19th - 21st February 2026

Saturday, 21st February: A murky and overcast morning in a fresh westerly breeze............

Selsey Bill: What looked like the first Brent Geese of the spring heading east, 23 in total, including a high-flying flock of 16, two Fulmars west and six Great Northern Divers on the sea were the highlights this morning. Full log below. (SH/PB/ZS/MRB/AGB/JB/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (W, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 3W

Brent Goose - 23E, 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 1W, 4os

Oystercatcher - 3W

Sanderling - 2W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 5W, 4os

Sandwich Tern - 9os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Fulmars (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c180 Golden Plovers among c1500 Lapwings on the field and pool this morning, with six Shelducks,  five Gadwall, c80 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c150 Wigeon also present and an Avocet flew down the channel opposite. (AH)

Golden Plovers (above), Golden Plovers and Lapwings & Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The flooded fields appear to be very attractive to the local birdlife, with six pairs of Shelducks scattered around, along with c70 Brent Geese, 12 Curlews, a pair of Mute Swans, nine Pied Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker and c30 Meadow Pipits.

There was also a calling Cetti's Warbler, a Lesser Black Backed Gull among the regular species and a Raven sat on the farm buildings roof, before heading off west, cronking as it went. (IP).

North Wall: Three Spotted Redshanks were in White's Creek this morning, with c500 Brent Geese, c500 Golden Plovers and c1000 Lapwings in the harbour.

There were also two Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard about, with a Water Rail in the Breech Pool, a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail in the paddocks, two Goldcrests along Church Lane and four calling Cetti's Warblers along the wall .

At Halsey’s Farm, two Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Chaffinch and two Greenfinches were along the hedgerows. and a pair of Stonechats were in the field. (MRB/AGB/JB/S&SaH/LP/MJa)

Spotted Redshank (above), Song Thrush & Stonechats along the North Wall (LP)

East Head: A Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe were off Ella Nore this afternoon.

Fishbourne Creek: A Little Gull was at Dell Quay this morning, whilst the drake Goldeneye was still present, along with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a Kingfisher and six Greenshanks. (MRB/AGB/JB/JC)

Chichester Canal: The flock of Siskins were present again today near the Birdham Road end. (BI)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report beyond the usual species this morning, though a Peregrine was the islands and an Avocet, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a pair of Little Grebes, a Mediterranean Gull and half a dozen Common Gulls were in the harbour, along with c100 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers, c1000 Dunlin, c200 Brent Geese, c50 Wigeon and c20 Shelducks, with at least 300 Golden Plovers and 15000 Lapwings coming up from the far end. 

Also, just a single Great Crested Grebe was on the sea, c30 Turnstones were on the beach, several Cetti's Warblers and a pair of Stock Doves were around the Severals and three Goldcrests and a pair of Long-tailed Tits were in Bluebell Wood.  (AH/PB/ZS/IP et al)

Grey Plover and Knot (above) & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Friday, 20th February: A grey, though slightly milder morning in a brisk south-westerly breeze............

Selsey Bill: A Merlin flying west, well offshore was the highlight of another fairly quiet morning. Full log below. (P&LH/AH)

(0745-0900hrs) (SW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 4W

Gannet - 1W

Brent Goose - 5W

Shelduck - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W, 2os

Merlin - 1W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Turnstone - 19

Common Gull - 7W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 3W

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

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back this morning, whilst six Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Redshanks and c1000 Lapwings were around the pool, along with three Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c60 Shovelers and Teal and c150 Wigeon, whilst a couple of Mediterranean and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in the gull roost. 

Also, c35- Avocets, c350 Golden Plovers, c75 Dunlin, six Curlews and another c1500 Lapwings were in the harbour, viewable from the Tramway. (P&LH/AH)

Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings Shovelers, Wigeon and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Greenshank, an Avocet and a dozen Ringed Plovers were about the harbour this morning, along with c100 Knot, c200 Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, with c350 Brent Geese, c30 Shelducks, 50 or so Wigeon and Teal, two Mediterranean Gulls and four Common Gulls also present. (P&LH)

Chichester Marina: The Black-throated Diver was in the channel off the Marina early this afternoon. (PH)

Chichester Canal: A look from Stockbridge to Poyntz Bridge produced a Raven and a Great White Egret flying over and two Bullfinches and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker in the hedges. (C Murphy)

Fishbourne Creek: From Dell Quay at high tide, the drake Goldeneye and four Red Breasted Mergansers could be seen towards Chichester Marina, and there was an impressive flock of 600 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a single Bar-tailed Godwit among the roosting waders. (C Murphy)

Black-tailed Godwits and Wigeon at Fishbourne Creek (C Murphy)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek this morning, whilst at least 300 Golden Plovers, 2000 Lapwings and 1000 Brent Geese were in the harbour, but a few Redshanks, Curlews and Dunlin were about it for the Honer fields

The Grey Herons were active in Owl Copse and a few Wigeon and Teal were at Halsey's Farm, along with a pair of Brent Geese, a Black-tailed Godwit and a few Stock Doves. (AH/MJa/CT et al)

