28th - 30th June 2026

Tuesday, 30th June: A distinctly cool and grey start, with the temperature barely half what it was a week ago, and with some drizzly rain in the moderate westerly breeze, though slowly brightening up later.....

Selsey Bill: A feeding flock of 16 Little Terns off Hillfield Road was the best of a quiet morning. Full log below. (AH)

(0645-0800hrs) (W, F4)

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 16os

Swift - 1

House Martin - 6

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

Ferry Pool: The Oystercatcher family, the Shelduck family and c20 adult and c30 young Avocets was it for the pool this morning. (AH)

Oystercatcher family (above) & Avocet family at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There was very little along the path this morning in the grey conditions, with a Yellowhammer, a couple of Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers and half a dozen Linnets present, plus a couple of Skylarks in the fields.

A mother Tufted duck and three ducklings were the only things of note on the pool whilst at the far end of Ferry Channel there were c40 Lapwings, a dozen Redshanks and eight Curlews. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Reed Bunting, Linnet & Tufted Duck family at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: A Green Sandpiper was flying around over the Breech Pool very early this morning, but there wasn't much else of note about. (SH)

Later, an adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, were on the Breech Pool, along with two Avocets and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, plus one flying over, a couple of Little Terns were fishing in the adjacent harbour, a Spotted Redshank was in the channel by Heron Island, with ten Cattle Egrets, four Little Egrets and three Grey Herons roosting on the saltmarsh nearby, the pair of Mute Swans and six cygnets were in White's Creek and increasing numbers of Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews were scattered over the mud

There wasn't much else, though, beyond a singing Reed Bunting, ten Linnets, and the odd Whitethroat, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler along the wall, plus a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Jay in the paddocks. (JC/LP/JDW/CT/EB)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwits, Linnet & Reed Warbler at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: The harbour was still full of young Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls this morning, though seemingly no Mediterranean Gulls yet, with a few feeding Little Terns and a family of Shelducks about, too, whilst waders included two Whimbrel, six Curlews, c20 Redshanks and c40 Black-tailed Godwits, but the hedges were very quiet. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Mediterranean Gulls & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 29th June: A fairly typical English summer morning of sunshine and white cloud in a moderate westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of eight Common Scoters went west and there were a few more Little Terns and Swifts about than usual. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0655-0825hrs) (WNW, F3)

Common Scoter - 8W

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 45os

L:ittle Tern - 14os

Swift - 22

House Martin - 12

Little Terns (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pair of Little Ringed Plovers, still with three chicks, were at the front this morning, with the Oystercatcher family, the Shelduck family and at least 25 young and 20 adult Avocets still present, too, and a Kingfisher flew along the channel opposite. (AH/PA)

Little Ringed Plovers (above), Avocet chick & Shelduck family at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were a number of Little Tern chicks seen that are approaching fledging, and the islands and adjacent mud were full of young Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls  this morning, but a handful of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, curlews and Oystercatchers were the only other things in the harbour.

Also, a Mistle Thrush was along Rectory Lane and a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a few young Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits were around the Mound and car park. (GR/AH)

Later in the day there were pretty good numbers of waders in the high tide roosts, including 55 Grey Plovers, five Lapwings, three Whimbrel, 35 Curlews, nine Bar-tailed Godwits, at least 40 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Redshanks, three Knot, nine Turnstones, three Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper. (PA)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was fairly quite along the wall this morning, though on the Breech Pool there were two Avocets and 21 Black-tailed Godwits, and there was a bit more activity around the Halsey's Farm area, where there were two Kestrels, two Linnets and singles of Lapwing, Little Egret, Cormorant, Avocet and Whitethroat, plus a Yellowhammer carrying food and a very active Sedge Warbler. (GHi)

An early afternoon visit produced three Avocets, ten Black-tailed Godwits, two Cattle Egrets and three Little Egrets on the Breech Pool, with a Common Tern, a Lapwing and a Curlew over, plus two Little Terns fishing in the adjacent harbour.

Also, the pair of Mute Swans and their six cygnets were in White's Creek, where a Cormorant appeared to catch an eel. (JC)

Sedge Warbler (above), Yellowhammer, Whitethroat & Lapwing, Little Egret and Cormorant at the North Wall (GHi)

Sunday, 28th June: A slightly cooler and greyer morning in a moderate to brisk south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, though nine Common Scoters went east and the first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the summer was seen. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0600-0830hrs) (SW, F5)

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Common Scoter - 9E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 9W

Great Black-backed Gull - 14os

Sandwich Tern - 200os

Common Tern - 2os

Little Tern - 4os

Swift - 5

House Martin - 2

Hummingbird Hawk-moth - 1

Common Tern (above), Little Tern & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pair of Oystercatchers still had all three chicks this morning and the Shelducks still had five ducklings, though some of the fledged Avocets and presumably their parents had moved off, though at least 20 youngsters and 15 adults remain. 

