Saturday, 6th September: The wind went round to the south-east overnight, leaving a bright and sunny, but as the breeze freshened, very blustery morning...........
Selsey Bill: The highlight this morning was the eastward hirundine movement, dominated by over 2000 Swallows, but with Sand and House Martins well represented, too, along with a Hobby, a couple of Tree Pipits and 50+ Yellow Wagtails, though beyond an Arctic Skua, two Fulmars and a few Common Terns, the sea was quiet. Full log below. (SH/JA/PM/PB/BI/IP/RHa/AH/JFi)
(0600-0900hrs) (SE, F3-4)
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 16E, 9W
Shag - 4E
Grey Heron - 2
Teal - 3E
Shoveler - 1E
Common Scoter - 2E, 3W, 1os
Hobby - 1
Kestrel - 1
Oystercatcher - 2E
Turnstone - 1
Arctic Skua - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 42E
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 105E
Common Tern - 89E
Swallow - 2140E
Sand Martin - 328E
House Martin - 53E
Yellow Wagtail -
Grey Wagtail - 3E
Pied Wagtail - 3E
Tree Pipit - 2E
Wheatear - 2
Willow/Chiff - 1
This evening, a first-winter Caspian Gull was among the roost off Hillfield Road. (MRe/Ip/CRJ et al), and also a Swift, and possibly two, went over the gardens. (ML)
Shag (above), Gannet, Mediterranean Gull, Wheatear, Sand Martin & Swallow at the Bill (AH)
Selsey: A Striped hawk-moth was caught in a Selsey garden last night. (JA)
Striped hawk-moth shown at the Bill (BI)
Ferry Pool: There were just a Common Sandpiper, the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and five Teal present early on (AH), whilst later a Redstart flew into the bushes along the Tramway (AB/CD).
Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Snipe and a Black-tailed Godwit were the only waders present this morning, among c20 Teal and c85 Mallards, whilst a couple of Chiffchaffs among a mixed tit flock was all that could be found in the bushes. (AH)
Earlier, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper were both noted here. (BI)
Snipe at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Northcommon Farm: Two Redstarts and two Spotted Flycatchers were at 'Flycatcher Corner' late this afternoon. (MRe)
Church Norton: A Grey Phalarope was in the harbour for a short while this morning, before it flew off towards the Ferry and could not be re-found, with other waders of note including c60 Dunlin, c60 Ringed Plovers, c25 Grey Plovers and two Whimbrel, whilst the four Spoonbills were also still present, along with a dozen Wigeon, three Pintails and a Shelduck.
The hedges were quite busy, too, with seven Spotted Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler, three Willow Warblers and c60 Blackcaps around the churchyard/hide area, half a dozen Chiffchaffs, a couple of Willow and Reed Warblers, a dozen Whitethroats and a remarkable 100+ Blackcaps along the front and Greenlease Farm, including c30 by the concrete wall, along with another Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, three Wheatears and a couple of Firecrests.
Also, a Swift, c400 Swallows and c100 Sand Martins went over, along with three Grey Wagtails and four Yellow Wagtails, whilst a Fulmar was seen over the Severals. (MRe/PM/IP/BI et al)
Early this afternoon, an Osprey was over the harbour. (MRe)
Grey Phalarope at Church Norton (PM)
The Grey Phalarope re-appeared late this afternoon, on the mud near the metalwork. (SM/AH/LP/ASWi et al)
Grey Phalarope at Church Norton (AH)
Pagham Harbour west side: A look along here didn't turn up the Grey Phalarope but an Osprey, presumably the one seen later at Church Norton, was over the east side, two Whinchats were along the path, as were three Red-legged Partridges, a flock of Wigeon flew down the harbour and there were plenty of Meadow Pipits logged. (BI)
North Wall: The first juvenile Curlew Sandpiper of the autumn was along White's Creek before the tide rose, whilst out in the harbour at least two Greenshanks were among the roosting Redshanks.
