25th - 27th November 2025

Thursday, 27th November: It was back to overcast skies this morning, with the odd bit of drizzle, too, in a brisk westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There were three Slavonian Grebes and six Great northern Divers on the sea this morning, but the only things on the move were over 850 Razorbills/auks, mostly going west. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0720-0920hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 6os

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

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 14W, 4os

Shag - 14E, 2os

Common Scoter - 2E, 9W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 4W

Kittiwake - 1W

Razorbill - 2E, 162W

auk sp - 108E, 617W

Common Scoters (above), Razorbills & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal, three Gadwall, four Mallards and six Shelducks on the pool, with c120 Wigeon on the field at the back, whilst a Kingfisher, four Redshanks and c25 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above) & Teal in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: An Avocet and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the harbour this morning, along with c100 Knot, c200 Dunlin, c30 Grey Plovers, c20 Shelducks, c30 Pintail, c75 Teal and c100 Wigeon, with c40 Brent Geese over, but two Great Crested Grebes were all that could be seen offshore on the low tide.

There were also c50 Meadow Pipits and c20 Linnets along the beach, with two or three Goldcrests among a big roving Blue and Long-tailed Tit flock along the hedges. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Avocet, Pintail and Wigeon & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were still two Spotted Redshanks along White’s Creek, joined today by two Avocets and all the regular species, whilst a Kingfisher flew out from the sluice and c300 Golden Plovers were way out on the mud.

Two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, but there was just a single Redshank on the Breech Pool.

A Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail, two Stonechats, two Meadow Pipits and two Reed Buntings were around the paddock, but the only other bird of note was a Goldcrest at the end of Church Lane. (MJa/IH/SP/LP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Rock Pipit & Spotted Redshank, Avocets and Wigeon at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks this morning there were four Stonechats, six Goldcrests, two Cetti's Warblers, five Skylarks, c20 Meadow Pipits and c40 Linnets, with three Marsh Harriers, four Kestrels and a couple of Buzzards and Sparrowhawks over.

Out on the reserve there were c300 Brent Geese, 400 Lapwings and c50 Golden Plovers, with a couple of Egyptian Geese and Snipe, a Water Rail and ten Dunlin also about. (SH)

Wednesday, 26th November: Another cold and sunny morning in a slight north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much on the move, beyond the Black-necked Grebe and a good count of 31 Shags going east, but there was lots of activity on the sea, including three Slavonian Grebes, the Long-tailed Duck and five Great Northern and five Red-throated Divers. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRe/AH)

(0710-0855hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 5os

diver sp - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Black-necked Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2os

Gannet - 2E

Shag - 31E

Brent Goose - 6E, 12W

Shelduck - 1W

Teal - 6W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 7E, 16os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 17W

auk sp - 28E, 17W

Pied Wagtail - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There were just three Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Lapwings on the pool, which was dominated by c400 Wigeon, with just c30 Shovelers and Teal and four Shelducks otherwise, plus the Peregrine on the very top of the radar mast (AH)

Later the Green Sandpiper was back, along with a Snipe and a Grey Heron, with two Gadwall and a Canada Goose also present, along with the Grey Wagtail

Also, six Red-legged Partridges were on the bank and a Kingfisher, six Redshanks and 15 Teal were in the channel opposite. (JC)

Peregrine (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Park Lane, Selsey: What was very probably a Red-necked Grebe was offshore from the end of the lane this morning, though difficult to clinch in the bright sun. (MRe)

Long Pool: A look along the pool this morning produced a Dartford Warbler,  four Reed Buntings, a dozen Linnets and three Meadow Pipits, with a pair of Little Grebes on the water and three Snipe and six Brent Geese over. (AH)

Snipe (above), Linnet, Meadow Pipits, Little & Brent Goose at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek, and five Rock Pipits were along the wall, whilst ten Reed Buntings and eight Stonechats were along the bushes as well as a Song Thrush, with a female Marsh Harrier further back.

A Kingfisher was around the Breech Pool, and five Snipe flew over, whilst at Owl Water, three Water Rails were along the banks, and two Shovelers were on the water.

