Spotted Flycatcher vs Red Admiral

 Highlights at the Bill early morning on Friday were a Snipe, scarce here, flushed from the Oval Field on approach and a showy Sparrowhawk on the wall. Saturday found plenty of hirundines massing here and two Arctic Skuas went west but vizmig was slow. A good look round Golf Links Lane, Flycatcher Corner and Chainbridge didn't turn much up other than masses of Chiffchaffs, two Whinchats and half a dozen Stonechats, a late Swift and a Spotted Flycatcher eating a Red Admiral.

Sparrowhawk; Swallows, Sand Martins & House Martins; Spotted Flycatcher with deceased butterfly!

Quay side

 Another walk along Sidlesham Quay and onto Owl Point and Halsey's Farm at Pagham this morning and unfortunately it remains quiet here, just a Great White Egret, a few Cattle Egrets and singles of Tree Pipit & Yellow Wagtail to report.

There was no repeat of the Sabine's Gull at Selsey Bill with a few Black Terns and two Arctic Skuas being the best of it while I was there. 

Sabine's Gull & Red-backed Shrike

 An immature type Sabine's Gull was at Selsey Bill this morning, found by me for a change, sometimes just sometimes those early morning mooches do pay off!

At Church Norton it was good to catch up with good views of the stunning adult male Red-Backed Shrike.

Sabine's Gull, Red-backed Shrike & Field Mushroom:

O Mill Lane Marsh there were a couple of Greenshanks and another was by crab sluice along Sidlesham Quay. A party of six Blackcaps went along the hedges here and two Spotted Flycatchers were by the footpath sign. Plenty of Field Mushrooms out at Owl Point as well.

Eiders

 A look at East Head on Friday produced six or maybe seven Eider offshore at low water, c.100 Swallows and a handful of Sand & House Martins over plus a few Tree Pipits (exceptional year for these) and Yellow Wagtails. Also around c,.150 Common & Sandwich Terns offshore, c.320 Mediterranean Gulls, two Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, 20 Linnets and a few Whitethroats. On the creek were 25 Black tailed Godwits.

Common & Sandwich Terns, Eider & Wheatear:

Balearic Shearwater & Osprey

Not a great deal to report over the last couple of weeks, a Balearic Shearwater west was the best of the bunch in August at Selsey Bill and a scattering of autumn migrants was also seen on the Peninsula.

Little Egret & Osprey at Selsey Bill, four Green Sandpipers on Mill Lane Marsh

Tree Pipit etc.

Had more luck with Tree Pipits today with five present in Church Norton churchyard, also a Stonechat by the hide, plenty of Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers & Garden Warbler. A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was also noted, in the harbour.

Tree Pipit & Whitethroat:

Pied Flycatcher/Wood Sand

Had no luck today for Tree Pipit which I need for this year's Peninsula list but fortunately SR found a nice Pied Flycatcher at, appropriately enough, Flycatcher corner so that was one year tick.

A look at Mill Lane (not Pond that's next door!) Marsh found MRe's Wood Sandpiper and at least a couple of Green Sandpipers still present.

Pied Flycatcher & Wood Sandpiper: