The Birding History of Selsey Bill

  

The Birding History of Selsey Bill

 A personal review by Owen Mitchell

Foreword:

This paper was first drafted and added to the Selsey blog in late 2021, but as I write this, that is four years ago and there have been a number of developments that make the time right for an update and some emendations. Perhaps one of the most significant events concerns the sad passing of one of the early pioneers at Selsey Bill, a man who was perhaps the major driving force in getting the place established as a sea-watching location, and even as an official Observatory for a while, whilst also being largely involved in taking on the 'establishment' of the day, leading in 1962 to the formation of the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS). That man was B.A.E. Marr (BAEM)  and he would later go on to be a major figure in the ornithological world. Everyone knew him as Tony - even though birders were often just known by their initials then - and in my early birding 'career' I learnt a lot from BAEM, even adopting some of his methods for noting and recording sightings.

Tony passed away in early July 2025, but as sad as it was at his funeral, for me personally it was both a day of closure but also an opening of new doors. Over the years I had frequently researched events from the 1960's publications of those early days, gradually becoming familiar with the names, if not always the faces, of those pioneers; now, at the funeral, were gathered several of those very people and I was able to hear first hand accounts of how it really was back then. It also resulted in two of them subsequently providing me with photos to back up the information, highlighting the names of others who were also present back in those times (thanks to RF Porter and  R Jolliffe).

I hope then what follows in this personal review will form a tribute to Tony and to those of his generation, whilst telling the full story by continuing on to those that have followed since, eventually leading up to current times and the birders of today.....

I’ve never actually lived on the Selsey (Manhood) Peninsula, but I’ve spent a great deal of time there over the years and still visit to this day, although admittedly a good deal less often now than I did in my heyday! It’s now about fifty-two years since my interest was first kindled by my great birding mate Bernie Forbes, taking me to sea-watch at ‘the Bill’ and I can still remember the excitement. I also remember how straightforward my journey through the Peninsula was back then, unlike the journeys nowadays. I dread to think of the number of miles I’ve travelled back-and-forth since that first trip, but even so I still consider the area a local patch. Inevitably of course I’ve noticed a great deal of change, too often to the detriment of wildlife, but despite this, the Selsey area still remains a wonderful place for a day’s birding, with a whole range of habitats all within a short distance.

I’d always been keen to document the birds of the area, resulting in several publications over the years, but in 2013, after fully retiring, I realised it was time to move forward and embrace the online world – resulting in the ‘Selsey Blog’ you are now reading. However, whilst the whole Peninsula undeniably holds many good birding areas, there is something special about being on a headland and watching birds on migration moving over the sea, always with the additional hope of something unusual either arriving or departing. Sea-watching is not for everyone; there are many dull days and it is often dependant on the right wind and weather combinations - but get it right and there is surely no finer type of birding!

Whilst this is personal review, it is not all about me, other than the part I have directly played as part of the team, for really this is a history of a team of people where individuals may change over time but the group purpose is maintained. I did consider writing this to merely include the facts, omitting any emotion, but in truth that would be selling it short; birding at the Bill has been and still is so much more than that. A host of individual personalities have helped shape the history of the place through the years, hence I felt I had to record this where possible for future researchers. Inevitably however, time takes its toll and sadly a number of our friends who were part of the story have now passed on; where this is known to be the case their names are marked with an asterisk on first mention and shown in italics, rather than adopting the more formal term 'the late' as their contribution lives on forever.

Bee-eater at Bill House, Selsey -  by Ads Bowley

1959-69: The early years and the Hut

The first consolidated observations started way back in 1959, when a regular group of observers realised the potential of the area and began a programme of almost complete coverage, especially during spring and autumn, which was to last until 1965. A small but official observatory was set up during this time, operating from a rickety wooden hut, with detailed record-keeping and bird-ringing operations taking place. The first Selsey Bill Bird Reports also appeared during this time, initially half-yearly and consisting of typed sheets in a plain manila cover, later to become annual, with duplicated foolscap sheets and a cover picture of each year’s memorable birding event….for example, White-tailed Eagle, Barred Warbler, and the Common Crane invasion of 1963.

How it all began! (photo: BAEM)

(above) A young Dave Flumm (DSF) posing outside the Hut, late 1960's.The original Selsey Bill Observatory nameplate was retained by Dave when operations ceased, and it is pictured above, attached to his shed at home in Cornwall, where he lived for many years. He now resides in Australia, but before leaving he kindly donated the nameplate to me.   (photos: DS Flumm)

(below) Harry Robinson (HPKR) drinking a brew outside the windowless hut, late 1960's, probably shortly before it was demolished (photo: DSF) and (bottom) the early Selsey Bill Reports (foolscap size) (photo: OM)

Many young observers cut their birding teeth here during these early years, some destined to become more famous in later life; Richard Porter, Mike Shrubb* and B.A.E. ‘Tony’ Marr* are just three who spring to mind amongst a veritable ‘Who’s who’ of ornithological names of that time. I must pay tribute to these early Selsey pioneers; indeed members of this group – largely inspired by Tony Marr – were also responsible for founding the Sussex Ornithological Society in 1962. There are numerous tales of the hut, which had to be frequently repaired after storms, but some of the younger observers were even known to sleep there overnight (this was forbidden due to neighbourly complaints), despite the lack of any windows, toilet facilities or other basics. These young attendees – often just known by their initials - included Dave Flumm (DSF), Harry Robinson (HPKR), Alan Kitson (ARK) and even Paul James (PJ), who was often taken there as a young child by his birding parents,  Charles* and Beryl James.*

The Bill-tip area held so much more scrub cover and vegetation than is the case today, ideal for recording and ringing migrant birds and attracting species such as Melodious Warbler (several). Great Reed Warbler and Savi’s Warbler, whilst species arriving from the sea included Corncrake and Quail! However, nothing is forever and by the end of 1964 that situation was changing. The expanding holiday trade and the growth in residential and leisure development began to cause the loss of natural habitat, so by 1965 many of the regular observers decided to switch locations to Beachy Head. Sadly this left only a few casual or local observers to continue at Selsey for the next few years, although one dedicated individual in particular remained (HPKR), even managing to produce more ‘plain manila cover’ reports right up until 1969, often assisted by the young DSF.

