10th - 12th February 2025

Wednesday, 12th February: Another cold and very grey morning in a moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was very quiet this morning, with half a dozen Great Northern Divers offshore the best. Full log below. (AH/P&LH/LP/SR)

(0750-0910hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 10E, 2os

Great crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 2E, 2W

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 3W

Common Scoter - 1E

Turnstone - 10

Sandwich Tern -1os

Great Northern Divers at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon a first-winter Shag was feeding along the shoreline. (AW)

Shag at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c50 Lapwings on/over the field this morning, but a reduced wildfowl contingent consisted of eight Gadwall, two Shelducks, a dozen Mallard and c50 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Shovelers (above), Gadwall & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were good numbers of waders in the harbour on the rising tide, including the Whimbrel, a Greenshank, two Bar-tailed Godwits, c200 Knot, c300 Dunlin, c250 Grey Plovers, c100 Ringed Plovers and c500 Lapwings, with wildfowl including c1000 Brent Geese, c30 Pintail, c50 Wigeon and c40 Teal and Shelducks.

A Kingfisher was also about, but a single Slavonian Grebe and a dozen Great Crested Grebes were all that could be found on the sea, whilst a Redwing, two Mistle Thrushes, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were the best the bushes had to offer, along with six Red-legged Partridges in the fields. (P&LH)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Whimbrel & Whimbrel and Greenshank at Church Norton (LP)

West Itchenor: There wasn't much to report from here this morning, with a Kingfisher, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a few Grey Plovers and Redshanks and c100 Brent Geese the only things along the foreshore, and two Little Grebes and two Great Crested Grebes the only things on the water, and all that could be found around Chalkdock Copse and adjacent fields were a couple of Redwings and half a dozen Song Thrushes and Yellowhammers. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Black-tailed Godwit, grey Plover and Black-tailed godwits & Brent Geese at West Itchenor (AH)

Tuesday, 11th February: It remains cold and heavily overcast, but overnight the breeze had dropped right down to just a light northerly.......

Selsey Bill: There was a good easterly movement of 101 Red-throated Divers this morning, with another 22 and at least ten Great Northern Divers on the sea, but nothing much else was moving beyond some very distant Common Scoters. Full log below. (AH/SR et al)

(0745-0915hrs) (N, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 10os

Red-throated Diver - 101E, 8W, 22os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 38E, 22W, 30os

Common Scoter - 80E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W, 9os

Turnstone - 8

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Ferry Pool: There were four pairs of Gadwall on the pool this morning, plus a Shelduck, c50 Shovelers and Teal, with c150 Wigeon on the field, and there was also a Kingfisher in the channel opposite. (AH)

Church Norton: A total of seven Slavonian Grebes and the drake Long-tailed Duck were offshore late this morning. (SM)

Earlier there were just a Great Northern Diver, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and five Great Crested Grebes on the sea and a Red-throated Diver west, whist the harbour held c500 Brent Geese, four Pintail, a few Wigeon and Teal, but most of the waders were on the far side, though c30 Grey Plovers were on the metalwork and a flock of c300 Golden Plovers flew up from the far end. (AH)

Wigeon (above) & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Water Rail was again at the back of the paddocks, where there were also eight Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, a Green Woodpecker, four Greenfinches and two Chaffinches.
Also, a Rock Pipit was along the wall, a Chiffchaff was in the bushes, and 27 Curlews were in the fields, but the highlight of the morning was the flock of c3000 Brent Geese that landed noisily along White’s Creek. (LP/TRH/MJa)

Water Rail (above), Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit & Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Coastguards - There were another three Great Northern Divers on the sea here, but nothing else bar a Red-throated Diver on the sea and two east. (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: Around high tide there were two male Goldeneyes off the Lavant outflow and three Greenshanks were in the wader roost off Dell Quay. (RW)

Monday, 10th February: Another cold and very grey morning in a fresh north-easterly breeze...

Selsey Bill: It was slow this morning in poor visibility, with just a nix of the regular species seen. Full log below. (AH/P&LH/IP/SR/AW)

(0740-0910hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 7E, 10W, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 33E, 3W, 5os

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Guillemot - 3E

Razorbill - 10E

Guillemots (above), Red-throated Diver & Shags at the Bill (AW)

This afternoon there were up to eight Sandwich Terns offshore, along with 20 Common scoters, eight Red-throated Divers and a few Common Gulls. (PA/AW)

Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AW above & PA)

Ferry Pool: There were three Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits around the pool and field this morning, along with c500 Lapwings, a drake Gadwall, four Shelducks, c25 Mallard, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c200Wigeon. (AH)

Later on, a Marsh Harrier went over. (PJ)

Avocets, Lapwing & Black-tailed Godwits (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Water Rail was along the fence line at the back of the paddock, but there wasn’t much else about, beyond the usual selection of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Lapwing and Golden Plover, and the large Brent Geese flock constantly moving between the harbour and the Rookery Lane area. (LP)

Pintail (above), Teal & Brent Geese at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Coastguards - There were just a single Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver on the sea this morning, with two Red-throated Divers east and a dozen distant feeding Gannets. (AH)

Later in the morning there were nine Common Scoters and ten Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. (PJ)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - Among the waders around the breach today, there were a Sanderling. a Greenshank, a Snipe, 200 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and c350 Golden Plovers, with an Egyptan Goose also about, and up to 15 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore.

