23rd - 25th March 2026

Wednesday, 25th March: A cold and windy morning in a near gale-force north-westerly, grey and with some rain early on, brighter later..........

Selsey Bill: It was as quiet as expected in the unfavourable conditions, with just a few off the regulars seen, including three Great Northern Divers and seven Sandwich Terns offshore. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (NW, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 3E

Common scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W

Oystercatcher - 1

Ringed Plover - 1W

Turnstone - 30

Common Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4E, 1W, 3os

Kittiwake - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Turnstone (above) & Great Black-backed Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were ten Avocets on the pool this morning, but six Black-tailed Godwits, four Lapwings and a Curlew were the only other waders noted, though wildfowl numbers had gone back up, including eight Shelducks, ten Gadwall, c50 Teal, c60 Shovelers and c100 Wigeon.

Also, two Black-0tailed Godwits and half a dozen Redshanks were in the channel opposite and at least three Chiffchaffs were calling from the hedges. (AH)

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

Church Norton: There were still 15 Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour this morning, along with 33 Black-tailed Godwits, four Ringed Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers, c25 Dunlin and c40 Knot, plus a dozen or so Wigeon and Teal and c75 Mediterranean Gulls, but there was nothing in the hedges at all. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Knot & Ringed Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There was not a lot to report today, with just a Chiffchaff, a Brent Goose, eight Cattle Egrets, a Kestrel and two Marsh Harriers noted. (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - An adult Little Gull was on East Trout Lake this afternoon, with at least 100 Sand Martins and four Swallows over the adjacent pits and another 20 Sand Martins over Vinnetrow Lake, with a pair of Greylag Geese and a dozen Pochard and Tufted Ducks also about. (AH)

Little Gull (above), Sand Martins & Pochard at Chichester GPs (AH)

Tuesday, 24th March: A change in the weather this morning, with it grey and overcast in an increasingly blustery south-westerly......

Selsey Bill: It was generally very slow this morning, but 151 Brent Geese went east and two Wheatears came in off the sea. Full log below. (IP/AH/P&LH)

(0650-0850hrs) (SW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Brent Goose - 151E, 2os

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 2

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 2N

Later, two House Martins were seen coming in off the sea. (KJ  et al)

Wheatears (above), Great Northern Diver, Sandwich Tern & Brent Geese (AH)

This afternoon a distant Black-throated Diver went east, while two Red-breasted Mergansers, two Gannets, and a Shag went west.

Also, two Wheatears were working their way east along the garden walls and two House Martins went north high over the housing estate. Full log below. (AW)

(1400-1500hrs) (AW)

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

House Martin - 2N

Wheatear - 2

Black-throated Diver (above), Gannet & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Sand Martins went over and two Ruff were still present this morning, along with three Avocets, five Lapwings, 15 Redshanks, a Curlew and up to 50 Black-tailed Godwits, including 23 in Ferry Channel, but wildfowl were much reduced, comprising 20 shelducks, four Gadwall, c20 Wigeon, c25 Shovelers and c30 Teal.

Also, a Cattle Egret was in the fields again and five Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were in the hedges. (AH/P&LH)

Late this afternoon there were still two Ruff and three Avocets about, along with four Lapwings, a Curlew, a Redshank, two Oystercatchers, six Gadwall, 32 Wigeon and 13 Shelducks, with a Cetti's Warbler calling from the hedges. (JC)

Black-tailed Godwits (above), Cattle Egret, Lapwing & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There wasn’t much happening in the cold and windy conditions this morning, although two House Martins flew over the fields, and a Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek, whilst the three White-fronted Geese were by the rife at Halsey’s Farm, and four Brent Geese were in the harbour.

In the flooded fields there were Wigeon, Teal, Shovelers, Gadwall, Shelduck, Canada Geese and a pair of Pintail, whilst two Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also about. (MJa/LP et al)

Church Norton: A House Martin came in this morning, whilst a male Wheatear was on the beach and a Sandwich Tern was offshore, but a quiet harbour just held five Black-tailed godwits, eight Grey Plovers, two Dunlin and five Ringed Plovers, whilst there were two Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs in the churchyard/Mound area. (KJ/NR/P&LH)

East Head: A male Wheatear was on the east side of the spit, around the roped area, this morning, and there were also a roost of 80+ Golden Plovers present and an active group of 38 Sanderlings were on the harbour entrance side. (RA)

Wheatear at East Head (RA)

Monday, 23rd March: A pleasant morning of hazy sun and a light breeze, initially from the north, before veering right round to the south-west......