The following group of photos gives a flavour of what things were like at the Bill for observers in those pioneering early days.....................

(L-to-R): Roger Wilmshurst, Bob Oliver, Martin Port, Tony Sheldon, Neil Money and Pete Morgan at the Bill, apparently sea-watching, c.1961. Note the equipment of the time and the clothing (photo: RF Porter)

Selsey Bill, c.1961, with Adrian Allen (centre) and right is Graham 'Taff' Rees, who later became more famous elsewhere and in later life spent much time sea-watching at Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire. (photo: RF Porter)

(L-to-R): Adrian Allen, Robin Jolliffe (RLKJ), Richard Porter (RFP) and Bob Oliver during a sea-watch, April 1960, with a blanket deployed by the lucky central duo! (photo: courtesy of RF Porter)

A young Tony Marr (BAEM) with a grounded juvenile Pomarine Skua at the Bill on 8th Oct 1961, watched by Mike Shrubb (MS). These two were stalwarts of the Bill in their heyday. (photos: BAEM)

The four above images were provided by Robin Jolliffe (RLKJ). The photo's bear his own annotations from the time, sandwiched between an early Bill log and some detailed notes on a White-winged Black Tern. The latter type of written description was the norm for rarities at the time.

 An early handwritten Bill checklist and a 1966 yearly summary, compiled by HPKR (photos: HPKR, per S.Krah)

1970-79: A new birding generation

As the 1970's began, the Bill was never actually abandoned, but information and observer visits became erratic, with no co-ordinated gathering of records for a while. As mentioned previously, by 1973 I'd made my first visit to sea-watch, but thereafter there were further visits, when I stayed longer and met one or two other birders….one in particular being Chris Janman (CRJ). My visits were still infrequent however as I lived in Brighton; furthermore my birding mentor Bernie was more keen on walking me across Downland or heading off to inland Commons at that time, not having the patience for a slow sea-watch!

Then in late 1974 things changed considerably when I moved to West Sussex and much closer to the Peninsula, where the draw of the sea was to prove irresistible and visits quickly increased. There was a problem though, for being new to birding I needed help and the company of others. How I envied those experienced enough to confidently identify a distant row of black dots skidding over the horizon as Common Scoter. Just how did they know that funny tern was an adult Little Gull? Surely that little brown finch arriving from the sea was unidentifiable, so what makes it a Redpoll? Would I ever know enough to separate the skuas?

As I ‘learnt my trade’ through the 1970’s I was to meet some great birders, but especially Tony Marr whose ability in the field was legendary. He would occasionally visit to keep an eye on the young ‘whipper-snappers’ such as myself and CRJ and steer us along the right path. It stood us in good stead and I found myself adopting some of his techniques and detailed diary notes, which I use to this day. It has to be said though some of the ‘birding establishment’ of the time were less understanding and, let’s face it, at times downright distrustful! I vividly recall being with CRJ on a then undeveloped field near Bill House in late April 1979 where a pair of Stonechats was breeding, when suddenly another male Stonechat appeared. It was remarkably pied in its full summer plumage, with a massive while collar and rump and bold white wing flashes too, quite different to the ‘normal’ Stonechat, which eventually drove the interloper away, but not before a couple of other observers also saw it. It was without doubt an Eastern Stonechat – then just a sub-species - very striking in every way. Perhaps naively, CRJ and I agreed to do separate descriptions without further consultation – with no photos as was then normal – and to our dismay the record was rejected, with some discussion over slight omissions in our notes. Looking back it still hurts and there is in my mind absolutely no doubt – but it taught us both a salutary lesson. No doubt the BBRC had their reasons, but I feel sure the perceived birding inexperience of the two new Selsey upstarts involved was a major factor!

Meanwhile, the pair of us became ever more enthusiastic as the bond between us strengthened. Although small in stature, CRJ was big on reputation and kept me and others enthralled with his twitching tales from the Isles of Scilly. What’s more, he now had a camera, a proper one, from which he produced some impressive slides. I particularly remember one bitterly cold day in February sitting in his old Ford Anglia and jumping out to log a Pink-footed Goose arriving from the sea in a snow flurry! We had between us been collating the bird records and discussed the possibility of producing a new series of annual bird reports in the future; so it was then by the end of 1979 we had already published the first and we went on to produce four more, until we eventually had to cease when overtaken by work and family commitments. That series of reports is now a collector’s item!

So, as the end of the decade beckoned, a new generation of birders was in place and twenty years after the first pioneers had started watching at the Bill, it was thriving again. This included many new out-of-County regulars from Hampshire and beyond, with the realisation that some great birding was to be had there, even if the sea passage totals were not as great as at some other sites. The variety of species and regular close views often provided some of the best birding in Sussex, whilst added to that there was also a great chance of seeing unusual passerines, for even then the natural habitat was comparatively unspoilt – a situation that was to dramatically change in future years.

