6th - 9th September 2024

Monday, 9th September: A much cooler morning than of late,  heavily overcast and in a fresh and blustery north-westerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: There was quite a bit of activity this morning, including up to three very late Little Terns, three Black Terns and a couple of Arctic Skuas, with the first two Brent Geese of the autumn going west and a big gathering of hiriundines. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/ABi/PB/BI/MRe)

(0700-1430hrs) (NNW, F4-5)

Gannet - 25E, 91W, c100os

Shag - 1E

Little Egret - 1

Brent Goose - 2W

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Arctic Skua - 1W, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 25W

Sandwich Tern - 72E, 40W, 23os (on bar)

Common Tern - 1E, 2W

Little Tern - 1E, 2os

Black Tern - 3W

Razorbill - 1W

Swallow - c100

Sand Martin - c100

House Martin - c300

Yellow Wagtail - 4E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Tree Pipit - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 11E

Wheatear - 5

Hummingbird Hawk-moth - 1

Black Tern (above), Sandwich Tern, House Martins & Little Egret at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Spotted Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper on the (not so!) concealed roadside pool this morning, with the main pool holding six Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Lapwings and c50 Teal. (AH/ABi)

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

East side: Among the waders about this morning, there were a Little Stint, three Sanderlings, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers and c50 Grey Plovers, with five Pintail and a Peregrine  also present.

Along the hedges there were a Blackcap, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and 15 Chiffchaffs, whilst six Yellow Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits and nine Swallows went over. (MRe)

Sidlesham Quay: An immature Hobby landed on the chimney pot of the Crab and Lobster pub early this afternoon. (RWh)

Hobby at Sidlesham Quay (RWh)

Church Norton: The Red-backed Shrike was still in its favoured area by the horse field this morning, whilst a male Ring Ouzel was seen briefly in the small field by the Mound, but was much less obliging.

Otherwise, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and half a dozen Chiffchaffs were behind the hide, with another Spotted Flycatcher, three Wheatears and a few Willow Warblers and Whitethroats along the front, plus 100+ House Martins and smaller numbers of Sand Martins and Swallows over.

A Merlin and a Peregrine were about early on, and an Osprey went over the harbour early this afternoon, with a Bar-tailed Godwit, a juvenile Knot,  and two Whimbrel  were the only waders of note, though there were a Common Gull, plenty of Mediterranean Gulls and a few Sandwich Terns about, along with a few Wigeon and Teal. 

(AW/HR/DM/AH/IP ABi/AHu/PD/RWh et al)

The Red-backed Shrike was still showing well this afternoon, and there was also a Greenshank in the harbour. (NR/EB et al)

Red-backed Shrike (AW) (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Whimbrel & Bar-tailed Godwit (AH) at Church Norton

East side: An Osprey was sat out in the harbour all morning, with a Peregrine also about, whilst a mong the waders seen, there were a Little Stint, three Sanderlings, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, two Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwits, four Avocets and c50 Grey Plovers, with nine Pintail and 28 Wigeon  also present.

Along the hedges there were a Blackcap, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and 15 Chiffchaffs, whilst six Yellow Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits and nine Swallows went over. (MRe/LP)

Osprey (above), Sanderlings, Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocets & Pintail along the East Side (LP)

North Wall: It was quiet along the wall this morning, with just two Whinchats and a Wheatear at Halsey’s Farm and two Wheatears, a Whinchat and three Whitethroats along the wall.

There was only a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, the juvenile Great Crested Grebe and six Mallards on the Breech Pool, and along White’s Creek three Common Sandpipers were with a Bar-tailed Godwit and the usual Redshanks and Lapwings, whilst a Kingfisher flew from the sluice towards the Breech Pool. (LP/MRe)

Later, the Great White Egret was back on the Breech Pool and a few Yellow Wagtails were about. (RWh)

Wheatear (above), Common Sandpipers & Grey Heron at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: A Pied Flycatcher was in an oak tree along the path this afternoon. (AHu)

Pied Flycatcher at Chichester GPs (AHu)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were three Ospreys about this evening, along with a Hobby, a Peregrine, two Buzzards and two Kestrels about, too, with two Kingfishers, a Greenshank, three Avocets, a Ringed Plover and four Common Sandpipers, with another and four Grey Plovers on the Stilt Pool.

