Saturday, 12th July: The heatwave continues, with another very warm and sunny day, near cloudless skies and a fairly light, but freshening, south-easterly breeze....
Tony (BAE)
Marr – a personal tribute:
It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent
passing of Tony Marr, who had been in declining health in recent times. I think
I first met Tony around early 1975 at Selsey Bill – a site that in his earlier
years he had devoted a great deal of time to – and although newer observers may
be unaware of the part he played, older observers will have their own memories
of his important contribution. I recall that I once enquired about his name,
given his BAEM initials; he told me his name was Benjamin but always to call
him Tony – as indeed everyone did. And those distinctive initials were to
appear in many a publication throughout his life.
From about 1959 until the mid-1960’s, BAEM was a founder
member of the group that ‘discovered’ the Bill and commenced regular study and
sea-watching there, when a rickety wooden hut was set up and the site even became
an official observatory for a while. He also was the driving force in forming
the Sussex Ornithological Society in 1961, progressing through the years to eventually
become the President.
Tony Marr (BAEM) (aged 21yrs) at the Bill on 8th Oct 1961, holding a grounded Pomarine Skua with other observers of the day. Note the amount of vegetation in the background! (photo: Anon).
However, by the mid-1970’s, I and others had begun to watch regularly at the Bill with a fresh surge of youthful enthusiasm. Tony was still also a regular visitor then, and in those exciting days, I was immediately struck by his breadth of birding knowledge, his ability in the field and his personable demeanour, always having patience for the less able birder such as me. As time went on, I was to learn so much from him; ID points and jizz, calls, patience and how to record sightings and keep records. Much of what he taught me I still use to this day.
Tony was totally devoted to birding and he eventually moved
on in later life to leading Antarctic tours, becoming president (I think) of
the BOU, a skilled raconteur giving professional talks and a host of other
things. I was privileged to go with him on a birding trip to Ireland, together
with his good friend Bill Oddie, and also visited his Norfolk address of ‘Two
Hoots’ on a holiday that consisted entirely of birding. I also stayed at his
cottage on the Isle of Lewis a couple of times, once with my wife Maz, who took
on more than her share of domestic duties as we pursued an uncompromising
birding agenda! He was however, always a gentleman; my wife and her friends
always considered him charming and he could do no wrong in their eyes.
In writing this, so many thoughts and memories are flooding
in, but I think it fitting I return to his earlier days on the Selsey Peninsula.
The long sea-watches in pursuit of Pom Skuas, the singing male Cirl Bunting at
the Bill, the Purple Heron that flew up from the Severals soon after we arrived
together, the stories of the old Obs hut, the Stone Curlew he had delightedly
seen just before I arrived at the Bill, and so, so much more. There will be many who will have similar
stories to tell about this exceptional birder and doubtless better tributes
will be compiled too, but I can truly say I will miss him greatly and offer my sincere
thanks for all that he taught me. Maz and I offer our heartfelt condolences to
his sister Molly and family; rest in peace my friend, your heritage will never
be forgotten in the annals of Sussex birding and elsewhere. His funeral will
take place at 1pm on Friday, 1st August at Worthing crematorium (and
thereafter at Findon Manor). (Owen Mitchell)
The late Tony Marr, at Selsey Bill in autumn 1981 and the original Selsey Bill Observatory sign which still exists. (OM)
Selsey Bill: Five Shelducks east were the only things of note on a very quiet morning. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)(0700-0800hrs) (NE, F2-3)
Gannet - 2E
Shelduck - 5E
Mediterranean Gull - 24E, 100os
Sandwich Tern - 17E, 4W, 20os
Common Tern - 2E, 2os
Swift - 7
Swallow - 1
House Martin - 20
Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were still just eight Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. (AH/IP et al)
Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were still on the flooded field this morning, along with a pair of Shovelers, five Teal and six Little Grebes, with a Green Woodpecker, two Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler about, too. (IP)
North Wall: The main thing of interest this morning was the number of hirundines about, with a cautious minimum of 500 Sand Martins and 100 Swallows concentrated mainly around Halsey's Farm, but also along the wall and over the harbour.
