16th - 17th November 2025

Monday, 17th November: A very sunny, but cold morning, especially early on, in a fresh northerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There was a fair selection again this morning, including a Velvet Scoter west, five sub-adult Eider west and an adult pair east, along with 22 Red-breasted Mergansers, five Shovelers and five Sandwich Terns. Full log below. (PA/AH/IP)

(0725-0940hrs) (NNE, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 4E, 6W, 5os

Shag - 7E

Brent Goose - 16E, 5W

Shelduck - 1E, 3W

Wigeon - 40W

Shoveler - 5E

Eider - 2E, 5W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 5E, 9W

Red-breasted Merganser - 8E, 14W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 4W, 5os

Kittiwake - 4E, 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 5E, 418W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 1W

Eider (above), Sandwich Tern, Shag, Red-breasted Mergansers & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pool was busy this morning, with a pair of Egyptian Geese and over 100 Canada Geese present early on, and later a flock of 20 Avocets - the best count since the spring, were roosting, with c60 Lapwings, 25 Shelducks, c60 Wigeon, c30 Shovelers and c50 Teal also about. 

Also, the Grey Wagtail was around, again, feeding by the door to the hide, and even going inside on occasions! (PA/AH)

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

North Wall: A Red Kite went over this morning. (PA)

Also, two hundred Brent Geese were in Honer 1 this morning, as well as 42 Curlews and two Cattle Egrets, whilst further back a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were around the trees.

At least six Rock Pipits were along the wall and at Owl Copse, a Kingfisher was in the bushes and a Water Rail was along the banks, but the hedgerows were quiet with just a Reed Buntings seen, while at Halsey’s Farm three Kestrels were in the trees, and a pair of Shelducks were along the rife. (MJa/LP/CT)

Kingfisher (above), Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Rock Pipit & Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A redhead Goldeneye was on the Lagoon this morning - the first back this autumn, along with a dozen Little Grebes. 

From the spit and the east side, there were very large numbers of wildfowl and waders, including 600 Brnt Geese, 200 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 75 Pintail, 47 Shelducks, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, c200 Golden Plovers, c1000 Lapwings, 500 Knot and 1200 Dunlin, with a Sandwich Tern and a Marsh Harrier about, too.

There were also  a Dartford Warbler, five Stonechats and a Rock Pipit along the Spit and up to ten Chiffchaffs along the east side, plus a very late Clouded Yellow.. (PA)

Goldeneye on Pagham Lagoon (above), Dartford Warbler on Pagham Spit, Spotted Redshank, Redshanks and Lapwing & Clouded Yellow along the East side (PA)

Church Norton: A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among at least 500 Brent Geese in the harbour this morning, with a handful of Great Crested Grebes, Wigeon and Teal about it on the water at high tide, whilst two Greenshanks, c80 Redshanks and a dozen Grey Plovers and Curlews were the only roosting waders on this side of the harbour.

Two Chiffchaffs in the churchyard and a couple of noisy Jays were about it, otherwise. (AH/P&JW)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above), Brent Geese, Greenshanks, Grey Plover and Redshanks & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)

Sunday, 16th November: A much cooler morning under leaden skies as the breeze freshened and backed to the north-east......

Selsey Bill: There was a long list of species recorded this morning, including the first Goosanders of the year on the Peninsula - a pair going east, over 100 Brent Geese going mostly west, a Bonxie lingering offshore and small amount of visible migration, including a Crossbill and a Brambling among a varied selection. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0700-0930hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 6E, 20W, 9os

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 27E, 84W

Egyptian Goose - 2W

Teal - 19W

Common Scoter - 1E, 24W

Goosander - 2E (pair)

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Sanderling - 1W

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 2E, 2W

Great Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 20W, 12os

Black-headed Gull - 200os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 1W, 10os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 52E

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 15E, 29W, 4os

auk sp - 31E, 1055W

Wood Pigeon - 6E

Skylark - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 7E

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Song Thrush - 1E

Starling - 212N

Brambling - 1E

Crossbill - 1E

Redpoll - 5E

Linnet - 20W

Goldfinch - 13

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

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was present again on the roadside pool this morning, along with two Snipe, whilst the main pool held five Avocets, c30 Lapwings, 14 Shelducks, c30 Shovelers, c50 Wigeon and c75 Teal, all put up by a low-flying Marsh Harrier. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Avocets, Shelduck, Lapwings and Avocet & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There was nothing bar a Coot on the flooded field, though a drake Gadwall was on the Mill Pond (IP) and a Marsh Harrier went over Rookery Lane (SH)

North Wall: Six Rock Pipits and four Yellowhammers were along the wall this morning, along with a Jay carrying acorns, whilst a Kingfisher was along the creek at Halsey's Farm, with a Black-tailed Godwit among the Wigeon there, too, and a Cattle Egret flew out from Owl Copse. (IP)

Also, a Marsh Harrier and three Egyptian Geese went over Halsey's Farm, and two Stonechats were in the fields there. (SH), 

It was busier in the harbour later on, on the falling tide, with c800 Lapwings, c500 Golden Plovers, c300 Brent Geese, c500 Wigeon, c500 Dunlin and a few Grey Plovers, Shelducks, Teal and Pintails about.

