4th - 6th May 2025

Tuesday, 6th May: A bright, but cold, morning in a fresh north-easterly breeze...........

Selsey Bill: A Serin appeared again this morning at 0805hrs, seemingly flying in off the sea calling, but equally possible that it was one of the birds that have been heard/seen several times recently.

Also, a Hobby came in off the sea and a few 'Commic' Terns went east, but it was generally very quiet. Full log below. (PA/IP/AH/SR)

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

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 18E, 5W

Common Scoter - 3E

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Whimbrel - 11E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 12E

'Commic' Tern - 21E

auk sp - 1E

Serin - 1

(1630-1730hrs) (SH)

Oystercatcher - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 16os

Common Tern - 1E

Hobby (PA) (above), Whimbrel (PA top, AH lower) & Gannet (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The Snipe and a Little Ringed Plover were still present this morning, along with just wo Black-tailed Godwits, six Redshanks and ten Avocets, plus c30 Shelducks, whilst the Greenshank as in the channel opposite.

Also, a family of newly fledged Long-tailed Tits were in the Discovery Area, with a couple of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a Cetti's Warbler heard and three Jays seen. (PA/AH)

Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank (above), Greenshank & Long-tailed Tit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There really was very little about in the windy conditions, with a dozen Whimbrel, three Bar-tailed Godwits, a couple of Curlews and the usual Oystercatchers and Shelducks the total for the harbour, and a Whitethroat by the hide about it in the hedges. (AH)

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

Chichester Canal: The Nightingale was singing well again near the Tramway crossing this morning, with a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a couple of Cetti's and Reed Warblers also vocal nearby. (AH/LP)

Nightingale (AH above, LP lower three) at Chichester Canal

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - This evening there were two Swifts, c50 Swallows and c100 House Martins over the settling tanks, and a Brown Hare was in the fields. (AH)

Swift (above), Swallows, House Martin & Brown Hare at Medmerry (AH)

Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May: A mostly grey and unseasonably cold morning in a fresh and blustery north-easterly...........

Selsey Bill: Two Hobbies came in off the sea early on, but there was little on the move thereafter. Full log below. full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/KT/AH)

(0510-0840hrs) (NNE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

diver sp - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 15E, 23W

Common Scoter - 1E, 2W

Hobby - 2N

Sanderling - 4E

Whimbrel - 15E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 9E

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 14os

Common Tern - 2os

'Commic' Tern - 6E

auk sp - 1E, 10W

Swallow - 1N

(1315-1415hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 5E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Common Tern - 7os

Little Tern - 1os

Swift - 3N

Swallow - 1N

Sandwich Tern (above) & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Late this afternoon, a few Common/Commic Terns, including at least 14 Arctic Terns, moved east, and a flock of 22 Bar-tailed Godwits did likewise. Full log below. (SH/AH/JA)

(1600-1900hrs) (SH/AH/JA)

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 22E

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 25os

Arctic Tern - 14E

Common Tern - 77E, 16os

'Commic' Tern - 51E

Little Tern - 3E

Guillemot - 1E

Razorbill - 3E

auk sp - 4W

 

Arctic Terns (above), Bar-tailed Godwits & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just one Little Ringed Plover, a Snipe, six Redshanks, three Black-tailed Godwits and 16 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with c25 Shelducks. (AH/KT)

Snipe (above), Little Ringed Plover & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Chichester Canal: What appears to be a pair Nightingales were seen and heard again near the Old Tramway crossing this morning. 

Also seen were a Cuckoo, a Raven, a Swift, a  few Swallows and House Martins, a Lesser Whitethroat, half a dozen or so Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers, nine Chiffchaffs and at least 30 Reed Warblers, (AW/BI/SP/PA/IP/AH et al)

Nightingale at Chichester Canal (AW)

Runcton: On farmland and water south of the village this morning were a nesting pair of Mute Swans, a Greylag Goose and an Egyptian Goose, 15 Shelducks, four pairs of Mallard and another 17 odd males, eight Gadwall, 12 Tufted Ducks, three pairs of Little Grebe, two Common Buzzards, 24 Coots, two Common Sandpipers, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, and a few Blackcaps, Reed Warblers and Whitethroats, plus a flyover Cattle Egret. (CRJ)

Buzzard at Runcton (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Wheatear was along the banks this morning, together with two Stonechats, two Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, two Sedge warblers, nine Reed Warblers, three Reed Buntings and six Yellowhammers, with ten Swifts, c50 Swallows and a Kestrel over.

Also, a Cattle Egret was on the reserve and four Avocets, two Ringed Plovers and seven Egyptian Geese were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Chichester Lakes: Ivy Lake complex - A flock of four Spoonbills went over late this morning, heading north-east, whilst at least 50 Swifts, 30 Swallows and 200 House Martins were feeding over the various pits.

