4th - 6th April 2026

Saturday, 4th April: A south-westerly wind today, initially F3 but forecast to strengthen throughout the day...mainly dry with the possibility of the occasional light shower...

Selsey Bill: (0625-0815hrs) (SW F3-4) (SH/IP/BI) Hopes were raised of a good morning today with favourable reports from other seawatching sites to the east and west yesterday but, alas, it was not to be. The meagre highlights were a Redpoll that flew around calling for a few minutes, the/a distant Long-tailed Duck dropping in by the MIle Basket and a Fulmar moving west. The weather then once again closed in and that was that for the morning watch! 

Full log below:

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Red -breasted Merganser - 1e 3w

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1e 1w

Fulmar - 1w

Shag - 1e

Oystercatcher 1e 7w
Turnstone - 7

Great Black-backed Gull - 10os

Mediterranean Gull - 2e
Sandwich Tern - 3e 4w
auk sp 1os
Pied Wagtail - 3w
Linnet - 3w

Redpoll - 1n

An hour this afternoon produced the following: (1315-1415hrs) (S F3) (SH)

Gannet - 1w

Sandwich Tern - 1w

Turnstone - 8

Dunlin - 10e

Grey Plover - 25e

Pied Wagtail - 1

Turnstones, above, and dead Conger Eel at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: Two moulting Spotted Redshanks and a Greenshank were in the channel today, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch and there were at least seven Blackcaps in the vicinity. (AW)

Spotted Redshank, above, Greenshank and Blackcap around the Ferry (AW)

Chichester Gravel Pits: Two Little Gulls were again on East Trout Lake but other than a few Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers along the paths and a lone Egyptian Goose it was rather quiet. (BI)

Little Gull & Cetti's Warbler at the gravel pits (BI)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool:  A Buzzard and a Kestrel were overhead this morning whilst the banks held eight Chiffchaffs, eight Cetti's Warblers, a Stonechat and four Yellowhammers. Also noted were c.30 Skylarks, c.50 LInnets, two Meadow Pipits and c.50 Mediterranean Gulls. On the Stilt Pool were ten Avocets, three Ringed Plovers and one Greenshank. (SaH/SH) Later in the morning: two Corn Buntings were near the car park and a flock of 16 Fieldfares flew north with a singing Blackcap also nearby. Along the banks was a Dartford Warbler, two Green Woodpeckers were seen and Little Grebe and a pair of Gadwall were on the path-side pools. Forty-three Golden Plover went over by Marsh Barn and on the Stilt Pool were five Tufted Ducks, three Teal, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret and three Mediterranean Gulls (IP)

North Wall: It was very quiet along the wall in the windy conditions, with just a few Teal and Redshanks in White’s Creek and a pair of Great Crested Grebes on the Breech Pool, whilst out in the fields, the lone Brent Goose was still around along with a few Curlews.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Mistle Thrush, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Chiffchaff, a Greenfinch and a couple of Chaffinches were in the trees, and an Avocet was briefly along the rife, while overhead there were two Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier. (LP/MJa/JDW/EB/SBr)

Great Crested Grebe, above, Brent Goose, Mistle Thrush & Chaffinch at Halsey's Farm (LP)

1st - 3rd April 2026

Friday, 3rd April: A really dismal morning's weather, with persistent drizzly rain pushed through by a fresh and blustery south-westerly........

Selsey Bill: There was almost nothing to see in the poor visibility this morning. Full log below. (SH/BI/JA./IP/AH)

(0615-0815hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Gannet - 5W

Oystercatcher - 9W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 7os

Sandwich Tern - 5W

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Sandwich Terns (above) & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon, a Long-tailed Duck went west, three Common Scoters went east and a flock of 14 Meadow Pipits flew in off the sea. Full log below. (PB/SH/AH)

(1400-1600hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 14W

Long-tailed Duck - 1W

Common Scoter - 3E

Turnstone - 12

Great Black-backed Gull - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 20W

Meadow Pipit - 14N

Sandwich Tern (above), Gannet & Great Crested Grebe at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets, a couple of Lapwings and c40 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, with a couple of Redshanks and a Curlew in the fields, and there were also a dozen Shelducks, eight Gadwall, c25 Teal and c50 Shovelers present.

Also, eight Black-tailed Godwits were in Ferry Channel, with a couple of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers around the Discovery Area and Visitor Centre. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

This afternoon there were a pair of Egyptian Geese on the pool, whilst the Spotted Redshank, 22 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Gadwall were in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Gadwall & Egyptian Geese at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was a big increase to c120 Sandwich Terns in the harbour this morning, though not that many Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls were about, and the harbour just held c40 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, plus c25 Shelducks.

