4th - 6th November 2026

Friday, 6th November: A better morning, with a grey start slowly giving way to blues skies and with the easterly breeze having abated somewhat..............

Selsey Bill: There was a long list of species seen, though no great numbers of anything, with a Slavonian Grebe on the sea, 43 Common Scoters and 19 Razorbills west and 21 Siskins east among a modest amount of overhead migration being the best. Full log below. (BI/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0645-0900hrs) (ENE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1o9s

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 2E

Little Egret - 1E

Brent Goose - 6E, 3W

Pintail - 4W

Wigeon - 6W

Tufted Duck - 1E

Common Scoter - 5E, 43W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W, 1 present

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 2W, 3os

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 5E, 19W, 7os

auk sp - 5E

Wood Pigeon - 80S

Stock Dove - 19E

Skylark - 3S

Pied Wagtail - 2E, 4 present

Meadow Pipit - 33E

Chiffchaff - 1

Chaffinch - 6E

Siskin - 21E

Linnet - 21E

Goldfinch - 219E, 45 present

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

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was present again this morning, though tucked between the new fence and the bank, though otherwise it was just wildfowl present, namely two Shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

North Wall: The Barnacle Goose was still among the Brent Geese this morning and a Red Kite went over. (BI/SP)

East Head: There were 35 Sanderlings on the beach at high tide this morning. (RWi)

Thursday, 5th November: Another cool and heavily overcast morning, though the easterly breeze had eased slightly overnight.......

Selsey Bill: There just a few bits moving offshore this morning, including a Great Northern Diver and four Red-breasted Mergansers east and 23 Common Scoters west. Full log below. (AH)

(0715-0900hrs) (ENE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Gannet - 14E, 8W, 3os

Brent Goose - 3E, 7W

Wigeon - 1W

Teal - 8W

Pintail - 3W

Common Scoter - 7E, 23W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Razorbill - 2E, 15W

auk sp - 28W

Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool this morning, whilst the main pool held c180 Lapwings, c80 Shovelers and Teal, c40 Wigeon and four Shelducks, with c50 more Wigeon and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Also, later, a Spoonbill was seen high over the harbour from the Tramway (LL), and a Red Kite was going over Sidlesham, seen from the B2145 (AW).

Green Sandpiper (above) & Lapwings, Shovelers and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Black Redstart was by the sluice gates in White's Creek this morning, whilst a Barnacle Goose was among the Brent Geese and c300 Golden Plovers and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (SP/MaJ et al)

Black Redstart (above) & Bar-tailed Godwit at the North Wall (MaJ)

Church Norton: A couple of hundred Brent Geese were in the harbour at high tide, along with a few Wigeon and Teal and a pair of Little Grebes, whilst two Greenshanks were roosting on Tern Island and c50 Grey Plovers and c400 Dunlin were flying around before settling on the metalwork.

Two Peregrines were chasing each other over the churchyard, a couple of Goldcrests were in the car-park and c50 Linnets were around Tern Island, but, otherwise, it was very quiet. (AH)

Later, a Fieldfare and a Raven were seen along the West side. (GR)

Peregrine (above), Brent Geese & Grey Plovers and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 4th November: A cool and very grey morning in a fresh easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was more activity offshore than of late, with the first Slavonian Grebe of the autumn for the Bill going east and a few Common Scoters, Red-throated Divers and Gannets going both east and west, but there was absolutely no overhead migration. Full log below. (SH/PB/AT/AH)

(0645-0900hrs) (ENE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

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

Slavonian Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 27E, 1W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 7W

Shelduck - 1W

Pintail - 2E

Common Scoter - 16E, 9W

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

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1 present

Curlew - 2E

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 1os

auk sp - 8E, 20W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Slavonian Grebe (above), Red-throated Diver, Gannet & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were four Shelducks, c80 Shovelers, c50 Wigeon, c150 Teal and c100 Lapwings on the pool this morning until the shooting started nearby, when everything rapidly dispersed. (AH)

Also of note, a Barn Owl has been roosting in the nest-box in the Discovery Area recently. (TG-P)

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

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three White-fronted Geese - a family group of two adults and a first-year bird - were on the reserve this morning, seen from the first viewpoint, with 41 Brent Geese and a Greylag Goose also among the many Canada Geese present 

There were also five cattle Egrets and a Kingfisher on the reserve, plus three Marsh Harriers over, whilst a Snipe was on the Stilt Pool and two Dartford Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Yellowhammers and five stonechats were along the banks. (PB/SH)

