13th - 15th June 2018

Friday, 15th June: A return to fine summer weather this morning, with plenty of warm sunshine and just a moderate westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Although quiet, flocks of Common Scoter moved east again, with over 100 logged today; just where do they come from and go to at this time of year? Full Log below......

(0610-0900hrs) (PB/C&ME/JA)
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 25E, 9W
Common Scoter - 104E
Common Tern - 12os
Sandwich Tern - 10os
Razorbill - 3E

Later on the two Barnacle Geese were sat on the sea. (C&ME)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was back on the pool early this morning, along with two Little Ringed Plovers, six Avocets, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Lapwings and Redshank and the Shelduck family. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Little Ringed Plover and Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There was still plenty of Reed and Sedge Warbler activity along the pool, plus a few Reed Buntings and Linnets, whilst the family of Little Grebes were still on the water, but there was not much at the end of Ferry Channel beyond three Avocets and a few Redshank and Shelduck. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Reed Bunting along the Long Pool (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Stonechat family briefly appeared near the first viewpoint, and there were several families of Whitethroats along the banks and Reed Warblers singing from the ditches and ponds, plus the usual selection of Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Linnets and the odd Reed Bunting.

A pair of Little Grebes with four chicks were on one of the ponds, a dozen Swifts were over the tidal areas and a few Stock Doves were about, but the main reserve was quiet save a few Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits on the mud.

There were just a handful of Avocets on the Stilt Pools, and no chicks among them, with the only other waders seen being a Redshank and a few Black-tailed Godwits. Two Common Terns dropped in briefly, but otherwise it was just a motley collection of ducks - including two Teal and c30 Gadwall - and a couple of families of Canada Geese around the islands. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Linnet, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Common Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet & Gadwall and Tufted Duck at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GP's - Drayton Pits: A (slightly early) WeBS count this morning produced the usual suspects, though a pair of Teal was a surprise, with Pochards proving to be the highlight. Amongst the 9 adults present was a female with a brood of 5 small ducklings.....nationally this is a rare breeding duck, and given the fact they are usually late breeders it seems probable other broods might appear in due course. The other highlights were non-avian, with a nice selection of commoner butterflies including Marbled Whites, and a small colony of Pyramidal Orchids. (OM)

Pochard with young, Marbled White and Pyramidal Orchids (OM)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - This evening there were c30 Swifts and c150 House Martins (but no Swallows) over the settling tanks, where there were also c300 Starlings, a Mediterranean Gull went over and a couple of Yellowhammers and Goldfinches were along the lane. (AH)

Swift (above), House Martin, Mediterranean Gull & Starlings at Porthole Farm (AH)

Thursday, 14th June: A real change in the weather this morning, with near gale-force south-westerly winds, intermittent heavy drizzly squalls and heavy cloud...though brightening up later.

Selsey Bill: There were a few birds of note this morning, including an Arctic Skua that paused to mug a Sandwich Tern before carrying on east, two Bonxies and 50+ Common Scoters east, an Eider offshore and a couple of Fulmars west, along with the regular terns moving to and fro whilst fishing offshore. Full log below.....

0700-1200hrs: (AH/OM/MJ)
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 7E, 40W
Eider - 1os
Common Scoter - 59E
Turnstone - 6ob
Great Skua - 2E
Arctic Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 3os
Common Tern - 10os
Sandwich Tern - 8os
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Swift - 10 p (locals)

Fulmar (above), Gannet, Little Tern,Sandwich Tern & Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1815-1915hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 22E, 3W
Sandwich Tern - 12os
LittleTern - 2os
Common Tern - 6os

Ferry Pool: There was not much on the pool early this morning beyond five Avocets, a couple of Little Ringed Plovers, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a handful of Lapwings and the Shelduck family, whilst in the channel opposite there were a couple each of Gadwall, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. (AH) Later, numbers increased somewhat on the pool...to 16 Avocets, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank, plus the Little Ringed Plovers still. (OM/RSPB Tracy&Nikki)

Black-tailed Godwit (above), Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, & Gadwalls around the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was little to report in the dire conditions, though there were a couple of Ringed Plovers and a few terns in the harbour and a couple of Blackcaps singing around the Mound. (AH)

BFF & DM toiling away in the rain on the new steps to the hide (AH)...and below, our two craftsmen proudly pose by the finished job (DM/BFF)...for which we all owe them a big vote of thanks! (Eds)

Wednesday, 13th June: A very pleasant summer's morning, with a light breeze and plenty of sunshine, though not too hot....