Also, a family of Whitethroats were in the adjacent hedges, a Sedge Warbler was in the Small Pool. and two Swallows went over. (AH)

Later, in addition to the above, a look round the Tramway produced a Chiffchaff, a couple of whitethroats, a Reed warbler and a Skylark, plus a two Swallows over and a Common Tern and a Sandwich Tern in the harbour. (P&LH) 

Oystercatcher chick (above), Avocet family & Shelduck family at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were six Little Terns and seven Common Terns among the many Sandwich terns, Black-headed and Mediterranean gulls in the harbour this morning, with waders present  including a Whimbrel, eight Curlews, two Ringed Plovers and 31 Black-tailed Godwits, and there were alsoi three swifts and 18 Swallows over. (P&LH)

North Wall: The Wood Sandpiper was on the Breech Pool early on, before flying off and dropping into the saltmarsh, but c40 Black-tailed Godwits and a handful of Redshanks and Curlews in the harbour and up to five Avocets between the Breech Pool and the rife at Halsey's Farm were the only other waders about.

Also, a Common Tern was on the Breech Pool, a Sandwich Tern went over the wall and two or three Little Terns were feeding in the adjacent areas of the harbour and a Cormorant was wrestling with a sizeable Eel in White's Creek.

There was just the odd Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler along the wall, plus a couple of Swallows over, whilst at Halsey's Farm there were a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees and a Sparrowhawk flew over, and there were lots of butterflies along the hedgerows including Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Painted Ladies as well as a Comma. (LP/MJa/MRi/DHi/GHi/AH et al)

Later, the Avocet count had risen to nine, and five Lapwings were also about, with eight Cattle Egrets, 14 Little Egrets and ten Grey Herons mainly roosting in the harbour. (P&LH)

Common Tern (above), Sandwich Tern, Black-tailed Godwits (AH), Cormorant (GHi), Avocet, Chaffinch & Comma (LP) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Common Sandpiper was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with three Greenshanks, nine Lapwings, five Black-tailed Godwits, four Oystercatchers and four Common Terns, with another eight of the latter around the rafts, the first returning Kingfisher and a Whimbrel on the reserve and a Sandwich Tern offshore.

Small birds were keeping low in the breeze, but there were still a dozen Whitethroats, five Reed Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Pied Wagtail, three Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers noted, plus a Sand Martin, 19 Swallows and 11 Swifts over. (S&SaH)

25th - 27th June 2026

Saturday, 27th June: Another very warm morning, and increasingly muggy, too, in the hazy cloud and just a light westerly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly, a quiet morning, with the highlight being a pod of at least seven Bottle-nosed Dolphins slowly making their way east.. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0640-0810hrs) (W, F2-3)

Gannet - 7W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 80os

Little Tern - 4os

Swift - 6

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 16

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 7E

Little Tern (above), Sandwich Tern, Gannets, House Martin & Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Little Ringed Plover pair and three small chicks resurfaced this morning, and the Shelduck family were still present, too, though the Oystercatchers only appeared to have two chicks, whilst there were still at least 30 young and 20 adult Avocets about, with the last nests seemingly now hatched. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover family (above), Oystercatcher family & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank and a Snipe were along White’s Creek early this morning, and on the Breech Pool, a Wood Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper were at the far end of the channel, and on the main pool there were three Avocets and 12 Black-tailed Godwits, with a Kingfisher, a Common Tern, nine sand Martins and four Swallows also about, with a few more of the latter around the stables.

At Halsey’s Farm 20 Little Egrets, four Cattle Egrets and six Grey Herons were along the rife and a Little Tern and two Kingfishers were about, too, whilst there were still a few Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers in the reeds, and a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch along the bushes. (MJa/Sa&SH/PB/LP)

Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper (above), Swallows, Avocets, Whitethroat and Chaffinch & Little Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were still numerous young Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls about, with parents constantly bringing in food, and half a dozen Little Terns were present, too, but the only waders seen were a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and four Curlews.

A visiting birder reported a Grey Wagtail, but otherwise there were just the odd Linnet and Whitethroat seen. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were five Greenshanks on the stilt Pool this afternoon, along with an Avocet, four Lapwings, five Oystercatchers and three Common Terns, with another ten of the latter around the rafts, and there were a Swift, four Swallows, two Kestrels and two buzzards over the reserve.

Also, a Dartford Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat was along the banks, together with c20 Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, three Reed Warblers, a Stonechat, four Reed Buntings and nine Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Chichester Canal: A look up from the Birdham Road this evening produced a Bullfinch and a few family parties of Little Grebes, Moorhens and Coots, whilst an interesting selection of dragonflies and damselflies included a dozen Norfolk Hawkers, a few Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Azure Damselflies and most interestingly, c30 Small Red-eyed Damselflies. (AB)

Friday, 26th June: A little cooler this morning, with the breeze switching to the south-west and bringing some light cloud with it.......

