1st - 3rd June 2023

Saturday, 3rd June: Yet another bright and breezy morning, cool early on and warm later, with the fresh north-easterly persisting

Selsey Bill: It was another busy morning, with a first-winter Little Gull, 139 Common Terns and 83 Common Scoters (including a flock of 70) east, two Arctic Skuas chasing terns and an Avocet that settled on the sea near the bar. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/SR/AH)

(0530-0830hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 24E, 13W, 3os

Common Scoter - 83E, 6W

Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W

Avocet - 1os

Curlew - 3E

Arctic Skua - 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 153E, 82os

Little Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Common Tern - 139E, 30os

Little Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 3E

Swift - 4

Swallow - 4

House Martin - 8

Common Terns (top two SH, lower two AH) & Sandwich Tern (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A Greenshank was at the back this morning, with ten Redshanks, five Avocets, c120 Black-tailed Godwits also on the pool and two Cattle Egrets were on the fields. (AH)

Greenshank and Redshank (above), Cattle Egret, Shelducks & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were a few birds around the Stilt Pools this morning, including three Greenshank, four Redshank, a Grey Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, nine Black-tailed Godwits, 38 Avocets - of which 15 looked like they were sitting on eggs and the pair of Egyptian Geese with five goslings.

There were a few bits along the banks, too, including two Dartford Warblers, three Stonechats, ten Whitethroats, three Reed Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Buntings and half a dozen Yellowhammers, whilst a Cattle Egret and c20 Mediterranean Gulls were on the reserve and four Swifts, c20 Swallows and seven Buzzards went over. (S&SaH/PB/MT)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Grey Plover and Coot (SH), Whitethroat, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Linnet & Oystercatcher (MT) at Medmerry 

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - There were two freshly fledged families of Chiffchaffs along the Trail this morning, with several of the dozen or more Whitethroats seen carrying food, whilst two Lesser Whitethroats, three Blackcaps, three Sedge Warblers and up to five Cetti's Warblers were calling/singing.

Also, a couple of Swifts and c25 Swallows were over the fields at Porthole Farm, with a handful of Linnets and a couple of Skylarks also about, whilst c20 Mediterranean Gulls went over east. (AH/SR)

Whitethroats (above), Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff & Swallow at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 2nd June: A decidedly grey and cool start with the brisk wind more easterly than north-east, before slowly brightening to become sunny later...

Pom King update: Well, would you believe it - this year not one but two new names will appear on the winner's trophy! It was, in all honesty, a very strange spring with remarkably low numbers of many species, including a below-average total of 24 Poms, which all passed through during the brief five-day period of 2nd to 6th May, with no early or late birds this time and no 'second wave' either, as can sometimes occur.

It seems that most of the regulars and more recent title-holders were somewhat caught out and, for a variety of reasons, failed to notch a decent score. My own challenge was my worst ever effort (don't ask!), whilst others never got beyond the mediocre. Last year there were many early-morning birds and some late evening ones which sealed the deal. Early starts, by and large, failed this year, with the majority passing through mid to late afternoon when most observers had left; exasperating, but such are Poms! 

So then, who are the new Pom Kings for 2023....? Firstly, we have, at last, a Pom Queen, so congratulations to Sarah Russell with a total of 18 birds. Well deserved, for Sarah puts in a good number of hours at the Bill. But as luck would have it, Sarah shares her win with another stalwart, who - let's face it - must have been a rank outsider at the start (as with most years!) What odds would you have got on our very own Andy House becoming a title holder, but somehow he lucked in when it mattered and also ended up with a total of 18 - so congratulations to him too. I guess he deserved a bit of fortune to compensate for his beloved Saints being relegated! Sarah Russell and Andy House - joint Pom King & Pom Queen 2023.

