7th - 9th March 2026

Monday, 9th March: It was more or less a white-out for most of the morning, with persisting dense fog only lifting slowly, and remaining cool in the light easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: There was obviously next to nothing to report in the conditions, though a flock of a dozen Brent Geese went east, 17 Meadow Pipits dropped in and two Chiffchaffs were in the hedges. Full log below. (AH/IP et al)

(0700-0830hrs) (ENE, F2)

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 12E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 17

Chiffchaff - 2

Linnet - 10

Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)

As the fog began to thin out there was a Great Northern Diver drifting west and a flock of six Brent Geese heading east. Other than two Sandwich Terns and a Meadow Pipit going east there was little else to report. Full log below. (AW)

(1230-1400hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Brent Goose - 6E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 1E

Great Northern Diver (above), Brent Geese & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was present early on, together with a good count of 15 snipe,whilst later there were just two Lapwings, three Gadwall, a dozen Shelducks and 50 or so Shovelers, Wigeon and Teal, mostly barely visible in the fields behind. (PA/AH/BFF/SLK et al)

Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Around 25 Meadow Pipits, 20 Skylarks and a dozen Linnets were along the spit and a Chiffchaff was by the Mound, but not much else was going on, whilst in the harbour there were 23 Brent Geese, c50 Wigeon, just a few Teal and Shelducks, three Black-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover, a dozen Turnstones, c20 Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin. (P&LH/AH)

Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon and Teal at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Grey Wagtails and two Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks, and along the wall there were two Linnets and three Greenfinches, with up to ten Chiffchaffs around Halsey's farm, but in the misty conditions there was nothing to be seen out in the harbour, and just a few Shovelers and Gadwall in the fields.
Also, the Bullfinch was calling at Owl Copse, and a few Grey Herons and Cattle Egrets were in the trees, whilst at Halsey’s Farm 60 Wigeon and 30 Teal were along the rife and a couple of Skylarks were up singing over the fields. (MJa/PA/LP/CT)

This evening there were a dozen Cattle Egrets about, along with a Kingfisher, the Spotted Redshank, three Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers. (S&SaH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Linnet & Grey Heron at the North Wall (LP)

East side and Pagham Spit: There were 21 Snipe along the east side of the harbour this morning, along with a Spotted Redshank, a Kingfisher, nine Black-tailed Godwits, three Red-breasted Mergansers, ten Shovelers, 20 Pintail, 350 Brent Geese and a Sandwich Tern, plus a selection of the usual species out in the mist.
There were also four Chiffchaffs along the east side and two on the Spit, along with six Redwings, a dozen or so Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails and c80 Linnets. (PA/LP)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Chiffchaff along the East side (PA)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A Sand Martin was lingering over the rough ground by the windmill this morning, but a pair of Linnets and half a dozen Meadow Pipits, plus a Redshank flying over, were the only other birds noted. (AH)

Sand Martin (above) & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 9th March: A very misty, murky morning, cool in the light to moderate easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: The first four Whimbrels of the spring went east this morning and a flock of 26 Curlews went west, but there were few other indications of migration, though three Chiffchaffs were in the bushes. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/MRB/IP)

(0630-0830hrs) (E, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 2W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 1 present

Whimbrel - 4E

Curlew - 26W

Turnstone - 1

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Pied Wagtail - 2

Chiffchaff - 3

Goldfinch - 2

Ferry Pool: There were just an Avocet and a Curlew present late this morning, along with two Gadwall, seven Shelducks, c80 Shovelers and c50 Wigeon and Teal. (AH)

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

Selsey: A female Blackcap was in our garden, to the north of the village, this morning. (SaH)

Church Norton: A Ruff was in the harbour off the benches this morning, along with a Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit, plus the usual species (PB/MRB), whilst later, five Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour (GW).

North Wall: A Ruddy Shelduck - first seen flying over Medmerry on the 6th, and the first since 2018 - dropped in on Honer 1 field for about an hour this morning, before flying off to the north-west.  

Also, the male Bullfinch was again in Owl Copse, along with a dozen Cattle Egrets, whilst two or three Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers were along the wall and the male and at least two female Marsh Harriers were up at the back, with a Water Rail and a Snipe also seen, along with a Stonechat, two White Wagtails, three Pied Wagtails and two Grey Wagtails in the paddocks..

