Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 14th

Saturday, 16th August: A dry but notably cooler day, with the wind having shifted to a brisk E/NE 4-5 and with cloudy conditions dominating through most of the day, and just a few hints of brightness later....

The Selsey pioneers: Readers will be aware of the comments and tributes in these pages, following the recent loss of Tony (BAEM) Marr. Tony was a driving force in establishing both the Selsey Bill sea-watching observatory in the late 1950's to mid 1960's, and also the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) in 1962; these being just some of his many ornithological achievements. At his funeral I was able to meet up with some of the young folks of those early days - including Robin Jolliffe and Richard Porter (RFK) - and as a result I have now been provided with a number of photographs from the period. This material is new to me and is previously unseen since those times.

It would be a nice final tribute to both Tony and those pioneers that are still very much with us, if this material could be shown, so I shall compile a small page for all to view in the near future and as time permits. Looking back to those times, I see similarities to the times that have followed and I'm sure it will be of interest. The technology may have changed, but the passion still exists. After all, if you want to know where you're heading, it helps to know where you're from! (OM/Eds)

Selsey Bill: A small flock of Teal and six Shags moving through hinted at autumn passage, whilst six Wheatears were along the beach, a couple of Yellow Wagtails went east and a Chiffchaff arrived in off the sea. Full log below. (PM/IP/AH/L&PH)

(0600-0830hrs) (ENE, F 5)

Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 22E, 6W
Shag - 6E
Teal - 5W
Oystercatcher -1E
Turnstone - 24
Sandwich Tern - 34E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Swift - 1E
Sand Martin - 9E
House Martin - 7
Swallow - 6E
Yellow Wagtail - 2E
Wheatear - 6
Chiffchaff - 1 off sea

(1000-1100hrs) (SH/PB)
Gannet - 23E, 10os
Turnstone - 8
Sanderling - 1
Sandwich Tern - 5E, 2W
Swallow - 1
House Martin - 2

Also, a Yellow Wagtail went south over the gardens at 1300hrs. (ML)

Wheatears (LP top, AH lower), Shags & Gannets (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: It was again very quiet and much the same as yesterday, with just a Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit. There were also three Stonechats and two Whinchat in ferry field. (AH/CRJ)

Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was a Peregrine patrolling around this morning and a juvenile Kittiwake was in the harbour, whilst 43 Sandwich Terns, 12 Curlew, two Whimbrel, six Dunlin, 51 Redshank, a Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were also present. Five Teal in the harbour may have been the five seen earlier off the Bill. On the stubble field alongside Rectory Lane there were four Wheatears, with two more around the concrete blocks.(AH/CRJ/L&PH)

Kittiwake (above), Peregrine & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A juvenile Stonechat was along the Wall, a Sparrowhawk flew out from the fields and over the harbour, and there were still some young Cattle Egrets in Owl Copse, but the reeds were quiet, with just a single Sedge Warbler and two Reed Warblers seen.

The four Spotted Redshanks were again on the Breech Pool early on, along with a Greenshank, two Little Ringed Plovers, five Lapwings, six Black-tailed Godwits, two Teal, 21 Little Egrets and four Grey Herons, with a Kingfisher in the reeds at the back.

A Common Sandpiper was along White’s Creek, and further out there were 26 Grey Plovers, 14 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Knot, and numerous Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.

Three Whinchats were on the fence at Owl Point this morning, and the male Redstart showed briefly in the central bushes, where there were also a Garden Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat. A large mixed flock of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were moving along the hedgerows, and a few Linnets were also about (LP/MJa/MP/SR/TG/L&PH et al)

This evening the Ruff re-appeared, along with two Spotted Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper and 15 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Grey Wagtail, a Reed Warbler, a Willow Warbler and two Chiffchaffs were along the wall.

