Wednesday, 22nd October: After a cool and grey start, a warm, sunny morning in a light north-westerly breeze.......
Selsey Bill: A drake Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser west were the highlights of a quiet morning, with little else moving offshore and just a trickle of visible migration, including five House Martins east and a Redpoll and 14 Siskins west. Full log below. (SH/PB/MO-W/AH/AW)
(0715-1000hrs) (NW, F3)
Gannet - 7W, 20os
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 5W
Wigeon - 4E
Eider - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Turnstone - 7
Razorbill - 25E, 76W
auk sp - 45E, 118W
Wood Pigeon - 62W
Skylark - 2W
Swallow - 13E
House Martin - 5E
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Pied Wagtail - 14E
Meadow Pipit - 11N
Chiffchaff - 8
Redpoll - 1W
Siskin - 14W
Chaffinch - 1N
Goldfinch - 92W
Eider (above), Chiffchaff (AH) & swallow (AW) at the Bill
Ferry Pool: There were c30 Lapwings, 12 Shovelers and c25 Teal on the pool early this morning, with a Stonechat in the fields opposite Knight Fencing, nearby. (AH)
Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A male Ring Ouzel was in the bushes by the concrete wall this morning, before it flew into deeper cover there, and there were also two Blackcaps in the vicinity, with up to three Wheatears on the concrete blocks and a dozen Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests round the churchyard/hide area..
Also, the Black-necked Grebe was again offshore, in the company of two Great Crested Grebes, and three Common Scoters went west, but there wasn't too much in the harbour beyond two Greenshanks, a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin and a mix of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, plus a Marsh Harrier over. (AH/CRJ/JC)
Black-necked Grebe (above), Greenshanks & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)
This afternoon the Red-throated Diver was back close inshore, though there was no sign of the Black-necked Grebe. (AW)
Red-throated Diver (above) & an RAF Chinook doing manoeuvres very low over the beach at Church Norton (AW)
North Wall: A full adult male Marsh Harrier - hopefully out resident one returning - and four females went into roost this evening, whilst along the wall there were also a Snipe, two Water Rails, three Stonechats, a dozen Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, six Reed Buntings and two Cattle Egrets.
There was also a report of a White-tailed Eagle seen earlier. (S&SaH)
East Head: The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was in vegetation out in the middle of the dunes this morning, with other highlights of a good morning including two Crossbills, four Woodlarks, 212 Redpolls, 61 Siskins and four over, with a Black Redstart, ten Stonechats, a Blackcap, c15 Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, four Yellowhammers, 44 reed Buntings and c120 Linnets also seen.
Among highlights from the tidal areas ere a Kingfisher, an Avocet, three Bar-tailed and six Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Golden Plovers, 50 Lapwings, eight Greenshank, two Snipe, c60 Teal and c250 Brent Geese, along with a total of 1260 Wigeon, 900 of which were in flocks apparently heading south. (PA/MRe)
Yellow-browed Warbler (above) & Black Redstart at East Head (PA)
Birdham: A flock of 25 Redpolls dropped in on the trees in the garden late this morning. (AB)
Sidlesham: Around 30 Redpolls dropped in on the garden feeder in Cow Lane this afternoon, before relocating to te oaks in the lane. (PA)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Red Kite went over this morning - the first for nearly two months locally, with two Sparrowhawks, four Buzzards and five Kestrels also about, whilst 30 Egyptian Geese, a Snipe, c100 Lapwings and c200 Golden Plovers were out on the reserve.
The banks were productive in the pleasant weather, with a good selection seen, including a Wheatear, c30 Stonechats, eight Dartford Warblers, a couple of Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, three Goldcrests, a Yellowhammer, four Reed Buntings, c25 Skylarks, c30 Linnets, c20 Goldfinches and c50 Meadow Pipits. (S&SaH/PB)
Medmerry: Windmill area - Two Black Redstarts were present early on - one by the rocks and one by the first caravans, with a pair of Stonechats, c100 Meadow Pipits and c50 Goldfinches also present.
Black Redstart at Medmerry (AH)
Later in the morning there was no sign of the Black Redstarts but there were a Wheatear and six Meadow Pipits near the old go-kart track, and a Rock Pipit was on the beach. (AW)
Wheatear (above), Rock Pipit & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AW)
Tuesday, 21st October: A fairly pleasant morning of warm sun in between banks of white cloud in a moderate westerly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: A total of 15 Redpolls west was the best of a modest amount of visible migration this morning, with it very quiet offshore. Full log below. (IP/AH)
(0750-0905hrs) (W, F4)
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Shag - 4E, 1os
Common Scoter - 2E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Dunlin - 16E
Turnstone - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Razorbill - 2W
Pied Wagtail - 2W
Meadow Pipit - 23W
Redpoll - 15W
Goldfinch - 23W
Redpolls (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just two Avocets and eight Shovelers on the pool this morning. (AH)
Avocet on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Black-necked Grebe was on the sea late this morning, initially close in off the spit before drifting west and further out to sea.
Otherwise, there were still four Greenshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits and a Kingfisher in the harbour, along with c40 Grey Plovers, c75 Dunlin, a handful of Brent Geese, c20 Pintail and Teal and c60 Wigeon, whilst the hedges just held two Blackcaps and a handful of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, with up to four Stonechats and a couple of Reed Buntings along the front and three Redpolls, c20 Swallows and half a dozen Skylarks and Meadow Pipits over. (PJ/AH/BI/S Carter et al)
Black-necked Grebe (PJ) (above), Greenshanks, Swallow, Stonechat & Chiffchaff (AH) at Church Norton
Mill Pond Marsh: There were four Snipe on the flooded field this morning, though not much else. (PJ/S Carter)
Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was present in the upper reaches of the Fishbourne Creek early this morning at mid tide, and there were ten Greenshanks in the wader roost off Dell Quay. (RW)
North Wall: A Black Redstart was in Pagham churchyard this morning, and another was along the wall, together with at least ten Rock Pipits, a Wheatear, a Pied Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, and a Kingfisher, whilst in the bushes there was plenty of activity with lots of Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs, as well as two Yellowhammers, two Goldcrests, a Blackcap, and a Stonechat. There were also a Water Rail on the Breech Pool and a female Marsh Harrier over.
