7th - 9th January 2026

Friday, 9th January: After a night of heavy rain and gale-force winds, a pretty cold and miserable morning of persistent drizzle in a strong and blustery north-westerly, slowly improving as the day progressed........

Selsey Bill: A total of 28 Red-throated Divers went west, along with a pair of Shovelers, with seven Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin dropping in on the beach. Full log below.

(0800-0915hrs) (NW, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 28W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 7W, 10os

Shag - 1W

Little Egret - 1E

Shoveler - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 8W

Ringed Plover - 7

Dunlin - 1

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Razorbill - 6os

auk sp - 2E, 13W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Ringed Plovers and Dunlin (above), Shovelers & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon, very unexpectedly, a Purple Sandpiper turned up among the Turnstones, showing down to a few feet at times. Full log below. (AW/AH/MRe)

(1330-1430hrs) 

Gannet - 3E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Common Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Purple Sandpiper at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 1000 Lapwings around the pool this morning, along with an Avocet, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, two pairs of Gadwall, c75 Shovelers, c200 Teal, c400 Wigeon, eight Shelducks and c25 Canada Geese. (AH)

Avocet and Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Kingfisher was about today, along with a sub-adult Marsh Harrier. (M&LL)

Church Norton: An Avocet was in the harbour today, along with c200 Knot, c500 Dunlin and c50 Grey Plovers, a dozen Shelducks, c25 Pintail and similar of Wigeon and Teal, with a Marsh Harrier over. (AH)

Pintail a Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There wasn’t too much about in the blustery conditions today, though four Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and a Sparrowhawk flew low over the fields, flushing 18 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Spotted Redshank was in the flooded areas of Honer 2 and a Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds.

It was just the usual, Redshanks, Curlews, Grey Plovers, Lapwings, Wigeon, Teal and Pintail along White’s Creek, whilst in the paddock, a Water Rail, a Song Thrush and a Pied Wagtail were around the edges. (LP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Rock Pipit, Grey Plover & Curlew at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: A Firecrest was in Apuldram churchyard this morning. (BI)

Hunston: At least eight Cattle Egrets and four Little Egrets were in the field along Mundham Road, just east of the roundabout. (AH)

 

Cattle Egret at Hunston (AH)

Thursday, 8th January: A very grey and murky morning, though a little milder than of late in the light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe went east and another flew in from the west and settled on the sea, where there were also three Slavonian Grebes, four Great Northern Divers and a Long-tailed Duck (not the adult male from Church Norton!).

Also, a pod of around ten Bottle-nosed Dolphins went west. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH)

(0745-0930hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 8W

Red-necked Grebe - 1E, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Shag - 16E

Brent Goose - 1W

Wigeon - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 6os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 4W, 3os

Razorbill - 1E, 1W, 3os

auk sp - 21E, 2W

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 1W

Red-throated Diver (above), Shags & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

At lunchtime today, a Sanderling was on the beach. (AW)

Sanderling at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper put in its first appearance in over a month this morning, along with an Avocet, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and c800 Lapwings, with a drake Gadwall among c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon, whilst c20 Canada Geese were in the fields at the back and a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Kingfisher & Gadwall, Teal and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek this morning, as well as three Avocets, eight Grey Plovers, 26 Redshanks, four Little Grebes, two Gadwall and numerous Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck and Pintail, whilst a Kingfisher flew into the sluice.

A Rock Pipit was along the rocks, and three Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings, four Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and five Song Thrushes were in the reeds and bushes, while in the paddock there was a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, two more Chiffchaffs, a Jay and two Song Thrushes, with the male Marsh Harrier and a Water Rail around, too.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Stonechat, a Goldcrest and a Buzzard were around the fields, c100 Wigeon were by the rife, as well as a Common Gull, and in the harbour there, a Kingfisher was along the banks and four Avocets were on the mud with two Grey Plovers and 18 Redshanks. (LP/IH/SP/AH/KF)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocets, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Yellowhammers, Buzzard (LP), Redwing & Marsh Harrier (AH) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Goldcrest, six Stonechats, 16 Yellowhammers and c20 Linnets were along the banks this morning, with a Water Rail in one of the path-side pools and 43 Coots sat out on the bank of the reservoir.

Also, four Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were on the Stilt Pool, a Kestrel, two Marsh Harriers and two Buzzards went over and c200 Brent Geese were on the reserve, with a huge flock of at lest 1500 birds flying up from somewhere distantly to the west. (SH/PB)

Wednesday, 7th January: The frost lifted overnight, though it remained cold and mostly bright in a frresh and blustery north-westerly....

Selsey Bill: There was a little more activity this morning, including 14 Red-throated Divers east and nine Red-breasted Mergansers west. Full log below. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

(0750-0920hrs) (NW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 14E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 20os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 1E

Common Scoter - 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 9W

Oystercatcher - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 2os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 9E

Great Northern Diver (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Later, at around midday, a Little Gull was offshore. (AW)

Little Gull at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: With the ice thawing, there were lots of birds back around the pool, including a Merlin shooting through, a Peregrine on the radar mast and a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard at the back, with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Lapwings, c500 Wigeon, c20 Shovelers and c50 Teal around the pool and five Golden Plovers going over west.

