Tuesday, 2nd September: A fairly miserable morning of lowering skies and spells of heavy rain in a fresh and blustery south-westerly......
The Selsey Pioneers: More here from the early days at the Bill, as promised, these being from about 1960 (all photos courtesy of Robin Jolliffe (RLKJ) with many thanks). (OM/Eds)
A line-up by the old hut, situated on the southern edge of Oval field area; note the bushes and open space at the time and the house in the corner, as it was then.
A great photo of the late Tony Marr (BAEM) on his scooter, (dubbed 'old trusty') and with passenger Bob Oliver. This looks to be at the southern end of Grafton Road with the sea in the background.
Another great young birder who cut his teeth here...this is Richard Porter (RFP) who later went on to work for the RSPB and other ornithological organisations. I must confess I don't recognise the building in the background or the exact spot he's watching from - but how times have changed!
Some news on the colour-ringed Curlew - KP - seen recently at the North Wall - it was reared in captivity as part of the re-introduction scheme at Peppering, near Arundel, and released in early August, so has not moved far from where it was hatched. (GHi)
Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much going on this morning, with a couple of Common Terns and a Razorbill among a steady westward flow of Sandwich Terns and Gannets being about it. Full log below. (AH/IP/KF/OM)
(0700-1100hrs) (SW, F5-6)
Gannet - 4E, 95W, 3os
Common Scoter - 3E
Turnstone - 29
Oystercatcher - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 16W
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 22E, 59W, 30os
Common Tern - 2W
Razorbill - 1W
auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 6W
(1630-1730hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 19E, 15W
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 15W
Kittiwake - 6W
Common Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 14W
Gannet (above), Sandwich Terns & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: It was just a Common Sandpiper, the juvenile Redshank, four Black-tailed Godwits and four Teal present this morning (AH)
Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: There were no waders about this morning, with the water level having risen, with just four Gadwall and four Teal of note, though the bushes were active, including two Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, three or four Whitethroats and at least a dozen Chiffchaffs present, along with three Reed Buntings. (AH)
Later, a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper were back on the flooded field and a juvenile Shelduck flew over, (AWi)
Reed Bunting (above), Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Church Norton: The three Spoonbills were about again, with one feeding off the benches, but the other two flying to the North Wall, whilst at least three Common Terns were among c70 Sandwich Terns on the mud.
Also, a juvenile Shelduck was in the harbour, but waders comprised of just a Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey Plovers, two or three Ringed Plovers, 15 Turnstones, including the leucistic bird seen recently at the Bill, half a dozen Curlews and Oystercatchers and c50 Redshanks
Also, a very late juvenile Cuckoo was seen at Greenlease Farm, and two Wheatears were on the beach by the first Several, whilst the two Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide again, along with a handful of Blackcaps, and another half a dozen of the latter and a few Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats were among a big roving tit flock, with a Sparrowhawk going over.. (AH/KJ/KF/AWi et al)
Spoonbill (above), Spoonbill and Little Egret, Common Tern and Sandwich Tern, Spotted Flycatcher & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: Two Spoonbills and two Spotted Redshanks were in White’s Creek this morning, along with a Wigeon and the Yellow-legged Gull, whilst a Wheatear was along the wall and a Firecrest was in Church Lane, (AWi)
East Side: Two Spoonbills were in White’s Creek this morning and a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice, whilst further along there were three Greenshanks, five Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, c150 Ringed Plover, six Grey Plovers, two Lapwing, c80 Dunlin, five Turnstones and the usual Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Curlews. (LP/MJa/CT)
Spoonbills (above), Grey Wagtail, Grey Plover, Greenshank & Bar-tailed Godwit at the North Wall (LP)
North Mundham: A Coal Tit was in the garden today. (MJ)
Medmerry: Two Whinchats were near the barns of Marsh Farm this afternoon. (AW)
Whinchats at Medmerry (AW)
Monday, 1st September: Another morning with a fresh and blustery south-westerly breeze pushing through lots of cloud and the odd heavy squall......
Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity again this morning, including two Balearic Shearwaters west, an Arctic Skua east and another west, 225 Gannets west and good numbers of Common and Sandwich Terns. Full log below. (AH/CRJ/IP/JDa/BFF/SL)
(0700-0930hrs) (SW, F5-6)
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os
Balearic Shearwater - 2W (0745hrs & 0828hrs)
Gannet - 225W
Shag - 3E, 1os
Common Scoter - 5E
Turnstone - 8
Arctic Skua - 1E, 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 28W
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 58W, 85os
Common Tern - 12W, 8os
auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 3W
House Martin - 1W
Gannets (above), Common Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just a Common Sandpiper, the juvenile Redshank, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and eight Teal present this morning (AH), with a Common Sandpiper also seen in the channel opposite a bit later. (ABi)
Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, two Redshanks, a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and four Snipe on the flooded field this morning, with a Cetti's Warbler and one or two Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Reed Warblers in the bushes. (ABi/AH/AHa)
Green Sandpiper at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: An Osprey went over the Lavant outflow this morning, heading south. (M Wright)
Osprey over Fishbourne Creek (M.Wright)
Church Norton: The three Spoonbills were off the benches again this morning before two flew to the harbour mouth and one headed for the North Wall, whilst c120 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, c40 Mediterranean Gulls and c80 Black-headed Gulls were roosting on the mud, but waders were limited to a couple of Whimbrel, a dozen Curlews and Ringed Plovers and c60 Redshanks.
Two Spotted Flycatchers were still behind the hide, but a Garden Warbler and a couple of Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs was, otherwise, it for the hedges, whilst a dozen Swallows went over. (AH/CRJ/ABi/BFF/SL et al)
Spotted Flycatcher (above), Spoonbills, Common Tern and Sandwich Terns & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)
East Side: A Sanderling was out on the mud, along with c120 Ringed Plovers, c50 Dunlin, three Knot, a Greenshank, ten Grey Plovers, three Turnstones, a Whimbrel, 24 Gadwall, 40 Teal, and lots of Oystercatchers and Redshanks, with a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull also present. (LP)
Knot (above), Sanderling and Ringed Plover & Grey Plover along the East side (LP)
North Wall: A Wheatear was along the wall, and a Garden Warbler was along the path at the side of Owl Copse, but it was generally quiet in the showery and windy weather. A Redstart was still along the bushes at Halsey’s Farm and there were a few Long-tailed Tits, Linnets, a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler also about, but otherwise there were just a handful of Swallows and a Sand Martin passing overhead. (LP/CT)
Wheatear at the North Wall (LP)
