23rd - 25th August 2025

Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August: A very warm and sunny morning in a moderate south-easterly breeze.......... 

Selsey Bill: There was a steady eastward movement of hirundines, plus 27 Yellow Wagtails this morning, along with 64 Sandwich Terns, a few Common/Commic Terns and 13 Shags, whilst five Knot dropped in on the shingle bar. Full log below. (SH/PB/PM/IP/AH

(0600-0900hrs) (SE, F4)

Gannet - 14E, 2W, 8os

Shag - 13E, 1os

Common Scoter - 2E

Knot - 5

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 131E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 64E, 16os

Common Tern - 5E

'Commic' Tern - 4E

Swallow - 137E

Sand Martin - 124E

House Martin - 24E

Yellow Wagtail - 27E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Wheatear - 1

Sandwich Tern (above), Shag & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There is very little change at present on the last muddy patch, with two Common Sandpipers, the three juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and juvenile Redshank, a Lapwing and three Black-tailed Godwits all around again this morning. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Little Ringed Plovers at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, three snipe, three Black-tailed Godwits and six Teal around the flooded field this morning, but a couple of Reed Warblers and a Whitethroat was about it in the bushes. (AH)

Green Sandpiper at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: Early this morning a juvenile Peregrine flew over the path down to the beach and a Kingfisher was around the first Severals, whilst a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs were in the churchyard but other than a trickle of hirundines over it was very quiet. (AW)

Peregrine (above) & Blackcap at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: A Spoonbill, five Spotted Redshanks and a Greenshank were on the Breech Pool early on, before all relocating along White’s Creek later on. Also along White’s Creek were 16 Black-tailed Godwits, five Knot, c150 Redshanks, 22 Curlews, eight Lapwing, a Common Sandpiper, two Wigeon, 27 Gadwall, c50 Teal and a Great Crested Grebe, whilst further out on the mud were c120 Ringed Plovers, 24 Grey Plovers and 22 Dunlin.

At Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was along the rife, a Redstart, a Whinchat and a Lesser Whitethroat were along the bushes, as well as 18 Linnets, 6 Greenfinches, 22 Goldfinches, 4 Whitethroats, c50 Swallows, a Sand Martin and a couple of Willow Warblers, with a Peregrine, two Buzzards and three Kestrels also around. (LP/TG/MJa/TRH/PB/PM/DHi et al)

Spoonbill (LP top, PM lower two)  (above), Spotted Redshanks, Whinchat, Sand Martin, Swallows and Greenfinch  (LP),  Kingfisher,  Sparrowhawk, Cattle Egret & Curlew (AD) at the North Wall 

Birdham: The female Redstart was in the garden again this morning. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A juvenile Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard went over, getting 150 Teal to fly out from the reservoir, with a Chiffchaff, a Willow/Chiff and a Whitethroat along the banks and eight Swallows went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At least ten Yellow Wagtails were around the small herd of cattle this morning at Porthole Farm, with two or three Whitethroats, a Blackcap and half a dozen Long-tailed Tits in the bushes, whilst c25 Swallows were over the bare fields and a Cattle Egret flew south.

Another dozen Whitethroats were around Ham, plus a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Yellowhammer and a handful of Linnets, but very little else in the hedges or along the banks, though c50 Sand Martins and Swallows were feeding overhead. (AH)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Whitethroat, Sand Martin, Yellowhammer & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 24th August: The breeze shifted to the south-east and freshened again this morning, though there was lots of warm sun..... 

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including a Garganey that came in from the east and went back again, early on, whilst three Swifts were about and there was a steady eastward movement of hirundines, plus ten Yellow Wagtails, and 15 Shags and ten common Terns went east offshore. Full log below. 

(SH/JA/BI/PB/MRB/IP/AH/P&LH/JFi)

(0600-0900hrs) (SE, F4)

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Gannet - 9E, 7W, 20os

Shag - 15E

Garganey - 1E

Sanderling - 2E

Whimbrel - 1W

Turnstone 1E

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 375E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 35E, 3os

Common Tern - 10E, 3os

Swift - 3

Swallow - 137E

Sand Martin - 76E

House Martin - 12E

Yellow wagtail - 10E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

(1300-1340hrs) (P&LH)

Shag - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 19

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 6W

Shags (above) & Swallow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipers present this morning, along with the three juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and juvenile Redshank, a Lapwing and five Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

This afternoon there were six Wheatears on Ferry Field, along with two Stonechats and two Cattle Egrets, with a Whitethroat and two Chiffchaffs in the hedges. (MRe)

Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plovers & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, two Snipe, a Dunlin, a Lapwing, five Black-tailed Godwits, two Little Grebes and six Teal on the flooded field, plus a Sparrowhawk over, but not much at all in the hedges. (AH/PB/MRB/P&LH)

Snipe (above) & Dunlin at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Northcommon Farm: A Redstart, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, two Whitethroats and Green Woodpeckers, three Pied Wagtails, four House Martins, six Swallows and a Buzzard were around the Flycatcher Corner area this morning. (SR)

Birdham: There were both a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart in the garden this morning. (AB)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Wheatear and a Stonechat were on the fields today and a Coal Tit was in Park Lane, whilst a Sand Martin, ten House Martins, two Swallows and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH/MRe)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the hide area this morning, along with a Cetti's Warbler, whilst three Wheatears were on the concrete blocks and there were also, two Redstarts and two Blackcaps about, plus a Tree Pipit in Bluebell Wood, and a Marsh Harrier went over. (PB/MRB/P&LH/S&SaH/MRe)

Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (LH)

Early this evening, a female Merlin went low across the harbour, and there was also a Bar-tailed Godwit on the mud. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Spoonbill was on the Breech Pool early on, along with five moulting Spotted Redshanks, a couple of Snipe and a Water Rail, whilst later the Ruff was back on there, but nothing else.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in White's Creek, along with two Kingfishers, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst further down there were c20 Ringed Plovers and a dozen Dunlin, along with a Grey Plover, a Greenshank, a Wigeon, c20 Teal and c30 Gadwall.

