10th - 12th October 2026

SunMonday, 12th October:  Clear early on but persistent rain and low cloud soon set in on F4 south-southeast winds...

Selsey Bill: It was hard going this morning as visibility quickly deteriorated but a Great Northern Diver was offshore and another flew east. (PB/BI) Log to follow.

(0715-0915hrs) (SSE F4)

Common Scoter - 4os
Great Northern Diver - 1E 1os
Gannet - 5E 27W
Oystercatcher - 4
Sanderling - 11 on bar
Turnstone - 15
Kittiwake - 2W
Mediterranean Gull - 7E 19W
Great Black-backed Gull - 7E
auk sp. - 4W
Pied Wagtail - 2E

Turnstone, above, & the rain front moving in at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: Three Shelduck, two Teal and 25 Lapwings was all she wrote for the pool but the channel opposite was full of birds: Mallards, Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebes, Moorhens, Little Egrets and Grey Herons all being present. (BI)

Shelduck at the Ferry Pool (BI)

Church Norton: A walk around the churchyard and hide found a few Chiffchaffs and tit sp. plus two Mistle Thrushes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker whilst a Song Thrush was near the hide. The harbour was shrouded in mizzle but a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a few Oystercatchers, Redshanks & Curlews and several Little Egrets could be seen on the mud. Six Bar-tailed Godwits and six Brent Geese were also noted from the hide. (PB/BI)

Great Spotted Woodpecker & Whimbrel at Church Norton (BI)

North Wall:  There was predictably not much to see in the difficult wet and windy conditions this morning, although a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice and a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal were along White’s Creek.

With more water on the Breech Pool, there were five Teal, five Lapwings, a Redshank, two Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail about, whilst along the bushes there was just a couple of Reed Buntings, six Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A Water Rail and two Little Grebes were on Owl Water and at Halsey’s Farm a Grey Plover was by the rife and eleven Cattle egrets were in the fields. (LP)

A quick look later at Halsey's Farm found three Grey Herons and still 11 Cattle Egrets in the fields. Two Redwings flew over but that was the lot for smaller birds in the poor conditions. (BI)

Grey Heron not impressed by the weather at Halsey's Farm (BI), Pied Wagtail, Water Rail & Great Spotted Woodpecker at North wall (LP)

Sunday, 11th October:  Sunny spells & dry today in much lighter winds. c.F2-3... NW backing to due southerly by the evening....

Selsey Bill: A generally slower morning offshore today but there was still some viz-mig. (SH/AWi/BI) Full log below:

Brent Goose - 2W 2os

Common Scoter - 3E 4os

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 2E 122W 30os

Shag - 2E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 3W 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W

Razorbill - 1E 6W

auk sp. - 61E 82W

Skylark - 7W

Swallow - 63E

House Martin - 4W

Meadow Pipit - 18W

Pied Wagtail - 18W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Chiffchaff - 2

Chaffinch - 2N

Brambling - 1N

Linnet - 42W

Siskin - 6W

Goldfinch - 30p

Oystercatcher, above, Chiffchaff & viz-mig at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were 77 Lapwings, a single Black-headed Gull and a Greenshank present this morning. In Ferry Channel there were at least 200 Mallards and a solitary Teal. Ten Cattle Egrets were also with the herd out in Ferry Field. (BI)

Church Norton: A large mixed flock of small birds wasmoving through the churchyard this morning includiing 20 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, 15 Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest and a few Dunnocks and Robins whilst in the bare trees were two Mistle Thrushes and a Song Thrush. The fields held c.25 Red-legged Partridges of dubious origin and c.20 Skylarks.In the harbour were five Bar-tailed Godwits, 30+ Redshanks, 60 Grey Plover, a Greenshank, a Knot, 70 Dunlin and a mix of Pintail, Teal and Wigeon. The horse field held three Stonechats, 22 Pied Wagtails and 15 Meadow Pipits, a Siskin was in the bushes and 40 Linnets flew over. (AWi/BI)

Red-legged Partridge, above, & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (BI)

North Wall: A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were around the sluice, and a Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek along with all the regular species. With more water in the Breech Pool, there were a few more birds about, including two Water Rails, a Snipe, two Grey Wagtails, four Pied Wagtails, eight Stonechats, six Reed Buntings, four Chiffchaffs and a Meadow Pipit, whilst a male Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk were over the reeds further back.