At Halsey’s Farm, c200 Wigeon were along the rife, but otherwise there were just two Redshanks and a Snipe on the mud. (LP/MJa/CT)

Kingfisher (above), Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Reed Buntings & Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were seven Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, four Goldcrests, two Song Thrushes, a Reed Bunting, two Yellowhammers and ten Linnets along the banks this today, with three Kestrels the only raptors seen.

Also, two Egyptian Geese, four Dunlin and ten Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool and c20 Brent Geese, c100 Lapwings and c400 Golden Plovers were out on the reserve. (SH)

West Itchenor: There appears to be a wintering Common Sandpiper frequenting the area between Itchenor hard and the harbour office, still present today after being around the vicinity for several weeks. (PH)

Runcton: I was surprised to flush a Cormorant from under my front window this morning. It didn’t looked injured and later, opening the front door I found a 15 inch long dead Eel outside. Presumably the Cormorant had caught it in the brook or dropped it when flying over, but, either way, it walked off up the road, probably to catch a bus back to the lakes! (CRJ)

Cormorant (above) & Eel at Runcton (CRJ)

Tuesday, 25th November: A cold bright morning in just a light to moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were four Sandwich Terns and a few divers about this morning, plus a good count of 22 Shags east. Full log below. (PB/AH/IP/KT)

(0715-0900hrs) (NW,F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 1W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 28W

Shag - 22E

Brent Goose - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 1W

Turnstone - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 2W, 24os

auk sp - 16E, 3W

Pied Wagtail - 2

A look at lunchtime produced the Black-necked Grebe offshore and four Velvet Scorers flying east. Full log below. (AWi)

(1200-1300hrs)

Black-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Shag - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4os

Shag - 1os

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

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

Ferry Pool: There were nine Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Lapwings, a dozen Shelducks and c60 Shovelers and Teal on the pool this morning, whilst c80 Wigeon were on the fields at the back, a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite and they Grey Wagtail was around the hide. (KT/AH)

Later, the Green Sandpiper was back, and three Redshanks, the nine Black-tailed Godwits and 73 Lapwings were on the pool, with a Stonechat in the field and a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the hedges, whilst the Peregrine was gain on the radar msat. (AWi)

Grey Wagtail (above), Kingfisher & Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A redhead Goosander was out in the channels in the harbour mouth this morning, whilst there a lot less Brent Geese than of late in the harbour on the lower tide, with perhaps 100 birds present, along with c30 Pintail, c50 Teal and c100 Wigeon.

There were plenty of waders about, including an Avocet, c500 Knot, c800 Dunlin, c30 Ringed and Grey Plovers ad a few Turnstones, but there wasn't much in a quick look at the hedges beyond two or three Jays and a flock of 14 Pied Wagtails behind the churchyard. (PB/AH/KT)

A look later on produced, in addition to the species seen earlier, six Gadwall, a dozen Avocets, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Sandwich Tern and a Kingfisher. (AWi)

Avocet (above), Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

East Head: A single drake Eider was observed between East Head and Ella Nore from Snowhill Creek, at high tide this afternoon. (RA)

Eider at East Head (RA)

Dell Quay - Fishbourne Creek: There were ten Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Great Crested Grebes and six Little Grebes in the channel around the Dell Quay area, where two Avocets were also of note, Several hundred Brent Geese were making their presence felt amongst the other wildfowl, including Wigeon and Shelducks.

Further along the channel good numbers of the regular Dunlin, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits were along the edges, until an angler also waded into the water! There were a minimum of 93 Mute Swans, together with a Black Swan, with at least eight Pintail nearby, but nothing beyond the regular was located this morning. (OM)

Avocets at Dell Quay this morning (OM)

Chi Marina - Birdham pool: An overdue visit to the Marina found little of note, with just a fewf Little Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser in the channel, together with 40 Wigeon and just a handful of Brent Geese. Nearby there were 45+ Mallard, a couple of Teal, two Grey Herons and at least 15 Little Grebes on the Birdham pool. (OM)

Chi GPs - Ivy Lake complex: The main pits were notably quiet today for wildfowl and there was little to report beyond a few Tufted Ducks, two Grey Herons and up to 15 Little Egrets which were spread around the lakes, whilst two Chiffchaffs were in the bushes along the main path with several Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits.

