17th - 19th October 2022

Wednesday, 19th October: A very blustery day in a freshening easterly breeze, though quite mild and brightening up after a cloudy start........

Selsey Bill: There were a lot of Linnets going east, but not as much 'vis-mig' as hoped for in the conditions, with the sea predictably slow. The gardens were also being well buffeted by the wind, but still produced a few Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits, plus a single Blackcap.

Full log below. (AH/SR/MO-W/OM)

(0730-1130hrs) (E, F5-6)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 5E, 19W

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 2E, 41W

Common Scoter - 6E

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 5W

Common Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 26E, 2W

auk sp - 30E, 2W

Skylark - 2E

Swallow - 9E

Meadow Pipit - 152E

Pied Wagtail - 52E

Stonechat - 1

Linnet - 458E

Goldfinch - 115E

Long-tailed Tit - 8

Chiffchaff - 5

Blackcap - 1

Razorbills (above), Shag, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat & Linnets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were five Avocets feeding together on the pool this morning, with 45 roosting Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Teal and c25 Wigeon and Shovelers the only other birds present. (AH)

Avocets (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Three Sandwich Terns were briefly offshore this morning, but there were just a few Redshank, Curlews and Teal in a windswept harbour. 

A pair of Stonechats by the horse field and a Mistle Thrush at Greenlease Farm were about the only passerines seen, save eight Swallows, a dozen Meadow Pipits and c50 Linnets that went over east. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 18th October: A lovely, warm morning, initially in  a light north-easterly, freshening later on........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of visible migration this morning, including four Woodlarks, 29 Skylarks, three Yellow Wagtails, 14 Swallows and a few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches, plus a Blackcap, two Stonechats and eight Chiffchaffs in the bushes, but the sea was pretty much the same as recent days. Full log below. (IP/ABi/AH/P&LH)

(0730-1000hrs) (ENE, F2)

Gannet - 2E, 15W, 2os

Shag - 3E

Little Egret - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 6E

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 6E

Guillemot - 4W

Razorbill - 7E, 72W

auk sp - 68E, 695W

Wood Pigeon - 34E

Stock Dove - 3E

Woodlark - 4E

Skylark - 29E

Swallow - 14E

Meadow Pipit - 24E

Yellow Wagtail - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 32E

Stonechat - 2

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 8

Goldcrest - 1

Magpie - 24E

Linnet - 45E

Goldfinch - 117E

(1335-1445hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 5W

Shag - 2W

Brent Goose - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 19W

Sandwich Tern - 7W

Razorbill - 14W

auk sp -26W

Swallow - 5E

Meadow Pipit - 18N

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Stonechat - 1

Shag (above), Sandwich Tern, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat (AH) & Blackcap (SR) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The Avocet, c25 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Lapwings were on the pool this morning, along with eight Shelducks, c50 Wigeon, c50 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

There was also a Migrant Hawker in the Discovery Area pond. (CRJ)

Migrant Hawker in the Discovery Area (CRJ)

North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers were behind the Breech Pool early this morning and a Rock Pipit was along the wall, whilst a Goldcrest was down the lane with at least six Chiffchaffs and a dozen Long-tailed Tits and a Jay was by the paddocks.

In Whites Creek there were 24 Shelduck, in addition to the regular Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, a Kingfisher was by the sluice, and another was at Halsey’s Farm where there was also a Sparrowhawk and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. (LP/PC/GHi)

Also between the wall and the Crab and Lobster there were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Jays, seven Skylarks, three Chiffchaffs and two Greenfinches, five Stonechat and a Yellowhammer. (CRJ)

This evening a total of five Marsh Harriers were around the Breech Pool, including a pair interacting, another male and two female/juveniile types, and there were also a Sparrowhawk and a Snipe there, too.

In total, 82 Little Egrets and 28 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse, with up o four Tawny Owls heard calling in the vicinity and three (presumably) Pipistrelle bats were flying about. (S&SaH)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Kingfisher at the North Wall (GHi)

East Head: Two Dartford Warblers, a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff were in the low brambles by the car-park this morning. (PH)

Church Norton: It was quiet again here, with the two Whimbrel the only waders of note, though at least 200 Dunlin and 50 Grey Plovers were out on the mud, along with the other regulars.

