1st - 3rd June 2024

Monday, 3rd June: A pleasant, if rather overcast, morning with some warm sun at times and i just a light northerly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: There were c150 Mediterranean Gulls among the feeding flock offshore, with more going west, along with five Little Terns, whilst a flock of ten Sanderlings went east. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0635-0820hrs) (N, F3)

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Common Scoter - 14E, 18os

Oystercatcher - 5E

Sanderling - 10W

Mediterranean Gul - 25W, 150os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 30os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 5W

Swift - 5

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 18

Sanderlings (above), Little Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Common Scoters & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool just held four Avocets, six Redshanks, a Lapwing, a pair of Teal, plus another drake, 15 Mallards and 24 Shelducks.

A look around the Tramway produced two Lesser Whitethroats, five Whitethroats, three Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff, with four Swifts and two Buzzards over. (AH)

Also, later in the morning, a Little Ringed Plover was again on the pool. (TG-P)

Avocet (above), Teal, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There weren't too many birds along the pool this morning, with just a couple of Sedge Warblers, four or five Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler about, with just a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets along the hedges.

A Grey Plover flew around the harbour, and a Grey Heron went over, but Ferry Channel just held a handful of Lapwings and Redshanks. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Reed Bunting & Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)

West Itchenor: There was a lot if activity around the Harbour Office this morning, where at least 11 of the 13 artificial House Martin nests were occupied. Few birds were seen at high tide but there were four Swallows, a Pied Wagtail, a Sparrowhawk and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls flying overhead. 

Also, the Itchenor Pond area held a Tree-creeper, three Chiffchaffs, a Whitethroat, a Yellowhammer, several Skylarks and a noisy family of Carrion Crows. (SR)

Pagham Spit: The Osprey was fishing along the west side before taking its catch to a post over by Sidlesham Quay.

Out on the islands there were 39 Dunlin, six Turnstones and 56 Ringed Plovers, including 2 chicks, but the only terns seen were three fly-over Sandwich Terns. Also, out on the banks in the harbour there were two Common Seals and along the Spit there were two Skylarks and 20 Linnets. (LP/BI).

Ringed Plover chick (above), Ringed Plovers and Dunlin & Common Seals at Pagham Spit (LP)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees, on the Breech Pool the resident Great Crested Grebe pair were briefly out with their one, now quite big chick, and there were five Tufted Ducks and lots of Mallards on the water.

At Halsey’s Farm, 20 Cattle Egrets were around the cows and out in the harbour there were 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 18 Grey Plovers, four Dunlin and three Knot, whilst a Green Woodpecker flew along the wall and there was the usual selection of warblers in the reeds. (LP)

Marsh Harrier (above), Cattle Egrets, Knot, Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits & Great Crested Grebe and chick at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: This afternoon there were three Common Terns over Ivy Lake and a pair of Canada Geese with 30 young on Triangle Lake - presumably a kind of creche.
Also, there were Norfolk Hawkers on Nunnery Lake and Deep Lake – presumably a first for the lakes for this red-listed species. (AW)

Common Tern (above), Canada Geese & Norfolk Hawkers at Chichester GPs (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 14 Avocet chicks and 22 adults on the Stilt Pool today, along with four Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, a Grey Plover, a Pied Wagtail and three Lapwing chicks, whilst two Cattle Egrets, a Mediterranean Gull and a Kestrel were on the reserve. 

Along the banks there were c20 Whitethroats and Yellowhammers, five Reed Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, three Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Stonechat and three Reed Buntings, plus two Swallows over. (S&SaH/CEv)

Avocet chicks (above), Cattle Egret, Skylark & Yellowhammer at Medmerry (CEv)

Sunday, 2nd June: It was a much better morning today, with the northerly breeze easing somewhat and plenty of warm sun after a grey start........

