16th - 18th June 2025

Wednesday, 18th June: Another very pleasant morning, warming up quickly from a cool start in the light to moderate south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much to report this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH)

(0650-0750hrs) (SW, F3)

Gannet - 3W

Mallard - 2os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2W, 13os

Swift - 5

House Martin - 12

House Martin (above), Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Black-tailed Godwits, a Lapwing, a Redshank and a Shelduck on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look this morning produced just half a dozen Little erns, c300 Sandwich Terns and similar of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls on the mud, with many more on the islands, along with just a couple of Ringed Plovers and Curlews. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Little Tern at Church Norton (AH)

West Itchenor: There are currently four occupied House Martin nests, with indications that five broods have recently fledged. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Lesser Yellowlegs, found by RSPB warden Anthony Smith, was an unexpected surprise on the Stilt Pool early this morning, and it was still present by early afternoon. This is the fourth for the Peninsula, after birds in April 1954, September 1985 and, most recently, April 2008, all of which were on the Ferry.

Also, a couple of common Terns, a pair of Ringed Plovers, four Oystercatchers and a Lapwing were on the Stilt Pool and plenty of the regular species along the banks. (AS/BI/AH/KT/AB/CD/OM/MRe/PA et al)

Lesser Yellowlegs (above), Lesser Yellowlegs and Oystercatcher, Common Tern & Ringed Plovers at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 17th June: A lovely, warm and sunny morning in just a light south-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: The mid-summer doldrums would appear to have set in, with three Sanderlings west the only things of note. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0650-0750hrs) (SW, F2-3)

Mallard - 2os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Sanderling - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 8W

Sandwich Tern - 15os

Little Tern - 2os

Swift - 5

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 10

Pied Wagtail - 2

Sandwich Tern (above), Sanderlings, Swift & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool has been fully refilled from the harbour overnight, but there were still only two Black-tailed Godwits, a Lapwing, 15 Redshanks and two Shelducks present. (AH)

Redshanks on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out again briefly at Halsey's Farm early this morning, whilst, later on, the first returning Green Sandpiper flew out and away from the back of the Breech Pool and two Sand Martins passed through there, whilst a third-summer Yellow-legged Gull was out in the harbour, along with a Whimbrel and eight Curlews.

The first young Sedge and Reed Warblers were seen, too, as well as a family of Chiffchaffs, with a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat, about, too, and a family of Swallows was at Halsey's Farm.

Also, the two juvenile Grey Herons were still in Owl Copse, along with a few Little and Cattle Egrets, with two or three more of the latter at Halsey's Farm, and at least three Sand Martins, the female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk went over. (MJa/OM/AH/NM/CT/JDW)

Green Sandpiper (above), Buzzard, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Marsh Harrier & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (AH)

Monday, 16th June: The morning started and ended bright and sunny, but with a big band of grey cloud slowly moving east in-between, in just a light to moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Half a dozen Little Terns were feeding along the beach, but there was nothing moving this morning. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0700-0815hrs) (NW, F3)

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Mallard - 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 76os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Little Tern - 6os

Swift - 2

House Martin - 6

Little Terns (above), Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was at the front this morning, but otherwise there were just two Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank and a Shelduck present. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The harbour was a lot quieter than of late this evening, though there were still plenty of birds on the islands, with 15 Little Terns, a Common Tern and just c30 Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls about, along with a Whimbrel, a Curlew, a Dunlin, three Knot, 17 Grey Plovers, six Ringed Plovers, two Turnstones and c25 Oystercatchers, including a pair with three chicks on Tern Island.

There were also a few birds on he land-side, including a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, two Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Meadow Pipit, a Skylark, a Reed Bunting and four Linnets. (MRe/AH)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out briefly at Halsey's Farm, early this morning, and later a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice at White's Creek. (MJa)

Sidlesham: A Coal Tit was singing along Cow Lane this morning. (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were fairly quiet this morning, with a dozen Whitethroats, a Cetti's Warbler and at least four Reed Warblers seen/heard, along with two adult and two juvenile Stonechats, half a dozen Skylarks and c20 Yellowhammers and Linnets, plus a couple of Swallows over.

