1st - 2nd April 2026

Thursday, 2nd April: A morning that started cool and grey in a fresh northerly, but slowly warmed and brightened up as the breeze abated........

Selsey Bill: Two Pintail - presumably different to yesterday's birds - were the only things heading east offshore again this morning, whilst two Wheatears were seen flying in off the sea and landing on the groynes, one of which remained in situ for at least ten minutes. Full log below. (PM/AH/IP)

(0700-0900hrs) (N, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Gannet - 7W

Pintail - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 5W, 3os

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

auk sp - 3W

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

Wheatears (PM top two, AH lower) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were two Little Ringed Plovers on the pool this morning, whilst the Ruff was roosting with 59 Black-tailed Godwits and there were also three Avocets, four Lapwings, a Snipe, two Redshanks, a Curlew, 11 Shelducks, seven Gadwall, c30 Teal and c50 Shovelers about.

Also, the Greenshank and the Spotted Redshank were well up Ferry Channel, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch, a Peregrine went over, a Mistle Thrush was near the adjacent houses and up to five singing Blackcaps and at least three Chiffchaffs were around the Discovery area/ Tramway. (AH/PM/AW)

Greenshank (above), Water Rail (AW), Little Ringed Plovers, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Teal, Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits & Wren (AH) at the Ferry

Late this afternoon, the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were again in Ferry Channel, along with 64 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

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

North Wall: A Glossy Ibis dropped into Owl Copse at 0820hrs this morning and then preened itself for about 20 minutes before heading out north and appearing to drop into the ditches in Honer 3, before later being seen flying into White's Creek, where there was also a Spotted Redshank.

Also, a Kingfisher was along the water at Owl Copse, a Corn Bunting was at Owl Point, and the male Marsh Harrier was over the Breech Pool, where there were just a Shoveler, a Shelduck, two Great Crested Grebes present, plus the pair of Mute the Swans, busy building up their nest, whilst Halsey's Farm there were just a couple of Skylarks and three Buzzards. (GHi/EB/CS et al)

Glossy Ibis (above), Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Shoveler (GHi), Glossy Ibis, Corn Bunting, Marsh Harrierd & Buzzard (EB) at the North Wall 

Church Norton: This evening there were 16 Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour, along with six Black-tailed Godwits, but very few other waders, whilst c30 Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 1st April: A hazily grey morning, quite mild in a moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A pair of Pintail were the only birds heading east this morning, through three Wheatears, two Willow Warblers and four Chiffchaffs moved through. Full log below. (AH/IP/MO-W)

(0710-0855hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 2W

Pintail - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 7W, 5os

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 11W

Black-headed Gull - 133W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Wheatear - 3

Willow Warbler - 2

Chiffchaff - 4

Linnet - 2

Chaffinch - 2

Wheatears (above) & Chiffchaff at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff was still at the back this morning, with a pair of Avocets, a Redshank, a Curlew, four Lapwings and c30 Black-tailed Godwits about, but wildfowl were reduced to c30 Shovelers, a dozen Teal, six Gadwall and eight Shelducks. (AH/GSh)

Lapwings (above) & Shelducks and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

This evening the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were again in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit: There were six Wheatears along the spit this morning. (LP)

Wheatears at the Pagham Spit (LP)

North Wall: This morning, a Sedge Warbler was in the Breech Pool, whilst a Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek and four Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Knot, 130 Grey Plovers, four Red-breasted Mergansers and four Pintail were out in the harbour, along with seven Common Seals. 

Also, there were two male Wheatears in Owl Point field, two Red Kites, two Marsh Harriers and five Buzzards were over the fields and the first Grey Heron chick of the year was seen in the visible nest at Owl Copse. (LP/BFF/AB/SP et al)

Red Kite (above), Cattle Egret & Little Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were up to 50 Sandwich Terns and 200 Mediterranean Gulls among c500 Black-headed Gulls in and around the islands this morning, whilst in the harbour there were 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, two Knot, three Dunlin and 25 Grey Plovers, along with a male Red-breasted Merganser, a dozen Teal and a flock of seven Brent Geese that were flying around.

A Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a few Chiffchaffs were around the Mound area, but a Reed Bunting, half a dozen Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits was about it along the front, whilst a female Marsh Harrier was sat out at the Severals and a Green Woodpecker and a Great spotted Woodpecker were about, too. (AH/CRJ/GR/EB/BFF et al)

Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plovers (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits and Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls (AH) & Long-tailed Tit (CRJ) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were two male Wheatears on the beach this morning, with a Reed Bunting, a Skylark and half a dozen Linnets about, too, whilst offshore there were a Great Northern Diver and four Red-breasted Mergansers. (AH)

Wheatears (above), Reed Bunting & Great Northern Diver at Medmerry (AH)

29th - 31st March 2026

Tuesday, 31st March: A fairly grey morning, though a little warmer as the westerly breeze eased.......