Also, a Grey Wagtail and c50 Goldfinches were about, with three Avocets, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, a Little Grebe and c25 Wigeon and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

Peregrine (above), Avocet, Teal & Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The three first-winter White-fronted Geese were in Honer 2 field this afternoon. (per Birdguides)

Church Norton: The drake Long-tailed Duck as offshore again this morning, along with two Great Northern Divers, two Great Crested Grebes and two Sandwich Terns, whilst in the harbour there were an Avocet, two Black-tailed Godwits, a handful of Ringed Plovers, c40 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c600 Dunlin, along with a few Brent Geese, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal.

Also a Marsh Harrier went over, putting up half a dozen Skylarks from the islands and a Chiffchaff was among a large mixed flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

Marsh Harrier (above), Knot, Pintail & Red-breasted Mergansers at Church Norton (AH)

4th - 6th January 2026

Tuesday, 6th January: Another very cold morning in a light north-westerly breeze, bright early on, before slowly clouding over.........

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet this morning! Full log below. (AH)

(0750-0850hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1W, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Shag - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Turnstone - 2

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool remains completely frozen, with all the activity in the channel opposite, including six Avocets, a Snipe, eight Black-tailed Godwits, seven Redshanks, c20 Teal, c30 Mallards and c80 Wigeon. (AH)

Snipe (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocets, Wigeon and Mallards in Ferry Channel (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Stonechat was in the corner of Yeoman's Field and two Marsh Harriers went over, but that was about it. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Marsh Harrier at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: The Long-tailed Duck and at least three Slavonian Grebes were offshore again this afternoon. (JC)

North Wall: One or two Redwings were along the wall this morning, along with a Rock Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, a Reed Bunting and a Buzzard, and there were lots of Brent Geese about, though no sign of the White-fronted Geese. (E&SB)

Redwing (above), Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Reed Bunting & Buzzard along the North Wall (EB)

Sidlesham: A dozen Redwings went west over Cow Lane at dusk this evening. (AH)

Sidlesham: At least 200 Lapwings were in the fields along Mapson's Lane late this morning. (AH)

Chichester Canal: Around 40 mobile Redwings were along the stretch between the Birdham Road and the Donnington Road, along with four Fieldfares, half a dozen Song Thrushes and c20 Blackbirds, plus a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Jays, with a Little Grebe and a few Moorhens and Coots on the bits of unfrozen water.

Also, three were c200 Golden Plovers and Lapwings in the fields south of the canal, together with at least four Snipe and a couple of Skylarks. (AH)

Redwings (above), Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe & Golden Plovers at Chichester Canal (AH)

Monday, 5th January: After light flurries of snow overnight and a sharp frost, it was cold and bright  throughout in just a light northerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: It was quiet again, though a Sanderling went east and a few Great Northern and Red-throated Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (P&LH/AH/LP)

(0740-0910hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 6W, 6os

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 9E

Wigeon - 2E

Common Scoter - 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 1E

Turnstone - 3

Sandwich Tern - 1W, 3os

Razorbill - 3E

auk sp - 8E, 8W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Later, a Black-throated Diver and four Great Northern Divers were on the sea, along with a few Razorbills. (BFF/SL)

Red-throated Diver (above) & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was completely frozen again this morning, though two Avocets, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, five Redshanks, 30 Teal, c50 Mallards and c100 Wigeon were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit (above) & Avocets, Wigeon and Mallards in Ferry Channel & the frozen Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Dartford Warbler, two Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, seven Meadow Pipits, five Skylarks, 25 Linnets and a couple of Pied Wagtails were around the fields this morning, with a female Marsh Harrier going over, too. (SaH)

Church Norton: The drake Long-tailed Duck and up to fivr Slavonian Grebes were offshore again this morning, along with a Great Northern Diver, two Red-throated Divers, two Red-breasted Mergansers and half a dozen Great Crested Grebes.

Also, in the harbour there were a Snipe, eight Black-tailed Godwits 11 Ringed Plovers, c60 Grey Plovers, c50 Knot and c150 Dunlin, plus just a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, with just a couple of Redwings and a Goldcrest of note in the hedges.  (P Wells/P&LH)

North Wall: The Breach Pool had two Water Rails to the rear, along with a Grey Heron, whilst along  the wall there were a Kingfisher, a Yellowhammer, a Goldcrest and six Song Thrushes, plus a Raven going over, with a female Marsh Harrier was further back and the male was seen later near the stables.

The three first-winter White-fronted Geese were in Honer 3 field, along with four Brent Geese and another Water Rail was in Owl Water, whilst in the harbour there ere a Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull, a couple of Pintail, a dozen shelduck and c150 Wigeon..

