22nd - 24th October 2024

Thursday, 24th October: A quite warm and mostly sunny morning, tempered somewhat by the brisk southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There were nearly 10,000 Wood Pigeons over, heading west, this morning, with at least 200 Stock Doves among them, but visible migration was limited to Linnets and Goldfinches, plus a few Swallows, with sea sea again very quiet. 

Also, of note, the first Black Redstart of the autumn was along the rooves in Ursula Square and a Blackcap was in Grafton Road.. Full log later. (SH/AH//KT/SR/LL/AE)

(0720-0935hrs) (S, F5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1W

Brent Goose - 15W

Common Scoter - 11W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 26E

Common Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 32E, 7os

auk sp - 109E, 21W

Wood Pigeon - 9950W

Stock Dove - 240W

Swallow - 10E

Pied Wagtail - 25E

Meadow Pipit - 2E

Black Redstart - 1

Blackcap - 1

Jackdaw - 150

Linnet - 474E

Goldfinch - 315E

Sparrowhawk (above), Swallow & Wood Pigeons (AH) & Blackcap (AE)  at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: A total of 21 Avocets were roosting on the pool this morning, along with c25 Black-tailed Godwits, and there were also c60 Shoveler, c100 Teal, c25 Wigeon, c20 Mallards and eight Shelducks present, whilst a flock of c200 Jackdaws were on and over Ferry Field. (AH) 

Shoveler (above), Jackdaw & Avocets and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A female Marsh Harrier went over the harbour his morning, but out on the mud there were just two Golden Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers, c30 Dunlin, six Black-tailed Godwits, four Bar-tailed Godwits and lots of Redshanks, along with c40 Wigeon and a handful of Mediterranean Gulls. 

A Chiffchaff was in he churchyard and another half a dozen, plus a couple of Goldcrests, were around the Mound area, but that was about it. (CRJ/AH)

Golden Plover and Grey Plover (above), Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham: Another Hawfinch went over east, early this morning, and over 5000 Wood Pigeons went west in an hour. (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A very late Hobby was around this morning, seen eating prey on the wing, and there were also two Kestrels and five Buzzards about, too.

Four Dartford Warblers were along the banks, with a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, five Stonechats, three Yellowhammers, a Grey Wagtail and three Swallows also about. (SH/JMo)

North Wall: There were two Marsh Harriers being quite active this morning - an adult male and a juvenile with darkish wing tips (so probably also male). A Grey Wagtail was near the sluice, whilst a Rock Pipit was along the Wall and at least two Cetti's Warblers were calling. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was out on the mudflats in its 'regular' location, but the clear highlight was finding at least two Bearded Tits in the reeds at the Breech Pool. Two elderly birders were taking their ease on the first bench, when suddenly a Beardie was heard to call above the wind noise. Then another, then some glimpses. One was a definite male and the other uncertain, possibly a younger bird, but they were calling frequently for a while, then briefly showing on and off as they flitted around the reeds closest to the path. They were present from at least 12.45 until 13.15hrs when we had to leave...but sadly no photos were obtained despite some effort! (OM & BFF)

At the North Wall: Marsh Harrier (top two) and Rock Pipit (lower)  (OM)

Wednesday, 23rd October: A fairly pleasant morning of variable cloud cover and some sun in a light to moderate westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There were more Wood Pigeons on the move this morning, but not too much else, whilst offshore there were just a few Brent Geese and Razorbills going west. Full log below. (AH/SR)

(0735-0850hrs) (W, F2)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2E

Shag - 3E, 2os

Brent Goose - 31W

Wigeon - 33E

Common Scoter - 7os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Razorbill - 23W

auk sp - 11E, 16W

Wood Pigeon - 3140W

Pied Wagtail - 1E, 26W

Meadow Pipit - 20W

Jackdaw - 130E (in one flock)

Goldfinch - 18

Brent Geese (above), Wigeon & Wood Pigeons at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was back on the small roadside pool this morning, whilst the main pool held 16 Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, a Grey Heron, eight Wigeon, six Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and Teal and c75 Canada Geese. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Shelduck & Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look in the harbour this morning produced a Greenshank, six Bar-tailed Godwits and eight Grey Plovers among the usual mix of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, and there were also c70 Wigeon and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls present.

