4th - 6th August 2018:

Monday, 6th August: A repeat of yesterday; hot, sunny and dry with little cloud and a moderate south-east breeze....

Selsey Bill: (0750-0850hrs): A flat calm sea and a warm and gentle breeze did little to induce any bird movement (OM)......Log - 
Gannet - 10E
Sandwich Tern - 12 os
Turnstone - 15 ob
House Martin - 8 p

Ferry Pool: A Wood Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers were on the pool this morning, with three Little Ringed Plovers (one juvenile) and a single Dunlin. (OM/BI/AW)

Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper (above), Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper & Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AW)

Earlier on there was a single Green Sandpiper along with four Common Sandpipers and three Little Ringed Plovers on the pool, along with the adult and juvenile Avocet, c50 Lapwings, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and four Teal. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper & Little Ringed Plover on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were as many as 30 juveniles among an arrival of c40 Common Terns this morning, outnumbering the 20 or so Sandwich Terns. There were also a dozen juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, c100 Dunlin and c30 Turnstones on the mud and a couple of Wheatears were along the spit, but the bushes were very quiet. (AW/AH/BI et al)

Common Terns (above), Sandwich Tern and Common Tern & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)

This evening four Wheatears were on the concrete spit, two Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, a Chiffchaff and four Whitethroats were along the front, with 10+ Sand Martins and 50+ Swallows overhead.

In the harbour there were four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, three Common Terns and at least ten Sandwich Terns. (S&SaH)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening a Hobby went over, as did 20+ House Martins,, two Swifts and two Sand Martins, whilst six Pied Wagtails were on th fields. (S&SaH)

Northcommon Farm: There were two Pied Flycatchers around 'Flycatcher Corner' this morning, along with a Garden Warbler, two Whitethroats and a few Goldcrests. (SH/OM)

Medmerry: Ham/Breach Viewpoint - The Hooded Crow was showing near the west side of the breach this morning, and there were also half a dozen Common and Sandwich Terns in the vicinity as well as a Common Sandpiper. (BI) It was seen again at midday, directly across from the Breach Viewpoint, showing quite well on open ground with other corvids, but then for no apparent reason the Hoodie (only) took flight and headed off NE.There was also a gathering of 52 Sandwich Terns on the mudflats at this time, plus a single Whimbrel.(OM)
This evening a Hobby was chasing Swallows at Ham. (BO'D)

Extremely distant photo of the Hooded Crow on the shingle bank at Medmerry! (BI)

Medmerry: Golf Links Lane to Chainbridge to Ham - It was very quiet this morning, with just a couple of Willow Warblers and a few Whitethroats in the bushes, and a couple of Sedge Warblers, a Stonechat, a Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer along the banks, plus a few Skylarks and Swallows.
In the tidal area there was one probable Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull among the Black-headed Gulls, but no waders beyond a couple of Curlews. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry - west side: A very quick look at a few of the pools found a Common Sandpiper showing well this morning. (BI)

Common Sandpiper at Medmerry (BI)

East Head: A Raven was over the Rookwood/Ellanore area this morning. (PH)

North Wall: White's Creek was full of birds this morning, including 60+ Redshank, 42 Black-tailed Godwits, three Little Egrets and 300+ Black headed Gulls.

The Breech Pool is showing a few muddy margins and held 52 Lapwing, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Snipe, 13 Canada Geese and three Grey Herons, whilst on the mud at Owl Water was a Little Ringed Plover, the first I have recorded at this site. (JDW)
Also, three Clouded Yellows were along the east side of Honer reservoir. (CRJ)

Lapwings from the North Wall (JDW)

Sunday, 5th August: A repeat of yesterday; hot, sunny and dry with little cloud and a moderate south-east breeze....