Selsey Bill: A Great Crested Grebe and eight Common Scoters east were the only things beyond the regular species this morning. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0800hrs) (SW, F4)

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Common Scoter - 8E

Kestrel - 1

Sandwich Tern - 80os

Common Tern - 2os

Swift - 2

House Martin - 15

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

Ferry Pool: It was basically a nursery on the pool this morning, with the only birds present being the Oystercatcher family, the Shelduck family and c30 young and c20 adult Avocets. (AH)

Oystercatchers (above), Avocet & Shelducks and Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were five Teal on the flooded field this morning, along with a mother Tufted Duck and three ducklings, five Gadwall, c40 Mallards and couple of families of Coots and Moorhens. (AH)

Tufted Ducks (above) & Teal at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: There was still a constant flow of Sandwich Terns in and out of the harbour, with one or two Little Terns among them, whilst lots of young Sandwich Terns were on the southern edge of the island and barely fledged Black-headed Gulls were everywhere, but half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Curlews were the only waders about on the near high-tide.

The bushes were quiet beyond the odd snippet of Whitethroat and Blackcap song, and the front just held a couple of Skylarks and a few Linnets. (AH)

Little Tern (above), Sandwich Tern & Black-headed Gull at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were at least 50 young Sandwich Terns sat out on the mud and the perimeter of the island, with double that of young Black-headed Gulls, with a Common Tern and a handful of Little Terns seen, too.

Also, waders on the low tide included a Greenshank, three Ringed Plovers, four Black-tailed Godwits and  half a dozen or so Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Little Tern, Black-headed Gull & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: Six Little Tern chicks could be seen on their island this morning, with plenty of adults coming and going, too, and there were nine Common Seals hauled out in the harbour. (PB/JBo)

North Wall: The two Spotted Redshanks dropped in on White's Creek near high tide, before flying off across the harbour, whilst three Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Breech Pool, along with a Cattle Egret, with one or two more of the latter in the fields, a family of Mute Swans were in the harbour and one or two Mediterranean Gulls went over.. 

There was also a Kingfisher in the rife at Halsey's Farm, and a couple of Sand Martins and Stock Doves were around, and there were also plenty of Marbled Whites, Gatekeepers and Small Skippers on the wing.(PB/JBo/EB et al)

Cattle Egrets (above), Avocets, Mediterranean Gull, Mute Swans, Gatekeeper, Marbled White & Small Skipper at the North Wall (EB)

Thursday, 25th June: Another blisteringly hot, sunny day, though the breeze picked up again from the east to ameliorate the heat slightly....

Selsey Bill: Another quiet morning, with just the usual mix present. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0635-0750hrs) (E, F4)

Gannet - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 60os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 2os

Swift - 13

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 15

Sandwich Tern (above), Little Tern & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover were on the pool this morning, along with the Oystercatcher family, the shelduck family and at least 20 adult and 30 young Avocets. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Shelduck family & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Later in the morning, a Ruddy Shelduck dropped in briefly on the pool before being chased off by one of the Shelduck parents. (A Ha)

Ruddy Shelduck and Shelduck at the Ferry (AHa)

North Wall: Early this morning, the Wood Sandpiper, two Spotted Redshanks, a Snipe, two Redshanks, five Avocets and c30 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a fishing Little Tern were on the Breech Pool, with a Kingfisher, a Kestrel and six Swifts also seen.

Also, along the wall there were a Lesser Whitethroat, two Cetti's Warblers, six Blackcaps and at least ten Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers. (S&SaH)

Later, the Wood Sandpiper was still on the Breech Pool, along with a Redshank, two Lapwings, five Avocets including two fledged juveniles, and 76 Black-tailed Godwits, plus two drake Teal, a pair of Tufted Ducks and a Roe Deer, whilst another ten Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, along with the lone Brent Goose, a pair of Mute Swans with six cygnets, six Curlews, eight Shelducks and a large feeding flock of Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls.

A Common Tern, a couple of Swifts and a few Mediterranean Gulls went over the wall, a Buzzard was sat out at Halsey's Farm, with another drake Teal in the rife there,  and there were a few Grey Herons, Cattle and Little Egrets about, but just the odd singing Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler was about it along the wall, whilst there was also a Chiffchaff at Halsey's Farm and 41 Sand Martins and a few families of Swallows on the wires along Mill Lane. (AH/JC)

Wood Sandpiper and Lapwing (above), Reed Warbler, Cattle Egret, Buzzard & Swallows at the North Wall (AH)

Runcton: South of the village this morning were two pairs of Mute Swans, one pair with three cygnets, the other pair with seven cygnets, a female Mallard with four ducklings, 11 Tufted Duck, a pair of Little Grebes with two young, two Grey Herons, two Buzzards, ten Coots, seven Black-headed Gull and three young, two Swift drinking from the reservoir surface, two Green Woodpeckers, five Swallows over, a Whitethroat and two Goldfinches. (CRJ)