7th - 8th August 2026

Saturday, 8th August: Another very warm and sunny morning after a cool start, with the breeze moderate and from the south-east.......

Selsey Bill: Yet another very slow morning! Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0650-0805hrs) (SE, F3-4)

Gannet - 2E

Turnstone - 15

Mediterranean Gull - 25os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Swift - 1

House Martin - 3

Linnet - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Turnstone & Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Common Sandpipers and a Pied Wagtail were on the shingle islands this morning, but, otherwise there were just an adult and a juvenile Avocet and c20 Black-headed Gulls. 

It was quiet again around the Tramway, with just a handful of Whitethroats and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker noted.(AH)

Common Sandpipers (above) & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two juvenile Willow Warblers were in the hedges early this morning, whilst a Kingfisher was on the Mill Pond and a Coal Tit was in the garden. (M&LL)

North Wall: There was a bit of activity in the bushes behind the sluice this morning, with a Willow Warbler, two Sedge Warblers, six Reed Warblers and four Whitethroats, whilst out in the harbour c50 Swallows were over the water and three Great Crested Grebes, eight Black-tailed Godwits, four Greenshanks, c20 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plovers, a Grey Plover and c120 Redshanks were along White’s Creek.

It was quiet along the wall although two juvenile Shelducks and six Gadwall flew over and two Sparrowhawks were over Owl Copse, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Garden Warbler, two lesser Whitethroats, a Blackcap and multiple Whitethroats were along the hedgerows and five Buzzards were circling high overhead.

A few butterflies were also about with three Clouded Yellows, a Small Heath and a Comma being the highlights. (LP/SP/IP/MJa)

Great Crested Grebe (above) & Clouded Yellow at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A few waders were in the harbour late this afternoon, including a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, ten Whimbrel, two Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plovers. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel & Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

East Head: A Swallowtail butterfly was reported from the  dunes this afternoon. (per AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was quite a lot of activity early on, though it was quieter later, most notably a gathering of c1000 Sand Martins over the reservoirs opposite the poplars, with 200 more over the Stilt Pool, though only 20 Swallows were seen.

Also of note, three Marsh Harriers - possibly a female and two juveniles - were up together, with a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels also about, whilst there were still c40 Common Terns present, too, and the Stilt Pool held three Greenshanks, four Common Sandpipers, two Dunlin, ten Lapwings, eight Redshanks and four Oystercatchers, with a Whimbrel on the reserve.

Along the banks there were nine Yellow Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, two Meadow Pipits, nine Stonechats, a Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Whitethroats, two Dartford Warblers, three Willow Warblers, three Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, four Reed Buntings and nine Yellowhammers. (SH/PB/AH)

Greenshanks (above), Common Sandpiper, Common Tern & Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 7th August: After a cool and faintly autumnal start, another very warm and sunny morning in a light to moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was another quiet morning, though 18 Turnstones were on the beach. Full log below. (AH/IP/P&LH)

(0650-0820hrs) (NW, F3)

Common Scoter - 4W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 18

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 8W

Swift - 2

Green Woodpecker - 1

Sand Martin - 2

House Martin - 16

Pied Wagtail - 3

Goldfinch - 25

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

Ferry Pool: There were just two adult and three juvenile Avocets, a juvenile Oystercatcher and a Lapwing on the pool this morning. (AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Later, a Snipe, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, three Lapwings, four Oystercatchers and c20 Redshanks were in Ferry Channel and five Cattle Egrets were roosting in the harbour, whilst a Kingfisher, a Song Thrush and nine Swallows were around Red Barn Ditch. (P&LH)

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Mill Pond Marsh: There were just two Lapwings and six Moorhens on the flooded field this morning, with a Willow Warbler, a couple of Reed Warblers and half a dozen Whitethroats in the bushes and ten Swallows and a Sparrowhawk over. (AH)

A look around Sidlesham Quay early this morning found a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler in a mixed flock by the stone wall towards Owl Point. (BI)

Sparrowhawk (above), Lapwings & Whitethroat at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: Two Common Sandpipers and a Snipe were in White’s Creek first thing this morning, with a Greenshank further out in the harbour, whilst two Whimbrel were in the channel towards Halsey’s Farm, along with several Curlews, of which three were tagged. 

A Grey Wagtail was in the paddocks, 12 Swallows were around the stables and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Jay were in the surrounding trees, whilst a few Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Linnets were along the bushes and a Kingfisher flew through but it was generally quiet along the wall.

