10th - 12th August 2025

Tuesday, 12th August:  A very warm morning of uninterrupted sunshine, only tempered by the freshening easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: A few hirundines and five juvenile Shelducks going east were the only things of note this morning. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/IP)

(0700-0815hrs) (ESE, F3-4)

Gannet - 4E

Shelduck - 5E 

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 2W

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 46E

Sand Martin - 19E

House Martin - 30E

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

Ferry Pool: The three Common Sandpipers and three Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool early on this morning, along with a Lapwing and a juvenile Redshank. (AH)

Common Sandpipers (above) & Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

West Itchenor: An Osprey went over, heading west, late this morning, and c800 Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour off Chalkdock. (PH)

Church Norton: It was very quiet everywhere this morning, with the bushes in the churchyard producing just a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats, 20 Long-tailed Tits, a probable juvenile Goldcrest and a possible Tree Pipit, whilst a couple of Wheatears were on the concrete blocks, a handful of Linnets were along the front and a couple of Swallows were along Rectory Lane, but everywhere else, including Greenlease Farm,  was effectively bird-less.

The harbour was equally slow, with five juvenile Shelducks (presumably those that passed the Bill earlier), a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and c25 Sandwich Terns the sum beyond the usual Redshanks and Oystercatchers. (AH/CRJ/NR/KJ et al)

Whitethroat (above), Swallow, Linnet & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 11th August:  The breeze started light and from the north-east before freshening as shifted to the south-east, but it was warm and sunny throughout.....

Selsey Bill: A couple of Wheatears and a Willow Warbler were along the front and a few hirundines went east this morning, as did eight Common Terns, of which six were juveniles. Full log below. (IP/AH/P&LH)

(0700-0830hrs) (ESE, F2-3)

Gannet - 8E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 20os

Sandwich Tern - 34E, 7W, 12os

Common Tern - 8E

Swift - 2

Swallow - 43E

Sand Martin 4e

House Martin - 27E

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

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

Ferry Pool: The three Common Sandpipers, three Black-tailed Godwits and four Redshanks were on the pool early, with the first digger out in the middle by mid-morning! (AH/PA)

Common Sandpipers at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The Common Sandpiper was still on the flooded field this morning, though there were no ducks present, whilst up to a dozen Willow Warblers and a couple of Reed Warblers were along the hedges. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Willow Warbler at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

West Itchenor: A Green Sandpiper flew west past here this morning. (PH)

Chichester GPs: Two Redstarts and five whitethroats were in the paddocks behind Nunnery Lake this evening, with c25 Willow Warblers and two Reed Warblers along the path, whilst 15 Swallows and c40 Pied Wagtails went over and four Gadwall and eight Tufted Ducks were on the water. (MRe)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was at Greenlease Farm this morning and seven Wheatears were along the beach/spit, whilst c20 Whitethroats were along the Severals, with a few more scattered about, along with a handful of Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, plus a couple of Chiffchaffs, with c30 Swallows and a couple of House Martins over..

Also, a Fulmar flew west along the beach late in the morning, but apart from c30 Sandwich Terns, including juveniles, there was not much in the harbour beyond a lone Whimbrel, a Greenshank, two Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen Curlews and c40 Redshanks and Oystercatchers. (PA/AH/IP/P&LH/RPo et al) 

Later on, a Pied Flycatcher was reported from Rectory Lane (per Birdgiudes), whilst a Common ern was among the Sandwich Terns in the harbour and a distant flocks of c40 Swifts and c40 Sand Martins were seen. (PA)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Four Yellow Wagtails were in the paddock this morning, and along White’s Creek there were two Kingfishers, five Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Knot, a Grey Plover, three Whimbrels, four Lapwings, four Gadwall, six Teal, and lots of Redshanks.

Two Common Terns were over the Breech Pool and two Little Ringed Plovers were on the mud but otherwise there were just a few Mallards on the water. Two Wheatears were along the wall, a Marsh Harrier flew over from the harbour and c100 Sand Martins and c20 Swallows were overhead.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Dunlin, the juvenile Redshank, two Lapwings and a Common Sandpiper were along the rife and a Lesser Whitethroat, a Kestrel, six Linnets, four Greenfinches and 20 Goldfinches were along the bushes. (LP/DHi/IH/TRH/MJa/DC et al)

This evening, a Redstart, a Whitethroat and two Willow Warblers were along the hedges, with ten Yellow Wagtails in the fields and c20 Swallows and c120 Sand Martins over.

Also, 17 adult and 12 juvenile Cattle Egrets were in Owl Copse and a Buzzard and rwo Marsh Harriers - a female and a juvenile - went over. (S&SaH)

Wheatear (above), Yellow Wagtails, Common Sandpiper, Greenshanks and Redshanks, Little Ringed Plovers, Dunlin & Kestrel and Goldfinches at the North Wall (LP)

Sunday, 10th August:  Light winds from the north early on then forecast to move southerly through the day...staying dry and sunny...

