19th - 21st October 2014

Tuesday, 21st October: Gales and rain overnight as ex-hurricane Gonzalo reached UK shores. Dull and cloudy though still comparatively mild, with very strong W/SW winds predicted to turn NW later, and even some brightness once the storm passes through.  

Selsey Bill (0740-1040hrs): Rain at first with wind WSW 7, falling later to bright and sunny W5 (Obs: CRJ/DF/BFF/DM/AH/C&ME). Hurricane Gonzalo failed to blow anything very different past the Bill this morning - highlights being just a juvenile Arctic Skua, a few Brent Geese west and an Eider on the sea! Full log below....
Gannet - 1E, 1W
G C Grebe - 1W
Brent Goose - 28W
Common Scoter - 1W
Eider - 2 os
Arctic Skua - 1W
Med Gull 5w/present
Meadow Pipit - 15W
Pied Wagtail - 12W
Linnet - 10W

Selsey area: Warner Lane paddocks:  Not surprisingly there were few birds about although 4 Stonechats seemed oblivious of the windy conditions. A Sparrowhawk swept through very low, and a Kestrel took shelter against the hedge.  Two Pied Wagtails flew over, and the usual chattering flock of Goldfinches were about.  Further along the path at Drift Lane Marsh a single Snipe was visible (SR).
 
Ferry Pool: Unsurprisingly, not much here either - a couple of Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Avocet, 40 Lapwing and the usual wildfowl being the total. (AH)

Church Norton: Just about the only site on the peninsula to offer any shelter, but birds were few and far between on the high tide in the harbour. The Spoonbill was still showing, though, as was the Whimbrel, and there were a couple of hundred Brent Geese present with two or three small flocks appearing from the east and dropping in.
The sheltered hedges along the harbour edge provided all the passerine activity, with a big roaming mixed flock containing at least 10 Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and maybe 20 Long-tailed Tits amongst the Blue and Great Tits. (AH/BFF/DFM et al)

 (above) Little Egret, Whimbrel and Spoonbill (DM), and (below) Brent Geese, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 20th October: Another unseasonably mild, if breezy day....dry but cloudy with a little sunshine and a fresh W/SW 4.

 

Selsey Bill (0750-1020hrs): (Obs: OM/SR/AH) Still fairly quiet - a Shag, a few Gannets, Common Scoter and Eider moving offshore and a few Woodpigeons, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Swallows overhead, plus an unusually big flock of Magpies over the houses. There was just enough early on to suggest there might be a few things departing, but it very soon fizzled out....... (OM).

Gannet - 2E, 15W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Shag - 1W

Brent Goose - 9E, 12W

Eider - 2E, 1W

Common Scoter - 5E

Med Gull - 4 os

Woodpigeon - 140 out S/SW

Swallow - 9W

Pied/alba Wagtail - 19W

Meadow Pipit - 58W

Skylark - 11W

Starling - 25 out S

Linnet - 30W

Goldfinch - 130W

Goldcrest - 2 gardens

Magpie - an unusual gathering (for the Bill at least) of 14 around the houses/Oval field

 

Juvenile D/b Brent Goose on the sea off the Bill; this solitary bird spent some time resting before eventually heading off W (OM).

Part of the unusually large gathering of Magpies at the Bill (AH)

 

Selsey area: Drift Lane Marsh: A Brambling was calling from the sallows late morning, before eventually flying off into the east side of the marsh. A second visit early afternoon failed to re-locate the Brambling, but did produce 8 Snipe, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Clouded Yellow and three Roe deer (OM).
Warner Lane paddocks: 4 Stonechats, 2 Reed Buntings, 8 Meadow Pipits and a Sparrowhawk present. (OM)
Northcommon Farm: Quiet today with just 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests (and no sign of the Y-b W) (OM).

 

Roe Deer at Drift Lane marsh (OM)

 

Medmerry: West Sands to the breach - A Wheatear was on the rocks, and there were still plenty of Meadow Pipits and Linnets about. The only waders on the pools were a Curlew, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 30 roosting Lapwing, though there were a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls amongst the gulls sat on the mud. (AH)

 

Wheatear (above) & Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Gull at Medmerry (AH)

 

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was on the water again early on, though soon departed, and there were also 9 Avocets, a Green Sandpiper and 40 Lapwing present. (AH/OM)

 

Ruddy Shelduck with Common Shelducks on the Ferry Pool early this morning (OM).

