4th May 2026

Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May: A very grey and overcast morning, only brightening slowly, but quite mild in the light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A fairly quiet morning, though a Pomarine Skua was an unexpected highlight, whilst 37 Brent Geese went east, too, three Eider went west and a Tree Pipit and two Yellow Wagtail came in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/AH et al)

(0500-0930hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 8W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 37E

Eider - 3W

Common Scoter - 31E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 4W, 1 present

Sanderling - 3E, 1W

Whimbrel - 5E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0909hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E, 3os

Great Black-backed Gull - 8E, 4W, 13os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 140os

Common Tern - 12os

Little Tern - 22os

Cuckoo - 1 (heard)

Swift - 4

Swallow - 12N, 4 present

House Martin - 6

Tree Pipit - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 1

(1415-1615hrs) (JA/SH)

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 8W

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 15os

Little Tern - 8os

Eider (above), Brent Geese, Red-throated Divers & Little Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Wood Sandpiper was around again, though often elusive, whilst the Black-tailed Godwit count had risen to 44 and the Avocet count was down to 11, along with a couple of Redshanks, and in the channel opposite there were still two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and a Whimbrel.

Also, two Common Terns dropped in briefly and there were a lot of wildfowl on the pool, including c70 Shelducks, c50 adult Mallards and c30 ducklings in four different families, with 11 Gadwall and a Shoveler about, too. (PA/AH)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank & Common Terns at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: It was busy in the paddocks this morning, with six Yellow Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, 16 Linnets, three Swallows, four Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, a Whitethroat, two Reed Buntings, and two Cuckoos about, with another Cuckoo and four Marsh Harriers further back.

Along the wall, the reeds were full of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers, while on the Breech Pool there were seven Tufted Ducks, two Shelducks and a Great Crested Grebe. Another Cuckoo was at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was about and two Swifts passed high overhead but the only other bird of note was a Gadwall by the outfall. (LP/MJa/CT)

Yellow Wagtails (above), Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two or three Reed Warblers were singing from the reeds this morning, but a Shelduck was the only thing of note on the flooded field, whilst in the adjacent Yeoman's field there was little to report beyond two or three Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above) & Whitethroat at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: Apart from the endless activity around the colony, it was quiet this morning, with just half a dozen Whimbrel and a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits on the mud and just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the hedges. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Greenshank, whilst five Common Terns were over the reserve and a Little Tern and two Sandwich Terns went east offshore and a Yellow Wagtail and 42 Swallows came in off the sea..

Also, three Lapwings and two Egyptian Geese were on the reserve, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and four Buzzards went over

The banks were quite busy in the stiller conditions, and included a family part of two adult and three juvenile Stonechats, c30 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a B lackcap, four Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, six Sedge Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, five Reed Buntings and 13 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights of a quiet morning included 20 Whimbrel, two Greenshanks and a Lesser Whitethroat. (RW)

Chichester GPs: The curious family of two drake and one duck Red-crested Pochard and their four ducklings were all still on New Lake this morning. (PA)

1st - 3rd May 2026

Sunday, 3rd May: A hazy morning of mist and the odd bit of sunshine, though quite warm in the light south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was another slow day, though four Arctic Skuas went east, 84 sanderlings went west, three Yellow Wagtails came in off the sea and there were still six Great Northern Divers and plenty of terns offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/BI/AH/OM et al)

(0500-1715hrs) (WSW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 4E, 11W, 2os

Brent Goose - 4E

Shelduck - 2

Gadwall - 2W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 37E, 4W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 10W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 11E, 84W, 2 present

Dunlin - 2

Whimbrel - 12W

Bar-railed Godwit - 1W

Turnstone - 15

Arctic Skua - 4E

Mediterranean - 5E, 19W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4E, 1W, 15os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 44w, 11os

Common Tern - 17E, 12os

'Commic' Tern - 5E

Little Tern - 32os

auk sp - 2W

Swallow - 17N, 5 present

Sand Martin - 1N

House Martin - 8

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Linnet - 2W

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Wood Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with a Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 13 Avocets, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelducks, seven Gadwall and c40 Shelducks, whilst three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and Whimbrel were in Ferry Channel, and another dozen or so Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Knot and c100 Dunlin were in the harbour off the Tramway.

Also, a Cuckoo was calling from the back of the Ferry and three Common Terns went over east, with two Marsh Harriers about, too, whilst three Lesser Whitethroats and half a dozen or so Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were around the Tramway circuit, and three Reed Warblers were in Red Barn Ditch. (PA/AH)

Ringed Plover & Shelducks (above), Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

The three Bar-tailed Godwits and two Greenshank were still in Ferry Channel this evening. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Egyptian Geese were in the first field out from the stables; a handful of Swallows and c30 House Martins were around the buildings and two Swifts were zooming around high up, whilst a Reed Warbler was calling from the rife and four Shelducks were sat in the middle of a field, with Skylarks displaying above. (IP)

Church Norton: A lone Greenshank was off the benches this morning, with other waders including 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, four Whimbrel, a flock of 11 Dunlin, two Redshanks and a few Oystercatchers, whilst 20 Little Terns were stood together on the mud in front of Tern Island, which was crammed full of Black-headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, a smaller number of Mediterranean Gulls and a pair of Canada Geese.

