13th - 15th June 2025

Sunday, 15th June: A fairly warm, bright and breezy morning in a freshening westerly.......

Selsey Bill: There were large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls offshore again, and five Common Terns went west together, but that was about it this morning. Full log below. (AH/IP/JA)

(0650-0920hrs) (WSW, F4-5)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Mallard - 2

Curlew - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 200os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Common Tern - 5W

Little Tern - 6os

Swift - 6

House Martin - 8

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 50os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 31W, 30os

Common Tern - 4W

Guillemot - 1W

Little Tern (above), Common Terns, Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There just two Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshanks and a Shelduck on the pool this morning, plus a Curlew over, whilst around the nearby hedges were a calling Cuckoo, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats, a Blackcap, two Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler. (JC/AH), 

Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Redshanks at the Bill (AH)

Long Pool: There wasn't much activity along the hedges this morning, though two or three Sedge Warblers were still singing and a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and Linnets were present, and there was also a mother Tufted Duck and four young ducklings on the pool. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above) & Tufted Duck family along the Long Pool (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were three newly fledged Swallows among the half a dozen present this evening, and several young birds among the 20 or so House Martins, whilst a Kestrel, two Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls went over. (SH)

North Wall: At least five Red Kites were about throughout the morning, as well as three Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier.

At Halsey’s Farm c20 Swallows, including a few juveniles, were over the fields, as well as eight House Martins, while a Green Woodpecker was in the trees, a Cuckoo flew through, and a Kingfisher and two Lapwings were along the rife.

There were lots of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers in the reeds and a Whitethroat was in the bushes along the wall, where there was also a Marbled White butterfly, but on the Breech Pool there was just a Great Crested Grebe and a few Mallards. (MRi/LP/MJa)

Red Kites (above), Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Lapwing & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Hobby went over the harbour mid-morning (GR), whilst there at least 11 Little Terns, two Common Terns, 50 Sandwich Terns, 95 Mediterranean Gulls and three Curlews on the mud, with two Lesser Whitethroats singing from the sheltered hedges (JC).

This evening there were at least 200 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, along with similar numbers of terns to the morning, and there were also a Whimbrel and a Ringed Plover about. (AH)

Common Tern (above), Mediterranean Gull & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Pagham Spit: There were still up to 25 Little Terns around their islands this morning, and it would appear that similar numbers of Sandwich Terns have taken up residence on them, too, along with lots of Black-headed Gulls.

There were more Sandwich Terns and plenty of Mediterranean Gulls further across the harbour, and two Great Crested Grebes flew out to sea together, but three Curlews and a few Oystercatchers were the only waders seen. (AH)

Little Tern (above), Little Terns and Sandwich Terns & Great Crested Grebes at Pagham Spit (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Viewpoint - A Greenshank on the tidal area and a calling Cuckoo were the most notable birds here this morning. (M&LL)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A very early - or late! - Yellow Wagtail, the first June record during the blog years - went over the Stilt Pool, along with a dozen Sand Martins early this afternoon. (HB)

There were another three Sand Martins, and half a dozen Swallows and Swifts over earlier, too, along with a couple of Buzzards and Kestrels, whilst a Cattle Egret and a Cuckoo were on the reserve, five Common Terns were around the nesting rafts and nine Avocets and three Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool.

Also, xix Stonechats, including a pair and two juveniles, were along the banks, together with two Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two Sedge, five Reed and two Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH) 

Saturday, 14th June: After overnight rain, it was initially murky and grey in a moderate southerly breeze, but it soon shifted west and freshened considerably, though it cleared the cloud to leave a warm and sunny, if blustery morning.......

