10th - 12th November 2025

Wednesday, 12th November: The wind remains fresh and from the south, leaving a very mild morning of sun and fast moving cloud...........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including three Velvet Scoters and 126 Kittiwakes west, plus a dozen Common Scoters on the sea. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)

(0710-0910hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 4E, 1W, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 18W, 20os

Shag - 16W

Brent Goose - 2W

Velvet Scoter - 3W

Common Scoter - 2E, 3W, 12os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Grey Plover - 8E

Mediterranean Gull - 25E

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 14E, 126W

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 2E, 10W

auk sp - 56E, 33W

Skylark - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 3

Meadow Pipit - 5E

Linnet - 4E

Goldfinch - 25

Shag (above) & Grey Plovers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Shelducks and an Oystercatcher on the pool this morning, plus a Grey Wagtail flying over. (AH/TG-P)

Shelduck on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A look around the Severals this morning produced four Firecrests, seven Goldcrests, three Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers and a calling Water Rail, with a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Grey Wagtail, ten Redpolls and 65 Goldfinches going over. (MRe)

Tuesday, 11th November: A brisk and blustery south-westerly breeze persisted throughout, and it was mostly overcast, though very mild........

The Birding History of Selsey Bill - a personal review: I have now updated this feature to cover from 1959 up to the present time, with the inclusion of additional photos and data. To view, click the link on the title bar. (In due course it will be transferred to the Blog Archive section). (OM/Eds)

Some observers may also notice that a number of the information pages that were available on the title bar have now been tempoarily removed, to allow for review and updating in due course, so they are currently a work in progress. (OM/Eds)

Selsey Bill: It was fairly quiet again, though with a few birds heading west, including a Sanderling and a Guillemot Full log below. (AH/IP/P&LH)

(0715-0915hrs) (SSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 41W, 10os

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 1W

Teal - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1

Sanderling - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 7W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 84W

auk sp - 158W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Linnet - 4W

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

(1145-1245hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

auk sp - 12W

Kittiwake at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: There were again c30 Shovelers and c50 Teal present early, but not later, with, otherwise just a Shelduck, two Lapwings and a few Black-headed Gulls on the pool. (AH)

Later on, a pair of Kingfishers were in Red Barn Ditch and a Grey Wagtail was on the pond in the Discovery Area. (RBe)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were 325 Brent Geese present this morning, initially in the harbour before most relocated to the fields behind the churchyard, whilst 25 Shelducks, four Pintail, six Teal and c75 Wigeon were also about.

The Greenshank was present again, with other waders seen including c60 Knot, c200 Dunlin,, c20 Grey Plovers, eight Ringed Plovers and six Turnstones, but two Mistle Thrushes, two Goldcrests and three Pied Wagtails were about it for passerines. (AH/P&LH)

Brent Geese (above), Wigeon, Knot, Pied Wagtails (Ah), Greenshank, Green woodpecker & Brent Geese (LH) at Church Norton 

Medmerry: Ham Farm - Large numbers of Stock Doves were in the Ham area of Medmerry today - at least 300 in the main flock, with other smaller groups nearby, and there were small numbers of Meadow Pipits and Stonechats about, but not much else of note in the strong breeze. (RBe)

Stock Doves at Medmerry (RBe)

Monday, 10th November: A mostly very grey and gloomy morning, of intermittent rain and drizzle and the odd brighter spell in a fresh south-westerly breeze.....

The Birding History of Selsey Bill - a personal review: I have now updated this feature to cover from 1959 up to the present time, with the inclusion of additional photos and data. To view, click the link on the title bar. (In due course it will be transferred to the Blog Archive section). (OM/Eds)

Selsey Bill: It was pretty slow this morning, though three Sandwich Terns were around again. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0720-0850hrs) (SW, F5)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 1E, 38W, 10os

Shag - 4E

Brent Goose - 2W

Common Scoter - 6E, 6W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 7W,

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 3W

Razorbill - 4W, 2os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Later, between 1000hrs and 1100hrs, a flock of seven Velvet Scoters went east, and three Great Northern Divers and a Brent Goose went west. (AW)