(above)  Looking east from the beach towards the Bill House, April 1979, showing development just starting. It was in the left-hand corner of this field that the Stonechats mentioned in the text were found. (photo: CRJ)

(lower) This image actually dates back to the early 1960's but is the only one available; it was taken looking west from the old Coastguard tower of Bill House. Note the open spaces and large amount of scrub on the coastal side - which was still the case in the early years of the 1970's. (photo: BAEM)

(bottom) The Selsey Bill Bird Report 1979 - the first since the 1960's - though unfortunately the Arctic Skua drawing on the cover came out very white in the printing process! (photo: OM)

1980-89: Popularity and Pom Kings

The early 1980’s saw the popularity of the Bill grow rapidly and quite a number of new observers starting to watch there, including Paul Bowley (PB), who was of similar age to me and who also had a similar (but slightly longer) journey to make to get there - though he seemed to get up halfway through the night and invariably beat me by a good margin. Several new species were also added to the bird list, including Woodchat Shrike (1980 and 1983) and Alpine Swift (1984). One thing though was readily apparent; amongst the observers there was a warmth of character, where regulars were friendly and welcoming to locals and newcomers alike – and although we took it seriously, it was, well yes, even fun at times! And if you were looking for the warden of Pagham Harbour nature reserve early in the morning, there was every chance you'd find him there too!

Bob Lord (RML), the Pagham Harbour warden (bearded), directing Harold Turner* outside the Visitor centre in the mid-1980's with his van at the ready. Bob was a keen attendee at the Bill and would often start his day with a bit of a sea-watch there. (photo: RML)

I was now into my thirties and with CRJ continued to collate the bird records, whilst a newer observer Mervyn Jones became our friend around this time, having moved to Selsey and taken up residence close to the Bill-tip. A gentle rivalry began to develop between the three of us, when talk was of who could see the most Pomarine Skuas in spring, or who had seen the most previously. One quiet day in 1983 we met in the Walnut Tree pub at Runcton to discuss things over a pint, and we ended up researching spring Pom totals back to 1979. This showed that Chris and Merv dominated and I was nowhere – but the Pom-King challenge was born, and with it the first Pom party! The idea of some sort of trophy was mooted; details are a little hazy now, but I do remember providing a rather silly hat, whilst a papier-mâché model was also considered and sometime prior to that Frank Forbes* once provided a meat skewer with two ribbons and spoons attached! It would be some years before a framed Pom photo was eventually adopted, having been presented by Tony Marr (though we later learned he took the photo off Senegal!) Gradually the fame of the Pom-King challenge spread, and it proved to be a wonderful tool for getting observers to put in the long hours necessary and so increase coverage at the site, which was the original objective. Merv was well adapted to this style of birding; never the most dynamic of watchers, he would happily lay on an old mattress for hours on end, often snoozing in the sun while others watched, awaiting the magic shout. He was also very jammy, with an uncanny knack of arriving just in time to avoid missing any Pom flocks. Chris and Merv were to monopolise the competition for the first ten years – save for a blip in 1987 when Owen Laugharne* won it with just four birds – and it wasn’t until 1989 that I got a look in with my first title.

During this time of increasing popularity however, the ever-present theme of habitat removal and development had continued apace, with the nearby Pontins holiday camp in Grafton Road to the fore and in full flow, plus the construction of new housing along the front, so that towards the end of the decade gardens now replaced the open land and the horse field that had formerly existed. Added to this, the West Sands caravan site was steadily increasing, bringing with it more traffic and visitor pressure. Somehow it had crept up on us but now the habitat reduction was becoming very obvious.

This photo dated spring 1983 shows the horse grazing field adjoining the beach and backing onto the gardens of large detached houses; it became known as the 'shrike field' after attracting Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, but was a regular migrant trap. Note the large house on the right, which was demolished and sold with the land for development. It subsequently turned into Cherry Gardens, where four bungalows were built and sadly the field suddenly turned into extended gardens. Further reductions in habitat have regrettably occurred since then and green open spaces are now at a premium at the Bill. (photo: OM)

The year 1989 proved to be a bit of a turning point. It produced a national rarity in the form of a Desert Wheatear, which drew a good number of locals and twitchers to see it, but it also marked the beginning of what I consider to be Selsey Bill’s golden era – the Pontins years. The Pontins holiday camp was situated close to the Bill-tip, but surprisingly by spring of this year it had been sold and quickly cleared of existing buildings, ready for development. Then something unexpected happened; a major national recession took hold and building projects everywhere ground to a halt. At first this large site was secured by fencing and even a security patrol, but it wasn't long before that fell by the wayside and numerous access points developed as local dog-walkers exploited the opportunity this derelict amenity space offered. It wasn't long either before the area was overtaken by nature and it soon became a haven for wildlife, but most of all it was a great place for Selsey birders! As this decade closed there was reason to be optimistic about the next.

Waiting for Poms on the south-east corner, May 1988, as the three founders of the Pom-King competition discuss tactics (L-to-R: CRJ, MJ and OM) (photo: OM)

Rarity value! Locals and twitchers arriving on 1st Nov 1989 for the Desert Wheatear (photo: OM)

Pontins holiday camp is no more! This view from early spring 1989 shows the site being rapidly cleared. Fortunately it wasn't long before nature took over and it became a temporary haven for wildlife. (photo: OM)

1990-99: Pontins and the Golden Years

As the new decade began the Bill had become firmly established on the birding scene, with more visiting birding visitors than ever joining the locals, a thriving spring contest to establish the yearly Pom-King and a glorious early May that even saw a team barbeque on 'the Wall' in front of Bill House. Those regular sea-watching attendees now included an increasing number of Hampshire birders and the good-humoured banter with the Sussex lads was something to behold. Amongst the more notable of the former group were John Faithfull, Ron 'Chunky' King* and John Brame* who always gave as good as they got. To be honest there weren't too many female visitors during this period, but chief amongst them were Leslie Coley and Beryl James - both regular birders - with the latter being joined in due course by daughter-in-law Bridget. I also recall Owen Laugharne was nearly always accompanied by his wife Pam for serious birding, as did Margaret Collins with husband Barry; otherwise it was mainly wives on an occasional semi-social visit (my own included). Looking back, it was certainly a male-dominated situation then.