Selsey Bill: A dark phase Arctic Skua went west this morning at distance and there were two Wheatears on the beach but it was generally quiet. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/IP/ML/BI et al)

(0600-0830hrs) (NNW, F2)
Gannet - 2E 2W

Common Scoter - 4E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E 1W

Turnstone - 36

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W 1W

Sandwich Tern - 29E 15W 10os

Common Tern - 4W

Sand Martin - 27W

House Martin - 50W

Swallow - 5W

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 2

Sedge Warbler - 1 (in sea-front gardens)

Willow Warbler - 1

Turnstones, above, & Wheatears at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: With work here due to start on Monday 11th August this was the last day of the pool as it has been over the years. Hopefully the rejuvenation will bring with it good habitat and good birds! Today there were three Common Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank present. (BI)

Common Sandpipers above & the Ferry Pool (BI)

Northcommon Farm: There were no flycatchers seen here early on but six Willow Warblers were around the adjacent hedgerows. (NM/PB/MRB/BI et al)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Tree Pipit flew over here today (MRe) and later three Pied Wagtails were here. The hirundine flock eventually exceeded 200 birds, of which two thirds were House Martins, one third Swallows plus at least half a dozen Sand Martins, but no sign of any Swifts. A Stock Dove also flew across the fields. (IP)

Birdham: A Nuthatch was on the feeders in our garden today - the first sighting here. (GT)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was behind the hide and there were at least twelve Wheatears on the concrete boxes this morning. 

Present in the harbour was a Kingfisher that caught a small fish. Herons numbered a total of twenty, mainly Little Egrets but also four Grey Herons. Waders were again limited to 30 Oystercatchers, 20 Redshanks, 20Curlews, five Turnstones and a lone Whimbrel. A pair of Sparrowhawks flew low over the mud here (presumably the birds seen later over the Severals) and a Kestrel was hunting along the Spit. A small flock of Canada Geese were on the mud off the North Wall. 

At the Severals there were eight Reed Warblers and ten Whitethroats logged along with with singles of Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting (juvenile) and both Woodpecker species (juvenile Green). A  pair of Sparrowhawks were interacting above the first several, plus a distant Buzzard and a Kestrel. 

On the second several a Water Rail ran out of the reeds onto the mud at the back, briefly stopped and then flew into the opposite side and the five Mallard ducklings and their mother were present, too. There were plenty of Whitethroats along the bushes and a female Blackcap was in Bluebell Wood where earlier a Hobby was perched. At Greenlease Farm a Common Redstart was also noted. (NM/IP/MRe) A Great White Egret was also observed twice over the harbour. (SD-Jones)

This evening there were still a dozen or so juvenile Sandwich Terns in the harbour along with attendant parents, and a Greenshank was roosting on Tern Island. (AH)

juvenile Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Common Sandpiper was present today, three Tree Pipits flew over towards the harbour and there at least ten Willow Warblers in the bushes. (BI)

There were still at least ten Willow Warblers and half a dozen Reed Warblers present this evening. (AH)

Willow Warbler (above) & Reed Warbler at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: A Common Sandpiper was in Halsey's creek along with two Black-tailed Godwits and two Redshanks but the bushes and hedges nearby were rather quiet with only a few Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and a lone Kestrel noted. A Kingfisher was near the sluice, as was another Common Sandpiper, c.12 Cattle Egrets were about and a Reed Bunting was also seen. (PB/MRB/BI et al)  

Common Sandpiper & Kestrel at the North Wall (BI)

As the day progressed some better sightings were noted: a juvenile Cuckoo was in the bushes behind the stables early on and later further along the wall, and two Sparrowhawks were soaring high overhead.

Two Knot were along White’s Creek, along with a Whimbrel, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, six Lapwings and many Redshanks, with a Yellow-legged Gull, three Teal and four Gadwall were out on the mud.

Three Spotted Redshanks were found on the Breech Pool, as well as a Little Ringed Plover, three Grey Herons and the resident Mallards whilst 80 Canada Geese flew over and out into the harbour.

At Owl Copse, the juvenile Cattle Egrets were still in the trees, a Common Sandpiper was along the banks, and out by Heron Island a Greenshank was roosting along the channel. Six Yellow Wagtails were by the rife at Halsey’s Farm along with two Lapwings and around the bushes there were at least 20 Whitethroats, two Lesser Whitethroats and a Linnet. (LP/MJa/CT/JDW et al)

There were some note worthy birds this afternoon too: a juvenile Kittiwake circling over the sluice before heading inland, a minimum of 415 Sand Martins moving east and a Redstart, a Tree Pipit , two Sedge Warblers and two Wheatears along the wall 

There were also a Kingfisher, 28 Cattle Egrets, two Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, three Lapwings, 13 Black-tailed Godwits and 155 Curlews noted. (GJa/PJ/BJ)

Little Ringed Plover, above, Spotted Redshanks, Cuckoo & Yellow Wagtails at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: The warm conditions encouraged the raptors today with a Marsh Harrier, six Buzzards up along with two Sparrowhawks and six Kestrels. 

A Whimbrel was out on the mud and 16 Common Terns were around the rafts whilst the banks held a Dartford Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, two Reed Warblers, six Yellowhammers, 15 Whitethroats and c20 Willow Warblers, whilst nine Swallows were also seen overhead, along with a Tree Pipit and four Yellow Wagtails.. 

There was a single Redshank on the Stilt Pool along with four Common Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, three Lapwings, a. Lesser Black-backed Gull and c200 Mediterranean Gulls. 

Non-avian highlights included three Brown Hares, two Common Lizards, a Jersey Tiger moth and a Clouded Yellow butterfly. (S&SaaH/GJ/PJ/BJ)