23rd May 2026

Saturday, 23rd May: A very warm morning of unbroken sunshine, initially in just a light northerly breeze, though it freshened a little as it backed to the west later on........

Selsey Bill: Another unsurprisingly quiet morning, though 17 Common Scoters went east, two Fulmars and three Sanderlings went west and three Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/IP/JA)

(0600-0830hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 2E

Common Scoter - 17E

Sanderling - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 13E, 11os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 38os

Common Tern - 8os

Swift - 6

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 8

Mediterranean Gulls (above), Common Scoters & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was at the back and the pair of Common Terns were again looking interested in the islands this morning, whilst it looked like an Avocet was brooding young, with another 33 present, along with 65 Black-tailed Godwits, the pair of Shovelers, nine Gadwall, two Shelducks and c25 Mallards.

Also, the sedge Warbler was again singing from the Small Pool and one or two Whitethroats and Cetti's Warblers were in the Discovery Area. (AH/JA)

Common Sandpiper (above), Common Terns, Black-tailed Godwit & Sedge Warbler at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were at least 200 Sandwich Terns out on the mud this morning, along with a dozen Little Terns and a couple of Common Terns, but a Whimbrel and a handful of Oystercatchers were the only waders present.

There wasn't much else to report beyond a Whitethroat and a Blackcap in the hedges and a couple of Swallows along Rectory Lane, plus lots of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls overhead throughout. (AH/IP)

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were eight Common Terns around their rafts this morning, whilst a pair of Lapwings were on the reserve, along with a Dunlin, and two Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, with five Swallows, a Buzzard and three Kestrels over.

The banks were fairly busy in the lighter winds, notably with four Dartford Warblers showing, whilst a good selection, otherwise, included c20 Whitethroats, a dozen Reed Warblers, four each of Chiffchaffs, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, a Blackcap, two Stonechats, a Pied Wagtail, five Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH/PB)