Also, a Red Kite and a Buzzard went over, at least three Common Terns were around the nesting raft and a Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Ringed Plovers, a Lapwing, four Avocets, three Oystercatchers and a nine Gadwall were on the Stilt Pool. (AH)

Stonechats (above), Yellowhammer, Red Kite, Ringed Plovers & Gadwall at Medmerry (AH)

Two Dartford Warblers were along the banks this afternnon, along with nine Linnets, six Yellowhammers, 12 Whitethroats, two Reed Buntings and ten Skylarks whilst a Swallow and a Cattle Egret passed overhead. The Stilt Pool just held three Avocets, two Shelducks, two Ringed Plovers, three pairs of Oystercatchers, two Lapwings, two Stonechats and many Canada Geese and two sets of goslings, plus singing Reed Warblers.

Also noted were half a dozen Marbled White butterflies, along with Meadow Browns, a Comma, a Red Admiral and a small stand of Pyramidal Orchids. (SR)

Stonechat (above) & Pyramidal Orchid at Medmerry (SR)

13th - 15th June 2025

Sunday, 15th June: A fairly warm, bright and breezy morning in a freshening westerly.......

Selsey Bill: There were large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls offshore again, and five Common Terns went west together, but that was about it this morning. Full log below. (AH/IP/JA)

(0650-0920hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Mallard - 2

Curlew - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 200os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Common Tern - 5W

Little Tern - 6os

Swift - 6

House Martin - 8

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 50os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 31W, 30os

Common Tern - 4W

Guillemot - 1W

Little Tern (above), Common Terns, Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There just two Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshanks and a Shelduck on the pool this morning, plus a Curlew over, whilst around the nearby hedges were a calling Cuckoo, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats, a Blackcap, two Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler. (JC/AH), 

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Redshanks at the Bill (AH)

Long Pool: There wasn't much activity along the hedges this morning, though two or three Sedge Warblers were still singing and a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and Linnets were present, and there was also a mother Tufted Duck and four young ducklings on the pool. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Tufted Duck family along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were three newly fledged Swallows among the half a dozen present this evening, and several young birds among the 20 or so House Martins, whilst a Kestrel, two Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls went over. (SH)

North Wall: At least five Red Kites were about throughout the morning, as well as three Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier.

At Halsey’s Farm c20 Swallows, including a few juveniles, were over the fields, as well as eight House Martins, while a Green Woodpecker was in the trees, a Cuckoo flew through, and a Kingfisher and two Lapwings were along the rife.

There were lots of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers in the reeds and a Whitethroat was in the bushes along the wall, where there was also a Marbled White butterfly, but on the Breech Pool there was just a Great Crested Grebe and a few Mallards. (MRi/LP/MJa)

Red Kites (above), Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Lapwing & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Hobby went over the harbour mid-morning (GR), whilst there at least 11 Little Terns, two Common Terns, 50 Sandwich Terns, 95 Mediterranean Gulls and three Curlews on the mud, with two Lesser Whitethroats singing from the sheltered hedges (JC).

This evening there were at least 200 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, along with similar numbers of terns to the morning, and there were also a Whimbrel and a Ringed Plover about. (AH)

Common Tern (above), Mediterranean Gull & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: There were still up to 25 Little Terns around their islands this morning, and it would appear that similar numbers of Sandwich Terns have taken up residence on them, too, along with lots of Black-headed Gulls.

There were more Sandwich Terns and plenty of Mediterranean Gulls further across the harbour, and two Great Crested Grebes flew out to sea together, but three Curlews and a few Oystercatchers were the only waders seen. (AH)

Little Tern (above), Little Terns and Sandwich Terns & Great Crested Grebes at Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Viewpoint - A Greenshank on the tidal area and a calling Cuckoo were the most notable birds here this morning. (M&LL)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A very early - or late! - Yellow Wagtail, the first June record during the blog years - went over the Stilt Pool, along with a dozen Sand Martins early this afternoon. (HB)

There were another three Sand Martins, and half a dozen Swallows and Swifts over earlier, too, along with a couple of Buzzards and Kestrels, whilst a Cattle Egret and a Cuckoo were on the reserve, five Common Terns were around the nesting rafts and nine Avocets and three Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool.

Also, xix Stonechats, including a pair and two juveniles, were along the banks, together with two Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two Sedge, five Reed and two Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH) 

Saturday, 14th June: After overnight rain, it was initially murky and grey in a moderate southerly breeze, but it soon shifted west and freshened considerably, though it cleared the cloud to leave a warm and sunny, if blustery morning.......