There were also ten cattle Egrets, a female and a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel about. (S&SaH)

juvenile Little Ringed Plover (above), Kingfisher, juvenile Stonechat, Whinchat, Cattle Egrets, Greenshank & Spotted Redshanks at the North Wall (LP)

Mill Pond Marsh: On the marsh were five Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper, whilst in the bushes were two Redstarts, three Whitethroats, five Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs. (L&PH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection along the banks this morning, including two Whinchats, three Stonechats, seven Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, two Whitethroats and three Yellowhammers, with c40 among the cattle in the fields and c20 Swallows and c40 Sand Martins over.

Also, two Greenshanks, three Common Sandpipers, two Curlews and a Redshank were on the Stilt Pool, with another Greenshank on the reserve and four seen flying over, whilst five Common Terns were around the rafts, a Gannet was offshore and three Marsh Harriers - a sub-adult male and wo juveniles, a Buzzard and two Kestrels went over. (S&SaH/PB)

Friday, 15th August: A very warm and sunny morning in a light to moderate northerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: The most unexpected highlight this morning was a rather stunning Yellow-crowned Bishop trapped in ML's garden ringing net, along the front. A native of sub-Saharan Africa, though also an introduced species in Spain, its origins were presumably from an aviary a lot closer to home!

Otherwise, a Tree Pipit went over early on and three Wheatears and a Willow Warbler were about, along with a few hirundines, but the sea was very quiet. Full log below. (IP/AH/MO-W/ML)

(0705-0805hrs) (N, F2-3)

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 3

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 4W

Swallow - 18E

Sand Martin - 12E, 4W

House Martin - 16E

Tree Pipit - 1W

Wheatear - 3

Willow Warbler - 1

Yellow-crowned Bishop - 1

Yellow-crowned Bishop (above), Wheatear & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was exactly the same as yesterday this morning, with just a Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Redshank and seven Black-tailed Godwits on the last bit of damp mud. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Also, there were two Spotted Flycatchers, a few Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats and and many Whitethroats around the Tramway. (RBe)

Spotted Flycatcher at the Ferry (RBe)

Mill Pond Marsh: The bushes were full of birds again this morning, including a Tree Pipit, at least half a dozen Lesser Whitethroats, a dozen Whitethroats, a couple of Blackcaps and Sedge Warblers and at least half a dozen Willow Warblers and Reed Warblers.

Also, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, four Black-tailed Godwits and ten Teal were on the flooded field, with a Water Rail calling from the reeds and a mixed flock of Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows went over. (AH/RBe)

Tree Pipit (top two AH, lower RB) (above), Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: Highlights this morning were three Redstarts behind the hide, a Marsh Harrier over the Severals and a basking Grass Snake in the Severals. (RPa et al)

This evening there were still c25 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, including half a dozen juveniles, but not too much else on the high tide beyond c20 Turnstones and c20 Redshanks, and the bushes were very quiet, with just a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Whitethroats seen. (AH)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Ruff was on the Breech Pool late this morning, and earlier on the four Spotted Redshanks and three Little Ringed Plovers were roosting there, whilst the creek at Halsey's Farm held a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits.

The harbour was quiet beyond a Kingfisher, two Grey Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper in White's Creek and a few Lapwings and Curlews, plus a flock of 14 Teal that flew in and two Snipe that flew out.

The male Redstart was in the hedges in Owl Point field again, with a Wheatear in the vicinity and two more, plus a Yellow Wagtail, along the wall, but the most conspicuous migrants were at least half a dozen Lesser Whitethroats and 20+ Whitethroats. There were also a Red Kite, two Sparrowhawks and a few Swallows and Sand Martins over.

(AH/LP/IH/SP/TRH/CT/RBe et al)

Ruff (LP top, AH middle, RBe) (above), Little Ringed Plover, Wheatear (AH top, LP lower), Redstart, Grey Wagtail, Red Kite (LP) & Cattle Egrets (AH) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Wood Sandpiper was heard, but not seen, in one of the path-side pools this morning, whilst five Greenshanks and four Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool.