Selsey Bill: It remains quiet, though nine Great Northern Divers were on the sea, a Fulmar went west and a Swallow flew in. Full log below. (PB/JB/IP/AH/OM)

(0700-1045hrs) (W, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Fulmar - 1W

Shag- 1E

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 5E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 4os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 2W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 2W

Swallow - 1N

Chiffchaff - 2

(1145-1245hrs) (PB/JB/OM)

Gannet - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Great Northern Divers (above), Shag & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Ruff at the back again this morning, with two Avocets, four Redshanks, four Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen Shelducks, five Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c30 and c20 Wigeon present, too.

Also, two Willow Warblers, a Blackcap and three Chiffchaffs were in the Discovery Area. (AH/PB/JB/OM)

Avocet (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon a moulting Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were in Ferry Channel, two Little Ringed Plovers, three Ruff and two Avocets were around the pool/fields and a Blackcap was in the Discovery Area. (AB/AH/RN)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank & Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The harbour was fairly empty on the rising tide this morning, with a Greenshank, six Grey Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, three Bar-tailed Godwits and c60 Black-tailed Godwits the only waders of note, whilst wildfowl comprised a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a Brent Goose, c20 Teal, a handful of Wigeon and a dozen Shelducks, plus a pair of Canada Geese on the island.

There were also up to a dozen Sandwich Terns and c60 Mediterranean Gulls among the many Black-headed Gulls, but a Wheatear along the spit and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the hedges, was it for migrants. (PB/JB/AH)

Greenshank (above), Brent Goose, Shelducks & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

This evening a Wheatear was on the blocks again and another was along the spit and a Blackcap was singing near the Mound, whilst the three Bar-tailed Godwits and c20 Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (AH/GR/GW)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Wheatear was in the fields at Halsey’s Farm, as well as two Long-tailed Tits, six Linnets and three Skylarks, and the usual Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were at Owl Copse.

The lone Brent Geese was still in Honer 2, and two Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff, a Song Thrush and six Reed Buntings were in the bushes along the wall, whilst two Shovelers and a Great Crested Grebe were on the Breech Pool.

Out in the harbour there was a mixed flock of c100 waders, mostly Grey Plovers and Dunlin, but also a Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit, whilst there were still a few Teal, about but Wigeon numbers were reduced to just six,

Also, a White Wagtail was in the paddock and both the male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds. (TRH/LP/MJa/IH/JDW)

Marsh Harrier (above), Linnet, Chaffinch, Brent Goose, Shoveler & Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

An update on one of the released and flagged Curlews - KP - which was first noted in the harbour last August, before briefly relocating to Portsmouth Harbour in September, then being seen again in the harbour on 2nd November and again yesterday. (GHi)

flagged Curlew at the North Wall (GHi)

Fishbourne Creek: On the rising tide this morning there were three Greenshank and 50 Curlews at the top of the creek, with small numbers of Teal and Wigeon and three Red-breasted Mergansers mid channel, and two Brent Geese dropped in.

Around high tide there were 18 Great-crested Grebes present, with 37 Turnstones roosting on a moored yacht and c100 Black-tailed Godwits and a Dunlin roosting on the saltmarsh, and also, three Sand Martins flew up the creek. (RW)

Monday, 30th March: A morning of hazy sun and white cloud, but cool in the fresh and blustery westerly......

Selsey Bill: It was predictably slow, given the wind direction, with absolutely nothing on the move. Full log below. (IP/AH et al)

(0715-0830hrs) (WNW, F6)

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 5E

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Black-headed Gull - 22W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Linnet - 1N

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff, four Lapwings, two Redshanks, a Snipe and a Curlew were on the fields this morning, with two Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits  around the pool, along with 11 Shelducks, eight Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c50 Teal and c25 Wigeon.

Also, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and two or three Chiffchaffs were in the Discovery area. (AH)

Also, this morning, the first Sedge Warbler of the year was heard singing near the Water Treatment Works. (TG-P)

Avocets and Shovelers (above), Black-tailed Godwits and Teal, Shovelers & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Later, there were four Avocets on the pool and a Greenshank in the channel opposite, whilst the Willow Warbler was showing in the Discovery Area. (JC/AW et al)

Willow Warbler at the Ferry (AW)

Church Norton: There were just half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen Grey Plovers and a couple of Dunlin in the harbour, along with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, c20 Shelducks, a dozen Sandwich Terns, c40 Mediterranean Gulls and c100 Black-headed Gulls.