In the bushes along the wall there were more Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs and Stonechats, as well as two Cetti’s Warblers, two Chaffinches, six Greenfinches, 12 Long-tailed Tits, three Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and five Song Thrushes, also c100 Swallows were along the rife at Halsey’s Farm. (LP/MRi)

Reed Bunting, above, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Redshank & Water Rail at the North Wall. (LP)

Mill Lane: A Tree-creeper and a Water Rail were in the area today. (LL)

Medmerry, west side: Out in the middle of the reserve today were a minimum of 1740 Wigeon, 623 Teal and 127 Golden Plover, with 12 more of the latter flying over west. The Stilt Pool held 131 Ringed Plover, ten Dunlin and a Greenshank and c.20 Meadow Pipits, c.50 Linnets and c.20 Skylarks were in that area. Along the banks were 10 Yellowhammers, a Cetti's Warbler, 18 Stonechats, five Dartford Warblers, a singing Whitethroat and seven Chiffchaffs. The apparently settled Red Kite was still present and other raptors included two Peregrines, two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and four Buzzards. Four Swallows flew through and a Cattle Egret was in the fields. (HB/SH)

Saturday, 10th October:  Winds remaining gusty to F6 today but with a north-westerly element to them...staying dry with occasional sunny spells...

Selsey Bill:  A Balearic Shearwater west west this morning giving good, if distant, views, a Wheatear was on the beach and two Woodlarks flew west as did several small flocks of Skylarks. Other highlights of a good mixed bag were a Green Sandpiper west, a Bar-tailed Godwit west and a summer plumage Great Northern Diver offshore. (SH/PB/MRB/AGB/JBo/BI) Full log below:

(0700-0930hrs) (WNW F6):

Brent Goose - 16W

Wigeon - 16W

Common Scoter - 6E 6os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Great Northern Diver - 1W 1os

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (0808hrs)

Gannet - 4E 36W

Shag - 2E

Little Egret - 1W

Oystercatcher - 2W 1ob

Turnstone - 18

Green Sandpiper - 1W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Kittiwake - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 32W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W 6os

Razorbill - 7E 2W 4os

auk sp. - 225E

Skylark - 17W

Woodlark - 2W

House Martin - 2W

Swallow - 10W
Meadow Pipit - 68W

Pied Wagtail - 11W

Grey Wagtail - 1W

Wheatear - 1W

Chiffchaff - 1

Chaffinch - 3N

Linnet - 5E

Redpoll - 3N

Goldfinch - 25p

Siskin - 2N

Brent Geese, Great Northern Diver & Wheatear at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: A Shelduck was present this morning but otherwise it was just the regular Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks, 38 Black-tailed Godwits, c120 Redshanks, six Grey Plovers and 12 Dunlin were along White’s Creek on the rising tide this morning as well as a good selection of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shelducks, Mallards, Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe.

Two Grey Wagtails, three Pied Wagtails and seven Stonechats were around the Breech Pool, but the bushes were quiet with just a few Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs and a couple of Cetti’s Warblers about, whilst in the fields at Halsey’s Farm, just four Cattle Egrets were with the cows and 18 Meadow Pipits, 12 Skylarks and six Stonechats were along the fences. A Spoonbill was also seen towards the north of the harbour and a Peregrine was in the area. (LP/CT/PB/JB/AWi et al)

Spotted Redshank, above, Grey Wagtail, Grey Plover & Stonechat at the North Wall (LP)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There was a large flock of Linnets along the path to the barn this morning whilst the fields nearby held c.6 Stonechats and c.20 Cattle Egrets. (BI)

Cattle Egret, above, & LInnets at Marsh Farm (BI)

Church Norton:  Along Rectory Lane fields this morning were 25 Skylark and ten Meadow Pipit. In the hedges from the hide: c20 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25 Swallow, a Buzzard and a Cetti’s Warbler. The horse field was alive with birds including 15 Pied Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipits and eight Stonechats. A Green Sandpiper was also noted from the benches. (CRJ/ML)

Kestrel, top, and Chiffchaff at Church Norton (CRJ)

RSPB Pagham: A White-tailed Sea Eagle landed in the harbour seen from Yeoman's Field at 11am. (per RPo)

Medmerry, west side: A Red Kite, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, three Greenshank, 80 Wigeon, two Pintail and 18 Golden Plover were the best of 56 species seen here this morning. (MP)     This afternoon a walk down to the Stilt Pool from Easton Lane found a Commic Tern over the reserve and 20 Ringed Plover on the pool. The Red Kite was still present, a Kestrel was hovering and along the banks were four Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, c.20 Meadow Pipits, c.100 Linnets, 17 Stonechats and two Yellowhammers. (SH)

7th - 9th October 2026

Friday, 9th October:  A day of strong winds forecast with gusts up to F8, westerly backing to south-westerly in the afternoon...dry first thing but with rain showers moving in around mid-day...