A handful of Swallows, c50 Meadow Pipits and similar of Goldfinches went over, whilst a Stonechat was along the path to the beach, a couple of Jays, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard and two Red-legged Partridges, a Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around Greenlease Farm. (AH/PB/SaH/P&LH  et al)

Later on, a Dartford Warbler, four Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and ix Swallows were around the Severals and eight Sandwich Terns and six Mediterranean Gulls were offshore. (P&LH)

Goldcrest (above), Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Jay & Whimbrels at Church Norton (AH)

The RSPB undertaking the grim task of clearing the corpses from the tern colony on Tern Island (AH)

Medmerry: A male Hen Harrier was present over the reserve up to 1545hrs when it drifted off east. Two Marsh Harriers were also in the area, and a Short-eared Owl was seen by others.. (DY)

Distant male Hen Harrier at Medmerry (DY)

Monday, 17th October: After very heavy overnight rain, persisting until dawn, a very mild and mostly sunny morning in a moderate westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Balearic Shearwater went west, quite close in, this morning, along with two Red-throated Divers and a few auks and Gannets, but seven Swallows and a few Meadow Pipits was about it for visible migration. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/MO-W)

(0745-0930hrs) (WSW, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0845hrs)

Gannet - 2E, 76W

Shag - 23E

Little Egret - 1W

Brent Goose - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 20

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 2W, 7os

auk sp - 155W

Swallow - 7W

Meadow Pipit - 3W

Red-throated Divers (above), Shags, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An Avocet and 16 Black-tailed Godwits were the only waders on the pool, which otherwise held two Egyptian Geese, 14 Shelducks and c60 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Egyptian Goose and Shelducks (above) & Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher were around the sluice this morning and the regular Greenshank and a couple of Grey Plovers were in White's Creek, along with the usual selection of ducks. There were 40 Lapwing further out on the mud along with two Shelduck and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, but it was otherwise quiet, with just a few Mallards on the Breech Pool. (LP)

Church Norton: Despite the pleasant conditions, it was very quiet this morning, with a Mistle Thrush in the car-park, two Swallows over the beach and a Cetti's Warbler calling from the Severals the only passerines noted beyond a very few of the commoner species.

A Sparrowhawk went over, but the harbour was quiet, too, with just a Whimbrel and a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin, plus c50 Wigeon and Teal, of note. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Sparrowhawk at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Barn Owl was out hunting this evening, and there were also a Merlin, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk around, whilst a Greenshank was heard, but not seen.

At least two Dartford Warblers, four stonechats and c30 Linnets were along the banks and a flock of 17 Pied Wagtails few over. (S&SaH/AH)

Merlin (above) & Barn Owl at Medmerry (AH)

14th - 16th October 2022

Sunday, 16th October: A bright start, before clouding up, as the breeze freshened as it shifted from the west to the south...........

Selsey Bill: A fairly quiet morning, though 20 Shags went east and two Red-throated Divers and 21 Swallows went west. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/SR/RJS/RAI)

(0700-0900hrs) (WSW, F3-4)

Red-throated Diver - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 1E, 35W, 34os

Shag - 20E

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 5E

Kestrel - 1

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 145W, 16os

auk sp - 19E, 453W

Swallow - 21W

Meadow Pipit - 15W

Pied Wagtail - 14W

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

Ferry Pool: The Ruff was on the pool again, along with c40 Black-ailed Godwits, c60 Lapwings, a Gadwall, c40 Shovelers, c60 Teal and eight Shelducks. 

There was also a Spotted Redshank in Ferry Channel, along with a few Redshanks and Wigeon.(AH/RAI)

Ruff (above), Ruff and Lapwings & Gadwall, Shelduck and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

This evening there were an Avocet and a Greenshank on the pool and two Spotted Redshanks and c30 wigeon in the channel opposite. (AH)

Greenshank, Avocet and Lapwings (above) & Spotted Redshank and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Woodlark, two Redpolls and a dozen Siskins went over this morning. (RAI)

Otherwise there were a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests among a few Long-tailed Tits around the car-park/Mound area, whilst a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, the two Whimbrels and c20 Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin were in the harbour and a Merlin went over, being mobbed by a crow. (AH/RJS/P&JW et al)

Chiffchaff (above), Long-tailed Tit & Whimbrels at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker were at Little Welbourne this morning, and a Greenshank was in White's Creek, along with 50 Wigeon, eight Pintail and lots of Redshank.

A Rock Pipit was along the wall and a pair of Stonechats were in the bushes with a few Reed Buntings, whilst a Water Rail was calling from Owl Water and at Halsey’s Farm there were a couple of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

In the field north of Owl Copse, four Jays were busy taking acorns from the oak trees and a Goldcrest and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in Bremere Copse, with eight Cattle Egrets around the cows in the nearby fields.

Also, an RSPB person reported a Short-Eared Owl by Owl Point. (LP/PC/SP/DH)

Rock Pipit (above), Skylark, Cattle Egrets & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin, two Kestrels and three Buzzards were about this morning, along with a Raven, two Jays, five Green Woodpeckers and a Kingfisher, whilst a Greenshank, two Redwings and a Mistle Thrush were near the poplars.