Seven Rock Pipits were along the wall and a Chiffchaff, eight Reed Buntings and three Yellowhammers were in the bushes, with two male Marsh Harriers about, and 22 Cattle Egrets flew out from the harbour.

At Halsey’s Farm, a pair of Ravens and a Mistle Thrush flew over, a Stonechat, 16 Curlews and a couple of Meadow Pipits were in the fields, a Song Thrush and four Linnets were in the trees, and two Kingfishers were by the outfall. (MJa/DHi/LP/MRi/IP/S&SaH/EB/JDW)

Golden Plovers and Lapwing (above), Brent Geese, Wigeon, Curlew, Stonechat, Rock Pipit & Meadow Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There were at least 500 Brent Geese spread around the harbour this morning, with a steady flow of new arrivals from the east constantly dropping in, but otherwise there was little to see on the high tide beyond a few Great Crested Grebes, Wigeon and Teal and the odd Redshank and Curlew, with most of the waders, apart from c40 Turnstones on the beach, roosting over by the harbour mouth. (AH et al)

Brent Geese (above) & Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: There wasn't too much to report this morning, with 42 Pochard the best count, but, otherwise two Egyptian Geese, two Shovelers, 39 Tufted Ducks and ten Great Crested Grebes on the water, along with two Kingfishers and a Little Egret.

Also, a male Blackcap was along the hedges, together with nine Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, ten Goldcrests, 27 Long-tailed Tits, two Song Thrushes and three Redwings. (MRe)

Sidlesham: A Bar-tailed Godwit, 31 Dunlin and 170 Golden Plovers were unexpected birds over Cow Lane early this morning, presumably displaced from the harbour.

There was also a bit of visible migration overhead, including four Fieldfares, two Redwings, a Redpoll, two Linnets, four Yellowhammers, two Grey Wagtails, seven Meadow Pipits, two Egyptian Geese and 269 Stock Doves (PA)

Fishbourne Creek: Along the creek at high tide this morning there were 30 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, ten Grey Plovers, 15 Lapwings, c30 Dunlin and Turnstones and 70 Black-tailed Godwits, plus c50 Common Gulls, with a Marsh Harrier over.

Five Rock Pipits were along the edge, with a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and three Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, whilst around Apuldram churchyard there were two Tree-creepers, a Coal Tit, a Firecrest, four Goldcrests and a Mistle Thrush. (MRe)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers were along the banks this afternoon, along with a Stonechat, five Goldcrests, five Meadow Pipits, a song Thrush, a Chaffinch, ten Long-tailed Tits and c20 Goldfinches.

There were also c50 Brent Geese, four Egyptian Geese, 100 Lapwings, c200 Golden Plovers on the reserve and four Kestrels went over. (SH)

13th - 15th November 2025

Saturday, 15th November: Apart from one fairly brief, but dense patch of sea--mist that fortunately moved through quickly, a much better than forecast morning of sun and light cloud in a light north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much going on offshore, though a Sandwich Tern, 20 Brent Geese  and 195 Razorbills went west, 17 Shags went east and also a Black Redstart was on the rooves. Full log below. (SH/JA/PB/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0700-0900hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1W, 1os

Gannet - 8E, 22W

Shag - 17E

Grey Heron - 1W

Brent Goose - 1E, 20W

Common Scoter - 2W

Oystercatcher - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Razorbill - 30E, 195W

auk sp - 81E, 296W

Wood Pigeon - 258W

Skylark - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 3E

Meadow Pipit - 4N

Black Redstart - 1

Chaffinch - 1E, 1 present

Goldfinch - 4

(1315-1415hrs) (P&LH)

Red-throated Diver - 2W, 2os

Gannet - E

Brent Goose - 1E

Shag - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Curlew - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 2W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Gannets (above), Razorbill, Shag & Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back on the roadside pool this morning, whilst three Avocets, 24 Lapwings, 16 Wigeon, eight Shelducks, c40 Shovelers and c60 Teal were on the main pool, along with a Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails. (AH)

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

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was on the roof of the stables and a Dartford Warbler was on top of the bush at the far eastern end of the fields this morning. (IP)

Dartford Warbler at Park Farm, Selsey (IP)

Church Norton: Remarkably, after the very late bird in Selsey, an even later - and probably latest ever- Turtle Dove was in a tree at Greenlease Farm this morning, though not associating with the Collared Doves also present. It appears to be in more advanced adult plumage than the Selsey bird, suggesting this is a different individual.

Also, the trees between the Severals were busy again, with at least two Firecrests present, along with c20 Goldcrests, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a male Siskin and numerous Long-tailed Tits, whilst there were was a Dartford Warbler and a number of calling Cetti's Warblers, but not much else along the front, and just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the churchyard/hide area.