Selsey Bill: (0630-0730hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 70E, 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 4W

Common Tern - 2E, 2os

Ferry Pool: A Great White Egret flew over low from the west and into the harbour at 6.25am this morning, but could not be relocated. Also a Kingfisher flew along Ferry Channel. (D&MB)
Later there were three Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers, an adult and two juvenile Avocets, 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Lapwings, four Teal and six juvenile Shelducks on the pool and a couple of Reed Warblers in the roadside reeds. (AH/IP)

Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Shelducks & Reed Warbler at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were c30 Pied Wagtails and a Skylark on the lettuce field, and a Swift and a few House Martins and Swallows over. (AH/IP)

Church Norton: Early on there were 2 Sand Martins among 30 or so Swallows gathered around the hide. A Sedge Warbler was in the hedges but there was no sign of yesterday's Pied Flycatcher in the churchyard. (AW)

 Sand Martin and Sedge Warbler at Church Norton (AW)

It was quiet along the front later on - with just a couple of Whitethroats seen, plus a couple of Sand Martins over, with the harbour only holding three Sandwich Terns, though there were c50- Dunlin and c20 Turnstones present. Also, a Wigeon was with a dozen Gadwall and three Teal on the second Several. (AH)

Wigeon and Gadwall at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were c30 Sandwich Terns and eight juvenile Common Terns along the old harbour mouth, along with c60 Dunlin and c30 Turnstones. Only the lone Dark-bellied Brent Goose was evident in the harbour, along with half a dozen juvenile Shelducks and 50+ Swallows, whilst there was a huge swirling flock of many hundreds of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls over Pagham spit. (AH)

Swallow (above), Dunlin & Sandwich and Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham viewpoint - an early visit (0530-0830hrs) found some gathering of hurundines with 160+ Swallows and c30 Sand Martins. There were plenty of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings in the reed-beds, also nearby 4 Willow Warblers and  a party of 5 Corn Buntings. 

The Hooded Crow was out on the marsh with many Carrion Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws.

Not many waders were present, with two Whimbrels the highlight, whilst Little Grebes were feeding young on the pools and a pair of Stonechats was at the Ham viewpoint. (JP) 

(Note: this Hooded Crow has been reported several times over the last few weeks but is proving to be very elusive. If possible a photograph would be appreciated - it's a scarce species in Sussex requiring a description for the SOS Records Committee! Eds)
The Hooded Crow was seen again, distantly, from Chainbridge at 1.30pm. (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a Whinchat, four Stonechats (including three juveniles), a Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff along hte banks, with 22 sand Martins, a couple of Swallows, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and four Kestrels seen overhead.

There were 30+ Black-tailed Godwits near the poplars, but the Stilt Pools were quiet, with just another 30+ Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Dunlin and two Avocets seen. (SH)

North Wall: At least 200 Sand Martins and 200 Swallows were feeding over and settling on the hedges just west of the Breech Pool, but otherwise it was quiet, with just a scattering of Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a Cetti's Warbler and a flyover Yellow Wagtail to be found.
An Avocet was heard but not seen, but the waders were all regular ones, including c100 Redshank in White's Creek and a few Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings on the Breech Pool. Also, a Small Copper and a Painted Lady were seen. (AH/IP/BI) This evening there were seven Spotted Redshanks, two Knot and 13 Greenshanks on the Breech Pool. (ESt)

Willow Warbler (above), Sand Martin, Swallow & Sand Martins and Swallows from North Wall (AH)

Small Copper, above, & Painted Lady at the North Wall (BI)

Saturday, 4th August: Yet another very hot day, though with a bit of white cloud and a moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of visible migration this morning, but not too much offshore. Full log below. (SH)
(0600-0700hrs)

Fulmar - 1os
Gannet - 9E, 25W
Teal - 4E
Common Scoter - 7E
Sanderling - 2W
Turnstone - 3p
Sandwich Tern - 10os
auk sp - 1E
Swift - 1p
Swallow - 1W
Sand Martin - 8w
House Martin - 22W
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 7W
Willow Warbler - 2p (in gardens)

