23rd - 24th May 2026

Sunday, 24th May: An even warmer morning under blue skies in just a light south-westerly breeze.............

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua and a Great Northern Diver offshore were the very modest highlights this morning. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH/JA)

(0600-0900hrs) (SSW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Gannet - 2W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 56os

Common Tern - 12os

Swift - 3

House Martin - 14

Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The two Common Terns were around the islands again this morning, along with a Greenshank, but only one Avocet chick could be seen.

There were still 36 adults present, though, along with five Redshanks, 93 Black-tailed Godwits, the pair of Shovelers, five Gadwall, three Shelducks and c20 Mallards, plus half a dozen Swallows. (AH)

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

Pagham Spit: There were at least 60 Little Terns around their island, though they were being quite flighty this morning, repeatedly going up when nothing else was happening.

There were also two or three Common Terns and vast numbers of Sandwich Terns about, whilst good numbers of waders were present, but mostly far out in the harbour, including c30 Grey Plovers and Turnstones, c50 Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers and c150 Dunlin. 

There were also half a dozen Common Seals hauled out and at least a dozen Painted Ladies along the spit. (AH)

Little Terns (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Terns, Dunlin, Common Seals & Painted Lady at Pagham Spit (AH)

North Wall: Along the reeds and bushes in the sunshine there were lots of small birds around, with good numbers of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Cetti’s Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tits, Linnets, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Cuckoo, a Song Thrush and two Mistle Thrushes were at Halsey’s Farm, and 22 Cattle Egrets were in the trees at Owl Copse early on, before they all headed off north.
A Shoveler and two Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and a Lapwing flew over the fields, with the male Marsh Harrier also around.
Also, a Grey Wagtail was by the sluice, and a couple of Swallows were along White’s Creek, but out in the harbour there were just two Curlews and a few Shelducks. (LP/JDW/KU/MJa/EB/SBr)

Grey Wagtail (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Cattle Egret & Shoveler at the North Wall (LP)

Chichester GPs: An Osprey went over the south of Chichester, immediately north of Ivy Lake early this afternoon. (CRN)

Runcton: South of the village this morning there were a pair of Mute Swans, 11 Shelducks, 16 Mallard, two Gadwall, 17 Tufted Ducks, five Pochard, a pair of Little Grebes, a Grey Heron, ten Coots, a pair of Black-headed Gulls, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, five Swallows, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Cetti’s Warblers, three Reed Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, two Whitethroats, several Roe Deer and a Brown Hare, plus two Painted Lady butterflies. (CRJ)

Chichester Canal: A look between the Birdham Road and Donnington this afternoon produced seven Reed Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, a Kestrel, a Stock Dove, a family party of Long-tailed Tits, a Moorhen pair with young and several families of Coots.

There were also at least ten Norfolk Hawkers, two Hairy Dragonflies, a Southern Hawker and a probable Lesser Emperor. (JA)

Sidlesham: Two Swifts and half a dozen Swallows were around Cow Lane today, along with a calling Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Chiffchaffs, plus a Sparrowhawk over. (AH)

Saturday, 23rd May: A very warm morning of unbroken sunshine, initially in just a light northerly breeze, though it freshened a little as it backed to the west later on........

Selsey Bill: Another unsurprisingly quiet morning, though 17 Common Scoters went east, two Fulmars and three Sanderlings went west and three Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/IP/JA)

(0600-0830hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 2E

Common Scoter - 17E

Sanderling - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 13E, 11os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 38os

Common Tern - 8os

Swift - 6

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 8

Mediterranean Gulls (above), Common Scoters & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was at the back and the pair of Common Terns were again looking interested in the islands this morning, whilst it looked like an Avocet was brooding young, with another 33 present, along with 65 Black-tailed Godwits, the pair of Shovelers, nine Gadwall, two Shelducks and c25 Mallards.

Also, the sedge Warbler was again singing from the Small Pool and one or two Whitethroats and Cetti's Warblers were in the Discovery Area. (AH/JA)

Common Sandpiper (above), Common Terns, Black-tailed Godwit & Sedge Warbler at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Two Barn Owls were seen around Halsey's farm at dusk this evening. (LP)

Church Norton: There were at least 200 Sandwich Terns out on the mud this morning, along with a dozen Little Terns and a couple of Common Terns, but a Whimbrel and a handful of Oystercatchers were the only waders present.