Selsey Bill: Some interest this morning, with a Bonxie and 100+ Common Scoter passing through, and a few Gannets moving....

Full log below:......

0815-1030hrs: (C&ME)

Gannet - 46E, 1W

Common Scoter - 105E

Great Skua - 1E

Commic Tern - 32os

Common Tern - 7os

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E 

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank and the Green Sandpiper were both still present this morning, along with 18 Avocets, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Redshank, five Lapwings and the Shelduck family. Also, a mother Gadwall and five well-grown ducklings were on the pool. (AH)

Green Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank (above), juvenile Lapwing, Gadwall family & Shelduck family on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were fledged young Sedge Warblers lurking in the bushes this morning, though there were still several birds singing, along with at least ten Reed Warblers and the odd Whitethroat, Linnet and Reed Bunting, whilst the Little Grebes and Coots, both with families, were getting very irate with each other on the pool.

In Ferry Channel there were 12 Teal (mostly drakes), four Gadwall, 20 Redshank and six Black-tailed Godwits (with another eight flying over), plus at least 50 Shelducks, and there were two Roe Deer in the fields opposite. (AH)

Reed Warblers (above), Sedge Warbler, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits & Roe Deer from Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: This evening there were three Curlews in the harbour, one of which appears to be banded green over blue on its right leg, and there were also four Black-tailed Godwits and three Ringed Plovers present, whilst two Black-headed Gull chicks have crossed from the island into the open harbour. 

Also, the Stoat was out near the hide and there were a number of juvenile Goldfinches among a small flock in the churchyard. (AW)

Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit (above), Goldfinches. young Black-headed Gulls & Stoat at Church Norton (AW)

10th - 12th June 2018

Tuesday, 12th June: The breeze remains resolutely from the north-east, but it was a sunnier and warmer morning before the cloud thickened later on....

Of interest (!)..... 
I don’t think this will be claimed as a genuine vagrant, but thought I’d pass it on…

What appears to be a White-cheeked Turaco was photographed in a  garden in Emsworth back in March, and it was photographed again in W Itchenor yesterday. Quite a bird, having seen some pics of it, so thought I’d let you guys know..... in case you get a description of green-bodied, purple-winged, red and white-faced crested pigeon thing! (PH)

(Thanks Pete....even we might be able to spot this one if it appears! Eds)

Ferry Pool: The summer-plumage Spotted Redshank was on the pool again early this morning before flying back into the harbour, though it later re-appeared. Otherwise, there was a Green Sandpiper about, along with two Little Ringed Plovers, 24 Avocets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Redshanks and seven Lapwings. Also, a mother Gadwall with nine ducklings was in the adjacent rife.
A look round the Tramway circuit didn't produce much beyond the usual Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats, plus a Reed Warbler singing in Red Barn Ditch. (AH/CRJ/MJ)
Also a Black-tailed Skimmer on the new Discovery pond. (CRJ/MJ)

Spotted Redshank (above), Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Gadwall family, Blackcap & Chiffchaff around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a couple of Whitethroats along the path,but nothing beyond Mallards and Coots on the Breech Pool this morning. Also, a mother Roe Deer was in the field with two young fawns. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Reed Bunting & Roe Deer fawn from North Wall (AH)

East Side/Pagham Lagoon/Pagham Spit: As the tide rose there were six Grey Plovers (three in summer plumage),six Ringed Plovers and c40 Black-tailed Godwits on the mud, plus at least 50 Shelducks, whilst the lagoon held three or four Great Crested Grebes and 20+ Coots.
There was nothing much on the spit beyond a few Linnets and Greenfinches, whilst up to a dozen Little Terns and half a dozen Common and Sandwich Terns were feeding at the harbour mouth. (AH)

Grey Plovers (above) & Ringed Plover from East side, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern & Common Tern from Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - There were three young Stonechats, six Reed Warblers, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Kestrels and 10+ Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats along the banks this evening. 

