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:
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:
A trip to Devon started with a pelagic out of Falmouth in poor weather conditions-another top tip: sit on right side of boat otherwise views are limited. Saw a few things though: Great, Cory's, Balearic, Sooty, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrel Arctic Skua (crew tried to call as Long-tailed but I wouldn't have it!) didn't do much for my popularity but it is what it is.
Some pics by a photographer on board:
https://x.com/old_caley/status/1823227560257372224?s=46
A couple of seawatches in Devon didn't produce much at all other than a few more Manx and a single Great Shearwater off Start Point-preferred Prawle Point though much nicer place.
A seawatch on the Lizard produces the following for me in seven hours:
Wilson's past at 0800hrs, 5000 Manx likely massive undercount. Only counted positive IDs.
Interesting tern at the Bill today appeared to be standard Black Tern but with greyer sides, uniform saddle and grey underwings...but i guess not American?? 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Black Tern: (courtesy PA):
A Semipalmated Sandpiper at Church Norton found by AW was initially called/identified as a Little Stint...so I didn't go and see did I as I didn't need LS for the year... error!
Anyway, after a trio of visits (and a very patient son) eventually good and prolonged scope views were had of the adult (I'm told) bird. Nowhere near as close as the Titchfield bird but a fine Peninsula and Sussex tick for me.
Semipalmated Sandpiper:
Moths this morning included our first Bulrush Wainscott and a Pebble Hook-Tip:
Selsey Bill was very very poor this morning, nothing of note in two or so hours...a look for the Caspian Gull on the east side was also unproductive so gave up and went back to work on the farm.
Highlights of the day were two (European) Hornets in the moth trap plus a Least Carpet & a Ghost Moth.
Least Carpet, Ghost Moth and the Hornet twins!
Having missed the Curlew Sandpipers at the east side of Pagham earlier in the week due to endless work an early start was in order today. A look at the Breech Pool first thing produced three Green Sandpipers & three Spotted Redshanks whilst by the sluice were three Common Sandpipers. So for the main event... a wander down the east side produced no less the three moulting summer plumage Curlew Sandpipers and, in fact, four were seen together after I left.
Curlew Sandpipers & Green Sandpiper at the North Wall:
