10th July 2025

Thursday, 10th July: An even warmer morning of unbroken sun, in just a light north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Two Little Terns and ten Sand Martins went east, but it was quiet this morning. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0700-0800hrs) (NW, F2)

Gannet - 6E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 100os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 19W

Little Tern - 2E

Swift - 4

Sand Martin - 10E

House Martin - 15

This evening there were four Little Terns among numerous Sandwich Terns off Hillfield Road. (ML)

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

Ferry Pool: There were just five Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshanks on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were quite a few fledged young Whitethroats and Reed Warblers along the pool, with a couple of Sedge Warblers, a family of Chiffchaffs and a flock of 25 Long-tailed Tits also about, together with a couple of Reed Buntings.

Also, c15 Sand Martins went over, a couple of Skylarks were in the fields and the mother Tufted Duck's five ducklings were more or less fully grown. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit & Tufted Duck family along the Long Pool (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were both still present this morning, along with three Black-tailed Godwits and four Teal, plus the family of Little Grebes and a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Warbles. (AH)

This evening, the Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were both still present, along with a Common Sandpiper and two Black-tailed Godwits, with c20 Swallows and c40 Sand Martins over. (S&SaH)

Greenshank on Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: Firstly an update from Gail of the RSPB - the last count of nests revealed 28 Little Tern nests on Breach Island and eight more on Peregrine Island, with 50+ Sandwich Tern nests on both Tern Island and Breach Island. Also, the first five fledged Little Terns were seen today, though it would seem that any previous juvenile gull and tern sightings refer to birds that have come from elsewhere, due to the very late start for our colonies.

Other than the constant activity on the mud and adjacent islands, there were also still a Greenshank and two Whimbrel in the harbour, along with a Dunlin and half a dozen Ringed Plovers. (GR/AH et al)

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

North Wall: A big pre-roost gathering of c200 Swallows and c400 Sand Martins built up over the reeds this evening, with a Swift about, too, though just four Reed Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Cetti's Warbler were evident along the wall.

Also, three juvenile Marsh Harriers were about, though no adults, with nine Cattle Egrets, 11 Black-tailed Godwits and two Whimbrel also noted. (s&SaH)

Sidlesham: There were at least a couple of hundred Mediterranean Gulls feeding on flying ants over Cow Lane this morning. (PA)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Farm - There were lots of birds and insects abut this morning, including a Corn Bunting, a Sedge Warbler, a few Yellowhammers and Whitethroats, a juvenile Meadow Pipit, a Green woodpecker and a few Rooks, Grey Herons and Little Egrets, whilst insects included Emperor dragonflies and Common Darters. (EB)

Corn Bunting (above), Meadow Pipit, Rooks, Starlings, Emperor & Common Darter at Medmerry (EB)