4th June 2026

Thursday, 4th June: Another very windy day, with the gale force south-westerly pushing through fast-moving belts of drizzly rain, though with the odd sunny spell in-between.....

Selsey Bill: The stormy conditions failed to produce anything beyond the usual this morning. Full log below. (AH)

(0630-0800hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Gannet - 8W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Sandwich Tern - c200os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 2os

swift - 3

House Martin - 12

Common Tern (above), Sandwich Terns & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 17 Avocet chicks and 42 adults on the pool this morning, along with the drake Teal, seven Shelducks and c50 Black-tailed Godwits, with another c60 of the latter in the channel opposite, where there was also, unusually, a Little Tern feeding. (AH)

Avocets (above), Little Tern & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were c50 Ringed Plovers, c20 Dunlin and a couple of Sanderlings on the mud this morning, but a couple of Curlews and Oystercatchers was it otherwise, though there were still lots of Sandwich Terns and the odd Common and Little Terns coming and going. (AH)

Later, a Roseate Tern was reported from Tern Island. (per Birdguides)

Little Tern (above), Sanderling & Ringed Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall The Barn Owl was again at Halsey's Farm, early this morning (CD Stockwell)

Barn Owl at the North Wall (C Stockwell)

It was predictably very quiet along the wall later this morning in the strong winds, although the male Marsh Harrier was about, two Swifts were behind the Breech Pool and a Kingfisher was along the rife at Halsey’s Farm where there were also two Black-tailed Godwits and a Lapwing. (LP)

Marsh Harrier (above), Kingfisher & Black-tailed Godwits at the North Wal (LP)

1st - 3rd June 2026

Wednesday, 3rd June: A cool and very grey morning, with spells of drizzly rain blown through by the stiff south-westerly breeze,  approaching gale-force later.....

Selsey Bill: Two Fulmars went west and another, plus 15 Common Scoters went east and an Arctic Skua was lingering offshore this morning, around the vast feeding flock. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0600-0900hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Great crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 2E, 25W

Common Scoter - 15E

Kestrel - 1

Curlew - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 5W, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 204os

Common Tern - 6os

Little Tern - 2os

House Martin - 15

This afternoon, three Manx shearwaters and another Fulmar went west. Full log below. (SH/PB)

(1345-1615hrs) (SW, F8)

Manx Shearwater - 3W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 8W

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - c300os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 1os

Fulmars (above), Gannet & Kestrel at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still c15 Avocet chicks and 42 adults on the pool this morning, along with a Little Ringed Plover, two Shelducks, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Teal and six Shelducks. (AH)

Later, two Common Terns were flying around over the pool, though they didn't settle, and there were also 30 Swifts towards the Water Treatment Works. (PB)

Avocets (above), Avocet and Shelduck, Little Ringed Plover & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Barn Owl was showing well at Halsey's Farm early this morning. (MJa)

Barn Owl at the North Wall (MJa)

Church Norton: A flock of 38 Ringed Plovers and two Dunlin were on the mud off the benches this morning, with a Whimbrel and half a dozen Curlews and Oystercatchers also present, whilst there was a continuous stream of Sandwich Terns heading off or returning with fish, but beyond a couple of Little Terns, that was about it. (AH)

Ringed Plovers (above), Whimbrel & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

There wasn't much new this evening, though half a dozen Little Terns were feeding in the harbour and vast numbers of Sandwich Terns were still coming and going. (AH)

Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards and their now well-grown family, plus the extra male, were all on New Lake again early this afternoon, along with a female Pochard and three ducklings and another three males and a pair of Gadwall, with c20 Swifts and Swallows, ten Sand Martins and five House Martins feeding overhead. (AH)

Red-crested Pochards (above) & Sand Martin at Chichester GPs (AH)

Tuesday, 2nd June: After heavy overnight rain, continuing past dawn, a mostly grey and muggy morning, though with the odd sunny spell, in a fresh westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Great Northern Divers west was a surprise this morning, and there were also an Arctic Skua, a Kittiwake and six Common Scoters going east. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0630-0830hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2W

Gannet - 9W

Common Scoter - 6E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 12os

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 200os

Common Tern - 8os

Little Tern - 6os

Swift - 3

House Martin - 12

Great Northern Diver (above), Little Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 15 Avocet chicks about, though only 28 adults, along with a Greenshank that flew in from the channel opposite, a Little Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, c80 Black-tailed Godwits, a Teal, eight Shelducks and c20 Mallards. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Avocet chick & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were again vast numbers of  Sandwich Terns coming and going this morning, along with the odd Common and Little Terns, with waders restricted to two Whimbrel, five Curlews and Oystercatchers and a dozen or so distant Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.

A Whitethroat and a Blackcap were it for the hedges, though three Swallows were along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Whimbrel & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was just the regular species seen along the wall this morning, with a Cuckoo calling from the trees, the male Marsh Harrier up high and the usual mix of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers and Whitethroats along the bushes, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and two Linnets.
The Swallows were busy around the stables and two Swifts were overhead, also the first Pyramidal Orchid of the year was starting to bloom in their usual patch along the lower path. (LP/IH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Swallow, Cattle Egret & Pyramidal Orchid at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards and four ducklings re-surfaced on New Lake today, having been hiding for the last fortnight. (IH)

Monday, 1st June: A mostly bright, but blustery morning, cool early on but warming up later, with the breeze freshening steadily from the south-west.....

Selsey Bill: There were at least 250 Sandwich Terns feeding offshore, but the only things moving were a flock of 15 Common Scoters east and six Gannets west. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0705-0805hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Gannet - 6W

Common Scoter - 15E

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 250os

Common Tern - 10os

Little Tern - 4os

House Martin - 20

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 15 Avocet chicks and 42 adults on the pool this morning, along with a Little Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, c125 Black-tailed Godwits and six Shelducks. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Sandwich Tern conveyor belt was in full swing this morning, with a constant flow of birds heading off west and returning with fish, with more sat on the mud, along with a dozen Little Terns and half a dozen Common Terns.

Waders were few, though, with just a Whimbrel, two Curlews and half a dozen Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers seen, and the hedges were quiet beyond a couple of Whitethroats and Linnets, plus a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Sandwich, Common and Little Terns & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)