There were also a Dartford Warbler,, six Stonechats, eight Yellowhammers, four Reed Buntings and c20 Meadow Pipits about. (PA)

Yellowhammer at Medmerry (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Four Little Grebes, 20 Lapwings, eight Dunlin, three Ringed Plovers, 27 Teal, 12 Tufted Ducks, eight Gadwall and a Stonechat was all I could find in the drizzle this afternoon. (SR)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - A Snipe, a Stonechat, three Skylarks and c40 Yellowhammers were seen today. (PJ)

Drayton: This morning there were at least 50 Cattle egrets on the fields by the Drayton railway crossing - right on (or possibly just beyond!) the borders of the Peninsula. (PJ)

This afternoon there were up to 100 birds in those fields. (SH)

Runcton: A female Blackcap was in the garden this morning. (CRJ)

Chichester Canal: A flock of around 40 Siskins were feeding in the birches on the north side, at the Birdham Road end, late this morning. (AH/BI)

Siskins at Chichester Canal (AH)

7th - 9th February 2025

Sunday, 9th February: Another cold morning, with the north-easterly breeze persisting, though with slightly less cloud cover and the odd glimpse of sun later on.......

Diary notes: Pre-blog years (1975-2012) - Updating of this feature has continued and I have now added additional details, taking us up until the end of the 1990's. Just click the link on the title bar. (OM)

Selsey Bill: There were quite a few Red-throated Divers on the move - both east and west - this morning, and a Black-throated Diver went east, along with a steady flow of Gannets and auks, and three Slavonian Grebes were about, too. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/MRB/BI/AH/IP)

(0715-0930hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 42E, 56W, 1os

diver sp - 3W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 1os

Gannet - 71E, 17W, 6os

Shag - 2E

Pintail - 2W

Common Scoter - 3W, 11os

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 3W, 12os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 2E, 13 present

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1os

Common Gull - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7os

Guillemot - 2E

Razorbill - 23E, 1os

auk sp - 371E

Mistle Thrush - 1E

Jackdaw - 30

(1420-1520hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe- 1os

Gannet - 14E, 6W

Common Scoter - 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1os

Turnstone - 5

Kittiwake - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 3os

auk sp - 1E

Black-throated Diver (above), Red-throated Divers & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 700 Lapwings were on the field this morning, along with c50 Black-tailed Godwits and c300 Wigeon, before they were all spooked by something unseen, and there were also still c50 Shovelers and Teal about, whilst a Chiffchaff was in the hedges. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A first-winter Caspian Gull was on the shingle bar near the harbour entrance this morning. 

There were also a Bar-tailed Godwit, c200 Knot, c400 Golden Plovers and many Brent Geese present. (PB/MRB)

East Side: A look along the East side on the dropping tide produced vast numbers of birds, primarily at least 2000 Brent Geese, c3000 Lapwings and c1500 Golden Plovers, with c500 Knot and Dunlin also present.

There were also ten Avocets, four Bar-tailed Godwits, c100 Grey Plovers and c150 Redshanks about, along with c20 Shelducks, c80 Pintail, c50 Teal and c200 Wigeon. (AH)

Golden Plovers (above), Golden Plovers, Lapwing and Brent Geese, Pintails, Lapwings and Brent Geese, Avocets & Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plovers and Knot along the Est side (AH)

West Itchenor: There were both a Coal Tit and a Firecrest in the trees in the car-park this morning. (BI)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Stonechat, a Pied Wagtail and 21 Yellowhammers were all that could be found along the banks, plus four Buzzards over, with an Avocet, a Snipe, five Ringed Plovers and ten Dunlin about it for the Stilt Pool. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 8th February: Another cold, heavily overcast morning in a moderate north-easterly breeze, with persistent drizzly rain setting in later...