Selsey Bill: A drake Garganey went west with two Common Scoters, early on, but otherwise t as just a mix of the regular species. Full log below. (PB/MRB/BI/IP/AH/SR/JA)

(0600-0815hrs) (N, F3)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 12E, 11os

Garganey - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E, 15os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 22W, 5os

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 28os

Common Tern - 8os

auk sp - 1E, 1W

Swift - 2

Swallow - 4

House Martin - 8

Later on, a Great Northern Diver and a pale phase Arctic Skua were offshore. Full log below. (SH)

(0945-1015hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E, 25W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 3E

House Martin - 3

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

Selsey (town): Just for the record and anyone interested, Herring Gulls are roof-nesting in Horsefield Road - literally on adjoining terraced houses (OM).  

Neighbours - Herring Gulls roof-nesting on adjoining houses (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were ten Avocets, six Redshanks and a Lapwing on the pool this morning, along with 28 Shelducks, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler were along the hedge by the sluice. (AH/PB/MRB)

Lesser Whitethroat (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: An Osprey was over the harbour several times between 0940 and 1050am, working its way along the west side and back, diving unsuccessfully several times, before drifting off east.

Among the waders in the harbour, there were a mobile flock of 11 Grey Plovers, five Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrel, ten Dunlin and lots of Oystercatchers, with two Little Terns and four Mediterranean Gulls also in the harbour, and another of the latter and three Sandwich Terns were offshore.

Also, a pair of Cuckoos flew from the first to the second Several, and another flew in from the north, whilst an adult and a juvenile Green Woodpecker were on the spit, along with a Meadow Pipit and lots of Skylarks, and Bluebell Wood held several Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. (IP/PB/MRB et al)

There was a little selection of waders in the harbour late this afternoon, comprising of one Sanderling, eight Bar-tailed godwits, six Whimbrel, two Curlews, c50 Dunlin and c80 Ringed Plovers, along with just a few Oystercatchers and Shelducks. (AH)

Sanderling (above), Whimbrel, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plovers & Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two female Marsh Harriers were flying around together for a good while this morning, before one of them was later joined by the male, and two Cuckoos were present, though unobliging.

Six Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour and a dozen Lapwings in the Honer fields were the only waders seen, whilst there was constant Little and Cattle Egret activity in and around Owl Copse, but the wall was quiet beyond a few Reed Buntings, Reed and Sedge Warblers. (AH/LP/SP)

Marsh Harriers (above), Sedge Warbler & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit: The Osprey put on a good show late this morning before drifting off east, but only a couple of Little Terns could be seen around their islands, with c25 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers on the shingle ridge nearby, but there was little else beyond a Skylark and a few Linnets. (AH)

Osprey over Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 12 avocet chicks and 35 adults on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with two Lapwing chicks, two Little Ringed Plovers and two Ringed Plovers, whilst two Little Terns were offshore and a Cattle Egret, six Mediterranean Gulls, a Cuckoo, c30 Swifts, seven Swallows and two Kestrels were on/over the reserve.

The banks remain busy, with a Dartford warbler, a Stonechat, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, two Sedge Warblers, five Reed and Cetti's Warblers, five Reed Buntings and c25 Whitethroats and Yellowhammers seen. (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs - West Trout Lake: A pair of Red-crested Pochards - presumably the long-staying pair - were on West Trout Lake this afternoon. (AB)

Chichester GPs - Drayton House pits: A WeBS count this morning produced the expected species, but strangely, with all the Swifts recorded in the County I didn't log one here! Greylag and Canada Geese had a couple of broods of young each, whilst the Egyptian Goose pair had four well-grown youngsters and two pairs of Mute Swan each had young. 

A couple of Mallard pairs with broods were the only confirmed duck breeders thus far; however 15 Pochard were logged - all drakes - and it is still early yet for this species, so I'm hopeful that in due course some broods of these will appear. The Grey Heron pair have two well-grown juveniles in the nest and they are surely not too far from fledging.

A Grey Wagtail was seen around the lake edges, plenty of the regular warblers were still singing and two Common Terns were fishing on the lakes; also a colony of Southern Marsh Orchids has again appeared. (OM)

Southern Marsh Orchids appearing, Common Terns, Grey Heron young in nest & drake Pochard at Drayton House Pits (OM)

Saturday, 1st June: The first day of meteorological summer started cold and grey in a fresh northerly breeze, though it did brighten up and warm up later......