The bushes were quiet in the wind, though a Redstart was in the hedges in Owl Point field, with two Wheatears on the fence-line there, with another two along the wall, whilst a Whinchat was at Halsey's Farm, along with a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Whitethroats and Blackcaps, with more of the latter two, plus another Whinchat along the wall.
Also, a few Cattle Egrets were in the fields and c200 Swallows and c50 Sand Martins went over. (MJa/LP/AH/AB/CD/MRe)
Also, a Hobby was sat on a telegraph pole along Rookery Lane this morning. (BI)
This afternoon, a whinchat and three Wheatears were in the Owl Point fields, and a Mistle Thrush was at Halsey's Farm, with ten Sand Martins and c50 House Martins and Swallows over.
The Osprey was seen over the harbour again, as was a Peregrine, with a Kingfisher, a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Bunting additions to the morning report.
Whinchat (above), Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Whitethroat (AH), Buzzard & Painted Lady (RBe) at the North Wall
East side: The juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was along the east side this afternoon, along with a Sanderling, 31 Dunlin, eight Knot, two Greenshanks, two Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 19 Grey Plovers, a Pintail and five Teal, with five Common Terns and ten Mediterranean Gulls among c100 Sandwich Terns in the harbour mouth, and c30 Swallows went over. (MRe)
West Itchenor: A Hobby was hunting the hundreds of Swallows heading east over the east side of the harbour this morning. (PH)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Five Wheatears, a Stonechat, a dozen Yellowhammers, ten Meadow Pipits and a Cetti's Warbler were along the banks this morning, with c30 Yellow Wagtails and ten Meadow Pipits, plus a Greenshank, on the reserve.
There was more activity overhead, though, with c150 Swallows, c75 Sand Martins, a House Martin, two Marsh Harriers, two Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks and three Kestrels all seen. (SH/PB)
Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - Although it was a fairly average WeBS count this morning for the time of year, there were a few sightings of interest. The first returning Shovelers here totalled 36, whilst there were also 49 Pochard, 55 Great Crested Grebes and a Kingfisher. Passerines included a fair number of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (not counted), several Cetti's Warblers and two Spotted Flycatchers. (OM)
Flock of Shoveler flying over the North pit and (lower two) Spotted Flycatchers (OM)
Friday, 5th September: A much better morning, with plenty of sun, and warm later on, in a light to moderate westerly breeze...........
Selsey Bill: The sea was very slow this morning, beyond two Arctic Skuas getting among a distant feeding flock of Sandwich Terns and a juvenile Guillemot on the water fairly close in, but a good count of 14 Wheatears moved along the beach, and some visible migration, including a Tree Pipit, 24 Yellow Wagtails and 11 Grey Wagtails kept the interest up. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/P&LH/JA et al)
(0645-0900hrs) (WNW, F4)
Gannet - 3E, 4W
Shag - 6E
Grey Heron - 1W
Teal - 2W
Common Scoter - 1W
Oystercatcher - 4W
Ringed Plover - 2W
Turnstone - 18 (ic the leucistic bird)
Arctic Skua - 2os
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 26W, 30os
'Commic' Tern - 6W
Guillemot - 1os
auk sp - 1W
Green Woodpecker - 1
Swallow - 41W
Sand Martin - 4
House Martin - c50
Yellow Wagtail - 24E
Grey Wagtail - 11E
Pied Wagtail - 7E
Tree Pipit - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 4E
Wheatear - 14
Chiffchaff - 2
Wheatear (above), Yellow Wagtail & Guillemot at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, the juvenile Redshank and four Teal. (AH)
Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper were present this morning, along with a dozen Teal, but there were just a couple of Chiffchaffs in the bushes, and nothing at all after a Sparrowhawk shot through. (AH)
This evening there was also a Green Sandpiper present again, along with a Common Sandpiper. (MP)
Common Sandpiper (above) & Greenshank and Teal at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Church Norton: There were four Spoonbills roosting together in the harbour this morning, whilst the relatively few waders at high tide included three Whimbrel, six Grey Plovers, 15 Ringed Plovers and 20 Dunlin, with seven Sandwich Terns, five Mediterranean Gulls and a Marsh Harrier about, too.
