19th - 21st June 2021

Monday, 21st June: A fairly dire morning for Mid-summer's Day, with persistent drizzly rain and a fresh and cool north-easterly breeze........

The Spring 2021 Sea-watching Summary: The annual summary has again been compiled by our esteemed log-keeper JA and can now be viewed by clicking the link on the title page. Not the best year we've ever had, but certainly an interesting read..... (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Five Curlews going west may well have been on the move, but otherwise it was the regular species. Full log below. (AH/SR)

(0640-0810hrs) (NE, F5-6)

Gannet - 34E, 6W

Common Scoter - 10W

Curlew - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 5os

Swift - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There was a slight suggestion of return migration this morning, including a pair of Teal and six Shovelers on the pool and four Curlews over, heading west.

Otherwise, it was business as usual, with six Redshank, 16 Avocets, c25 Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits, eight Gadwall and 15 Shelducks around the pool. (AH)

Later on, the Tawny Owlets were seen back in their box - presumably sheltering from the dismal weather. (SR)

Shovelers (above), Avocets and Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwits & Teal, Shovelers, Shelduck and Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

North Selsey: Up to a hundred Swifts gathered briefly over the north of the village this evening. (SH)

North Wall and Honer Reservoir: On the Breech Pool were 10 Tufted Ducks, two male Shovelers, the Great Crested Grebe pair with three young and a Little Grebe, whilst overhead were at least eight Swifts, two Common Terns and a lone Sand Martin.

Also, the female Marh Harrier was sat out at the back of the Breech Pool, aat least 15 Little Egrets were in the harbour, the Mute Swans at Owl Water still have four cygnets and a Roe Deer with a frisky fawn was in Honer 3.

Cuckoos calling at Honer and along Rookery Lane, whilst along the concrete road south of Marsh Farm were feeding parties of Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and Goldfinch, but Honer Reservoir held just a pair of Tufted Ducks and two Coots, with at least 15 Swifts feeding there, too, whilst Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers heard along Pagham Rife and Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard in Owl Copse. (JDW)

Roe Deer and fawn at the North Wall (JDW)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - A Skylark was the only bird seen at the windmill end, whilst at the breach end, two families of Meadow Pipits, two families of Linnets, a Reed Bunting, a couple of Skylarks and a Stonechat were around the banks and rocks.

The only waders seen in the tidal areas were five Grey Plovers and a Knot, whist two or three Little and Sandwich Terns were feeding along the shore and into the breach area. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Linnets, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Grey Plovers & Sandwich Tern at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 20th June: A day of two halves, with a drizzly and grey morning turning into a bright and sunny afternoon as the breeze shifted from north-east to south-east........

Selsey Bill: There was  a full set of the regular species, but little else this morning, though two small flocks of Common Terns went east. Full log below. (PB/IP/AH)

(0630-0810hrs) (NE, F2-3)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 9E, 1W

Common Scoter - 12W

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Common Tern - 11E

Little Tern - 5os

Swift - 2

House Martin - 6

Pied Wagtail - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much beyond the regulars here, either, though the two Tawny Owlets were again near the Visitor Centre, with the pool just holding 12 Avocets, 25 Lapwing, eight Redshank, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Shelducks and the Tramway circuit just producing the odd Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. (PB/AH)

Tawny Owlets (PB) (above), Whitethroat & Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits (AH) around the Ferry

This afternoon the owlets were still showing well and three (and possibly four) Grass Snakes were in the pond in the Discovery Area, whilst a pair of Bullfinches flew out of the bushes there. (AB/S&SaH/AH))

Grass Snake (SH above), Tawny Owlets, Marsh Frog & Black-tailed Skimmer (AH) around the Ferry

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out hunting at Halsey's Farm this morning, whilst seven Cattle Egrets were in Owl Copse and the Marsh Harriers were again seen passing food. (S&SaH)

Honer Reservoir: Three Green Sandpipers flew out of the field south of the reservoir this morning and dropped into he next field west.

There were also two Cuckoos calling in the vicinity. (RB)

Church Norton: Two Roseate Terns were sat out on the mud early this morning and were later seen flying around the harbour, whilst the breeding terns continue to bring in a constant supply of fish and waders included a Grey Plover, a pair of Redshank, a Curlew and nine Turnstones.

Among the regular warblers in the Severals were two male Reed Buntings, with a female of the latter seen carrying food in the wheat field at Greenlease Farm, where there was also a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, whilst another was between the Severals and two Green Woodpeckers were along the beach.