New Lake was little better, with nothing beyond the usual species, but Runcton Lake was more interesting, holding at least 30 Pochard and 40 Tufted Ducks. One of the latter  caught my eye, although annoyingly it spent the whole time at some distance on the far side of the lake, but it appeared to show a notably large blaze around the bill, a round head with no crest and an appearance initially similar to a Scaup. I spent some time looking and managed a few fairly useless photos, but it was necessary to be cautious as other features had not been clinched, including the bill detail. To cut the story short, later consultation and a more detailed look at the images showed the bird to be a Tufted, albeit a tricky one! (OM)

Tufted Ducks at Runcton Lake (OM)

22nd - 24th November 2025

Monday, 24th November: A fairly cool and overcast morning in a fresh north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was much quieter today, though three Sandwich Terns went west, as did a single Redpoll and a single Siskin. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0730-0845hrs) (NW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 5W, 1os

Gannet - 3W

Shag - 8E, 1os

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 2W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W, 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 3W

Redpoll - 1W

Siskin - 1W

Goldfinch - 4W

Ferry Pool: There was a bit of activity today, including the re--appearance of the Green Sandpiper on the roadside pool and three Avocets and nine Black-tailed Godwits on the main pool, along with c40 Lapwings, 12 Shelducks and c40 Teal and Shovelers, plus c80 Wigeon on the fields at the back.

There were also a Marsh Harrier over, a Kingfisher in the channel opposite and a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff around the hide. (TG-P/NR/AH)

Sidlesham: There were up to ten Redwings around Cow Lane this morning, with a similar number along Highleigh Road. (AH)

North Wall: An Avocet, a Spotted Redshank and five Grey Plovers were along White’s Creek this morning, while further out on the mud were c500 Golden Plover and a similar number of Lapwing.

A Rock Pipit was along the wall and there was some activity along the hedgerows with a roving flock of 15 Yellowhammers,12 Reed Buntings, 10 Goldfinches and 2 Greenfinches, as well as five Chiffchaffs.

The Water Rail was again showing well by Owl Copse, and four Shovelers were on the water, whilst a Song Thrush was in the trees, and at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was by the outfall and a Marsh Harrier was over the fields, but otherwise there were just 42 Wigeon, 12 Teal and 16 Curlews along the rife.

Elsewhere, three Cattle Egrets were with the cows in Honer 3, and in the paddock, a Jay, a Pied Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were around the fences. (LP/JDW/MJa)

Water Rail (above), Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Jay & Brent Geese, Shelducks, Lapwings and Golden Plovers at the Nort Wall (LP)

Sunday, 23rd November: Yesterday's rain and cloud slowly gave way through the morning to leave it bright and breezy in a fresh south-westerly.....

Selsey Bill: After a slow start, it proved to be an interesting morning, with the first Slavonian Grebe back, another appearance by the Black-necked Grebe, a Black-throated Diver and a Long-tailed Duck on the sea and at least 15 Great Northern Divers west. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/AH/IP/P&LH et al)

(0715-1215hrs) (SSW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 15W, 6os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 11E, 15W, 4os

diver sp - 1E, 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Black-necked Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 20W, 5os

Gannet - 1E, 17W

Shag - 11E, 3os

Brent Goose - 1E

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 10E, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 20W, 9os

Turnstone - 23

Mediterranean Gull - 7E, 11W, 7os

Common Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 13W, 3os

Kittiwake - 10W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 9W

Pied Wagtail - 2

(1330-1430hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3W

Gannet - 7W

Shag - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 6W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W

Common Gull - 1E

auk s - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

Great Northern Diver (above) & Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were nine Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with c20 Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal, whilst a Grey Wagtail flew over. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Marsh Harrier was flew across the harbour disturbing hundreds of Dunlin, Golden Plovers and Lapwings, whist on the water were c1000 Brent Geese, c500 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 18 Shelducks, three Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe.

A Kingfisher was along White’s Creek early on as well as two Spotted Redshanks and an Avocet, while two Rock Pipits were along the wall, but the bushes were quiet with just six Reed Buntings and two Yellowhammers seen. A Water Rail was along Owl Water, where four Shovelers and a Little Grebe were also present, but it was quiet at Halsey’s Farm, with just a Redshank and 40 Wigeon along the rife, and a few Curlews and a single Cattle Egret in the fields.

