Sunday 10 September 2017

10th - 12th September 2017

Tuesday, 12th September: A bright and breezy morning, with a brisk, if mild, westerly and plenty of sunshine ......

Selsey Bill: A Grey Wagtail and c80 Meadow Pipits went west overhead, and offshore, six Common Scoter and a dozen or so Gannets and Sandwich Terns did likewise. (DS/DF)

Northcommon Farm: No sign of the Pied Flycatcher there this morning, though a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Willow/Chiffs were in the hedges. (DS/DF)
Later on there were two Whinchats, two Wheatears, three Spotted Flycatchers, six Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler around the hedges, plus a Buzzard over. (SH)

Ferry Pool: Just three Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Lapwing and c200 Black-headed Gulls were present this morning. (AH)
At about 12.30pm the two White Storks flew in over the Visitor Centre and settled on the cultivated field just south of the Ferry where the tractor was working. (BO'D et al)


White Storks at the Ferry (AH)



Halsey's Farm/North Wall: At least 40 Yellow Wagtails were in with the catlle by Halsey's Farm, and a dozen Chiffchaffs and a couple of Whitethroats were in the hedges.
There were a few more Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, three or four Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings and singles of Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler along the wall, plus a dozen Sand Martins, two Grey Wagtails and c50 Meadow Pipits over.
The Breech Pool only held a few Mallard, but White's Creek and adjacent harbour was quite productive, with seven Spotted Redshank, three Greenshank, a Ruff, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and 40 Grey Plover present, along with the usual numbers of Lapwing, Redshank, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. Also, two Kingfishers were present, 27 Wigeon were in the harbour, and a Sandwich Tern and a Peregrine went over the harbour. (AH/IH et al)


Spotted Redshanks (above), Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Redshank, Grey Plover, Wigeon, Cetti's Warbler & Chiffchaff around the North Wall (AH)








The omens were good as there were Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers in my garden and the churchyard early on, but it was not to be replicated round the harbour. My first 2 Wigeon of the autumn were on White's Creek along with 90 Common Redshank, 60 Black Tailed Godwits and three Little Egrets, with three Common Buzzards circling high above the Breech Pool. 
At Owl Water there were three Little Grebes and two Teal, at Honer Reservoir there were 180 Black-headed Gulls busily bathing, eight Tufted Ducks and a Common Sandpiper. In the nearby hedgerow was a mixed flock containing Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Yellowhammers, Chiff Chaff and Whitethroat. Along the east side of the reservoir were a pair of Stonechats. A Clouded Yellow butterfly at Honer Farm. (JDW)

Stonechat (above), Yellowhammer, Teal & Clouded Yellow around the North Wall (JDW)




Church Norton: There were still two or three Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs along the sheltered hedges, a dozen Wheatears along the beach, two Yellow Wagtails went over, the Swallow family were still around the hide and at least two Peregrines were out and about.
In the harbour there were two Greenshank, two Bar-tailed Godwits and c50 Ringed Plovers. (AH/MJ et al)
Later on, two Curlew Sandpipers - an adult and a juvenile - were out on the mud. (DS/DF et al)


Curlew Sandpiper (above), with Dunlin, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Wheatear, Bar-tailed Godwit, Peregrine & Swallow at Church Norton (AH)











Ivy Lake: A brief look from the road end produced little on the water other than 20 Common Pochards & six Tufted Ducks. (BI)

Medmerry: Medmerry Cliff - There were two Wheatears, two Pied Wagtails and three Chiffchaffs present, and a Yellow Wagtail, two Grey Wagtails and 30+ Meadow Pipits went over west. (S)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham viewpoint - There were three Whinchats, a dozen Wheatears and 20+ Meadow Pipits along the banks, and a female Pochard was with the Tufted Ducks on the ponds. (S&SaH)



Pochard and Tufted Duck at Medmerry (SH)

Monday, 11th September: A very blustery day, with near gale force westerly winds and a bit of sunshine between the fast-moving clouds......

