Tuesday, 1st October: A fairly bright, if cool, morning in a blustery westerly breeze....
Selsey Bill: A Little Gull went west early on, a Sand Martin was among the House Martins and Swallows and there were also two Wheatears about. Full log below. (KT/AH/SR/IP)
(0705-0835hrs) (WNW, F6)
Gannet - 2E, 3W
Shag - 2E
Common Scoter - 9E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Turnstone - 25
Mediterranean Gull - 12os
Little Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 4W
Swallow - 34
House Martin - 18
Sand Martin - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 62W
Grey Wagtail - 2W
Pied Wagtail - 3W
Wheatear - 2
Wheatear (above), Swallow, Shag & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, six Black-tailed Godwits, eight Avocets and c75 Lapwings were the only waders about this morning, with wildfowl comprising 14 Shelducks, 11 Shovelers and c40 Teal. (AH)
Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: It was busy around the paddocks this morning, with three Whinchats, a Yellow Wagtail, six Stonechats, four Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Pied Wagtail, a Lapwing, a Kestrel, and a Green Woodpecker present, with a Sparrowhawk overhead and a Peregrine in the adjacent field.
Along White’s Creek on the rising tide, there was a good selection of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Grey Plovers, Lapwings, Redshanks, Curlews and the Yellow-legged Gull, with a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail by the sluice, and a Wheatear was along the rocks.
A Kingfisher was on the Breech Pool, a few Swallows and House Martins flew over and seven Cattle Egrets were around the cows. At least 20 Chiffchaffs were in the bushes, along with a dozen Long-tailed Tits, four Reed Buntings, a Reed Warbler and a Song Thrush, whilst a Marsh Harrier was over Owl Copse and a Bar-tailed Godwit was in the harbour near the Halsey’s outfall, and sadly a very sick looking juvenile Gannet was on the water near the wall at high tide. (CRJ/LP/TRH/CT/JDW)
Wheatear (above), Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit & Pied Wagtail and Lapwing at the North Wall (LP)
Church Norton: A Spoonbill was in the harbour again this morning, with a fair selection of waders including a Greenshank, a Knot, six Bar-tailed Godwits, c40 Grey Plovers and c25 Dunlin, plus the usuals, and there were also at least eight Pintail among the Wigeon and Teal.
Visible migration along the Severals included a Siskin, six Reed Buntings, seven Linnets, 57 Meadow Pipits, a Sand Martin and c30 Swallows and House Martins, whilst at least 50 more of the latter, plus a few Swallows were feeding high over the churchyard.
Also, over 50 Chiffchaffs were spread around the various hedges, with a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whitethroat, half a dozen Blackcaps, four Goldcrests, a Stonechat and a Mistle Thrush also seen, whilst two Water Rails were heard from the Severals. (MRe/AH/KT/IH et al)
Spotted Flycatcher (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spoonbill, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: Around the high tide this morning there were 14 Greenshank roosting off Dell Quay, where there was also a Sandwich Tern, which had been plunge diving off the sewage works earlier.
There was a female Shoveler on Fishbourne Mill Pond, too. (RW)
West Itchenor: An Osprey flew south west over the harbour early this afternoon. (PH).
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A possible Quail was seen briefly along the banks this morning, with more normal fare seen including four Dartford Warblers, 14 Stonechats,, four Yellowhammers, six Chiffchaffs, and three Cetti's Warblers.
Also, a Kingfisher, two Ravens, four Pied Wagtails and c50 Meadow Pipits were around the reserve, with ten House Martins, c50 Swallows, a buzzard and a Kestrel going over. (S&SaH)
There wasn't much to add on a return visit this evening except a Greenshank and two marsh Harriers. (S&SaH)
