23rd - 25th January 2026

Sunday, 25th January:  After a fairly bright start in a lighter south-easterly breeze, it slowly clouded up, with drizzly rain by midday.......

Selsey Bill: Two adult Little Gulls, a Fulmar and Black-throated Diver went east this morning, along with a Slavonian Grebe and over 150 Red-throated Divers. Full log later. (SH/PB/P&LH/IP/AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least 750 Lapwings around the field and pool, with at least 100 Shovelers, 150 Teal and 400 Wigeon spread around, whilst a Kingfisher was along the channel opposite. (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek this morning, with two more further down, along with a Kingfisher, c200 Golden Plovers, c1000 Lapwings, c100 Wigeon and a Little Grebe,.

Also, three Rock Pipits were along the wall, a Water Rail was showing well in the paddocks, the male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds and a Sparrowhawk went into Owl Copse, whilst c500 Brent Geese and 28 Curlews were in the fields, with a few more at Halsey's Farm, where a Peregrine was sat out at Owl Point. (PB/JDW/LP/MJa)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - There were very few birds around the whole Ivy Lake complex, wit totals of roughly 40 Greylag Geese, 20 Canada Geese, two pairs of Egyptian Geese, five Great Crested Grebes, four Teal and 20 or so Pochard and Tufted Ducks.

There were proportionately more birds on New Lake, where there were c20 Shovelers, another 20 or so Pochard, a dozen Tufted Ducks and six Teal, but there was nothing in the hedges. (AH)

Saturday, 24th January: Another very windy day, with a near gale-force south-easterly blowing throughout, though it was mostly bright, if cool.......

Selsey Bill: A Sooty Shearwater went east this morning at 0754hrs, fairly distant but seen well, whilst a winter's best of 136 Red-throated Divers went east, too, but there wasn't too much else on the move. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/IP)

(0730-0900hrs) (SE, F7)

Red-throated Diver - 136E, 3W, 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Sooty Shearwater - 1E (0754hrs)

Gannet - 19E, 8W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 13E

Common Scoter - 5E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 1W, 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 1E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 8os

Kittiwake - 5E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 8E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Red-throated Diver (above), Shag & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still 500+ Lapwings on the pool this morning, but no other waders, though there were plenty of wildfowl - namely six Shelducks, c80 Shovelers, c60 Mallards, c150 Teal and at least 400 Wigeon. (AH)

Shoveler (above), Lapwings & Teal and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek this morning, together with the regular Redshanks, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Lapwings, whilst the Brent Geese were regularly moving out from the harbour and onto the now flooded Honer 1 field, where at one point there were over 2000 present.

A dozen Redwings were moving along the hedgerows and three Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting were also about, while in the paddock there were a Water Rail, two Song Thrushes, two Jays, a Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails, with four Marsh Harriers over the reeds further back. (LP/CT/M-OW/EB/SBr et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Song Thrush, Brent Geese (LP), Marsh Harriers, Curlews & Dunnock (EB) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Nine Fieldfares were about this afternoon, along with c50 Linnets and a single Meadow Pipit, whilst an Avocet and a Snipe were on the stilt Pool,, c500 Brent Geese, c50 Golden Plovers and c1000 Lapwings were on the reserve and a Raven and two Marsh Harriers went over. (S&SaH)

Friday, 23rd January: After more overnight rain spilling into the dawn, an improving morning, ending up bright and breezy, though the breeze - south-easterly early on, southerly later - remained very fresh and blustery.....

Selsey Bill: Over 60 Red-throated Divers went east, a Fulmar went west and a Slavonian Grebe was offshore, though, otherwise it was just a mix of the usual species. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0745-0915hrs) (SE, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 65E, 6W, 4os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 10E

Common Scoter - 3E, 8os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 3W, 11os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 3os

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Razorbill - 2E, 8os

auk sp - 6E, 1W

This afternoon, a Little Gull was offshore from Hillfield Road. (RHa)

Red-throated Divers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets and at least 80 Black-tailed Godwits and 500 Lapwings were around the pool and fields this morning, along with two pairs of Gadwall, six Shelducks, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c250 Wigeon. (AH)

Avocets (above), Gadwall & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Spotted Redshank and an Avocet were at the far end of Ferry Channel this morning, along with 25 Redshanks, whilst a vast flock of c500 Golden Plovers and c2000 Lapwings came up from further out in the harbour.

A Water Rail was calling noisily from the pool and a Buzzard went over, but a Reed Bunting and a handful of Linnets were all that could be found along the path. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet, Buzzard, Golden Plovers & Lapwings and Golden Plovers along the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: There were at least 1000 Brent Geese, 1000 Lapwings and 200 Golden Plovers over Halsey's Farm at one point this afternoon, along with a Snipe, eight Grey Plovers, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, two Buzzards and two Marsh Harriers.

Also, half a dozen Redwings were in the hedges there, whilst a Rock Pipit was along the wall and another Marsh Harrier was behind it. (S&SaH)

East Head: The Snow Bunting showed nicely for a while at around 0900hrs this morning (BI), but there was no sign in a late morning visit, with an Avocet the meagre highlight (JC).

Snow Bunting video: HERE

Snow Bunting at East Head (BI)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights on the rising tide this morning included 79 Coot and a Greenshank in the River Lavant outflow, with a second further down the creek, whilst along the main channel there were an Avocet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 58 Black-tailed Godwits, 28 Ringed Plover, two Pintail, 100+ Wigeon, a drake Goldeneye and a Little Grebe. (RW)

20th-22nd January 2026

Thursday, 22nd January:  After yet more overnight rain, another grey morning, mostly dry, apart from a few drizzly spells, in a brisk south-easterly breeze......

