25th - 27th September 2026

Saturday, 26th September: Winds light and variable "round-the-clock" today, staying dry and with average temperatures for the time of year...

Selsey Bill: At least six Wheatears were along the front on the house roofs this morning and a Hobby flew powerfull out south. (SH/PB/IP/JA/P&LH/BI) (ENE F1-2) Full log to follow.

Wheatears, above, and Chiffchaff at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were c.70 Lapwings present early this morning, but no wildfowl, with just a few Black-headed Gulls for company. (BI)

Church Norton: Highlights in an early look included a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, 50 Grey Plover and a Knot out in the harbour, 31 Pintail, 14 Wigeon, a Kingfisher and a Marsh Harrier. Also noted were c.500 Swallows, ten House Martins, two Jays and a Wheatear. Ten Chiffchaffs were in the hedges, along with ten Long-tailed Tits, and a single Grey Wagatil flew over. (IP) The Severals were largely quiet but three more Jays were seen, 17 Meadow Pipits flew over and a Stonechat was present. (MRe)

Friday, 25th September: Another cool morning to start with but with temperatures expected in the mid-20s by early afternoon...winds light and variable...

Selsey Bill: A Coal Tit, scarce here, was calling briefly from the bushes early on and two Great White Egrets headed over east in the twilight. Otherwise there was some limited vizmig including c.400 Swallows but the sea remained very quiet with almost nothing moving past. (SH/IP/AH/BI/S.Davies)

(0630-0830hrs)  (ENE F2), full log below:

Tufted Duck - 2E

Common Scoter - 1W

Gannet - 3W 20os

Shag - 1E

Great White Egret - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2E 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Sand Martin -2E

Swallow - 382E

House Martin - 20E

Rock Pipit - 1

Meadow Pipit - 7E 24W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1W

Coal Tit - 1

Linnet - 11E

Goldfinch - 20p

Reed Bunting - 1W

Turnstone, below, & Swallows at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: Five Lapwings and c.10 Teal were present this morning. (AH)

Church Norton: The year's first Grasshopper Warbler was briefly in the reeds at the second several this morning, the latest autumn bird recorded this century. Also, five Stonechats were along the bushes and 18 Meadow Pipits went over. (MRe) Later in the day four Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier were overhead and five Stonechats, five Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were along the hedges. (SaH/SH)

East Side, Pagham Harbour: A Peregrine was hunting out in the harbour on the rising tide and a Marsh Harrier flew over towards Church Norton, also a Kingfisher flew along the channel, and a Shoveler was with the Pintails, Wigeon, Teal, Shelducks, and Mallards on the water, along with six Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe.

There was a good selection of all the regular waders about, including Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Lapwings, Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, as well as two Avocets, four Greenshanks and a Spotted Redshank, whilst c200 mostly House Martins and a few Swallows passed overhead. (TRH/LP/SP/IH)

Peregrine, above, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Avocet, Knot, Wigeon with Knot & Grey Plover and Pintail at the East Side (LP)

North Wall: A mid-morining visit to North Wall produced: a female Stonechat in the paddocks, eight Greenshank and two Avocets were in Whites Creek and a fly-over Kingfisher was here too. Behind the Breech Pool were a Kestrel and two Buzzards and a Bar-tailed Godwit dropped onto the mud where two Grey Wagtails were also present. The bushes held a number of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps as well as five Cetti's Warblers whilst a Marsh Harrier was out over the harbour. (JC)

Medmerry,east side: Three Brent Geese went west at 6:30pm. (RP)

West Wittering: A Spotted Flycatcher was in a local garden this afternoon. (GM)

Spotted Flycatcher at West Wittering video (GM)

22nd - 24th September 2026

Thursday, 24th September: A slightly cooler, greyer morning in a moderate breeze - north-easterly early, veering to the south-east later..........

Selsey Bill: A Merlin chasing passerines way out to sea, and the first two returning Brent Geese going west - separately - were the highlights this morning, with a few Wigeon and Teal the only other things on the move. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0645-0900hrs) (NE, F4)

Gannet - 9E, 13W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 2W

Wigeon - 29W

Teal - 7W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Merlin - 1os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Swallow - 37E

House Martin - 1E

Yellow Wagtail - 2E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 13W

Goldfinch - 30

Shag at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 38 Lapwings, a Redshank, four Teal and a juvenile Shelduck on the pool and just a couple of Redshanks and a dozen Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Teal (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Snipe and two Gadwall were present this morning. (LL)

Church Norton: The first returning Brent Goose in the harbour was seen this morning, along with a dozen or so Pintail, a female Marsh Harrier, two Greenshanks and at least one Whimbrel. 

