28th - 31st October 2024

Thursday, 31st October: Another very heavily overcast morning, quite mild after a cool start, in just a very light north-easterly breeze........

Selsey Bill: Over 100 Brent Geese and a modest flow of auks west was about it this morning, with no overhead migration taking place. Full log below. (SR/AH/LL)

(0705-0820hrs) (NE, F2-3)

Gannet - 6E, 4W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 2E, 105W

Shelduck - 3W

Wigeon - 27E

Common Scoter - 8W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 2E, 127W

auk sp - 55E, 258W

Pied Wagtail - 10

Meadow Pipit - 1

Stonechat - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldfinch - 8

Brent Geese (above) & Wigeon at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was briefly in the roadside pool before flying off over the field, whilst a Greenshank, two Lapwings, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks and 22 Avocets were roosting around the main pool, with c80 Shovelers, c150 Teal, c40 mallards and five Shelducks also present.

Also of note, a Coal Tit was on the feeders by the Visitor Centre. (CT/AH et al)

Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwits (above), Avocets & Coal Tit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Three Bearded Tits were on the first Several early this morning before flying off, but 25 Goldfinches and two Pied Wagtails over was the only hint of visible migration.

Otherwise, there were just a pair of Stonechats along the front, a Firecrest, a couple of Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and a pair of Mistle Thrushes around the churchyard/hide area and c25 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and c150 Linnets along the spit.

At least 100 Brent Geese - including just a few juveniles - were in the harbour, along with c40 Pintail and plenty of Wigeon and Teal, a Kingfisher on the metalwork and a few waders on the rising tide, including two Greenshank that flew off west, the Whimbrel, eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c40 Knot and c50 Grey Plovers and Dunlin. (CRJ/AH)

Mistle Thrushes (above), Linnets, Kingfisher, Brent Geese, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Dunlin & Knot and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 30th October: It was cooler this morning, but still overcast, as the light breeze swung round to the north-east......

Selsey Bill: A Red-throated Diver and a steady flow of auks and Brent Geese went west this morning and a handful of Swallows were still hanging on. Full  log below. (SH/PB/SR/AH)

(0630-0900hrs) (NE, F2)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 11E, 12W, 8os

Brent Goose - 127W

Wigeon - 3W

Common Scoter - 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Oystercatcher - 4W

Turnstone - 15

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 2W

Common Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Guillemot - 4E, 1os

Razorbill - 18E, 256W, 19os

auk sp - 395W

Swallow - 9E

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 10

Meadow Pipit - 14W

Linnet - 3

Goldfinch - 25

Red-throated Diver (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper and two Greenshanks were still about this morning, along with c24 Avocets, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Redshanks, with wildfowl comprising c20 Wigeon, c50 Mallards, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal, plus five Shelducks.

Also, a Marsh Harrier went through, putting everything up, though they were all completely untroubled by the Buzzard that settled next to the pool! (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Greenshanks, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Avocets & Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Early on, there was some decent visible finch migration along the Severals, including seven Bramblings, three Lesser Redpolls, five Siskins, 46 Chaffinches, 20 Linnets and 555 Goldfinches, with six Reed Buntings, five Pied Wagtails, two Swallows, seven Redwings and five Pied Wagtails also seen.

Also, a Firecrest was in the car-park, a Bearded Tit was calling from the reeds, a Dartford Warbler, four Stonechats, five Goldcrests and three Chiffchaffs were along the front and a male Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk went over. (MRe)

Later, two Greenshanks and the Whimbrel were among the roosting waders in the harbour at high tide, with c20 Brent Geese, a dozen Pintail and a few Wigeon and Teal also present and a pair of Stonechats were along the path to the beach. (AH)

Greenshanks and Tal (above), Whimbrel & Stonechat at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were still at least two Bearded Tits in the reeds this morning, but they were very elusive, despite the large number of observers present. Elsewhere it was quiet with just a single Rock Pipit along the wall, two Marsh Harriers over the reeds and three Meadow Pipits overhead.

Out in the harbour on the rising tide there were two Gadwall and a few Brent Geese with the usual Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shelducks, and out on the mud, there was a small group of Redshanks, Curlews, Lapwings, Grey Plovers, Dunlin and Knot. (LP/TRH/CT et al)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - There were just three Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers and a Yellowhammer along the banks and c100 Golden Plovers up over the reserve late this morning. (SH/PB)

Tuesday, 29th October: After overnight rain, another murky, if mild, morning in just a light north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet this morning, though auks continued to trickle west well offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0700-0815hrs) (WNW, F2)

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 1E, 11W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 4W

Pintail - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 3os

Common Gull - 5W

Razorbill - 1E, 39W, 6os

auk sp - 16E, 136W

Wood Pigeon - 225W

Stock Dove - 2W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Meadow Pipit - 1W

Goldfinch - 12

Razorbills at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was around again this morning, along with two Greenshanks, and there were also 24 Avocets, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks, c40 Wigeon, c75 Shovelers and c100 Teal present. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A Brambling was heard from the car-park this morning (M&LL), and there were also a Firecrest and a couple of Goldcrests and six Chiffchaffs, around the churchyard/hide area, along with three Mistle Thrushes, a Sparrowhawk, two Jays, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, eight Linnets, four Goldfinches and three Greenfinches, whilst a flock of nine Swallows flew out over the harbour.

