 95E 52W

Balearic Shearwater - 3W

Arctic Skua - 4E 3W 4os

Great Skua - 1E

Pomarine Skua - 1 (juv) os

Brent Goose - 25W

Common Scoter - 12E 7W

Eider - 4W

Turnstone - 2
Little Egret - 1E
Grey Heron - 2w

Kittiwake - 1E 8W

Mediterranean Gull - 27e 10w 7os

Common Gull -1E

Sandwich Tern - 17E 2W

Commic Tern - 5E

auk sp. - 106E 3W

Razorbill - 8E 1W

Guillemot - 2E

Nightjar - 1E (0649hrs)

Swallow - 409E

Grey Wagtail - 4E

Pied Wagtail - 6E

Meadow Pipit - 13E

Wheatear - 1W

(1315-1500hrs) (SSE F6) (SH/BI)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 33E 7W 22os

Balearic Shearwater - 2E

large shearwater sp. - 2W (1330 & 1417hrs)

Arctic Skua - 3E 3os (all d/p)

Turnstone - 30

Kittiwake - 2E 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Turnstone, above, Sandwich Terns & Yellow Wagtail at the Bill (BI)

This afternoon an Arctic Skua went west past the Bill, along with a juvenile Gannet, and four Common Gulls. (AW)

Arctic Skua (above), Gannet & Common Gull at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was  against the southern bank where all the ducks, including a few Shoveler & Wigeon,  were roosting to protect themselves from the wind. A Common Buzzard and a Kestrel were both present and nine Avocets were feeding in the middle of the pool; c.20 Black-tailed Godwits were also present. (IP/MRB/BI et al)

Avocets on the ferry (BI)

Drift Lane & Warner Lane: It was generally quiet in the area today but there were still c.10 Chiffchaffs around the bushes and a steady stream of hirundines moving overhead. (BI)

Church Norton: The harbour was largely empty in a force six southerly, but there were 35 Grey Plover roosting on the metalwork, a visiting birder reported that two Spoonbills had flown up the channel towards the Ferry. In the Churchyard a Mistle Thrush was present along with thee Blackcaps (one male) and plenty of Chiffchaffs. In the field to the north there were 34 Red-legged Partridges. (IP/MRB)

North Wall: Two Whinchats, six Stonechats, six Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around the paddock this morning and a Kingfisher was by the sluice. 

In the harbour around high tide, 17 Brent Geese were on the water with lots of Wigeon and Teal, and four Spotted Redshanks were with the regular Redshanks and Lapwings along the banks. 

A Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, four Kestrels and a Buzzard were about, 4 Cattle Egrets were with the cows and a few Swallows and Meadow Pipits passed overhead. (LP/MRi)

Whinchat, above, Stonechat, Spotted Redshanks, Brent Geese & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: A very windy walk found the following overhead mid-morning: two Buzzards, three Kestrels, a Grey Wagtail, c.50 Swallows and c.20 Meadow Pipits. 

Along the banks were two Cetti's Warblers, a Stonechat, a Dartford Warbler and seven Chiffchaffs whilst three Yellowhammers were in the hedges. Two Cattle Egrets were also noted out on the fields (SaH/SH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A flock of c50 Cattle Egrets and a single Kestrel were along Church Farm Lane today. (SA)

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 below... 

(0645-0930hrs) (NNW F2-3) (SH/BI/SR/IP/P&LH et al)

Gannet - 9E 5W 6os

Brent Goose - 1W

Turnstone 8

Oystercatcher - 5E 6W 1OS

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E 3W

Sandwich Tern - 1E 1W

Jay - 1

Stonechat - 2

Woodlark - 3W

Swallow - 28E

House Martin - 5

Pied Wagtail - 38W

Grey Wagtail - 7E

Yellow Wagtail - 20W

Meadow Pipit - 137N

Rock Pipit - 1W

Chiffchaff - 15

Siskin - 1E

Linnet - 24E

Stonechat, above, & 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)

Park Farm: A minimum of 500 Meadow Pipits were feeding in the fields here and around Greenlease Farm.  A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at the eastern end of the fields and a few Swallows at this end, but none around the Farm or the new housing estate, however on the return trip there was a female Blackcap in the bushes and a distant Buzzard over the Medmerry area. A Stonechat was sat on a post in the fields. (IP) A Hobby was over north Selsey this afternoon. (MRe)

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, a Greenshank, 40 Lapwing and 30 Black-tailed Godwits plus the regular mix of wildfowl including several Shovelers and 30 Teal. 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) Later in the morning two Common Sandpipers and two Green Sandpipers were on the ferry and a Sparrowhawk and six Common Buzzards were overhead, as were c.200 hirundines which included a Sand Martin and a House Martin in with the many Swallows. (P&LH)

Spoonbills over the Long Pool, above, Shovelers & 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)

Mill Lane Marsh: With the water now higher here there wasn't a great deal to see but a Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were noted as were a Moorhen and a Collared Dove. (P&LH)

Runcton: South of the village this morning were three Mute Swan, six Egyptian Geese, 34 Mallard, 30 Shovelers, two Teal, two Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes, a Grey Heron, five Cormorants, a Buzzard and a Kestrel. Over the Reservoir were 40 Swallows and 30 House Martins whilst around the private lake were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Jays, two Meadow Pipits and 11 Chiffchaffs. (CRJ)

Medmerry-Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool:  There was an increase in Stonechat numbers today with 22 noted along the banks, with one Whinchat, three Wheatears, four Dartford Warblers and a Yellowhammer also recorded. Four Chiffchaffs, a Whitethroat and six Cetti's Warblers were along the paths and c.100 Swallows, a single Sand Martin and three House Martins flew through west. Around the fields were c.50 Meadow Pipits, seven Pied Wagtails and c.30 Yellow Wagtails and raptors included 12 Common Buzzards, four Kestrels, three Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. (SaH/SH)

North Wall: Two Whinchats, two Stonechats, a Reed Bunting, four Chiffchaffs and a Green Woodpecker were around the paddock this morning and the usual mix of Wigeon, Teal, Redshanks and Lapwings were along White’s Creek along with a Brent Goose and 5 Canada Geese, with four Common Seals hauled out on the far bank. 

A Common Sandpiper was along the rocks and throughout the morning there was a constant flow of Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits overhead. A Kingfisher was around the Breech Pool, with a Little Grebe and the juvenile Great Crested Grebe on the water, and further back a juvenile Marsh Harrier and four Buzzards were high over the trees. 

At Halsey’s Farm, four Stonechats and six Meadow Pipits were around the fields and a Song Thrush, four Reed Buntings and four Chiffchaffs were in the bushes, whilst on Owl Water, six Little Grebes were on the water and a Fox was asleep in the sun on the bank. (LP/CT/GHi/M James) 

Tonight two Tawny Owls were calling and a Barn Owl was out hunting at Halsey's Farm. (SR)

Reed Bunting, above, Whinchat, Song Thrush & Fox at the North Wall (LP)