Friday, 25th May: A calm but rather murky morning, with little or no breeze at first, gradually increasing slightly to become variable force 2-3, as the cloud gave way to warm sunshine....
Selsey Bill: Firstly, yesterday's log has been updated, which includes a flock of 5 Black Terns east, late afternoon; with no coverage in the afternoon however, we just wonder how many more were missed!
It was very slow going again today, although a single Pom Skua east at 0810hrs was the highlight. Also of interest was a Reed Warbler, still present for its third day and singing from a dense rose bush in the Broadreeds estate ornamental garden.....it seems an incongruous setting for this species on spring migration for such a length of time, and the bird has never showed itself, but although Marsh Warbler has been considered, there is nothing yet from the song to indicate this is anything but the commoner species! Full log below......
0615-1200hrs: (SH/C&ME/DM/MO-W/OM/JA/MJ)
Fulmar - 1E, 6W
Gannet - 54E, 3W
Common Scoter - 103E
Sanderling - 11W, 2ob
Pomarine Skua - 1E (0810, l/p)
Little Tern - 2os
Commic Tern - 18E (one flock)
Sandwich Tern - 35E
Swift - 12 p (presumably local birds)
Swallow - 8N
House Martin - 10 p (nesting on Broadreeds estate)
Reed Warbler - 1 Broadreeds garden (see above)
1515-1730hrs: SH/JA
Gannet - 12E, 1W
Shag - 1E
Arctic Skua - 1E (l/p)
Little Tern - 8os
Sandwich Tern - 17os
Kittiwake - 6E
Selsey, Northcommon Farm: There were at least 2, (and possibly 3), Spotted Flycatchers at 'flycatcher corner' plus a Cuckoo. (SH)
Ferry Pool: Early this morning there were just 6 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool (although later reports reached totals of c.70); also present were 10 Avocets, two Greenshank, the Shelduck family, 8 Redshank and a Lapwing family. Small waders were absent, with no trace of any Stints or Little Ringed Plovers. (OM)
Church Norton: This afternoon there were 2 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper and 7 Sanderling present on the mudflats near the bench, plus a Spotted Flycatcher near the Mound. (AW) Later on there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper but the two Little Stints were still out on the mud with a group of Dunlin & Ringed Plovers. (BI) Late news of what appears to be a calling Golden Oriole at Church Norton per AW on Twitter, the bird was recorded and not seen.
A recording of the Golden Oriole is here
Chi GPs - Ivy Lake complex: Nothing unusual during a lunch-time visit, with a total of 10 Common Terns around the various pits being the meagre best. The expected resident species were present, including several Pochard and a dozen Great Crested Grebes, plus a couple of pairs of Canada Geese with young, but it was very much routine fare today. (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: The three contentious Barnacle Geese were on the Stilt Pool this morning; these are presumably the same birds seen at Selsey Bill, in the Solent and past Portland earlier in the week and are of unknown origin, the lack of rings not helping to place them. Otherwise, there were the family of Mute Swans, the Canada Geese and the Avocets families present and 15 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to join four Little Ringed Plovers on the islands. In the creek opposite were four Bar-tailed Godwits, two Sanderling, a Little Stint and eight Ringed Plovers whilst along the beach were half a dozen Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits; a Sandwich Tern went west offshore. Generally quiet along the banks apart from a flock of Linnets and some singing Skylarks though there were a pair of Stonechats, a Whitethroat and two Yellowhammers near Marsh Barn. (BI)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to Ham: A Spotted Flycatcher was near the reservoir as was a Greenshank and a surprise Wheatear (RSPB Survey Team) and there were a few Swallows over and around the horse paddocks. Plenty of Linnets in the hedges along with a few Yellowhammers, a Whitethroat & a calling Cuckoo whilst at Ham there were at least three singing Corn Buntings. (BI)
Thursday, 24th May: A cold and grey morning, with heavy cloud cover and a fresh north-easterly breeze.....with rain developing by early afternoon.