Also, a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in the sheltered hedges, but that really was about it. (AH)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: There were three Little Gulls - two adults and a first winter - on East Trout Lake this afternoon. (AB)

North Wall: Two Mistle Thrushes, a Song Thrush and a Chiffchaff were in the small copse at Halsey’s Farm this afternoon, and earlier an Avocet was along the Rife, but it was generally very quiet in the windy conditions, with just a few Curlews and a pair of Gadwall in the fields, and two Marsh Harriers further back over the reeds. (MRi/LP)

Thrushes and Avocet at Halsey's Farm (LP)

Thursday, 2nd April: A morning that started cool and grey in a fresh northerly, but slowly warmed and brightened up as the breeze abated........

Selsey Bill: Two Pintail - presumably different to yesterday's birds - were the only things heading east offshore again this morning, whilst two Wheatears were seen flying in off the sea and landing on the groynes, one of which remained in situ for at least ten minutes. Full log below. (PM/AH/IP)

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

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Gannet - 7W

Pintail - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 5W, 3os

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 10os

auk sp - 3W

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

Wheatears (PM top two, AH lower) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were two Little Ringed Plovers on the pool this morning, whilst the Ruff was roosting with 59 Black-tailed Godwits and there were also three Avocets, four Lapwings, a Snipe, two Redshanks, a Curlew, 11 Shelducks, seven Gadwall, c30 Teal and c50 Shovelers about.

Also, the Greenshank and the Spotted Redshank were well up Ferry Channel, a Water Rail was in Red Barn Ditch, a Peregrine went over, a Mistle Thrush was near the adjacent houses and up to five singing Blackcaps and at least three Chiffchaffs were around the Discovery area/ Tramway. (AH/PM/AW)

Greenshank (above), Water Rail (AW), Little Ringed Plovers, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Teal, Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits & Wren (AH) at the Ferry

Late this afternoon, the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were again in Ferry Channel, along with 64 Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

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

North Wall: A Glossy Ibis dropped into Owl Copse at 0820hrs this morning and then preened itself for about 20 minutes before heading out north and appearing to drop into the ditches in Honer 3, before later being seen flying into White's Creek, where there was also a Spotted Redshank.

Also, a Kingfisher was along the water at Owl Copse, a Corn Bunting was at Owl Point, and the male Marsh Harrier was over the Breech Pool, where there were just a Shoveler, a Shelduck, two Great Crested Grebes present, plus the pair of Mute the Swans, busy building up their nest, whilst Halsey's Farm there were just a couple of Skylarks and three Buzzards. (GHi/EB/CS et al)

Glossy Ibis (above), Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Shoveler (GHi), Glossy Ibis, Corn Bunting, Marsh Harrierd & Buzzard (EB) at the North Wall 

Church Norton: This evening there were 16 Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour, along with six Black-tailed Godwits, but very few other waders, whilst c30 Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 1st April: A hazily grey morning, quite mild in a moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A pair of Pintail were the only birds heading east this morning, through three Wheatears, two Willow Warblers and four Chiffchaffs moved through. Full log below. (AH/IP/MO-W)

(0710-0855hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 2W

Pintail - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 7W, 5os

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 11W

Black-headed Gull - 133W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Wheatear - 3

Willow Warbler - 2

Chiffchaff - 4

Linnet - 2

Chaffinch - 2

Wheatears (above) & Chiffchaff at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff was still at the back this morning, with a pair of Avocets, a Redshank, a Curlew, four Lapwings and c30 Black-tailed Godwits about, but wildfowl were reduced to c30 Shovelers, a dozen Teal, six Gadwall and eight Shelducks. (AH/GSh)

Lapwings (above) & Shelducks and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

This evening the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were again in Ferry Channel. (AH)

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

Pagham Spit: There were six Wheatears along the spit this morning. (LP)

Wheatears at the Pagham Spit (LP)

North Wall: This morning, a Sedge Warbler was in the Breech Pool, whilst a Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek and four Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Knot, 130 Grey Plovers, four Red-breasted Mergansers and four Pintail were out in the harbour, along with seven Common Seals. 

Also, there were two male Wheatears in Owl Point field, two Red Kites, two Marsh Harriers and five Buzzards were over the fields and the first Grey Heron chick of the year was seen in the visible nest at Owl Copse. (LP/BFF/AB/SP et al)

Red Kite (above), Cattle Egret & Little Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were up to 50 Sandwich Terns and 200 Mediterranean Gulls among c500 Black-headed Gulls in and around the islands this morning, whilst in the harbour there were 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, two Knot, three Dunlin and 25 Grey Plovers, along with a male Red-breasted Merganser, a dozen Teal and a flock of seven Brent Geese that were flying around.

A Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a few Chiffchaffs were around the Mound area, but a Reed Bunting, half a dozen Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits was about it along the front, whilst a female Marsh Harrier was sat out at the Severals and a Green Woodpecker and a Great spotted Woodpecker were about, too. (AH/CRJ/GR/EB/BFF et al)

Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plovers (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits and Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls (AH) & Long-tailed Tit (CRJ) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were two male Wheatears on the beach this morning, with a Reed Bunting, a Skylark and half a dozen Linnets about, too, whilst offshore there were a Great Northern Diver and four Red-breasted Mergansers. (AH)

Wheatears (above), Reed Bunting & Great Northern Diver at Medmerry (AH)