Otherwise, there wasn't too much out in the heat, though a Kingfisher went along the creek at Halsey's Farm, up to a dozen Reed Warblers, a couple of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats and 50+ Goldfinches were about and a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap at Halsey's Farm.
Also, at least 30 Cattle Egrets were present, mainly in Honer 1 field, a couple of juvenile Marsh Harriers came up, four Common Sandpipers were along White's Creek, a Green Sandpiper flew out from Owl Point and a Whimbrel and a few Curlews were in the harbour, but the Breech Pool was birdless, despite the water level looking good for waders. (AH/LP/MJa et al)
This evening c100 Sand Martins were over the wall, 15 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the harbour. (MRe)
Sand Martins and Swallows (above), Reed Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egrets (AH) & Common Sandpipers (LP) at the North Wall
East side: There was a fair selection waders along the east side this evening, including five Whimbrel, 44 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, a Knot, c80 Dunlin, seven Grey Plover and 11 Ringed Plovers, whilst three Chiffchaffs and four Whitethroats were in the bushes and two juvenile Marsh Harriers and c70 Sand Martins went over. (MRe)
Pagham Spit: A look from the spit this evening produced c40 Little Terns, including a juvenile, seven Common Terns and c120 Sandwich Terns, including two juveniles, with wo juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and c190 Mediterranean Gulls also present.
Four Skylarks, including a juvenile were along the spit, whilst nine Great Crested Grebes, including wo youngsters, a pair of Mute Swans and four cygnets, five Gadwall and two Tufted Ducks were on the lagoon. (MRe)
Church Norton: There weren't that many birds out on the mud this afternoon, though there were still plenty of Little and Sandwich Terns present, along with half a dozen Common Terns, including an adult with a juvenile, whilst waders included a couple of Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a handful of Turnstones and a few Redshanks and Curlews. (PA/AH et al)
Common Terns (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Highlight this morning was a female-type Crossbill over low, going east - the first of the recent national influx to reach the Peninsula this summer.
Also, up to ten Common Terns were coming and going from the rafts and there were actually a few waders on the Stilt Pool, namely a Green Sandpiper, three Common sandpipers, five Greenshank, a Dunlin, three Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks and half a dozen Oystercatchers, plus a couple of Pied Wagtails, with two Whimbrel and another Greenshank on the reserve.
The banks were busy, too, with a Dartford Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, half a dozen Reed Warblers and Whitethroats, three chiffchaffs, two Stonechats, seven Reed Buntings , including a female with a newly fledged juvenile and c20 Yellowhammers seen, with seven Swifts, 20 Swallows, c100 Sand Martins, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and six Buzzards going over. (S&SaH/PB)
Friday, 11th July: Another hot and sunny morning, with the breeze very light and from the east....
Selsey Bill: Four Grey Herons flew in off the sea this morning and a few hirundines were about, but not too much else was happening. Full log below. (BI/AH/IP/SR/P&LH)
(0630-0800hrs) (ESE, F1-2)
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Grey Heron - 4N
Common Scoter - 5E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 30os
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 14E, 3W, 23os
Swift - 6
Swallow - 8
Sand Martin - 2
House Martin - 30
Sandwich Tern (above), Grey Heron and Herring Gull, Grey Herons, Common Scoters & House Martins at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just eight Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning. (AH)
Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank, two Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and two Black-tailed Godwits were present this morning, along with a family of Little Grebes and a couple of Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and a Sedge Warbler. (AH/P&LH)
Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper on Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: Highlights this morning with the rising tide were four Whimbrel, two Greenshank and a Common Gull.
Also, the pool at the Lavant outflow held at least ten large fish (possibly Sea Bass), frequently just below or breaking the surface. (RW)
Church Norton: A Roseate Tern was among the flock on the mud this morning, which included c160 Sandwich Terns, 40 Little Terns and half a dozen Common Terns, including two fledglings, and the islands remain very busy, too.