This evening the Short-eared Owl was out hunting near the stilt Pool again at dusk. (AS)

White-fronted Geese at Medmerry (SH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - The only birds about this morning were a pair of Stonechats and a Pied Wagtail by the old go-kart track. (AH)

Stonechats at Medmerry (AH)

Runcton: The garden was busy this morning with a Moorhen on the pond, a male Blackcap briefly on the bird bath, a flock of Long-tailed Tits around the feeders, a Robin, two Dunnocks, the usual house House Sparrows and a passing flock of 15 Goldfinches. (CRJ)

Long-tailed Tits (above) & Moorhen in a Runcton garden (CRJ)

1st - 3rd November 2026

Tuesday, 3rd November: Another cool morning, in a mix of sun and cloud, but still with the fresh north-easterly breeze persisting....... 

Selsey Bill: It was a little busier this morning, with nearly 1800 Wood Pigeons and 34 Stock Doves going east and nearly 300 auks west offshore, including a Guillemot and 16 Razorbills. Full log below. (AT/IP/AH)

(0730-0830hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 11W

Common Scoter - 2E, 7W

Peregrine -  1N

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 18W

auk sp - 270W

Wood Pigeon - 1798E

Stock Dove - 34E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 3E

Jackdaw - 68E (in one flock~)

Goldfinch - 22E

Stock Doves at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was just the usual mix of c75 Shovelers, c30 Wigeon, c100 Teal and c150 Lapwings, plus two shelducks and a Pied Wagtail, on the pool this morning. (AH)

Shelduck and Shoveler (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Spoonbill was along White’s Creek, as well as two Spotted Redshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Dunlin, and all the regular species, whilst a Kingfisher, two Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail were by the sluice.
Four Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, a Yellowhammer, two Reed Buntings, two Meadow Pipits, and four Long-tailed Tits were along the bushes, three Rock Pipits were along the rocks, and three Marsh Harriers, a Red Kite, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were over the fields. (LP/TRH/IH/SP/CT et all)

Dunlin (above), Wigeon, Stonechat & Rock Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

Honer Reservoir: The Green Sandpiper was still on the reservoir today. (JDW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Marsh Barn - The Short-eared Owl was viewable from the first viewpoint this afternoon. (AT)

Monday, 2nd November: A bright, but cool morning in a fresh north-easterly breeze..... 

Selsey Bill: It was very slow this morning, with the only things really moving were Wood Pigeons - 1486 east in total. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0715-0845hrs) NNE, F4-5)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1W

Brent Goose - 5W

Common Scoter - 5W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Wood Pigeon - 1486E

Stock Dove - 43E

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Pied Wagtail - 8E, 1W

Meadow Pipit - 4E

Jackdaw - 17

Magpie - 17

Linnet - 8E

Goldfinch - 30E

Sandwich Tern (above) & Wood Pigeons at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was just the regular wintering birds again today - namely c75 Shovelers, c30 Wigeon, c100 Teal and c150 Lapwings - on the pool this morning. (AH)

Later, a Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting were along the Tramway. (LL)

Shovelers and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Redpoll flew north over Mill Lane this morning. (ML)

Church Norton: There was nothing but a mixed Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit flock in the hedges this morning, and the only thing of note aro0und the horse field was a flock of c40 Stock Doves, with another c50 over among c300 Wood Pigeons being the only hint of migration.

A Greenshank, c30 Grey Plovers and c200 Dunlin were in the harbour, along with a handful of Pintail and a couple of dozen Wigeon and Teal, but that was about it. (AH)

This evening four Marsh Harriers came in to roost in the Severals. (S&SaH)

Greenshank (above), Grey Plover & Stock Doves at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Redwing was in the paddocks this morning, along with two Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, two Chiffchaffs and two Stonechats, with two Marsh Harriers further back over the reeds.
A Kingfisher was by the sluice, and a Spoonbill was along White’s Creek, as well as two Spotted Redshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, c100 Lapwings, c60 Redshank and increasing numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shelducks.
Along the wall, three Rock Pipits were on the rocks, and a couple of Reed Buntings were in the bushes, but otherwise there were just 12 Long-tailed Tits, four Greenfinches, a 'helice'-type Clouded Yellow, around the fields, and another Kingfisher by Owl Copse. (LP/CT/DHo et al)