There was a good selection around the banks, too, including seven Whinchats, seven Wheatears, three Stonechats, three Dartford Warblers, nine Willow Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Whitethroats and three Yellowhammers, with two Yellow Wagtails, c20 Meadow Pipits and just four Swallows and Sand Martins also about. (S&SaH/PB/NR/AH)

Osprey at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 8th September: Another very unsettled day, with lots of low cloud and the odd bit of drizzle, but quite mild in the moderate south-westerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: There was a massive movement of 501 Sandwich Terns east this morning - very unusual at a time of year when most birds are heading west, with a couple of Arctic Skuas and Black Terns and 24 Common Terns going east, too. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH)

(0600-0930hrs) (SSW, F3)

Gannet - 34E, 39W, 40os

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 11E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Peregrine - 1

Oystercatcher - 4E

Sanderling - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Arctic Skua - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 121E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 501E, 25W, 70os (on the shingle bar)

Common Tern - 24E

Black Tern - 2E

Swallow - 14E

Sand Martin - 1E

Grey Wagtail - 3E

Wheatear - 2

Painted Lady - 2 (on Oval Field)

Sandwich Terns (above), Black Tern & Wheatear at the Bill (Ah)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and two Common Sandpipers were on the pool this morning, along with six Avocets, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, c80 Lapwings, c50 Teal, five Shovelers and two juvenile Shelducks, with a Water Rail skulking in the reeds at the front and a Kingfisher over

The Tramway circuit was quiet, with just two flocks of Long-tailed Tits, 12 Chiffchaffs, three Whitethroats, a Pied Wagtail, five House Martins about, plus a tagged Curlew - C7 - in the harbour, whilst there were also two magnificent Puff Ball fungi. (AH/SR)

Later on, four Ruff were on the pool, along with the Spotted Redshank and the Green Sandpiper. (PB/MRB et al)

Green Sandpiper (above), Avocets (AH) & Whitethroat (SR) at the Ferry

Mill Pond Marsh: It was quite busy here today, with three Greenshanks, a Redshank,, the juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit, six Black-tailed Godwits (plus eight that flew over into the harbour), three Snipe, a couple of Water Rails, two Shovelers and 34 Teal around the flooded field.

There were also a couple of Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler about, with a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and half a dozen Chiffchaffs around the adjacent willows. (SR/AH)

Greenshank (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A few interesting birds were around the farm buildings today; namely a Wheatear, a male Blackcap, two Willow Warblers, a juvenile Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel. (IP)

Sidlesham: A Turtle Dove was heard in trees at Mapson's Farm, but sadly not seen, today. (T Monnington) 

This is the first - and will be quite probably the only - record on the Peninsula this year. (Eds)

.

Church Norton: The Red-backed Shrike continued to oblige the many people who have come to see it, still favouring its bit of hedge by the horse field, whilst there were also a Redstart, two Whinchats, two Reed Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher in the vicinity today, along with a few Whitethroats, plus 30 Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows over.

There were also 15+ Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests and half a dozen Blackcaps and Willow Warblers around the churchyard/hide area, with three Mistle Thrushes in the car-park, with another dozen Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and a few Long-tailed Tits between the Severals.

An Osprey was hunting over the harbour early and late this morning, with a male Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine also making an appearance, whilst wader included a Bar-tailed Godwit, four Knot, six Dunlin and 11 Grey Plovers, with c40 Sandwich Terns, c30 Teal, c15 wigeon and nine Pintail about, too, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull was in the harbour and 200 Mediterranean Gulls were on the fields, with another 400 offshore. 

(MRe/PA/GM/SR/IP/AH/P&JW/HB/LT/PB/MRB/CBo/JEv et al)

This afternoon there were four Black Terns feeding offshore. (B&MC)

Red-backed Shrike (JEv, top, then IP, GM & AH lower two), Osprey, Mistle Thrushes, Bar-tailed Godwit & Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gulls (AH) at Church Norton

The Red-backed Shrike was still showing well in the late-afternoon sun, whilst the nine Pintail were in the harbour, along with a few Wigeon, Teal, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls. (AH/NM et al)

Red-backed Shrike (above) & Pintails at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Wheatear and a Linnet were along the wall this morning, a Whinchat was in the bushes and a Yellow Wagtail flew off the fields, but on the Breech Pool there were just the Great White Egret, two Great Crested Grebes and a few Mallards and Teal, whilst further back a Marsh Harrier, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel were about, and a few Sand Martins flew over.

A Bar-tailed Godwit was along White’s Creek, together with two Black-tailed Godwits and numerous Redshanks and Lapwings, while further down there were five Pintail and ten Wigeon on the water, and a Yellow-legged Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 18 Canada Geese, a Greenshank, and a few Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Grey Plovers spread out across the mud.

Elsewhere it was fairly quiet, with just a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Jay around the paddock, plus a Kingfisher that flew from the sluice towards the Breech Pool. (LP/DHi)

Wheatear (above), Great White Egret, Bar-tailed Godwit & Green Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were a remarkable five Ospreys on the reserve this afternoon - two fishing over the breech, two over the reserve and one sat in a dead tree - with this being the most ever being seen together on the Peninsula.