A Marsh Harrier went over the harbour, where there were several hundred Brent Geese and c100 Wigeon present, along with a Kingfisher, two Greenshanks, c50 Knot, c30 Grey Plovers, c20 Turnstones and 500+ Dunlin, plus c400 Golden Plovers at the far end. (IP/AH/MO-W/MI/P&LH et al)

Late this afternoon three was a first-year Yellow-legged Gull in the harbour. (PA)

Turtle Dove (above), Kingfisher (IP), Chiffchaff & Greenshanks (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: A Dartford Warbler was in the Tamarisk by Owl Copse this morning, and along the bushes were c20 Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer, eight Greenfinches, a Mistle Thrush, a Song Thrush and a Kestrel. A Water Rail was again at Owl Water with a Little Grebe, and a Shoveler also present.

Six Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and on the Breech Pool there were three Spotted Redshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Snipe, with both male and female Marsh Harriers further back over the reeds, and 52 Cattle Egrets were around the cows in the fields. (MJa/LP et al)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Snipe, Cattle Egrets, Water Rail, Yellowhammer, Rock Pip[it, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Fieldfares flew into the poplars late this morning, whilst along the banks there were two Dartford Warblers, a Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers, five Goldcrests, 13 Stonechats, a Reed Bunting, four Yellowhammers, c20 Skylarks, c30 Linnets and c40 Meadow Pipits.

Also, a Greenshank, three Golden Plovers, c100 Lapwings, 20 Brent Geese and six Egyptian Geese were on the reserve, ten Snipe and two Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, and a Merlin, three Kestrels and a Buzzard went over. (SH/PB)

Friday, 14th November: A dismal morning's weather, with persistent heavy drizzle under leaden skies, though the south-easterly breeze was no more than moderate and it remains mild.......

Selsey Bill: The elusive Black-necked Grebe flew in from the west and settled on the sea this morning, whilst four Great Northern Divers went east, a Bonxie went west and a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Mediterranean Gulls were among a big feeding flock offshore. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/MRe)

(0715-0915hrs) (SE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4E, 1os

diver sp - 1W

Black-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 23E, 5W, 20os

Shag - 13E, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2W, 4E

Turnstone - 2E

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 15E, 30os

Common Gull - 4E, 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 2W, 22E, 28os

Razorbill - 28E, 2os

auk sp - 31W

Pied Wagtail - 3E

Rock Pipit - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1E

Black-necked Grebe (above), Great Northern Diver, Gannet & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a lot of ducks on the pool this morning - namely 14 Shelducks, 18 Wigeon, c40 Shovelers, c75 Teal and c30 Mallards, but, otherwise, just two Lapwings. (AH)

The Ferry was exceptionally quiet mid-afternoon, with a solitary Shelduck the only bird actually on the pool, with a dozen Red-legged Partridges on the left bank.

The channel opposite was similarly quiet, with just four Redshanks and three Moorhens the only birds present. (JC)

Shovelers and Shelduck (above) & Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A fairly brief look in the poor conditions produced c300 Brent Geese, c150 Wigeon, c40 Pintail and Teal, c50 Knot, c25 Grey Plovers and c800 Dunlin, with a Mistle Thrush and a handful of Goldcrests in the churchyard. (AH)

Brent Geese (above), Pintail and Wigeon & Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plovers and Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

Thursday, 13th November: Another warm morning of sunshine and cloud in a moderate south-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A total of 325 Kittiwakes, virtually all adults, went west in the first hour or so, before stopping abruptly, with a Bonxie, two Red-throated Divers and a few Gannets, Razorbills and Mediterranean Gulls also moving west. Full log below. (AH/RJS)

(0720-0920hrs) (SW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Gannet - 4E, 51W, 20os

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 8

Great Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 46W

Common Gull - 4W

Kittiwake - 325W

Razorbill - 37W, 20os

auk sp - 105W

Meadow Pipit - 8W

Linnet - 1W

Goldfinch - 11W

Kittiwakes (above), Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool, with seven Lapwings, nine Shelducks and c60 Teal on the main pool. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 200 Brent Geese were in the harbour this morning, along with a Sandwich Tern, five Common Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, six Shovelers, five Pintail and a few Wigeon and Teal, whilst there were five Avocets, in the main channel and a Greenshank, c200 Golden Plovers, c50 Knot and Grey Plovers and c1000 Dunlin out on the mud.

Also, a Great Northern Diver and a Red-breasted Merganser were offshore, with a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier about, too

On the land-side, two Black Redstarts were at Greenlease Farm, a Dartford Warbler was along the Severals, a female Blackcap was in the churchyard and a total of five Firecrests were seen along with five Chiffchaffs and a dozen Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits, with 13 Redpolls, six Siskins, a Rock Pipit,  16 Meadow Pipits, two Grey Wagtails, a Redwing, 25 Linnets and half a dozen Blackbirds seen, too. (PA/AH/CRJ/RJS/AWi)

Black Redstart (above), Redpoll, Firecrest & AH in classic pose at Church Norton (PA)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek this morning and half a dozen Cattle Egrets and a few Curlews were in the fields.

Also, along the wall, there were one or two Rock Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, a Kingfisher, a Little Grebe and a Kestrel. (EB)

This afternoon, a male Merlin was present and there were three Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek, whilst a Kingfisher, a Marsh Harrier and six Snipe were also about, (AWi)

Spotted Redshank (above), Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Curlews, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (EB)