28th September - Big Catch Up

The last time I wrote anything on the blog was towards the end of July, just before the rain started ... and then it rained . Before we went to the US in the second week of August, my only trips out were to Blackdown, where there was little to report , other than a continued build up of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers and Whitehroats and a single Crossbill. Work was exceptionally busy in the run up to the holiday and we went to the World Athletics Championships on 2 fantastic nights before heading off for 3 great weeks away. I have manged to update a trip report for the US & Canada on a separate page.

Since returning, it was straight back to work and school for the girls, it seems an even busier than normal period little free weekend time, which has been at a premium. I had half a day last Sunday (only because Hannah needed a school drop off at 6.45am), so I started at Selsey, which is the first time since late Spring I had been there. The main theme was visible migration of thousands of hirundines. Probably 60/40 Swallows to House Martins but a count in the 2 hours I was there was well over 2000 and that would not have captured the totals as birds were streaming SE into the wind s far as the eye could see. Also Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in '00s , 6 Yellow Wagtails a Grey Wagtail a few Linnets were the passerine movement, I do love watching visible migration. On the sea it was more limited as far as moving birds but an Arctic Skua a few Sandwich Tern, several Gannet, 30+ Brent Geese a couple of Wigeon 8 Common Scoter, Sanderling, and Turnstone all contributed to an enjoyable time. 

Around 10am I went to Pagham and wandered through the scrub area to the Ferry, a few Blackcaps, Chiffchaff but little else, which was surprising given the time of year . On the Ferry pool, 8 Black-tailed Godwit ,95 Lapwing. and c50 Teal a Common Buzzard flew over Ferry field., without causing too much commotion. In the Ferry Channel opposite the pool, there was a large gathering of Redshank c 200 birds, 3 Spotted Redshank and a handful of Dunlin and the  usual Little Egrets. A Walk up west side of the harbour produced  Linnet, 100+ Swallows, 50+ House Martin, 3 Stonechat, 6 Avocet , one Greenshank with Curlew, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant in the middle of the harbour. At Church Norton, normal fair in small numbers, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover Bar-tailed Godwit , Dunlin,  a single Sandwich Tern and a juvenile Arctic Tern. The bushes and trees at Church Norton were quiet and only a couple of Blackcap were added, but I enjoyed my time out on home turf.

My previous short walk on Blackdown on the 3rd produced 2 Spotted Flycatchers as the highlight, but back at home a flyover Woodlark, Grey Wagtail, up to 12 Meadow Pipits and a late Hobby, indicated more migration. My last Swift was seen on the 9th ,and small numbers of Swallows and House Martins still appearing up to the 23rd, whilst Marsh Tit and Firecrest have been in the trees outside the back door and Tawny Owls have been vocal on still nights.

Common Buzzard

Chiffchaff