(above) On the Wall in May 1991 as the popularity of the Bill increases (photo: OM)

(below) The famous barbeque day from around the same period. Here Leslie Coley and Dave Sneller chat whilst enjoying their hot dogs, with Mervyn (MJ) attending to the cooking. Note the small mattress upon which the latter spent an inordinate amount of time, generally snoozing whilst awaiting a shout for Poms! (photo: OM)

Pontins had by now brought a whole new aspect to birding at the Bill. The deep recession in the building trade had continued and was to last several more years, whilst the habitat had matured into an unofficial little coastal nature reserve. No Bill visit was complete without checking the area and sometimes it was a tough decision as to whether to stay looking at the sea or to walk the Pontins patch, which over several years accounted for many interesting bird records, including such delights as Golden Oriole, Tawny and Richard’s Pipits, Radde’s, Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Serin, Lapland Bunting, Hoopoe and Common Rosefinch. Another highlight was the friendly owners of Bill House around 1991 allowing us to use their tower (formerly a Coastguard look-out) as a sea-watching hide. It was quite cramped and difficult sometimes but very welcome, though sadly permission ended when the premises changed hands a couple of years later.

Observers watching from the Bill House tower in 1991 (photo: OM)

Gateway to paradise - the old entrance to the Pontins Broadreeds holiday camp, early 1990's (photo: OM)

As I write this, so many memories come flooding back and it is hard to for me to believe that 1990 was thirty-five years ago, with the technology that's now taken for granted being undreamed of then. Phone-in Birdlines which later gave way to pagers would come into vogue, but there was no easy way of communicating with others. If you went to search Pontins, you couldn't tell other observers on the Wall nearby that you'd found something decent; conversely the sea-watchers couldn't tell you of the flock of Poms just passing. I recall discussing with Barry Carter and others the possibility of setting up a CB (= Citizen's Band) radio system after I was given an old unit with a four foot aerial, and I also seriously considered trialling a kid's two-way toy radio set to use between Pontin's and the Oval field. Laughable now I know, but it all came to nothing. The idea of being able to not only phone someone with a small hand-held unit, but photograph a bird as well and immediately send a copy to someone on the other side of the world was beyond all comprehension and credibility at the time! Yet somehow I can't help feeling there was a sense of excitement then that doesn't quite translate to the modern WhatsApp world of today by sending an instant message to a whole group!

However, back to the 1990's, when the upsurge in interest meant the time was also right for another publication – so I compiled a formal checklist of Selsey area birds in 1991 which then listed 253 species. The cover picture was a fine photo of a Glaucous Gull dubbed ‘George’ (taken by Dave Sadler) which regularly visited our patch for some years. These were good times and these golden years lasted until the end of 1995, when suddenly the writing was on the wall. We'd got used to having this wonderful area for over six years, but sadly it couldn’t last and by autumn 1996 development began, following a public enquiry. I remember attending the latter but it was a foregone conclusion really. Much of the development was well underway by 1997 and the area soon became a massive housing estate with all its attendant problems of additional people, cars and dog-walkers; even the promised wide tree-lined margin on the coastal side did not materialise and our unofficial little nature reserve was lost forever.

Views of the old Pontins site, above late 1991, below 1993, showing natural habitat beginning to take over (photos: OM)

My best-ever find on Pontins was a Radde's Warbler in 1991. No mobile phones then and no camera; I remember quickly doing some notes with shaking hands (above). I was all alone so I drove round to the James's house in Selsey where there was no reply! I left them a quick sketch before thrashing down to Pagham Harbour, where thankfully I found a couple of locals who came back and saw it. (OM)

To be honest, after this I thought seriously about giving up altogether at the Bill and an air of despondency hit me for quite a while. I’m sure many of the regulars must have felt the same way. I put on a brave face, but in truth it was a bitter pill to swallow. Something was needed to lift the spirits, and as it turned out the Poms came to the rescue, for spring 1997 proved to be a bumper season, with a memorable passage on 2nd May. The fortunate title holder for that year was none other than John Brame from Hants, with the highest-ever winning total of 103, a record that still stands. 

Slowly but surely I managed to regain my enthusiasm, recalling the good times I’d had and reminiscing about the birds seen and all the characters there. It is simply impossible to try and mention all these people so I apologise in advance, but I must mention at least a few selected individuals from that time who come to mind :-