Selsey Bill: Another slow morning, though a flock of 26 Brent Geese went east and five Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (IP/LP/AH)

(0645-0845hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Shag - 1os

Brent Goose - 26E

Shelduck - 3W

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 1W

Turnstone - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 7E

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 2W, 1os

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1

Great Northern Diver (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Midmorning, the first  House Martin of the year was briefly over the Oval Field, whilst five Sandwich Terns were offshore, along with a Great Northern Diver, and five Pintail flew west and four Common Scoters went east. Full log below. (AW)

(1000-1100hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Pintail - 5W

Common Scoter - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 5os

House Martin - 1N

Common Scoters (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AW)

This afternoon a Red-throated Diver flew, west along with three Common Scoters, while two Red-breasted Mergansers went east and three Sandwich Terns were offshore, but there was no further sign of the earlier House Martin. Full log below. (AW)

(1400-1500hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Common Scoter - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: It was another busy morning, with two Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, two Avocets, a Curlew, an Oystercatcher, six Redshanks, six Lapwings, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, a Cattle Egret, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 18 Shelducks, eight Gadwall, 27 Teal, 64 Shovelers and 82 Wigeon around the pool and fields.

Also, a Common Gull and half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were about, a Spotted Redshank and 23 Black-tailed Godwits were in Ferry Channel, a Raven and three Buzzards went over, as did two Sand Martins, whilst a Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were in the adjacent hedges. (JC/AH/AW)

Spotted Redshank (above), Black-tailed Godwits (AW), Cattle Egret & Avocets (AH) at the Ferry

Church Norton: There were three Wheatears on the beach this morning, moving steadily east along the spit, with a few Linnets and Skylarks in the vicinity, too, but a couple of half-heartedly singing Chiffchaffs were it for the hedges.

Two Slavonian Grebes were offshore again, along with a Sandwich Tern and a Red-breasted Merganser, with a pair of the latter in the harbour, along with c25 Wigeon and Teal, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers and just a few Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers, whilst at least 100 Mediterranean Gulls were among the burgeoning number of Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Wheatears (above), Linnet, Red-breasted Mergansers & Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Wheatear was along the beach this morning, along with a single Meadow Pipit, whilst offshore there were two Great Northern Divers and seven Red-breasted Mergansers. (AH)

Wheatear (above), Meadow Pipit & Great Northern Diver at Medmerry (AH)

20th - 22nd March 2026

Sunday, 22nd March: The spell of fine, settled weather continues, with another warm and sunny morning, after overnight frost, in a light north-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Three Egyptian Geese west were unusual, but beyond a few Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns east and a Wheatear going up the beach, there was minimal movement again today. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (NNE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

diver sp - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Little Egret - 1E

Egyptian Goose - 3W

Common Scoter - 2E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 4W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 7E, 4W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 44E, 8os

Common Gull - 14E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 9E, 7os

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 16os

auk sp - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 1N, 2 present

Wheatear - 1N

Linnet - 3N

(1315-1415hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Also, 24 Brent Geese went east past Hillfield Road at 1820hrs. (RP)

Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was plenty going on, mainly  in the flooded fields, this morning, including a Little Ringed Plover, at least four Ruff, two Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank, four Avocets, four Lapwings, c40 Redshanks and c35 Black-tailed Godwits, along with c60 Shovelers, c80 Teal, c150 Wigeon, seven Gadwall and eight Shelducks, plus a Water Rail, a White Wagtail and three Pied Wagtails and a Peregrine going over.

There were also a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Cetti's Warblers in the hedges. (NM/AH/HR/DM/KB/P&LH/RHa/SHa/MB et al)

Ruff (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Three Pied Wagtails and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was just about it, apart from a pair of Mute Swans in the fields, with three Shelducks also present, along with a pair of Stock Doves and a few displaying Skylarks. (IP)

Church Norton: Two Slavonian Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes and a Sandwich Tern were offshore this morning, and a male Red-breasted Merganser was sat on a shingle spit amongst a flock of Cormorants, whilst in the harbour at least six Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull and 100 Mediterranean Gulls were among the growing Black-headed Gull population, with seven Brent Geese, c100 Teal and c400 Wigeon about, but waders were few, though including a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers, two Turnstones, ten Knot and c20 Grey Plovers.
Also, a few Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting, 15 Linnets, a Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen, along with a pair of Mallards and 15 newly hatched ducklings in the field behind the Severals. (IP/P&LH)

