7th - 8th September 2026

Tuesday, 8th September: A very wet morning, with almost constant heavy rain from before dawn in a moderate westerly breeze, though brightening up later on...........

Selsey Bill: A Razorbill west was the modest highlight of a predictably slow morning. Full log below. (AH)

(0700-0800hrs) (W, F4)

Gannet - 4W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 18

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A bit of water back in the pool produced a few birds this morning, including a Ruff, an adult and a juvenile Avocet, two Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers, three Oystercatchers, half a dozen Lapwings, five young Shelducks and a Teal. (AH)

This afternoon, the Ruff was joined by a Little Stint on the pool, before both departed. (AWi)

Ruff (above), Avocets & Ringed Plover at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were c30 Common Terns  and c20 Sandwich Terns in the harbour approaching high tide, with waders including a Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrel, half a dozen Grey Plovers, c50 Redshanks, c30 Ringed Plovers and c100 Dunlin, and there were also 18 Pintail, c40 Wigeon, c75 Teal and six Shelducks present.

Also, a Kingfisher flew through, two Swallows went over and there were still at least six Spotted Flycatchers and a couple of Blackcaps behind the hide. (AH)

Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls (above), Common Sandpiper, Pintail & Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon there were three Little Stints on the mud together, seen from the steps, with 200+ Dunlin and c50 Ringed Plovers further out, whilst there were also two Greenshanks and two Bar-tailed Godwits, plus a handful of Sandwich Terns, present and a juvenile Peregrine shot through low over the harbour.

Also, a Redstart and half a dozen Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide and then in the churchyard. (AWi/EB/AH et al)

Little Stints (AWi top, AH lower), Greenshank, Redstart & Spotted Flycatcher (AH) at Church Norton

Runcton: A Redstart was showing well in our garden this morning. (CRJ)

Redstart at Runcton (CRJ)

Medmerry: Toe End - An Osprey went over the breach at lunchtime today, with a Marsh Harrier, two Buzards and a Sanderling also seen. (SH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - Two White Storks - presumably the same two seen flying around yesterday - were on the reserve late this morning. (AS).

This evening they were viewable from the poplars, with two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, five Wigeon, two Egyptian Geese, c100 Canada Geese seen in the vicinity, too.

Also, c50 Yellow Wagtails were in the fields, four swallows went over and a Chiffchaff, four Willow Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers and four Stonechats were along the banks. (AT/IP/S&SaH)

White Storks at Medmerry (SaH)

Monday, 7th September: The morning started grey and blustery in a fresh south-westerly, with some squally rain followed by warm sunshine and white cloud......

Selsey Bill: A juvenile Arctic Skua and 56 Gannets went west and two Shags went east this morning, with a few Sandwich Terns going both ways, but the only indication of visible migration was five Yellow Wagtails east and 32 Swallows going west over the sea. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)

(0615-0830hrs) (SW, F5)

Gannet - 4E, 56W, 15os

Shag - 2E

Grey Heron - 1S

Common Scoter - 2E, 1os

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 215os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 35E, 23W

Common Tern - 2W

Swallow - 32W

Yellow Wagtail - 5E

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Another Arctic Skua and 15 Kittiwakes went west this afternoon. Full log below. (SH)

(1345-1500hrs) 

Gannet - 3E, 8W, 8os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Redshank - 1W

Turnstone 1

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 19W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W, 1os

Kittiwake - 15W

Sandwich Tern - 3W

Common Tern - 1W

Swallow - 7W

Arctic Skua (above), Gannet & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the pool early on, but later there were just 14 Lapwings, with a Kingfisher the only thing of note in the channel opposite, though there were still up to half a dozen Whinchats being active in Ferry Field. (PA/AH)

Lapwing (above) & Whinchat at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: An Osprey went over high, heading south, this morning, with a Buzzard, a Kestrel, two Sand Martins, c40 House Martins and c50 Swallows going over, too, whilst a Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail, 11 Yellow Wagtails, three Pied Wagtails and three Meadow Pipits were on the fields. (SH)

Long Pool: There were four Spotted Redshanks on the pool itself this morning, with another in Ferry Channel. (PA)

Church Norton: There were at least ten Spotted Flycatchers spread around the churchyard/hide area this morning, with a redstart, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and up to ten Blackcaps around.