Selsey Bill: Three early Black Terns heading east hinted at good things to come, but it didn't materialise, and other than 5 Manx and 300+ Gannets it was a decidedly slow morning.......Full log below:
0600-1130hrs: (PB/MO-W/OM/DM/MJ)
Fulmar - 3E, 2W
Gannet - 327E, 35W
Manx Shearwater - 5E
Common Scoter - 42E, 6W
Sanderling - 15E
Dunlin - 1E
Guillemot - 1os
Razorbill - 3E, 3W
auk sp - 1E
Little Tern - 4E
Black Tern - 3E
Common Tern - 5E
Commic Tern - 14E, 23W then N (one flock)
Arctic Tern - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 34E
Kittiwake - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Swift - 14N, 6p
Swallow - 9N
House Martin - 2N, 6p
1700-1800hrs (JA)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 60E, 2W
Little Tern - 2os
Black Tern - 5E
Common Tern - 25E
Sandwich Tern - 2E
Swallow - 24N
Ferry Pool: There was no sign of either stint this morning early on, though there were still two Greenshank, eight Avocets,and c100 Black-tailed Godwits present. Also there were two Redshanks with young - a two and a one - as well as the Lapwings and three chicks and the family of eight young Shelducks.. (AH)
Selsey Bill: Firstly, yesterday's log has been updated, which includes a flock of 5 Black Terns east, late afternoon; with no coverage in the afternoon however, we just wonder how many more were missed!
It was very slow going again today, although a single Pom Skua east at 0810hrs was the highlight. Also of interest was a Reed Warbler, still present for its third day and singing from a dense rose bush in the Broadreeds estate ornamental garden.....it seems an incongruous setting for this species on spring migration for such a length of time, and the bird has never showed itself, but although Marsh Warbler has been considered, there is nothing yet from the song to indicate this is anything but the commoner species! Full log below......
0615-1200hrs: (SH/C&ME/DM/MO-W/OM/JA/MJ)
Fulmar - 1E, 6W
Gannet - 54E, 3W
Common Scoter - 103E
Sanderling - 11W, 2ob
Pomarine Skua - 1E (0810, l/p)
Little Tern - 2os
Commic Tern - 18E (one flock)
Sandwich Tern - 35E
Swift - 12 p (presumably local birds)
Swallow - 8N
House Martin - 10 p (nesting on Broadreeds estate)
Reed Warbler - 1 Broadreeds garden (see above)
1515-1730hrs: SH/JA
Gannet - 12E, 1W
Shag - 1E
Arctic Skua - 1E (l/p)
Little Tern - 8os
Sandwich Tern - 17os
Kittiwake - 6E
Gannet off the Bill and House Martins collecting mud (DM)
Selsey, Northcommon Farm: There were at least 2, (and possibly 3), Spotted Flycatchers at 'flycatcher corner' plus a Cuckoo. (SH)
Ferry Pool: Early this morning there were just 6 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool (although later reports reached totals of c.70); also present were 10 Avocets, two Greenshank, the Shelduck family, 8 Redshank and a Lapwing family. Small waders were absent, with no trace of any Stints or Little Ringed Plovers. (OM)
Church Norton: This afternoon there were 2 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper and 7 Sanderling present on the mudflats near the bench, plus a Spotted Flycatcher near the Mound. (AW) Later on there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper but the two Little Stints were still out on the mud with a group of Dunlin & Ringed Plovers. (BI) Late news of what appears to be a calling Golden Oriole at Church Norton per AW on Twitter, the bird was recorded and not seen.
