16th June 2026

Tuesday, 16th June: The morning started cool and grey in a light to moderate westerly, slowly brightening and warming up as the breeze freshened.....

Selsey Bill: A redhead Goosander west, high over the beach, was an unseasonal surprise this morning, whilst seven Sand Martins west together over the sea may well be returning birds, and there was also a big build-up of terns feeding off Hillfield Road. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0845hrs) (WNW, F3-4)

Gannet - 3E, 1W

Goosander - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 2W

Curlew - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W, 28os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 100os

Common Tern - 18os

Little Tern - 15os

Swift - 4

Sand Martin - 7W

House Martin - 15

Goosander (above), Sand Martins, House Martin, Little Tern, Common Terns, Sandwich Terns & Little and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 25 young Avocets on the pool, along withy 32 adults, but the only other birds present again were the Little Ringed Plover and an Oystercatcher. (AH)

Avocet chick (above) & Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were still a few Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus a Cetti's Warbler and half a dozen Whitethroats singing along the hedges, with a handful of Reed Buntings and Linnets and a dozen young Long-tailed Tits about, too, plus a Swallow over.

A Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were on the pool, though there was no sign of any young, whilst Ferry Channel held nine Lapwings, six Redshanks and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits. 

Also, at least 50 Painted Ladies were along the hedges, together with a Marbled White, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Large Skipper.(AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Painted Lady & Large Skipper at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Roseate Tern was roosting out on the mud again this morning. (RAI)

North Wall: A look early this morning produced a Great Crested Grebe, two Grey Herons, three Little Egrets, four Shelducks, four drake Gadwall, two pairs of Tufted Ducks and numerous Mallards on the Breech Pool, whilst in the harbour on the falling tide there were a number of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Curlews, another Great Crested Grebe and three Mute Swans.

Four Lesser Whitethroats, a few Reed, Sedge and Cettis Warblers and two calling Cuckoos were along the wall, whilst a Kingfisher flew along the hedgerows towards Little Welbourne and another was at Halsey's Farm, where a Raven was heard, and there were also four Grey Herons, an Avocet and a male Sparrowhawk carrying prey flew towards Owl Copse, two Common Seals were hauled out on the mud. (P Gomersall)

Also, later, in addition to the above, two Sand Martins went over the Breech Pool, five cattle Egrets were in the fields, three Buzzards went over and two Knot, two Grey Plovers, two Ringed Plovers and a Whimbrel were in the harbour. (PB)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail - A Cuckoo was seen and heard along the concrete road near the sewage works this morning. (GR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - a good selection along the banks this morning included two Dartford Warblers, a sedge Warbler, a dozen Reed Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, c40 Whitethroats, five Reed Buntings and c30 Yellowhammers, whilst a Greenshank was on the Stilt Pool, 14 Common Terns were around the rafts, a Curlew and four Lapwings were on the reserve and four Kestrels and four Buzzards went over,. (S&SaH)