19th - 20th September 2026

Sunday, 20th September: A  morning of fast-moving grey cloud and some warm, sunny spells in a fresh westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A first-winter Little Gull went west this morning, but not too much else offshore, whilst four Yellow Wagtails, five Grey Wagtails, 186 Meadow Pipits and 158 Swallows went west overhead. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AT/AH/P&LH/AWi)

(0630-1015hrs) (W, F4-5)

Gannet - 65W, 60os

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 6

Little Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 55W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W, 4os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 45W, 9os

Guillemot - 2W

Swallow - 158W

House Martin - 5W

Yellow  Wagtail - 4W

Grey Wagtail - 5W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 186W

Linnet - 9

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

Ferry Pool: There was no sign of the Grey Phalarope this morning, with just an Avocet, a Redshank, 65 Lapwings, four Teal and a juvenile Shelduck on the pool and just a Black-tailed Godwit, a few Redshanks and 31 Teal in the channel opposite. 

There were also a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Cetti's Warbler in the adjacent hedges and a dozen Swallows went over (AH/BI/JC)

Avocet and Teal (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: An Osprey and two female-type Marsh Harriers were over the harbour at various times this morning, whilst on the mud there were a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwits, a dozen Curlews and 40+ Oystercatchers, with c60 Dunlin and a few Grey Plovers flying about, and there were also c20 Pintail and similar of Wigeon and Teal about and a Sandwich Tern was offshore.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide, a Firecrest was nearby and two Wheatears were on the concrete blocks, but a couple of Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler and half a dozen Chiffchaffs, plus c20 House Martins, c30 Swallows, a couple of Yellow Wagtails and a dozen Meadow Pipits over was about it for migrants. 

(AH/IP/P&LH/JC/AWi/MB/DB/GK et al)

This evening a Curlew Sandpiper was out on the mud, with three Greenshanks, two Bar-tailed and two Black-tailed Godwits, two Knot and seven Dunlin. (PA)

Osprey (above), Marsh Harrier, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There wasn't too much to report this afternoon, with just two Reed Buntings and three Chiffchaffs along the wall, though 32 Cattle Egrets were in the fields and ten Sand Martins, 54 Swallows, a Kestrel and four Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Wheatear, eight Stonechats, seven Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers and six Yellowhammers were along the banks this morning, with seven Yellow Wagtails and c100 Meadow Pipits in the fields and c50 Swallows going over.

Also, a Greenshank was on the Stilt Pool and a Kestrel and eight Buzzards were overhead, whilst two Common Lizards and a dozen Clouded Yellows were along the banks. (S&SaH)

East Head: A look at Snowhill Creek this afternoon produced two Ruffs, 11 Greenshanks, a Snipe, ten Lapwings, four Dunlin, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c60 Teal, a Stonechat, a Chiffchaff and a swallow. (PA)

Saturday, 19th September: A very grey and blustery, if quite mild, morning in a strong south-westerly breeze.....

Sadly, I've recently learned of the passing of Colin Eames, yet another of our Peninsula birding friends. Colin, invariably accompanied by his wife who was always known as 'Mich' came to birding rather later in life. This dynamic duo were always keen to learn and if I recall correctly, became frequent visitors to the Bill and Peninsula from around 2010. Colin's sense of humour soon came to the fore and I recall a number of lively banter sessions enlivening a slow sea-watch! Regrettably though, ill-health eventually began to creep up and take it's toll, and Colin passed peacefully away at the end of August.

On a personal note, it is perhaps ironic that my best memory of Colin was not from the Peninsula, but on a certain day in mid-November 2015. To cut the story short, Colin and Mich knew I wanted to try for a long-staying Crag Martin in Chesterfield, but had been unable to go, suffering badly as my father was nearing his end. A window of opportunity arose for me as other family members were able to cover, and the dynamic duo picked me up, drove me to Chesterfield, waited all day as the bird was a no-show, then shared my joy as it briefly flew around the football stadium allowing a brief record shot, before it flew off never to appear again. They drove me back again and it is a great kindness I have never forgotten.

