7th - 9th June 2023

Friday, 9th June: The fresh and blustery north-easterly breeze persists, though milder and a bit cloudier this morning.........

Selsey Bill: A Fulmar going west was the only thing of note this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0635-0735hrs) (NE, F5) 

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 10E, 10W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 14os

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Swift - 2

House Martin - 4

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a pair of Shovelers on the pool this morning, along with the three Teal, ten Avocets, eight Lapwings, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Shelducks. (AH)

Shoveler (above), Lapwing, Avocets & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Marsh Harrier went east over our house early this morning. (AH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - There was still a good selection of warblers along the Trail, including two Blackcaps, two Lesser Whitethroats, a dozen Whitethroats, three Chiffchaff families, three Sedge Warblers, four or five Reed Warblers and at least five Cetti's Warblers, with a few of the resident species, including a Reed Bunting and a Song Thrush were about, too.

Also, a Cattle Egret and a Sparrowhawk went over east, whilst a handful of Swallows, a Skylark, a pair of Stock Doves and two or three more Whitethroats were all that could be found at Porthole Farm. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting & Song Thrush at Medmerry (AH)

Chichester Canal: There were still lots of Reed Warbler song along the canal, whilst one family was seen and other birds were occasionally seen disappearing into the reeds with food. Also, a Cetti's Warbler was heard along with several Chiffchaffs, a Song Thrush and a family of Long-tailed Tits.

The first Little Grebe chick was with its parent but didn't appear to have any siblings and a pair of Mute Swans had a brood of five, and there were also 11 broods of Coot and five of Moorhen, all at different stages of development.

Also, there were at least six Norfolk Hawkers present, along with a good number of Emperor Dragonflies. (SR)

Reed Warbler (above) & Little Grebe chick at Chichester canal (SR)

Thursday, 8th June: Yet another morning with a brisk north-easterly breeze, cool early on and warm later under unbroken blue skies...........

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet this morning! Full log below. (AH)

(0655-0755hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 40os

Sandwich Tern - 15os

House Martin - 12

Sandwich Tern (above) & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Teal - two drakes and a duck, plus the female Shoveler, were on the pool this morning, along with six Avocets, two Redshanks, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and 28 Shelducks. (AH)

Avocet (above), Seal & Shoveler on the Ferry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 32 Avocets on the Stilt Pool, with 14 of the 16 sitting birds on the big island, where there was a sitting Little Ringed Plover, with its mate and a pair of Ringed Plovers also about. 

There were also six Black-tailed Godwits, two Lapwings, two Oystercatchers, the the pair of Egyptian Geese and five goslings, a pair of Gadwall and two families of Canada Geese around the pool, with a Stonechat on the fence and a few Swallows and a Sparrowhawk going over, whilst a Cattle Egret flew out from near Marsh Farm.

Two Dartford Warblers were along the banks near Marsh Barn, but otherwise it was the usual suspects, including up to ten Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, a couple of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, a dozen Skylarks and Stock Doves and c40 Linnets. (AH)

Also, this evening, the male Mash Harrier was out hunting. (S&SaH) 

Little Ringed Plover (above), Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Egyptian Geese, Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Whitethroat & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 7th June: We are three weeks into this prolonged spell of brisk north-easterly winds, though the days continue to warm up in the almost unbroken sunshine.......

Selsey Bill: It felt as though spring migration might finally be over, with nothing moving through and just the regulars offshore. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0650-0750hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Gannet - 16E

Mediterranean Gull - 83os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Common Tern - 2os

House Martin - 8

Also, a look round the adjacent estates found 22 House Martin nests and five Swift nests. (SR)

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A female Shoveler was on the pool this morning, but otherwise it was just five Avocets, two Lapwings, six Redshanks, c75 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Shelducks, with four Cattle Egrets in the fields. (AH)

Shoveler (above), Avocet & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: A Red Kite went over the north of the village, near the Selsey Centre, this afternoon. (NH)

North Wall: The harbour was devoid of birds this morning, beyond a Curlew, two Oystercatchers, a pair of Gadwall and half a dozen Shelducks, though a pair of Gadwall on the Breech Pool had eight young ducklings with them, and the drake Teal was again present, and at least five young Cattle Egrets could be seen in Owl Copse..

There were a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings along the wall, with two Cuckoos calling from further back, but all keeping low, whilst a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were in Owl Copse and a Cetti's Warbler was in the hedge by Honer Farm, with up to three pairs of Swallows and a Small Heath butterfly in the vicinity there, too. (AH)

This evening the female Marsh Harrier was out, ten Cattle Egrets were around Owl Copse and two Blackcaps and four Chiffchaffs were seen/heard. (S&SaH)

Cetti's Warbler (above), Sedge Warbler, Swallows, Gadwall family, juvenile Cattle Egrets, Marsh Harrier & Small Heath at the North Wall (AH)

Church Norton: There were half a dozen Sandwich Terns and c40 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls in the harbour, along with four Turnstones, three Grey Plovers, three Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin.

Also, the family of nine young Shelducks were all still present. (AH)

Shelduck-lings at Church Norton (AH)