Selsey Bill: A Guillemot west and a Little Egret feeding on the rocks by the Mile Basket (a mile out to sea!) were the modest highlights this morning. Full log below. (BI/AH/IP)

(0600-0830hrs) (S, F4 veering W F5-6)

Gannet - 1E, 14W

Little Egret - 1os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 31W, 80os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 17W

Common Tern - 1W

Little Tern - 1W

Guillemot - 1W

Swift - 3

House Martin - 2

Goldfinch - 4

(1810-1910hrs) (JA)

Gannet - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 20os

Sandwich Tern - 14W

auk sp - 1W

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

Ferry Pool: The pool looks a bit sorry for itself at present, with a very low water level, the mud all churned up by the cows and largely devoid of birds, with just a Lapwing, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Grey Heron consuming an eel gracing it this morning. (AH/PB)

There was slightly more activity on the pool early this evening, with three Avocets, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshanks and a Grey Heron present.

Also three Swifts went over and nearby bushes held a Cetti’s Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs. (JC)

Lapwing (above) & Grey Heron at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A walk along the Long Pool this evening produced a Cuckoo, a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk, as well as the regular species.(JC)

Church Norton: The harbour was encouragingly busy this morning, with at least 50 Sandwich Terns and 100+ Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls coming up off Tern Island and at least as many again of each out on the mud, whilst at least 20 Little Terns were coming and going, with another dozen of the latter feeding offshore, along with two or three Common Terns and 20+ Sandwich Terns.

There were, however, no waders to be seen beyond a few Oystercatchers, though the sheltered hedges did yield a brief sighting of a Lesser Whitethroat and two or three Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus plenty of young Blue and Great Tits and a Painted Lady. (AH)

Little Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Terns, Tern Island, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Painted Lady at Church Norton (AH)

It was much the same in the harbour this evening, though with a big increase to at least 400 Mediterranean Gulls sat out on the mud. (AH)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern and Mediterranean Gulls & Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection along the banks this morning, despite the blustery conditions, including c20 Whitethroats, two Lesser whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, two Sedge, five Reed and three Cetti's Warblers, two Stonechats, four Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers, with four Sand Martins, five Swallows, six Swifts, two Kestrels and three Buzzards going over.

Also six Curlews were on the reserve, three Common Terns were around the nesting rafts, including one bringing in a fish and a Sandwich Tern was offshore, but the Stilt Pool just held three Ringed Plovers and eight Avocets. (S&SaH/PB)

Medmerry: Ham Viewpoint - An adult Corn Bunting with two youngsters was the highlight this afternoon, and there were also a juvenile Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits and Whitethroats and plenty of Skylarks about. (EB)

Corn Bunting (above), juvenile Stonechat, Whitethroat & Little Egret at Medmerry (EB)

Friday, 13th June: A complete change from yesterday, with a very warm and sunny summer's morning in just a light south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was a record count for the Bill of 721 Mediterranean Gulls (and mainly adults) among the gulls flocks on the bar and offshore this morning, though a Fulmar and six Gadwall west and a dozen Common Scoters east were about the only things on the move. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/JA)

(0700-0800hrs) (SW, F2-3)

Fulmar - 1W

Gadwall - 6W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 12E

Mediterranean Gull - 721os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Little Tern - 2os

House Martin - 12

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Fulmar (above), Sandwich Tern, Gadwall, House Martins & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just nine Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, whilst a Reed Warbler was singing from the roadside hedge. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: It was quite quiet along the pool, with just two or three Reed and Sedge Warblers singing, and a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Linnets in the bushes, a handful of Swallows over and half a dozen Redshanks and a couple of Skylarks around the fields. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Linnet, Skylark & Swallow along the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: A flock of 22 Lapwings were flying around the harbour and another was by the rife at Halsey’s Farm this morning, but otherwise it was very quiet, with just a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and a Whitethroat along the reeds and bushes.

Also, a Kingfisher flew through, the two young Grey Herons were still on their nest, a couple of Cattle Egrets were in the fields, and both male and female Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds. (LP/SP/MJa)

Cattle Egret (above), Grey Heron chicks & Lapwing at the North Wall (LP)