There were c40 Brent Geese about the Honer fields, along with c20 Shovelers and Curlews, plus four Gadwall and c40 Teal, whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit and c20 Black-tailed Godwits were in White's Creek, along with c50 Wigeon and plenty of Grey Plovers and Redshanks. (MJa/LP/AH/IP/BI/S&SaH/PB/MRB/PJ/GJa et al)

Ruddy Shelduck (above), Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egret, Black-tailed Godwits & Gadwall and Teal at the North Wall (AH)

East side: A Ruff and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose were at the far end of White's Creek, along with four Red-breasted Mergansers, 45 Pintail, 400 Teal, 250 Wigeon, 450 Brent Geese, 80 Grey Plovers, a sandwich Tern, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, four Mediterranean Gulls and 11 Common Gulls, whilst a Song Thrush, two Green Woodpeckers and c150 Linnets were around the Slipe Field. . (PJ/GJa)

Pagham Lagoon: There were two Pochards and eight Tufted Ducks present today. (PJ/GJa)

Honer Reservoir: The water level was finally back up, with eight Gadwall, two Tufted Ducks and six Mallards, plus a dozen Coots, taking advantage, and there were also three Chiffchaffs in the bushes. (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were ten Avocets, eight snipe, a Ringed Plover and a Pied Wagtail on the stilt Pool this afternoon, with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the pool opposite, c30 Mediterranean Gulls on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard over.

The banks were quiet, though, with just aa Reed Bunting, three Cetti's Warblers, eight Meadow Pipits, five Skylarks and c50 Linnets seen. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 7th March: A cool and grey morning, though more hazy than misty, in just a light south-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were two more Bill scarcities seen this morning, with both a Red Kite and a Raven going east, whilst a Blackcap, a Goldcrest and four Chiffchaffs in the gardens suggested migration, but nothing was moving offshore, though a Black-throated and half a dozen Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/P&LH)

(0630-0900hrs) (SE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 7E

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 6os

Red Kite - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 10W

Turnstone - 1E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 4os

Sandwich Tern - 15os

Meadow Pipit - 3N

Pied Wagtail - 4N

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 4

Goldcrest - 1

Raven - 1E

(1230-1345hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Common Scoter - 4E

Turnstone - 10

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1N

(1445-1545hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Common Scoter - 10E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Terns (above) & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back on the roadside pool this morning, along with two Redshanks, whilst two Avocets and two Lapwings were on the main pool, with most of the wildfowl - c80 Shovelers, c50 Teal, c100 Wigeon, four Gadwall and 11 Shelducks - were on the floods behind. 

Also, a Red Kite went over the road, just to the south of the Ferry. (AH)

Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Cetti's Warbler was singing in Park Lane this morning, whilst around the farm and. the very wet fields were eight Brent Geese, 11 Curlews, 11 Shelducks, an Oystercatcher, two Linnets, two Pied Wagtails and c40 Meadow Pipits, but sadly no Skylarks.

Also, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the treeline that separates Park Farm from Greenlease. (IP)

Later on, a flock of c200 Golden Plovers went over the Wave roundabout, nearby. (P&LH)

Church Norton: There were still at least 500 Brent Geese about, mainly on the mud off the North Wall, but there was little else to report, with wildfowl and wader numbers much reduced, with a lone Bar-tailed Godwit starting to moult into summer plumage being the highlight, along a Black-tailed Godwit, with two Knot, a dozen Dunlin, a similar number of Ringed Plovers, 20 Grey Plovers, a flock of nine Turnstones that flew in and the usual Curlews, Redshank and Oystercatchers, plus just a few Wigeon, Teal and Shelducks..

There were a Firecrest, at least two Goldcrests and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits in Bluebell Wood, whilst Cetti's Warblers were everywhere around the Severals, with a Reed Bunting and a Sparrowhawk in the vicinity, too, but not much else beyond two or three Linnets and Skylarks along the beach and a Sandwich Tern offshore. (IP/P&LH)

Late this afternoon there were a minimum of five Slavonian Grebes offshore, along with a Great Northern Diver and four Great Crested Grebes, with eight Red-breasted Mergansers split between the sea and the harbour.

There were also a Greenshank, seven Bar-tailed and 23 Black-tailed Godwits in the harbour, along with c200 Knot and Grey Plovers, c800 Dunlin, c300 Brent Geese, a couple of Pintail and Mediterranean Gulls and a Common Gull. (PA)

Slavonian Grebe at Church Norton (PA)

North Wall: A Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Goldcrest were around the paddocks this morning and three Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, whilst a flock of c80 Linnets were in the trees around the Slipe Field.