An honourable mention also to Runner-up Ian Pitts, who ran them close. Trophies will be presented in due course. (OM)

Sarah Russell and Andy House - Pom Queen and Pom King 2023

Selsey Bill: After a slow day yesterday, a bit more action this morning, including two Little Gulls east, a pale-phase Arctic Skua that chased the terns for a while before heading off east and a Black Tern that lingered offshore for a few minutes, but didn't appear to move off east, whilst there were also an impressive 294 Common Scoters east and 32 Swifts heading north. Full log below. (M.Shaw/SR/BI/AH/IP)

(0530-0900hrs) (E, F4-5)

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 47E, 3W

Common Scoter - 294E

Oystercatcher - 4E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 26E, 4W, 10os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Little Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 13E

Sandwich Tern - 15E, 13os

Common Tern - 27E, 2os

Black Tern - 1os

Swift - 32N

House Martin - 1

(1630-1730hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 6os

Sandwich Tern - 17os

Common Tern - 1os

'Commic' Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 19os

Arctic Skua (above), Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull & Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just five Avocets, a Lapwing, a dozen Redshank and c120 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, along with a pair of Gadwall and 28 Shelducks, whilst two Cattle Egrets were in the fields. (AH)

Avocet (above), Gadwall & Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Drayton Pits: A White-tailed Eagle was over the pit at lunchtime today, and appeared to drop down nearby. (M Perry)

East Head: There were 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Sanderlings and a Grey Plover at Ella Nore today. (SM)

North Wall: There were three Teal on the Breech Pool this morning, along with the pair of Great Crested Grebes, while 20 Swifts and a couple of Swallows were overhead, and three Cuckoos were along the hedgerows, whilst both the male and female Marsh Harriers were briefly airborne.

There was the usual activity in Owl Copse, with the two juvenile Grey Herons still on their nest and a few Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets also about, but there weren’t many small birds about in the windy conditions, with just a couple of Whitethroats seen, and a few Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers heard. (LP/CT/AH)

Cuckoo (above), Whitethroat, Cattle Egret, Teal (LP), Swallow & Marsh Harrier (AHH) at the North Wall

East Side: There were a few waders out in the harbour today, including six Sanderling, three Lapwings, a dozen Grey Plovers, a handful of Dunlin and c40 Ringed Plovers, plus a drake Wigeon, a drake Gadwall and the flock of 18 Mute Swans, whilst at least 20 Little Terns were visible around their island. (LP/CT/AH)

Sanderling (above), Grey Plovers, Ringed Plover, Wigeon (AH), Lapwing & Dunlin, Grey and Ringed Plovers (LP) along the East Side

Thursday, 1st June: Summer starts as spring ended, with another morning with a fresh and blustery north-easterly and clear blue skies......

Selsey Bill: All was quiet this morning after the activity of the last couple of days, with just a few Mediterranean Gull heading east, and otherwise a dozen Gannets and a few Sandwich Terns feeding offshore and ten Sanderlings heading west. Full log below. (AW/SR/AH)

(0530-0825hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Gannet - 14E, 2W, 12os

Grey Heron - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Sanderling - 17E, 10W

Mediterranean Gull - 50E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Common Tern - 1E, 2W

Little Tern - 1os

Swift - 1

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 2

(1645-1745hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 5E, 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 65E, 11os

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 37os

Common Tern - 2os

'Commic' Tern - 37E

Little Tern - 17os

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still three Greenshanks on the pool this morning, along with a dozen Redshanks, four Avocets, a Lapwing, c80 Black-tailed Godwits, three Gadwall and 22 Shelducks. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Lapwing, Redshank & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: It was quiet this morning, with just three Great Crested Grebes and the regular group of Mute Swans along White's Creek, whilst on the Breech Pool there were just the pair of Tufted Ducks, a Cormorant and the usual mix of Mallards and Coots,

The Swallows were still around the stables, two Swifts were overhead and a Cuckoo was calling from a long way back, but it was quiet along the wall, with just the odd Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting, together with a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches. (LP)

Goldfinch (above), Greenfinch & Cormorant at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were still at least 100 Ringed Plovers on the mud this evening, along with a dozen or so Dunlin and half a dozen Sanderlings and Grey Plovers, plus three Curlews, whilst a Cuckoo was calling from Priory Wood and a Cattle Egret was skulking in the horse field. (AH)

Sanderling (above), Sanderling and Ringed Plover & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to the Breach - There wasn't much to report this morning, with the breeze keeping what birds there were low, with just half a dozen scattered Whitethroats, a pair of Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting, c30 Linnets and a dozen Skylarks, plus a lone Swallow seen, with two or three Reed Warblers heard in the rifes.

The breach area was very quiet, too, with half a dozen Redshanks and two Curlews the only waders seen, and otherwise, there were just a large group of loafing sub-adult Herring and Great Blacked Gulls around the tidal areas. (AH)

Meadow Pipit (above), Whitethroat, Linnet & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)