Tuesday, 12th November: There was bright sunshine this morning, but with it the inevitable freshening of the breeze - from the north east and with a chill to it...........
Selsey Bill: Ten Siskins over east was notable, but otherwise it was just a mix of the regular species. Full log below. (SR/IP/KT)
(0720-0850hrs), (NNE, F5)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Gannet - 3E, 5W
Shag - 6E
Brent Goose - 13E, 12W
Shelduck - 1W
Common Scoter - 40os
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W
Curlew - 2W
Turnstone - 3
Sandwich Tern - 1E, 1W
Razorbill - 6E, 8W
Guillemot - 1W
auk sp - 3E, 126W
Wood Pigeon - 100W
Pied Wagtail - 3
Meadow Pipit - 1
Siskin - 10E
Chaffinch - 1
Ferry Pool: There were 33 Avocets on the pool again this morning, along with three Black-tailed Godwits, c50 Lpwings, c40 Wigeon, 60 Shovelers, c80 Teal and five Shelducks, whilst a pair of Greylag Geese were among c40 Canada Geese at the back. (AH)
Lapwings (above), Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits & Greylag Geese and Canada Geese at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There were just a pair of Stonechats and a handful of Reed Buntings along the pool early this morning, whilst a Spotted Redshank was among c20 roosting Redshanks at the end of Ferry Channel, along with c50 Teal and 20 Wigeon, and a Marsh Harrier and c100 Lapwings went over. (AH)
Stonechat (above) & Spotted Redshank and Redshanks at the Long Pool (AH)
East side: Over the harbour this morning there were a Buzzard, a female Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, and 250 Dunlin, whilst a handful of Skylarks and a Chiffchaff were around the Slipe field. (CRJ)
Pagham Lagoon and Spit: There were six Little Grebes, eight Wigeon, a Kingfisher, six Skylarks and a Cetti’s Warbler. around the lagoon and spit this morning.(CRJ)
Fishbourne Creek: The wader roost off Dell Quay at high tide this morning included nine Greenshanks and a Spotted Redshank, and there was also a Sandwich Tern along the creek. (RW)
Monday, 11th November: Finally, after two grey weeks, and after some overnight rain, there was just a bit of sunshine between the clouds this morning, making it quite pleasant in the light northerly breeze...........
Selsey Bill: There was an eclectic and interesting mix of species this morning, including the autumn's first two Velvet Scoters and Long-tailed Duck going west together, whilst the first Dartford Warbler for the year at the Bill popped up briefly, too, as did a late Swallow.
There were also an Egyptian Goose and a Ring-necked Parakeet - both rare here - going over, with a Black Redstart and a Lesser Redpoll noteworthy, too Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/ML)
(0710-0925hrs) (NNE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 3E
Shag - 5E
Brent Goose - 19E, 23W
Egyptian Goose - 1W
Shelduck - 1E
Long-tailed Duck - 1W
Common Scoter - 2E, 5W
Velvet Scoter - 2W
Turnstone - 4
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 6E
Razorbill - 2E, 16W, 4os
auk sp - 67E, 111W
Ring-necked Parakeet - 1W, then back E
Wood Pigeon - 275W
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 1
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 8
Meadow Pi[pit - 3
Black Redstart - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
Dartford Warbler - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 1E
Chaffinch - 1E
Black Redstart (SR), Dartford Warbler, Ring-necked Parakeet, Egyptian Goose, Shags & fleeting sunshine (AH) at the Bill
Ferry Pool: There were 33 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with two Black-tailed Godwits, five Shelducks, c30 Wigeon and c75 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)
Avocets (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: It was quiet today, though it was good to see a flock of c500 Brent Geese enjoying the sunshine in the fields behind the church, and there were a few more in the harbour, along with c40 Pintails and similar of Wigeon and Teal, the Whimbrel, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, c30 Knot and good numbers of Dunlin and Grey Plovers.
A Raven was heard calling, with a couple of Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also about, but small birds were few beyond a Stonechat on the concrete blocks and a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and a big flock of Long-tailed Tits. (AH/CRJ)
Brent Geese (above), Whimbrel, Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers, Wigeon & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)
East Head: A good look round this morning failed to find the Black-necked Grebes, though a Sandwich Tern was offshore and there were good numbers of wintering birds, including c1500 Brent Geese, 250 Wigeon, 150 Teal, a Greenshank, a Snipe, 35 Black-tailed Godwits and c350 Golden Plovers.
Also, a Peregrine and a Siskin went over, with a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest and six Stonechats also recorded. (PA)
West Itchenor: A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was sat out on Stakes Island early this afternoon before heading off east past West Itchenor. (PH)
North Wall: The Water Rails around the Breech Pool were again showing very well this morning, with at least five seen, and there were also three Snipe, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 72 Teal, two Shovelers, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret and 24 Mallards on the water, with two Marsh Harriers over and a Kestrel hunting over the field.
It was very busy along White’s Creek, with good numbers of all the regular species, plus 50 Golden Plovers and a Spotted Redshank, whilst a Rock Pipit was by the sluice and around the paddock there were two Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, a Green Woodpecker, a Jay, a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, and an Oystercatcher, with a few Long-tailed Tits, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the adjacent trees. (LP/TRH/CT et al)
Stonechat (above), Stonechat and Robin, grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Snipe, Water Rail & Water Rail and Snipe at the North Wall (LP)
Sunday, 10th November: The prolonged spell of settled weather continues, with another very grey morning in just a light north-easterly breeze......
Selsey Bill: The highlight of the morning was the pod of at least ten Bottle-nosed Dolphins that drifted slowly east, well offshore, doing some spectacular gymnastics as they went.
