10th - 11th January 2026

Sunday, 11th January: The wind went round nearly 180 degrees overnight, leaving a cold and grey, though dry, morning in a near gale-force southerly.......

Selsey Bill: A total off 11 Slavonian Grebes in two separate flocks, plus one flying east, was by far the highest count this winter, with over 200 Kittiwakes east and over 200 Gannets west also of note. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/AH)

(0730-0930hrs) (S, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 21E, 13W, 5os

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 11os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 253W

Cormorant - 45E

Common Scoter - 1E, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 3W, 9os

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 8os

Common Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 7E, 12W

Kittiwake - 216E, 11W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Guillemot - 3W

Razorbill - 9E, 23W, 4os

auk sp - 11E, 17W

(1220-1305hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4W

Brent Goose - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1

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

Ferry Pool: There were again good numbers of birds present this morning, including c1500 Lapwings, c100 Golden Plovers, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, six Shelducks, five Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c200 Teal and c400 Wigeon.

Also, a Snipe and a Raven went over and up to ten Red-legged Partridges dropped in on the bank right below where a Buzzard was sat, and three Avocets, a Grey Plover, a Little Grebe and a few Teal and Redshanks were in the channel opposite. (AH et al)

Also, later, a Firecrest was in the Discovery Area. (BI)

Golden Plovers and Lapwings (above), Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings & Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Peregrine was about this morning, but the harbour was fairly quiet with the wind direction, but there were still a few Knot and Grey Plovers, a couple of Ringed Plovers and Turnstones and several hundred Dunlin about, along with an Avocet and a Black-tailed Godwit.

There were also three Pintail among a scattering of Wigeon and Teal, whilst several hundred Brent Geese went west over the far side of the harbour, but a handful of Gannets and a Great Crested Grebe were all that could be found offshore. (AH et al)

Pintail (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover & Dunlin and Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - A Corn Bunting and a few Reed Buntings were among the Yellowhammer flock at Wilson's Farm this morning. (BI)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Farm - A pair of Stonechats, ten Goldfinches and c20 Meadow Pipits was about it along the banks this morning, with a Snipe, c50 Golden Plovers and c50 Brent Geese on the reserve and a Raven, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard over. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 10th January: After a sharp frost, a cold, but bright morning in a moderate north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: The Purple Sandpiper was on the beach again early on, among a selection of waders, including a Redshank (rare here!), two Sanderlings and two Ringed Plovers, whilst up to four Slavonian Grebes, five Great Northern Divers and 60 Red-throated Divers moving around offshore. Full log below. (SH/BI/LP/SP/IH/TGH/P&LH/AH et al)

(0730-0930hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 18E, 39W, 3os

Slavonian Grebe - 2E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 1E, 7W

Shag - 6E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 7W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Ringed Plover - 2

Sanderling - 2

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Redshank - 1

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Common Gull - 1W, 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 3W

auk sp - 5E, 12W

Shag (above), Sanderling & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 2000 Lapwings around the pool and the field this morning, along with c60 Black-tailed Godwits, an Avocet, six Shelducks, c75 Shovelers, c200 Teal and c400 Wigeon, whilst a Kingfisher and c40 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Three Common Cranes were reported going west-south-west over Ferry hide at 1410hrs. (per Birdguides)

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

Long Pool: Unbelievably, after the three over the Ferry, a flock of nine Common Cranes flew over the harbour at 1530hrs, initially heading for Church Norton before going back west and then due south over Selsey. These are only the second/third records this century after one over West Wittering in August 2016.

Also, three grey geese - presumably the North Wall White-fronts - went over west, whilst a Spotted Redshank and ten Avocets were in Ferry Channel. (AH)

Common Cranes (above), Spotted Redshank & Avocets at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: Ten Redwings were at Halsey's Farm this morning (S&SaH), and the three first-winter White-fronted Geese were back in the Honer fields (BI).