There were also c1000 Brent Geese in the distance towards Marsh Farm, and at Halsey's Farm there were a Jack Snipe, five Snipe, c100 Wigeon along with a few Redshanks and two Dunlin. (GHi/P&LH)

White-fronted Geese (above), Water Rail, Yellowhammer & Song Thrush at the North Wall (GHi)

Crablands Marsh: At least two Jack Snipe and four Snipe were in the frozen field along Mill Lane this morning. (AH/BFF/SL)

Snipe at Crablands Marsh (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights on a cold and wintery morning from the sewage works were two Goldeneyes, a Kingfisher showing well, four Shovelers near the far bank, 15 Pintail and a Rock Pipit, whilst an Avocet flew up the creek and was refound at the top of the creek, along with a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and seven Snipe. (RW)

Also, later, a Jack Snipe and a dozen Snipe were seen, along with a Green Sandpiper and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. (AWi)

Kingfisher in Fishbourne Creek (RW)

Chichester GPs: Most of the pits completely ere frozen over this morning, but I saw the following -

New Lake - ten Long-tailed Tits among a few, Blue and Great Tits,

Copse Lake - a Mute Swan, 41 Mallard, two Pochard, 20 Coots and a Cetti’s Warbler,

East Lake - two Mute Swans and ten Mallard,

Ivy Lake - a Great Crested Grebe, a Little Grebe, two Egyptian Geese, ten Mallard, 20 Shovelers, two Gadwall, and two Tufted Ducks, plus a Green Woodpecker, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest along the path and 30 Coots and four Moorhens on the lawn of Peckhams Farmhouse,. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - A pair of Stonechats were near the windmill and a handful of Linnets and Pied Wagtails were among the caravans this morning, with just four Red-breasted Mergansers and three Great Crested Grebes offshore.

There were large numbers of Wigeon and Teal, plus c40 Pintail, around the Breach, along with a Sanderling, c50 Ringed Plovers and Grey Plovers and 500+ Dunlin, with several hundred Lapwings and Brent Geese up over the reserve. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Sanderling and Grey Plover, Pintail and Wigeon & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 4th January: Another very cold morning after a heavy overnight frost, though with uninterrupted sunshine and the north-westerly breeze having abated, a pleasant morning to be out.....

Selsey Bill: It was another quiet morning, with a Sanderling on the beach the only thing beyond the regular mix. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/AH)

(0735-0905hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 9W, 5os

Gannet - 6E, 4W

Shag - 6E

Little Egret - 1E

Common Scoter - 23W

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 7W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 1E, 2 present

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 1W

Guillemot - 2W

Razorbill - 6E, 2W

auk sp - 89E, 2W

Sanderling (above), Red-throated Divers & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was completely frozen this morning, with just four Lapwings and four Black-headed Gulls on it, though an Avocet, a Snipe, eight Black-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Redshanks, c40 Wigeon and Teal and c20 Mallards were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Lapwings (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocet, Wigeon, Teal and Mallards around the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Raven went over Mill Lane this morning. (M&LL)

Church Norton: Three Greenshank were roosting on the concrete blocks this morning, whilst two Red-throated Divers were offshore and a Cetti's Warbler was calling from the Severals. (S&SaH)

This afternoon, the drake Long-tailed Duck and three Slavonian Grebes were offshore, along with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a Sandwich Tern and a dozen Great Crested Grebes.

At least 400 Knot and 1000 Dunlin were among the waders in the harbour, along with three Greenshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Black-tailed Godwits and plenty of Wigeon and Teal, plus a Marsh Harrier. (M&LH/AH)

Long-tailed Duck (above), Slavonian Grebe, Marsh Harrier and Carrion Crows, Teal & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The three first-winter White-fronted Geese were in Honer 3 field with c20 Brent Geese this morning, whilst the male and two female Marsh Harriers were up behind the Breech Pool, which held a Water Rail, a Little Grebe and at least four Snipe.

A couple of Rock Pipits, a Redwing and a few Song Thrushes were along the wall, though it was generally quiet, whilst White's Creek held large numbers of Wigeon and teal, plus a few Pintail, along with c300 Lapwings, but most waders were elsewhere on the high tide. (AH/LP/CS/GH/E&SB et al)

White-fronted Geese (above), Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit, Water Rail, Snipe (AH), Redwing, Song Thrush, White-fronted Geese & Little Grebe (EB) at the North Wall 

Pagham Lagoon: A quick look late morning produced nine Pochard, c40 Tufted Ducks and a dozen Little Grebes, but not much else. (AH)

Pochard on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Two Jack Snipe and ten Common Snipe were along the saltmarsh this orning as werec.10 Rock Pipits. Two Goldeneye, a displaying male and a female were on the water as were c.300 Wigeon, c.300 Brent Geese, c.40 Teal & 12 Pintail. In the wader roost were Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Ringed Plovers and many Curlew. (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around the fields this morning, there were a Dartford Warbler, a Stonechat, three Grey Wagtails, eight Pied Wagtails and c30 Meadow Pipits, with a Buzzard over.

Also, nearby, a Snipe was on the waste ground opposite the Selsey Centre. (S&SaH)

Sidlesham: A Coal Tit was in Cow Lane this morning. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin was about this afternoon, along with two Marsh Harriers and two Kestrels, with at least 500 Brent Geese, c100 Lapwings, a couple of Golden Plovers and a Snipe on the reserve, but just two Stonechats, a Yellowhammer and c20 Linnets were along the banks. (S&SaH)