Black-tailed Godwit (above), Stock Doves & Brent Goose at the North Wall (AH)

Thursday, 19th February: After heavy overnight rain, a dry, but cool and grey morning in a freshening northerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A Velvet Scoter dropped in offshore, but it was another quiet morning, otherwise. (AH/IP)

(0755-0855hrs) (NNE, F3)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 1W

Velvet Scoter - 1os

Common Scoter - 1E, 4os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1os

Turnstone - 11

Common Gull - 1E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 2os

Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Ruff flew out from the field when the 1000+ Lapwings (including an oddly pale bird) all went up, but there were no other waders about except the Green Sandpiper, and almost al the wildfowl - c60 Shovelers, c80 Teal and c150 Wigeon, plus four Gadwall and ten Shelducks - were all on the flooded fields. (AH)

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

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A flock of c40 Cattle Egrets were in the flooded field east of the dairy unit, but it was generally slow-going, with just a couple of Yellowhammers and Linnets along Church Farm Lane, a handful of Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches in the various cover crops and a few Curlews, Stock Doves and Common Gulls among the commoner species in the fields. (AH)

Cattle Egrets (above), Yellowhammer & Linnet at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Drayton Pits: Two Egyptian Geese and two White-fronted Geese were with the motley band of Greylag and Canada Geese in the adjacent fields this morning. (BI)

16th - 18th February 2026

Wednesday, 18th February: A pretty dismal morning, cold and grey in the near gale-force south-easterly, with the prospect of heavy rain setting in later......

Selsey Bill: Another morning with little to report. Full log below. (KT/AH/IP)

(0745-0900hrs) (E, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon - 2E

Common Scoter - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 2os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 32

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 5E, 7W

Great Black-backed Gull - 9E

Red-breasted Merganser (above), Shelduck & Great Black-backed Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 17 Avocets on the pool at high tide, with c20 Golden Plovers and Black-tailed Godwits in with c1500 flighty Lapwings, whilst there were also nine Shelducks, six Gadwall, c80 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon present, too. (AH)

Avocet (above), Golden Plover and Lapwings & Avocets, Lapwings and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: There wasn’t too much about in the wet and very windy conditions this morning, although a Peregrine was sat on Breach Island and four Red-breasted Mergansers were on the water, a Bar-tailed Godwit was with a group of c150 Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers, and 32 Mediterranean Gulls were on the offshore shale banks, but along the Spit there were just two Skylarks, a Common Gull and a Redshank.

A female Pochard was on the Lagoon, along with eight Tufted Ducks, but the only other birds there were three Mute Swans, four Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe. (LP)

Peregrine (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers from Pagham Spit, Pochard & Pochard and Tufted Ducks on Pagham Lagoon (LP)

North Wall: A male Blackcap was in the garden, along Church Lane, this morning. (JDW)

Fishbourne Creek: A single drake Goldeneye was on the water towards high tide, along with four Little Grebes, 15 Great Crested Grebes, c100 Brent Geese, c300 Wigeon and c200 Common and Black-headed Gulls.

Also, a Jack Snipe and a Snipe were present, too, along with four Greenshanks together at Dell Quay, c250 Black-tailed Godwits, c200 Redshanks, and c60 Turnstones that settled on a yacht to roost., whilst up to eight Rock Pipits were tucked in on the saltmarsh. (AH)

Jack Snipe (above), Goldeneye, Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwits & Turnstones at Fishbourne Creek (AH)

Tuesday, 17th February: Another mostly sunny, but cool morning in a fresh north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A Red-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver went west this morning and a Sanderling was on the beach. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP/JFi)

(0700-0900hrs) (NW, F4-5)

Black-throated Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 9E, 2W

Red-necked Grebe - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 3W, 1os

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 43

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1W

auk sp - 1E

Black-throated Diver (above), Red-throated Diver, Shags & Sanderling at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool before flying off west this morning, whilst on the main pool and fields there were two Avocets, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, c800 Lapwings, six Shelducks, six Gadwall, c75 Shovelers and c100 Teal and Wigeon, and there were a pair of Stonechats in the field to the south. (AH)

Avocets and Lapwings (above) & Black-tailed Godwits, Gadwall and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were up to eight Siskins in Bluebell Wood this morning, but few other small birds about beyond a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the spit, where 18 Mediterranean Gulls and 12 Turnstones were on the beach. 

A Little Gull flew up through the harbour, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were in the main channel and a Greenshank, a Ringed Plover, a couple of Common Gulls, and the eight Bar-tailed Godwits were about again, whilst there were c1500 Dunlin, c500 Knot and c200 Grey Plovers out on the mud as the tide rose and a flock of at least 55 Avocets was at the top end of Ferry Channel..

About 50 Wigeon and 200 Brent Geese were in the south of the harbour, with vast numbers of the latter at the far end, along with c500 Golden Plovers and c2000 Lapwings. (RBe/AH)

Siskins (above), Avocets and Brent Geese (RBe), Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plovers, Knot and Grey Plovers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ringed Plover & Knot (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: A Water Rail was in the paddock, as well as a Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and a Song Thrush, with two Marsh Harriers over the reeds and a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk over, too.