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipers, one Little Ringed Plover, three (two juvenile) Avocets, two Teal, a Stock Dove and 39 each of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit around the pool this morning. (AH/IP)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Common Sandpiper, Lapwings and Black-headed Gull on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Wheatear and a Grey Wagtail were among 20+ Pied Wagtail on the fields, along with a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Lesser Whitethroat was in Park Lane and a couple of Willow Warblers were in the ditches by the path, and a few Swifts and Sand Martins were among the Swallows and House Martins overhead, with a Sparrowhawk going over, too. (AH/IP/S&SaH)

Willow Warbler (above), Grey Wagtail, House Martin, Sparrowhawk & Mediterranean Gull at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Later a Red Kite and at least 40 Swifts were over the north of the village. (S&SaH)

Red Kite over Selsey (SH)

Selsey: There were two Pied Flycatchers in our garden in the village at 8.30pm this evening. (JW)

Birdham: An immature Pied Flycatcher was in the observer's garden this evening! (AB)

Pied Flycatcher in a Birdham garden (AB)

Church Norton: A Pied Flycatcher was in the churchyard from early till late morning at least, but there weren't many other migrants on show beyond a couple of Willow Warblers in the churchyard and a few Whitethroats, seven Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff along the Severals. Also, a Yellowhammer flew over the churchyard and a Jay, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were there early on. 

There were at least 20 Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern in the harbour, plus at least a dozen juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, the seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a couple of Whimbrel and a few Dunlin. Also, four Teal and at least eight Gadwall were on the second Several. (AW/AH/IP/S&SaH/NM)
The Pied Flycatcher was still present this evening. (AW)

Pied Flycatcher still present this evening in the churchyard. (AW)

Pied Flycatcher (above), Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker (AW), Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sandwich Tern & Gadwall (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Two Wheatears were near Owl Point this morning whilst along the gorse in the north fields were a Garden Warbler, two Lesser Whitethroats and four Whitethroats. Butterflies included Brown Argus, Common Blue and many worn Meadow Browns. (BI), and another three Wheatears were in the fields between Halsey's Farm and the North Wall (A&YF). The Breech Pool held only 45 Lapwings and 8 Black-tailed Godwits, but the daily lottery of the water levels here continues and the depth was too great for smaller waders. (OM) Later on a Snipe was feeding on the edge of the pool. (BI)
Along White's creek and the East side there were 20+ Dunlin, a Greenshank, perhaps 40 Black-tailed Godwits and 110 Mediterranean Gulls (two ringed), but nothing much else of note. (OM)

Wheatear, above, Garden Warbler & Brown Argus around the North Wall (BI)

Chi GPs - Drayton Pits:  Little to report in a fairly brief visit, although another brood of Pochard was found (the fourth this year on these pits) and also another brood of Tufted. Six Lapwing were new in, whilst several family parties of Reed Warbler were active and a Cetti's Warbler gave a brief attempt at giving a song. (OM)

1st - 3rd August 2018

Friday, 3rd August: An even hotter day, with unbroken sunshine and hardly any breeze.....

Ferry Pool: There were three Avocets on the pool this morning - the usual adult and offspring plus another juvenile, but otherwise there was just one Common Sandpiper present, along with c55 Lapwings, c35 Black-tailed Godwits and six Teal. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Pied Flycatcher was briefly in the tree by the Salthouse just before midday today, before flying off towards the hedges near the stables. (BI)

Pied Flycatcher at the North Wall (BI)

Earlier, a smart Yellow Wagtail along the wall was the highlight of a quiet morning, with other passerines few beyond a handful of Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers and 100+ Goldfinches, with 20 or so Sand Martins among 50+ Swallows feeding overhead.
A Greenshank in White's Creek was the only wader of note, though there were also a handful of Whimbrel, 50+ Redshank and 30+ Black-tailed Godwits present, with another dozen of the latter and c30 Lapwings on the Breech Pool.
There were huge numbers of gulls feeding on flying insects over the whole harbour, including plenty of Mediterranean Gulls and a lone Common Tern.
Two Jays and two Kestrels was about it for Halsey's Farm, whilst at Honer farm there were a couple of calling Willow/Chiffs and a Painted Lady. (AH/BI/PC) There was no sign of the Wall butterfly in the north fields but a Clouded Yellow flew through, a Painted Lady was over the meadow and a worn Purple Hairstreak was in the oaks. (AH/BI)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Greenshank, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Swallow & Lapwings around the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: Early this afternoon, on the rising tide, 5 of the 7 Pale-bellied Brent were down near the old pier. There were around 10 Common and 20 Sandwich Terns among a group of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, with some juveniles of each.
In the churchyard there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Whitethroat and small group of Swallows. (AW)
Later on, from the beach, there were 100+ Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Swifts and similar of Sand Martins and Swallows feeding overhead. (AH)