Selsey Bill: Very little on the move this morning!
(0710-0750 & 0800-0935hrs) (AH/SR/A&YF)
Gannet - 8E, 22W
Wigeon - 1W
Common Scoter - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 17W
Pied Wagtail - 1p


Sandwich Tern (above) & Gannet past the Bill (AH)


Northcommon Farm: A Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Chiffchaffs were at 'Flycatcher Corner,' and two Whinchats and a Wheatear were in the paddocks. (SH)

Ferry Pool: Just a lone Black-tailed Godwit and 20 Lapwings were on the pool this morning. (AH)


Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were two Greenshank on the small balancing pond in Manor Lane this evening, a Grey Partridge in the fields and 20+ Sand Martins, House Martimns and Swallows over. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There was a bit of activity along the sheltered hedges this morning, including at least 30 Chiffchaffs, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers, whilst there were at least four Wheatetars on the concrete blocks and another couple dropped in briefly on the mud in the harbour.
Out in the harbour there were two Greenshanks, a Whimbrel and c50 Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, plus the usual Redshanks and Curlews. (AH/AW et al)
This evening there were three Wheatears along the beach, a Gannet and six Sandwich Terns offshore, plus two more in the harbour, and two Peregrines and a Buzzard were about, too. (S&SaH)



Chiffchaffs (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Wheatears, Greenshanks, Ringed Plovers & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)








Sunday, 10th September: A bright, still and crisp start swiftly gave way to a strengthening westerly wind, heavy cloud cover and intermittent drizzly rain......

Selsey Bill: A similar day to yesterday, with a bit of visible migration occurring, and also a Green Sandpiper, a Knot and a Greenshank being seen, though the sea remained quiet. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/AH//SR)
shearwater sp - 1W
Gannet - 9E, 10W
Shag - 4E
Wigeon - 3E
Sparrowhawk -1p
Knot - 1W
Green Sandpiper - 1E
Greenshank - 1W
Arctic skua - 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Sandwich Tern - 7E, 6W, 25os
Yellow Wagtail - 1W
Grey Wagtail - 4W
Pied Wagtail - 5W
Meadow Pipit - 123W, 7N
Swallow - 427W
Sand Martin - 58W
House Martin - 246W
Wheatear - 11p
Chiffchaff - 5p
Willow Warbler - 1p


Greenshank (above), Wheatears & Willow Warbler at the Bill (AH)



At 11.10am an Osprey was seen heading first south, then east at the Bill. (RI)

(1430-1700hrs) (SH/JA)
Gannet - 14E, 11W
Mediterranean Gull - 1W
sandwich Tern - 6E, 8W
Razorbill - 1W
Wheatear - 1p

North Wall: A Bittern was seen to fly in and drop down at the back of the Breech Pool mid-morning, but there was no sign of the two White Storks around Honer Reservoir. (DS/JD/SHo/BI)

Snowhill Creek/East Head: There was a Curlew Sandpiper in the creek first thing this morning along with c.50 Redshanks, a Spotted Redshank, three Greenshanks, a few Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Dunlin. Nearby there was a Kingfisher on the sluice and another flew down Snowhill channel whilst in the fields by the parking were 30 Yellow Wagtails with a similar number of Meadow Pipits. There was little offshore of note but a Peregrine was sat out on one of the low tide sand banks, five Curlew flew in towards the marsh & a Wheatear was along the beach. In the dunes were at least six Whinchats, a flock of Linnets and more Meadow Pipits. (BI/MR/SR)


Kingfisher at Snowhill Creek (MR)
Wheatear (above) & Whinchat at East Head (BI)

Ferry Pool: Just two Avocets, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and eight Teal were on the pool, though a Kingfisher, two Spotted Redshanks, a Whimbrel, eight Dunlin, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Redshank and up to 200 Teal were in the channel opposite and a few Chiffchaffs were again in the sea lavender. (AH/IP)


Teal (above) & Whimbrel around the Ferry (AH)



Later on a Redstart was along the path by the Long Pool and a Curlew Sandpiper was seen in the channel. (RI)

Church Norton: There were still quite a few migrants around, including a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Spotted Flycatchers, plus two or three Blackcaps, Willow/Chiffs and Whitethroats behind the hide, a Stonechat on the way to the beach, a Whinchat between the Severals, at least one Firecrest near the hide and up to ten Wheatears along the beach.
A reasonable selection of waders were about, too, including a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, thee Bar-tailed Godwits, three or four Knot, 50+ Dunlin and 50+ Grey Plover.
There were a few Meadow Pipits, Sand Martins and Swallows going over westwards, half a dozen Sandwich Terns and Gannets offshore, and the Swallow family appears to have fledged, with the youngsters sitting on the roof of the hide. (AH/IP/CN/AB/A&YF/BFF/DM/DIS et al)

Redstart (above), Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Wheatear, Swallows, Grey Plovers & Grey Plovers and Knot at Church Norton (AH)










The Swallow family inside the hide in the rain at Church Norton today (AB)



Park Farm, Selsey: There were three Yellow Wagtails and two Grey Wagtails around the lettuce field and at least ten Chiffchaffs around the hedges this morning. (IP/CN)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey flew over seawards, then back east, this afternoon, and there were also four Whinchats and seven Greenshank present. (BO'D)


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