7th September 2025

Sunday, 7th September: Another blustery day, with the fresh south-easterly breeze persisting, though it was quite warm in the hazy sunshine before it clouded up later.....

Selsey Bill: An Osprey and a Hobby were both seen heading out to sea this morning, whilst the vast offshore feeding flock included 311 Sandwich Terns, 40 Common Terns, two Black Terns, a Little Tern and at least one Arctic Tern. There were also close to 2000 Swallows going east, along with plenty of Sand and House Martins and 31 Yellow Wagtails. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/MRB/IP/AH/CRJ)

(0600-0930hrs) (ESE, F4)

Gannet - 5E, 3W

Shag - 7E

Common Scoter - 10E

Osprey - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Hobby - 1

Oystercatcher - 4E

Sanderling - 14E

Turnstone - 15

Mediterranean Gull - 29os

Common Gull - 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 311os

Arctic Tern - 1os

Common Tern - 40os

Little Tern - 1os

Black Tern - 2os

Swallow - 1952E

Sand Martin - 238E

House Martin - 128E

Yellow Wagtail - 31E

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 4E

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

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper flew in and back out again early on, with the only other birds present being two Black-tailed Godwits and eight Teal. (AH/CRJ)

Later, at high tide, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the pool and a Wheatear was in the field. (GD)

Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were six Common Sandpipers, five continually feeding close together, on the flooded field this morning, along with a Greenshank, a Shoveler and c30 Teal, but the only bird seen in the bushes was a smart male Redstart. (AH)

Redstart (above), Common Sandpipers, Greenshank and Teal & Shoveler at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Chiffchaff was around the stables, a Pied Wagtail was on the fields and a flock of 12 Yellow Wagtails flew in, whilst two House Martins were still around the housing estate where they appear to still have nests.

Also a male Sparrowhawk was interacting with two Carrion Crows and another Sparrowhawk flew off the beach near Park Copse. (IP) 

Church Norton: A Curlew Sandpiper was among c40 Dunlin and c100 Ringed Plovers out in the middle until the tide pushed them off to the harbour mouth, whilst two Avocets - the first on the Peninsula for a while - flew into the harbour, but a Greenshank, three Knot and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits were the only other waders beyond the regulars.

Also, all four Spoonbills were roosting together in the harbour, and c40 Sandwich Terns,  three Pintail and eight Wigeon were noted, whilst least 300 Swallows, with a few Sand Martins and House Martins were feeding low over the water.

Up to five Wheatears were around the concrete blocks and a Spotted Flycatcher was on the Mound, but two calling Cetti's Warblers and a few hirundines at the Severals and c40 House Martins over the churchyard was it for passerines, whilst the only raptors noted were a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and two Buzzards. (PB/MRB/CRJ/AH/IP et al)

This afternoon, as the tide dropped, the Grey Phalarope re-appeared on the mud. (RJF)

Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Oystercatcher (above), Spoonbill, Avocets, Sandwich Terns, Ringed Plovers, Swallow & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Redstart was along the wall and three Spoonbills and a Spotted Redshank were in White's Creek this morning (RJF), with six juvenile Curlew Sandpipers along the east side (LP).

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An Osprey was sat out on the reserve this morning, eating a fish, with a Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels and a Whimbrel also about, whilst c100 Sandwich Terns were over on the far side and three Common Terns were around the rafts.

There was a reasonable bit along the banks and adjacent fields, despite the breeze, including a Dartford Warbler, three Wheatears, ten Yellowhammers, a Cetti's Warbler and c40 Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, with c100 Swallows, c40 Sand Martins and a couple of House Martins over. (S&SaH)