There were also at least one, and up to three, Southern Migrant Hawkers along the path near the Stilt Pool. (PH)

West Itchenor: There was no sign of the Nuthatch this morning, though a pair of Firecrests and a Spotted Flycatcher were in the car-park, with a Tree pipit and a Grey Wagtail over and a Whitethroat and a calling Tree-creeper about, too, plus a Peregrine and three Buzzards over.

Also, along the shore-line there were four Bar-tailed Godwits, 129 Black-tailed Godwits, three Snipe, four Whimbrel, four Ringed Plovers, seven Redshanks, 35 Oystercatchers and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, and there were also at least 700 Mediterranean Gulls about, split between the fields and the harbour. (MRe)

Thursday, 14th August: After a hazy start, a mostly bright and fairly breezy morning, warm in the sun.....

Selsey Bill: A very slow morning! Full log below. (AH)

(0710-0810hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Gannet - 2E, 7W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 9

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2W

House Martin - 1

Sandwich Tern (above) & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Redshank and seven Black-tailed Godwits present this morning. (AH)

Later on, there were also two Whinchats and at least ten Wheatears spread around Ferry Field. (AS)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Common Sandpipers, four Black-tailed Godwits, a Kingfisher, ten Teal and two Water Rails present early on, plus eight Swallows over, whilst a good selection of warblers in the bushes comprised a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, two Cetti's Warblers, five Willow Warblers and ten Reed Warblers. (MRe)

North Wall: Highlights this morning included six Greenshanks, three Spotted Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, two Lapwings, two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits, two Kingfishers, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Raven, a dozen Cattle Egrets, a Garden Warbler, a Wheatear, two Linnets, a hunting Kestrel and c100 Sand Martins. (PB/GHi)

Wheatear (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpiper & Greenshanks at the North Wall (GHi)

A smart male Redstart was in the central bushes at Owl Point this evening, and a female was in the hedgerow along the path, where there were also two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 24 Linnets, whilst two Wheatears were on the fence posts and three Cattle Egrets, 26 Curlews and a Whimbrel were in the fields.

Elsewhere, another Wheatear was along the wall, two Little Ringed Plovers were on the Breech Pool, a Common Sandpiper was along White’s Creek, and a Kingfisher was by the sluice. (LP)

Redstart (above), Wheatear & Spotted Flycatchers at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Little Tern feeding out in the main channel before drifting off west was the highlight of a look along the west side, which was otherwise very quiet, with a Kingfisher, a couple of Whitethroats and c40 Sand Martins the only things seen from from the path, with c30 Dunlin and half a dozen Ringed Plovers the only waders beside the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.

Otherwise, there were just two or three Willow Warblers and Whitethroats around the hide/churchyard area and still a couple of Whimbrel and a handful of juvenile and adult Sandwich Terns off the benches. (AH)

There were also a dozen Little Egrets, ten Curlews, a Redshank and three Ringed Plovers around the harbour mouth. (RPa)

Kingfisher (above), Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

What was presumably this morning's Little Tern - a juvenile - was among the half dozen juvenile and dozen adult Sandwich Terns and a few Black-headed Gulls around the concrete slabs early this evening, but there wasn't too much else about beyond three Whimbrel and c30 Redshanks. (AH)

Later, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and 27 Sandwich Terns, including 4 juveniles were present. (CRJ)

Little Tern (above), Sandwich Terns & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was being very vocal this morning in the birch copse just beyond Chalkdock. (PH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool this evening, along with two Greenshanks, three Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a Redshank and a Ringed Plover, whilst a Green Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and four Black-tailed Godwits were on the reserve and there were still five Common Terns around the rafts and a Sandwich Tern offshore. (S&SaH)

A juvenile Cuckoo near Marsh Barn was the highlight along the banks, which were quiet, holding just two Wheatears, a Whitethroat and three Yellowhammers, whilst nine Swallows, c40 Sand Martins, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and two Kestrels went over. (S&SaH)