Selsey Bill: It was predictably quiet, though there was still a mix of the regular species, including four Fulmars. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP/P&LH)

(0630-0830hrs) (N, F4-5)

Fulmar - 3E, 1W

Gannet - 14E, 5W

Common Scoter - 6W, 15os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 2W

Kittiwake - 16E

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Razorbill - 2W

Swift - 5

House Martin - 12

Later in the morning, a Bonxie was lingering offshore and a Whimbrel went east. Full log below. (SH/PB)

(1000-1130hrs) 

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 3E, 1W, 6os

Whimbrel - 1E

Great Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull -1E

Sandwich Tern - 13os

Common tern - 3os

Swallow - 4N

House Martin - 2

This afternoon, two Black Terns were among a little selection offshore. Full log below. (SH)

(1500-1615hrs) 

Gannet - 2E, 10os

Common Scoter - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 18os

Common Tern - 4W, 4os

Little Tern - 3os

Black Tern - 2os

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

Ferry Pool: There were 12 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with five Redshanks, two Lapwings, a drake Teal and 34 Shelducks. 

Thee were also two male Cuckoos chasing each other around early, with a Grey Wagtail, a Cetti's Warbler and half a dozen Swifts and Swallows also about. (PB/AH)

Early this afternoon the Osprey, seen earlier in the harbour, was sat out in the field to the south of the pool. (RHk)

Grey Wagtail (above), Teal & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Good numbers of Swallows and House Martins were around the farm this morning, with a Pied Wagtail and a Green Woodpecker also present. (IP)

This afternoon there were c50 Swifts over the farm, along with ten Swallows, six House Martins, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. (SH)

Church Norton: An Osprey was seen catching and eating a fish in the harbour this morning, before flying off. 
In the harbour there were a flock of c40 Dunlin, two Whimbrel, a number of Ringed Plovers and a few Oystercatchers, with a flock of seven Whimbrel seen flying off east, whilst a single Little Tern was over New Island and two Sandwich Terns were offshore.
Also, seven Swifts flew in low off the sea and across the harbour, a juvenile Green Woodpecker was again on the shingle spit, a male Cuckoo was at the Several, along with a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Bluebell Wood was again full of Blackcap song. (IP/P&LH)

Osprey at Church Norton (LH)

North Wall: The highlights this morning were 400-500 Swifts around the harbour and the fields before they gradually moved off northwards, and an Osprey that was seen distantly near the harbour entrance.

Otherwise, it was fairly quiet, with the Mute Swan family along White’s Creek, four Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe on the Breech Pool, a Cuckoo calling from the trees and 12 Cattle Egrets in the fields.

A Marsh Harrier was over the reeds and a Green Woodpecker, and a Jay were by the stables, but in the very windy conditions, small birds were limited to two Greenfinches, a Reed Bunting and a Whitethroat, while a long way out in the harbour, there were two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, 17 Curlews and 11 Grey Plovers.  (LP/SP)  

Swifts at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey flew in high from offshore early this morning, before heading off west (and was presumably the one seen over the harbour later), with a female Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards and three Kestrels also seen.

There were 22 Avocet chicks and 28 adults on the Stilt Pool, along with four Little Ringed Plover (including one brooding), three Ringed Plovers and a brooding Oystercatcher, plus a pair of Lapwings with three chicks on the fields opposite.

Four Cattle Egrets were on the reserve, and at least 100 Swifts were consistently overhead throughout, along with a dozen Swallows and two House Martins, whilst a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and Common Terns went over, too.

The banks were still busy despite the wind, and birds seen included a Dartford Warbler carrying food, a family of Stonechats, plus another pair, a displaying Meadow Pipit, a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, a few Reed Buntings, Sedge, Cetti's and Reed Warblers, c20 Yellowhammers and Whitethroats and Skylarks and 50+ Linnets, with a Brown Hare also seen. (AH/PB/S&SaH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Common Tern, Swift, Cattle Egret, Little Ringed Plover, whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Skylark (AH), Avocet chick & Brown Hare (SaH) at Medmerry