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe went west this morning and there was a good mix of species including Brent Geese, Wigeon, Meadow Pipits and Wheatears also logged throughout the day. (SH/PB/P&LH/BI), full log below:

(0700-0930hrs) (WSW F6-7)

Brent Goose - 36W

Pintail - 1W

Wigeon - 43W

Common Scoter - 6E 8W 4os

Great Northern Diver - 1E 1os

Red-necked Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 3E 44W

Shag - 2E 1W

Oystercatcher - 3W 1ob

Grey Plover - 1W

Turnstone - 14

Dunlin - 5W

Kittiwake - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 7W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E 6os

Razorbill - 2E 4W

auk sp. - 43E 25W

Meadow Pipit - 9N

Pied Wagtail - 2N 4p

Grey Wagtail - 2E

Wheatear - 2E

(0930-1200hrs) (A.Zackrisson)

Brent Goose - 65W

Wigeon - 16W

Common Scoter - 3E

Gannet - 30os

Turnstone - 12

Dunlin - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Guillemot - 2W

auk sp. - 1W

Swallow - 4E

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Pied Wagtail - 6

Wheatear - 1N

Linnet - 5E

(1200-1530hrs) (P&LH/SH)

Brent Goose - 33W

Wigeon - 63W (largest flock 24)

Common Scoter - 12E

Great Northern Diver - 1os (summer plumage)

Gannet - 1E 15W 18os

Shag - 1W

Turnstone - 12

Dunlin - 9W

Arctic Skua - 1E (dark phase)

Great Black-backed Gull - 6W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp. - 1E 6W

Brent Geese, Wigeon and kite surfers passing the Mile Basket off the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: It was very windy here first thing this morning and consequently all that could be found was a single Redshank, c.30 Lapwings and c.50 Black-headed Gulls. The channel was also quiet with a few more Redshanks and the regular wildfowl the sum total. (BI) This afternoon a Spoonbill was roosting at the end of Ferry Channel viewed from North Wall. (JKn)

Church Norton: A quick look early on found a few Chiffchaffs in the bushes, a mix of wildfowl including 75 Wigeon, six Pintail & 50+ Brent Geese in the harbour and plenty of Redshanks and Little Egrets along the channels. (BI) Later in the morning there were 25 Red-legged Partridges in the fields, four Jays, 15 Skylarks, eight Stonechats and 80 Linnets along the front and 20 Meadow Pipits flew over. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were also seen as were two Chiffchaffs and Great-Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. A Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 80 Oystercatchers and 28 Grey Plovers were also counted. (P&LH/JKn/GR)

Little Egret at Church Norton (BI)

MIll Lane Marsh: A flock of eight Redwings came out of the trees and c.10 Goldfinches flew over but it was generally quiet in the blustery conditions. (BI)

East Side: There were a few waders along the East Side on the rising tide including 58 Golden Plovers, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, four Greenshanks, six Turnstones and good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Lapwing and Curlews, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Common Gulls were on the mud, and there were increasing numbers of Wigeon, Pintail and Teal as well as six Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe. (LP)

North Wall: A Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and 11 Cattle were at Hasley's Farm, as were two Clouded Yellows, and along the wall were three Pied Wagtails, two Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting and two Stonechats. Four Egyptian Geese and 12 Brent Geese were in the harbour and two Golden Plover flew over the Breech Pool. A Water Rail was along Owl Water and a male & female Marsh Harriers were over the reedbeds. This afternoon 38 Cattle Egrets were present in the north fields. (SH/TS/JDW/ATh)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: There was the welcome sight of four Grey Partridges in fields to the south-east today. (JDW)

Ivy Lake complex: A quick look along Ivy Lake path produced a pair of Gadwall and a Kingfisher on Nunnery Lake, a Chiffchaff in a mixed Tit flock around Deep Lake and a Kestrel over. (CRJ)

Thursday, 8th October: The brisk breeze remained from the north, but this morning was crisp and bright throughout.......