Velvet Scoters at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning, c30 Shovelers and c50 Teal were on the pool, but they weren't there later, when the Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool and just four Shelducks were on the main pool, along with a Grey Wagtail, whilst, again without obvious reason, ten Snipe  flew up from the reeds and out into the harbour. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Snipe & Grey Wagtail at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: A male Black Redstart was in the gardens behind Asda this morning. (MRe)

East Beach: A Grey Wagtail was in the garden this morning, but there have been no further sightings of the Turtle Dove since the 6th. (SR)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Merlin was in the vicinity early this afternoon. (GR)

Fishbourne Creek: Four Greenshanks and two Little Grebes were about all the creek had to offer at high tide today. (JC)

Church Norton: At least 500 Brent Geese were coming and going from the harbour this morning, with half a dozen Shelducks, c50 Teal and c100 Wigeon also about, whilst a Greenshank was the only wader beyond the expected c100 Dunlin, c25 Grey Plovers and the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.

A Mistle Thrush and a couple of Goldcrests were in the car-park and a small, mixed flock of Siskins and Goldfinches dropped in briefly  to the churchyard, but there was very little else to see in the sheltered hedges. (AH)

Greenshank (above), Grey Plover, Mistle Thrush & Siskin and Goldfinch at Church Norton (AH)

7th - 9th November 2025

Sunday, 9th November: A mix of sun and cloud in a freshening south-westerly breeze, though it remains unseasonably warm.....

Selsey Bill: The first Long-tailed Duck of the autumn dropped in on the sea this morning, and at least half a dozen Sandwich Terns were lingering offshore, whilst 20 Shags went east and 44 Brent Geese and 30 Kittiwakes went west. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (SW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W

Great crested Grebe - 2W

diver sp - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 4W, 3os

Shag - 20E, 5os

Grey Heron - 1N

Brent Goose - 44W

Shelduck - 1W

Wigeon - 8W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Black-headed Gull - 580W

Common Gull - 3w

Kittiwake - 2E, 30W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 2W

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 8E, 79W

Wood Pigeon - 684W

Skylark - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Meadow Pipit - 5W

Linnet - 31W

Goldfinch - 25

Chaffinch - 5W

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

Ferry Pool: There were just eight Teal on the pool this morning, until something unseen flushed them, along with the ten Snipe that had been lurking in the reeds. (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were two Dartford Warblers and a Stonechat in the sparse hedges along the fields this morning, whilst a Redwing ewnt over and a couple of Sparrowhawks were about. (MRe/IP)

Northcommon Farm: There were still two Black Redstarts present this morning around the paddocks. (BI)

North Wall: The hedges contained Reed Buntings, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits this morning, plus a couple of Yellowhammers and flocks of Goldfinches, whilst a Cetti’s Warbler showed well for a while and two Rock Pipits were on the rocks.

A Kingfisher flew through the Breech Pool area and was later giving good views on a bush near Halsey's Farm, a Water Rail was at the back of the pool, a Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, a Sparrowhawk was seen hunting pigeons and there were a few Meadow Pipits in the bushes.

A couple of Kestrels and a Buzzard near Halsey's Farm completed the raptor selection whilst two Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were active in the woods.

Also, a large flock of Brent Geese came in and joined the usual Wigeon, Redshank and Lapwing along White's Creek, whilst along the lane there were some Greenfinches and a few quite vocal Wrens and Dunnocks. (MRi/MJa/DHi et al)

This evening the male and three female Marsh Harriers came in to roost behind the Breech Pool, and 53 Cattle Egrets came in to Owl Copse, and there were also two Kingfishers, two Chiffchaffs about. (SH)

Church Norton: There was no sign of the Pallas's Warbler between the severals this morning, though four Firecrests, 18 Goldcrests, six Chiffchaffs, 35 Redpolls and 26 Siskins were in the trees, and a Brambling and six Crossbills went over.

There were also a lone Swallow, a Dartford Warbler, three Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and a few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Linnets along the front, along with up to five calling Cetti's Warblers and three calling water Rails, plus a hunting Marsh Harrier, with a few Gannets distantly offshore.