Diary notes: Pre-blog years (1975-2012) - Updating of this feature has continued and I have now added additional details, taking us up until the end of the 1990's. It has been interesting and recalls a range of good birds and other things... a mega wader that turned into an even bigger mega, a tornado, a wader that left a bit of a feeling of injustice, despair as Pontins came and went, and more. Just click the link on the title bar. (OM)

Selsey Bill: An immature Eider and six Shags east, a Fulmar west and a Black-throated Diver dropping in offshore were the highlights of a quiet morning. Full log later. (SH/BI/IP/AH/RWh/SR)

(0715-0900hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W, 5os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 7E, 1W

Shag - 6E

Eider - 1E

Common Scoter - 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 3W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 2W

Sanderling - 2E

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Common Gull - 1E

Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a single Avocet, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwings present aroud the pool this morning, along with c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c200 Wigeon.

Also, unexpectedly, three Lesser Redpolls flew over the hide, calling, and a female Marsh Harrier drifted over, going west. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above), Avocet & Black-tailed Godwits and Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Seley Peninsula: All three Long-eared Owls were still present today. (Eds)

Church Norton: Three female Marsh Harriers came in to roost in the Severals this evening, with a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a calling Cetti's Warbler also about, and a flock of hundreds of Lapwings and Golden Plovers could be seen coming up from the Medmerry area. (SH)

North Wall: There was a huge gathering of in excess of 2000 Brent Geese on the fields at Halsey's Farm before they later relocated to Rookery Lane, with a couple of Common Gulls, c200 Wigeon and c40 Curlews also present.

There were also at least 2000 Lapwings in the harbour, along with a Black-tailed Godwit, c400 Knot and plenty of Dunlin and Grey Plovers, whilst at least 40 Pintail were about, a female Marsh Harrier went over and a Rock Pipit was along the wall. (IP/RWh/AH/KJ et al)

Rock Pipit (above), Pintail & Brent Geese and Wigeon at the North Wall (AH)

This afternoon at least six Lesser Redpolls were in their usual spot at Halsey’s Farm, with eight Chaffinches also about, a Barn Owl was hunting over the fields by the Rrife, and c2000 Brent Geese were moving between the harbour and Rookery Lane.

Also, a Goldcrest was with a small group of Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits, moving along the hedgerows, 26 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Curlews were in the fields, and the male Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds behind the Breech Pool, whilst the Grey Wagtail was again in the paddocks, along with a Pied Wagtail, a Meadow Pipit, and a Jay, with a Sparrowhawk in the bushes further back. (LP/MRi).

Lesser Redpolls (above), Barn Owl, Grey Wagtail & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Peregrine, a Greenshank and a Water Rail were on the reserve this morning, whilst an Avocet, two Snipe, five Ringed Plovers and seven Dunlin were on the Stilt Pool.

Also, a Dartford Warbler, a Goldcrest, two Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and nine Yellowhammers were along the banks ()S&SaH)

Friday, 7th February: A cold and very grey morning, with just the odd spots of rain, in a fresh and blustery north-easterly...

Selsey Bill: There were a few bits of interest on a fairly slow morning, including a Black-throated Diver and a Guillemot east, two Velvet Scoters and two Fulmars west and a Blackcap in the gardens. Full log below. (BI/AH/SR/LL/AW)

(0730-0900hrs) (NE, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 3os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 12E, 4W, 5os

diver sp - 4E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 3os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 1E

Brent Goose - 14W

Velvet Scoter - 2W

Common Scoter - 7W, 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 4os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Common Gull - 2W

Guillemot - 1E

Razorbill - 3E

auk sp - 4E

Blackcap - 1

Guillemot (AW) (above), Fulmar, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Divers (AH) & Grey Seal (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were ten Avocets and c75 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, and three Snipe flew out of the roadside reeds, whilst there were still plenty of wildfowl about, including four Shelducks, c60 Shovelers, c150 Teal and c250 Wigeon. (AH)

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

North Wall: There wasn't too much along the wall, but a Rock Pipit, a Raven and a Snipe were about, together with the huge flock of c2500 Brent Geese, with the Pale-bellied bird among them. (PA/LP)

East side: A second-winter Caspian Gull was among the Great Black-backed Gulls in the harbour this afternoon. 

There was also a Lesser Black-backed Gull among the flock, a pair of Peregrines were hunting over the harbour together, and two Red-breasted Mergansers, 60 Pintail, a Whimbrel, five Bar-ailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 350 Knot, 750 Golden Plovers, c2500 Lapwings, 70 Grey Plovers, four Mediterranean Gulls and seven Common Gulls present.(PA)

Caspian Gull along the East side (PA)

Hunston: There were nine Cattle Egrets in the fields today. (PA)

Medmerry: Coastguards - There were only three Common Scoters offshore this morning, but there were also six Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Northern Divers on the sea and seven Red-throated Divers flew east. (AH)

Common Scoters (above) & Red-throated Divers at Medmerry (AH)