Selsey Bill: A Guillemot west and a Little Egret feeding on the rocks by the Mile Basket (a mile out to sea!) were the modest highlights this morning. Full log below. (BI/AH/IP)

(0600-0830hrs) (S, F4 veering W F5-6)

Gannet - 1E, 14W

Little Egret - 1os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 31W, 80os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 17W

Common Tern - 1W

Little Tern - 1W

Guillemot - 1W

Swift - 3

House Martin - 2

Goldfinch - 4

(1810-1910hrs) (JA)

Gannet - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 20os

Sandwich Tern - 14W

auk sp - 1W

Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet & Swifts at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool looks a bit sorry for itself at present, with a very low water level, the mud all churned up by the cows and largely devoid of birds, with just a Lapwing, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Grey Heron consuming an eel gracing it this morning. (AH/PB)

There was slightly more activity on the pool early this evening, with three Avocets, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshanks and a Grey Heron present.

Also three Swifts went over and nearby bushes held a Cetti’s Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs. (JC)

Lapwing (above) & Grey Heron at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A walk along the Long Pool this evening produced a Cuckoo, a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk, as well as the regular species.(JC)

Church Norton: The harbour was encouragingly busy this morning, with at least 50 Sandwich Terns and 100+ Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls coming up off Tern Island and at least as many again of each out on the mud, whilst at least 20 Little Terns were coming and going, with another dozen of the latter feeding offshore, along with two or three Common Terns and 20+ Sandwich Terns.

There were, however, no waders to be seen beyond a few Oystercatchers, though the sheltered hedges did yield a brief sighting of a Lesser Whitethroat and two or three Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus plenty of young Blue and Great Tits and a Painted Lady. (AH)

Little Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Terns, Tern Island, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Painted Lady at Church Norton (AH)

It was much the same in the harbour this evening, though with a big increase to at least 400 Mediterranean Gulls sat out on the mud. (AH)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection along the banks this morning, despite the blustery conditions, including c20 Whitethroats, two Lesser whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, two Sedge, five Reed and three Cetti's Warblers, two Stonechats, four Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers, with four Sand Martins, five Swallows, six Swifts, two Kestrels and three Buzzards going over.

Also six Curlews were on the reserve, three Common Terns were around the nesting rafts, including one bringing in a fish and a Sandwich Tern was offshore, but the Stilt Pool just held three Ringed Plovers and eight Avocets. (S&SaH/PB)

Medmerry: Ham Viewpoint - An adult Corn Bunting with two youngsters was the highlight this afternoon, and there were also a juvenile Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits and Whitethroats and plenty of Skylarks about. (EB)

Corn Bunting (above), juvenile Stonechat, Whitethroat & Little Egret at Medmerry (EB)

Friday, 13th June: A complete change from yesterday, with a very warm and sunny summer's morning in just a light south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was a record count for the Bill of 721 Mediterranean Gulls (and mainly adults) among the gulls flocks on the bar and offshore this morning, though a Fulmar and six Gadwall west and a dozen Common Scoters east were about the only things on the move. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP/JA)

(0700-0800hrs) (SW, F2-3)

Fulmar - 1W

Gadwall - 6W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 12E

Mediterranean Gull - 721os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 20os

Little Tern - 2os

House Martin - 12

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Fulmar (above), Sandwich Tern, Gadwall, House Martins & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just nine Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, whilst a Reed Warbler was singing from the roadside hedge. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: It was quite quiet along the pool, with just two or three Reed and Sedge Warblers singing, and a couple of Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Linnets in the bushes, a handful of Swallows over and half a dozen Redshanks and a couple of Skylarks around the fields. (AH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Linnet, Skylark & Swallow along the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: A flock of 22 Lapwings were flying around the harbour and another was by the rife at Halsey’s Farm this morning, but otherwise it was very quiet, with just a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and a Whitethroat along the reeds and bushes.

Also, a Kingfisher flew through, the two young Grey Herons were still on their nest, a couple of Cattle Egrets were in the fields, and both male and female Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds. (LP/SP/MJa)

Cattle Egret (above), Grey Heron chicks & Lapwing at the North Wall (LP)