7th - 9th June 2026

Tuesday, 9th June: Another cool and grey morning, with a mix of brief squally rain showers, heavy, fast moving cloud and the odd glimpse of the sun in the blustery south-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: It was really slow-going this morning! Full log below. (IP/AH/KT)

(0705-0805hrs) (SW, F4-5)

Gannet - 3E, 2W, 5os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 100os

Common Tern - 2os

Swift - 1 

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 5

Common Tern (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 20 young Avocets about this morning, along with 38 adults, two Redshanks, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, the drake Teal, a pair of Shovelers and 22 Shelducks, whilst a pair of Common Terns dropped in before heading off west. (AH)

Avocet chick (above), Common Terns, Shelduck and Redshank & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Quail was calling from a wheat field by the concrete road just north of Mapson's Farm early this morning (GM/BI) and it was still calling intermittently later in the morning, when there were also a few Skylarks, swifts and Swallows about and a presumed family party of four Ravens went over (KT/CRJ/AH)

Church Norton: Two Roseate Terns were out on the mud this morning, along with 20 Common Terns, including the first-year bird, a dozen Little Terns and innumerable Sandwich Terns, but a Black-tailed Godwit and a handful of Oystercatchers were the only waders seen. (AS/KT/AH)

Common and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

There were relatively few terns sat out on the mud this afternoon, though Little Terns were showing well. (AH)

Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out early this morning at Halsey's Farm, with a Cuckoo calling there and another at the other end of the wall, with the Marsh Harriers about, too, and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (MJa/AH/KU et al)

Barn Owl at the North Wall (AH)

Monday, 8th June: A fairly cool, grey and miserable morning, with belts of rain being pushed through on the brisk south-westerly breeze....

Belated news was received today of a Gull-billed Tern seen in the harbour from the North Wall on 27th May - see that day's report for more details. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Two Fulmars going west were the highlights of a slow morning. Full log below. (AH/SL/IP et al)

(0645-0830hrs) (SW, F5)

Fulmar - 23W

Gannet - 3W

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Sandwich Tern - 150os

Common Tern - 5os

Swift - 3

House Martin - 1

Later, between 1100 and 1200hrs, a Manx Shearwater went west, four Common Scoters went east and two Gannet5s were offshore. (RPo)

Fulmar (above), Gannet & Common Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was hard to count the young Avocets, with most sheltering under their parents, though at least a dozen could be seen, along with 32 adults, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank and 15 Shelducks  (AH)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: An adult Kittiwake among the terns in the harbour was a surprise this morning, though beyond the Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, there were just two or three Common Terns, a dozen Little Terns, a Curlew and a handful of Oystercatchers to be seen in the harbour, plus a Whitethroat in the churchyard and a couple of Swallows along Rectory Lane. (AH/SL)

Kittiwake and Sandwich Terns (above), Sandwich Tern & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were three Roseate Terns and a first-summer Common Tern among the birds on the mud. (AWi/AH/AGB et al)

Roseate Tern (above) & Roseate Tern, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Nine Common Terns were around the rafts and a Cuckoo, Ringed Plover, a Peregrine and a Buzzard were around the reserve this evening, whilst the banks held four Reed and Cetti's Warblers, six Whitethroats, two Reed Buntings and 12 Yellowhammers, plus a swallow over. (S&SaH)

Sunday, 7th June: A better day than yesterday, but still 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)

Later, a Peregrine went over the harbour (GW) and a Coal Tit and a Firecrest were around the car-park (MP).

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)

Kingfisher (above), Sedge Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Holly Blue at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Greenshank was on the Stilt Pol this morning, with eight Common Terns around the rafts and two Cuckoos on the reserve, whilst the banks held a Dartford Warbler, a Sedge Warbler,, four Reed Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, ten Whitethroats, five Reed Buntings and 12 Yellowhammers, plus six Swifts over. (S&SaH)