13th - 14th April 2026

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

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)

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

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)

10th - 12th April 2026

Sunday, 12th April: After some heavy showers early on, a bright, but cool morning in a distinctly fresh south-westerly..........

Selsey Bill: There was nothing really moving offshore this morning, though nine Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (W, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 4E, 28W

Common Scoter - 13E, 3W

Oystercatcher - 2W, 2 present

Curlew - 2W

Whimbrel - 1E

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 5W, 3os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 13E, 12W

Common Tern - 1W

auk sp - 2W

Swallow - 9N

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

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank was roosting with a dozen or so Redshanks on the pool this morning, with a Little Ringed Plover, seven Avocets, c30 Black-tailed Godwits also about, along with 14 Shovelers, a Teal, six Gadwall and 11 Shelducks, whilst a Greenshank was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Also, a Garden Warbler and several Blackcaps were around the Tramway this morning, along with at least eight Whitethroats. (AW)

Greenshank (above), Little Ringed Plover & Spotted Redshank, Redshanks and Shovelers (AH) & Whitethroats (AW) at the Ferry

This evening the Spotted Redshank was showing well in Ferry Channel, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, and a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier went over the adjacent harbour. (AH/AB/CD)

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

Mill Pond Marsh: Three Swallows were over the flooded field this morning. (ML)

This evening, a sub-adult male and two female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, along with half a dozen Swallows, with two pairs of Shovelers and a pair of Little Grebes on the flooded field. (AH)

Marsh Harriers (above) & Swallows at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: A Wheatear was about again this morning, along with two Sedge Warblers, six Reed Warblers, two Willow Warblers, two Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and a Reed Bunting.

Also, a Whimbrel was in the harbour, two Brent Geese and ten Cattle Egrets were in the fields and a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH)

In addition to the above, a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers were along White’s Creek, as well as 52 Redshanks, and a Red Kite flew over and across the harbour, whilst two Kingfishers were along Owl Water and a Bullfinch was reported along Mill Lane. (LP/MRi/MJa et all)

Red-breasted Merganser (above), Red Kite, Gadwall and Little Egret & Shelduck at the North Wall (LP)

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was in Chalkdock Copse this morning. (GM)

Chichester GPs: A House Martin and two Swallows went over, but it was generally quiet, with just half a dozen Chiffchaffs and two or three Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers along the path and half a dozen Great Crested Grebes and Pochard, c20 Tufted Ducks, three Egyptian Geese and c25 Greylag and Canada Geese around the pits. (AH)

This afternoon the first-winter Little Gull was back on East Trout Lake, along with c40 Sand Martins, a House Martin and a few Swallows, whilst the pair of Egyptian Geese by the house still had seven goslings and there were two Kingfishers about. (AB/CD)

Pochard (above), Chiffchaff & Blackcap at Chichester GPs (AH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - A look along the Trail this afternoon produced ten Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, two Blackcaps,, a Cetti's Warbler, three Chiffchaffs and a couple of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Skylarks.

Also, c50 Swallows and a couple of House Martins were over the settling tanks, seven Stock Doves and ten Mediterranean Gulls were in the fields at Porthole Farm and a Red Kite, three Buzzards and two Kestrels went over. (JA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Little Terns were fishing over the Stilt Pool this afternoon, with a Ringed Plover and fdive Avocets there, too, whilst a Dartford Warbler, a Stonechat, a Whitethroat, two Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and c40 Skylarks and Linnets were along the banks, with three Swallows, a Kestrel and two Buzzards going over. (S&SaH)

Little Tern at Medmerry (SaH)

Saturday, 11th April: A mostly grey and unseasonably cool morning, though brightening up a bit later on, in a fresh and gusty south-westerly..........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a Bonxie, 46 Brent Geese, 107 Common Scoters and four Common Terns east, a Little Tern, a Fulmar and over 200 Gannets west and 25 Swallows coming in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/M-OW/IP/AH/JFi)

(0600-0930hrs) (SSW, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W, 1os

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 85E, 227W

Brent Goose - 46E

Common Scoter - 107E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W

Oystercatcher - 3E, 3W

Curlew - 5W

Turnstone - 1W, 2 present

Great Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 6E, 86W

Common Gull - 1E, 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 14W, 2os

Kittiwake - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 32E, 21W

Common Tern - 4E

'Commic' Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 1W

Guillemot - 1E, 1os

Razorbill - 1W, 1os

auk sp - 4E, 14W

Swallow - 25N

(1540-1640hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E, 2W, c20os

Sanderling - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 8E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 12W

Gannets (above), Common Scoters & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the pool again this morning, along with seven Avocets, four Redshanks and 37 Black-tailed Godwits, but the fields just held three Lapwings, whilst wildfowl comprised six Gadwall, 14 Shovelers, ten Mallard, c25 Shelducks and a pair of Canada Geese, with two Swallows and a House Martin going over. (AH/HB et al)

The Spotted Redshank was back in Ferry Channel, along with four Black-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Spotted Redshank at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: The Spotted Redshank was among c20 Redshanks along Ferry Channel this morning, whilst a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, three Sedge Warblers, five Cetti's Warblers, a couple of Reed Buntings and Skylarks and c20 Linnets, plus a couple of Swallows over, were seen/heard along the path and a Mistle Thrush was again near the houses. (AH/HB et al) 

Linnet along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: The first Cuckoo of the year was calling intermittently near the concrete wall late this morning. (GW)

Also about were three Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, half a dozen Knot and a dozen Grey Plovers, with at least 500 Mediterranean Gulls dominating the harbour, where there were also c50 Sandwich Terns and c200 Black-headed Gulls, whilst a Painted Lady was seen along the west side.. (AH/GW/RS et al)

Whimbrels (above), Grey Plover, Mediterranean Gulls & Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was cold and windy along the wall this morning, and predictably all of the small birds were laying low, but there was a Wheatear along the rocks and nine Swallows flew over, whilst both male and female Marsh Harriers were about, as well as two Buzzards and out in the fields were two Brent Geese, two Gadwall, five Shelduck, three Curlews and a Skylark.