Also, three Jays, a Green Woodpecker, and 12 Skylarks were around the fields, five Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, two Goldcrests and a Grey Wagtail were at Halsey's Farm, and 24 Swallows flew over, whilst out in the harbour on the rising tide, 12 Brent Geese were amongst all the regular species. (JDW/MJa/LP/CT/PJ/S Carter)
Black Redstart (above), Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Rock Pipits & Lapwing at the North Wall (LP)
Monday, 20th October: A pretty dismal morning, starting with prolonged heavy rain, before giving way to persistent squally showers as the wind freshened towards a gale force south-westerly..........
Selsey Bill: Three Swallows, a Great Northern Diver and 103 Gannets, all going west, were the highlights this morning. Full log below. (BI/IP/AW)
(0730-0845hrs) (SSW, F5-6)
Great Northern Diver - 1W
Gannet - 9E, 103W
Common Scoter - 2W
Oystercatcher - 3E
Turnstone - 14
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Razorbill - 8E, 29W
Swallow - 3W
Later, at 0943hrs, a Red-throated Diver went west, too. (AW)
Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AW)
(1400-1630hrs) (AW/SH)
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Gannet - 2E, 3W
Brent Goose - 3W
Sanderling - 3
Turnstone - 11
Kittiwake - 2W
Rock Pipit - 2
Sanderling (above) & Rock Pipit at the Bill (AW)
Ferry Pool: The two Green Sandpipers were on the pool again this morning, along with a Snipe, three Lapwings, a Grey Heron, a Pied Wagtail, six Shovelers and 43 Teal, with two Buzzards and a Red-legged Partridge on the bank and two Skylarks in the field. (AH/JC)
Green Sandpiper and Teal (above) & Teal on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There were four Greenshanks roosting in the harbour this morning, with other waders including c40 Redshank, c20 Dunlin and Grey Plovers and half a dozen Turnstones and Curlews, whilst c60 Brent Geese were present, along with c30 Pintail and similar of Wigeon and Teal, plus a Kingfisher.
At least 20 very mobile Goldcrests were around the sheltered hedges, but there wasn't too much else beyond a Mistle Thrush, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a dozen Blackbirds. (AH)
Greenshank (above), Greenshanks and Redshanks, Brent Geese, Pintail, Dunlin & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)
Sunday, 19th October: A grey and overcast start, presaging the arrival of persistent drizzly rain from mid-morning, in a light to moderate south-easterly breeze......
Selsey Bill: There were still plenty of auks, including over 1000 Razorbills, around, though much less than yesterday, though two Bramblings over were the highlight of limited visible migration and a dozen Goldcrests were in the gardens along the front. Full log later . (SH/JA/PB/MRB/BI/IP/AH/ML)
(0715-1115hrs) (SE, F3-4)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Gannet - 60E, 62W, 8os
Shag - 16E
Brent Goose - 19W
Wigeon - 2E, 1W
Common Scoter - 7E
Mediterranean Gull - 53E, 1W
Common Gull - 3E
Kittiwake - 5E
Guillemot - 4E
Razorbill - 1044E, 22W
auk sp - 84E, 49W
Swallow - 6E
Pied Wagtail - 11E
Meadow Pipit - 13E
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 12
Brambling - 2E
Siskin - 7E
Linnet - 17E
This afternoon, a Sooty Shearwater went distantly east at 1520hrs, and it or another went west, a bit closer in at 1540hrs, and a juvenile Pomarine Skua also went west, close in. Full log below. (SH)
(1430-1600hrs) (S, F5)
Sooty Shearwater - 1E (1520hrs), 1 W (1540hrs)
Gannet - 23E, 95WCommon Scoter - 1E
Turnstone - 6
Pomarine Skua - 1 W (juvenile)
Kittiwake - 1E
Razorbill - 4E
Razorbills (above), Shag & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Two Green Sandpipers were on the pool this morning, along with c80 Lapwings, five Shelducks, nine Shovelers and c25 Teal. (AH)
Green Sandpipers (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Greenshank among a few roosting Redshanks and Curlews, a Kingfisher, a lone Brent Goose, a Little Grebe, three Great Crested Grebes and a few Wigeon and Teal was about it in the harbour at high tide this morning.
Also, about a dozen Goldcrests were in the churchyard/hide area, along with a couple of Blackcaps, half a dozen Chiffchaffs and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. (AH)
Greenshank (above), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Great Spotted Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Snipe was on the Breech Pool, as well as two Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Wagtail, a Shelduck, four Teal, two Shovelers and 22 Mallards, with three Marsh Harriers further back over the reeds.
Four Rock Pipits were along the wall, four Linnets, six Long-tailed Tits and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in the bushes, and a Water Rail was along Owl Water.
A Peregrine flew across the harbour, and 23 Golden Plovers were with c80 Lapwings and 12 Grey Plovers out on the mud, but elsewhere there was just a single Pied Wagtail in the paddock, and a Goldcrest down the lane. (LP/MJa/DHi)
Rock Pipit (above), Water Rail, Linnets, Snipe & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, a dozen Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, two Goldcrests, two Stonechats, 13 Skylarks, ten Meadow Pipits, seven Linnets, two Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer were along the banks, late this morning, whilst ten Egyptian Geese were on the reserve and a Kestrel and two Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)
