16th - 17th April 2026

Friday, 17th April: Slowly warming up after a cool start in a freshening southerly breeze with some hazy sun amid the generally murky conditions.......

Selsey Bill: A Garganey went east with a Common Scoter early on, whilst an Arctic Skua and seven Common Terns lso went east, and a Bonxie and ten Little Terns were offshore, though eastward passage remains very slight overall. Full log below. (BI/TR/IP/P&LH/AH et al)

(0600-0900hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 4E, 26W

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 3E

Shelduck - 6W

Garganey - 1E

Common Scoter - 17E, 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 3W

Turnstone - 12

Sanderling - 1E

Great Skua - 1os

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 8W

Great Black-backed Gull - 10os

Sandwich Tern - 41E, 13W, 15os

Common Tern - 7E, 2os

Little Tern - 2E, 10os

Skylark - 1W

Swallow - 2N

House Martin - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 1E

Later, at 0945hrs, a smart summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver went west. (AW)

(1300-1400hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 4E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 5

Meadow Pipit - 1

Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The pair of Little Ringed Plovers were on the islands this morning, and there were also seven Avocets, four Redshanks, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Shelducks, a pair of Teal, three Gadwall and ten Shovelers, plus a Skylark, about thje pool and fields. 

Also, a Lesser Whitethroat was in Yeoman's Field and one or two Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus four Cetti's Warblers were around the Tramway circuit.(AH/TR/HR/P&LH et al)

Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits and Shoveer (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocets and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill (presumably the one seen earlier around Medmerry) flew over the car-=park heading towards the Ferry, whilst at least 15 Little Terns and half a dozen Common Terns were feeding around the harbour mouth this morning, with plenty of Sandwich Terns bringing in fish and displaying on the last bits of mud before high tide.

There wasn't too much else to report, with waders restricted to three Whimbrel, a Curlew, two Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers, ten Grey Plovers and a few Oystercatchers, with c30 Shelducks also in the harbour, whilst a Coal Tit, a Willow Warbler and a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were around the hedges. (P&LH/AH et al)

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Merlin flew through the paddock pursuing a Linnet, and four Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were around the trees further back.

A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek, and a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers, three Great Crested Grebes, and 42 Shelducks were in the harbour, along with a group of c60 daders - mostly Grey Plovers and Dunlin, as well as four Knot and two Bar-tailed Godwits.

Six Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and the two Brent Geese were again in the fields, whilst there were lots of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers along the reeds, a Kingfisher was about, and a Wheatear was along the rocks.

At Halsey’s Farm, two more Wheatears and two Skylarks were along the fences, and two Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, a Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker were in the trees. (LP/TRH/IP/MJa)

Wheatear (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Sedge Warbler, Song Thrush, Skylark & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: This morning there was a Glossy Ibis at the top of the creek, with the tide rising it was later on the western bank opposite the Lavant outflow and later flying around the trees near the sewage works.

Also, 11 Greenshank were also in the top of the creek before later roosting off Dell Quay, whilst at the Lavant outflow there were nine Bar-tailed Godwits and 20 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a Black Swan was associating with the Mute Swan herd. (RW)

Medmerry: A Spoonbill went over the reserve early this morning, initially making for the Stilt Pool, and then seen heading for the Breach.

Medmerry: Windmill area - Just after sunrise this morning there was a Wheatear on the beach in front of the windmill and three Shags went past heading east. (AW)

Wheatear (above) & Shags at Medmerry (AW)

Thursday, 16th April: A hazily bright and breezy morning, with a mix of white cloud and sun in a brisk and blustery south-westerly.......

Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning, with an Arctic Skua and a Whimbrel east and a Little Tern west the meagre highlights. Full log below. (AH/KT/IP)

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

Gannet - 1E, 41W

Common Scoter - 7E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 7

Whimbrel - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

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

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 8W, 21os

Little Tern - 1W

auk sp - 2W

Swallow - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1

Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the pool this morning, along with five Avocets, four Lapwings, eight Redshanks, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Shovelers, four drake Gadwall, a pair of Teal and 18 Shelducks. (AH)

Lapwing (above), Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwits & Avocets, Redshank, Shoveler and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

This evening, the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were back in Ferry Channel, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Redshanks. (AH)

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

Mill Pond Marsh: A Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Stock Dove and two pairs of Tufted Ducks were the highlights this morning. (LL)

Church Norton: A quick look this evening produced three Common Terns among the multitude of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, though a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Curlew were the only waders seen.

Also, a Mistle Thrush, four Jays and a Red-legged Partridge were along Rectory Lane. (AH)

Common Terns (above) & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: Two male Red-crested Pochards were on Ivy Lake this afternoon, with one of them flying around before returning to the other. Also, a Common Tern was flying around over the lake and a few Reed Warblers were calling along the path. (AW)

Red-crested Pochards (above), Reed Warbler & Common Tern at Chichester GPs (AW)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - Whitethroats were the most conspicuous species this morning, with at least 25 spread around all the hedges at both farms and the trail in-between, though otherwise it was just the expected resident species, including half a dozen Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, c20 Skylarks and c40 Linnets.

Also, at Porthole Farm, there were c50 Swallows and c20 House Martins over the settling tanks, with a few stock Doves around the fields there and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls over west, whilst at Ham there were a pair of Stonechats along the bank and a couple of Reed Warblers in the ponds. (AH)

Whitethroatr (above), Yellowhammer, Skylark & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)

13th - 15th April 2026

Wednesday, 15th April: A slightly milder morning, though it was grey and drizzly early on in the fresh southerly breeze, and only a little brighter later.....

Selsey Bill: There was minimal migration again, but the morning was enlivened by 300+ Gannets moving west, mainly close in and including many flocks of 10-25 birds, which was as impressive as it was unusual.

Also, of note, were a dark-phase Arctic Skua and seven Common Terns east and two Fulmars and 15 Kittiwakes west. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH)

(0615-0915hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1W, 3os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 8E, 326W, 80os

Brent Goose - 8E

Common Scoter - 22E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Curlew - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

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

Kittiwake - 15W

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 10W, 8os

Common Tern - 7E, 2W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 3W

Gannets (above), Fulmar, Kittiwake & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

(1115-1215hrs) (AW)

Brent Goose - 40E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Little Tern - 1W

There was a bit of interest this afternoon, including two Arctic Skuas east and eight Little Terns among the offshore feeding flock. Full log below. (AWi/SH)

(1400-1645hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Gannet - 4W

Common Scoter - 1W

Whimbrel - 1E

Arctic Skua - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1Eos

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 40os

Common Tern - 2os

Little Tern - 1W, 8os

Swallow - 2N

Brent Geese at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much to report this morning, though there were still two Little Ringed Plovers, three Avocets, two Lapwings, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 22 shelducks, 12 Mallard, four drake Gadwall and two pairs of Shovelers present, plus a Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the adjacent hedges and a Water Rail in Red Barn Ditch. (AH/PA)

Avocets (above), Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, Shovelers and Shelducks & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Later on, the Greenshank was back in Ferry Channel, along with the Spotted Redshank, a Whimbrel, two Curlews, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Redshanks. (GR/AH)

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

Church Norton: There were still plenty of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, plus half a dozen Common Gulls, around the islands on the near-high tide, but the re wasn't much else about beyond a Whimbrel, two Curlews, a Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover, plus a Red-breasted Merganser and c40 Shelducks, with just a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the hedges. (AH)

This afternoon, a Little Tern and a Common Tern were sat out on the mud amongst the 250+ Sandwich Terns, and there were also a Whimbrel, couple of singing Willow Warblers and a male Wheatear about. (PA)

Whimbrel (above), Shelducks, Common Gulls and Sandwich Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were a few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers in the reeds, and a couple of Blackcaps and Whitethroats in the bushes but it was generally quiet in the overcast and windy conditions, though a Wheatear was on the fence at Halsey’s Farm and three Cattle Egrets were in the fields, with a Kingfisher also about.

