19th - 21st June 2025

Saturday, 21st June: Mid-summer's day began with a mix of hazy sun and cloud, warm and humid despite the brisk easterly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0700-0800hrs) (ESE, F4)

Gannet - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 22E

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 3W

Swift - 4

House Martin - 3

Gannet (above) & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Black-tailed Godwit, two Redshanks and two Shelducks present this morning. (AH) 

Black-tailed Godwit on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Yellowhammer was along the hedges this morning, together with a couple of Reed Buntings, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats, and a Common Tern flew over into the harbour, but there wasn't much else to report. (AH)

Yellowhammer (above), Linnet & Common Tern along the Long Pool (AH)

East side: A look early on down the east side found the Yellow-legged Gull still present, a Kingfisher flying through and, oddly, a Red-breasted Merganser which flew down the channel before landing towards the west side of the harbour. 

The first Purple Hairstreaks were also in the oaks along the path. (BI)

North Wall: Two Cuckoos were reported early on, and a Kingfisher was along Owl Water, where the Little Grebe was still on its nest, and the two almost fully grown Grey Heron chicks were in the trees, as well as a few Little Egrets and eight Cattle Egrets.

At Halsey’s Farm, six Swallows, four Collard Doves and three Linnets were in the fields, and a Lapwing was along the rife, whilst a Kestrel and two Buzzards were in the trees.

A few Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, but it was quiet out in the harbour with just a Redshank, a Curlew and a few Shelducks along White’s Creek.

A few Reed Buntings, Reed and Sedge Warblers were in the reeds, with five Whitethroats, four Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers and a noisy juvenile Jay with its parent along the wall, whilst a Swallow was flying into the stables and a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk went over. (LP/MJa/CT/SR) 

Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Bunting, Collared Doves, Cattle Egret & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

Honer Reservoir: There was nothing on the virtually empty reservoir this morning, though a male Marsh Harrier drifted over and the adjacent hedges held a couple of Yellowhammers and half a dozen Whitethroats, with three or four Swallows and House Martins over the fields, and a few Stock Doves also about. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Yellowhammer, Whitethroats & Stock Doves at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were still quite a few birds along the banks this morning, including a Dartford Warbler, c15 Whitethroats, a Sedge warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Mistle Thrush, five Stonechats, four Reed Buntings and c15 Yellowhammers, whilst 12 Sand Martins and 14 Swallows went over.

Also, seven Common Terns were around the nesting rafts again, with a Curlew and seven Mediterranean Gulls around the reserve, five Avocets, seven Oystercatchers, three Ringed Plovers and two Redshanks on the Stilt Pool and a Buzzard and two Kestrels over. (S&SaH/PB)

Friday, 20th June: It was again warm, but decidedly hazy and muggy, in a surprisingly brisk easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was again quiet, though 14 common Scoters went east. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0645-0800hrs) (ESE, F4)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 14E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull -7E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 2W, 6os

Little Tern - 1E

Swift - 3

Swallow - 4

House Martin - 4

Pied Wagtail - 2

(1515-1615hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 3W

Mediterranean Gull -2E, 1W

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 8W

Common Tern - 2os

Sandwich Tern (above) & Swift at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Lapwing and a Redshank were the only birds on the pool this morning. (AH)

Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were several Cattle Egrets in Owl Copse, along with the two young Grey Herons trying out there wings at the top of the trees, whilst a Kingfisher was on the Breech Pool, where one or two Reed and Sedge Warblers were about, along with a family of Magpies, a newly fledged Robin and a Greenfinch.

There was also a Roe Deer in the hedge at Halsey's Farm, which didn't move for over an hour. (EB)

Cattle Egret (above), Cattle Egret and Grey Heron, Grey Heron, Robin, Greenfinch, Magpies & Roe Deer at the North Wall (EB)

Chichester GPs: There was a fair selection around the various pits this afternoon, including nine Egyptian Geese, 65 Greylag geese, 83 Canada Geese, 15 Gadwall, a Pochard, a dozen Tufted Ducks, half a dozen Little and Great Crested Grebes, four Common Terns and five Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Also, seven Swifts, five Sand Martins, a House Martin and three Swallows went over, and a Blackcap, three Reed Warblers, four Chiffchaffs, two Pied Wagtails were along the paths, and up to ten Norfolk Hawkers were on Nunnery Pit. (MRe)

Almodington: A Red Kite was over the village early this afternoon. (NHo)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a few birds along the banks this morning, including a Dartford Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, five Reed Warblers,, two Cetti's Warblers, nine stonechats,, five Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers, plus four Swallows over.

Also, a Cuckoo was on the reserve, a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel went over, seven Common Terns were around the nesting rafts, two Sandwich Terns were offshore and seven avocets, two Ringed Plovers and a Redshank were on the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - There was very little to report along the trail this morning, with a scattering of generally elusive Whitethroats, a couple of Chiffchaffs and Reed Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a handful of Linnets all that could be found. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Chiffchaff & Linnet along the Medmerry Trail (AH)

Thursday, 19th June: A very warm and sunny morning in a light easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet again this morning. Full log below. (SR)

(0700-0800hrs) (E, F2)

Mallard - 2E

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Swift - 5

House Martin - 9

Pied Wagtail - 1

House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper flew out from the harbour early this morning, but otherwise there were just a Black-tailed Godwit, a Lapwing, 15 Redshanks and three Shelducks present. (CRJ/AH)

This afternoon, a Ring-necked Parakeet was calling from somewhere near the Information Centre/Discovery Area. (AB)

Redshanks on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Cuckoo flew the length of the pool early on, and a pair of Shovelers flew out and around, before settling in Ferry channel, whilst and adult and large young Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Tufted Ducks and five ducklings were on the water.

The hedges and reeds were quiet, though the odd Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler popped up, as did a couple of Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Reed Bunting, Linnet, Shovelers, juvenile Great Crested Grebe & Tufted Duck family at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Along Rectory Lane there was a family of Green Woodpeckers, whilst the hedges held two Lesser Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff and two Whitethroats.

Out in the harbour were a flock of c50 Mediterranean Gulls, c30 Sandwich Terns, two Little Terns, three Ringed Plovers and four Curlews. (SR)

Sidlesham Common: A Red Kite went over this morning. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs this morning, with just two Avocets, two Ringed Plovers, adult and a juvenile Redshank and a pair Common Terns present.

Along the banks lots of Whitethroats, Linnets, a Dartford Warbler, and 12+ Yellowhammers Skylarks were active and two Common Buzzards went over. (CRJ)

Yellowhammers (above), Linnet, Roe Deer & Marbled White at Medmerry (CRJ)