In the Severals Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were all present along with the male Reed Bunting on its' usual bush, whilst a Cuckoo was also present with Bluebell Wood holding a Great Spotted Woodpecker, numerous Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps, with a female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel also noted. (IP)

This evening c200 Dunlin dropped in from somewhere in the harbour, though couple of Whimbrel and c20 Bar-tailed Godwits were the only other waders seen, whilst the Sandwich Terns were very active, displaying and fish passing and mating around the islands. (AHu/AH)

Sandwich Terns (above) & Sandwich Terns and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Two Cuckoos flew across the harbour this morning, with another calling from the trees, and two Swallows, a Whitethroat, two Linnets and a Jay were around the paddock, while a very pale Buzzard was high overhead.

It was just the usual mix of species along the wall though, with the reeds full of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, and Reed Buntings, the young Grey Herons were showing well in Owl Copse, and three Marsh Harriers were further back over the reeds, and there were also two Painted Ladies were along the bushes. (LP/MJa/KU/EB/SBr)

Cuckoo (EB top 2, LP lower)  (above), Sedge Warbler (LP top, EB lower), Swallow, Reed Bunting (LP), Goldfinch (EB), Buzzard, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret & Painted Lady (LP) at the North Wall

East side: There was a nice selection of waders along the harbour on the rising tide, including c40 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Whimbrel, eight Knot, two Dunlin and two Curlews, with a few Sandwich Terns and Little Terns visible towards the harbour mouth, and there were also c40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the mud and eight Common Seals were hauled out..

Also, a Cuckoo was calling from the Slipe field and a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Whitethroats were along the hedges. (AH)

A Cuckoo was calling from the west side of the caravan park by the Slipe Field this evening. (S Keen)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Grey Plovers, Knot, Brent Goose & Common Seals along the East side (AH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - A Spoonbill was present again on the Stilt Pool this morning

Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards, plus the additional male, would appear to have got four of their ducklings across the A27 to the relative safety of New Lake, and were looking settled there this afternoon. 

Also, a Red Kite went over and a couple of Common Terns and a couple of Goldcrests were present, too.(AHu/AH/IP)

Red-crested Pochard family at Chichester GPs (AH)

Saturday, 2nd May: After a very murky and grey start, the morning slowly improved into bright and warm sunshine in just a light south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A predictably quiet morning after yesterday's excitement, with a Velvet Scoter and two Arctic Skuas among a very modest eastwards passage, whilst eight Great Northern Divers and over 70 Little Terns offshore added some interest. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/BI/PA/IP/AH/MRB/AGB/JBo et al)

(0500-1530hrs) (WSW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 19E, 10W

Shelduck - 7E

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Common Scoter - 84E, 8W

Oystercatcher - 12E, 15W

Ringed Plover - 3W

Sanderling - 6E, 9W, 1 present

Dunlin - 1W

Whimbrel - 2E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 40E, 6W

Turnstone - 1W

Arctic Skua - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 1W, 2os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 2W, 12os

Sandwich Tern - 200E, 66os

Common Tern - 32E, 8os

'Commic' Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 1E, 72os

Razorbill - 1E

auk sp - 1E, 1W

Swift - 1N, 1 present

Swallow - 48N

House Martin - 8

Wheatear - 1

Highlight of a quiet afternoon watch was a Puffin that went east, well offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH et al)

(1620-1800hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Dunlin - 5E

Whimbrel - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 7os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 12os

Common Tern - 2E

'Commic' Tern - 2E

Little Tern - 1E, 24os

Puffin - 1E (1640hrs)

Little Terns (above), Dunlin & Shelducks and Oystercatchers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was a change this morning, with all the small waders, bar a Little Ringed Plover, moving out and 24 Black-tailed Godwits moving in, whilst there were three Bar-tailed Godwits, four Greenshanks and at least seven Whimbrel in Ferry Channel, with over a dozen of the latter and Bar-tailed Godwits and 120 Dunlin off the Tramway.

Also, 14 Avocets, six Gadwall, four Shovelers and 44 Shelducks were on the pool and three or four Painted Ladies were about, too.. (PA/AH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocets & Painted Lady at the Ferry (AH)

This evening there were two Greenshanks on the pool, with two more, four Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and three Redshanks in the channel opposite. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit & Bar-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: At least a dozen Reed Warblers and half a dozen Sedge Warblers and whitethroats were along the pool and hedges this morning, together with four Reed Buntings and 20 Linnets, whilst the pair of Little Grebes had at least two tiny chicks with them and the pair of Shovelers were in Ferry Channel, along with half a dozen Redshanks, and a Painted Lady flew through.. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Linnet, Shoveler & Little Grebe family at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Whinchat and a Lesser Whitethroat were along the front this morning, though the hedges were generally quiet, whilst out in the harbour there were 28 Bar-tailed Godwits, eight Whimbrel, c40 Little Terns and c200 Sandwich Terns. 