Also, a Spotted Redshank was by the sluice in White's Creek, and a Rock Pipit and a Reed Bunting were along the wall, and on the Breech Pool there were a Little Grebe, four Gadwall and eight Tufted Ducks.

At Halsey’s Farm, the three White-fronted Geese were in the fields along with eight Canada Geese and six Brent Geese, whilst two Meadow Pipits and two Skylarks were along the fences, and at least six Chiffchaffs were in the bushes with four Reed Buntings, two Chaffinches, two Greenfinches and a few Goldfinches. (MJa/CT/LP/JC)

Early this evening, there were two Barn Owls at Halsey's Farm, along with a Sparrowhawk, whilst 16 Cattle Egrets flew in, heading for Owl Copse and c1500 Brent Geese went over, heading for the harbour.

Also, the three White-fronted Geese were in the fields by the Breech Pool, where there were three female Marsh Harriers about. (AH/SH)

White-fronted Geese (above), White-fronted Geese and Canada Goose, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Rock Pipit & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

 

Hunston: The Glossy Ibis was back in the flooded field along Mundham Road early this afternoon. (AB)

West Itchenor: A Black-throated Diver was on the water this afternoon, just west of the Northshore boatyard. (PH)

Birdham: Two Egyptian Geese were in the fields along the Straight, opposite the shops this morning. (AB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were just four Stonechats, a Cetti's Warbler, a Pied Wagtail, a dozen Meadow Pipits, c20 Skylarks and c70 Linnets along the banks this morning, with a Marsh Harrier and a good count of ten Buzzards going over.

Also, c150 Brent Geese were on the reserve and three Avocets, three Redshanks, five Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher and 21 Lapwings were on the Stilt Pol. (S&SaH)

Monday, 16th February: A bright, but fairly cool morning in a fresh and blustery westerly.....

Selsey Bill: A first-winter Little Gull went east, but it was generally another slow morning. Full log below. (P&LH/AH/IP/PB/JB)

(0745-0900hrs) W, F6)

Red-throated Diver - 8E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E

Brent Goose - 7E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 15

Little Gull - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 2W, 4os

auk sp - 1E

(1300-1400hrs) (P&LH)

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W

Turnstone - 27

Mediterranean Gull - 4os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 2W

auk sp - 1W

Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was back on the roadside pool this morning, and there were a lot of waders around the main pool and adjacent field, including three Spotted Redshanks, a Ruff, two Snipe, a dozen Avocets, c30 Redshanks and Golden Plovers, c50 Black-tailed Godwits and c1500 Lapwings.

There were also the usual wildfowl including eight Shelducks, six Gadwall, c80 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c200 Wigeon, with one or two Mediterranean and Common Gulls among the Back-headed Gulls. (AH/CRJ/PB/JB et al)

Green Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks, Gadwall and Shovelers & Avocets, Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The three Spotted Redshanks were again by the sluice this morning before the tide rose, and out in the harbour there was the usual vast amount of Lapwings, along with c300 Golden Plovers, whilst the three first-winter White-fronted Geese were in the Honer fields, along with114 Curlews, c100 Brent Geese, a Little Egret and Black-tailed Godwits and 15 Grey Herons, were in and around Owl Copse.

Two Rock Pipits were along the wall and on the Breech Pool there were eight Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe, whilst elsewhere, two Skylarks were at Halsey’s Farm, two Chaffinches, four Greenfinches, a Cetti’s Warbler and two Goldfinches were along the bushes, both male and female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, and a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and a Song Thrush were in the paddocks. (LP/CT/GHi/MJa/GR)

This evening a Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm and two Tawny Owls were heard. (BI)

Spotted Redshank (above), Rock Pipit, Brent Geese, Grey Herons & Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester Canal: Half a dozen Siskins were in the trees midway between the Donnington and Birdham Roads this morning, with a Redwing,  three Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests and eight Long-tailed Tits seen, too, along with two Little Grebes, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Buzzards. (P&LH)

Fishbourne Creek: A drake Goldeneye was in the creek this morning, along with eight Greenshanks, c50 Redshanks, c300 Black-tailed Godwits, two Little Egrets, four Little Grebes, seven Great Crested Grebes and lots of Wigeon and Brent Geese, plus two Buzzards over. (PB/JB)

Church Norton: Around half a dozen Siskins were among c25 Goldfinches in the trees at the bottom of the path to the harbour this morning, along with a Chiffchaff and a few Long-tailed Tits.

There were eight Bar-tailed Godwits - the most seen this winter - among the large numbers of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers getting pushed around by the rising tide, along with 500+ Brent Geese, c25 Common Gulls, half a dozen Pintail and c50 Wigeon and Teal.

Again there were vast numbers of birds coming up from the North Wall area, including c1000 Black-tailed Godwits, c500 Golden Plovers and 2000 Lapwings, presumably being disturbed by the couple of distantly viewable Marsh Harriers in the same area. (AH/CRJ)

Siskins (above), Long-tailed Tit, Bar-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and Knot, Grey Plovers and Knot & Common Gull at Church Norton (AH)