14th - 15th January 2026

Thursday, 15th January: Another very wet morning, with overnight rain continuing throughout, heavy at times, in a moderate south-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a Fulmar west, along with a few Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes. Full log below. (AH)

(0800-0945hrs) (SSW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 24W, 2os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 37W

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6W, 1os

Kittiwake - 1E, 58W, 6os

Razorbill - 27W, 12os

Guillemot - 1W, 2os

auk sp - 36W

Red-throated Divers (above), Guillemot, Razorbills, Kittiwake & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Ruff re-appeared this morning among c100 Black-tailed Godwits, with the Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Snipe and an Avocet also about, along with c1500 Lapwings.

There were slightly fewer wildfowl than of late, but there were still c50 Shovelers and Mallard, c150 Teal and c250 Wigeon present. (AH et al), 

This afternoon there were two Ruffs present on the field. (AWi)

Ruff, Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits and Wigeon (above), Green Sandpiper & Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Wigeon and Mallard at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A quick look at high tide didn't produce much in the harbour beyond a Greenshank and a few roosting Dunlin, Grey Plovers and Redshank, plus just a handful of Wigeon and Teal, with a couple of Goldcrests the only things in the hedges. (AH)

Dunlin and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 14th January: A cold, but bright start in just a light northerly breeze, though slowly clouding over as the morning progressed......

Selsey Bill: Four Slavonian Grebes and four Great Northern Divers were offshore this morning, with good numbers of Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers seen, too. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/OM)

(0740-1125hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 9E, 41W, 3os

Slavonian Grebe - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 3E, 1W, 1os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 2E

Teal - 2E

Common Scoter - 1E, 45W, 22os

Red-breasted Merganser - 29E, 6W, 15os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Turnstone - 8E

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 4os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 4W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Guillemot - 1E

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 11E

Pied Wagtail - 2

Red-breasted Mergansers (above) & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite, along with two Avocets, this morning, with another of the latter and c60 Black-tailed Godwits among at least 2000 Lapwings on the pool and fields before they started shooting in the adjacent fields and everything took flight.

There were also six Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall, c75 Shovelers, 250 Teal, c400 Wigeon and c60 Canada Geese present, too, before they also all dispersed. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet and Lapwings, Gadwall & Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: This morning thousands of birds in the harbour this morning including c1000 Brent Geese, c500 Lapwings, 5 and c500 Golden Plovers, with the three White-fronted Geese in with the Brent Goose flock on Honer 1 early on, but flew off with them when a dog walker walked across the footpath.

In the hedgerows there were five Fieldfares, four Redwing, three Yellowhammers and two Reed Buntings, with a Kingfisher near the sluice and another over Halsey’s Farm. (CRJ)

Later, a mixed flock of c75 Fieldfares and Redwings were in the trees at Halsey’s Farm this morning, and a Kingfisher was along the rife, where there were also 150 Wigeon and a few Teal.

A Rock Pipit was on the rocks, and six Yellowhammers and a couple of Reed Buntings were along the lower path, whilst out in the fields the three White-fronted Geese were with a large flock of Brent Geese who were constantly moving between the fields and the harbour.

Elsewhere, it was just the usual species along White’s Creek, a Song Thrush and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around the paddock, and the pair of Marsh Harrier were over the reeds. (CRJ/LP/SP/EB)

Redwings and Fieldfares (above),White-fronted and Brent Geese, Rock Pipit (LP), Redwing, Marsh Harriers, Redwings and Fieldfares & Song Thrush (EB) at the North Wall

Dell Quay - Fishbourne Creek: A drake and a female Goldeneye were at the Dell Quay end, where there were also seven Red- breasted Mergansers, whilst a drake Gadwall and good numbers of Wigeon and Teal were along the creek this morning, with three Egyptian Geese at the top end, and waders included two Avocets, a Greenshank, a Snipe, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Grey Plovers and many hundreds of Dunlin.