Selsey Bill: A flock of 11 Barnacle Geese west was very unexpected, whilst there were also 37 Brent Geese west, a Wheatear and four Chiffchaffs along the front and a bit of visible migration including 77 Meadow Pipits west. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH/KT/JDa)

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

Gannet - 3E, 18W

Shag - 4E

Little Egret - 1W

Barnacle Goose - 11W

Brent Goose - 1E, 37W

Shelduck - 1W

Pintail - 1W

Common Scoter - 4E

Dunlin - 5W

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 8W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 44E

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 18W

Meadow Pipit - 77W

Wheatear - 1

Chiffchaff - 4

Linnet - 18W

Goldfinch - 40

Brent Geese (above), Wheatear & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 65 Lapwings and 23 Redshanks on the pool at high tide. (AH)

Redshanks (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: There were up to 18 Stonechats around the hedges and reeds this evening, with a similar number of Linnets and a handful of Reed Buntings about, too, whilst three Yellowhammers flew over, along with two Snipe and a Peregrine, and a pair of Gadwall were among c40 Wigeon and c80 Teal in the channel. (PA/AH)

Stonechats at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Brambling flew into Priory Copse this morning and a Lesser Whitethroat popped up in the near corner of the horse field, where was a lot of activity, including a Redwing flying over, a couple of Blackcaps, half a dozen Chiffchaffs, at least Stonechats and 50+ Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Linnets.

There were also a Wheatear on the beach another on the concrete blocks, with at least another 25 Chiffchaffs around the hedges and four Stonechats were also on the saltmarsh by the hide, whilst three or four House Martins and c30 swallows went over.

Two Greenshanks were among c40 roosting Redshanks and a Whimbrel and a handful of Grey Plovers were about, but there were few waders on show at high tide, though plenty of Pintail, wigeon and Teal were about, along with half a dozen Brent Geese, whilst a Red Kite, at least two Marsh Harriers and four Buzzards were on the wing. (CRJ/KT/JDa/AH/IP et al)

Red Kite (above), Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Whimbrel & Greenshanks at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Water Rail was showing well on the Breech Pool and two Grey Wagtails, two Pied Wagtails, four Chiffchaffs and four Stonechats were on the dried-up area, whilst a Snipe flew out and c50 Swallows passed over.

Along the bushes there were c20 Reed Buntings, two Blackcaps, two Cetti’s Warblers, a Yellowhammer, eight Chiffchaffs, seven Stonechats, and two Meadow Pipits, whilst five Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the fields.

A male and two female Marsh Harriers were out in the harbour, but it was quiet at Halsey’s Farm with just twelve Cattle Egrets and three Skylarks around the fields. (LP/IH/MaJ/CT/KU/EB/GR/JDW)

East Head: A Short-eared Owl flew west over West Wittering beach late this morning, possibly landing in the dunes. (PH/RWi)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were five Dartford Warblers along the banks today, together with three Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, 25 Stonechats, 15 Pied Wagtails, c20 Skylarks, c50 Meadow Pipits and c100 Linnets, plus a dozen Swallows over.

Also, two Greenshank, a lone Dunlin and 52 Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, a Kingfisher, two Golden Plovers and two Greylag Geese were on the reserve and a Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier and three Kestrels and Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

Wednesday, 7th October: A thoroughly wet and miserable morning, with persistent heavy rain from before dawn, though easing of slowly later on, but quite mild in the moderate to fresh northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Grey Wagtail over and three Gannets east were as good as it got this morning! Full log below. (SH/IP/AH)

(0700-0830hrs) (NNE, F4)

Gannet - 3E

Turnstone - 9

Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 2W

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 3E

Turnstone at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Lapwing, a Redshank, five Shelducks and 16 Teal on the pool this morning, with two Buzzards in the field. (AH)

Lapwing and Shelducks (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Brambling was along Mill Lane this morning, whilst a Shoveler and three Teal were in the field. (LL)

Church Norton: It was mainly ducks on show on the high tide this morning, including c40 Pintail and c100 Wigeon and Teal, with the only waders being two Avocets and a flock of c20 Grey Plovers that flew around and a few roosting Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers.

Otherwise, a Marsh Harrier was briefly on the wing, two Swallows went over and c150 Linnets were commuting between Tern Island and the spit. (AH)

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