Also, a Painted Lady was in the car-park.(AGB/MRB/JBo/AH)

Whimbrel (above), Little and Sandwich Terns & Painted Lady at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Cuckoo was calling all morning whilst moving between the paddock and Halsey’s Farm, and along the reeds and bushes there were many Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, and Whitethroats.

Two Shovelers and two Gadwall were on the Breech Pool, but there were just six Cattle Egrets, a Linnet, and two Skylarks around the fields, whilst a Song Thrush and a Pied Wagtail were in the paddock, and two Swallows were on the fences by the stables, but the only other sighting of note was six Painted Lady butterflies on the wing. (LP/JDW)

Cuckoo (above), Swallow & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

East Side: On the rising tide there were c180 waders along the East Side, including three Greenshanks, 12 Whimbrels, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 95 Dunlin, 36 Grey Plovers, and 19 Knot, whilst six Sandwich Terns and a Brent Goose were about, too, and two Lesser Whitethroats and two Whitethroats, plus a few Painted Ladies were along the bushes. (LP/S Keen)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover & Grey Plovers and Knot along the East side (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Cuckoos were about this morning, whilst 28 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, four Chiffchaffs, 14 Reed Warblers, seven Sedge Warblers, a Stonechat, four Reed Buntings and eight Yellowhammers along the banks.

Also two Common Terns were around the reserve, along with a Cattle Egret, two Egyptian Geese, a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel, whilst a Sandwich Tern went east offshore. (S&SaH)

Friday, 1st May: As the wind eased, a warm and sunny morning in a moderate breeze, initially from the east before veering to the south-east.....

Selsey Bill: Highlight by a distance for a big gathering of observers were the two Bee-eaters that flew in from the south-east at 1035hrs and lingered around the area for a good 45 minutes before drifting off south.

Otherwise, there was some activity offshore, though not as much as anticipated, including a close Pomarine Skua and three distant ones, five Arctic Skuas, a Velvet Scoter, a Black-throated Diver and a few waders, plus a Hobby in off. Full log below.(JA/SH/PB/PM/BI/IP/AB/JF/RHa/AH/OM/AHu//MRe/LP/SP/JFi/JDa/KT/LGRE et al)

(0500-1200hrs) (ESE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 2E

diver sp - 1E

Fulmar - 3E

Gannet - 52E, 13W

Brent Goose - 14E

Shelduck - 2E, 2W

Velvet Scoter - 1E

Common Scoter - 190E, 18os

Hobby - 1N

Peregrine - 1E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W

Sanderling - 1W

Whimbrel - 23E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 47E

Common Sandpiper - 1

Turnstone - 1W

Pomarine Skua - 4E (1 at 0938hrs & 3 at 0950hrs)

Arctic Skua - 5E, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W

Common Gull - 20E, 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 38E, 1W, 6os

Kittiwake - 14E

Sandwich Tern - 123E, 90os

Common Tern - 38E

'Commic' Tern - 50E

Little Tern - 4E, 32os

Razorbill - 1E

Bee-eater - 2 (1035-1120hrs)

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 9N, 2 present

House Martin - 6

Pied Wagtail - 1N, 1 present

Bee-eaters (AH top 3, PM middle 4, AB lower 3) (above), Pomarine Skua (PM), Arctic Skua, Black-throated Diver, Kittiwakes & Little Tern (AH) at the Bill

Bee-eater spotters (above), distracted by a rare moth (OM) & OM prepared for all eventualities (AH) at the Bill

(1200-1900hrs) (PB/AHu/SH/OM/I{P/JA/AH/JFi et al)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 5E, 4W

Brent Goose - 16E

Eider - 2E

Common Scoter - 16E

Oystercatcher - 3W

Whimbrel - 4E

Common Sandpiper - 1

Arctic Skua - 6E, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 10W, 2os

Black-headed Gull - 19W

Great Black-backed Gull - 7W, 8os

Sandwich Tern - 9E, 100os

Little Tern - 3E, 36os

Razorbill - 2os

Swallow - 15N

House Martin - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 2os

Arctic Skua at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still one Little Stint and two Wood sandpipers on the pool this morning, along with three Common Sandpipers, three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Ringed Plover, 14 Avocets, two Redshanks, six Shovelers, eight Gadwall and 28 Shelducks. (AH/AB/OM/KT et al)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Little Ringed Plover & Wood Sandpiper and Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was in the harbour this evening, along with eight Whimbrel, a Curlew and 44 Bar-tailed Godwits, plus c20 Little Terns and c250 Sandwich Terns. (AH)

Curlew Sandpiper (above), Curlew Sandpiper and Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

West Itchenor: Two Grey Partridges were in fields just south of Chalkdock Copse this morning. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool -  Along the banks today were 22 Whitethroats, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Dartford Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, five Sedge Warblers,, four Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, five Reed Buntings and six Yellowhammers, plus Swallow over, whilst the Stilt Pool held a Greenshank, eight B ar-tailed Godwits and three Common Terns.

Also, a Slow-worm was seen and a Buzzard was seen carrying off an Adder. (S&SaH)

Buzzard with an Adder at Medmerry (SaH)