There wasn't much else to report beyond a Whitethroat and a Blackcap in the hedges and a couple of Swallows along Rectory Lane, plus lots of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls overhead throughout. (AH/IP)

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were eight Common Terns around their rafts this morning, whilst a pair of Lapwings were on the reserve, along with a Dunlin, and two Avocets were on the Stilt Pool, with five Swallows, a Buzzard and three Kestrels over.

The banks were fairly busy in the lighter winds, notably with four Dartford Warblers showing, whilst a good selection, otherwise, included c20 Whitethroats, a dozen Reed Warblers, four each of Chiffchaffs, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, a Blackcap, two Stonechats, a Pied Wagtail, five Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH/PB)

Chichester GPs: On Nunnery Lake there were six or so Norfolk Hawkers this afternoon, and there were also Kingfisher, a Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler, an Egyptian Goose and a surprise Firecrest present, too. (BI).

Chichester Canal: There were up to nine Norfolk Hawkers between Donnington and the Birdham Road this evening, along with a ,Hairy Dragonfly and a four-spotted Chaser. (AW)

Norfolk Hawker along Chichester Canal. (AW)

20th - 22nd May 2026

Friday, 22nd May: An increasingly warm and hazily sunny morning in a moderate south-easterly breeze........

Selsey Bill: There was little bit of activity again this morning, including a flock of eight Arctic Terns and 21 Common Scoters east and five Eider west, whilst four Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. 

(SH/BI/AH/LP/SP/IP)

(0545-0815hrs) (SE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Gannet - 2E, 11W, 2os

Shelduck - 3E

Eider - 5W

Common Scoter - 21E, 10W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Dunlin - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 49os

Common Tern - 9os

Arctic Tern - 8E

Little Tern - 5os

Razorbill - 1W

Swallow - 4

House Martin - 8

Sandwich Tern (above) & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The two Avocets were at the back with their parents this morning, with another 34 adults, 63 Black-tailed Godwits, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, the pair of Shovelers, eight Gadwall, 11 Shelducks and c30 Mallards also present. (AH)

Later, two Common Terns were on the islands and a Cattle Egret was in the field. (LP/SP/PA)

Avocet chicks (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Shovelers & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The two first-summer Little Terns were present again this morning. (PA)

Later, there were just a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and the vast amount of terns and gulls present, and not much else! (LP/SP)

The Little Gulls were still present this afternoon, on the near high-tide, along with c50 Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers and c100 Dunlin, with large numbers of Sandwich Terns feeding in the harbour. (AH)

Little Gull (above) & Sanderlings at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: At least two Cuckoos -one at each end - were along the wall this morning, with at least two Marsh Harriers active behind the Breech Pool, the Kingfishers were around Owl Water again, c25 Cattle Egrets were in the fields at Halsey's Farm and a Red Kite went over Honer Farm..

Also, the Swallows were around the stables and Reed Buntings, Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers were along the wall - with several of the latter being very vocal and conspicuous, but the harbour was very quiet on the low tide. (AH/MaJ et al)

Cuckoo (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cattle Egret & Red Kite at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were nine Common Terns and two Sandwich Terns over the reserve this morning, along with seven Swifts, nine Swallows, three Kestrels and five Buzzards, whilst a Whimbrel was on the reserve, but two Avocets were the only things of note on the Stilt Pool.

There was a fair selection of the regular species along the banks, including c20 Whitethroats, a dozen Reed Warblers, half a dozen Sedge Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff, two Stonechats, five Reed Buntings and c20 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole farm - There were c30 Swifts over the fields this evening, but just a handful of House Martins, with the only Swallows seen being on ~Ham Road.