Also, a couple of Wheatears were on Tern Island, three Yellow Wagtails, another Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats and five Willow Warblers were along the Severals, whilst c50 Swallows went over the harbour, with similar over Rectory Lane and the Severals.

A Little Tern was again in the harbour, along with a dozen or so Sandwich Terns, plus another 23 of the latter offshore,, whilst waders present included a juvenile Little Stint, c100 Dunlin, a handful of Knot and Grey Plovers and a couple of Whimbrel. (PA/AH/SH)

Spotted Flycatchers (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat, Little Tern & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were two Little Stints on the mud together, with a Greenshank, two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, most of the waders from this morning, four Sandwich Terns, a Pintail, four Wigeon and ten Teal also in the harbour, and at least half a dozen Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide. (AWi/AH/NM et al)

Little Stints (above), Greenshank & Spotted Flycatchers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm to Golf Links Lane - Two White Storks were circling over the solar panels late this morning, before drifting off north-west. (AW)

Sidlesham: A Hobby (PA) and four Greylag Geese (AH) went over Cow Lane early this morning.

4th - 6th September 2026

Sunday, 6th September: The moderate breeze shifted to the south-east this morning, leaving a warm and mostly sunny morning.........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much going on offshore, though an Arctic Skua went west, whilst four Tree Pipits, seven Yellow Wagtails and plenty of hiirundines made up the bulk of the visible migration. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/BI/P&LH/AT)

(0600-0900hrs) (SSE, F3-4)

Gannet - 12E, 58W, 42os

Shoveler - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 7E, 1W, 2 present

Sanderling - 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Turnstone - 9

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 160os

Black-headed Gull - 420os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 3W, 7os

Sandwich Tern - 29E, 5W, 20os

Common Tern - 2E

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 181E, 229S

Sand Martin 21E, 9S

House Martin - 2E, 61S

Yellow Wagtail - 8E, 1W

Grey Wagtail - 5E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Tree Pipit - 4S

Goldfinch - 2

(1110-1210hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 9E, 7W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 12os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 3W

Common Tern - 1os

Swallow - 18E

Clouded Yellow - 8

Sandwich Terns at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 18 Lapwings and a few Jackdaws on the pool this morning, whilst a Spotted Redshank, a Whimbrel, four Black-tailed Godwits, eight Redshanks and 14 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later in the morning, two Whinchats were in Ferry Field, and this afternoon the number had risen to ten, plus three Stonechats. (MP)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 200 Swallows and 100 House Martins and Sand Martins were over the fields this morning, along with two Buzzards, with c30 Yellow Wagtails, eight Pied Wagtails, three Whitethroats and 14 Clouded Yellows around the fields. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There was plenty of migrant activity again this morning, including the Osprey over the harbour again, with two Whinchats still in the horse field, with two Redstarts nearby, another in the Severals and one still behind the hide, where there was also a Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest and up to eight Spotted Flycatchers, with half a dozen or more scattered Whitethroats and Blackcaps also about and two Wheatears along Rectory Lane.

