4th - 6th August 2024

Tuesday, 6th August: After a pleasant start, it became much cooler and very grey in a brisk south-westerly breeze, with a prolonged spell of drizzly rain mid-morning.......

Selsey Bill: It was another very slow morning! Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0705-0805hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Gannet - 3E, 9W

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 4W

House Martin - 3

Pied Wagtail - 2

Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

A Fulmar went west, close inshore at lunchtime today. (AW)

Fulmar at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, eight Avocets - including two colour-ringed juveniles that would appear to have emanated from Snowhill Creek - and 35 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with eight juvenile Shelducks and c30 Teal.

A Whimbrel and a few Redshanks were in the channel opposite, but a look round the Tramway produced just a single Blackcap. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, colour-ringed juvenile Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were still three Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek early on, as well as two Common Sandpipes, eight Whimbrels, a Snipe, six Grey Plovers, 32 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plovers, a Yellow-legged Gull, and lots of Redshanks, Curlews and Lapwings.

The Great White Egret was again on the Breech Pool, along with five Black-tailed Godwits, but apart from a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk over and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker around the paddocks, it was generally very quiet in the mist and drizzle. (LP/CRJ)

This evening there were three female/juvenile type Marsh Harriers on the wing, along with a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard, whilst the Great White Egret and a Kingfisher were on the Breech Pool and 22 Little Egrets were sat out on Owl Copse. (S&SaH)

Great White Egret (above) & Whimbrel at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There was very little to report this morning, with the harbour just holding two or three Whimbrel, a dozen Dunlin, c25 Ringed Plovers and c75 Redshanks, along with three Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull.

There was nothing at all showing in the hedges, but two Swifts and c30 House Martins were over the churchyard. (AH/RAI)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Semi-palmated Sandpiper this evening for a large and expectant crowd, with just a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers in view, along with two three Whimbrel and nine Sandwich Terns. (AW/PB/MRB/MB/DB/AH et al)

Frustratingly for many, the Semi-palmated Sandpiper finally resurfaced well out in the harbour late in the evening. (MB et al)

Also, a Hobby was along the west side. (MRe)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 5th August: A warm and muggy morning under mostly grey skies, in a light to moderate south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A few Gannets and Sandwich Terns were around, but that was about it this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/P&LH) 

(0700-0830hrs) (SW, F4)

Gannet - 6E, 21W

Common Scoter - 2W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 22W

Gannet (above), Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The water level is very high on the pool, with just a Green Sandpiper at the back, six Avocets and 22 Black-tailed Godwits present, with a Snipe and three Common Sandpipers on the concealed road-side pool. (AH)

Snipe (above), Common Sandpipers & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There was a good selection along White’s Creek this morning, although mostly distant, including four Curlew Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Whimbrels, eight Grey Plovers, 200 Dunlin, and the usual mix of Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews. A sub-adult Yellow-legged Gull was also out on the mudflats.

Elsewhere it was quiet, with just the Great Crested Grebe family, four Teal and ten Black-tailed Godwits on the Breech Pool, a few Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings along the bushes and a Kingfisher along the rife at Halsey’s Farm. (OM/BFF/LP/CT/GHi/P&LH et al)

This evening a Yellow Wagtail came into roost in the Breech Pool. (LP)

Common Sandpiper at the North Wall (LP) and Yellow-legged Gull on the mudflats (OM)

East side: Later, the four Curlew Sandpipers were roosting among 232 Dunlin in the harbour and a Spotted Redshank was about, too. (PA)

West Itchenor: An adult Yellow-legged Gull was among c60 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour off Chalkdock. (PH)

Church Norton: There was no sign of the Semi-palmated Sandpiper on the low tide this morning, with just c100 Dunlin and c30 Ringed Plovers, plus at least four Whimbrel and two Sandwich Terns out on the mud, along with c50 Redshanks and a few Curlews and Oystercatchers.

Two Garden Warblers were in the churchyard, along with half a dozen Willow Warblers and a couple of Whitethroats, with at least 50 House Martins feeding overhead and over the adjacent maize field, but everywhere else was very quiet, with no more than a handful of Linnets to be found along the front. (BI/AH et al)

Garden Warbler (above), Garden Warbler and Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, House Martin, Linnet, Whimbrel & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon, the Semi-palmated Sandpiper re-appeared with the dropping tide and was on show for a while, though never very near.

There were plenty of Dunlin and Ringed Plover about with it, along a Common Sandpiper, with two Greenshanks and half a dozen very vocal Whimbrel, several of which flew around looking like they wanted to depart. (AW/KT/IP/BI/PA/MRe/SH/NM/JDa/AH et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper (above), Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Dunlin (KT), Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Greenshank & Whimbrel (AH)  at Church Norton

Sunday, 4th August: A mix of hazy sunshine and cloud this morning, pleasantly mild in the light to moderate north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was another quiet morning, with four Common Terns west the only slight bit of activity. Full log below. (SH/BI/SR/IP)

(0600-0800hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 3E, 1W

Common Scoter - 2E, 27os

Oystercatcher - 7E, 1W

Turnstone - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 9W, 2os

Common Tern - 4W

Swift - 7

House Martin - 16

Ferry Pool: There were just two Common Sandpipers, five Avocets, 22 Black-tailed Godwits and 26 Teal on a very full pool this morning. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The small wader seen yesterday and initially identified as a Little Stint was present again this afternoon, and it looks as though it may well be a Semi-palmated Sandpiper. There is only one previous record of this rare American wader - from Chichester GPs in September 1998.