Also, the Sparrowhawk was still on her nest and there were nine Tufted Ducklings on the second Several . (IPB/IP/S&SaH)

Also, a Little Gull was reported as present in the harbour. (per Birdguides)

Sparrowhawk at Church Norton (SH above & IP)

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Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Barn Owl was out hunting mid-morning, whilst a Cuckoo, a Stonechat and an assortment of Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Skylarks were along the banks and a Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool. (A&YF/RJS)

Runcton Two summer-plumaged adult Cattle Egrets were amongst the Hereford cattle this afternoon, before flying off north, and there were also three Common Buzzards overhead and a Banded Demoiselle was on the rife, (CRJ)

Birdham Pool: The family of Mute Swans on the pool still have an impressive eight cygnets. (MR)

Mute Swans on Birdham Pool (AH)

Chi GPs - Ivy Lake complex: A family of two adult and six juvenile Egyptian Geese were by Peckhams Farmhouse, with four Greylag Geese and c120 Canada Geese nearby, but there were only half a dozen Pochard about, with only one pair looking like they had a nest.

A handful of Common Terns, Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the water, whilst

Blackcaps, Reed Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler were either seen or heard. (AH)

Egyptian Geese (above), Common Tern, Blackcap, Pochard & Greylag Geese at Ivy Lake (AH)

Drayton House pits & Drayton lake: Chi GPs – Drayton House pit and Lake: I paid a visit today mainly to check up on the current wildfowl breeding situation. There was no sign of any breeding Pochards as yet, although a number of birds were on the North & South pits, but most – a total of 26 – were on the Lake this time.

Coots now have plenty of young and I counted at least 24 broods around the pits. Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes have been successful on North and one on South but overall it was still rather quiet for wildfowl broods, though there is time yet. A single Egyptian Goose was staying rather low-key and keeping to the edges of the pits, so perhaps something is going on there – or perhaps not.

Meanwhile, I got a brief view of the female Marsh Harrier early on but there was else to report bar singing Reed Warblers and their families and half a dozen Swifts. (OM)

Great Crested Grebe with young on South pit (OM)

Saturday, 19th June: A very grey and cool morning, though dry despite the heavy cloud-cover, in a light north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Little Terns were feeding along the beach again, but it was just the regular species his morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/MO-W)

(0650-0800hrs) (NNE, F3)
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 5E, 1W
Common Scoter - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 59os
Little Tern - 9os
Swallow 1
House Martin - 4
Common Seal - W

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

Ferry Pool: A Cattle Egret flew out from the field first thing and the Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover were on the pool early on, but not later, whilst otherwise there were a Greenshank, 12 Lapwings, ten Redshank, 14 Avocets and c20 Shelducks present.

Also, one Tawny Owlet was still showing well in the car-park, whilst two Cuckoos were at the start of the Long Pool, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were in the Discovery Area and a Stonechat and a couple Skylarks were in the field. (AH/HR/S&SaH et al)

Tawny Owlet (SH, top), Cuckoo, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank & Little Ringed Plover and Shelduck (AH) around the Ferry

Long Pool: Two Cuckoos were around early on, but most of the Reed and Sedge Warblers were keeping very low, with just the odd Whitethroat and Linnet seen. (AH)

Cuckoo (above) & Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A newly fledged Chiffchaff was present this morning and a Kestrel was seen carrying prey into one of the barns, whist thee were also four Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Sparrowhawk about, too. (IP/S&SaH)

North Wall: The female Marsh Harrier was out hunting today. (MO-W)

Church Norton: There were still lots of Sandwich Terns and a few Little Terns bringing in fish this morning, as were a handful of Common Terns, but waders were restricted to a Ringed Plover and three Curlews.

A Cuckoo flying along the edge of the harbour, a calling Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Linnets, a Green Woodpecker and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers comprised most of the landside activity, though a nesting Sparrowhawk was found near where the one was successful last year and their were six Tufted Duck-lings on the second Several. (AH/IP/P&JW/S&SaH )

Cuckoo (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Green Sandpiper was in one of the pools along the path this morning, whilst a Common Tern and an Avocet were in the tidal area by the poplars.

The banks held a Cuckoo, three Stonechats, 20+ Whitethroats and 10+ Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, whilst a Sand Martin, 10+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows, 50+ Swifts and a Buzzard went over.

The Stilt Pool was very full after the rain, but still held a Little Ringed Plover with two chicks, six Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Curlews and the lone Brent Goose. (S&SaH)

Hunston Church to Brimfast, via the Golf Course: A pair of Swallows were around Church Farm House and a Coot family were on the pool, whilst six Yellowhammers were singing alongside numerous Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs and Skylarks.

A Green Woodpecker was on the golf course and four Reed Warblers were singing in the ditches, whilst also noted were nine Swifts, two Buzzards, a Sedge Warbler, two Mistle Thrushes, a Cetti's Warbler, a Blackcap and a family of Long-tailed Tits.

Inexplicably the banks of Hunston Reservoir that previously appeared to be intentionally sown with a wild flower mix of seed, had been mown. Last seen it was buzzing with insects and looked glorious. (SR)