A Green Woodpecker and three Pied Wagtails were in the paddock, another Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, and a Water Vole was in the area behind the sluice. (LP/MJa/CT/EB/SBr)

This evening an adult male and female Marsh Harriers went into roost behind the Breech Pool, with another adult male and two female heading across the harbour towards Church Norton.

There were also a Stonechat and a Yellowhammer about. (SH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Dunin & Rock Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: The first Slavonian Grebe of the autumn was offshore this morning, along with four Great Crested Grebes and a distant Gannet went west.

There were plenty of birds in the harbour on the rising tide, including at least 800 Brent Geese, with the Pale-bellied bird among them, three Red-breasted Mergansers, c50 Pintail, plus similar numbers of Wigeon and Teal, along with an Avocet, three Greenshanks, c300 Knot, c500 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and a dozen Turnstones, with 2-300 Golden Plovers and Lapwings at the far end.

Also, a flock of ten Egyptian Geese went west over the north of the harbour, whilst there were a Little Grebe and a Kingfisher in the harbour, c25 Linnets along the beach and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees. (AH/PB/MRB et al)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Greenshanks, Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Red-breasted Mergansers and Pintails, Knot & Egyptian Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A female Common Scoter was in the creek this morning, along with eight Red-breasted Mergansers, six Little Grebes, ten Great Crested Grebes, the Black Swan among c90 Mute Swans, c100 Brent Geese and a lot of Wigeon.

There were also two Kingfishers, three Avocets, two Bar-tailed Godwits and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits present. (PB/MRB)

Chichester GPs: Westhampnett Pit - The three Great White Egrets were together along the southern shore this morning, with four Little Egrets present, too, whilst 37 Pochard, 15 Tufted Ducks, five Shovelers, two Little Grebes and 22 Great Crested Grebes were on he water. (MRe)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers, five Goldcrests, nine Stonechats, two Song Thrushes, six Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, two Skylarks and c40 Linnets were along the banks this morning, plus a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and two Kestrels went over.

Also, c50 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool and c200 Golden Plovers, c300 Lapwings and c300 Brent Geese were on the reserve. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Breach area - There were plenty of waders around the breach this morning, including two Greenshanks, c30 Ringed and Grey Plovers, c200 Dunlin and c250 Golden Plovers, with 28 Brent Geese and half a dozen Wigeon and Shelducks about, whilst c200 Stock Doves were in the fields opposite. (MRe)

Saturday, 22nd November: A complete change overnight left it a little milder, but heavily overcast and with intermittent drizzly rain in a near gale-force south-westerly.....

Selsey Bill: Despite the change in the weather there wasn't too much going on, though 11 Red-throated Divers was the best count yet this autumn, and a few Kittiwakes and Razorbills went west, too. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/AH)

(0710-0910hrs) (SW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 11W, 1os

diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4E, 5W

Shag - 15E

Brent Goose - 1W

Teal - 8W

Common Scoter - 8E, 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1 present

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Common Gull - 4E

Kittiwake - 4E, 25W

Razorbill - 26W

auk sp - 157W, 10os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Common Scoters (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 21 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with 14 Shelducks, c75 Shovelers, c120 Teal, c80 Wigeon and c40 Mallards, whilst a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

North Wall: A look along the wall this morning produced a Marsh Harrier, eight Cattle Egrets, four Rock Pipits, a Goldcrest, five Snipe, four Black-tailed Godwits, c100 Dunlin and c300 Brent Geese. (SH)

Church Norton: An Avocet and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the harbour this morning, along with a good number of waders, including c400 Knot, c1000 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and 20 Ringed Plovers and Turnstones, with c200 Brent Geese, c60 Pintail, c30 Wigeon and a dozen Teal and Shelducks also present.

A Marsh Harrier and a Kingfisher were also present, but the bushes were as dead as might be expected. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (AH) (above), Avocet, Grey Plover, Knot (AW), Marsh Harrier & Knot and Dunlin (AH) at Church Norton