Brent Geese numbers have increased considerably in recent days, with at least 500 present, including a flock of c150 behind the churchyard which contained good numbers of juveniles, whilst the harbour also held a Kingfisher, c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, a handful of Pintails, 15 Knot, c300 Dunlin and c20 Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Grey and Ringed Plovers. (MRe/PA/aH/IP et al)

Brent Geese (above), Kingfisher & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Five Stonechats, four Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, two Yellowhammers, ten Meadow Pipits, c20 Linnets and c30 Skylarks were about it for the banks, whilst four Snipe were on the Stilt Pool and 23 Egyptian Geese and 25 Brent Geese were on the reserve.

A good selection of raptors over comprised a Merlin, four Kestrels, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. (SH)

Saturday, 8th November: A lovely autumn morning, with plenty of warm sun and just a light north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There was a good selection again this morning, including a Merlin sitting on the Bill House fence, the Black Redstart again,  four Egyptian Geese heading south, three Great Northern Divers on the sea and westward passage including 52 Brent Geese and over 3000 Wood Pigeons. full log below. (SH/BI/PB/IP/AH)

(0650-0905hrs) (NE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 4E, 1os

Gannet - 4W

Shag - 22E, 2os

Brent Goose - 22E, 52W

Egyptian Goose - 4S

Common Scoter - 6W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 10W

Merlin - 1

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 3

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 11W

auk sp - 5E

Stock Dove - 6E

Wood Pigeon - 3030W

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Meadow Pipit - 14W

Black Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Redpoll - 8W

Linnet - 6W

Chaffinch - 1

Greenfinch - 1

Goldfinch - 20

Merlin (above) & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back this morning, along a Black-tailed Godwit, with c20 Lapwings, c35 Shovelers and c75 Teal. (AH/PA)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Pallas's Warbler - the first for the Peninsula since 2014, and only the fourth this century - was in the wood between the Severals this morning, but very elusive, seen twice and heard once during the day.

There were also a lot of passerines about this morning, especially in the trees between the two Severals; apart from the Pallas's Warbler, there was also a Firecrest, two Chiffchaffs, numerous Goldcrests, a flock of Long-tailed Tits, a male Siskin, a calling Cetti's and a Grey Wagtail flew over calling.

Nearby a male Brambling was in the Greenlease Orchard, along with numerous other finches and two Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, whilst a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the first Several.

In the harbour, reasonable numbers of the usual waders were visible, though no Knot were seen, but Brent Geese numbers continue to increase with at least 175 present, and Wigeon and Teal numbers were plentiful, but only 10 Pintail were seen. Also, a Green Woodpecker flew over the very southern part of the Harbour. (IP/MRe/BI/RHa et al)

Also, the Ring Ouzel was reported on Birdguides this morning, but none of the many people looking for it were able to relocate it during the day. Eds)

Pallas's Warbler at Church Norton (IP)

Selsey: There were two Black Redstarts in the gardens behind Asda today. 9MRe)

Northcommon Farm: There were four Black Redstarts in the paddocks this morning, including a smart male. (AW)

Black Redstarts at Northcommon Farm (AW)

North Wall: There were a male, a female and a juvenile Marsh Harrier about this morning, and there were a lot of birds in the harbour, including c200 Brent Geese and Wigeon, a few Teal and Pintail, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c150 Lapwings and plenty of Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Curlews and Redshanks.

Two or three Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, plus a Kingfisher, were around Halsey's Farm, with up to three Rock Pipits, a couple of Stonechats and Meadow Pipits, half a dozen Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers and another Chiffchaff along the wall, with a handful of Cattle Egrets in the fields and a Raven over. (AH/SH/PB et al)

Marsh Harrier (above), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Stonechat at the North Wall (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - The monthly WeBS produced nothing too exciting, but highlights were a Water Rail, a Great White Egret, 60 Shoveler, seven Egyptian Geese and an unusual influx of 165 Greylag Geese. Passerines were few, but included three Chiffchaffs (one singing at times), two Cetti's Warblers and half a dozen Goldcrests. (OM)

Greylag Geese and Great White Egret at Drayton House North pit (OM)

