1st November 2024

Friday, 1st November: The fairly mild, settled and grey spell continues, though the breeze was a little stronger and from the west this morning.....

Selsey Bill: A male Eider dropped in offshore, before going off west with three Common Scoters and a few more auks and Brent Geese went west. Full log below. (AH/SR/PD)

(0700-0830hrs) (W, F2-3)

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Shag - 1E, 3os

Brent Goose - 4E, 37W

Wigeon - 26W

Eider - 1os, then W

Common Scoter - 3W

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 13E, 94W, 38os

auk sp - 94E, 334W

wood Pigeon - 275W

Pied Wagtail - 20

Meadow Pipit - 1

Goldfinch - 6

Eider (above), Shags, Guillemot and Razorbills & Pied Wagtail at the Bill (AH)

Later in the morning, a Black Redstart was along the beach. (AW)

Black Redstart at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was again on the roadside pool, whilst on the main pool there were 22 Avocets, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, five shelducks and c80 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

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

Church Norton: There was a bit more visible migration over the Severals early this morning, including five Bramblings, five Lesser Redpolls, 22 Siskins, 23 Linnets, ten Chaffinches, 39 Goldfinches, two Yellowhammers, 26 Reed Buntings, ten Meadow Pipits, 12 Pied Wagtails, 31 Skylarks and a Swallow.

Also, a Dartford Warbler and a Stonechat were along the front, with a Firecrest, eight Goldcrests and five Chiffchaffs around the hedges, whilst two Snipe, 13 Lapwings, 28 Brent Geese and c100 Wood Pigeons also went over. (MRe)

There wasn't much to add later, though c50 Brent Geese, including a couple of small flocks flying in, were around the harbour, along with a few Wigeon and Teal, a Greenshank, the Whimbrel and c40 Grey Plovers were among the relatively few waders about on the high tide, and a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Jay and two Green Woodpeckers were also noted. (AH/PDF et al)

Sparrowhawk (above), Jay & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)

Sidlesham: Five Hawfinches went over Cow Lane early this morning. (PA)

Medmerry: Coastguards - Two Guillemots went west offshore this morning. (PD)

North Wall: There were two Barn Owls out at Halsey's Farm at dusk this evening. (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A female Mash Harrier was hunting over the reeds late this afternoon and a Snipe went over, but otherwise there were just a pair of Teal and a dozen mallards present. (AH)

Marsh Harrier at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)