A pair of Tufted Ducks were by Owl Copse and nine Shelducks were on the Breech Pool, but there was just one of the remaining Brent Geese in the fields, with the other one out in the harbour, where there was a group of c60 waders, mostly Grey Plover and Dunlin.

Also, two Linnets and a Jay were in the paddock and two male and one female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds further back. (LP/MJa)

Sedge Warbler (above), Cattle Egret, Tufted Ducks & Dunlin and Grey Plovers at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit: There wasn’t much going on along the spit, although there were a few Linnets and Skylarks about, a female Red Breasted Merganser was on the shore, and a Swallow came in off the sea.

There was plenty of activity from the gulls and Sandwich Terns over Tern Island, but there were just a handful of Black-headed Gulls on the other islands, and the only waders about were 16 Oystercatchers. (LP)

Red-breasted Merganser at Pagham Spit (LP)

West Itchenor: The Nuthatch was still being very noisy around the Chalkdock Copse/Park Copse area this morning. (PH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Little Terns were on the Stilt Pool again this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Ringed Plover and eight Avocets, with two Red-breasted Mergansers and a Sandwich Tern offshore.

The banks were quite busy, too, with a dozen Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, two Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting, a dozen Yellowhammers, c40 Skylarks and c50 Linnets seen, along with three Swallows and a Kestrel over. (S&aH)

Tuesday, 14th April: A surprisingly cool morning, given the wind direction and hazy sun, though the south-easterly breeze started fresh and picked up further during the day.....

Selsey Bill: The conditions looked perfect for movement this morning, but it proved not to be the case, with 65 Common Scoters and eight Kittiwakes the only birds heading east with purpose, though a Fulmar went that way, too , and a dark-phase Arctic Skua dropped in to harass the gulls well offshore. Full log below. (KT/AT/IP/AH/LP/SP/IH/MJa)

(0645-0915hrs) (SE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 24E, 12os

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 65E, 8W, 9os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 6W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 5E

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Kittiwake - 8E

Sandwich Tern - 21E, 9W, 5os

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 2

Pied Wagtail - 1

Rook - 1

Goldfinch - 6

(1615-1715hrs) (SH/AW)

Great Northern Diver -5os

Gannet - 5E, 1W, 4os

Shag - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Peregrine - 1

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Sandwich Tern - 21E, 33os

Common Tern - 3E

Great Northern Diver (above), Common Scoters & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was in the channel early this morning and a Water Rail showed well in Red Barn Ditch. (AW)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Water Rail at the Ferry (AW)

Later on, there were four Avocets, four Lapwings, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, five drake Gadwall, 14 Shovelers, 22 Shelducks and four Canada Geese around the pool and fields, with a Cetti's Warbler in the adjacent hedges. (AH)

Cetti's Warbler (above) & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

This evening, the Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were back in Ferry Channel, along with eight Black-tailed Godwits and 20 Redshanks. (AH)

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

North Wall: A dozen Swallows were at the far end of Summer Lane this morning. (DHo)

Later, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying on the Breech Pool, and the pair of Marsh Harriers, a Lesser Whitethroat and one or two Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers were about. (EB)

Great Crested Grebes (above), Marsh Harrier, Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat at the North Wall (EB)

Church Norton: Four Little Terns were on the mud by the islands this morning, along with 50 Sandwich Terns, a couple of Common Gulls and c100 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, with many more birds on the islands, though five Grey Plovers, a couple of Curlews and c25 Shelducks were the only things  about.

The hedges were quiet, too, beyond a couple of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. (AH/LP/SP/IH/MJa)

Little Tern, Sandwich Tern & Common, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls (above), Grey Plovers & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Ham viewpoint - A Nightingale was heard singing early this morning near the viewpoint. (JE)

Monday, 13th April: After a cold start in a light north-easterly breeze, an increasingly warm and mostly sunny morning as the wind swung south and freshened.....

