7th June 2026

Sunday, 7th June: A better day than yesterday, but stil cool and grey in the fresh and blustery westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: Five Arctic Skuas - two pale phase birds together, followed soon afterwards by three dark-phase birds together - heading east were the unexpected highlight of a quiet morning. Full log below. 

(SH/PB/AGB/MRB/JB/AH/IP/OM)

(0600-1045hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Gannet - 2E, 6W

Common Scoter - 4E

Oystercatcher 1E, 2W

Arctic Skua - 5E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os, 10W

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 60os

Common Tern - 11os

Little Tern - 4 os

Arctic Skua (above), Little Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH) and (bottom two) Great Black-backed Gulls (OM)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 15 Avocets chicks and 42 adults on the pool this morning, along with 54 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank and 22 Shelducks, but not a lot else. (AH/OM)

Avocets (above) & Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A single Curlew and an Oystercatcher were the only waders about, and relatively few terns were on the mud, though a dozen Little Terns were feeding towards the harbour mouth and a steady stream of Sandwich Terns, plus a few Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls were coming and going from the island. (AH)

Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was fairly quiet along the wall in the blustery conditions, although two Kingfishers - one of which looked like a young juvenile - were about, and a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Whitethroats, and Long-tailed Tits were along the bushes, and the Lesser Whitethroat was still singing in Owl Copse.

The male Marsh Harrier and two Swifts were over the reeds and a Little Tern was fishing on the Breech Pool.

A Lapwing at Halsey’s Farm, and a Black-tailed Godwit along White’s Creek, were the only waders seen, also a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the trees, and a Holly Blue was along the path. (LP/MRi/MJa/GHi)