At Owl Copse four Sparrowhawks were high over the trees and the three young Cattle Egrets were still on their nest, whilst at Halsey’s Farm there was just a Lapwing on the mud and 58 Cattle Egrets were split between the harbour and the rife. (JC/LP/SP/MJa/MaJ/EB/JDW/CT/TS/S&SaH et al)

Reed Warbler (above), Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Cattle Egrets (LP) & Wasp Spider (SaH) at the North Wall

East side: A Wheatear was along the East Side this morning and a few Willow Warblers were in the tamarisk, whilst out in the harbour there was a good number of waders including c100 Dunlin, 24 Ringed plovers, four Grey Plovers, four Greenshank, c150 Redshanks, a Whimbrel and a few Curlews, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits. (LP/SP et al)

Wheatear (above), Greenshank & Ringed Plover along the East side (LP)

Church Norton: It was very quiet this morning, with a Ringed Plover, three Whimbrel, half a dozen Curlews and c40 Oystercatchers about it for the harbour, and with just the odd Whitethroat to be found in the bushes, plus two Sparrowhawks and a Jay. (P&LH/AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Sparrowhawk at Church Norton (LH)

This evening a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour and there was also a Wheatear on the beach and a single Sand Martin was among c20 Swallows.

Also, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper were in the harbour, along with a good dozen Whimbrel, similar of Turnstones and c30 Redshanks. (AH/NBd/R Phillips)

Marsh Harrier (above), Sand Martin, Greenshank & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were still c40 Common Terns, including at least five juveniles, around the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Greenshanks, four Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, ten Lapwings and eight Oystercatchers, with another Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and two Snipe on the reserve and four sandwich Terns offshore.

Also, eight Yellow Wagtails and nine Meadow Pipits were along the banks, together with seven Stonechats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Whitethroats, five Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler, five Sedge Warblers and eight Yellowhammers, with c50 Swallows and c200 Sand Martins going over, along with two Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard and a Kestrel. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: There were a few waders along the creek this morning, including a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, two Turnstones, six Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Curlews, c80 Redshanks and c75 Oystercatchers, as well as a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a wallow and a Sand Martin went over. (P&LH)

4th - 6th August 2026

Thursday, 6th August: The breeze shifted to the north-west, but remained fresh, though it was still warm in the mix of sun and white cloud........

Selsey Bill: A large gathering of gulls offshore included at least 500 Mediterranean Gulls and a Grey Wagtail went west, though it remains slow, otherwise. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0700-0815hrs) (NW, F4)

Oystercatcher - 1

Ringed Plover - 2W

Dunlin - 3W

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 500os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 4W

Swift - 2

Green Woodpecker - 1

House Martin - 8

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Willow Warbler - 1

Goldfinch - 20

Mediterranean Gull (above), Sandwich Tern & Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Just an adult and a juvenile Avocet and a Lapwing were on the pool this morning. (AH)

Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the formerly flooded field, which has more or less now completely dried out, this morning, along with just a single Teal, two Mallards and six Moorhens. (AH)

Little Ringed Plovers at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: The first three Redstarts of the autumn were along the bushes at Halsey’s Farm, together with two Lesser Whitethroats, four Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, two Blackcaps, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, whilst a Green Sandpiper flew over and two Kestrels were higher up.

Three Spotted Redshanks were on the Breech Pool early on, and along White’s Creek there were seven Teal, a Kingfisher, a Common Sandpiper, eight Black-tailed Godwits, c70 Redshanks, and eight Lapwings, and there was also a Weasel on the rocks by the sluice.

Cattle Egret numbers are increasing with 68 birds spread around the harbour, in Owl Copse and in the fields but elsewhere it was quiet with just c50 Swallows and Sand Martins over the fields. (LP/TRH/OM/KU/AH et al)

Redstarts (LP top two, AH lower) (above), Spotted Redshank (LP above, OM lower), Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (AH) & Weasel (LP) at the North Wall

East side: There were ten Ringed Plovers, 12 Knot (most in summer-plumage), four Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, two Grey Plovers, 80+ Dunlin, ten Oystercatchers, a Snipe and three Great Crested Grebes, whilst in the reed margins and hedgerows were at least two Reed Warblers (probably a family party) and two Willow Warblers. (OM)

Church Norton: A Sedge Warbler and a couple of Whitethroats were near the hide this morning, with another two or three of the latter, two Willow Warblers, three Reed Warblers and half a dozen Linnets along the West side, plus three Cattle Egrets in the fields..

Also, four Whimbrel and c20 Curlews were in the harbour, along with c50 Oystercatchers, c20 Lapwings and c75 Dunlin, with a dozen Great Crested Grebes together and nine Little Egrets along the central channel. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat & Cattle Egret at Church Norton (AH)

West Wittering: A Spotted Flycatcher was briefly in the garden this afternoon. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A look along the banks this evening produced a Garden Warbler, four Lesser Whitethroats, ten whitethroats, two Willow Warblers, a Yellow Wagtail, four Stonechats and a Yellowhammer, plus c20 Swallows and c30 Sand Martins over.

Also, seven Common Terns, two Dunlin and eight Lapwings were on the reserve, with a Peregrine and a Buzzard about, too. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 5th August: It remains warm, but it was a more typical summer morning of some sun and fast moving cloud in a fresh and blustery south-westerly.....