Selsey Bill: A total of 58 Red-throated Divers went east this morning, along with 23 Red-breasted Mergansers, though not too much else was on the move. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0750-0950hrs) (SE, F5)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 58E, 15W, 6os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 14E, 2W

Wigeon - 1E

Common Scoter - 14os

Red-breasted Merganser - 23E, 9W, 4os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 3E

auk sp - 8E

Red-throated Divers (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were among c800 Lapwings this morning around the pool, with c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon also about, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull and c30 Common Gulls were among the big flock of roosting Black-headed and Herring Gulls. (AH)

Avocets, Lapwings and Shovelers (above) & Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common and Black-headed Gulls at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Greenshank was in the harbour this morning, along with c100 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c1000 Dunlin, but there wasn't too much else beyond a couple of Pintail and a dozen or so Shelducks, Wigeon and Teal. (GR/AH)

Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin (above), Knot & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank and a lot of Lapwings were in White's Creek today, whilst a Redwing, a Song Thrush and a Jay were along the wall. (EB)

Spotted Redshank (above), Redwing, Song Thrush, Jay & Lapwings at the North Wall (EB)

East Side: There were huge amounts of birds along the East side on the rising tide, with thousands of Lapwings and Golden Plovers and many hundreds of Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin, as well as a few Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Red Breasted Mergansers, a Little Grebe, 18 Pintails, 30 Common Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull. (TRH/SP/LP)

Red-breasted Mergansers (above), Grey Plovers and Knot, Golden Plovers and Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Brent Geese & Mediterranean Gull, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls along the East side (LP)

East Head: A Snow Bunting was at the far end early this afternoon. (GM/RA)

Snow Bunting at East Head (RA)

Wednesday, 21st January:  After another stormy night of heavy rain, a grey and murky morning of persistent drizzle and occasional heavier spells in a brisk and blustery southerly......

Selsey Bill: It was slow again, especially early on, though a Fulmar went west, a flock of 67 Dunlin went east and there were a few of the regulars, too. Full log below. (AH)

(0805-0920hrs) (S, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red throated Diver - 8E, 1W, 2os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3E

Shag - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W, 9os

Dunlin - 67E

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 1W

(1050-1150hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red throated Diver - 3E, 1W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Gannet - 29E, 5W

Common Scoter - 2E, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W, 3os

Turnstone - 1E

Kittiwake - 3E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 1E, 6W

auk sp - 5E

This afternoon, an adult Little Gull was offshore before drifting off east., Full log below. (AWi)

(1500-1630hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3os

Gannet - 90E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4os

Little Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 7E

Razorbill - 5os

Red-throated Diver (above), Kittiwake, Gannet & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 1500 Lapwings around the pool this morning, along with an Avocet and c75 Black-tailed Godwits, with c60 Shovelers, c150 Teal and c400 Wigeon present, too. (AH)

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

Church Norton: There wasn't much to see in a fairly brief look, though three Avocets and four Pintail were present, but, otherwise, there were just c400 Knot, c1000 Dunlin and a few Grey Plovers, Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers, plus a dozen Shelducks, spread across the mud. (AH)

Avocet (above), Avocets and Pintail & Knot at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was bleak along the wall this morning in the wet and windy conditions, with just a few of the regular species out in the harbour, and only five Brent Geese in Honer 1.

A Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds and a Water Rail was in the Paddock, but otherwise there was just a Song Thrush, a Pied Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker around the bushes. (LP)

This afternoon there were 17 Redwings and eight Fieldfares around Halsey's Farm, whilst two Rock Pipits were along the wall and two female Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard went over. (S&SaH)

Water Rail (above), Marsh Harrier & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Tuesday, 20th January: A dry start with rain forecast to hold off until mid-afternoon, with winds from the south-south-east, potentially gusting to F7 at times...

Selsey Bill: It was quiet in a mountainous sea mid-morning with just a few of the regular species to note. Full log below. (BI) 

(1105-1205hrs) (S F6) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 14E, 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 3W

Turnstone  - 4

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 6E, 2W

Black-headed Gulls, above, & Turnstone at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were c.90 Golden Plovers and at least 500 Lapwings present today and c.12 Great Black-backed Gulls were with Black-headed Gulls.

A mix of Teal and Shoveler were roosting on the banks, a Marsh Harrier flew through & c.60 Black-tailed Godwits were present as were two Avocets. (NBd/BI et al)

Gulls , above, and roosting wildfowl and waders at the Ferry (BI)

East Side: On the rising tide this morning there was a huge amount of birds along the East Side, with good numbers of Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Lapwings, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews, plus three Bar-tailed Godwits, six Turnstones, two Oystercatchers, three Great Crested Grebes, 12 Common Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and six Mediterranean Gulls. (LP)

Pintail, above, waders including Knot, Dunlin & Grey Plover & Bar-tailed Godwit on the east side (LP)

North Wall: A Ruff was still with the Lapwings along White’s Creek this morning and later towards high tide, four Snipe flew out from the harbour, two Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds, and in Honer 3 there was an impressive gathering of c2000 Brent Geese.

A Rock Pipit and a Dunlin were along the wall, but the hedgerows were quiet in the windy conditions with just a Redwing and a couple of Reed Buntings seen, although a flock of 75 Fieldfares flew over by the stables and a Pied Wagtail was in the paddock. (NBd/LP et al)

Rock Pipit, above, Brent Geese & Dunlin at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Two Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the harbour today. (NBd)

Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank & Bar-tailed Godwit with two Greenshank at Church Noton (NBd)

Chichester Gravel Pits: Highlights of a visit this morning were three Goldeneye (two drakes) on Ivy Lake and ten Pochard and about 20 Shovelers on New Lake. (RW)

Itchenor: The overwintering Common Sandpiper, last seen in Novmeber, was present here today. (PH)