13th November 2024

Wednesday, 13th November: A very pleasant morning, with lots of sunshine in a moderate north-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: A Velvet Scoter went east early on with two Common Scoters, and there were a few of the latter going west and offshore later, but it was generally quite quiet. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0710-0840hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Gannet - 7E, 3W

Shag - 6E, 1os

Brent Goose - 15E, 13W

Wigeon - 5E

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E, 10W, 30os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2W

Turnstone - 6

Razorbill - 16W

auk sp - 54E, 44W

Pied Wagtail - 6

Meadow Pipit - 2

Brent Geese (above), Shag & Pied Wagtail at the Bill (AH)

Late morning at the Bill a flock of eight Eider flew west with three more later on and further out. Two Red-breasted Mergansers went east, as did a couple of Sandwich Terns along the shore. (AW)

Eider at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper re-appared, early this afternoon, and there were also 42 Avocets on the pool, along with a Little Egret, six Shelducks, 96 Wigeon, 32 Shovelers and 28 Teal. (AH/JC)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over this evening. (SH)

North Wall: A Kingfisher flew out from the sluice and along the rife this morning, and around the paddocks there were two Stonechats, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Collared Doves.

Three Water Rails were around the Breech Pool and 80 Teal, 16 Wigeon and 23 Mallards were on the water there, whilst the male and a female Marsh Harrier was over the reeds and two Reed Buntings, two Chiffchaffs, four Meadow Pipits and three Greenfinches were along the bushes.

Also, a Merlin flew across the harbour, a Rock Pipit was along the rocks, and at high tide, way out on the mud there was the usual mix of waders and wildfowl, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk both flew through, but otherwise there was just a few Wigeon and Teal along the rife. (LP/CT/AD)

Marsh Harrier (above) (AD), Wigeon, Water Rail, Rock Pipit & Collared Dove (LP) at the Notrh Wall

Church Norton: Most notable in a quick look this morning were the Brent Geese, with a minimum of 800 spread around the harbour, along with c20 Shelduck s and Wigeon and just a handful of Wigeon and Teal.

Very few waders were evident on the high tide, though a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits were among 100+ Redshanks roosting on Tern Island, but the bushes were devoid of interest. (AH)

Brent Geese (above) & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Later in the morning there were two Green Woodpeckers and eight Meadow Pipits along the spit and a Song Thrush was along the beach in front of the Severals.

In the harbour there was a selection of waders roosting on the high tide, including Knot, Grey Plovers, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. (AW)

This evening three female and one (possibly two) Marsh Harriers flew into roost in the Severals, and there were also a Dartford Warbler, two Stonechats, two Water Rails and a Sparrowhawk in the vicinity. (S&SaH)

Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers (above), Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - Three Cetti's Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, eight Linnets, 11 Pied Wagtails, 40 Skylarks, a Song Thrush, a Yellowhammer, 300 Wood Pigeons, three Kestrels and a Buzzard were the sum along the trail, and the feather of a Tawny Owl found on the path there. (SR)

Tawny Owl feather at Medmerry (SR)

Medmerry: Windmill area - An elusive male Black Redstart was around the rocks in front of the windmill, where there was also a pair of Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits and the usual Kestrel. (AW)

Black Redstart (above) & Stonechat at Medmerry (AW)