Just a reminder that the Selsey Bill Spring Sea-watch Summary for 2026, compiled by our official Log-keeper JA, is now available by clicking the link on the above title bar. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua went east this morning and Common Tern and a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets were about, too. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP) 

(0615-0815hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Gannet - 13W

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 2

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 8W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 18W

Common Tern - 1W

Swift - 1

Sand Martin - 1W

House Martin - 2

Gannet (above) & Turnstone at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were actually a few birds on the pool this morning - namely three Little Ringed Plovers and eight Black-tailed Godwits and the regular two adult and three young Avocets. (AH)

Little Ringed Plovers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Osprey was in the channel along the east side early this morning and was seen to catch a fish and fly off with it. (SP/MJa)

Osprey at the North Wall (MJa)

Church Norton: There was literally not a bird in the bushes this morning, whilst in the harbour there were just a couple of Whimbrel, half a dozen Curlews and c50 Oystercatchers, plus c20 Ringed Plovers that flew in from the beach and and another half a dozen with c85 Dunlin that flew around the harbour before retreating to the far side. (AH)

Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

This evening, a Greenshank, a Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were roosting by the concrete blocks at high tide, along with half a dozen Sandwich Terns, c50 Black-headed Gulls and c150 Mediterranean Gulls. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were still c20 Common Tern, including a couple of juveniles, around the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Greenshanks, four Common Sandpipers, two Dunlin, eight Lapwings and six Oystercatchers.

The banks were quiet, though, with just a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, two Dartford Warblers, a Whitethroat, three Stonechats, two Yellow Wagtails, three Meadow Pipits and three Yellowhammers present, plus a Buzzard and c30 swallows over. (SH)

Tuesday, 4th August: A very warm and increasingly muggy morning under fairly heavy cloud cover, almost still first thing before the breeze steadily freshened from the south-west.....

How was the Spring for you this year - good or bad? I know what I think - but do the facts confirm it? The Selsey Bill Spring Sea-watch Summary for 2026 has been compiled by our official Log-keeper JA and is now available by clicking the link on the above title bar. (Eds/OM)

Selsey Bill: It was another morning with just the regular few species. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0700-0800hrs) (SW, F1-2)

Gannet - 1E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 5W, 4os

Swift - 9

Swallow - 10

Sand Martin - 4E

House Martin - 20

Sandwich Terns (above), Mediterranean Gulls, Turnstone & Sand Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Lapwing and two adult and three juvenile Avocets on the pool, whilst two Common Sandpipers were in the channel opposite, along with half a dozen Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Lapwing (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Five Little Ringed Plovers were on the flooded field this morning, along with a Green Sandpiper and four Teal, whilst the nearby bushes held a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, a couple of Sedge Warblers and half a dozen Reed Warblers and Whitethroats, plus a Reed Bunting, with a handful of Swallows, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk and a Whimbrel going over, too. (PB/JBo/AH/JFi/P&LH)

Little Ringed Plovers (above), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler & Sparrowhawk at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: An Osprey went over the wall into the harbour and caught a fish before settling on the Church Norton side, but generally it was very quiet with just four Willow Warblers in the tamarisk by the sluice and a few Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings and Whitethroats along the wall.

Eight Cattle Egrets were still in Owl Copse and at Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was by the outfall, and the Water Rail was again showing well in it usual spot. (EB/LP/KU/MJ/GR/J Kirkman et al)

This evening there were c100 Sand Martins and just a handful of Swallows over the wall, with three Willow warblers in the hedges and a Whimbrel and c30 Cattle Egrets in the harbour. (SH)

Osprey (above), Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Cattle Egrets (EB), Water Rail (above), Kingfisher & Cattle Egret (LP) at the North Wall

East Side: On the falling tide early this morning there was a selection of waders spread across the mud including c50 Dunlin, eight Grey Plovers, eight Knot, six Ringed Plovers, two Greenshank, two Spotted Redshanks, two Turnstones, seven Lapwing, nine Black-tailed Godwits, c20 Curlews and c50 Redshanks.

Also, two juvenile Common Terns were sat out on the bank, with an adult regularly bringing in fish to feed them. (LP)

Common Terns (above), Spotted Redshanks, Knot, Grey Plover, Ringed Plovers & Dunlin on the East side (LP)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report this morning, though two Whimbrel and a pair of Ringed Plovers with two juveniles were in the harbour and a Lesser Whitethroat, three Whitethroats and a few Long-tailed Tits were in the bushes. (P&LH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were five Greenshanks and four Common Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool, along with a few Dunlin and Redshanks, whilst a juvenile Peregrine went over, but the banks were fairly quiet. (PB/JBo)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Wheatear was along the base of the bank this morning, but it was generally very quiet, with a dozen Linnets and a Skylark the only other small birds about, whilst, otherwise, four Cattle Egrets were among the cows and c40 Mediterranean Gulls were near the breach. (AH)

Wheatear at Medmerry (AH)