A Spotted Redshank was in White’s Creek, along with eight Redshanks and twelve Teal, and a Kingfisher flew out from the sluice, whilst on the Breech Pool there was just a Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe. (LP/MJa/CT)

This evening a Red-breasted Merganser was in the harbour and seven Swallows were at Halsey's Farm. (AWr)

Wheatear (above), Spotted Redshank, Skylark & Brent Geese and Shelducks at the North Wall (LP)

Friday, 10th April: The morning started cool and grey in a light northerly breeze, warming up slowly as it shifted to the south and slowly freshened......

Selsey Bill: There was nothing really moving again this morning, though there was some interest, including a Bonxie west, a Fulmar east and another west and a Wheatear in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (N, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 11os

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 8E, 23W, 1os

Shag - 1os

Mallard - 2W

Common Scoter - 3E, 1os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 2W

Curlew - 1E

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 2os

Black-headed Gull - 7E

Common Gull - 3E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 13os

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 1W

Swallow - 1N

Wheatear - 1N

Gannet at the Bill (AH)

(1500-1630hrs) (SH/JA/AH)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Shag - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3os

Mediterranean Gull - 6E

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 3E, 4W

Common Tern - 1E

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the islands this morning, along with 44 Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshanks and seven Avocets, with a couple of Lapwings in the fields, whilst there were also 34 Shelducks, 16 Shovelers, four Teal, two Gadwall and eight Mallards present. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Little Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwits & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Great White Egret flew over late this morning (AW), whilst earlier the Spotted Redshank was with c20 Redshanks at the far end of Ferry Channel and a pair of Shovelers, a pair of Little Grebes and a pair of Great Crested Grebes were on the pool.

There were also a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, at least three Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets along the path (AH/AW)

Great White Egret (AW), Spotted Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Redshank, Shoveler & Reed Bunting (AH) along the Long Pool

This afternoon there were two Reed Warblers and two Sedge Warblers singing from Long Pool., whilst wo Egyptian Geese flew over and six Gadwall were chasing each other around and the smart looking summer plumage Spotted Redshank was in the Ferry channel again. (AW/AH).

Spotted Redshank (AH top, AW lower), Egyptian Geese & Gadwall (AW) at the Long Pool

Mill Pond Marsh: A Redpoll was feeding in a garden and a Sedge Warbler was along the lane this morning. (LL)

North Wall: A Glossy Ibis flew across the fields from Owl Copse early on, and there were lots of Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers singing in the reeds, with a few Blackcaps, Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Buntings, and a Whitethroat along the bushes.

Two Brent Geese and two Gadwall were in the fields, and the male Marsh Harrier was about all morning but there was nothing out in the harbour beside nine Redshanks, 12 Teal and a few Curlews.

At Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was along the rife and two Buzzards were up high, but apart from a couple of Swallows passing through that was about it.

Also, a local posted some pics on a local Facebook page of two Black Swans off Pagham Spit yesterday. (MJa/LP/SP)

Reed Bunting (above), Gadwall & Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Whitethroat was singing here today, but a couple of Chiffchaffs was about it otherwise, though there were still c150 Sandwich Terns and c300 Mediterranean Gulls among the Black-headed Gulls and there were also a couple of Black-tailed Godwits about. (GR/AH et al)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were at least 800 Mediterranean Gulls around the island and harbour, along with c150 Sandwich Terns and a single Bar-tailed Godwit. (AH)

Mediterranean Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: A Little Gull was still on West Trout Lake today, whilst a Common Tern was sat on one of the buoys on Ivy Lake and at least two Reed Warblers were singing from Nunnery Lake. (NM)

Fishbourne Creek: On the low tide there were 13 Curlew, a Whimbrel, six Greenshanks, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, a Dunlin and a Brent Goose along the Creek, whilst there were three Wigeon at Fishbourne.

In the bushes there were seven Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, four Cetti's Warblers, a Whitethroat, two Yellowhammers and a Willow Warbler. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were at least 21 Whitethroats along the banks this morning, along with a Dartford Warbler, three Reed Warblers, two Willow Warblers, nine Chiffchaffs, nine Cetti's Warblers, three Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits, three Reed Buntings, seven Yellowhammers, c30 Skylarks and c60 Linnets, plus a lone Swallow over.

There wasn't too much else going on, though, with just an avocet and eight Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool and a Little Ringed Plover on the pool opposite, plus a Kestrel and three Buzzards over. (S&SaH)

Bracklesham: An intriguing report has appeared via Facebook of a (presumably Great-tailed) Grackle present in the vicinity and seen several times. (per Eds)

Great-tailed Grackle at Bracklesham (per Facebook)