29th - 31st May 2024

Friday, 31st May: Another cool morning in the very fresh northerly breeze, though with a bit more sunshine than yesterday..........

Selsey Bill: A fairly distant flock of eight Manx Shearwaters and a Great Northern Diver went east this morning, and 33 Swifts came in off the sea from far offshore. Full log below. (BI/AH/SR/IP/OM/RJS/MG)

(0600-1100hrs) (N, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Manx Shearwater - 8E

Gannet - 14E, 17W, 4os

Common Scoter - 13E, 20W, 18os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Curlew - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 4W

Kittiwake - 3E, 10W

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 8W, 4os

Common Tern - 2W

Little Tern - 1W

Swift - 37N

Swallow - 2N

House Martin  - 9

Common Scoters (above), Sandwich Terns & Swift at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was no sign of the Red-necked Phalarope this morning, though most of the rest of yesterday's birds were present, including a Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit, six Redshanks, eight Avocets, a drake Teal, a drake Shoveler, a drake Gadwall and 32 Shelducks. (AH/BI/OM  et al)

Gadwall and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: This afternoon there were eight Little Terns on New Island, and at least 50 Swifts were over the spit. (LP)

Church Norton: A fairly quick look in the harbour this morning produced 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrel, a summer-plumaged Grey Plover, a Curlew and c30 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, but the bushes just held a singing Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs. (AH)

Grey Plover (above), Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton at Church Norton (AH)

Runcton: Around the area this morning, a pair of Mute Swans at nest, an Egyptian Goose, two pairs of Shelduck with a total 24 ducklings, 20 Mallards, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little Grebes, a male Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards, 17 Coots, a nesting pair of Black-headed Gulls, c100 Swifts, 20 Swallows, 15 House Martins, three Blackcaps, two Whitethroats, and two pairs of Reed Bunting. (CRJ)

Selsey: A Cuckoo was heard from our garden, to the north of the village, this afternoon. (S&SaH)

West Wittering: Two Red Kites, a Buzzard and c20 Swifts went over Ella Nore today. (SH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm – There were c75 Swifts over the fields and settling tanks this evening, along with similar of House Martins, but only, perhaps, 30 Swallows. Just a few years ago similar numbers of the first two species would normally be dwarfed by many hundreds of the latter. (AH)

Swifts (above), Swallow & House Martins at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 30th May: A distinctly cool and very grey morning, with a few heavy showers, too, in a fairly fresh north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was quiet again in a fairly short watch this morning. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0740-0840hrs) (NW, F4-5)

Gannet - 1E, 6W

Common Scoter - 5E, 16W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Common Tern - 2W

Swift - 6 

House Martin - 8

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

Ferry Pool: A Red-necked Phalarope – the first one on the Peninsula since exactly this date in 2015 – was showing well all morning at the back of the pool, holding its own against a variety of species that dwarfed it.
Otherwise, there was a bit of variety, including the first Grey Wagtail seen in many weeks, a Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit, six Redshanks, four Lapwings, eight Avocets, a drake Teal, a drake Shoveler and a good count of 48 Shelducks, whilst half a dozen Swallows and c20 Swifts were feeding overhead. (AH/SH/IP/SR/BI/PB/AB et al)

The Red-necked Phalarope remained on the pool all day and was still present at 1830hrs. (AW/IP/GD et al)

Red-necked Phalarope (above), Red-necked Phalarope and Redshank, Red-necked Phalarope, Avocet and Shelducks, Little Ringed Plover & Grey Wagtail at the Ferry (AH)

further images of the Red-necked Phalarope (D Carlsson)

Long Pool: There wasn't much to report along the pool this morning, with just a handful of Reed Warblers and a couple of Sedge Warblers singing along its length, with a couple of Reed Buntings and up to ten Linnets along the hedges and three or four Lapwings over the fields. (AH/AB)

Reed Bunting (above) & Lapwing along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Late this afternoon, there were up to ten Little Terns around the harbour mouth at high tide, along with a couple of Sandwich Terns, whilst waders included five Whimbrel, nine Bar-tailed Godwits and  a flock of c30 Dunlin and c20 Ringed Plovers. (AH)

Earlier on, there were also a male Red-breasted Merganser offshore and a Turnstone in the harbour. (ARK)