A Spotted Redshank, two Great Crested Grebes, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Dunlin, and a couple of Grey Plovers were along White’s Creek, and two Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and in the flooded fields there were four Gadwall, 22 Shovelers, 41 Brent Geese and a Pintail.

At Owl Copse, a Bullfinch was calling from the far end, and 38 Cattle Egrets were in the trees with the usual Grey Herons, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Kingfisher was by the outfall, a Sparrowhawk flew through and c30 Meadow Pipits, six Skylarks, two Long-tailed Tits, two Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and six Linnets were around the fields. (MJa/LP et al)

Kingfisher (above), Great Crested Grebe, Stonechat & Linnets at the North Wall (LP)

West Itchenor: Highlight of the WeBS count between Itchenor and Ella Nore was the drake Eider on Ella Nore spit, whilst there were also two Great Northern Divers and eight Red-breasted Mergansers on the water, 64 Sanderling among the roosting waders and two Red-legged Partridges and three Roe Deer in the fields. (SM)

Eider, Shelducks and Redshanks (above) & Roe Deer at West Itchenor (SM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - There were still c40 Yellowhammers in the cover crop field, along with a Corn Bunting, half a dozen Chaffinches and c20 Linnets and Skylarks, with a few more of the latter, a couple of Reed Buntings and half a dozen Meadow Pipits along the bank, but beyond a Raven and a noisy pair of Buzzards there was really nothing else to report. (AH)

Yellowhammers (above), Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Raven & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

4th - 6th March 2026

Friday, 6th March: A cool and grey morning, with a bit of rain later, in just a light northerly breeze........

Selsey Bill: A flock of 24 Brent Geese east was the only hint of migration, with two Canada Geese east, too, the most unusual sighting, with nothing else much to report, though seven Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (AH et al)

(0700-0815hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 7os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Brent Goose - 24E

Canada Goose - 2E

Oystercatcher - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Brent Geese (above), Canada Geese, Great Northern Diver & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets and two Redshanks were the only waders present this morning, along with c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal, c100 Wigeon and eight Shelducks. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour this morning, but it was very quiet, otherwise, with just c50 Knot, c20 Grey Plovers and c100 Dunlin on the mud, along with c80 Brent Geese, c50 Wigeon and c20 Teal, plus the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.

The striking, but elusive, leucistic Blackbird showed up for the first time in a while, but a few Linnets along the front were the only other passerines of note and there was absolutely nothing offshore.. (AH/AW)

Marsh Harrier (above), Linnet (AH) & leucistic Blackbird (AW) at Church Norton

Medmerry: Coastguards to the windmill - A Ruddy Shelduck flew east over the windmill area early this morning. (AW)

Ruddy Shelduck at Medmerry (AW)

Later, a Swallow flew west over the field between the Coastguard Station and the windmill, but it was the only migrant seen, with, otherwise two Skylarks and half a dozen Linnets and Meadow Pipits about it.

Also, a Great Northern Diver was offshore, along with two Common Scoters, six Red-breasted Mergansers and five Great Crested Grebes, plus a Sandwich Tern. (AH)

Great Northern Diver (above), Sandwich Tern, Skylark & Meadow Pipit at Medmerry (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: On the rising tide this morning the large gull flock at Fishbourne included three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a small proportion of Mediterranean Gulls. There were also seven Great Crested Grebes off the Lavant outflow, with two Red Breasted Mergansers towards Dell Quay where there were three Greenshanks. (RW)

Chichester GPs: There were plenty of the usual geese and ducks present this morning, but no hirundines were seen, though there were several Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, plus a male Reed Bunting along the path and three pairs of Great Crested Grebes were displaying on the water. (RBe).

Great Crested Grebes at Chichester GHPs (RBe)

Chichester Canal: A look between Hunston and the Birdham Road produced several large flocks of Wood Pigeons (200-300 birds in total) and c50 Jackdaws, with at least 20 Redwing in the adjacent fields, plus two Siskins in the alders near the Birdham Road. (RBe)

Redwings (above) & Wood Pigeons along Chichester Canal (RBe)

Thursday, 5th March: Another bright and sunny morning, though the fairly fresh easterly breeze was keeping the temperature down somewhat......