There were also a Kingfisher and a couple of Rock Pipits along the creek, whilst at least 30 Redwings and half a dozen Song Thrushes, plus a dozen Chaffinches, were in Apuldram churchyard and a pair of Firecrests and two or three Goldcrests were in the adjacent car-park. A Chiffchaff was also present, actively feeding along the path near the moored boats. (RW/AH/OM)

Avocets (above) and Red-breasted Mergansers at Dell Quay (OM)

Goldeneye (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Firecrest & Redwings at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

10th - 13th January 2026

Tuesday, 13th January: A morning of almost continuous rain, at times heavy, in a moderate southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning in the dire conditions. Full log below. (AH)

(0800-0900hrs) (S, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 4W

Gannet - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 2E

Ferry Pool: The flooded fields around the pool were full of birds again this morning, dominated by 1000+ Lapwings, with a Greenshank, an Avocet, four Redshanks, c80 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Golden Plovers among them, whilst a good selection of wildfowl comprised eight Shelducks, a pair of Pintail, two pairs of Gadwall, c60 Shovelers and Mallards, c200 Teal and c300 Wigeon. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Avocet, Pintail and Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits, Golden Plovers and Lapwings & Wigeon and Teal on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Unsurprisingly, given the conditions, there wasn't too much to report this morning, with just c100 Knot, c30 Grey Plovers, c400 Dunlin and a few Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers on the mud, with three Red-breasted Mergansers, a Pintail and a few Wigeon and Teal on the water. (AH)

Pintail (above) & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 12th January: A very grey morning, if milder than of late, in a moderate to fresh south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A first-winter Little Gull was offshore briefly this morning, but otherwise it was a modest mix of the regular species. Full log below. (AH et al)

(0755-0925hrs) (SW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 15W

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 16W

Brent Goose - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 8W

Little Gull - 1os, then E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 1E, 4W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 1W

Red-throated Divers (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon a Guillemot, a Kittiwake, two Common Gulls and flock of ten Shelducks went west, while a distant Red-throated Diver and a Sandwich Tern went east. Full log below. (AW)
(1330-1530hrs)
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Shelduck - 10W
Common Gull - 2W
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 1E
Guillemot - 1W

Kittiwake (above), Common Gull & Shelducks at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff was among the waders on the flooded field this morning. (TG-P)

There was no sign later, though the Green Sandpiper was in the roadside pool again, with at least 300 Golden Plovers, a Grey Plover, a dozen Dunlin and c40 Black-tailed Godwits among c1200 Lapwings, with c50 Shovelers, c200 Teal and c300 Wigeon also about. (BI/AH)

The Green Sandpiper was still present later, and a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch. (RP)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Marsh Harrier went over late this afternoon. (LL)

Church Norton: A Bar-tailed Godwit as in the harbour this morning, along with c50 Knot and Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, whilst 47 Shelducks were along the main channel and three Pintail were again amongst the Wigeon and Teal.

Also, a huge number of birds came up from the north of the harbour, including c2000 Lapwings and  c500 Golden Plovers and Brent Geese, but a Chiffchaff was the only thing of note in the hedges. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover (above) & Pintail at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The three White-fronted Geese were in Honer 2 early on, before moving off with several hundred Brent Geese, whilst out in the harbour c1500 Lapwings and c800 Golden Plovers were on the mud.
It was otherwise quiet along the wall with just a Rock Pipit and a couple of Reed Buntings about, whilst a Water Rail was in the paddock as well as three Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff, but that was about it. (LP/CT)

Stonechat (above), Meadow Pipit, Pie Wagtail & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at the North Wall (LP)

Sunday, 11th January: The wind went round nearly 180 degrees overnight, leaving a cold and grey, though dry, morning in a near gale-force southerly.......

Selsey Bill: A total off 11 Slavonian Grebes in two separate flocks, plus one flying east, was by far the highest count this winter, with over 200 Kittiwakes east and over 200 Gannets west also of note. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/AH)

(0730-0930hrs) (S, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 21E, 13W, 5os

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 11os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 253W

Cormorant - 45E

Common Scoter - 1E, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 3W, 9os

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 8os

Common Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 7E, 12W

Kittiwake - 216E, 11W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Guillemot - 3W

Razorbill - 9E, 23W, 4os

auk sp - 11E, 17W

(1220-1305hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4W

Brent Goose - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Kittiwakes (above), Red-throated Diver & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were again good numbers of birds present this morning, including c1500 Lapwings, c100 Golden Plovers, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks, five Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c200 Teal and c400 Wigeon.

