Birding the Selsey Peninsula: 7th

Wednesday, 9th July: A sunny and increasingly warm morning in just a light north-westerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: A Kittiwake was lingering close offshore this morning and a Common Sandpiper went west along the beach, but the most conspicuous feature was the vast distant feeding flock and large numbers of birds on the bar off Hillfield Road that included two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Common Gulls. Full log below. (MRe/AH/IP/SR)

(0620-0820hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Gannet - 2E, 5W, 2os

Common Sandpiper - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 500os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5os

Yellow-legged Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 20E, 38W, 43os

Common Tern - 1os

Swift - 11

Swallow - 1W

House Martin - 12

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Kittiwake (above), Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was more water in the pool this morning, but less birds, with just a Common Sandpiper, a Lapwing and three Black-tailed Godwits present. (AH)

Lapwing (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were still present this morning, along with four Black-tailed Godwits, and two Common Sandpipers flew into the back of the reeds.

There were also four Teal and a pair of Little Grebes and two young on the water, with a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a couple of Reed Warblers and a Jay around the bushes. (AH/SR)

This evening the Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were still present, along with nine Black-tailed Godwits and five Teal, whilst five Swallows and 20 Sand Martins went over. (PA/S&SaH)

Green Sandpiper and Greenshank (above), Common Sandpiper & Sedge Warbler at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: The harbour was very busy again, though most birds were on the far side, including 400 Mediterranean Gulls, c150 Sandwich Terns, c30 Little Terns and half a dozen Common Terns, with the conveyor belt of Sandwich Terns bringing in fish starting to gain more momentum.

Otherwise, there were just a summer-plumaged Knot, a Whimbrel, a dozen Curlews and c20 Redshanks about the harbour and just the odd Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap in the hedges and a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Mediterranean Gull, Whimbrel, Chiffchaff & a busy harbour at Church Norton (AH)

Later, a Green Sandpiper went over Tern Island and c30 Sand Martins went west. (RAI)

This evening there ewre still lots of terns about, whilst a Greenshank, wo Whimbrel and a dozen Ringed Plovers were also present. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Lagoon: A drake Pochard was with five Tufted Ducks late this afternoon. (RAI)

North Wall: Two Little Ringed Plovers were along White’s Creek this morning, and a Little Tern was fishing along the channel, whilst out on the mud were c50 Redshanks, a Greenshank, 24 Dunlin, a Knot, a Grey Plover, 28 Curlews and two Whimbrels.

There were just five Black-tailed Godwits and a few Mallards on the Breech Pool and two of the juvenile Marsh Harriers were up, further back, with four Buzzards and c30 Mediterranean Gulls circling high up and three Sand Martins flew through.

Otherwise there was just a few Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers along the reeds, and 18 Cattle Egrets, eight Little Egrets and four Grey Herons around their island, whilst a Great spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff were in the paddock, and over 50 Swallows were around Little Welbourne. (LP/MJa/DHi/JDW/CT/GR)

This evening the female and three juvenile Marsh Harriers were about, along with five Cattle Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel, with a Chiffchaff, two Reed Buntings and ten Reed warblers along the wall and 24 Swallows and 34 Sand Martins over. (S&SaHH)

Greenshank (above), Knot, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Grey Plover & Dunlin and Redshanks a the North Wall (LP)

Tuesday, 8th July: A return to blue skies and warm sun this morning, though tempered somewhat by the brisk north-westerly breeze............

Selsey Bill: Four Sand Martins and a Swallow went west, but it was just the usual species again this morning. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0710-0810hrs) (NNW, F4)

Gannet - 12W

Common Scoter - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 5W, 25os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 45W

Common Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 1E

Swift - 4

Swallow - 1W

Sand Martin - 4W

House Martin - 12

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

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with the juvenile Avocet, two Lapwings and 14 Black-tailed Godwits. (AS/AH)

Avocet (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Greenshank was on the flooded field this morning, but otherwise there were just three Teal, c20 Mallards and a Grey Heron. (AH)

This evening a Green Sandpiper was with the Greenshank, and there were also five Black-tailed Godwits present and a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over. (S&SaH)

Greenshank at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: There wasn't too much to report this morning, with just a handful of Reed Warblers and the odd Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler and Whitethroat seen along the wall, with a dozen Swallows at Halsey's Fam and another dozen around the stables end.