There wasn't much around the churchyard/hide area except a couple of Chiffchaffs among a mixed flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits and a Green Woodpecker. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were two Barn Owls out hunting this evening around Halsey's Farm, with a Tawny Owl calling from nearby, whilst four Marsh Harriers went in to roost at the Breech Pool.

There were also ten Cattle Egrets, a Water Rail, three Snipe and a dozen Pied Wagtails about. (S&SaH)

Sidlesham: A flock of six Hawfinches flew east over the village early this morning. (PA)

Chichester Marina: There were two Tree-creepers in the trees near the car-park this morning, along with two Firecrests and two Goldcrests. (HB//LP et al)

Medmerry: Coastguards to the Breach - Non-birders reported what appeared to be three possible Black Redstarts at Toe End this morning, though they could not be re-found.

Otherwise, there were just nine Meadow Pipits, 16 Pied Wagtails, a Cetti's Warbler and eight Skylarks present, with a Greenshank, 16 Dunlin, six Ringed Plovers and two Grey Plovers in the tidal area. (SR)

Tuesday, 22nd October: A colder start than of late, though dry after overnight rain, with sun for a while before clouding over, in a moderate westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was a huge movement of 5596 Wood Pigeons this morning, mostly coming over from inland, circling around and heading off west, with two large flocks of 80 and 150 Jackdaws and a late Yellow Wagtail doing likewise, though it remains quiet offshore, with 135 Wigeon heading east the most obvious evidence of movement. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/P&LH)

(0735-0920hrs) (W, F2-3)

Gannet - 3E, 10W

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 9W

Wigeon - 135E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

auk sp - 53W

Wood Pigeon - 5596W

Swallow - 1E, 33W

Yellow Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 24W

Meadow Pipit - 46W

Chiffchaff - 1

Jackdaw - 230W

Goldfinch - 12

Greenfinch - 1

Shags (above), Jackdaws & Wood Pigeons at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were eight Avocets, 24 Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Lapwings around the pool this morning, along with seven Egyptian Geese, two Greylag Geese, 22 Canada Geese, eight Shelducks, c20 Wigeon and c50 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Egyptian Geese (above), Greylag Geese and Canada Geese & Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings and Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were c80 Golden Plovers out on the mud with the Lapwings and two Snipe, as well a good selection of Redshanks, Grey Plovers, Curlew, Knot and Dunlin.

Two Egyptian Geese dropped into White’s Creek, where there was also a Kingfisher, two Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail, whilst a Blackcap was in the bushes behind the sluice, two Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and two Greylag Geese flew over with 13 Canada Geese.

A few Reed Buntings and Stonechats were in the bushes along the wall and at Halsey’s Farm, a Skylark was on the fence, the lone Cattle Egret was again in the field, and a few Teal and Little Grebes were along the rife. (AHu/PB/LP/TRH/MJa)

Blackcap (above), Rock Pipit, Teal, Egyptian Geese & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Two Common Scoters and two Sandwich Terns were seen from the beach this morning, whilst in the harbour there were seven Avocets, four Brent Geese, 10 Wigeon, 35 Teal, a Greenshank, a Knot, seven Bar-tailed Godwits, c40 Dunlin, c30  Grey Plovers, 12 Turnstones and nine Mediterranean Gulls, plus a Marsh Harrier and 31 Swallows over. 

A Chiffchaff and a Mistle Thrush were about it around the churchyard, whilst 15 Linnets and half a dozen or so Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were seen along the front. (P&LH)

Late afternoon there was a Common Seal in the harbour in front of the benches, but apart from five Swallows over the Severals heading south, there was little else to report. (AW)

Swallow (above) & Common Seal at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: East side - A Short-eared Owl was seen out hunting on the reserve this afternoon. (AS)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There wasn't much to report this evening, though a Merlin was chasing Meadow Pipits, two Egyptian Geese were on the reserve and a Dartford Warbler was along the banks. (S&SaH)