A recording of the Golden Oriole is here
Curlew Sandpiper (above) at Church Norton, and (below) record shots of Little Stints and Sanderlings with Ringed Plover (AW)
Chi GPs - Ivy Lake complex: Nothing unusual during a lunch-time visit, with a total of 10 Common Terns around the various pits being the meagre best. The expected resident species were present, including several Pochard and a dozen Great Crested Grebes, plus a couple of pairs of Canada Geese with young, but it was very much routine fare today. (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: The three contentious Barnacle Geese were on the Stilt Pool this morning; these are presumably the same birds seen at Selsey Bill, in the Solent and past Portland earlier in the week and are of unknown origin, the lack of rings not helping to place them. Otherwise, there were the family of Mute Swans, the Canada Geese and the Avocets families present and 15 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to join four Little Ringed Plovers on the islands. In the creek opposite were four Bar-tailed Godwits, two Sanderling, a Little Stint and eight Ringed Plovers whilst along the beach were half a dozen Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits; a Sandwich Tern went west offshore. Generally quiet along the banks apart from a flock of Linnets and some singing Skylarks though there were a pair of Stonechats, a Whitethroat and two Yellowhammers near Marsh Barn. (BI)
Barnacle Geese, Skylark and Yellowhammer with Stonechat at Medmerry (BI)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to Ham: A Spotted Flycatcher was near the reservoir as was a Greenshank and a surprise Wheatear (RSPB Survey Team) and there were a few Swallows over and around the horse paddocks. Plenty of Linnets in the hedges along with a few Yellowhammers, a Whitethroat & a calling Cuckoo whilst at Ham there were at least three singing Corn Buntings. (BI)
Corn Bunting at Ham (BI)
Thursday, 24th May: A cold and grey morning, with heavy cloud cover and a fresh north-easterly breeze.....with rain developing by early afternoon.
Selsey Bill: Three early Black Terns heading east hinted at good things to come, but it didn't materialise, and other than 5 Manx and 300+ Gannets it was a decidedly slow morning.......Full log below:
0600-1130hrs: (PB/MO-W/OM/DM/MJ)
Fulmar - 3E, 2W
Gannet - 327E, 35W
Manx Shearwater - 5E
Common Scoter - 42E, 6W
Sanderling - 15E
Dunlin - 1E
Guillemot - 1os
Razorbill - 3E, 3W
auk sp - 1E
Little Tern - 4E
Black Tern - 3E
Common Tern - 5E
Commic Tern - 14E, 23W then N (one flock)
Arctic Tern - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 34E
Kittiwake - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Swift - 14N, 6p
Swallow - 9N
House Martin - 2N, 6p
1700-1800hrs (JA)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 60E, 2W
Little Tern - 2os
Black Tern - 5E
Common Tern - 25E
Sandwich Tern - 2E
Swallow - 24N
Ferry Pool: There was no sign of either stint this morning early on, though there were still two Greenshank, eight Avocets,and c100 Black-tailed Godwits present. Also there were two Redshanks with young - a two and a one - as well as the Lapwings and three chicks and the family of eight young Shelducks.. (AH)
Greenshank and Redshank (above), Redshank chick and Black-tailed Godwits & Redshank family on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There were at least two Sanderling among 60+ Ringed Plovers, 20+ Dunlin and a lone Curlew on the mud. A couple of Common Terns were over Tern Island and a couple of Blackcaps, Linnets and a Song Thrush were singing around the bushes. The only bird of note in the churchyard was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (AH/AW)
Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (above) & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)
Curlew at Church Norton (AW)
North Wall: A Greenshank was in the flooded field behind the Breech Pool this morning as were the pair of Wigeon and there were the usual Sedge & Reed Warblers along the reeds of the Pool itself. A Cuckoo was calling nearby and another flew by whilst a Common Tern went north over the wall. The harbour was generally quiet with just Mute Swans, Shelducks and Black-headed Gulls on show. (BI)
Greenshank, Cuckoo & Sedge Warbler in its favourite bush at the North Wall (BI)