There were also a male and a female Marsh Harrier, three Buzzards and two Kestrels about, too, whilst wo Common Sandpipers were on the reserve and 21 Sandwich Terns were roosting on the Stilt Pool, with another 21 offshore.

There was a good selection along the banks, too, including the first Whinchat of the autumn, eight Wheatears, two Stonechats, five Meadow Pipits, 35 Yellow Wagtails, three Dartford Warblers, two Whitethroats, eight Willow Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers and three Yellowhammers, with a huge flock of c700 Sand Martins over the southern end of the reserve, with a House Martin and c50 Swallows among them. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 7th September: A grey and autumnal morning, though fairly mild despite the light to moderate north-easterly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: Completely unexpected, given the conditions, a juvenile Sabine's Gull was sat on the sea, c400m offshore this morning, though, sadly it only stayed around for about 20 minutes before drifting off west.

Also, in an interesting morning, up to six Black Terns were lingering offshore among the Common and Sandwich Terns, with an Osprey and an Arctic Skua about, too, and a dozen or more Tree Pipits and Yellow Wagtails went over. Full log below. (BI/SH/JA/PB/SR/AH/MRe/IP/PA)

(0600-0830hrs) (NNE, F3)

Gannet - 21E, 9W

Common Scoter - 5E, 1os

Osprey - 1os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 11

Turnstone - 11

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 93E

Common Gull - 12E

Sabine's Gull - 1os, then W (0650-0710hrs)

Sandwich Tern - 65E

Common Tern - 8E

Black Tern - 6os

auk sp - 1E

Swallow - 2E

Sand Martin - 2E

House Martin - 2E

Yellow Wagtail - 18E

Grey Wagtail - 4E

Tree Pipit - 13E

Sabine's Gull video  (MRe)

 

Sabine's Gull (top BI, lower two SH) (above), Black Terns & Sandwich Terns (AH) at the Bill

This afternoon an Arctic Skua was off Hillfield Road and a Wheatear was on the roofs there. (Full log below. (AH/PA)

(1550-1650hrs)

Gannet - 6E

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - c50os

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Common Tern - 1os

Wheatear - 1

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

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was on the pool early on, and there were also a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, two Dunlin, four Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and 110 Lapwings present, along with five Shovelers and c40 Teal. 

Also, a Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails went over. (AH/PB/CRJ et al)

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

This afternoon two Spotted Redshanks were on the pool among a big group of Redshanks and Lapwings, whilst two Ringed Plovers and two Snipe dropped in, too. (AH/PA)

Snipe (above) & Ringed Plover on the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank was back on the flooded field this morning, along with the juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit, five Black-tailed Godwits, three Snipe and c20 Teal, whilst there were also a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs about, too. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Snipe & Lesser Whitethroat at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: The adult male Red-backed Shrike was still in its favoured it of hedge by the horse field, showing well and seemingly unconcerned by the continuous stream of watchers.

It was oddly quiet otherwise, though, with just a Lesser Whitethroat, three or four Whitethroats and half a dozen Chiffchaffs the only other birds in the bushes, though a couple of Tree Pipits and Yellow Wagtails went over east, along with 100+ House Martins and 20+ Sand Martins and Swallows.

The harbour was vey quiet, with c20 Teal and Wigeon about,and a Common Sandpiper the only wader of note, whilst on the beach and offshore there were two Common Terns, 25 Sandwich Terns and c200 Mediterranean Gulls. 

Also, early this morning, a Barn Owl was seen along Rectory Lane.(AB/CD/MRB/PB/NM/IP/AH/CRJ/BI et al)

Red-backed Shrike (above), Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper & Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

The Red-backed Shrike was still present this afternoon, whilst two Black Terns were among the feeding flock offshore and a Common Sandpiper and a Red-legged Partridge were along the path to the beach. (AB/CD)

Later, at least 40 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour and a Kingfisher was on the metalwork. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Kingfisher at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: Early this afternoon the two Black Terns were seen among the gulls off the spit and there was also an Arctic Skua about. (BrJ)

North Wall: This morning, a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice and a Green Woodpecker was in the paddock, five Wigeon were along White’s Creek, with the usual Redshanks and Lapwings, and three Wheatears were along the wall.

The Great White Egret was again on the Breech Pool, but otherwise there were just the Great Crested Grebes, two Little Egrets and plenty of Teal and Mallards, whilst at Halsey’s Farm, two Greenshanks were by the outfall, and two Whinchats, two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Cetti’s Warbler, three Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers were around the hedges and fences, with five Yellow Wagtails and a few House Martins passing overhead. (LP/NR)

Whinchat (above), Wheatear & Spotted Flycatcher at the North Wall (LP)

Birdham: Two Swifts went south-west over the garden late this morning. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were definitely two - and possibly three - Ospreys about this morning, with the juvenile Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and three Buzzards also about.

