4th - 6th June 2026

Saturday, 6th June: A wild and windy morning, with gale-force winds throughout, initially from the south before veering to the south-west, bringing squalls of rain with it, with the odd glimpse of the sun in-between........

Selsey Bill: Finally, the stormy weather brought some reward for the hardy few, with highlights being a Storm-Petrel seen offshore at 0954hrs and presumably the same bird again, briefly, at 1025hrs, with two Balearic Shearwaters and 16 Manx Shearwaters going west and two Black Terns lingering offshore before heading off east, one of which was, unusually, a first-summer bird. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/MRe/AH/CRJ/J Hodges)

(0600-1030hrs) (S, then SW, F7-8)

Manx shearwater - 16W

Balearic Shearwater - 2W (0605 & 0910hrs)

Fulmar - 1E, 4W

Storm Petrel - 1os (at 0954 & 1025hrs)

Gannet - 8E, 34W, 16os

Common Scoter - 26E

Whimbrel - 44E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W, 2os

Kittiwake - 4E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 76s

Common Tern - 14E, 6os

Little Tern - 4os

Black Tern - 2os, then E

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 3W

Swift - 75

Black Terns (above), Common Tern, Gannet & Swift at the Bill (AH)

The stormy weather failed to add anything this afternoon, with two Arctic Skuas and four Common Scoters west the only things of note. Full log later. (SH/AH)

Common Scoters (above) & Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 17 Avocet chicks of various sizes around the pool again this morning, along with 42 adults, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, the drake Teal and 18 Shelducks. (AH/GM)

Avocets (above) & Teal, Shelducks, Oystercatcher and Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Just about the only things in the harbour were the multitude of birds on the islands and c50 Sandwich Terns, a dozen Common Terns and half a dozen Little Terns on the mud or coming and going. (AH/J Hodge/GM)

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

There were around 20 Little Terns feeding in the harbour on the high tide, late this afternoon, but a Peregrine over the harbour was about it, otherwise. (AH)

Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Friday, 5th June: Another unseasonably cool and grey morning, though the wind had eased back to a brisk breeze........

Selsey Bill: Three Little Gulls and a Fulmar went west and 27 Common Scoters went east this morning. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/IP)

(0600-0830hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3W

Common Scoter - 27E

Oystercatcher - 1E, 2W

Little Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5W, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 149os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 1W

House Martin - 10

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

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 17 Avocet chicks on the pool this morning, including the first two which are now nearly fledged, along with 38 adults, a Little Ringed Plover, six Shelducks and c80 Black-tailed Godwits, split between the pool and the channel opposite.

A look round the Tramway circuit yielded a Lesser Whitethroat, half a dozen Whitethroats, including a couple of newly fledged youngsters, three Reed Warblers, three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and five Cetti's Warblers, plus two Swallows over. (AH/RBe)

Avocet (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were still c40 Ringed Plovers, c20 Dunlin and up to four Sanderlings on the mud this morning, with half a dozen Little and Common Terns among the multitude of Sandwich Terns.

Also, along the west side there were a couple of Yellowhammers, c20 Stock Doves and good numbers of Whitethroats and Skylarks. (RBe/AH/JDa)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There was  a lot of activity along the wall this morning, with Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Long-tailed Tits, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Blackcap, and Greenfinches in the bushes, as well as the singing Lesser Whitethroat by Owl Copse.

Two Cattle Egrets were with the cows in the fields, and at Halsey’s Farm a Lapwing was by the rife and four Skylarks were along the fences, with two Cuckoos also about.

A pair of Shovelers were on the Breech Pool as well as a Great Crested Grebe, and both male and female Marsh Harriers were seen briefly, but it was quiet out in the harbour with just a single Curlew seen. (LP/GHi/CT)

This afternoon, a Common Tern and three Little Terns were in the harbour, with a Kingfisher and ten Cattle Egrets at Halsey's Farm, along with a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs, whilst a Sand Martin, 12 Swallows, seven Swifts and five Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

This evening a Glossy Ibis flew into Owl Copse and there were three Cuckoos around, and there were eight Common Seals in the harbour. (AB)

Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Cattle Egret, Shoveler & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: The family of Red-crested Pochards was still on New Lake this afternoon. (AGB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Six Common Terns were around the rafts, two Cuckoos were on the reserve and just a single Avocet was on the Stilt Pool this morning, whilst the banks were fairly quiet in the breezy conditions, producing just four Sedge Warblers, eight Reed Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, c20 Whitethroats and five Stonechats, plus two Swallows and a Kestrel over. (S&SaH)

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

This afternoon a Little Gull went west and an Arctic Skua was again offshore. Full log below. (SH)

(1600-1700hrs)

Gannet - 5os

Arctic Skua - 1os

Little Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 76os

Common Tern - 4os

Little Tern - 1os

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)