Bob Lord, present most mornings before reluctantly heading off to work. John Hibberd who met his future wife at Pontins. Mick Hay* and Keith Maycock from Hants who always came as a pair and kept meticulous notes. Bob Knight* a modest lovely man, always in winter plumage whatever the weather and who brought doorstep sandwiches. Peter Le Brocq*, who had enormous binoculars and could talk forever, but never arrived before late afternoon. Eric Soden who too often missed the action by a day on his visits from Surrey. Dave Smith* who usually led the Worthing contingent and put up with much stick. Barry and Margaret Collins who cycled for miles to be there after their mini-van packed up. John Brame who always seemed to be decorating in spring and would usually arrive late. Richard Prior who could always be relied upon to start watching at daybreak, and would kindly volunteer to go home and refill your flask. Sam Hill who would desperately watch every spare minute before or after work. Chunky King who brought banter and birthday cake. Lesley Coley who brought home-made flapjacks. Dave Sneller who when asked by inquisitive strangers always said he was looking for submarines. John Dodd who had a distinctive laugh. Dave Francis* who always mentioned Fulham FC.  Martin Casemore and Dick Eyre-Walker who were a comedy double act from Shoreham. Andy House - now my blog co-editor - who first appeared in 1993 but couldn’t get up early then and would moan about what he’d missed whilst his greyhound Zippy stole your sandwiches. Mike Waring* whose loud voice always announced his presence before you saw him. John Faithfull’s sharp one-liners which were second-to-none but his birthday hangovers in early May stopped him from winning a title. Alan Ford* who was just blunt to everybody. And dear Barry Carter who happily took on the role of log-keeper and always cheered everyone up when he arrived. 

And then there was the unscheduled football match on 1st May 1993, when the sea was fog-bound and the observers present got increasingly stressed; in short Mervyn Jones acquired a football from his son, and a game commenced on the Oval field, with the goalposts present at the time being utilised. It was all a bit of good fun and I don't remember the score, although I do remember Jim Weston's foul tackles (as ever!) I could go on and on, but space prevents it.....

The famous 1st May 1993 game: L-to-R are - John Brame, Leslie Coley, Barry Carter, Mervyn Jones, Jim Weston, unknown, Martin Jones (Mervyn's son) and Chris Janman (photo: OM) Apologies to the tall guy at the back, he was a semi-regular visitor then and I just cannot recall or trace his name.

 One of the great characters that used to visit from time to time was Peter Le Brocq - seen here in 1991 in his green wellies arriving for an evening watch - but note his trademark giant binoculars on a tripod and a similar pair in his hand, these being dubbed the LeBroculars by all the locals. Nearest to Peter in this view is John Brame, a former Pom-King and still the highest total record holder. (photo: OM)

Well, I and others did continue to watch at the Bill despite the Pontins development, as the last years of the 1990’s came and went in a bit of a blur. Regrettably other habitat in the area was also reduced as properties were expanded or developed, yet somehow enthusiasm was still maintained. Then suddenly we were facing the prospect of a new millennium – so what would the future hold now for the Bill and its regulars? Before we knew that however, there was a difficult chapter in the Bill's history to be faced, just ahead....

There had been a troubling situation brewing and eventually things came to a head. It is difficult and somewhat unpleasant to recall now and words must be chosen carefully here, so I will just mention the fact that certain scarce or rare species were increasingly being claimed that did not stand up to scrutiny, mainly from one source trusted at the time. Then other reports concerning highest totals of more common species, or unusual early/late dates also started to appear from the same source as well as rarity claims. Those who lived through it will know, but the reputation of the Bill - and indeed the Peninsula - was suffering badly as a result. It went on for several years, rather too long, but eventually I and others felt it had to be challenged - so it was. The problem was resolved. Enough said.

2000-09: A new millennium, but old problems

Year 2000 arrived full of hope and hype, but the predicted computer bug didn’t happen, life soon quietened down and it quickly became business as usual on the birding front. The year did produce a number of birding excitements; on 1st May there was a Bee-eater on Bill House, a Serin in the garden there and 34 Pom Skuas passing by, whilst late autumn storms produced a good movement of seabirds including a dozen Sooty Shearwaters. Oh yes, one other thing – yours truly managed to win the prestigious millennium Pom King trophy! Apart from this however, it soon became apparent that Selsey would continue to suffer from its old problem – development - or perhaps more accurately over-development, and with it the continuing loss of natural habitat. Within a few years another new housing estate and industrial complex would appear on the northern edge of the village, whilst at the Bill-tip continual improvements to existing dwellings meant that some of their large, vegetated sea-front gardens were ‘tidied’ or stripped of vegetation, leaving precious little for wildlife.

The old Pontins site, Feb 2001 - now a sea of housing with just the Oval field left. Compare this with  previous views from the early 1990's (photo: OM)

After the loss of the old Pontins site it took time for me to come to accept the reality that, in birding terms, Selsey Bill could now only realistically be considered a sea-watching site. True, as a migrant watch point, there were birds arriving or departing from the sea at times, but as regards grounded birds there were now few pockets of natural habitat left that could actually attract migrants to rest or feed, so most passed straight over the area. Added to this, the new developments and a growing local population were also increasing the human pressure on what open spaces there were, with a notable upsurge in the number of dogs being exercised, so that the chances of finding a skulking rarity in coastal scrubland were very much reduced. One not insignificant area was actually improving though, in the form of the Bill House garden, with its thick tamarisk hedges and hebe plants developing nicely all around the southern end. Sadly, in later years, this little oasis would also disappear.