A Little Ringed Plover was reported as on the Breech Pool early on, but later in the morning there were just 28 Black-tailed Godwits present, whilst a Lapwing was in the creek at Halsey's Farm, but the only waders in the harbour were another eight Black-tailed Godwits and half a dozen Redshanks and Curlews, whilst all of the c30 Cattle Egrets seen were in the back fields.. (AH/GHi/EB et al)

This evening a female and three juvenile Marsh Harriers flew in behind the Breech Pool, and a bit later what was possibly a different female and two juvenile flew in further back.

There were also a Ki9ngfisher, 15 Cattle Egrets, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, three Swallows and 23 Sand Martins about. (S&SaH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Black-tailed Godwits & Lapwing at the Noth Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit: A count along the spit of Breach Island netted 89 Little Terns, including at least eight chicks, 23 Ringed Plovers, five Dunlin, seven Turnstones, and six Oystercatchers, whilst packed onto one end of the island were c80 Sandwich Terns, with many more on the other banks, as well as a Common Tern, c600 Mediterranean Gulls and many Black-headed Gulls.

Six Linnets, eight Swallows, and four Skylarks were along the spit and a Common Sandpiper was in the harbour but most of the action was around the islands and the offshore banks, where there were also large numbers of birds.(LP/MJa/JDW)

Little Terns (above), Sandwich Terns, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher & Ringed Plovers (LP)

Runcton: A Red Kite went over this afternoon. (CRJ)

Medmerry: A Red Kite went over Ham this morning. (LL)

Monday, 7th July: A thoroughly miserable morning, unseasonably cool in a fresh north-westerly. with leaden skies and persistent drizzly rain.....

Pom King 2025: Once again the annual Pom King challenge took place this spring, with this year's champion - or King - being none other than our own Andy House, with a total of 26 logged from an overall spring total of 47. This is in fact Andy's second title, for he was also joint winner two years ago. A creditable mention must also go to the runner-up Sarah Russell, who ran him close this year - but ultimately all challengers were 'done in' by the flock of 14 that he alone lucked into on 29th April and from which there was no coming back for other contenders.

Now it must be admitted that a certain amount of humble pie was eaten by a certain editor who had previously proclaimed that "if Andy can win it then anyone can!" - partly based on experience from much earlier times when the said AH could never get there early. No matter, he was a worthy winner this year, so congratulations from all the team and I'm sure all who know him. As tradition dictates, he was presented with the trophy, fittingly by our statistician Ian Pitts, who has now taken on responsibility for all Pom King matters. Well done to all, and so it's all over for another year. Just a thought though - you don't suppose he could do a hat-trick and win next year? Perhaps I'd better make no comment! (OM/Eds)

New Pom King Andy House (AH) (left), happily receiving the trophy from statistician Ian Pitts (IP) at the Bill

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with a flock of 24 Swifts high over the sea the highlight, but just the regular species about, otherwise. Full log below. (AH/SR/IP)

(0650-0805hrs) (NNW, F4)

Gannet - 6E, 17W, 8os

Common Scoter - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 6E, 47W

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 12W

Swift - 27

House Martin - 2

Gannets (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just an adult and a juvenile Avocet and six Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning. (AH)

Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Green Sandpiper was at the back of the Breech Pool this morning, as well as a Curlew, 11 Black-tailed Godwits and a fishing Common Tern.

Only one of the juvenile Marsh Harriers was in the bushes, and around the paddock there were eight Swallows, a Green Woodpecker, a Song Thrush, and a Chiffchaff. Out in the harbour at high tide a Great Crested Grebe was on the water, and a Whimbrel, 20 Redshanks and two Curlews were on the banks, with a Pied Wagtail by the sluice. (LP/MJa)

Church Norton: The harbour was full of birds again, including plenty of Little, Common and Sandwich Terns, plus a pair of Common Gulls and c300 Mediterranean Gulls, with at least 200 more of the latter among a huge feeding flock offshore that also included half a dozen Gannets.

Waders seen, however, comprised of just four Black-tailed Godwits, two Dunlin, half a dozen Ringed Plovers and Curlews and a dozen Oystercatchers, and there was unsurprisingly nothing to be seen in the hedges. (AH)

Later in the morning, as the tide rose, the Roseate Tern put in an appearance, but it did not hang around. (BFF/SL)

There was no sign of the Roseate Tern this evening, among the vast numbers of gulls and terns, but here were three Whimbrel about. (PA)