Also, a Black Tern and a couple of Common Terns were among c50 Sandwich Terns feeding offshore, a Red Kite went over the harbour, where there were a couple of Greenshanks and Whimbrel, four Knot, half a dozen Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Pintail, whilst c500 Swallows and a few Sand Martins were on and over the fields along Rectory Lane early on, and later at least 300 Swallows and a few more Sand Martins were over the harbour. (IP/P&LH/P&JW/AH/S&SaH et al)

Redstart (AH) (above), Spotted Flycatcher (LH) , Wheatear, Blackcap, Sand Martin, Swallow (AH) & Red Kite (SaH)  at Church Norton 

This  evening there were at least six Spotted Flycatchers in the churchyard, with at least another two behind the hide. (AH)

Spotted Flycatchers at Church Norton (AH)

Honer Reservoir: There were two Greenshanks, a Common Sandpiper, four Black-tailed Godwits, two Shovelers and four Teal on the near-empty reservoir this morning, but the bushes were quiet, with just a Lesser Whitethroat and three Whitethroats seen. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Common Sandpiper at Honer Reservoir (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the trees by the stables early on and in the bushes along the wall there was a Stonechat, a few Whitethroats, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Linnet, and a Willow Warbler, whilst two Yellow Wagtails and a steady stream of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins passed overhead.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Wheatear was on the fence, and in the small copse, a mixed flock of mostly Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits, also included a Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.

A Kingfisher was along the rife and two Snipe were on the mud, whilst an Osprey flew out across the harbour, and 24 Black-tailed Godwits, c75 Redshanks, a Greenshank, and two Dunlin, were along White’s Creek, and 12 Wigeon, 11 Pintail, 26 Teal, and the Shelduck family were further out on the mud. (LP/MJa/DHi/SP/NM/EB/SBr)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Linnet & Kingfisher at the North Wall (LP)

Saturday, 5th September: A pleasant morning of near unbroken sunshine in a moderate westerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: There was a massive westward move of Mediterranean Gulls this morning - 1332 in total, beating the previous best count here by nearly 500 birds. There were relatively few terns, though today, with, apart from a huge feeding flock just offshore, most of the interest was overhead, including a Tree Pipit, 27 Yellow Wagtails, a mix of hirundines and a Peregrine. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/PM/BI/AH/JFi/IP)

(0600-0900hrs) (WNW, F3-4)

Gannet - 8E, 51W

Mallard - 3

Common Scoter - 3W

Sparropwhawk - 1

Peregrine - 1W

Oystercatcher - 4W, 2 present

Sanderling - 2W

Turnstone - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Little Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1332W

Black-headed Gull - 1190W

Common Gull - 7W

Herring Gull - 800os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 9W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 28W

Common Tern - 1E, 18W

Swallow - 19E, 41W

Sand Martin 19W

House Martin - 135W

Yellow Wagtail - 27W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Tree Pipit - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Peregrine (above), Wheatear, Arctic Skua, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Lapwing and three young Shelducks on the pool this morning, with a Black-tailed Godwit and half a dozen Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later, a Spotted Flycatcher was in the overflow car-park by  the Visitor Centre. (RP)

Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 50 Yellow Wagtails, a Stonechat, a dozen Pied Wagtails, c50 Sand Martins, c100 House Martins and c200 Swallows, plus a Buzzard were on or over the fields this morning, along with at least a dozen clouded Yellows.. (SH)

Church Norton: There were a few migrants about in the better conditions this morning, including two Whinchats and a Wheatear on the horse field, a Redstart in the Severals and another and a Spotted Flycatcher behind the hide, half a dozen Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and two or three Whitethroats along the front and up to a dozen Blackcaps and two or three Willow/Chiffs near the hide, plus a Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin and c50 Swallows over.

The harbour was quiet, though two or three Whimbrels, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit, six Knot, c75 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 21 Ringed Plovers, seven Pintail, 11 Teal a family of Shelducks were about, whilst two juvenile Peregrines were buzzing the birds by the harbour mouth, a Raven went over the churchyard, being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard, with another three of the latter and a Kestrel also seen. (IP/PM/AH/JFi/E&SB/SH/HR/DMe et al)

Redstart (above), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Raven at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon an Osprey was fishing unsuccessfully in the harbour before drifting off south-west, and there was also a female Marsh Harrier over the far end of the harbour and a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, half a dozen Knot, c30 Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers on the mud. (AH)

Osprey at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek this morning, along with eight Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Redshanks, three Curlews, five Shelducks and two Teal, with a few Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin further out on the mud and a Kingfisher by the sluice.