On the Wall in spring 2001, with a mixture of regulars and visitors. Standing is the blog co-editor AH in his more youthful and less well optically-equipped days, with Hants birders JF seated in front of him and Ron 'Chunky' King to his left (laughing as usual) - next is Richard Prior (RP), then local, in the white cap. (photo: OM)

Another gathering of regulars, locals and visitors, this time at the 'south-east corner' in early May 2003. Chunky features in this image too (standing at rear); here he is seen in the process of dishing out birthday cake to all. Dear Beryl James is the rose amongst thorns on the lower tier. (photo: OM)

Despite my downbeat feelings, I came to realise that change is inevitable and there was an urgent need to adapt. It would be totally wrong to think that things were winding down at the Bill; indeed just the opposite, for the first few years of the decade saw good numbers of visitors still attending, together with a newer generation of locals too. Certainly some younger blood was needed, especially those who could only look forward and not back, for the Bill has always been fortunate enough to find devotees to carry the baton. Time had moved on and I, and the young birders I'd previously watched with, were now all gentlemen of a certain age. CRJ was easing back on his birding, Sam Hill's (SH) brood now included many grand-children to keep him busy when he wasn't actually sea-watching (!) whilst Paul Bowley (PB) was now a senior citizen and his young birding sons, Adam and Aaron, were all grown up! Fate was to play it's hand to our advantage again, when Justin Atkinson (JA) moved to Selsey, just a couple of minutes drive from the beach. It wasn't long before he'd established himself and being a keen sea-watcher he agreed to take on the official Log. The close proximity of both SH and JA to the sea meant that the pair of them were often at the Bill before anyone else had arrived, and their bond developed just as mine had with CRJ all those years ago.

Spring 2007: Regulars on the wall. L-to-R are JA (our current Log-keeper for the Bill), CRJ (who started here probably even before me), SH (started after me but not sure when and seems to have been around for ages) and PB (started in 1981 and almost the same age as me). (photo: OM)

The Bill still proving popular - these observers are viewing a splendid summer-plumaged White-billed Diver that spent some days offshore in Oct 2007. (photo: OM)

I cannot now remember exactly how and when JA was persuaded to take on the role of official Log-keeper for the Bill. I'm sure he must have volunteered and yet I have a hazy recollection of me and others applying some gentle pressure, but either way it was just what was needed. JA's keen eyes and attention to detail made him the best candidate by a country mile and what's more, living a stone's throw from the place meant he was clearly the man for the job. Not easy, as I well know, but I think he liked it really! Just as well, for he'd be carrying on into the next decade. Meanwhile, my gentle suggestion that the Pom King event had perhaps outgrown its interest and usefulness and should now be dropped was very soon shouted down and scuppered.....more on that later! 

Pom party 2007, with OM presenting the trophy on behalf of the outgoing Pom King (Jim Weston) to new winner JA. Dress code was shorts and sandals, in memory of our dear friend Barry Carter, who had sadly passed away a short time previously. The trophy shown was subsequently replaced by a newer memorial one in honour of Barry - and this older trophy is now used as the runners-up award. (photo: Mrs OM)

2010-2019: Still going strong and a Blog is born

As this decade began we had passed the 50th anniversary of continuous observations at the Bill and things were still going strong. The previous decade had seen the publication of another report (2003) - this one being the Birds of Selsey & Pagham - but with advances in technology, especially the internet and mobile phones, it was becoming clear that perhaps the Bill should have some such representation in the future. In earlier days, as I mentioned previously, it was not even possible to get a message from the Bill-tip to the adjacent Pontins patch - how we would have liked a mobile phone then. Now we can even send the photo or video. But I digress....

The first winter period of 2010 was quite a cold one and it produced a good selection of birds. It was by now obvious that a new generation of birders was visiting, supplementing the efforts of the locals, whilst the new technologies and bird information services were able to disseminate information almost instantly to anyone who wanted to twitch the scarcer species on our patch. This decade would, for example, see increasing numbers of the scarcer herons on the Selsey Peninsula, with Cattle Egret ceasing to be a rarity and becoming a regular sighting and Glossy Ibis an almost annual visitor.....with both subsequently being added to the Bill list. 

The new team of regulars at the Bill had by now well and truly settled in and the hours of sea-watching were starting to increase considerably. The Pom King rivalry was still going strong too and the the local Selsey area residents - especially JA, SH and AH - supplemented by several newer residents and 'semi-locals' were now able to give this increased coverage. But in 2013 perhaps the biggest change of all would occur, putting Selsey Bill firmly back on the map. So it was that on 11th March 2013, barely knowing what a blog was, I tentatively opened a basic ‘Selsey Bill & area birding blog’ – that first attempt adding only a few back-dated Selsey Bill records. My plan was to focus almost exclusively on the Bill, but it didn’t stay that way for long! Having mentioned it to the locals, almost immediately AH showed great enthusiasm and a willingness to assist me with what he considered a long-overdue development. The rest, as they say, is history.

That history of the blog can be viewed separately and more fully (see title bar) so I'll keep it brief here, but suffice it to say that the blog title changed four times in quick succession before we finally settled on 'Birding the Selsey Peninsula' to reflect all the other good areas around the Bill. We also decided to put out the bird news for the area daily, starting with the Bill sightings first. What neither I or AH could have anticipated was the extent of the effect the blog would have. It wasn't too long before there was an obvious upsurge in activity and enthusiasm from amongst the regular Bill faithful, with more hours sea-watching being done than ever, friendly rivalries developing in respect of Bill and Peninsula year-lists and life lists, more obscure and under-visited areas being checked out, with more photographs of the birdlife, and so on. The information provided by observers was fed to us as blog editors, then in turn we promptly disseminated it to others in our daily output.

The blog page-hit marker was picking up rapidly and after the first year or so our information was being used nationally by the professional Bird Information Services. Added to that, many birders were now visiting the area from near and far, whilst the local team - for that's what it now was - had also swelled in numbers. A busy spring sea-watch now could easily number 30-40 people, sometimes 50+ and whilst some of the old guard (myself included) were still attending, many new faces were appearing. This was generally to the good though occasionally there were drawbacks, albeit usually minor ones.