Friday, 7th November: It remains mild, though it was mostly overcast this morning in the moderate south-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was a good variety of species, though mainly in low numbers, this morning, including the Black-necked Grebe heading west, along with 73 Brent Geese and ten Sanderlings, with an Arctic Skua and 22 Shags east, a Black Redstart on the houses and a Swallow over. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/AH/P&LH)

(0650-0900hrs) (SE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Black-necked Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 5E, 17W

Shag - 22E

Brent Goose - 73W

Shelduck - 5W

Common Scoter - 3E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 10W

Dunlin - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Kittiwake - 1E

Razorbill - 48E, 88W, 10os

auk sp - 30E, 114W

Stock Dove - 3W

Wood Pigeon - 495W

Skylark - 3E

Swallow - 1

Pied Wagtail - 4

Meadow Pipit - 28E

Black Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Jackdaw - 28

Siskin - 5E

Linnet - 21W

Goldfinch - 50W

(1210-1310hrs) (P&LH)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3E, 15W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 15W

Common Scoter - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Razorbill - 2E, 15W, 2os

Pied Wagtail - 1

(1400-1500hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 2E, 2W

auk sp - 22E, 55W

Black Redstart (above), Swallow, Brent Geese & Razorbills at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets, a Redshank and six Lapwings were on the pool this morning, along with a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail, but no ducks at all. (AH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Avocets & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Red-throated Diver flew in through the harbour mouth this morning and a Great Northern Diver was offshore, whilst 75 Brent Geese were in the harbour, along with c20 Pintail and c40 Wigeon and Teal.

Waders included two Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, , ten Turnstone, 35 Lapwings, c40 Ringed Plovers, c100 Grey Plovers and c150 Dunlin, whilst passerines included two Stonechats, a Goldcrest, eight Skylarks, 15 Meadow Pipits and c40 Linnets. (P&LH)

Around the churchyard/ hide area a bit later a Jay, plenty of Blackbirds, Blue and Great Tits and a few Goldcrests were seen, with a pair of Stonechats, a Reed Bunting, a Cettis Warbler and more Blue and Great Tits, with ten Long-tailed Tits among them, along the Severals and another Stonechats and six Goldfinches were at Greenlease farm (CRJ).

Curlew at Church Norton (CRJ)

This afternoon a first-winter female Ring Ouzel was in the churchyard, with a few other bits present in the vicinity, including a Firecrest, c30 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a Redpoll, a Redwing, a Mistle Thrush and a Stonechat, whilst an increase to 180 Brent Geese was the most notable thing in the harbour. (PA/IP)

Ring Ouzel at Church Norton (PA)

East Head: Six Brambling over were the best of just a small amount of visible migration this morning, which also included three Redwings, seven Redpolls and 40 Linnets, with four Firecrests, 26 Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs, a Mistle Thrush, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail also noted.

Also, c600 Brent Geese were in the harbour, along with c300 Wigeon, c150 Teal and a single Common Scoter, with 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, three Greenshanks, two Snipe, 20 Knot, 45 Golden Plovers, 50 Lapwings and 450 Oystercatchers present, too. (PA/MRe)

Medmerry: Easton lane to the Stilt Pool - There were 25 Sanderlings, c40 Dunlin and c50 Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool this morning, with c200 Golden Plovers and Lapwing on the reserve, along with 33 Egyptian Geese, whilst 15 Brent Geese went east and six west offshore and two Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and three Kestrels went over.

Also, along the banks there were a Dartford Warbler, three Chiffchaffs, five Cetti's Warblers, ten Stonechats, c20 Goldfinches, c50 Linnets, c30 Skylarks, c30 Meadow Pipits and six Pied Wagtails. (SH/PB)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - The Black Redstart was still behind the funfair this morning, with a pair of Stonechats and a dozen Meadow Pipits in the vicinity, but the caravan park was entirely devoid of birds beyond a few more Meadow Pipits and Linnets at the far end.

Around the breach there were c50 Ringed Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers, c100 Dunlin, c50 Golden Plovers and c150 Lapwings, with 22 Brent Geese flying in and c40 Wigeon going east offshore, along with a single Common Scoter, whilst a flock of eight Corn Buntings were flying about between the bushes on the Ham side of the breach. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Brent Geese & Ringed Plovers at Medmerry (AH)