Also, two Sparrowhawks were over the churchyard and there were several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the hedges there and at the Severals, where there were also a Whitethroat and two Cetti's Warblers, whilst nine Stonechats were in the horse field, with two more along the spit, and c30 Swallows went over. (JC/S&SaH)

A Spotted Redshank in the harbour and a first-winter Caspian Gull along Rectory Lane were reported this afternoon, (per Birdguides), but neither were seen later.

This evening, a Ruff was in the harbour, along with six Bar-tailed Godwits, with two Whimbrel were seen to fly high out of the harbour heading south, whilst a Peregrine, 12 Yellow Wagtails and 55 Pied Wagtails along the lane this evening (MRe/AWi).

North Wall: Two Great White Egrets were out in the harbour this morning, along with a Peregrine, a female Marsh Harrier and four Great Black-backed Gulls, and an Avocet was along White's Creek.

Also, at Halsey's Farm, a group of 14 Cattle Egrets were around the cows and later a further group of 30 dropped in from elsewhere. 

Later on, there were five Little Egrets and six Grey Herons on their island, and a  Peregrine, a Red Kite and a Kestrel went over and ten Common Seals were hauled out on the mud. (P Gomersall)

Chichester GPs: A brief look round Ivy Lake didn't produce much beyond half a dozen Chiffchaffs in the hedges, six Egyptian Geese on West Trout Lake and c75 Greylag Geese, c40 Canada Geese, half a dozen Tufted Ducks and two Pochard on Ivy Lake. (AH)

Chiffchaff (above), Egyptian Geese & Greylag Geese at Chichester GPs (AH)

Wednesday, 23rd September: The warm and sunny spells continues, though with a bit of white cloud and a modest southerly breeze this morning.....

Selsey Bill: Three Razorbills and seven Wigeon west were the only things of note offshore, whilst there was a big reduction in hirundine activity overhead. Full log below. (AH/JFi)

(0710-0840hrs) (S, F2-3)

Gannet - 24W

Shag - 2E

Wigeon - 7W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 10W

Razorbill - 3W

Swallow - 112W

House Martin - 78W

Meadow Pipit - 2W

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 2E

Shag (above), Razorbill, Gannets & Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 36 Lapwings, two Redshanks, four Teal and three juvenile Shelducks on the pool this morning, with a Whimbrel, a Snipe and a Kingfisher, plus half a dozen Redshanks and c20 Teal in the channel opposite and a Whinchat was in the fields. (AH/PA/MRe)

Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Two Spotted Redshanks flew in to the pool, but disappeared from view, whilst along the path there were five Stonechats, a Whitethroat, a couple of Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Blackcaps, with a flock of c250 Swallows, including at least one Sand Martin, feeding low overhead.

There was also a Marsh Harrier over the harbour and a Common Sandpiper was along Ferry Channel, together with c40 Redshanks. (AH)

Whitethroat, Blackcap and Whitethroat, Stonechat, Swallow & Common Sandpiper at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: Both a Merlin and a Hobby were about this morning, along with three Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrel, four Buzzards and two Ravens, with 1525 Swallows and 670 House Martins, plus two Sand Martins, three Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, 30 Skylarks and 44 Meadow Pipits, counted going over.

The hedges held a Spotted Flycatcher, two Firecrests, six Goldcrests, three Whitethroats, 18 Blackcaps, three Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers, 17 Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat, but the harbour was quiet, with just three Sandwich Terns, two Golden Plovers, seven Black-tailed Godwits and 15 Pintail of note. (PA/MRe)

Firecrest (above) & Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton (PA)

North Wall: At Owl Water this morning, there were four Little Grebes and a Kingfisher, with four Chiffchaffs around the bushes, whilst along the rife there were three Little Egrets, three Grey Herons, four Black tailed Godwits and a colour tagged Curlew, and on the Breech Pool there were a Grey Wagtail and a Redshank..