Also, this morning in the paddocks there were two Water Rails, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail and a Song Thrush, whilst in Honer 2 field c1000 Brent Geese, the three White-fronted Geese and 12 Curlews were present

Around Owl Copse there was another Water Rail, along with a few Reed Buntings and two Redwings, whilst at Halsey’s Farm there were c100 Wigeon and ten Teal, plus 30 Lapwings flying over. (CRJ)

Church Norton: The drake Long-tailed Duck was offshore again this morning, along with a Lesser Back-backed Gull, whilst a Peregrine was on Tern Island, but there were, otherwise, just a few of the regular waders and wildfowl about. (P&LH/AHu)

Sidlesham: A Fieldfare went over Cow Lane this morning, along with half a dozen Redwings. (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Tree-creeper as in Apuldram church car-park early this afternoon. (SP/LP/IH/TGH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Common Cranes were seen from here, too, heading south over the west side of Selsey.

Otherwise, along the banks, there were a Dartford Warbler, a Stonechat, a Goldcrest, six Skylarks, c40 Linnets, with nine Dunlin and ten Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool, a Snipe, c100 Lapwings, c200 Golden Plovers and c250 Brent Geese on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - The first Red Kite of the year went over the reserve this morning, but the banks just held a pair of Stonechats and a few Skylarks and Stock Doves.

It was much busier in the cover crop fields by Wilson's Farm, though, with up to 100 Yellowhammers coming and going, though the only things with them were c25 Chaffinches, with c40 Skylarks about, too, along with another pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Song Thrushes, plus c50 Lapwings and five Golden Plovers over. (AH)

Red Kite (above), Stonechat, Skylark, Yellowhammers & Lapwing at Medmerry (AH)

7th - 9th January 2026

Friday, 9th January: After a night of heavy rain and gale-force winds, a pretty cold and miserable morning of persistent drizzle in a strong and blustery north-westerly, slowly improving as the day progressed........

Selsey Bill: A total of 28 Red-throated Divers went west, along with a pair of Shovelers, with seven Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin dropping in on the beach. Full log below.

(0800-0915hrs) (NW, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 28W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 7W, 10os

Shag - 1W

Little Egret - 1E

Shoveler - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 8W

Ringed Plover - 7

Dunlin - 1

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Razorbill - 6os

auk sp - 2E, 13W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Ringed Plovers and Dunlin (above), Shovelers & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon, very unexpectedly, a Purple Sandpiper turned up among the Turnstones, showing down to a few feet at times. Full log below. (AW/AH/MRe)

(1330-1430hrs) 

Gannet - 3E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 1W

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 6os

Common Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Purple Sandpiper at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 1000 Lapwings around the pool this morning, along with an Avocet, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, two pairs of Gadwall, c75 Shovelers, c200 Teal, c400 Wigeon, eight Shelducks and c25 Canada Geese. (AH)

Avocet and Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Kingfisher was about today, along with a sub-adult Marsh Harrier. (M&LL)

Church Norton: An Avocet was in the harbour today, along with c200 Knot, c500 Dunlin and c50 Grey Plovers, a dozen Shelducks, c25 Pintail and similar of Wigeon and Teal, with a Marsh Harrier over. (AH)

Pintail a Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There wasn’t too much about in the blustery conditions today, though four Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and a Sparrowhawk flew low over the fields, flushing 18 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Spotted Redshank was in the flooded areas of Honer 2 and a Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds.

It was just the usual, Redshanks, Curlews, Grey Plovers, Lapwings, Wigeon, Teal and Pintail along White’s Creek, whilst in the paddock, a Water Rail, a Song Thrush and a Pied Wagtail were around the edges. (LP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Rock Pipit, Grey Plover & Curlew at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: A Firecrest was in Apuldram churchyard this morning. (BI)

Hunston: At least eight Cattle Egrets and four Little Egrets were in the field along Mundham Road, just east of the roundabout. (AH)

 

Cattle Egret at Hunston (AH)

Thursday, 8th January: A very grey and murky morning, though a little milder than of late in the light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe went east and another flew in from the west and settled on the sea, where there were also three Slavonian Grebes, four Great Northern Divers and a Long-tailed Duck (not the adult male from Church Norton!).