I'm sure all that knew Colin will join me in sending condolences to Mich and the family members - and I'm sure Colin's jokes will be noticed in heaven!   (OM/Eds)

Colin Eames (white cap) with Mich, Spring 2017 and (below) seated with the gallery of observers (OM)

Selsey Bill: Highlights this morning were a Hobby and an Arctic Skua west, along with153 Gannets and 214 Swallows. Full log below. (SH/PB/AGB/MRB/JBo/BI/IP/AH)

(0630-0900hrs) (SW, F6)

Gannet - 1E, 153W

Shag - 2E

Little Egret - 2W

Hobby - 1W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Dunlin - 9W

Turnstone - 7

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 6W

Great Black-backed Gull - 9W

Kittiwake - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 5W

Swallow - 3E, 214W

Meadow Pipit - 3W

(1430-1600hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E, 6W

Common Scoter - 7E, 1os

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 10W

Swallow - 1E

Gannets (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Grey Phalarope was on the muddy pools by the new fence late this morning, well found by Jacob Bowley, though otherwise there were just a juvenile Shelduck, four Teal, a Redshank and c20 Lapwings, plus a Grey Wagtail, present. (JBo/AGB/MRB/PB/IP/S&SaH/AH/BI et al)

Grey Phalarope (above), Grey Wagtail & Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham: A Hobby went over Cow Lane early this morning. (PA)

Church Norton: A Greenshank, two Whimbrel, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Knot, five Turnstones, ten Ringed Plovers and c100 Dunlin were in the harbour, along with 21 Pintail, whilst two Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine were out and about and two Gannets were offshore.

The hedges were quiet, with just a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a dozen or so Chiffchaffs seen, whilst two Wheatears were along the concrete blocks, two Stonechats were along the Severals and a Grey Wagtail, eight Yellow Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits and a dozen Swallows went over. (IP/PB/AGB/MRB/JBo/AH/KB et al)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

16th - 18th September 2026

Friday, 18th September: A fairly bright morning of sun and white cloud, cool early on, but warming up in a moderate westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: A returning Great Northern Diver - the second earliest this century - was the unexpected highlight this morning, with 232 Gannets west the only other notable action offshore, though there was plenty of overhead migration, including over 1000 House Martins, over 500 Swallows and a dozen Yellow Wagtails. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0630-0830hrs) W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Gannet - 232W

Shag - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 136W

Black-headed Gull - c500W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 14W

Common Tern - 2W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 508W

Sand Martin - 6W

House Martin - 1106

Yellow Wagtail - 12W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Meadow Pipit - 122W

Chiffchaff - 2

Sandwich Tern (above), Swallow & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool held a juvenile Shelduck, c75 Lapwings and c100 Black-headed Gulls this morning, whilst two Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, four Redshanks and c20 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later on, a Raven went over the Tramway. (LL)

Lapwing (above), Avocet & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Curlew Sandpipers were along White’s Creek, together with a Greenshank, four Spotted Redshanks, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Grey Plover and 14 Dunlin, with a Yellow-legged Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull out on the mud, and a Marsh Harrier over the saltmarsh.

Two Grey Wagtails, a Redshank and two Teal were the only birds on the Breech Pool, and over the reeds a male and a female Marsh Harrier were about, as well as a Buzzard and a Kestrel.
Along the bushes there were plenty of Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings but not much else, and at Halsey’s Farm a Skylark was in the fields and a Kingfisher was in his usual spot along the rife. (BFF/OM/IH/TRH/LP/CT/EB/SP)

At least one of the Curlew Sandpipers was still about this afternoon, along with the four Spotted Redshanks, five Knot, c30 Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Wagtail and a Marsh Harrier. (AWi)

Yellow-legged Gull (above, OM), Spotted Redshanks & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (LP)

Y

Church Norton: The churchyard/hide area was very quiet, with most of the activity around the Severals/beach area, including half a dozen Stonechats and Reed Buntings, two or three Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler and c20 Chiffchaffs, plus up to three Wheatears on and around the concrete blocks, whilst there was a continuous westward flow of hirundines over the harbour and beach, comprising c250 House Martins, c100 Swallows and c20 Sand Martins.

A Sandwich Tern was offshore, c50 Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach and two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel went over the harbour. However, as the tide pushed in, there were three Whimbrel, ten Curlews, two Greenshank, 21 Grey Plovers, three Bar-tailed Godwits and c25 Redshanks on the mud, and eight Pintail and 20 Teal in the channel. (AH/OM/BFF et al)

Wheatear (above), Whimbrel & Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was quiet along the banks today, with just two Dartford Warblers, two Whitethroats and c20 Yellowhammers of note, whilst a Kingfisher, a Greenshank, ,a Sparrowhawk, three Cattle Egrets and c50 Mediterranean Gulls were also about. (PB)

Thursday, 17th September: A wet and windy morning, with persistent drizzle interspersed with heavy showers pushed through on a fresh and blustery south-westerly, before slowly brightening up.......

