26th - 28th July 2025

Monday, 28th July: A warm and muggy morning in hazy sunshine and a fairly light northerly breeze............

Selsey Bill: Half a dozen Little and Common Terns went west, half a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins went east and another Willow Warbler was about, though it was generally quiet. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0600-0830rs) ( N, F3)

Gannet - 4E, 12W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 2W

Sanderling - 1W

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 13E, 5 present

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 28W

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 19W

Common Tern - 6W

Little Tern - 6W

Swift - 12

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 10

Sand Martin - 6

House Martin - 35

Pied Wagtail - 3

Willow Warbler - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 6E

Ferry Pool: There were ten Lapwings, two Oystercatchers, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank on the pool this morning. (AH)

Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Yellow Wagtail went over late this morning. (MRe)

Mill Pond Marsh: A juvenile Little Ringed Plover and two Black-tailed Godwits were on the flooded field, along with two Teal and four Little Grebes, whilst a nice selection of warblers around the willows at the front comprised a Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler and three or four Reed and Sedge Warblers. (AH)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Teal & Little Grebe at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton:  A Crossbill went east/north over Greenlease Farm early this morning, whilst there was a fair selection of warblers scattered around the area, including 20+ whitethroats, five willow Warblers and Blackcaps and three Cetti's Warblers, with 15 Swifts, 40+ Swallows, a dozen Sand Martins and four House Martins over.

The harbour was quite quiet, though, with just c50 Sandwich Terns, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, three Whimbrel, four Turnstones and 25 Redshanks of note. (MRe/P&LH)

This afternoon there were still 60+ Sandwich Terns in the harbour, along with at least two Little Terns, a Common Tern, three Great crested Grebes, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, four Dunlin and 30-40 Redshanks, with a Skylark, a chiffchaff and a calling Cetti's warbler about, too. (JC)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank and two Common Sandpipers were in White's Creek this morning, with another of the latter at Halsey's Farm and a Whimbrel was in the fields, as were c20 Cattle Egrets, with another c20 sat out in the harbour and ten or so in Owl Copse.

A Willow Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were along the wall, with a few Reed Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings about, too, whilst a Blackcap was singing at Halsey's Farm, and c50 Swallows went over.

Also, a Water Rail was in the Breech Pool, though not much else, and two Marsh Harriers were about - one over the harbour and one over the reeds. 

There were also a Clouded Yellow along the east side and another along the wall - the first of the year. Addditionally along the east side were at least six Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs,  and a Lesser Whitethroat in the tamarisk, an adult Yellow-legged Gull out on the mud and a Sparrowhawk along the path.  (AH/LP/YHu/GHi/BI et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Water Rail, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler (LP), Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warblers, Cattle Egrets & Clouded Yellow (AH) at the North Wall

Fishbourne Creek: With the tide well out there were six Turnstones, five Whimbrel, three Greenshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits and four Lapwings, as well as good numbers of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, along the Creek.

The small birches by the sewage works held two Willow Warblers and a Kingfisher was heard at the Lavant outflow. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Eleven Yellow Wagtails were on the reserve this morning, along with a Cattle Egret and a Greenshank, with three more of the latter, five Common Sandpipers and a Redshank on the Stilt Pool and nine Common Terns around the rafts.

The banks were fairly slow, with just five Willow Warblers, two Reed Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, a dozen Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits and half a dozen Yellowhammers about, whilst four Swifts, c30 Sand Martins and Swallows, three Buzzards and four Kestrels went over.

The was also a Jersey Tiger moth along the banks. (S&SaH/PB)

Sunday, 27th July: An overcast and surprisingly cool start in the fresh northerly breeze, slowly warming up, but remaining grey throughout.....

Selsey Bill: A few Common and Sandwich Terns were going west and two Little Terns and two Shovelers went east this morning, and there was also a Willow Warbler in the vegetation at the front of the Oval Field. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH)

(0600-830hrs) (N, F3)

Gannet - 23E, 32W

Shelduck - 5E

Shoveler - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W, 1 present

Black-tailed Godwit - 1W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 14E, 11W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 28W

Common Tern - 5E, 9W

Little Tern - 2E, 3W

Swift - 11

House Martin - 8

Willow Warbler - 1

Linnet - 1W

Willow Warbler (above) & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early on, there were just a Black-tailed Godwit and two Redshanks on the pool, whilst later there were two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and a Lapwing present. 

There wasn't much around the Tramway, with just a handful of Whitethroats and a couple of Chiffchaffs seen. (AH/PA et al)

Little Ringed Plovers (above), Lapwing & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Sand Martin was amongst c50 House Martins and half a dozen Swallows, with four Swifts over the northern end of the village. Over the fields a Yellow Wagtail flew east at the far eastern end, where a Stoat was on the path and also a Buzzard was present, which was then seen on and off all morning. (IP)

Stoat at Park Farm, Selsey (IP)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Kingfisher was around this afternoon, along with 15 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst earlier there were an adult and a juvenile Coal Tit, with a few Swallows and Reed Warblers present, too. (S&SaH/PA et al)

adult (above) & juvenile Coal Tit at Mill Pond Marsh (PA)

Church Norton: There were a Common Tern and c50 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, and at least that many again around the island, though three Knot and c20 Turnstones that flew around the harbour mouth, three Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, five Curlews and c40 Redshanks were the only waders seen.

Also, a Wheatear was on the beach, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler were in Bluebell wood, a couple of Blackcaps were in the churchyard and a dozen Whitethroats were scattered about, whilst a handful of Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins went over. (AH/IP)

Blackcap (above), Whitethroat & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was busy along White’s Creek this morning, with a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, c150 Redshank, 28 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, two Lapwings, two Dunlin and a Kingfisher, while three Green Sandpipers flew over the wall and a Raven passed high overhead.

Twelve Cattle Egrets were in the trees at Owl Copse, including four well grown youngsters, with 18 more out by their island, and a Willow Warbler and two recently fledged Whitethroats were along the bushes, while at Halsey’s Farm a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were along the rife, and another Willow Warbler was still in the tamarisk around the field. (LP/MJa/SP)

Later, there were 31 Cattle Egrets about, along with two Common Terns, a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Bunting, with a Peregrine, eight Swifts, c20 Swallows, c50 Sand Martins, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard over. (S&SaH)

Green and Common Sandpipers (above), Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, Redshanks, Dunlin, juvenile Cattle Egret & Whitethroat at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Hobby and an immature Marsh Harrier were over the reserve today, along with a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels, ten Buzzards, two Ravens, 16 Swifts, three Yellow Wagtails and c75 swallows and Sand Martins.

A total of 13 Common Terns were around the rafts, a Cattle Egret, a Whimbrel and a Greenshank were on the reserve, with four more of the latter, three Common Sandpipers and a Redshank were on the stilt Pool.

Along the banks there were three Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Whitethroats, five willow Warblers, three Reed Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Dartford Warbler, 13 Stonechats, four Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting and 15 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 26th July: The morning started fairly brightly in a light to moderate westerly breeze before a huge bank of drizzly rain slowly moved through, eventually clearing to leave a bright and breezy day......

Selsey Bill: Two Roseate Terns dropped in to feed offshore for about ten minutes this morning before drifting off west, as did eight Little Terns, and five juvenile Common Terns together went east. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/IP/BI)

(0600-0830hrs) (W, F3)

Gannet - 5E, 22W

Common Scoter - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 6W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 28W

Sandwich Tern - 27E,62W

Roseate Tern - 2os, then W (0740hrs)

Common Tern - 8E, 10W

Little Tern - 8os, then W

Swift - 1

Swallow - 3W

Sand Martin - 8W

House Martin - 6

Roseate Terns (above), Little Terns & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Black-tailed Godwit and two Redshanks on the pool this morning, with a couple of Chiffchaffs in the adjacent hedges. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Green Sandpipers on the flooded field this morning and later on two Common Sandpipers and seven Black-tailed Godwits were present. (BI/S&SaH)

Honer Reservoir: A Green Sandpiper was on the reservoir this morning, along with a Greylag Goose, 81 Canada Geese and 63 Mallards. (JDW)

Church Norton: There was still a lot of activity around Tern Island, with another c80 Sandwich Terns and a couple of Little Terns around the harbour, but waders were restricted to a handful of Whimbrel and Curlews, a couple of Ringed Plovers and c25 Redshanks.

The bushes were quiet, apart from half a dozen Whitethroats and Linnets, plus a couple of Sand Martins over. (AH)

Sandwich Tern (above), Whimbrel, Whitethroat & Linnets at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: There were still a few Little Terns around the creeks this morning but the breach islands seem to be now deserted, though there were, however, still plenty of Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls around Tern Island. 

Along the spit itself were c.150 Starlings, a few Greenfinches and Linnets whilst a Kingfisher and a young Pied Wagtail were on the metal work. The harbour held three Ringed Plovers, a Whimbrel, a scattering of Curlews and a Lesser Black-backed Gull of note. (BI)

Pagham Lagoon: A Little Grebe, two Great Crested Grebes, a Moorhen, six Coots and 24 Mallards were here today and three Swifts flew over. (BI)

North Wall: At Halsey's Farm there were still a number of warblers around the hedges and reeds this morning including Cetti's Warblers, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats. 

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were about, as was a Green Woodpecker, a Kestrel was out hunting and the mud at the rife held two Lapwings. (BI) 

This afternoon, four Common Sandpipers were found, a Willow Warbler was seen in the scrub, seven Cattle Egret were noted and five Swallows and c.20 Sand Martins went over. (Sa&SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Greenshanks, five Common Sandpipers, two Dunlin and two Redshanks were on the Stilt Pool this morning, with another Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and a Kingfisher around the reserve, with 11 Common erns around the rafts and a Sandwich Tern offshore.

A Corn Bunting was the highlight along the banks, with a Willow Warbler, 17 Whitethroats, two Reed Warblers, four Stonechats and seven Yellowhammers also about, with four Swifts, four Sand Martins, nine swallows, three Buzzards and a Kestrel going over. (Sa&SH/PB)

23rd - 25th July 2025

Friday, 25th July: An increasingly warm and muggy morning under grey skies, with just a light northerly breeze blowing........

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Tony Hill. Tony was very much part of the North Wall birdwatching community and indeed was an enthusiastic member of the first North Wallcreepers team to compete in the New Year bird race.

As well as a keen birdwatcher Tony was also a butterfly enthusiast, in which capacity he became a friend of Richard Williamson, the eminent naturalist. Tony saw most of the UK butterfly breeding species and had a particular wish to see a Swallowtail butterfly; the photo was taken this summer the day before that ambition was finally achieved.

He will be much missed by all his friends. 

Ian Honeyman

Long-time North Wall regular, Tony Hill this summer (IH)

Selsey Bill: A very unexpected female/juvenile Black Redstart popped up by the play-park on the Oval Field and was then around the Bill House area this morning, but there was little else to report. Full log below. (AH/IP/P&LH)

(0700-0830hrs) (N, F2)

Gannet - 2E, 1W, 1os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Dunlin - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 7W

Sandwich Tern - 34E, 36W

Common Tern - 2E, 1W

Little Tern - 1W

Swift - 11

House Martin - 23

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Black Redstart - 1

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was nothing on the pool early this morning, though a Whimbrel was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Honer Reservoir: A juvenile Cuckoo pitched up on the roadside wires briefly this morning, though quickly moved on, but there was nothing bar a couple of skulking Whitethroats and a Green Woodpecker along the hedges.

The small amount of water remaining on the reservoir was popular, with two Common Sandpipers, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Teal, a juvenile Shelduck, c40 Mallards, an Egyptian Goose, a Greylag Goose and c150 Canada Geese all present, and there were also five Cattle Egrets in the adjacent grass field.  (AH)

juvenile Cuckoo (above), Green Woodpecker, juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose & Cattle Egret at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Halsey's Farm: Around 60 Swallows and half a dozen Sand Martins were on the wires along Rookery Lane late this morning. (P&LH)

Church Norton: The first Willow Warbler was back this morning, with a Sedge warbler, seven Whitethroats, two Blackcaps and a Reed Bunting also about, along with 15 Swallows over.

There wasn't too much in the harbour, though at least 75 Sandwich Terns were about, along with three Common Terns and 15 Mediterranean Gulls, and waders seen included six Whimbrel, five Curlews and c25 Redshanks. (P&LH)

Birdham: A Willow Warbler was in a garden in the village this morning. (SH)

Pagham Spit: What was presumably the Wheatear of two days ago was still present by the harbour mouth this morning, whilst c25 Turnstones, a dozen Ringed Plovers and a couple of Dunlin were around the adjacent shingle.

The two nearby islands appeared to have been vacated, though there were still a lot of Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls around Tern Island, and at least a dozen Little Terns and many Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Little Tern, Dunlin, Ringed Plover & Turnstones at Pagham Spit (AH)

North Wall: Most of the action this morning was around Halsey’s Farm,, where two Willow Warblers were in the tamarisk, five Meadow Pipits, two Linnets, six Cattle Egrets and a Skylark were around the fields, and two Kingfishers, two Little Ringed Plovers, three Common Sandpipers, two Snipe, two Lapwings, a Redshank and two Teal were along the rife.

There were lots of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers along the reeds and bushes, but on the Breech Pool, where the water level has now risen considerably, there was just a Tufted Duck and a few Mallards.

Five Black-tailed Godwits were along White’s Creek, with four more further down, and at the far end a Greenshank and a couple of Dunlin were on the mud, as were three Whimbrel and three Grey Plover, whilst a Song Thrush was by the sluice and another Willow Warbler, two Pied Wagtails, 18 Long-tailed Tits, eight Swallows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around the paddock.

 (LP/MJa/IH/JDW/SP/GHi/EB/D.Homer) 

In addition to the above, two Crossbills, a red male and a female/juvenile type flew north over the wall at 0610hrs, a Green Sandpiper was in the creek at Owl Point, where a Common Tern flew over, and the moulting Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek. 

Circa 100 Sand Martins and Swallows were around the Lagoon, five Willow Warblers were flycatching in the tamarisk nearby, along with a few Chiffchaffs, and two Cetti's Warblers were laong the path. The Lagoon held held three Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 36 Coots and 2 Moorhens, two Little Terns were fishing in the creek & four Mediterranean Gulls were out on the mud. A Kingfisher was also reported at the sluice and it or another was later at the breech pool. (BI)

Willow Warblers (above), Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Linnet (LP), Reed Warbler, Little Ringed Plover and Lapwing , Lapwing & Curlew (EB) at the North Wall

Thursday, 24th July: Despite the moderate northerly breeze, it was a pleasantly warm morning of sunshine and white cloud......

Selsey Bill: The first Fulmar in a month went east this morning, but otherwise it was just the regular species. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0650-0805hrs) (NNW, F3-4)

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 3E, 6W

Turnstone - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 14W

Sandwich Tern - 17E, 4W, 10os

Common Tern - 2W

Swift - 20

Green Woodpecker - 3

Swallow - 15E

Sand Martin - 5N

House Martin - 12

Fulmar (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was just the one Black-tailed Godwit on what remains of the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A White Stork - presumably a Knepp bird - was over the Anchor pub on the main road, heading east at lunchtime today. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were three Greenshanks and four Common Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with half a dozen Lapwings, a Black-tailed Godwit and a couple of Oystercatchers, whilst up to four Whimbrel were around the reserve and ten or so Common Terns were around the rafts.

The banks were fairly slow, though a couple of Dartford Warblers were about, along with a dozen Whitethroats, at least four Stonechats and Skylarks, a Reed Bunting, half a dozen Yellowhammers and many Linnets and Goldfinches, plus a couple of Sand Martins and a dozen Swallows over. (AH/IP)

Greenshanks (above), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Common Terns, Stonechats and Linnet, Yellowhammer & Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)

 

Wednesday, 23rd July: A fairly mild, but overcast, morning in just a light north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Four Little Terns and four Common Terns went west, and there were plenty of Sandwich Terns about this morning. Full log below. (AH/IP/LP)

(0700-0830hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 3E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 15W, c100os

Sandwich Tern - 79E, 49W, 30os

Common Tern - 4W

Little Tern - 4W

Swift - 22

Sand Martin - 4

House Martin - 30

Linnet - 1

Sandwich Tern (above) & Little Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: The Greenshank and three Black-tailed Godwits were on the marsh, but otherwise there were just a couple of Little Grebes and a few Mallards on the water, and a handful of Swallows overhead. (LP)

Greenshank at Mill Pond Marsh (LP)

Pagham Spit: The first returning Wheatear of the autumn was on the spit this morning - two days ahead of the average date for the first bird back. (TG)

North Wall: A Common Sandpiper and at least four Whimbrel were in White's Creek this morning, along with c25 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Redshanks, whilst further down the harbour there were c20 Grey Plovers and at least 150 Dunlin, along with four feeding Little Terns and a Kingfisher flying through.

The Breech Pool, though, just held a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Lapwing and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, with just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Reed Warblers along the wall and c30 scattered Swallows. (AH/CT)

Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Grey Plovers and Dunlin, Dunlin & Swallow at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were c150 Sandwich Terns spread around the mud and constantly flying up from their island, but just three Little Terns were about, and scattered across the harbour were c70 Redshanks, c30 Curlews, five Whimbrels, seven Dunlin and a Greenshank, but it was very quiet around the bushes with just a Whitethroat, a Buzzard and the leucistic Blackbird of note. (LP)

Sandwich Terns (above) & leucistic Blackbird at Church Norton (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: Before high tide this morning, the roost off Dell Quay contained ten Greenshanks, as well as a number of Redshanks and Curlews. (RW)

Ivy Lake Complex: There were 20 Egyptian Geese spread around the lakes this morning, as well as 18 Tufted Ducks and a Kingfisher, but otherwise it was just the regular Canada Geese, Greylag Geese and Great Crested Grebes, and it was quiet elsewhere, with just a Green Woodpecker along the path. (LP)

Egyptian Goose (above) & Green Woodpecker at Chichester GPs (LP)