Later, a Raven was sat on the concrete blocks, being dive-bombed by Black-headed Gulls, and there were three Slavonian Grebes on the sea. (GW)

North Wall: A Peregrine flew across the harbour early on, and the male and female Marsh Harriers were active throughout the morning, whilst on the Breech Pool there were two Little Grebes and two Gadwall. The three White-fronted Geese were with two Canada Geese in the fields, as well as ten Shovelers, a single Brent Goose and few Wigeon, Teal and Curlew, while three Sand Martins were briefly over the trees at the back.
Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all in Owl Copse, and at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was along the Rife, a couple of Skylarks were over the fields, and a Buzzard, four Long-tailed Tits, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and two Greenfinches were in the trees.
A Redwing was around the paddocks, with a Pied Wagtail, a Jay, and a Green Woodpecker also about, and another Chiffchaff was singing along the lane. (LP/MRi/MJa/AH/KB)

Redwing (above), White-fronted Geese, Cattle Egret, Buzzard, Brent Goose, Little Grebe (LP) & Marsh Harrier (AH) at the North Wall

Honer Reservoir: There were just seven Gadwall, four Tufted Ducks and a few Mallard and Coots on the reservoir, with a Chiffchaff and a few Linnets along the hedges, whilst a noisy flock of c40 Mediterranean Gulls went over, heading inland. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Little Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Ringed Plover, five Dunlin, a Greenshank and eight Avocets, whilst c50 Mediterranean Gulls were on the reserve and five Buzzards went over.
The banks were busier than of late, including a Dartford Warbler, a Blackcap, eight Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, four Stonechats, two Pied Wagtails, five Reed Buntings, 13 Yellowhammers, c20 Linnets and c30 Skylarks. (S&SaH/NM)

Saturday, 21st March: Another lovely spring day with sunshine and very little cloud in a light to moderate easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: Numbers remain very low, but there was interest this morning, including the first Short-eared Owl of the year in off the sea at 0645hrs, three Velvet Scoters east and two Ravens west. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/IP/MRB/AGTB/JB/KT/AH/CRJ)

(0600-1000hrs) (NE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 11W

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 14E

Teal - 2E, 2os

Velvet Scoter - 3E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 1os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 15E, 2os

Common Gull - 5E

Great Black-backed Gull - 10E, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Short-eared Owl - 1N

Green Woodpecker - 1

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Raven - 2W

Ravens (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Sandwich Tern & Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A male Blackcap was singing from the little wood behind the Discovery area this morning, with a female lurking in the bushes nearby and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders, two Jays were around the trees as were numerous singing Chiffchaffs.

A Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel and a Greenshank was in the harbour near the outflow from Red Barn Ditch, whilst on the pool, a Green Sandpiper was still about, along with two Ruff, three Avocets, eight Redshanks, c60 Shovelers and Teal, c150 Wigeon, eight Gadwall and 12 Shelducks, plus a flock of c60 Dunlin flying about.

There was also a Noctule bat flying around the Tramway. (AW//PA/AH)

Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenshank (AW), Spotted Redshank & Noctule bat (PA) at the Ferry

North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers were about this morning, including the regular pair seen displaying, and there were also a Red Kite and eight Buzzards about, along with a Kingfisher and ten Cattle Egrets.

Two Redwings at Halsey's Farm were the only passerines beyond the usual, which included two Chiffchaffs and four Cetti's Warblers. (GW/PB/S&aH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Coal Tits in the trees along the lane this morning, and a pair of Gadwall were on the flooded field. (PA/M&LL)

Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Pied Wagtails were on the stable roof, three Buzzards were cruising about all morning and the fields still held a pair of Shelduck, a few Meadow Pipits and a number of Skylarks singing again. (IP)

Church Norton: There were14 Black-tailed Godwits,35 Turnstones and 2 Knot along with small numbers of all the other regular species this morning, but only one Brent Goose was seen, though there were still over 400 Wigeon and over 100 Teal spread around the harbour, along with two Red-breasted Mergansers, with four Sandwich Terns sat on the mud among c50 Mediterranean Gulls and large numbers of Black-headed Gulls.