Selsey Bill: After a slow start, a few bits were seen this morning, including a Yellowhammer - a rare bird at the Bill - in the bushes on the Oval Field, all three diver species on the sea and a Fulmar west. Full log below. (IP/AH/PA et al)

(0710-0910hrs) (ESE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

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

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Shag - 2E

Brent Geese - 2E

Mallard - 2E

Common Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 5E, 2os

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Linnet - 8E

Yellowhammer - 1

Yellowhammer (above), Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Shag & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Avocets, two Redshanks, two Oystercatchers and half a dozen Lapwings present this morning, though there were less wildfowl about, with just eight Shelducks, four Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal and c100 Wigeon seen. (AH/JC)

Later, a Red Kite went over the Visitor Centre. (per RP)

Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Greenshank and three Bar-tailed Godwits were among the waders in the harbour late this afternoon. (JC)

North Wall: A total of four Red Kites, including three together, went over heading east, whilst at least three female-type Marsh Harriers were about, along with five Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.

There were still at least 1000 Brent Geese spread around, along with c400 Wigeon and c100 Teal, whilst a Spotted Redshank, c60 Golden Plovers and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were in White's Creek and c50 Curlews, though nothing else save c30 Coots, were in the Honer fields.

Also, at least 40 Cattle Egrets were around Owl Copse and adjacent fields, along with half a dozen Grey Herons, with two or three Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers along wall, but the only possible migrants were a cluster of three or four Chiffchaffs (including at least one singing) and a couple of Goldcrests at Halsey's Farm. (AH et al)

This afternoon, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among the Brent Geese in the Honer fields. (AB)

Red Kites (above), Marsh Harrier, Spotted Redshank and Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits, Golden Plovers, Cattle Egret, Chiffchaff & Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Red Kite went over this morning, and there were also one or two Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers and a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets about, along with a Stonechat and a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls. (EB)

Red Kite (above), Corn Buntings, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Linnet & Great Black-backed Gull at Medmerry (EB)

Wednesday, 4th March: After a misty start, a bright and sunny morning in a moderate easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A few Meadow Pipits in off the sea was the only hint of migration on another slow morning. Full log below. (PB/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (ENE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 8E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 24os

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Pied Wagtail - 3E

Linnet - 6E

Sandwich Tern (above), Great Northern Diver, Shag & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper and two Redshanks were on the roadside pool, but otherwise it was the usual mix of wildfowl, comprising eight Shelducks, three Gadwall, c80 Shovelers and Teal and c120 Wigeon, plus a Red-legged Partridge and two Buzzards, with lots of gulls at the back. (AH)

Later, a Sand Martin was over the back of the pool. (AB)

Gadwall and Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A smart male Bullfinch was around the tops of the trees in Owl Copse this morning, as well as a Chaffinch, two Chiffchaffs, four Greenfinches, eight Goldfinches, six Cattle Egrets and eight Grey Herons, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were in the fields and an Avocet was along the Rife.

Eleven Tufted Ducks and two Great Crested Grebes were on the Breech Pool and four Gadwall, 26 Shovelers and 62 Brent Geese were in the flooded fields, also two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and as the tide rose a Spoonbill was out in the harbour, along with the Avocet and c60 Grey Plovers.

The two Grey Wagtails were again in the paddock and a Pied Wagtail, two Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker and a Goldcrest were around the hedgerows, whilst further back the male and two female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds and three Buzzards were high overhead. (CT/MJa/LP et al)

A Merlin was around this evening, along with a Kestrel, a Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers, whilst 71 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse and three Cetti's Warblers, three Meadow Pipits and a Reed Bunting were along the wall. (SH)

Bullfinch (above), Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtails, Cattle Egret & Spoonbill at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill was in the harbour before relocating towards the North Wall, but otherwise it was the usual mix of waders, including two Greenshanks, ten Ringed Plovers, c150 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c600 Dunlin, along with half a dozen Pintail, c20 Teal and c50 Wigeon.

There were also two Great Crested Grebes, two Common Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Sandwich Tern and c20 Brent Geese also present and another c200 of the latter flying around to the north. (PB/AH)

Knot and Dunlin (above), Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Breach area - A Marsh Harrier, three Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits and a Pied Wagtail were around this morning. (SH)

West Wittering: A Black Redstart was briefly in the garden early this afternoon. (GM)

West Itchenor: A couple of Great Northern Divers and a Red-throated Diver were on the water off Ella Nore today, and there were also two Grey Partridges by the horse pond. (RBe)

Great Northern Diver (above) & Grey Partridges at West Itchenor (RBe)