Church Norton: I enjoyed great views of a Bee-eater in the corner of the churchyard for less than 10 minutes this morning. It was very mobile, repeatedly chasing insects and returning to the dead tree by the gate, before it eventually flew off across the fields adjacent to Rectory Lane towards Norton House. (AW) Amazingly, it was picked up again near the cottages on the lane a couple of minutes later, but it continued off west, never to re-appear. (SH)
Bee-eater at Church Norton (AW)
There wasn't too much else about, though, but a few Swifts went over, there were plenty of Little Terns in the harbour and a big and mobile flock of c50 Ringed Plovers, c20 Dunlin and a lone Sanderling were out on the mud. (AH) Also, a Red Kite went over Rectory Lane. (OM/MJ)
Sanderling (above) & Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)
This evening there was another Little Stint and two Sanderlings among c100 Ringed Plovers and similar of Dunlin out on the mud. (AW)
Little Stint and Dunlin at Church Norton (AW)
Ferry Pool: A Temminck's Stint joined the Little Stint at the back of the pool this morning, and there was also a brief re-appearance by the Wood Sandpiper, with a good selection of other species including two Greenshank, the two Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Avocets, the pair of Lapwings with their three chicks, at least ten Redshanks and c85 Black-tailed Godwits. Also, a Little Tern was feeding in Ferry Channel and the Red Kite, seen earlier at Church Norton, flew over heading north.(AH/OM/BI/SH/PB et al)
The two Stints were still present late afternoon, and there was a Redshank with two chicks on the pool, too. (C&ME/AB)
The two Stints were still present late afternoon, and there was a Redshank with two chicks on the pool, too. (C&ME/AB)
Little and Temminck's Stints (above), Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwits and Avocet, Lapwing chicks and Red Kite at the Ferry (AH)
Selsey Bill: Not much was moving, though a strange, brightly coloured bird (mostly blue and yellow) flew by, that was most probably a parrot species, and was briefly seen by a couple of observers. Also, a Reed Warbler was singing from the little garden in the Broadreeds estate whilst the usual Gannets and terns were offshore. Full log below....
0630-1200hrs: (C&ME/C&JM/AH/OM/PK)
Fulmar - 2E, 5W
Gannet - 100E, 12W
Common Scoter - 45E
Whimbrel - 4E
Great Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 7os
Common Tern - 7os
Commic Tern - 8E
Sandwich Tern - 22E
Kittiwake - 8E
Guillemot - 2E
Razorbill - 2E
auk sp - 5E
Swift - 8N
Swallow - 27N
Reed Warbler - 1 gardens
(also, brightly coloured unidentified species - 1 briefly NE !)
0630-1200hrs: (C&ME/C&JM/AH/OM/PK)
Fulmar - 2E, 5W
Gannet - 100E, 12W
Common Scoter - 45E
Whimbrel - 4E
Great Skua - 1E
Little Tern - 7os
Common Tern - 7os
Commic Tern - 8E
Sandwich Tern - 22E
Kittiwake - 8E
Guillemot - 2E
Razorbill - 2E
auk sp - 5E
Swift - 8N
Swallow - 27N
Reed Warbler - 1 gardens
(also, brightly coloured unidentified species - 1 briefly NE !)
Little Tern (above) & Linnet at the Bill (AH)
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 13E, 1W
Eider - 1os
Sandwich Tern - 9os
Little Tern - 5os
Common Tern - 3os
North Wall: Not much change along the Wall in a brisk northerly wind. Linnets were collecting horse hair at Welbourne stables, and on the Breech Pool there were two pairs of Tufted Ducks, a Gadwall, two Little Grebes and the pair of Great Crested Grebes that were finally showing signs of nest building after being present for three weeks. Also, a Cuckoo was calling at Owl Copse. (JDW) Later there were also 2+ drake Wigeon lurking around the reed edges of the pool, a Common Sandpiper and a brownish Cuckoo flying over with a singing male nearby (!) (OM)
East Head: What was presumably a late migrant Willow Warbler was singing in Ella Nore Lane this morning. (PH)
Sidlesham: Church Farm Lane - The Grey Partridges made a brief appearance this morning in the crop marks of the wheat field to the right of the tilled field before disappearing into the growth and not re-emerging. Apart from those, there was a Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellowhammer along the hedgerow and the male Stonechat was still present near the field entrance. (BI)
East Head: What was presumably a late migrant Willow Warbler was singing in Ella Nore Lane this morning. (PH)
Sidlesham: Church Farm Lane - The Grey Partridges made a brief appearance this morning in the crop marks of the wheat field to the right of the tilled field before disappearing into the growth and not re-emerging. Apart from those, there was a Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellowhammer along the hedgerow and the male Stonechat was still present near the field entrance. (BI)