In the harbour, near the high tide, there were a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a couple of Knot, eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Dunlin, c30 Grey Plovers and a dozen Turnstones, along with c20 Brent Geese and c20 Pintail, plus similar of Wigeon and Teal (AH/CRJ).

Pintails (above) & Knot and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Ring Ouzel was in the trees behind the paddock this morning and a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, two Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel and a Buzzard were also in the vicinity and a Pied Wagtail, three Meadow Pipits, a Green Woodpecker and 12 Long-tailed Tits were around the field.

There were still at least seven Bearded Tits in the reeds around the Breech Pool, although they were quite elusive, and with the water level dropping on the pool, a Water Rail and two Cetti’s Warblers were around the margins, a few Reed Buntings were in the reeds, a Kingfisher shot through, and eight Canada Geese were with lots of Teal and Mallards on the water.

Also, five Rock Pipits were along the wall, a pair of Stonechats and five Chiffchaffs were in the bushes and at Halsey’s Farm the lone Cattle Egret was again by the rife, with three Reed Buntings and two Meadow Pipits along the fences. (ABi/LP/CT/MJa/TRH/GHi/SR/ARK et al)

Bearded Tits (GHi), Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Rock Pipit, meadow Pipit & Pied Wagtail (LP) at the North Wall

Monday, 28th October: An overcast and grey morning under heavy cloud, though quite mild despite the fresh westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Over 3500 auks went west this morning, including 2330 Razorbills and 29 Guillemots, though, otherwise there were just a few Brent Geese and Common Scoters, plus a steady stream of Gannets, also going west, and a Wheatear went along the beach. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/P&LH)

(0700-0930hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 11E, 147W, 25os

Brent Goose - 16W

Wigeon - 1W

Shoveler - 1W

Common Scoter - 4E, 19W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 3W

Sanderling - 2W

Dunlin - 8W

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 18W

Common Gull - 20W

Guillemot - 29W

Razorbill - 2330W

auk sp - 1272W

Wood Pigeon - 200W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 5W

Meadow Pipit - 7W

Wheatear - 1W

Linnet - 24W

Goldfinch - 16W

Razorbills and Guillemot (above), Razorbills, Gannets & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

(1210-1310hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 2E, 5W

Brent Goose - 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Razorbill - 15W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Sandwich Tern (above) & Brent Goose at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: Around 70 Redshanks and three Dunlin flew in to the pool from the channel opposite this morning, when a Peregrine went over, and there were also 26 Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, five Shelducks, c75 Shovelers and c150 Teal present. (AH)

Redshanks and Dunlin (above), Avocet & Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The harbour held 42 Brent Geese this morning, along with six Pintail, 24 Wigeon, 12 Teal, the Whimbrel, seven Grey Plovers, a dozen Dunlin and 30 Lapwings, along with a Great White Egret, nine Little Egrets, a Little Grebe, a Kingfisher and a Mediterranean Gull.

A Dartford Warbler was along the beach, and there were also seven Stonechats, two Cetti's Warblers, four Reed Buntings and nine Meadow Pipits about. (P&LH)

Great White Egret (above) & Great Spotted Woodpecker at Church Norton (LH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane - A Hawfinch, seen and sound recorded, flew over Easton Lane viewpoint this morning as did a Reed Bunting, c.20 Linnets, four Yellowhammers & several Meadow Pipits. A Firecrest was in the gorse as were at least three Dartford Warblers. Over the on the marsh two Marsh Harriers were out hunting whilst 20 Wigeon were on the mud and c.35 Lapwings flew in. (BI)

North Wall: Nine Bearded Tits flew out of the reeds by the Breech Pool this morning, and were seen occasionally throughout the morning, towards Owl Copse.

Also, a Yellowhammer, a Meadow Pipit and a few Reed Buntings were along the bushes and two Rock Pipits were along the rocks, whilst two Egyptian Geese flew over, and out in the harbour a few Brent Geese were with the other regular species, and seven Common Seals were hauled out on the far bank.

A Stonechat. a Pied Wagtail and a Jay were in the paddock, and a Merlin flew into the trees further back, with the adult male and two juvenile Marsh Harriers also about. (LP/TRH/GHi/MJa/CT/CRJ et al)

Yellowhammer (above), Egyptian Geese & Wigeon at the North Wall (LP)