Also, a male and a female Marsh Harrier were in the area, with another seen further over the harbour, and c30 Swallows and similar of House Martins were over the reeds. (P Gomersall)

East side: A look along the east side produced plenty of Wigeon, Mallard and Tea,l with just a few Pintail among them, whilst waders included an Avocet, eight Greenshanks, a Grey Plover, 50 Turnstones and a few Redshank, Lapwing, Dunlin and Knot. (P Gomersall)

Honer Reservoir: Two Greenshanks were the only waders on the reservoir, whilst the hedges just held a pair of Stonechats and a handful of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, though at least 300 Swallows were feeding over the fields. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Swallow & Stonechat at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: At high tide this morning there were 18 Greenshanks in the wader roost off Dell Quay. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Ham Viewpoint - A late morning walk produced a Sparrowhawk and family of Stonechats near Wilson’s Far, a juvenile Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine near Ham and a Cattle Egret with the cows at Ham Farm. (JC)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - A look along the banks this evening produced three Dartford Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, a Whinchat, 13 Stonechats, two Meadow Pipits and half a dozen Yellowhammers, with c100 Swallows, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, two Marsh Harriers and two Buzzards going over. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 22nd September: Another very warm morning, with unbroken sunshine in just the lightest north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: The main interest again this morning was hirundines - with a lot of Swallows moving through early on, then later a huge build-up of House Martins. Full log below. (AH/IP et al)

(0700-0830hrs) (NE, F1-2)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Shag - 4E

Common Scoter - 3W

Oystercatcher - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Swallow - 666E

House Martin - 850

Yellow Wagtail - 1E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 7E

Linnet - 11E

Shag and Cormorant (above), Common Scoter, Swallow & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 92 Lapwings roosting on the pool this morning, but otherwise there were just a Redshank and a juvenile Shelduck present. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Great White Egret was out in the middle of the harbour this morning, and there were good numbers of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal about, plus a few Shelducks, along with a Spotted Redshank, four Greenshanks, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and 50+ Redshanks, whilst 11 Common seals were hauled out at the far end.

Also, a juvenile Marsh Harrier went over, ten Cattle Egrets were in the fields, four Little Grebes were on Owl Water and, unusually, two Bar-tailed Godwits were in the creek at Halsey's Farm, along with another half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Stonechats were at Halsey's Farm, whilst at least another four of the latter, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, three Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and up to ten Reed Buntings were along the wall, with a dozen Meadow Pipits, c30 Swallows and c50 House Martins going over. (PB/LP/MJa/AH/EB/P Gomersall et al)

This evening a Tawny Owl and a Barn Owl were at Halsey's Farm, with an Osprey high over the reserve and two Marsh Harriers, including the adult male, going to roost in their usual area, and there were also a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk about, too.

Also, seen from along the wall were  a Yellow Wagtail, a Stonechat, three Meadow Pipits, two Cetti's Warblers, c30 Swallows, four Snipe and nine Cattle Egrets. (S&SaH)

Great White Egret (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler (AH), Blackcap, Meadow Pipit, Stonechats (LP), Bar-tailed Godwit (AH) & Black-tailed Godwits (LP) at the North Wall

East side and Pagham Spit: A Spotted Redshank was among the Redshanks in White's Creek this morning, with three Knot, 40 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plovers, 40 Ringed Plovers, 50 Turnstones, five Great Black-backed Gulls and good numbers of Pintail and Wigeon out in the harbour.

Also, a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk went over, a Jay and a dozen Chiffchaffs were in the hedges along the Slipe Field and a Wheatear, c20 Meadow Pipits and c100 Linnets were around the Spit and six Little Grebes and two Great Crested Grebes were on the Lagoon. (DHo/P Gomersall)

Pintails (above), Knot, Dunlin, Grey and Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and Turnstone, Turnstones, Lapwing & Jay along the East side (DHo)

Medmerry: Breach area and Ham Farm - There was a Spoonbill among the Little Egrets at the Breach this morning, with a Greenshank, two  Bar-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Dunlin, ten Ringed Plovers and a few Curlews in the vicinity, too

Also, two Whinchats and three Wheatears were along the fences between the breach and Ham Farm, with a Reed Warbler, one or two Stonechats and a few Linnets about, too, whilst a Hobby, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, four Red Kites, a Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards and two Kestrels went over went over.. (KT)

Whinchat at Medmerry (KT)