Little Tern (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel & Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool – There were 13 Avocet chicks on the Stilt Pool this evening, along with 25 adults, four Little Ringed Plovers, five Ringed Plovers and four Sanderlings, whilst a Buzzard, two Egyptian Geese and 18 Swifts went over the reserve.
Also, the banks held the usual mix of Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats, pus a Lesser Whitethroat. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 29th May: After more overnight rain and a grey start, eventually a warm and sunny morning in a moderate westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was predictably slow this morning, with just a few of the regulars species seen. Full log below. (AH/SR/PD/IP/P&LH)

(0630-0900hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 15W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 5W

Turnstone - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 19W

Common Tern - 2W

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 10

(1640-1740hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 2W

Arctic Skua - 2os, then E

Mediterranean Gull - 15os

Kittiwake - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 28os

Guillemot - 1W

Common Tern (above), Fulmar, Gannet & Turnstone at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 48 Shelducks on the pool this morning, along with a drake Teal, a drake Shoveler, eight Mallards, eight Redshanks, four Avocets, a Lapwing and two Dunlin, whilst later on, c20 Swifts were feeding over the pool. (AH)

Swift (above), Dunlin & Teal, Avocets and Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were 14 Bar-tailed Godwits and five Whimbrel in the harbour this morning, along with just a couple of Curlews, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, whilst two Little Terns and five Sandwich Terns were about, including a pair of the latter seen displaying and mating.

The Cuckoo was again active around the Severals, whilst a female flew along the hedges past the hide and off down the west side, but otherwise there wasn't much beyond a Chiffchaff singing by the Mound, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and a few Linnets along the Severals and a Green Woodpecker that flew across the harbour (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Sandwich Terns & Bar-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Cuckoo was calling at the back of Owl Copse this morning, and a Collared Dove was in the trees along with the usual mix of Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets, whilst a few Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Buntings were along the bushes and three Swifts and four Swallows were overhead.
Also, the Mute Swan family was along White’s Creek with seven cygnets, eight Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe were on the Breech Pool, and both male and female Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds. (LP/GHi/CT)

Sedge Warbler (above), Cattle Egret, Collared Dove, Grey Heron chicks (LP)), juvenile Starling & Mute Swan family (GHi) at the North Wall

26th - 28th May 2024

Tuesday, 28th May: A pretty dismal morning, with heavy overnight rain continuing after dawn before slowly easing, leaving a cool, grey morning in a very fresh south-westerly breeze..............

Selsey Bill: Four Manx Shearwaters went west this morning, but a Fulmar and a few Gannets and Kittiwakes west was about it, otherwise. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0630-0900hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Manx Shearwater - 4W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 23W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Kittiwake - 11W

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Swallow - 1N

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

(1200-1400hrs) (AW)

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Fulmar - 1W

Common Scoter - 2W

Sanderling - 3W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sanderlings (above), Common Scoters, Fulmar & Kittiwake at the Bill (AW)

(1640-1810hrs) (SH/AH)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Gannet - 6W

Sanderling 10W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Common Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 2W

Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just ten Avocets on the pool this morning, along with four Redshanks, a drake Shoveler and 26 Shelducks. (AH)

Avocets and Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton:  There were seven Whimbrel and two Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour this morning, along with a dozen or so Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, but nothing else beyond a couple of Curlews and a few Oystercatchers and Shelducks.

The Cuckoo was again being very vocal around the Severals, with a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Warblers and Linnets also present, whilst a Chiffchaff and two Blackcaps were singing in the vicinity of the Mound and three Mistle Thrushes were along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)

Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May: Another very blustery morning, cool and grey early on, warming up and brightening up later on..............

Selsey Bill: Four Manx Shearwaters and two Fulmars went west, with a Red-throated Diver east, but it was generally fairly slow. Full log below. (SH/JA/AH)

(0530-0830hrs) (WSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Manx Shearwater - 4W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 10E, 7W

Shelduck - 2E

Common Scoter - 13E, 7W

Oystercatcher - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 5W

Kittiwake - 2E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

Common Tern - 3W

Little Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 3W

Swallow - 1

(1300-1400hrs) (SH)

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Swift - 7

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Great Crested Grebe at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Avocet count had risen to ten this morning, but otherwise there were just two Redshanks, a drake Shoveler and 24 Shelducks present. (AH)

Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon, there were at least 30 Swifts and a handful of Swallows feeding over the pool. (AH)

Swifts (above) & Swallow at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton:  Two Little Terns were around their islands this morning, with four more, plus two Sandwich Terns, feeding offshore, but there were just two Whimbrel, a Curlew and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the harbour, along with a few Oystercatchers and Shelducks.
A Cuckoo was being noisy and active around the Severals, but otherwise there were just a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Warblers and Linnets present, plus two singing Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff near the hide. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Little Tern, Whitethroat, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Mute Swan family, now with six cygnets were along White’s Creek this morning, and further out on the mud there were two Ringed Plovers and two Dunlin.
Also, a Great Crested Grebe and four Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, a female Marsh Harrier was over the reeds and six Cattle Egrets were in the fields, two Cuckoos were by Owl Copse, a Green Woodpecker flew over and a few Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were in the reeds. (LP/CT)   

Cuckoo (above), Sedge Warbler, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe & Mute Swan family at the North Wall (LP)

Northcommon Farm:  A Cuckoo was about, along with three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, a few Reed Warblers, six Swallows, a Swift, a House Martin, four Stock Doves, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Buzzard. (SR) 

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 22 Avocets on the stilt Pool, but all the chicks were hiding under their mothers, with just a Little Ringed Plover, two Ringed Plovers and a Pied Wagtail seen besides, whilst a Little Tern was feeding offshore and four Cattle Egrets, two Buzzards and a Kestrel were around the reserve.

The banks were still full of birds, including two Dartford Warblers, three Stonechats, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, four Cetti's, two Sedge and eight Reed Warblers, seven Reed Buntings and c20 Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, with 18 Swifts, four Swallows and a House Martin going over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham – It was extremely windy here, but the bushes around Ham held good numbers of Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Linnets, along with a Mother Shipton moth and a Painted Lady butterfly, along with some Common Blues and there were also patches of Grass Vetchling in flower. (SR)

Whitethroat (above) & Mother Shipton moth at Medmerry (SR)

Sunday, 26th May: After heavy overnight rain, a mostly bright and very breezy morning, initially from the south-east, but freshening as it went south-west........

Selsey Bill: There was a slight eastward movement of terns this morning, including another Black Tern, seven Little Terns and a few Common Terns, along with 163 Common Scoters. Full log below. (SH/JA/IP/AH/SR)

(0545-0830hrs) (SSE, F4, veering to SW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 11E, 15W

Common Scoter - 163E, 7W, 31os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 3W

Sanderling - 1E

Herring Gull - 1200os

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 24os

Common Tern - 10E

'Commic' Tern - 11E

Little Tern - 7E

Black Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 1W

Swift - 4

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 6

(1400-1500hts) (SH)

Gannet - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 15os

Swift - 3

Fulmar (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were eight Avocets on the pool this morning, but otherwise just three Redshanks, a drake Teal and 22 Shelducks. (AH)

There were about 20 Swifts feeding over the pool this evening. (AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton:  A Spotted Flycatcher in the trees between the Severals was the highlight this morning, but not much more was to be seen along the front beyond a pair of Buzzards.

Encouragingly, there were four Little Terns in the harbour, whilst waders included two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover, Whimbrel - with four more on the beach, and c70 Dunlin split between the beach and the harbour.

Also, a juvenile Green Woodpecker flew across the harbour from the spit and there were plenty of Shelducks and Oystercatchers about. (IP)

North Wall: Two female and the male Marsh Harrier were on the wing at various times this morning, but it was slow in the brisk breeze, with nothing in the harbour and just four Lapwings and a few Shelducks on the Honer fields.

There were plenty of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers along the wall, though all hard to see, along with two or three Reed Buntings, Linnets and Goldfinches, but that was about it. (AH/LP/DHi et al)

Marsh Harrier (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting & Lapwing at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were six Avocet chicks and 23 adults on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Little Ringed Plovers, five Ringed Plovers and three Dunlin, whilst a Cattle Egret was on the reserve and a female Marsh Harrier went over.

There was a fair selection along the banks, despite the breeze, including a Cuckoo, a Blackcap, four Stonechats, c25 Whitethroats, seven Reed Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, six Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers, plus four Swallows over. (S&SaH)