A look through the Sussex Bird Reports (published annually by the Sussex Ornithological Society) reveals the number of hours of sea-watching coverage for each of the main sites in Sussex and makes interesting reading. The number of hours covered at Selsey Bill during 2010-2012 averaged around the 500-700 mark annually, whereas in 2013 - the year the blog commenced - it had shot up to exceed 1000. It dropped back just a tad in 2014, but has never really looked back since, now comfortably exceeding 1000hrs. The last year of the decade saw an astonishing total of 1267hrs coverage; to put that in perspective, the next highest site (Splash Point, Seaford) achieved 187hrs of coverage that year. Totals will of course vary at all sites year on year, but the reality is that the all-year-round effort by the Selsey sea-watching team has now dwarfed that of all other County sites.

The sea-watching data from the Sussex Bird Report 2019, published by the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) (reproduced with permission and thanks to the SOS editors).
(Incidentally, if you are not already a member of the SOS I would urge you to join; the detailed annual report, free to members and from which this information is extracted is alone worth the modest joining fee!)

So much seems to have happened since the arrival of the blog, but as it has developed, so an important supporting cast has followed....JA with his detailed log-keeping for the Bill, Ian Pitts (IP) who has taken on the important role of Statistician, Bart Ives (BI) who has become Deputy Editor, providing cover during the absence of the main editors, but who has also become our go to 'tech kid' as he understands much more of the modern technology than the editorial dinosaurs, dealing with social media and more. Then of course comes our WhatsApp group, set up by IP and assisted by BI, which has ensured instant messaging, beyond our wildest dreams not so long ago. Regulars such as Chris Northwood*, Paul Matson and Sarah Russell have also done their bit to provide coverage at various times and there are others who have helped in various ways. It wouldn't work without you all.

The blog editorial team with the official Bill Log-keeper JA (bottom left, next to OM). At the back are AH (festooned in bin's and camera), with BI.

Things were going well then and 2019 was nearing its last quarter, but little did we know what was just around the corner! As we were starting to look towards the next decade there was mention of an unusual respiratory disease spreading from China that had alarmed some scientists.....a possible pandemic, which we would soon get to know all too well as Covid-19.

2020 - 2024: Lockdown and beyond

The Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) hit the largely unprepared world before the decade had even started, but by early 2020 it was spreading across the UK rapidly and the death rate was alarming, especially amongst the elderly - a group which now certainly included me and some other mature Bill-watchers! On 24th March 2020 the Government put the entire country into lockdown for weeks, allowing just an hour's exercise per day - bad news indeed for any active birder. Travel was also severely restricted for some while - so in short, only those observers living at or very close to the Bill would be able to visit to take exercise there, whilst for the rest of us it was a no-go.  

Much will be written about the pandemic and doubtless more eloquently than here, so I don't plan to discuss it further, other than to highlight the disruption to normal birding activity. Further restrictions and lockdowns were to follow and some rules eased a bit later, but it would be a year like no other and a memorable spring for the wrong reasons. Throughout all the difficulties though, some sea-watching was carried on by the lucky local few and the the log was maintained....and for the record, there was some coverage on every single day of the year. Now that's dedication! The Sussex Bird Report 2020 shows a total of 971 hours of coverage for the year...still almost four times as many as the next closest Sussex site.

The sea-watching data from the Sussex Bird Report 2020, published by the Sussex Ornithological Society (again with permission and thanks to the SOS editors). Remarkably, despite all the problems, there was some coverage on every single day of the year.

In late 2021 things were still going strong and we hadn't missed a day's posting on the blog, whilst our page-hit counter had now passed a million and a half. Covid-19 is still with us, although with the advent of vaccinations thankfully not as severely, but doubtless we will all have to learn to live with it from hereon in. A whole new generation of birders now knows where Selsey Bill is and also the sites on the rest of the Peninsula, with some making at least a few visits and many frequently so, for there is almost always at least something of avian interest going on. The bird list is now considerable and over time will continue to grow as new species are added. We all sometimes speculate as to what the next 'new' species will be but I daresay we'll be wrong; who could have guessed that last one - a Common Nighthawk!

2025 and beyond - back to the future

And so, we've now reached the point where I can now bring the Selsey story up to date. Sadly, the old problem of over-development continues all around, with numerous areas of green space being chipped away. As if to prove the point, the lovely tamarisk hedges and hebe bushes in Bill House garden, attractive to migrants including Serin, Marsh Warbler and even Water Rail (!) whilst providing shelter for birders too, have now all been ripped out by new management to open up the view. Also, the massive caravan site at Medmerry (formerly Bunn's Leisure, Selsey West Fields) has now changed hands, the new owners seemingly hell-bent on expansion, with every possible space being used to squeeze in extra caravans, and previous niceties once applied to Selsey residents and wildlife now completely dropped. And as a spin off, lots of mobile campervans now frequently use the end of Grafton Road by Bill House as a free overnight location, denying birders their traditional parking location, whilst the journey down the B2145 to Selsey gets ever more fraught. But I won't  dwell on such matters, for despite all, the Bill is still a great place and whilst it's important to remember the past, it's also very important to consider the positives whilst looking to the future.