Also, two Buzzards were over Priory Wood along with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, a couple of Meadow Pipits flew in, but there was nothing at all on the sea, whilst Cetti's Warblers were singing everywhere and there were a couple of singing Chiffchaffs and a few Long-tailed Tits about. (IP)

This afternoon, the four Slavonian Grebes were still offshore and a flock of 15 - presumably migrant - Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (PA)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - The WeBS this morning produced two White-fronted Geese on the South pit, in amongst a flock of Greylags - the flock then flying over to the fields opposite before returning a little while later.

Other highlights between the two pits included a total of 13 Egyptian Geese - one pair having a new brood of c10 small young with them - and a total of 51 Pochard still present with 30 Tufted Ducks. (OM)

White-fronted Geese at Drayton House pits this morning, and (lower two) Egyptian Geese and brood (OM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, five Redshanks and nine Avocets, plus c50 Teal, a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, c50 Black-headed Gulls and half a dozen Canada Geese.

A Red Kite went over east and a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Buzzards were about, but the banks were quiet, with just a handful of Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a Goldcrest, three Meadow Pipits, a pair of Stonechats, half a dozen Skylarks and c40 Linnets seen. (MRB/AGB/JB/AH)

This evening there were just seven Avocets, four Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin on the Stilt Pool, a single Brent Goose on the reserve and three Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets and Skylarks along the banks. (S&SaH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Red Kite, Greenshank & Avocets at Medmerry (AH)

Friday, 20th March: A lovely spring morning of quite warm, if hazy, sunshine in just a light to moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A smart pair of Wheatears were around the beach and gardens this morning, and two Red Kites drifted west over the gardens, but migration was otherwise restricted to a Chiffchaff and a few Meadow Pipits in off the sea and 14 Brent Geese east. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/P&LH et al)

(0545-0900hrs) (NE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2W, 3os

Gannet - 2os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 14E

Shoveler - 1os, then W

Common Scoter - 8E, 1W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4W, 3os

Red Kite - 2W

Oystercatcher - 8W

Turnstone - 10W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Black-headed Gull - 59E

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 8os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1os

Meadow Pipit - 28N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Song Thrush - 1

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 1N, 1 present

Linnet - 1E

Goldfinch - 2E

Also, later, a Swallow came in at the Bill and a Red Kite went east over Albion Road. (MRe et al)

Wheatears (top & lower AH, middle LH) (above), Red Kites (top LH, lower two AH) & Great Northern Diver (AH) at the Bill

The sea was particularly quiet, with just four Great Black-backed Gulls offshore the only interest, so a check of the gardens and a walk along the beach soon followed. 

A flock of c30 Turnstones was present near the Hillfield car-park area, then a Purple Sandpiper was noted amongst them - before a nearby dog walker soon flushed the lot westwards, with the Purple Sandpiper re-appearing off Warner Road. (OM/P&LH)

(1200-1445hrs) 

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Common Scoter - 12E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 30

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper (OM) (above) & Purple Sandpiper (LH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: The pair of Common Cranes seen earlier and again later over the North Wall were seen going over the farm shop, just south of the Ferry at 0910hrs. (P&LH)

The five Ruff were present again this morning at the back, along with a Snipe, two Green Sandpipers, five Redshanks, two Lapwings and c25 Black-tailed Godwits, plus two Avocets on the pool, whilst wildfowl comprised 11 Shelducks, six Gadwall, c40 Shovelers and Teal and c100 Wigeon.

Also, a Red Kite and four Buzzards went over, and three Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers were in the hedges. (OM/AH/P&LH et al)

Avocets (above) & Lapwing and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Highlight of the morning were two Common Cranes that flew in from the north east, and over the back of the Honer fields, before heading off towards Selsey, and an hour later returning across the harbour and heading back north east.

Elsewhere it was fairly quiet, although the three White-fronted Geese were out in the harbour, as well as a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin, whilst on the Breech Pool there were five Tufted Ducks, and in the fields, a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were part of a larger gull flock, 68 Curlews were at the back, and a pair of Gadwall were on the water.

At Owl Copse, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all present, and at Halsey’s Farm 28 Meadow Pipits, six Skylarks, five Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were around the fields, also four Buzzards and three Marsh Harriers were seen during the morning. (LP/SP)

Common Cranes (above), White-fronted Geese, Gadwall, Redshank, Linnet, Mediterranean Gulls &Y Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There was little to report this morning beyond a few waders, including ten Knot, c40 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and c25 Turnstones, plus six Mediterranean Gulls and a few Wigeon and Teal. (P&LH)

East Head: There was Wheatear here this morning. (PH)