Otherwise a Great Northern Diver and at least three Red-throated Divers were about, nearly 200 Brent Geese went west, a Golden Plover went east over the Oval Field and a Grey Heron was sat on a nearby roof-top. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP/SR)
(0700-0930hrs) (NE, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os
Gannet - 1W
Shag - 2E, 2os
Grey Heron - 1
Brent Goose - 197W
Wigeon - 2E
Teal - 9W
Common Scoter - 1E, 2W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Oystercatcher - 1W
Golden Plover - 1E
Dunlin - 2W
Turnstone - 6
Mediterranean Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 3os
auk sp - 55E, 42W
Pied Wagtail - 12
Meadow Pipit - 15
Goldfinch - 50
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 10E
Common Seal - 1os
Red-throated Diver (above), Shag, Sandwich Tern, Grey Heron & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were 30 Avocets and 14 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with five Shelducks and c80 Shovelers and Teal. Also, a Fieldfare flew in from the south, circled round and went back from where it had come from. (AH)
Avocet and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)
Pagham Spit: A very late Sand Martin was seen and photographed along Harbour Road today. (W Ellison per SOS)
Sand Martin at Pagham Spit (W Ellison)
Park Farm, Selsey: Both a female Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker were in the general area, whilst a Sparrowhawk flew up the lane at ground level and a Sandwich Tern was offshore from the end of Park Lane. (IP)
Church Norton: The only raptor seen was a female-type Marsh Harrier quartering the saltmarsh at the Ferry end of the harbour; whilst, apart from the three usual wader species, the others numbered seven Turnstones, three Grey Plovers, a distant flock of Lapwing, a Dunlin and a single Bar-tailed Godwit.
A Redwing flew towards Greenlease Farm, with a Song Thrush also present, whilst a pair of Stonechats were around the horse field, a minimum of four Chiffchaffs were around the Severals and two Green Woodpeckers were also about.
The sea was flat, but empty, though a dozen Turnstones were feeding on the exposed shingle opposite the second Several and a number of small groups of Brent Geese flew west, with one larger group numbering 25 birds. (IP)
This evening, a male and three female Marsh Harriers went in to roost in the Severals, with a Sparrowhawk, a Dartford Warbler, two Stonechats, three Cetti's Warblers and two Water Rails also about. (S&SaH)
North Wall: There was plenty of activity on the Breech Pool this morning, where the muddy margins are now exposed again, with two Water Rails and five Snipe along the edge and 18 Black-tailed Godwits on the water along with a Grey Heron and numerous Teal and Mallards, but there was no sign of the Bearded Tits, though there were a few Reed Buntings, four Stonechats, eight Long-tailed Tits, 18 Greenfinches, 15 Goldfinches, a Song Thrush, eight Blackbirds and a Buzzard along the reeds and hedgerow. Also, three Marsh Harriers flew over Owl Copse, a Shoveler was on the water there with two Little Grebes, and 36 Meadow Pipits around the fields at Halsey’s Farm.
It was busy along White’s Creek, too, with the usual mix of Wigeon, Teal, Redshanks, Curlews and Lapwings joined by three Spotted Redshanks, two Grey Plovers, three Pied Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits and a Rock Pipit, with 50 Golden Plover further out on the mud. (LP/CT et al)
Spotted Redshank (above), Water Rail and Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush, Buzzard & Shoveler at the North Wall (LP)
Sidlesham: Mill Lane to Marsh Farm - Mill Pond Marsh held nine Shoveler, a Teal and two Little Grebes, with a Goldcrest in the bushes and a Water Rail was heard in the reeds.
The hedges along the way held a family of Long-tailed Tits, eight Goldcrests, a Firecrest, a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Chiffchaffs, whilst at Marsh Farm 16 Cattle Egrets were with a flock of sheep and 17 Pied Wagtails, a Reed Bunting and two Chiffchaffs were around the farm buildings. (SR)
Cattle Egret at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (SR)
Medmerry: Windmill area - Thee were still at least thee Black Redstarts around the sea-defence rocks this morning. (D Carlsson)
Black Redstarts at Medmerry (D Carlsson)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A male Merlin was on the reserve this morning, with a Peregrine, two female Marsh Harriers, three Buzzards, four Kestrels and a Raven also about, along with two Egyptian Geese, two Snipe and a Kingfisher, whilst there was a Sandwich Tern offshore, where five Brent Geese went east and 25 west.
The banks were busy again, with seven Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs,, five Goldcrests, eight Stonechats, nine Redwings, c20 Yellowhammers and half a dozen Reed Buntings and Pied Wagtails seen. (S&SaH)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Wilson's Farm - A Green Sandpiper flew out of the sewage farm and three or four Chiffchaffs were along the hedges there, plus Buzzard and a fly-over Fieldfare, with half a dozen Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, a dozen Meadow Pipits and c50 Linnets and Skylarks along the Medmerry Trail and at least 1000 Wood Pigeons on the cultivated fields.
There were at least another 40 Yellowhammers around the cover crop fields at Wilson's Farm, but not much else beyond a handful of Skylarks and Linnets. (AH)
Green Sandpiper (above), Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer & Buzzard at Medmerry (AH)
East Head: Two Black-necked Grebes, first reported yesterday from the Hampshire side, were again offshore near the harbour mouth first thing this morning. Also present on the sea was a Great Crested Grebe whilst a single Sandwich Tern was fishing by the groynes close in.
The dunes were largely quiet bar the regular flock of Greenfinches at the far end and the flock of Linnets nearer to the car park. a few Meadow Pipits went over and there were four Stonechats in the bushes by the path, whilst a small group of Golden Plover were on the saltmarsh with a few Grey Plovers and there were c.400 Brent Geese towards Ellanore. (BI)
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