There was a good selection of birds on and over the banks, including 13 Tree Pipits over east, six Meadow Pipits, 14 Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails, three Pied Wagtails, seven Wheatears, 14 Willow Warblers, two Blackcaps, five Dartford Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, a House Martin, a dozen Swallows and c150 Sand Martins.

Also, a Greenshank was on the reserve, a Common Sandpiper was on the Stilt Pool and a Black Tern, two Common Terns and c30 Sandwich Terns were offshore. (S&SaH)

Osprey at Medmerry (SaH)

Northcommon Farm: On the whole it was on the quiet side, but eventually four Spotted Flycatchers, two Whitethroats, a Red-legged Partridge, four Long-tailed Tits, three Chiffchaffs, 50 House Martins, four Swallows, a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard gave themselves up. (SR).

Park Farm, Selsey: Both a single Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were in the hedges, whilst two Yellow Wagtails flew over the fields and at least two Green Woodpeckers were present, too. (IP)

Selsey: Four Tree Pipits, a Grey Wagtail and 15 Yellow Wagtails went over our house in the middle of the town this morning. (MRe)

Also, a Clifden Nonpareil was in the moth trap this morning. (AW)

 

Clifden Nonpareil in a Selsey garden (AW)

Friday, 6th September: A very dreary morning of intermittent rain, sometimes heavy, and prolonged spells of drizzle under leaden skies, though the breeze had dropped right away......

Selsey Bill: There were a few bits of interest this morning, including three Bar-tailed Godwits west and two Wheatears and a Willow Warbler around the Oval Field. Full log below. (BI/SR/IP/AH/PA)

(0620-0820hrs) (WNW, F2)

Gannet - 7E, 9W

Little Egret - 1E

Common Scoter - 3os

Bar-tailed Godwit - 3W

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 1W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 45os

Common Tern - 4W, 1os

Swallow - 5W

Yellow Wagtail - 1W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Goldfinch - 30

Early this afternoon, an Arctic Skua was off Hillfield Road. (MRe)

Wheatear (above), Bar-tailed Godwits, Common Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Ruff were on the pool early on, though not later, with a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two Dunlin, six Avocets, c30 Lapwings, c40 Black-tailed Godwits and similar of Teal also about. 

Also, a flock of seven Barnacle-type Geese went over, early on, heading west. (AH/PA)

This afternoon there were two Spotted Redshanks, two Green Sandpipers, 12 Knot and 115 Redshanks among the birds roosting on the pool. (PA)

Ruff (above), Green Sandpiper & Dunlin at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The water level had risen sharply overnight, and there were just four Snipe, a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit, five Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Teal on the field this morning. (AH)

Snipe and Teal at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: A splendid male Red-backed Shrike was found by Dick Senior this morning in the low hedge at the beach end of the horse field, where it was catching plenty of large insects and showing well for a stream of admirers.

Also, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Reed Warbler, at least 20 Chiffchaffs and half a dozen or so Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were in the churchyard, with c50 House Martins going over, but the hedges elsewhere were quiet beyond a further scattering of Whitethroats.

A Marsh Harrier went over and a couple of Sandwich Terns dropped in, but otherwise, the harbour just held a Greenshank of note among the usual species, whilst offshore thee were two juvenile Common Terns and 68 Mediterranean Gulls. (RJS/AH/PA/RS/CRJ/IP/EB/MRe/ARK et al)

Red-backed Shrike (above), Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

more pictures of the Red-backed shrike (top two AW, then SR & EB)

The Red-backed Shrike continued to show all day in the same area, whilst the Spotted Flycatcher was seen in the car-park and three Wheatears were on the concrete slabs. 

A late Swift was among the hirundine flock over Greenlease Farm and the Severals, which comprised 300+ House Martins, 50+ Sand Martins and just a few Swallows, with a Hobby and a Sparrowhawk both taking an interest in them.

Also, early in the evening, an Osprey went west along the beach, as did a flock of 11 Grey Herons, whilst 25 Common Terns, eight Sandwich Terns and 50+ Mediterranean Gulls went west offshore, with c350 of the latter seen earlier along Rectory Lane. (AW/PA/AH/RHa/S&SaH/RP/LL et al)

Red-backed Shrike (PA) (above), Osprey, Common Terns & House Martin (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Three Common Sandpipers were in White’s Creek this morning, and a few Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Reed Warblers were along the hedges, whilst a lone Whinchat was on the fence at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was by the rife and a few House Martins and Sand Martins were moving through.

At Owl Copse, there were still some juvenile Cattle Egrets in the trees and three Little Grebes on the water, but on the Breech Pool, the water level has risen considerably overnight, and the only birds there were the Great Crested Grebes and another Kingfisher. (LP/TRH)

This evening a Little Owl was by the stables and three Marsh Harriers were about. (TH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & juvenile Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)