Also, half a dozen drake Pochards and similar of Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes were on the water, with at least eight Egyptian Geese and c30 Greylag and Canada Geese spread about, whilst a Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs , Reed and Cetti's Warblers wee more heard than seen. (AH/IP/BI)

Spoonbills (above), Swift, Chiffchaff, Pochard & Egyptian Geese at Chichester GPs (AH)

Sunday, 4th May: A decidedly cool and often overcast morning in a freshening north-easterly breeze, but warming later with some sunny spells......

Selsey Bill: The most unusual bird of a fairly quiet morning was a Ruff - a rare bird here - going east, as were 31 Whimbrel, but otherwise it was slim pickings in the unfavourable conditions. full log below. (JA/SH/PB/MRB/BI/AHu/IP/PA/AH/RPo/OM)

(0510-1100hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 19E, 21W, 12os

Common Scoter - 14E

Oystercatcher - 7E, 4W

Sanderling - 8E, 3W

Dunlin - 1W

Ruff - 1E

Whimbrel - 31E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 6E

Turnstone - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 21E, 25os

Common Tern - 4E, 1W

'Commic' Tern - 18E

Little Tern - 2E, 3os

auk sp - 4W

Swift - 1N, 3 present

Swallow - 9N

House Martin - 4

This afternoon a Pomarine Skua went east at 1645hrs, and ten Manx Shearwaters and 15 Knot went east, too. Full log below. (SH/JA)

(1500-1800hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Manx Shearwater - 10E

Gannet - 8E, 10W

Common Scoter - 1E

Knot - 15E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (1645hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 33os

Common Tern - 10os

'Commic' Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 3os

auk sp - 1E, 10W, 2os

Swallow - 2N

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Greenshank, a Snipe, eight Avocets and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks present this morning, along with two drake Shovelers and c25 Shelducks. (PA/AH)

A look at the harbour and Ferry Channel from the Tramway this evening produced two Greenshank two Knot, a Sanderling, 30 Dunlin, 15 Grey Plovers, eight Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Whimbrel and ten Redshanks. (PA)

Snipe (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: At least two Cuckoos were calling from the trees beyond the Breech Pool, and plenty of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, plus a couple of Whitethroats were all being vocal, but they al remained pretty much unseen.

Also, half a dozen Swifts, a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk were both about, and Owl Copse was still busy, but there was very little in the harbour beyond a Greenshank in White's Creek and half a dozen scattered Whimbrel. (AH/JDW et al)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Marsh Harrier & Sparrowhawk at the North Wall (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Swift and quite few Swallows and House Martins, plus a Buzzard were over the farm and north of the town. (IP)

Church Norton: The harbour was very quiet this morning, with just six Whimbrel and three Ringed Plovers, plus the usual Oystercatchers, about, along with a dozen Black headed Gulls, a few Shelducks and two Little Egrets.

Elsewhere was a little better, with a displaying Meadow Pipit and a singing Skylark along the spit, a Reed Bunting, a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers along the Severals and a good variety of resident birds, plus Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff in Bluebell Wood.

Also, a Great spotted Woodpecker and two Red-legged Partridges were at Greenlease Farm.(IP)

Chichester Canal: At least two Nightingales were seen near the Old Tramway crossing, west of Hunston, this morning, seen chasing each other about, with the singing male very mobile and possibly another one heard nearby.

Otherwise, in addition to the usual residents, about 20 Reed Warblers, half dozen each of Cetti's and Chiffchaffs, two Whitethroats, three Little Grebes, four Swallows, a Gadwall and a Cuckoo were noted. (RBe)

A Nightingale was still singing there early this evening. (AW/B&SI)

Nightingales at Chichester Canal (RBe)

Chichester Marina: An immature male Marsh Harrier was hunting at the back of the reedbed, and two Cuckoos were heard in the Apuldram area. (RBe)

Cormorant at Chichester Marina (RBe)

West Itchenor: So far three pairs of House Martins have settled into artificial nests on the Harbour Office, choosing the ones facing south-east, whilst around the village pond were a newly fledged family of Chaffinches, a recently fledged Rook being fed by its parent, a Song Thrush, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker and four Chiffchaffs.

Along the path through the field towards Rookwood, there was also two Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Whitethroats, eight Yellowhammers, three Long-tailed Tits, a Whimbrel, two Red-legged Partridges, two Stock Doves, a Buzzard and a Kestrel. (SR)

House Martin (above) & Chaffinch at West Itchenor (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Wheatear was near the poplars this morning, six Sanderlings were on the beach and four Cattle Egrets were on the reserve. 

Also, a good selection was along the banks, including six Whitethroats, ten Reed Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, and Cetti's Warblers, a Blackcap, two Stonechats, three Reed Buntings and half a dozen Yellowhammers, with four Swallows and three Buzzards over. (PB/MRB/S&SaH/GW)