Two Spotted Flycatchers were showing well behind the hide, with a Willow Warbler, four Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and four Whitethroats in the vicinity, too, plus c200 House Martins, c50 Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins over the churchyard and adjacent fields, whilst two Yellow Wagtails and at least 11 Wheatears were along the concrete blocks, with more of the latter distantly along the spit, where there was also a Painted Lady. Along the severals mid-morning were at least six Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Whinchat and Redstart. (P&LH/AH/BI/AB et al)
Spotted Flycatchers (above), Blackcap, Yellow Wagtails, Spoonbills & Grey Plovers and Oystercatchers at Church Norton (AH)
This evening, a Whinchat was in the hedge by the horse field and at least half a dozen Wheatears were around the start of the spit and the concrete blocks, whilst the two Spotted Flycatchers were still behind the hide and c100 hirundines, split equally between Swallows, Sand and House Martins were over the harbour and fields.
Also, all four Spoonbills were feeding in the main channel, but waders were restricted to a whimbrel, a Greenshank, four Grey Plovers, c30 Ringed Plovers and c75 Redshanks. (NR/AH/S&SaH)
Whinchat (above), Wheatear, Spoonbills, Sand Martin, Swallow & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Spoonbill was along White’s Creek, and two Kingfishers were by the sluice as well as two Grey Wagtails, whilst further along there were four Wigeon, eight Gadwall and a single Canada Goose on the banks, and c150 Ringed Plover, c80 Dunlin and c20 Grey Plovers spread out on the mud.
It was busy along the wall with at least six Wheatears along the rocks, and a large mixed flock was moving along the bushes including two Redstarts, c20 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, eight Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, four Blackcaps, 16 Long-tailed Tits, four Greenfinches, six Great Tits and numerous Blue Tits.
At Halsey’s Farm, another Redstart, a Reed Bunting and a few Whitethroats were in the bushes, three more Wheatears were on the fences, a Snipe was along the rife, a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels were over the fields, and c100 Sand Martins and c70 Swallows were passing through, and there was an impressive count of 13 Buzzards circling high overhead. (MJa/TRH/GHi/LP/IH/CT/CRJ/EB/TS et al)
Spoonbill (LP) (above), Wheatears (top two LP, lower CRJ), Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (LP) & Small Copper (CRJ) at the North Wall (LP)
West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was heard calling from the Park Farm area this morning. (SH)
Runcton: A Willow Emerald Damselfly was in the garden this afternoon. (RJ)
Willow Emerald Damselfly in a Runcton garden (CRJ)
Thursday, 4th September: Yet another blustery morning, with a strong south-westerly breeze pushing through lots of squally showers, though with odd glimpses of the sun in-between......
Selsey Bill: Up to three Wheatears were about and a Yellow Wagtail went over this morning, but the sea was dead. Full log below. (AH/LP/IP/M&LL)
(0710-825hrs) (SSW, F6)
Gannet - 2E, 6W
Shag - 1E
Oystercatcher - 1W
Ringed Plover - 1W
Sanderling - 1W
Turnstone 5
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 9W, 5os
Common Tern - 1W
Yellow Wagtail - 1W
Wheatear - 3
Wheatear (above) & Turnstone at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were just the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and the juvenile Redshank on the pool this morning, plus a Cattle Egret and a Sparrowhawk going over. (AH)
Cattle Egret at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two Snipe and 15 Teal were on the flooded field this morning, whilst a Sedge Warbler and three or four Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings was about it for the bushes. (AH)
Green Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Teal, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Sedge Warbler & Reed Bunting at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)
Church Norton: Two Spoonbills were in the harbour this morning, along with half a dozen Sandwich Terns and Great Crested Grebes, but very few waders were about on the high tide beyond a Grey Plover and a few Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers.
Two or three Sand Martins and a dozen Swallows were feeding over the harbour, but a Reed Warbler and a Green Woodpecker was all that could be found on the land side. (AH/LP)
Sandwich Tern & Green Woodpecker at Church Norton (AH)
No comments:
Post a Comment