On the Stilt Pools there were 20+ Avocets, but only two chicks and three sitting birds among them, four Little Ringed Plovers, three Ringed Plovers, six Redshanks, a Teal and two Shovelers, with a swift over. (S&SaH)

Monday, 11th June: After a chilly and grey start, a fairly pleasant morning of sunshine and cloud, but with a brisk north-easterly breeze....

Ferry Pool: A summer-plumage Spotted Redshank (the first return migrant?) was on the pool early this morning, but was not present later on, when the Greenshank and at least two Little Ringed Plovers had re-appeared. Also about were 16 Avocets, 12 Redshank, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, five Lapwing, three Teal and the fast-growing Shelduck family. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank and Little Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck-lings & Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The only waders evident in the harbour were half a dozen Turnstones, with c25 Mediterranean Gulls and plenty of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns around the island, with a few feeding offshore, but the bushes are going very quiet, with just the odd Linnet to be found, plus the Swallows around the hide. (AH)

Common Tern (above), Mediterranean Gulls, Swallow & disturbance on Tern Island at Church Norton (AH)

Long Pool: A look along the pool this evening produced a few singing Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a Reed Bunting, with a Greenshank, a Grey Plover, 25 Redshank, ten Black-tailed Godwits, five Teal, two Gadwall and c50 Shelducks in Ferry Channel and a Cuckoo calling sparingly from the hedges to the south. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above) & Greenshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher from Long Pool (AH)

Sunday, 10th June: A warm and muggy morning, with a light easterly breeze and plenty of cloud....

Selsey Bill: A couple of Barnacle Geese (of unknown origin!) went east and two Arctic Skuas mobbed a Sandwich Tern before drifting off west, but otherwise not too much was moving. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP/JA)

(0630-0830hrs)

Gannet - 8E, 1W

Barnacle Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 8E
Arctic Skua - 2W

Kittiwake - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 15os

Common Tern - 1os

auk sp - 1E

Swift - 2N (from way out), 6p

House Martin - 10p

Swallow - 1p

Barnacle Geese (above), Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Swift & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The Avocet was again on the balancing pool in Manor Lane, but otherwise there was not much beyond a few Swifts, Swallows and House Martins over this morning. (AH/IP)

Avocet (above) & Swallow at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

A Cream-spot Tiger was in the moth-trap nearby this morning. (SH)

Cream-spot Tiger in a Selsey garden (SH)

Ferry Pool: The Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and 24 Avocets were present this morning, along with five Lapwing, 16 Redshanks, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and the Shelduck family, plus a pair of Red-legged Partridges on the spit in the middle until the Redshanks shooed them off (AH/SH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Redshank & Red-legged Partridges on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A dozen Turnstones, plus the odd Curlew, Black-tailed  Godwit, Dunlin and Ringed Plover were in the harbour, whilst offshore there were a handful of Little, Sandwich and Common Terns feeding, with the latter seen repeatedly bringing small fish back in, suggesting chicks may have hatched.

There was little beyond the regular warblers, Linnets and Skylarks about, though a Mistle Thrush that dropped into the trees at the back of the churchyard was unusual for the time of year. (AH/IP/S&SaH)

Common Tern (above), Turnstones & Skylark at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Stilt Pool - A Cuckoo was in the dead poplars this afternoon, and nearby yesterday, there was a pair of Stonechats with at least two young. (IP)