Also, a Snipe and a Raven went over and up to ten Red-legged Partridges dropped in on the bank right below where a Buzzard was sat, and three Avocets, a Grey Plover, a Little Grebe and a few Teal and Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AH et al)

Also, later, a Firecrest was in the Discovery Area. (BI)

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

Church Norton: A Peregrine was about this morning, but the harbour was fairly quiet with the wind direction, but there were still a few Knot and Grey Plovers, a couple of Ringed Plovers and Turnstones and several hundred Dunlin about, along with an Avocet and a Black-tailed Godwit.

There were also three Pintail among a scattering of Wigeon and Teal, whilst several hundred Brent Geese went west over the far side of the harbour, but a handful of Gannets and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be found offshore. (AH et al)

Pintail (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover & Dunlin and Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - A Corn Bunting and a few Reed Buntings were among the Yellowhammer flock at Wilson's Farm this morning. (BI)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Farm - A pair of Stonechats, ten Goldfinches and c20 Meadow Pipits was about it along the banks this morning, with a Snipe, c50 Golden Plovers and c50 Brent Geese on the reserve and a Raven, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard over. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 10th January: After a sharp frost, a cold, but bright morning in a moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: The Purple Sandpiper was on the beach again early on, among a selection of waders, including a Redshank (rare here!), two Sanderlings and two Ringed Plovers, whilst up to four Slavonian Grebes, five Great Northern Divers and 60 Red-throated Divers moving around offshore. Full log below. (SH/BI/LP/SP/IH/TGH/P&LH/AH et al)

(0730-0930hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 18E, 39W, 3os

Slavonian Grebe - 2E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Shag - 6E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 7W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Ringed Plover - 2

Sanderling - 2

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Redshank - 1

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Common Gull - 1W, 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 3W

auk sp - 5E, 12W

Shag (above), Sanderling & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 2000 Lapwings around the pool and the field this morning, along with c60 Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, six Shelducks, c75 Shovelers, c200 Teal and c400 Wigeon, whilst a Kingfisher and c40 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Three Common Cranes were reported going west-south-west over Ferry hide at 1410hrs. (per Birdguides)

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

Long Pool: Unbelievably, after the three over the Ferry, a flock of nine Common Cranes flew over the harbour at 1530hrs, initially heading for Church Norton before going back west and then due south over Selsey. These are only the second/third records this century after one over West Wittering in August 2016.

Also, three grey geese - presumably the North Wall White-fronts - went over west, whilst a Spotted Redshank and ten Avocets were in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Common Cranes (above), Spotted Redshank & Avocets at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: Ten Redwings were at Halsey's Farm this morning (S&SaH), and the three first-winter White-fronted Geese were back in the Honer fields (BI).

Also, this morning in the paddocks there were two Water Rails, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail and a Song Thrush, whilst in Honer 2 field c1000 Brent Geese, the three White-fronted Geese and 12 Curlews were present

Around Owl Copse there was another Water Rail, along with a few Reed Buntings and two Redwings, whilst at Halsey’s Farm there were c100 Wigeon and ten Teal, plus 30 Lapwings flying over. (CRJ)

Church Norton: The drake Long-tailed Duck was offshore again this morning, along with a Lesser Back-backed Gull, whilst a Peregrine was on Tern Island, but there were, otherwise, just a few of the regular waders and wildfowl about. (P&LH/AHu)

Sidlesham: A Fieldfare went over Cow Lane this morning, along with half a dozen Redwings. (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Tree-creeper as in Apuldram church car-park early this afternoon. (SP/LP/IH/TGH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Common Cranes were seen from here, too, heading south over the west side of Selsey.

Otherwise, along the banks, there were a Dartford Warbler, a Stonechat, a Goldcrest, six Skylarks, c40 Linnets, with nine Dunlin and ten Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool, a Snipe, c100 Lapwings, c200 Golden Plovers and c250 Brent Geese on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - The first Red Kite of the year went over the reserve this morning, but the banks just held a pair of Stonechats and a few Skylarks and Stock Doves.

It was much busier in the cover crop fields by Wilson's Farm, though, with up to 100 Yellowhammers coming and going, though the only things with them were c25 Chaffinches, with c40 Skylarks about, too, along with another pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Song Thrushes, plus c50 Lapwings and five Golden Plovers over. (AH)

Red Kite (above), Stonechat, Skylark, Yellowhammers & Lapwing at Medmerry (AH)