4th November 2024

Monday, 4th November: A fairly cool morning in a moderate north-easterly breeze, as it remains heavily overcast......

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of visible migration morning, including two Woodlarks and seven Lesser Redpolls over, with 31 Lapwings going east, well offshore, being an unusual site at the Bill, and there were a few bits moving offshore, too. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP/P&LH)

(0715-0900hrs) (ENE, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 2E, 1W, 18os

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 3E, 45E

Wigeon - 2E, 1W

Tufted Duck - 1os, then E

Common Scoter - 11os

Red-breasted Merganser - 5W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Lapwing - 31E

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 1W, 1os

Common Gull - 2E

Razorbill - 14E, 2W

auk sp - 31E

Wood Pigeon - 75E

Woodlark - 2E

Skylark - 2E

Pied Wagtail - 8

Meadow Pipit - 32

Jackdaw - 80

Starling - 26N

Lesser Redpoll - 7E

Linnet - 6E

Chaffinch - 1

Goldfinch - 89E

Shags (above) & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

At lunch-time today, four White-fronted Geese went east. Full log below. (AW/P&LH/ML)

(1200-1315hrs) 

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 1E

White-fronted Goose - 4W (1305hrs)

Brent Goose - 2W

Sanderling - 2E, 1 on beach

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2os

Razorbill - 4W

Meadow Pipit - 5

White-fronted Geese (AW) (above), Sanderling (AW top, LH below) & Sandwich Tern (LH) )at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: There were 27 Avocets and 18 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with six Shelducks, a drake Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c80 Mallards, whilst a Marsh Harrier went across the fields at the back. (AH)

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

Church Norton: There was a big feeding flock around the Mound and its moat this morning, including a Firecrest, two or three Goldcrests, at least half a dozen Chiffchaffs and lots of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, together with c50 Goldfinches and a single Siskin.

There were also four Swallows over the churchyard, with c600 Goldfinches, plus one Siskin east over the Severals, with a couple of Dartford Warblers along the beach and a few more Siskins and Goldfinches going over the west side.

There were still at least 300 Brent Geese about the harbour, along with a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, plus a flock of seven Greylag Geese flying over, but relatively few waders, though including a Greenshank, seven Bar-tailed Godwits, c30 Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin. (AH/PA/CRJ/P&LH)

This evening, a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier flew into roost on the first Several at dusk and a Dartford Warbler was calling from the gorse bushes along the beach. (S&SaH)

Chiffchaffs (above), Greenshank & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

Later on, the Pale-bellied Brent Goose was again in the Brent Goose flock near the harbour mouth. (AW)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Ham - There was a flock of around 25 Yellowhammers and 50 Goldfinches feeding in the cover crop and 20 Skylarks with 40 Stock Doves in the fields, plus a Kestrel and one Buzzard overhead.

The hedges were quiet in the windy conditions, and held eight Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, nine Meadow Pipits, eight Linnets, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (SR)

Stonechat (above) & Kestrel at Ham (SR)