Otherwise, there were just a Skylark, two Pied Wagtails and a handful of Whitethroats about. (AH)

Swift (above), House Martin, Skylark & Whitethroat at Medmerry (AH)

Chichester GPs: Six Norfolk Hawkers were present today as well as two broods of Common Pochards. (SM)

Thursday, 21st May: At long last, and after a grey a breezy start, a change in the weather, with the temperature rising and the southerly winds easing....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much going on this morning, though a Great Northern Diver went west and a pod of ten or so Bottle-nosed Dolphins went east. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0630-0800hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Greet Northern Diver - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 1W, 2os

Common Scoter - 10E

Sanderling - 1

Whimbrel - 2W, then E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 3W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 8os

Little Tern - 8os

Razorbill - 2W

House Martin - 6

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 10E

Great Northern Diver (above), Sanderling, Sandwich Tern & House Martin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was very similar to yesterday this morning, with a Little Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 38 Black-tailed Godwits and 33 Avocets - including the first two chicks of the year, but not much else beyond three Gadwall, eight Shelducks and c30 Mallards. 

Also, a Lesser Whitethroat was along the Tramway. (AH/AW)

Gadwall and Black-tailed Godwits (above), Black-tailed Godwits (AH) * Lesser Whitethroat (AW) at the Ferry 

Long Pool: The pair of Great Crested Grebes still had two chicks with them this morning. (AW)

Great Crested Grebe family along the Long Pool (AW)

North Wall: There were three Cuckoos around this evening, along with a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, four Swifts, four Swallows, two Sand Martins, three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers. (S&SaH)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report in a brief look this morning, though c150 Sandwich Terns were sitting out, with half a dozen Little Terns and three Common Terns, but waders were restricted to a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, a curlew and a handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. (AH)

Dunlin (above), Little Tern & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 20th May: Another very blustery morning, fairly mild, with a mix of sunshine and fast-moving cloud in the fresh south-westerly.....

Selsey Bill: A Storm Petrel was lingering offshore for a short while early this morning, and there were a few more Great Northern Divers about than of late. Full log below. (PA/SH/AW/PB/AH)

(0530-0900hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 3W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1E, 1W

Storm Petrel - 1W (0605-0615hrs)

Gannet - 4E, 57W

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 19E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Sanderling - 4W

Mediterranean Gull -

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W, 5os

Kittiwake - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 120os

Common Tern - 5os

Little Tern - 18os

Guillemot - 3W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 1W

Swift - 2

Swallow - 3

House Martin - 6

A flock of 35 Sanderlings that dropped in on the beach was the highlight. Full log below. (SH)

(1615-1730hrs)

Shag - 1W

Sanderling - 35

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 29os

Common Tern - 3os

Little Tern - 8os

Guillemot - 1W, 1os

House Martin - 4

Great Northern Diver (above), Fulmar, Kittiwake, Little Terns (AW), Common Tern, Sanderlings & House Martin (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 39 Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were on the pool this morning, with another c25 of the latter in the channel, along with a Greenshank, whilst wildfowl on the pool comprised a pair of Shovelers, three Gadwall, six Shelducks and c20 Mallard. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Greenshank & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Three Spotted Flycatchers were behind the hide this morning, rising to four by early afternoon, and a Wheatear was on the concrete blocks, though otherwise it was just the usual odd Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat present.

There was no sign of any Roseate Terns this morning, though 100+ Sandwich Terns, c20 Little Terns and three or four Common Terns were on the mud, along with just a few Ringed Plovers and a Black-tailed Godwit. (S Wilson/AH/PB/NR/TG-P/HR/DMe/AW et al)

Also, the two first-summer Little Gulls were back in the harbour this afternoon, along with two Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwits, three Grey Plovers and c60 Ringed Plovers. (AWi)

Spotted Flycatchers (above), Wheatear & Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was very windy along the wall this morning, and predictably there wasn’t much to see, although three Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, and two Swifts were higher up, whilst along the bushes there was a Cuckoo and a few Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, and Reed Buntings, with a Lesser Whitethroat calling at Owl Copse..

The regular Swallows were around the stables, and a Green Woodpecker flew through, but out in the harbour there was just a Curlew and a Whimbrel out on the mud. (LP/KU/CT/SP/MJa/DHo)

Cuckoo (above), Swallow & Sedge Warbler at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the sheltered hedges along Cow Lane this afternoon, with a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a juvenile Blackcap and a family of Long-tailed Tits also about, plus a couple of Swifts and a handful of Swallows going over. (PA/AH)