The bushes were quiet, with just a Redstart and a Whinchat at Halsey's Farm and just the odd Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warbler seen elsewhere, though four Yellow Wagtails were with the cows and a few dozen hirundines - mainly Swallows - went over. (LP/MJa/DHiJFi//IP/AH et al)

Spoonbill (LP above, C Stockwell lower) (above), Spotted Redshank, Sedge Warbler (LP), Snipe, Kingfisher (C Stockwell), Ruff (IP top, AH lower), Greenshank, Dunlin, Wigeon & Gadwall (AH) at the North Wall

Ruff (IP top, AH lower), Greenshank, Dunlin, Wigeon & Gadwall (AH) at the North Wall

Pagham Spit: A Wheatear was on the spit this morning, with a few Ringed Plovers, Curlews and Turnstones in the harbour. (EB)

Wheatear (above), Ringed Plover, Turnstones & Curlew at Pagham Spit (EB)

Saturday, 23rd August: A pleasant morning of light cloud and hazy sun, warm after a chill start in just a light and variable breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Whinchat was on the beach early on, a Fulmar went west, 12 Shags went east and a Swift, 43 Yellow Wagtails and a few hirundines went over, but the sea was quiet beyond the return of c150 Mediterranean Gulls. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/IP/AH)

(0600-0900hrs) (N, F2)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 9E, 7W

Shag - 12E, 1os

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher - 6W

Turnstone - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 150os

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 1W, 6os

Common Tern - 3E, 2W, 3os

Swift - 1W

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 7E

Sand Martin - 15E

House Martin - 15E

Yellow Wagtail - 43E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Whinchat - 1

Shag (above), Yellow Wagtails & Sandwich Tern and Black-headed Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just the Common Sandpiper, three juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, juvenile Redshank and three Black-tailed Godwits present this morning. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, two Snipe and eight Black-tailed Godwits were on the flooded field, along with eight Teal, whilst seven Cattle Egrets were on the adjacent Yeoman's Field, but the bushes were very quiet.

There were also three Pipistrelle bats flying around at dawn.(BI/AH/PB)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Cattle Egret at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Coal Tit was calling from trees in Manor Road, to the north of the village, this morning, (SH), whilst the farm had a couple of Yellow Wagtails and c100 House Martins over were the only things of note (IP).

North Wall: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the gardens at the end of Church Lane as well a Green Woodpecker, but there was just a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff around the paddock, although further back a Merlin was chasing small birds along the bushes.

A Knot and a Whimbrel were along White’s Creek with the usual Redshanks, Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits and further out on the mud there were a few Ringed Plovers, Dunlins, Curlews and Grey Plovers, as well as a Yellow-legged Gull, and 18 Canada Geese.

The Ruff was back on the Breech Pool, and a Water Rail was again showing well along the edges of the reeds, where there were also two Snipe and a Kingfisher, whilst in the bushes along the wall, there were eight Reed Buntings, six Whitethroats and a Blackcap, with eight young Cattle Egrets still in the trees at Owl Copse.

It was busy at Halsey’s Farm with two Spotted Flycatchers, two Redstarts, two Whinchats, two Lesser Whitethroats, six Whitethroats, ten Linnets, three Willow Warblers, a Jay, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker along the hedgerow, eight Yellow Wagtails were with the cows, two Wheatears were on the fences, and c200 Swallows and Sand Martins passed overhead with a Hobby, a Sparrowhawk, a Red Kite and a Buzzard also around. (SR/LP/MJa/SP/NM/BI/CT/JDW/RHa et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Whinchat, Knot, Snipe, Kingfisher, Red Kite & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham Quay: A Coal Tit was around the tamarisk this monring as was a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler. A Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting were around the concrete wall and 32 Canada Geese flew over. (BI) 

Church Norton: Two Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide this morning and a Coal Tit was in the car-park, but there were very few small birds about, beyond a Blackcap and a couple of Whitethroats.

Early on, 14 Yellow Wagtails went along the beach, with three dropping in briefly, whilst later another Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit went over, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and c20 Whitethroats were around the Severals, and a continuous flow of Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows headed south.

A Red Kite went over towards the North Wall, but a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, two Common Sandpipers, a Turnstone, a Grey Plover, a dozen Ringed Plovers and c25 Dunlin were about it around in the harbour beyond the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers, with the only two Sandwich Terns being seen offshore. (AW/KT/IP/AH)

Later, a Pied Flycatcher was reported from the churchyard (per Birdguides).

Spotted Flycatchers (above), Yellow Wagtail (AW), Red Kite (AH) & Greenshank (IP) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It looks like the Common Terns have finally left the rafts, with just two seen elsewhere this morning, whilst the Stilt Pool held four Greenshanks, five common Sandpipers and four Dunlin, with another Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, three Kestrels and eight Buzzards on and over the reserve and a Sandwich Tern offshore..

There were a Whinchat and three Stonechats along the banks, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, six Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler, four Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting and ten Yellowhammers, whilst c30 Yellow Wagtails were among the cows and two Sand Martins and c60 Swallows went over. (S&SaH/PB)