Selsey Bill: A slow morning in the poor conditions, with 11 Common Terns and six Common Scoters west the best. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0700-0815hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Gannet - 1E, 24W

Common Scoter  - 6W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 6W

Common Tern - 11W

Swallow - 36W

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

Ferry Pool: There were just five juvenile Shelducks, a Lapwing and a Redshank on the pool, with another half a dozen of the latter, three Avocets and c20 Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Avocet (above) & Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: This afternoon an Osprey was in the dead trees before heading off high to the east, and there were also two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, a Kestrel and good numbers of Cattle Egrets about. (RPo)

Church Norton: There were at least a dozen Chiffchaffs in the sheltered hedges this morning, along with three Blackcaps and a big roaming flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, whilst a Stonechat was along Rectory Lane and least 50 Swallows went over, heading west.

The harbour was fairly quiet in the rain, but there were a Greenshank, two Whimbrel, four Grey Plovers, a dozen Curlews and Oystercatchers and c30 Redshank spread around, along with c20 Teal. (AH)

Blackcaps (above), Chiffchaffs, Greenshank & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail, three Chiffchaffs, a Yellowhammer, nine Meadow Pipits and four swallows were seen from along the banks this evening, but the only raptors about were a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 16th September: After a cool start, a pleasant morning of warm sun and white cloud in a moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Common Tern west was the only thing of note offshore, and visible migration was fairly slow until a long, loose flock c400 House Martins went west well offshore, with a similar number then accumulating over the houses before drifting off west, too. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0830hrs) (NW, F4)

Gannet - 10W

Sparrowhawk - 2

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 37W, 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 6W

Common Tern - 1W

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 105W

Sand Martin - 5W

House Martin - 842W

Yellow Wagtail - 2W

Grey Wagtail - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 34W

Wheatear - 1

Chiffchaff - 4

Rook - 1E

Linnet - 3W

Goldfinch - 5

House Martin (above), Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawks & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just two juvenile Shelducks, a Redshank and c60 roosting Lapwings on the pool this morning, and just a fly-through Kingfisher, two Black-tailed Godwits, the two Avocets, half a dozen Redshanks and c20 Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Long Pool: The Osprey was fishing over the saltmarsh at the end of Ferry Channel high tide late this afternoon, whilst two Snipe, four Turnstones, five Curlews, seven Little Egrets and three Grey Herons were among the roostring birds.

Two Tufted ducks were on the pool, whilst a Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, a Linnet and two Reed Buntings were along the path, with 47 Meadow Pipits, seven Swallows and a Sparrowhawk going over. (IP) 

Church Norton: There was a good fall of 41 Chiffchaffs between the Severals and Bluebell Wood this morning, with a Spotted Flycatcher, six Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers and three Reed Warblers in the vicinity, too, whilst two Yellow Wagtails, three swallows and 19 Meadow Pipits went over. (MRe)

The Osprey was fishing at the back of Tern Island late this afternoon. (RP)

North Wall: Two Grey Wagtails were by the sluice and a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 22 Black-tailed Godwits and c120 Redshanks were along White’s Creek, whilst further out there were c50 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, c60 Teal and the Shelduck family.

A Redshank was along the rocks, and in the bushes along the wall there were three Wheatears, 18 Reed Buntings, four Blackcaps, a Stonechat, two Cetti’s Warblers and six Greenfinches, whilst twelve Cattle Egrets were around the cows in the fields, and a Peregrine flew over and across the harbour.

At Halsey’s Farm a smart male Redstart was along the bushes, and three Meadow Pipits, a Snipe and a Lapwing were by the rife, with the Kingfisher in its regular spot at the far end. (MJa/LP/DHo/CT)

Redstart (above), Wheatear, Stonechat & Redshank (LP), Snipe, Cetti's Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear & Grey Wagtails (DHo) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were fairly quiet this morning, with just three Wheatears, a couple of Whitethroats and a dozen Chiffchaffs seen, along with a handful of Yellowhammers and Linnets, whilst c25 Yellow Wagtails and a dozen Skylarks were in the fields.

There was a continuous westward movement of hirundines, involving c200 House Martins, c100 Swallows and c50 Sand Martins, with c50 Meadow Pipits and c100 Linnets going over west, too.

The only waders on the Stilt Pool were two Greenshanks, a Redshank and c20 Lapwings, with another c20 Redshanks by the poplars, with only other things of note being a couple of Common Blues and at least 25 Clouded Yellows. (AH)

Yellow Wagtail (above), Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Greenshanks and Lapwing, Common Blue & Clouded Yellow at Medmerry (aH)

This evening two Short-eared Owls were high over the reserve, mobbing a Marsh Harrier, whilst an Osprey flew in, carrying a fish, and landed opposite Marsh Barn and a tiny male Merlin was chasing the Meadow Pipits.

Other than that excitement, there were just a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler, two Yellowhammers and two Kestrels noted. (S&SaH)

Osprey at Medmerry (SaH)