A Wheatear was along the rocks and a Redstart was in the bushes by Owl Copse, but otherwise there were just a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting, and a Whitethroat, whilst five Buzzards and c70 Swallows and House Martins were high over the fields.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Meadow Pipit, five Cattle Egrets, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and three Wheatears were around the fields, and a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and a Buzzard were overhead. (LP/IH/DHi/MJa/JDW)

Cattle Egret (above), Reed Bunting & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The first Merlin of the autumn was seen this afternoon, with two Kestrels about, too, with a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, seven Knot and c200 Mediterranean Gulls on the reserve, but just a Greenshank was of note on the Stilt Pool.

Also, along the banks, there were a Wheatear, a Dartford Warbler, four Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, nine Stonechats, nine Yellowhammers, c20  Meadow Pipits and c50 Yellow Wagtails. (S&SaH)

This evening, three Curlew Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool. (AS)

Friday, 4th September: A morning of near gale-force south-westerlies, mild and grey with the odd spell of drizzle.....

Selsey Bill: The highlight of another busy morning was two Cory's Shearwaters heading west together in fairly leisurely fashion, just inside the Mile Basket Line at 0746hrs, and allowing all present some decent views.

There was also another big push of birds going west, including 728 Sandwich Terns, 154 Common Terns, three Black Terns, a Little Tern, two Arctic Skuas and 247 Gannets. Full log below. (BI/CRJ/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0600-1000hrs) (SW, F7)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Cory's Shearwater - 2W (0746hrs)

Gannet - 5E, 247W, 31os

Oystercatcher - 4W

Ringed Plover - 2W

Sanderling - 2E

Turnstone - 61

Arctic Skua - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 139W

Black-headed Gull - 649W

Common Gull - 8W, 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6W, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 728W, 20os

Common Tern - 3E, 154W

Little Tern - 1W

Black Tern - 3W

Swallow - 19W

House Martin - 5

A bit later there was another pulse of Sandwich Terns through. Full log below -

(1040- 1155hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 11W

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 69

Mediterranean Gull - 76W

Common Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 12W

Sandwich Tern - 81W

Common Tern - 5W

Swallow - 21W

(1345-1445hrs) (P&LH) 

Gannet - 4W

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 47W

Sandwich Tern - 6W

Arctic Skua (AH top two, LH lower) (above), Black Tern (AH top two, LH lower), Common Terns, Sandwich Terns, Gannet (AH) & Common and Black-headed Gull (LH) at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: There was just a juvenile Shelduck on the pool this morning, with a Greenshank and a handful of Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

Church Norton: There were just a few migrants about, including a Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a handful of Blackcaps and Whitethroats around the sheltered hedges, with a Whinchat in the horse field, three Wheatears along the spit and a dozen Swallows over.

The harbour was fairly quiet, though there were three Greenshanks, three Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Dunlin and a couple of Ringed and Grey Plovers on the mud, along with a roosting flock of 65 Sandwich Terns. (AH/P&LH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Sandwich Terns (AH), Wheatear & Greenshank, Little Egret and Curlew (LH) at Church Norton 

This evening a Little Tern and two Common Terns were among c40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour at high tide. (AH)

Little Tern (above) & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Approximately 125 Yellow Wagtails were flying around over the Breech Pool late this evening, whilst two Wheatears were along the wall and two spotted Redshanks, seven Greenshanks, five Knot, c30 Grey Plovers, six Pintail and 15 Wigeon were in the harbour. (MB)

Also, a visiting birder reported a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the harbour, earlier in the day. (Eds)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Short-eared Owl was over the solar panels between Ham and Golf Links Lane early this afternoon. (JWo)

West Itchenor: An Osprey was hovering over Chichester Harbour, viewed from Chalkdock early this afternoon, and a bit later, what was probably a different one went west past Itchenor jetty. (PH)