The first autumn storm looks set to hit here later today, and in anticipation I hoped that there would be birds moving ahead of this. I headed to Selsey first thing, stopping briefly at Siddlesham Ferry pool on-route at 6.45am. There was no wind and still a little fog lingered so I couldn't quite see the back of the pool but
10 Curlew Sandpipers (which is a good number here) were fairly close to the road with a
c20 Dunlin,
7 Black-tailed Godwits and a single
Greenshank flew in. I recall my first ever visit to Pagham in the very early 80's when the Ferry pool was covered in waders and I saw my first ever Curlew Sandpipers here and since then this is the first time I've seen double figures at this site.
I drove to the Bill and as I got out of the car
Meadow Pipits were flying over calling and I noticed a raptor very high and heading out to sea, it was probably a
Marsh Harrier and I say probably as I only got a rear view and staring upwards into a birds ventrical area isn't the best view to clinch ID , annoyingly it didn't turn at all as it disappeared South , but it was Buzzard size and uniformly dark underneath and it wasn't a Buzzard. There were several
Chiffchaffs in the bushes and a
Sedge Warbler and the Meadow Pipits continued to fly over in small groups.
The Meadow Pipit count was well over 100 by the time I left with
1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wheatears on the beach and
Sand Martin, House Martin and
Swallow recording small numbers. A
Kestrel flew in from the sea but the most unusual sighting - a
Great Spotted Woodpecker bounding in across the sea from quite a distance out. Seabird action was quiet apart from
Gannets with
4 Common Scoter, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 1 Guillemot 1 Sandwich Tern and
3 Common Terns, no doubt the big movement will be later this afternoon !.
The Ferry pool held a
Ruff on the way back but the other waders had departed.
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| Curlew Sandpipers 2 of the 10 |
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| 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Dunlin in flight |
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| Dunlin left and Curlew Sandpiper right - with reflections |
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| Wheatear on beach at Selsey |
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| Turnstone on beach |
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