The sort of thing that just keeps on happening.....above, the lovely gardens with hebe bushes and tamarisk hedges in the gardens at Bill House in 2019, whilst below, in 2021 a managerial alteration brings about an awful change, to open up the vista for commercial reasons, and another little corner of precious habitat disappears. (photos: OM)

There has been continuous coverage at the Bill for a number of years now, without a single day's observation missed, quite remarkable. The blog site goes from strength to strength, supported by the WhatsApp group(s) and there is an ever-growing amount of available information and archive material now available. The number of birders now visiting the area is impressive, as is the number of folks visiting the blog site, where well over 3 million page views have now been registered. If you use any Bird Information service - as most active birders now do - a quick check will soon reveal the volume of records emanating from the Selsey Peninsula nowadays - and all of it very current too - none of this 'last week' or 'seen yesterday' info that some sites persist with. So as 2025 draws towards its close, I can therefore say that the Bill has never been more intensively watched, nor more popular than it is today.

Added to that, it is pleasing to note that some welcome new blood has appeared on the scene in recent times, including two good acquisitions in the form of Marc Read and Peter Allfrey who have become Peninsula residents. Interestingly, a new competition has crept in, as to who can achieve the highest Peninsula year-list, innocently started by Andy House when he proudly mentioned reaching 200 species in a year. The keenest observers are now truly dedicated, with the oustanding contender at present being Bart Ives - who doesn't even have the advantage of being a Peninsula resident - and currently has I believe a potential record of 210 species, subject to confirmation, with a few weeks to go until year's end! All areas on the Bill and indeed most the Peninsula are now covered and little escapes their attention!

And so, as I now approach the finale to this personal recall of the Bill's history, I must ask the reader to cut me a little slack so that I can express a few personal views and observations. I have spent over 50 yrs of my life visiting Selsey and birding the area as often as possible, and in my heyday I was often called 'Mr Selsey Bill' by a quite a number of the regulars then. As I said earlier, this is not all about me, but I can say that I'm proud of the part I have played, as part of the team. I've authored several publications over those years, jointly set up the 'Pom King' challenge that still continues to this day, and perhaps best of all started the Selsey Blog. But time moves on relentlessly, and I am now 75yrs of age and inevitably slowing down, which means I am visiting less often now. Over the last few years I've realised it is time for me to step back; for as I'm often reminded now, I am no longer 'Mr Selsey Bill', but 'Yesterday's Man!' It's time to pass the baton on to the younger faces and newer blood I've mentioned earlier.

I do hope my own small part will be a part of the historical record, for having watched there for so long, inevitably I've seen quite a few of the officially recorded species at both the Bill and the whole Peninsula, and quite possibly more than any surviving observer at this time. I've managed to record 222 species of the current Bill total of 266* [recent Pallid Swift pending acceptance], and 312 of the Peninsula total of 344 at the time of writing, (though note these totals will reduce or vary slightly when the imminent BOU/IOU World List v.14.2) lumping and adjustment takes place - e.g. three species of Redpoll reduced to one). I don't mean this to sound boastful, but rather it is a marker for those that follow, for in time these totals will be surpassed by others, as nothing is forever. But to do so will take much time to achieve and it won't be easy, especially at the Bill where rarer passerines will be difficult to acquire in the continually reducing open green space.

I am now at the stage when inevitably I keep looking back. One of the things that has struck me in compiling this review is the number of times I have found myself referring to the friends who have passed on, when in my mind they are still very much here - all special characters in their own way and very much part of the history of the Bill. and yes, my history too. I pay tribute to them all....good birding wherever you are, my absent friends. 

So, Yesterday's Man would like to pay trbute to a few folks in particular and everyone else who's birded at the Bill in general. Firstly, thanks to Bernie Forbes for getting me started and Tony Marr for all the wisdom. Chris Janman and Mervyn Jones for the Pom King competition and everyone else around in the Pontin's years for the laughs, notably including Messrs Faithfull, Brame and King. Coming up to date, huge thanks go to Andy House; quite how he fits everything in I don't know, but he manages to earn a living whilst running the daily blog, which is always up to date and really a full time commitment now, whilst also taking on other projects for the SOS and even co-authoring our last publication. We are very lucky to have him, well done Andy. Thanks also to Bart Ives, Justin Atkinson and Ian Pitts for their parts in making this a success story. I am also acutely aware of the part played in modern times by a host of newer observers at the Bill. It is simply not possible to include everyone by name individually, but you are equally part of the Selsey Bill story.

So, as I look to the future and wonder what is ahead for the Bill, one thing for sure is that there will continue to be change. There will in time also be new species added to the bird list. New observers will come; perhaps including more female and/or ethnically-diverse birders amongst them, for my biggest hope is that keen younger birders will arrive and become enthusiastic to carry on the story, just as I did after the 'Selsey pioneers' of the early 1960's. I've birded quite a number of places in my time, but somehow I've never quite found anywhere like the Bill, with it's friendly rivalry and humour. It's not the best spot to watch from, that's for sure, but it has consistently delivered over the years and to see a flock of Poms coming along 'the bar' on a sunny May morning is unbeatable. My visits may be far fewer now, but rest assured I will continue to visit from time to time, when circumstances allow. And (personal trumpet ready) there's only one person who has seen two unforgettable and magnificent spring Pom flocks of 25 passing by there.......any idea who?

Poms passing the Bill (photo: D. Mason)

(above) A slow sea-watch! Mervyn Jones (MJ), Beryl James (BJ), Bernie Forbes (BFF - who first brought me here) and Dave Smith (DIS) relax - whilst even the dog looks bored. The dog in question belonged to AH and is in fact Zippy who never missed an opportunity to steal your sandwiches! (photo: OM)

(below) Birding is a serious business but it can be fun too and this snapshot at Pontins dates back to spring 1982. The youthful chaps with Miss Piggy are (L-to-R) MJ, OM, CRJ and RML and I recall that the comedian the late Bob Monkhouse was the star billing in cabaret that evening. (photo: OM)

End: updated Nov 2025