Also, a Marsh Harrier was over the Severals and two or three Chiffchaffs were in the hedges, but that was about it. (AH/RPa)

Late this afternoon, there were three Wheatears on the concrete blocks, with two Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers in the bushes and a Marsh Harrier over. (S&SaH et al)

Mediterranean Gulls (above), Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Birdham: A Swallow has been back on territory in the garden over the last three days - the earliest ever date. (AB)

Chichester GPs: The first-winter Little Gull was on West Trout Lake this afternoon, whilst a Kingfisher was on Triangle Lake and a family of Egyptian geese were by the house. (JC/AW)

Little Gull (above) & Egyptian Goose family at Chichester GPs (AW)

Sunday, 29th March: A cool and mostly grey morning in a light to moderate, though freshening, south-westerly breeze......

Are you a member of the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS)? If so, this brief message is directed at you and apologies to other readers (though if a Sussex resident you surely are a member!) You will be receiving the quarterly SOS newsletter very shortly and you will find therein a questionnaire based around the Society's annual publication - the Sussex Bird Report - seeking your honest views as to how you would like the SOS to proceed in the future. All members are urged to respond and I hope you will take a little time to give your feedback, which will shape the SOS direction in the future. Note that if you have currently opted for receiving your newsletter in digital form, there is a link that will allow you to respond digitally, or if you would prefer to reply in this manner a link can be sent to any SOS member. Many thanks. (OM/Eds)

Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning, with a Slavonian Grebe and 15 Sanderlings going east the only things beyond the usual. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/JA/AH)

(0630-0900hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 18W

Shag - 2E

Common Scoter - 4E, 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 6W, 7os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 4W

Sanderling - 15E

Turnstone - 16

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 3W

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 1

This afternoon, the first Arctic Skua of the year - a dark-phase bird - was lingering offshore and a Bonxie went west, and, also, a Marsh Harrier came in off the sea. Full log below. (SH)

(1515-1645hrs) (SW, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 2E

Shag - 1W

Brent Goose - 23E

Marsh Harrier - 1N

Arctic Skua - 1os

Great Skua - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 3W, 5os

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

Ferry Pool: It was quieter around the pool and fields this morning, with two Avocets, four Lapwings and c50 Black-tailed Godwits the only waders present, together with a dozen Shelducks, eight Gadwall, c30 Wigeon and Teal and c50 Shovelers.

There were also a Blackcap and three Chiffchaffs around the Discovery Area. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A pair pair of Grey Wagtails were in the paddocks, a Kingfisher was by the sluice and there were still c100 Teal in the harbour, but there were just eight Teal and three Pintail about, whilst out on the mud there were plenty of Redshank and more distant, a mixed group of c70 waders containing mostly Grey Plovers, with a handful of Dunlin, two Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

The three White-fronted Geese flew over the Breech Pool early on, but on the water, there was just a Great Crested Grebe, a Little Grebe, the pair of Mute Swans and four Teal, with the last remaining Brent Goose, two Canada Geese, two Little Egrets and four Curlews in the fields.

Three Buzzards and both male and female Marsh Harriers were about, and there was the usual activity from the Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets around Owl Copse, also two Little Grebes were nest building on Owl Water and at Halsey’s Farm, two Avocets were along the Rife and and a few Skylarks were over the fields. (MJa/LP/CT/AWr)

There were also three Willow Warblers singing along Mill Lane, towards Halsey's Farm early this morning. (ML)

Skylark (above), Brent Goose, Avocets (LP). Cattle Egret, Grey Wagtail & Seven-spotted Ladybird (EB) at the North Wall

Park Farm, Selsey: A Cetti's Warbler was calling again here, early this morning, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the treeline and a Buzzard was sat in the conifers. (IP)

Church Norton: The female Wheatear was around the concrete blocks again this morning, with a male moving west along the spit, and a Willow Warbler was singing nearby, but the hedges were generally quiet, though a Reed Bunting. a couple of Long-tailed Tits, a Green Woodpecker and a few Stock Doves were around the Severals, a pair of Red-legged Partridges flew out of Bluebell Wood and a female Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and two Buzzards were in the vicinity.

A dozen Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, along with a Knot, three Grey Plovers and four Ringed Plovers, but there were few waders about on the rising tide, whilst seven Brent Geese were in the harbour mouth and a dozen or so Wigeon and two dozen Shelducks and Teal were present, too.

Also, up to 20 Sandwich Terns and 60 Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls on and around the islands, with another four Sandwich Terns, three Great Crested Grebes and a Gannet seen offshore. (AH/AB/IP)

Wheatear (above), Sandwich Tern, Black-tailed Godwits, Jay & Robin at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - The first Common Tern of the year was present this morning, along with an adult and a first-winter Little Gull and c20 Sand Martins.

There were also eight Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, nine Egyptian Geese and 13 Pochard noted. (S&SaH/BI/AB)