 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Church Norton and Swallows in the churchyard. (AW)

This evening there was a Yellow-legged gull in the fields along Rectory Lane and two Common Gulls  were among the usual gathering in the harbour, which still included a few Common and Sandwich Terns. (AW)

 

Yellow-legged Gull (above) & Common Gull at Church Norton (AW)

Sidlesham: Our resident family of Buzzards were being very noisy and conspicuous today, with two fully fledged youngsters in tow. (AH)

Buzzard over Sidlesham (AH)

Thursday, 2nd August: Another hot day, with lots of sunshine and a light westerly breeze.....

Ferry Pool: Much the same as yesterday on the pool, with two Common Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers and the adult and juvenile Avocets present, along with 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwing, six Teal 
There were a couple of Reed Warblers in the road-side reeds and a Blackcaps and a large mixed Long-tailed and Blue Tit flock in the adjacent hedgerows. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Blackcap & Whitethroat around the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: It was quiet along the path, with just the odd Reed or Sedge Warbler making its presence known, an adult with a juvenile Little Grebe and a few Teal on the pool and just a few Redshank in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Little Grebe & Teal around Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton:Tern numbers were down to a dozen Sandwich, two or three Common and a lone Little this morning, though the seven Pale-bellied and the Dark-bellied Brent Geese were still in residence, as were several Whimbrel.
About 20 Sand Martins and similar of Swallows went over, but the bushes remain quiet, with just a couple of Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat behind the hide and another of the latter, plus half a dozen Whitethroats and Linnets along the front. (AH)

Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Linnet & Little and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 1st August: A very warm and sunny morning, with just a light south-westerly breeze.....

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers on the pool this morning, along with the adult and juvenile Avocets, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Lapwing, two Teal and thee juvenile Shelduck. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Avocet, Shelduck & Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was very quiet along the banks this morning, with barely a dozen Yellowhammers and Skylarks, a handful of Linnets and Swallows, a couple of Willow Warblers and a couple of Whitethroat families, plus a few Stock Doves, being the sum.

Two Common Sandpipers, two Greenshank and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were in the poplars area of the reserve, but the Stilt Pool held just a single Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings. There were also a few Teal and Gadwall on the pool, along with 105 Canada Geese, plus the Barnacle x Canada Goose hybrid (whose call was very much more like Barnacle than Canada).

There were plenty of butterflies about, including two or three Painted Ladies and lots of Common Blues. (AH)
This afternoon there were two Wood Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool (BO'D)

Common Sandpiper (above), Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Stock Doves, Barnacle x Canada Goose hybrid, Painted Lady & Common Blue at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: Apart from a Lapwing there were no waders on Breech Pool at all, whilst along the Wall there were three brightly-plumaged Willow Warblers, 21 Goldfinches, two Reed Buntings, a Linnet and a Whitethroat, and a  Hobby was over Honer Farm. 

Following Whites Creek along the east side there were close to 100 Common Redshank and at least 60 Black-tailed Godwits. It was a good morning for butterflies with Wall Brown and Common Blue showing well. (JDW)

Wall Brown (above) & Common Blue at the North Wall (JDW)

Park Farm, Selsey: This evening there were 27 Pied Wagtails and four Mediterranean Gulls on the fields and 20+ Sand Martins and a Sparrowhawk over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: A Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel were in the harbour, along with about 20 Sandwich Terns, 20 Dunlin, c50 Redshanks and c30 swallows. (S&SaH/AH)