Otherwise,  there were two Greenshanks, at least eight Whimbrel, c40 Dunlin and c60 Ringed Plovers in the harbour and c20 House Martins and a few swallows over. (AW/CRJ/AH et al) There was no further sign of the Semipalmated Sandpiper at dead low water this evening. (KT/MRe/PA/MB/DB/BI)

probable Semi-palmated Sandpiper at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: The Great White Egret was back on the Breech Pool this morning, along with a Green Sandpiper, four Spotted Redshanks, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a Water Rail, two Gadwall and c20 Teal, with up to three Kingfishers about, too, whilst up to four Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek, along with a Common Sandpiper, six Lapwings, 32 Dunlin, four Grey Plovers, 35 Redshanks and 14 Black-tailed Godwits.

Also, up to a dozen Willow Warblers were along the wall, with similar numbers of Reed and Sedge Warblers about, too, together with a Lesser Whitethroat, two or three Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, five Cetti's Warblers and five Reed Buntings, plus half a dozen Cattle Egrets in the fields and seven Swallows, six Sand Martins, a Snipe and a Sparrowhawk with prey over. (PB/MRB/JC/MRe/BI/AH/LP/DB/CG/ARK/JDW et al)

There wasn't much different this afternoon, though a Coal Tit was again in the pines at Halsey's Farm. (S&SaH)

Curlew Sandpiper (above), Great White Egret and Grey Heron, Black-tailed Godwit, Willow Warbler & Sedge Warbler at the North Wall (AH)

East side: A juvenile Cuckoo and a Yellow Wagtail flew west over the harbour early this morning, whilst a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff and half a dozen Willow Warblers were along the tamarisk hedge.

A fair selection of waders in the harbour included a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Whimbrel,, three Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 26 Grey Plovers, two Curlew Sandpipers, 177 Dunlin and five Turnstones, with an adult and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Common Gull, two Mediterranean Gulls and four Sandwich Terns also present. (MRe/BI/AH et al)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above) & Greenshank along the East side (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - With the wind dropping there were a few more birds along the banks today, including three Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, ten Willow Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, three Stonechats and 11 Yellowhammers,with c50 Swifts, c30 Sand Martins, seven Swallows, two House Martins, two Kestrels and six Buzzards over.

Also, a Green Sandpiper flew out from one of the path-side pools, two Whimbrel and a Cattle Egret were on the reserve and four Common Sandpipers and a Pied Wagtail were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Common Sandpiper at Medmerry (SH)

1st - 3rd August 2024

Saturday, 3rd August: A much cooler morning, though still muggy and briefly drizzly, in the heavily overcast conditions and brisk westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A very slow morning in fairly promising conditions, with just a Whimbrel, four Common Terns and three Sand Martins west of note. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRe/SR/BI/AH)

(0545-0800hrs) (WSW, F5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Common Scoter - 7E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 4W

Whimbrel - 1W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 4W, 1os

Common Tern - 4W

Swift - 1

Sand Martin - 3W

(1030-1130hrs) (SH/PB)

Great crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 1E

Dunlin - 2W

Whimbrel - 1W

Turnstone - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 9W

(1715-1800hrs) (SM)

Gannet - 1os

Common Scoter - 30os

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 6E

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipers on the pool this morning, but eight Avocets, three Lapwings and 28 Black-tailed Godwits were the only other waders present, along with 20 Teal and half a dozen juvenile Shelducks. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Lapwing & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were still two Curlew Sandpipers in White's Creek this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, a summer-plumaged Grey Plover, three Whimbrel, a couple of Dunlin and lots of Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits.

Also, four Spotted Redshanks, four Greenshanks and three Green Sandpipers were on the Breech Pool, a few Cattle and Little Egrets were around Owl Copse and at Halsey's Farm, a Kingfisher flew along the rife and a Coal Tit was in a pine tree, whilst a Sand Martin, two Swallows, the tatty-looking female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel went over.. (IP/PB/S&SaH et al)

Coal Tit at the North Wall (SaH)

Church Norton: A Curlew Sandpiper was in the harbour this morning, along with c25 Dunlin, c40 Ringed Plovers, c60 Redshanks, two or three Whimbrel and a dozen Curlews and Oystercatchers.

There were also at least eight Sandwich Terns and four Mediterranean Gulls about, but the land-side was very quiet, with just a Whitethroat and a couple of Linnets, plus two fly-over Sand Martins, seen. (AH)

Curlew Sandpiper and Redshanks (above), Ringed Plover, Redshank and Dunlin, Sandwich Terns & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon there was a Little Stint out on the mud among the Dunlin. (AW/MRe/SR et al)

The Little Stint was later re-identified from photos as a Semi-palmated Sandpiper - just the second ever on the Peninsula. (Eds)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Dunlin at Church Norton (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was quiet in the windy conditions this afternoon, with just a Whitethroat, a Stonechat and four Yellowhammers along the banks and a Swallow and six Sand Martins over, with six Common Sandpipers and three Gadwall on the Stilt Pool and a Sandwich Tern offshore. (S&SaH)

Friday, 2nd August: The spell of fine weather continues, with another pleasantly sunny morning in a moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Fulmar hurrying east and two Redshanks west were the only birds beyond the usual mix this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/CRJ/BI)

(0700-0845hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 6W

Common Scoter - 4E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Redshank - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 11W

Swift - 8

Swallow - 22E

House Martin - 6

Pied Wagtail - 1

Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the pool this morning, along with eight Avocets, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 juvenile Shelducks and 22 Teal, whilst a single Cattle Egret was on the fields. (AH)

This evening there were two Shovelers on the pool, among 27 Teal, with more waders about than of late, including a Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, eight Avocets, three Lapwings and 35 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (MRe)

Greenshank (above), Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit & cattle Egret at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were four Curlew Sandpipers showing well  at the far end of White's Creek this morning, and there were also a Green Sandpiper and three Spotted Redshanks on the Breech Pool. (BI/PA et al)

This afternoon the four Curlew Sandpipers were still in White's Creek, along with seven Whimbrel and two Common Sandpipers, whilst three Spotted Redshanks and a Green Sandpiper were on the Breech Pool, with ten Cattle Egrets about and three Marsh Harriers - a tatty female and two juveniles - went over, along with 20 Sand Martins. (BFF)

In addition to the above, this evening produced  two Curlew Sandpipers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling with c40 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, c40 Turnstones and three Whimbrel, along with two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and eight Sandwich Terns, plus a Snipe on the Breech pool. (MRe)

Curlew Sandpipers on the east side (BI)

Church Norton: There were very few waders in the harbour this morning, though they did include three Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper, with just four Whimbrel, ten Curlews and Oystercatchers and c25 Redshanks and Turnstones completing the list, whilst there were still two Common Terns and a dozen Sandwich Terns present, mostly along the metal work.

The bushes were extremely quiet, with just a couple of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, plus a Green Woodpecker and a Jersey Tiger moth, by the hide and just a handful of Linnets, plus a handful of Swallows over, along the front. 

Also, two Marsh Harriers were seen dropping onto the saltmarsh near the North Wall and a sparrowhawk went over the hide.(AH/CRJ)

Sanderlings and Redshanks (above), Common Sandpiper, Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker & Jersey Tiger at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon there were a Greenshank, five Whimbrel, a Grey Plover, c40 Dunlin and c75 Ringed Plovers out on the mud, with a handful of Swallows feeding overhead. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 1st August: Another very warm and sunny morning, after a grey and humid start, in just a light and variable breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet this morning, with just a feeding flock of Swifts and House Martins providing any interest. Full log below. (SRAH)

(0655-0755hrs) (ENE, F1)

Gannet - 1E

Common Scoter - 1E

Turnstone - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 1W

Common Tern - 1E

Swift - 40

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 2E

House Martin - 50

Mediterranean Gull (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper, four Lapwings, eight Avocets and 33 Black-tailed Godwits were the only waders present, with a dozen Teal and Shelducks about, too, along with lots of Mallards and Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

East side: A summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was again present, but hard to see among c100 Dunlin out in the harbour, with other waders present including a Sanderling, three Common Sandpipers, eight Greenshanks, four Whimbrel, c40 Grey Plovers, four Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen or so Turnstones and Ringed Plovers and c60 Redshanks.

There was also a Little Tern sitting out, with a couple of Common Terns, a Sandwich Tern, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull also present, whilst a handful of Swallows went over and a Whitethroat was the only thing along the hedges. (AH/JDa/PB/CRJ/ARK)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Grey Plovers along the East side (AH)

North Wall: Early on, a Green Sandpiper and three Spotted Redshanks were on the Breech Pool, but later there was just a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and the Great Crested Grebe family, and there was no sign of the Great White Egret throughout.

Also, a Wheatear was along the wall, and a family of Reed Buntings and a few Reed and Sedge Warbles were around the Breech Pool. (AH/PB/JDa/CRJ/ARK)

Wheatear (above), Sedge Warbler & Reed Bunting along the North Wall (AH)

Sidlesham: There was a gathering of c25 Sand Martins and c25 Swallows - all apparent juveniles - along Cow Lane this afternoon. (AH)

Sand Martins (above) & Swallows in Sidlesham (AH)