Also, a Common Sandpiper was on Tern Island with three more seen, a Sanderling was on the mud, but two Whimbrel, a Dunlin, a handful of Curlews and Ringed Plovers and c30 Redshanks, plus three Swallows over, was about it, otherwise. (AH/P&LH)
Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: Three Common Sandpipers were along White’s Creek early on, as well as a Meadow Pipit, a Whimbrel and c30 Redshanks, whilst a Black Swan was briefly on the Breech Pool, a Kingfisher flew through, and two of the juvenile Marsh Harriers were in the bushes further back.
At Halsey’s Farm an adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover were on the mud, along with a Lapwing and two Pied Wagtails, whilst around the fields there were c 150 Swallows and a similar number of Sand Martins, as well as four Skylarks. (MJa/LP/IH/SP)
Also, a Peregrine flew through putting up 24 Cattle Egrets and ten Little Egrets, two Buzzards and a Raven went over and 44 Mediterranean Gulls were out on the mud.
There were also numerous butterflies including Marbled Whites, Essex Skippers and Purple Hairstreaks on the wing. (BI)
Marsh Harrier (above), Swallows and Sand Martin & Little Ringed Plover at the North Wall (LP)
Purple Hairstreaks on the east side, below (BI)
Thursday, 10th July: An even warmer morning of unbroken sun, in just a light north-westerly breeze......
Selsey Bill: Two Little Terns and ten Sand Martins went east, but it was quiet this morning. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)
(0700-0800hrs) (NW, F2)
Gannet - 6E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 100os
Sandwich Tern - 8E, 19W
Little Tern - 2E
Swift - 4
Sand Martin - 10E
House Martin - 15
This evening there were four Little Terns among numerous Sandwich Terns off Hillfield Road. (ML)
Sandwich Tern (above), Sand Martins & House Martin at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just five Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshanks on the pool this morning. (AH)
Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: There were quite a few fledged young Whitethroats and Reed Warblers along the pool, with a couple of Sedge Warblers, a family of Chiffchaffs and a flock of 25 Long-tailed Tits also about, together with a couple of Reed Buntings.
Also, c15 Sand Martins went over, a couple of Skylarks were in the fields and the mother Tufted Duck's five ducklings were more or less fully grown. (AH)
Reed Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit & Tufted Duck family along the Long Pool (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were both still present this morning, along with three Black-tailed Godwits and four Teal, plus the family of Little Grebes and a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Warbles. (AH)
This evening, the Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were both still present, along with a Common Sandpiper and two Black-tailed Godwits, with c20 Swallows and c40 Sand Martins over. (S&SaH)
Greenshank on Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Church Norton: Firstly an update from Gail of the RSPB - the last count of nests revealed 28 Little Tern nests on Breach Island and eight more on Peregrine Island, with 50+ Sandwich Tern nests on both Tern Island and Breach Island. Also, the first five fledged Little Terns were seen today, though it would seem that any previous juvenile gull and tern sightings refer to birds that have come from elsewhere, due to the very late start for our colonies.
Other than the constant activity on the mud and adjacent islands, there were also still a Greenshank and two Whimbrel in the harbour, along with a Dunlin and half a dozen Ringed Plovers. (GR/AH et al)
Little Tern (above), Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull & Greenshank, Dunlin and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A big pre-roost gathering of c200 Swallows and c400 Sand Martins built up over the reeds this evening, with a Swift about, too, though just four Reed Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Cetti's Warbler were evident along the wall.
Also, three juvenile Marsh Harriers were about, though no adults, with nine Cattle Egrets, 11 Black-tailed Godwits and two Whimbrel also noted. (s&SaH)
Sidlesham: There were at least a couple of hundred Mediterranean Gulls feeding on flying ants over Cow Lane this morning. (PA)
Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Farm - There were lots of birds and insects abut this morning, including a Corn Bunting, a Sedge Warbler, a few Yellowhammers and Whitethroats, a juvenile Meadow Pipit, a Green woodpecker and a few Rooks, Grey Herons and Little Egrets, whilst insects included Emperor dragonflies and Common Darters. (EB)
Corn Bunting (above), Meadow Pipit, Rooks, Starlings, Emperor & Common Darter at Medmerry (EB)
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