Also, a pod of around ten Bottle-nosed Dolphins went west. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH)

(0745-0930hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 8W

Red-necked Grebe - 1E, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1E, 1W

Shag - 16E

Brent Goose - 1W

Wigeon - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4os

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1W, 6os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 4W, 3os

Razorbill - 1E, 1W, 3os

auk sp - 21E, 2W

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 1W

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

At lunchtime today, a Sanderling was on the beach. (AW)

Sanderling at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper put in its first appearance in over a month this morning, along with an Avocet, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and c800 Lapwings, with a drake Gadwall among c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon, whilst c20 Canada Geese were in the fields at the back and a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Kingfisher & Gadwall, Teal and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek this morning, as well as three Avocets, eight Grey Plovers, 26 Redshanks, four Little Grebes, two Gadwall and numerous Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck and Pintail, whilst a Kingfisher flew into the sluice.

A Rock Pipit was along the rocks, and three Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings, four Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and five Song Thrushes were in the reeds and bushes, while in the paddock there was a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, two more Chiffchaffs, a Jay and two Song Thrushes, with the male Marsh Harrier and a Water Rail around, too.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Stonechat, a Goldcrest and a Buzzard were around the fields, c100 Wigeon were by the rife, as well as a Common Gull, and in the harbour there, a Kingfisher was along the banks and four Avocets were on the mud with two Grey Plovers and 18 Redshanks. (LP/IH/SP/AH/KF)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocets, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Yellowhammers, Buzzard (LP), Redwing & Marsh Harrier (AH) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Goldcrest, six Stonechats, 16 Yellowhammers and c20 Linnets were along the banks this morning, with a Water Rail in one of the path-side pools and 43 Coots sat out on the bank of the reservoir.

Also, four Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were on the Stilt Pool, a Kestrel, two Marsh Harriers and two Buzzards went over and c200 Brent Geese were on the reserve, with a huge flock of at lest 1500 birds flying up from somewhere distantly to the west. (SH/PB)

Wednesday, 7th January: The frost lifted overnight, though it remained cold and mostly bright in a frresh and blustery north-westerly....

Selsey Bill: There was a little more activity this morning, including 14 Red-throated Divers east and nine Red-breasted Mergansers west. Full log below. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

(0750-0920hrs) (NW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 14E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 20os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 1E

Common Scoter - 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 9W

Oystercatcher - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 2os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 9E

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

Later, at around midday, a Little Gull was offshore. (AW)

Little Gull at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: With the ice thawing, there were lots of birds back around the pool, including a Merlin shooting through, a Peregrine on the radar mast and a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard at the back, with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Lapwings, c500 Wigeon, c20 Shovelers and c50 Teal around the pool and five Golden Plovers going over west.

Also, a Grey Wagtail and c50 Goldfinches were about, with three Avocets, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, a Little Grebe and c25 Wigeon and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

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

North Wall: The three first-winter White-fronted Geese were in Honer 2 field this afternoon. (per Birdguides)

Church Norton: The drake Long-tailed Duck as offshore again this morning, along with two Great Northern Divers, two Great Crested Grebes and two Sandwich Terns, whilst in the harbour there were an Avocet, two Black-tailed Godwits, a handful of Ringed Plovers, c40 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c600 Dunlin, along with a few Brent Geese, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal.

Also a Marsh Harrier went over, putting up half a dozen Skylarks from the islands and a Chiffchaff was among a large mixed flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits. (AH/KT/JDa/AT)

Marsh Harrier (above), Knot, Pintail & Red-breasted Mergansers at Church Norton (AH)