Selsey Bill: Nothing was moving again offshore beyond a few Common Scoter, with a few hirundines the only likely migrants seen. Full log below. (PA/IP/AH/P&LH/BFF/SL/OM/AW)

(0700-1200hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Gannet - 6E, 10W

Shag - 5E

Common Scoter - 29E, 6os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Curlew - 2W

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 38W

Swallow - 10N

Sand Martin - 3N

House Martin - 6

Rook - 4E

Linnet - 1E

Goldfinch - 6

House Martins (AW, top, AH lower two) (above), Shags (AH) & Curlew (AW) at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: Three Little Ringed Plovers were on the pool again - two diisplaying males and an unimpressed female!, along with a Green Sandpiper, a Cattle Egret,  seven Avocets, a Whimbrel, four Redshanks, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Shelducks, five drake Gadwall and a dozen Shovelers, plus a Marsh Harrier over.

Also, the Osprey seen over Church Norton, was distantly viewable from the Tramway, where a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear, three Willow Warbler and a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs  were also viewable, the Spotted Redshank and a female Red-breasted Merganser were in the channel, with the latter then seen off Red Barn Ditch and c15 Sand Martins were over the fields towards the sewage farm. (AH/AW/KT/GW/OM/BFF/SL/P&LH/PA)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Avocets (AH), Spotted Redshank, Lesser Whitethroat & Whitethroat (AW) at the Ferry

This evening, the spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 14 B lack-tailed Godwits and c25 Redshanks were in Ferry Channel. (AH)

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

Mill Pond Marsh: A Whitethroat was in the bushes opposite the flooded field this morning. (LL)

Long Pool: The Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were at the far end of Ferry Channel this morning, along with c20 Redshanks, whilst the path held a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Whitethroats and Reed Warblers, at least four Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets, plus a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier over.  (AH/KT/RS/OM/P&LH)

Sedge Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Spotted Redshank & Greenshank at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: An Osprey went over the harbour late this morning, whilst a Little Tern and two Common Terns were among c150 Sandwich Terns and c500 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls on the mud by the islands.

There wasn't too much else in the harbour, beyond six Whimbrel, six Grey Plovers and c25 Curlews, whilst a Willow Warbler, a couple of Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers was all the bushes had to offer. (AH/BFF/SL/P&LH/RS/PA)

Osprey (above), Whimbrel, Common Tern and Little Tern (LH), Common and Sandwich Terns, Sandwich Tern, Grey Plovers and Willow Warbler (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: Highlight of the morning was the Osprey, which caught a large fish out in the harbour, before climbing to an impressive height and drifting off northwards still clutching its prize, but otherwise the harbour was empty with just a Whimbrel, a Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit and nine Redshanks along White’s Creek, plus lots of Mediterranean Gulls over.

It was busy in the reeds and bushes with plenty of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, a Whitethroat and two Blackcaps about, two Kingfishers were also around, and the two remaining Brent Geese were still in the fields.

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from behind Owl Copse and two Linnets were in the gorse, but it was quiet at Halsey’s Farm with just a Wheatear, a Meadow Pipit and four Skylarks around the fields. (LP/MJa/SP/CRJ et al)

Osprey (above), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warblers & Linnet at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham viewpoint - A Green Sandpiper was about this evening, along with two Wheatears, a Corn Bunting, three Reed Warblers, five Sedge Warblers, three Cetti's Warblers and a Buzzard. (S&SaHH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Common Sandpipers on the Stilt Pool this morning, and there were also a Wheatear, three singing Dartford Warblers, a Stonechat, 17 Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, three Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps  along the banks and three Swallows over. (PA)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (PA)

Chichester GPs: The first-winter Little Gull was on West Trout Lake this afternoon, along with a few swallows, Sand and House Martins. (AWi)

Little Gull at Chichester GPs (AWi)