Spoonbill (above), Redwing, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit & 'helice' Clouded Yellow at the North Wall (LP)

East Side: Later the Spoonbill was further down the East side, and out on the mud were c120 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 36 Curlews, 18 Knot, 32 Grey Plovers, six Turnstones, c80 Lapwings, two Oystercatchers, a single Golden Plover, 58 Brent Geese, c200 Teal, c120 Wigeon, and c40 Pintail, also a Rock Pipit was along the edge and a Red Kite went distantly over Pagham Spit. (LP)

Golden Plover (above), Grey Plover & Knot along the East side (LP)

Sunday, 1st November: The morning remained largely grey and murky after a foggy start, though mild later in the light to moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was slow this morning, with 17 Brent Geese going west the only birds moving offshore, with a Fieldfare west, a Goldcrest in off the sea and three Swallows east the best of minimal visible migration. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/AT/IP/AH)

(0630-0900hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 17W

Mallard - 2E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 3 present

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 14E

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

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 2W

Razorbill - 1E

Skylark - 1N

Swallow - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 2E, 2W, 2 present

Meadow Pipit - 3E, 1W

Fieldfare - 1W

Blackbird - 1N

Goldcrest - 1N

Chaffinch - 1

Greenfinch - 1E

Goldfinch - 7E, 50 present

Brent Geese (above), Goldcrest & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Shelduck, c60 Shovelers, c40 Wigeon, c100 Teal and similar of Lapwings on the pool, with an Avocet, four Redshanks and c20 Teal and Mallards in the channel opposite. (AH)

This evening a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite the pool (IP) and a Barn Owl went over the road just north of the Ferry Yard industrial estate (S&SaH).

Avocet (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Grey Wagtail, a coal Tit, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were along Mill Lane this morning. (ML)

Church Norton: Early this morning, a Redpoll, a Swallow, two Fieldfares,40 Skylarks, 16 Meadow Pipits, 13 Pied Wagtails,, six Reed Buntings, 45 Linnets, 35 Goldfinches, a Golden Plover and a Peregrine went over, whilst five Chiffchaffs, five Goldcrests, ten Song Thrushes and four Cetti's Warblers were in the bushes. (MRe)

Later, two Firecrests, two Chiffchaffs and a handful of Goldcrests were in the churchyard, with another Chiffchaff at Greenlease Farm, whilst four Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, a couple of Pied Wagtails, 14 Stock Doves and three Mediterranean Gulls were around the horse field, but everywhere else was quiet.

The pair of Marsh Harriers were at the far end of the harbour, along with c250 Golden Plovers, whilst c50 Brent Geese were around the harbour, but waders were restricted to a Greenshank, a few Ringed Plovers and the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers. (IP/AT/AH)

This afternoon, the first returning Slavonian Grebe of the autumn was offshore. (AWi)

Greenshank (above), Brent Geese, Stonechat & Stock Doves at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks and a Bar-tailed Godwit were along White’s Creek, and a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice, together with two Pied Wagtails. A Pintail was with the Mallards on the Breech Pool and the male Marsh Harrier was further back over the reeds.

Two Rock Pipits were along the wall and six Yellowhammers, four Reed Buntings and c20 Long-tailed Tits were along the bushes.

At Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was along the rife, two Chaffinches and 12 more Long-tailed Tits were in the hedgerows, and three Mistle Thrushes were along Rookery Lane. (LP/MRi/DHi/JDW/KU)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Rock Pipit, Yellowhammer & Mistle Thrush at the North Wall (AH)

Sidlesham: A Barn Owl was briefly in our garden in Cow Lane well after dusk this evening. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - This morning there were c400 Golden Plovers and c200 Lapwings on the reserve, along with a snipe and five Brent Geese, with a Raven, two Marsh Harriers, three Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels over.

Also, the banks held five Dartford Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, five Cetti's Warblers, 11 Stonechats and three Yellowhammers. (SH)

This afternoon the Short-eared Owl was out hunting at dusk, with a Merlin and two Marsh Harriers out a bit earlier, whilst up to 500 Golden Plovers were on the reserve, along with 75 Lapwings, a Brent Goose, a Greylag Goose, 141 Canada Geese, 25 Teal, c70 Wigeon, a Pintail, eight Ringed Plovers and four Redshanks, with a Greenshank on the Stilt Pool, too, but a Goldcrest was the only bird along the banks not reported earlier. (IP/MT/AH/S&SaH)