A total of six Dartford Warblers, 28 Stonechats, three Chiffchaffs, nine Yellowhammers, four Cetti's Warblers and a Pied Wagtail were along the banks, whilst two Snipe, another Pied Wagtail and Greenshank and 20 more Egyptian Geese were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

East Head: Eight Greenshank, c400 Golden Plovers, 70 Black-tailed Godwits and 85 Redshank were on Snowhill Creek this afternoon, whilst at least three Sanderlings and c100 Brent Geese were in the harbour. (GM)

Greenshank (above), Sanderlings, Golden Plovers & Brent Geese at East Head (GM)

Saturday, 15th October: A fairly warm, bright and breezy morning in a fresh westerly, though with showers developing later on.........

Selsey Bill: There were lots of auks and Gannets back offshore, along with a few Kittiwakes, but not much was on the move. Full log later. (SH/PB/SR/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (W, F4)

Gannet - 146W

Shag - 8E

Brent Goose - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 19

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 796W

auk sp - 214E, 635W

Skylark - 6W

Swallow - 6W

Pied Wagtail - 10W

Meadow Pipit - 51W

Linnet - 67W

(1300-1530hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 12E, 82W, 57os

Shag - 6W

Common Scoter - 3W

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 6W

Razorbill - 2E, 6W

auk sp - 7E, 7W

Swallow - 2E

Shag at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff was on the pool this morning, along with c30 Black-tailed Godwits, c50 Lapwings, c60 Shovelers and Teal and half a dozen Shelducks. (NR/AH)

Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

The Ruff was still present this afternoon, along with two Greenshanks. (SR/AH)

Ruff, Greenshank and Lapwings (above) & Greenshank and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were two Whimbrels together in the harbour this morning, but otherwise it was just the usual scattering of Dunlin, Grey and Ringed Plovers and regular waders, though a Merlin shot along the spit at speed.

A handful of Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits were along the sheltered hedges, along with a surprising number of Hornets, but the only other small birds seen were a dozen Swallows and similar of Linnets and Meadow Pipits going over the Severals area. (AH/S&saH/PB)

Whimbrel (above), Swallow, Chiffchaff & Hornet at Church Norton (AH)

East Side: It was just the regular mix of wildfowl and waders this morning, with the regular Greenshank, 20 Dunlin, 16 Grey Plovers, 20 Ringed Plovers, 30 Lapwing, 100 Redshank, a Turnstone, 150 Wigeon, 20 Pintail, 40 Teal and 14 Mallards present. (LP/IH)

Greenshank along the East side (LP)

North Wall: A pair of Stonechats and a Jay were around the paddock and a Kingfisher and a Wheatear were along the wall, but it was generally quiet in the windy conditions.
At Halsey’s Farm, four Mute Swans were on the rife and a Kestrel was in a tree, but the only other birds were 30 Rooks in the fields. (LP/IH)

Kingfisher (above) & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)

Friday, 14th October: A very grey and overcast, but mild, morning in a light westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua chasing the gulls was the highlight of another quiet morning. Full log below. (BI/SR/AH)

(0730-0845hrs) (W, F3)

Gannet - 8E, 22W

Brent Goose - 6W

Wigeon - 3E

Common Scoter - 3E

Kestrel - 1

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 1os

auk sp - 13E

Meadow Pipit - 16W

Pied Wagtail - 19W

Linnet - 12W

Brent Geese (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Grey Wagtail was feeding along the edges this morning, whilst t least 30 Black-tailed Godwits and 80 Lapwings were on the pool, along with c50 Shovelers, c60 Teal and eight Shelducks. (AH)

Grey Wagtail (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: A Marsh Harrier flew north over the quay and across the harbour early this afternoon. (PH)

North Wall: The Reed Warbler was still on the Breech Pool, whilst two or three Chiffchaffs were along the wall, along with four Stonechats, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a few Reed Buntings, whilst the Kingfisher was about, again, too.

Also, three Spotted Redshanks and the short-billed Greenshank were in White's Creek, along with plenty of Redshanks and Wigeon. (AH/LP/CRJ)

Reed Warbler (above), Reed Bunting & Greenshank at the North Wall (AH)

East side: A couple of Golden Plovers were among c80 Lapwings and plenty of Dunlin and Grey Plovers, with a Yellow-legged Gull, a Bar-tailed Godwit and an unusually large flock of 58 Turnstones sat together on the mud also present, whilst wildfowl included a single Brent Goose, a Greylag Goose, a drake Gadwall, c40 Pintail and plenty of Wigeon and Teal.

The hedges along the harbour-side just held two or three Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings, plus a Cetti's Warbler. (AH/CRJ)

Greylag Goose (above), Pintail, Gadwall, Pintail and Wigeon and Turnstones along the East side (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was very quiet this evening, though 11 Egyptian Geese flew out from the reservoirs, a couple of Dartford Warblers, six Stonechats and c20 Linnets were along the banks, and a Greenshank, a Greylag Goose, c100 Lapwings and c200 Wigeon and Teal were on the Stilt Pool. (AH)

Dartford Warbler (above), Stonechat, Greenshank & Egyptian Geese at Medmerry (AH)