Equinox migrations

The birds were still on the move today off Selsey Bill with highlights including over 1000 Brents, 7 Little Gulls, 19 Sandwich Terns, nearly 400 Common Scoters and a single Avocet on the move. The Eider was still around too. My counts HERE and the full log HERE.

After the seawatch I had a look round Church Norton, the Severals and Pagham Spit. No sought after migrants, 58 species of over 800 individuals in nearly three hours HERE. Highlights included the Whimbrel, 3 Marsh Harrier and there were still 60 Brents in the harbour. The clear conditions continue and there appears to be some heavy frontal conditions over Iberia which might explain why there aren't too many passerine summer migrants despite the warming south easterly winds (and the lengthening day light hours- it's the equinox today). However despite my lack of luck there, other birders faired better with a Wheatear and Black Redstart on the North Wall and an LRP on Ferry which were new in today. There is some cloud and rain in the mix over the next few days so there might be more in the way of grounded migrants.

The moth trap was pretty productive last night. New for years (and garden ticks as this is our first spring) included Tawny Pinion, Twin-spotted Quaker and March moth and there was also a hint of migration with 2 Rusty-dot Pearls and an Angle Shades. 

Butterflies on the wing today included Brimstone, Peacock and Red Admiral.  

Brents skimming low over the sea and almost hugging the beach. With 9000 at Dungeness, 5000 at Beachy Head, 1000 here at Selsey, 500 in Hampshire and 11 at Portland yesterday (and low numbers off Cap Gris Nez in France) it seems reasonable to infer that birds were crossing the Channel in a lens circumnavigating around the Cherbourg headland and then drifting in the south east wind to mid Channel with most bird compensating well and passing off Dungeness with increasingly lower numbers being displaced further west and then moving along the south coast. Presumably our birds follow the Isle of Wight coastline towards the Bill and then move east closely following the coastline with presumably others actually coming up the Solent. 

Avocet- nice to get one of these on a seawatch on the move 

Little Gulls- the first Spring migrants off the Bill following a couple of storm blown winter birds

Presumably some of the late shift Pintails with most moving a couple of weeks ago. Also a few Shovelers still moving today too. 

Linnet- the Spring like feel got the birds singing 

Seems to have been a bit of an influx of Shelduck in Pagham Harbour with a group seemingly taking up territory around the broken concrete 

Red Chestnut- a couple of these in the trap last night 

Tawny Pinion- 210324 update- I give up with these. The CMR says it a Pale Pinion despite these going ons in the past HERE . I thought the dark thorax was the clincher? 

Rusty-dot Pearl- the first of the year