 

Church Norton: The regular Whimbrel was in the harbour this morning, as was the Spoonbill, roosting amongst the Cormorants. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were around the churchyard/hide area, along with 5 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs and plenty of Goldcrests. (AH)

 

Whimbrel (above), Spoonbill amongst the Cormorants, Mistle Thrush & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

 

 

 

Sunday, 19th October: A dull and cloudy morning after a fairly wet and windy night, but mainly dry with the promise of a little sunshine later and a brisk W/SW wind. However, conditions look set to get interesting later in the week, with the prospect of a spent hurricane ('Gonzalo') currently racing across the Atlantic towards the UK. 

 

Selsey, Park Farm: A Short-eared Owl drifted over, then back over houses in the north of Selsey (SaH), before reappearing and heading for the Severals area. (IP)

Selsey Bill: (0730-0930hrs) (Obs: SH/PB et al)
Gannet - 25W, 1E
Brent Goose - 8W
Eider - 1W, 1E, 1os
Common Scoter - 16W, 23E, 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 12W

Sparrowhawk - 1p
Kestrel - 1p
Arctic Skua - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 7W
Guillemot - 1W
auk sp - 3W, 1os
Swallow -2E
Meadow Pipit - 25W
Pied Wagtail - 42W
Additional 15.00 - 16.00hrs (Obs: SH)
Gannet  - 3E, 20W
Common Scoter - 2W
Eider - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Arctic Skua - 1 os chasing gulls
Med Gull - 3os
Kittiwake - 1W
Razorbill - 1W
Guillemot - 3W
Linnet - 12W
Meadow Pipit - 2W

Ferry Pool: The Ruddy Shelduck was on the pool again this morning, with 8 Common Shelduck, but the only waders present, as the water level rises, were the 9 Avocets. (AH) Later the Spoonbill was seen in Ferry Channel from the Long Pool bench (CN/DS).

Ruddy Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

 

Church Norton: A big movement of Linnets and Goldfinches this morning - maybe 1000 birds in total, heading south in flocks of 20-50 birds, along with 100+ Pied Wagtails. Also 12 Swallows were seen (including a flock of 11 going out to sea), a Kingfisher flew over the horse's field, 3 Sparrowhawks were in a bush at the back of the first Several, and a Wheatear was at the start of the spit. (IP)

Also seen, later on, were 4 more Wheatears, 4 House Martins and a juvenile Peregrine. (S&SaH)

 

Honer Farm: The flock of 5 Stonechats was still around the Resevoir, in company with 5 Pied Wagtails, and 5 Little Grebes were on the water. A dead juvenile Mute Swan was along Pagham Rife. (JDW)

 

North Wall: Not much activity on the Breach Pool - just a dozen Teal and Mallard present, as the water level is very high. There were about 8 Reed Buntings and a couple of Chiffchaffs along the hedgerows and a handful of Swallows went over. (JDW).

 

Reed Bunting on the North Wall (AH)

 

The tide was reluctant to drop this morning in White's Creek, keeping wader numbers low, but a flock of 11 Greenshank got up briefly and dropped down out of sight further into the harbour and a Common Sandpiper flew down the creek. Also about were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 200 Lapwing, a dozen scattered Grey Plovers and 100+ Wigeon, including a few males back to their pristine winter best. (AH) 

 

Wigeon (above), Grey Plover & Lesser Black-backed Gull in White's Creek (AH)

 

East Head: 40 Golden Plovers roosting on the marsh, 100+ Linnets and 10 Skylarks in the dunes, 6 Stonechats, (four in the dunes, two at Snowhill), also 150 Brent Geese at Snowhill creek with 20 Black-tailed Godwits (BI).

Medmerry: Easton Lane late afternoon -
2 Buzzards
2 kestrels
1 Merlin (female)
1 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Green Sandpiper (S&SaH)

16th - 18th October 2014

Saturday, 18th October: Still very mild for the time of year, with sunshine and cloud, a fresh S/SSW wind and the risk of showers later. Highlights today were sparse but included the Northcommon farm Yellow-browed Warbler (heard not seen), a late Hobby and the Spoonbill at Pagham harbour.

Selsey Bill: (0720-0930hrs) (Obs: SH/SR/AH)
Gannet - 33W, 4E, 10 os

Wigeon - 4W
Common Scoter - 4W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1 present
Arctic Skua  - 1W
Common Gull - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Kittiwake - 4E
Sandwich Tern - 3E
auk sp - 1W
Swallow - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 4 present
Pied Wagtail - 9 present
Linnet - 40 present
Goldfinch - 40E

As a distraction from the fairly slow sea-watching, an Oystercatcher had found a large shellfish for its breakfast, which the local Carrion Crows quickly spotted. He saw off the first assailant, but another joined in, and somehow, by the end of it he was still shooing off one crow, whilst the other and his breakfast had disappeared!

 

Oystercatcher and Carrion Crows at Selsey Bill (AH)

      

 

Selsey, Northcommon Farm: The Yellow-browed Warbler was heard a couple of times along Paddock Lane, but had not been seen by 8am. (IP)

Selsey, East Beach Pond: I spent some time this morning, looking for the Yellow-browed Warbler without any success. There were, however a Grey Wagtail feeding at the edge of the pond, a handful of Chiffchaffs in the bushes, one Wheatear and two Clouded Yellow butterflies in the vicinity. (SR)

Selsey, Warner Lane Horse Paddocks: 4 Stonechats, 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel this afternoon. (SR)

Ferry Pool: There were 2 Green Sandpipers and the Common Sandpiper present this morning, along with 9 Avocets, 30 Lapwings and the usual wildfowl. (AH)

Green Sandpipers on the Ferry (AH)

 

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was roosting in the harbour again this morning, though not much else of note was seen, though a Hobby which flew low over the churchyard from the west before heading away towards the Severals was noteworthy for the time of year. A handful of Swallows went over, there were a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the churchyard, and 3 or 4 Jays were busy gathering nuts from the trees by the gate, as a replacement for acorns which are sadly lacking this autumn. (AH).

 

Spoonbill asleep in the harbour (above) & Jays at Church Norton (AH)

 

 

On the regular walk from Selsey to Church Norton there was a Red-throated Diver east offshore, a Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and 2 Swallows. Also the Green Sandpiper was again at Park Farm, Selsey. (S&SaH)

 

Medmerry: Easton Lane west - Pretty quiet this morning. There were plenty of Linnets about, and smaller numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks alongside them, there were about 200 Teal present, and a couple of Reed Buntings and a single Black-tailed Godwit, but that was about it. (AH)

 

Medmerry: West Sands Viewpoint - I had a pleasant time at the viewpoint overlooking Medmerry this afternoon. Two birds came across as I sat on the bench, a solitary Wheatear (see pic) gave its endorsement to the commemoration stone, then a while later Meadow Pipits sent out a warning as a Kestrel landed on a nearby fence post (pic attached). 

Apart from those close encounters there was very little about, 18 Brent Geese, 37 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, 22 Grey Plover, 50+ Lapwings, 42 Meadow Pipits, c50 Linnets, 12 Pied Wagtails, 1 Buzzard. (SR)

 

Wheatear on the commemoration stone (above) & Kestrel at Medmerry (SR)

 

Friday, 17th October: Another very mild, pleasant day, with a warm wind picking up from the south...meanwhile yesterday's comments on a second Yellow-browed Warbler turned out to be something of a prophecy as lightening strikes twice in Selsey....

Selsey, East Beach Pond: A very elusive Yellow-browed Warbler was briefly present early this morning. I arrived at East beach car park at 0745 to dump my rubbish at the council tip, but as the site doesn't open until 0800, took a walk around the pond. At the north end, where the sycamores and sallows are thickest, I was watching a Chiffchaff calling, when suddenly from nearby there was a strident "schu-eest, schu-eest"..... no ifs, buts or maybes with this one - it was a Yellow-browed without any doubt. Desperately scanning around I just couldn't locate it, then it called again from nearby. I contacted AH and SR, but before they arrived it was heard clearly a couple more times, perhaps more distantly, then glimpsed but not definitively seen, in sallows around the pond. And that was it.... so far it hasn't been located and on further visits I made through the day I found most of the small birds had now gone. Also seen there were a Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, several Goldcrests and a Grey Wagtail, whilst 3 Swallows and 6 Skylarks passed overhead. (OM)

Selsey Bill: Highlights up to 9.30am included 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Common Scoters and 4 Brent Geese west and a few Gannets far offshore. (C&ME/SR)

Selsey area: Warner Lane paddocks / Drift lane marsh: Four Stonechats and about 20 Meadow Pipits around the paddocks, 4 Snipe and a Chiffchaff on the marsh. At the Chainbridge field quieter than of late with just 2 Stonechats and a Cetti's Warbler of note. Coastguards/West St produced nothing except 3 Swallows.(OM).

Northcommon Farm: The Yellow-browed Warbler was still present in the area by five-bar gate in Paddock Lane this morning. (A&YF)

Church Norton: There were still at least 5 Wheatears along the spit this morning, along with a dozen Skylarks, 50+ Linnets, 20+ Meadow Pipits and 6 Goldfinches, with another 50+ of the latter over west, with 5 Swallows.

The churchyard/hide area was very quiet save a few Jays toing and froing, whilst in the harbour there were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, 20+ Grey Plovers, about 50 Dunlin and at least 100 Brent Geese near the harbour mouth. (AH) 

Goldfinches & Wheatear (above) Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Ferry Pool: The only waders present were 9 roosting Avocets, though there were plenty of Wigeon and Teal, and Shoveler numbers had increased to 28 birds. (AH)

Shoveler and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Very quiet along the Wall just a few Goldfinches and Reed Buntings. Three Swallows flew over. No waders at all on the Breach Pool. At Honer Reservoir there were 5 Stonechats feeding in a recently ploughed field. On the Reservoir were 5 Little Grebes, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Coot and 2 Pied Wagtails (JDW).

Stonechat at Honer Reservoir (North Wall) (JDW)
 

Thursday, 16th October: A beautiful, warm autumn morning with a light SW breeze 2-3, increasing a bit later and clouding over quite a bit.

Selsey, Northcommon Farm: The Yellow-browed Warbler was still present in sallows on Paddock Lane this morning, along with 3-4 Chiffchaffs and up to 10 Goldcrests. (C&ME/AH/OM/BFF/DM/PC et al). This little blighter has been almost impossible to photograph over the last few days due to the prevailing light conditions and the active nature of the bird in the foliage, but at last some images have been obtained by a couple of our more determined local photographers..... many thanks chaps. The bird has been generally faithful to the area near the metal five-barred gates near the pines, and it was certainly more vocal today, but at one time it was calling from the far (northern) end of the tree line for a while....... I did just wonder then if two birds might actually be involved, but this was quickly dismissed as wishful thinking. Fair enough... but you never know! (OM).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Selsey - 3 images above by Dorian Mason, the 2 below by Ads Bowley, and hte bottom one by Martin Peacock 

 

Below... three views of some of today's observers.....(OM)

1. Brief glimpses and it's gone again! 

 

2. Frustration and anticipation!

3. There at last...... click! 

 

Selsey Bill 0745-0915hrs): The sea was once again dead, producing just 60 Gannets, 11 Brent Geese and 7 Oystercatchers all moving W and 6 Med Gulls  offshore. A Rock Pipit was on the beach and 5 Chiffchaffs in the gardens, but otherwise it was the usual fare with just a little vis mig noticed..... 40 Goldfinch, 50 Meadow Pipits and 5 Swallows passing through. A Sparrowhawk flashed past and a noisy flock of 50 Jackdaws was very obvious overhead.  (OM/BFF/DM)

 

Part of the Jackdaw flock over the Bill this morning (OM)

 

Ferry Pool: The Common Sandpiper was present, along with 9 Avocet, 5 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 40 Wigeon and 50 Teal. (AH)

 

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

 

North Wall: A lovely sunny morning. In the horse field were 40 Goldfinches and 2 Pied Wagtails, 10 Swallows flew over. Along White's Creek the usual mixture of Redshank, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits; surprisingly there were 4 Avocets on the mud just west of the Creek. Along the Wall were up to 20 Reed Buntings and singles of Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Wheatear. Not a single wader on the Breach Pool, the usual Kingfisher was present and 2 Canada Geese have appeared overnight. (JDW)

Kingfisher (above) & Wheatear along the North Wall (JW)

 

Medmerry: The Curlew Sandpiper was still on the pools, along with 30+ Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, exactly 50 Golden Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 30 Lapwing. A Kingfisher flew through and a Peregrine and 5 Skylarks went over, and there were 20 Pied Wagtails, 50+ Meadow Pipits and 300+ Linnets on the rough ground. (AH/OM/BFF/DM)

Pied Wagtail at Medmerry (AH)

An audition for the remake of Last of the Summer Wine at Medmerry! (Aka Dorian Mason, Bernie Forbes & Owen Mitchell) (AH)

 

Church Norton: Not much to report - the Whimbrel was in the harbour again, 30 Swallows went over, and there were a few Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and a couple of Jays in the churchyard. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (above - AH) and (below- BM)