1st - 2nd October 2026

Friday, 2nd October: After more overnight rain, another very warm and sunny morning in a moderate south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was a surprising amount of activity this morning, including the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn, heading west, along with a couple of late Common Terns, 19 Brent Geese, 245 Gannets, a Woodlark, 21 Skylarks and 429 Meadow Pipits. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/P&LH)

(0700-0930hrs) (SW, F4)

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 7E, 245W, 50os

Shag - 3E

Mute Swan - 3E

Brent Goose - 19W

Common Scoter - 3E, 2W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 13W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 8W

Common Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 2E

auk sp - 9W

Skylark - 21W

Woodlark - 1W

Swallow - 56E

Grey Wagtail - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 11W

Meadow Pipit - 429W

Stonechat - 1W

Linnet - 51W

Goldfinch - 15

(1400-1600hrs) (P&LH/SH)

Gannet - 2W, 90os

Shag - 1W

Turnstone - 22

Mediterranean Gull - 19W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 2W, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 1W, 6os

Common Tern - 1W

Swallow - 2E

Pied Wagtail - 1

Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Late this morning a Marsh Harrier was hunting over Ferry Field, whilst the pool just held c75 Lapwings and six Teal, with two Dunlin and c20 Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Marsh Harrier (above) & Dunlin at the Ferry (AH)

A look later produced a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, six Dunlin, 20 Curlews and 98 Redshanks along the channel, whilst a Hobby was hunting over the Long Pool, a Stonechat and half a dozen Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were in the hedges, and a Buzzard was about, too. (P&LH)

Hobby (above) & Buzzard at the Ferry (LH)

Long Pool: This evening, up to ten Stonechats were active among the reeds in the pool, whilst along the path there were a couple of Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Blackcaps and Reed Buntings and a dozen Linnets.

Also, two Snipe were on the pool, a Marsh Harrier went over and three Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank were among the Redshanks at the far end of Ferry Channel. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Chiffchaff & Snipe at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: There were two Wheatears along Rectory Lane this morning and at least ten Stonechats were still around the horse field area, along with a handful of Meadow Pipits and c20 Linnets, whilst the churchyard/hide area held half a dozen Blackcaps, a Goldcrest, a Mistle Thrush and at least 20 Chiffchaffs, with c50 Swallows, four House Martins and four Skylarks going over.

The harbour was fairly quiet on the low tide, though, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover and c25 Dunlin and Grey Plovers were about. (AH/P&LH et al)

Wheatear (above), Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush, Swallow, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank, two Golden Plovers, an Avocet, two Brent Geese and c60 Pintail were in White's Creek and the adjacent harbour today, whilst a Wheatear, a Grey wagtail, half a dozen calling Cetti's Warblers, three calling Water Rails and c30 Cattle Egrets were seen from the wall and a Marsh Harrier, c30 Skylarks and c50 Swallows went over. (PB/JBo) 

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An even better count of 46 Stonechats were along the banks this morning, together with a Whinchat, seven Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, seven Cetti's Warblers, a Reed Bunting, half a dozen Yellowhammers, c50 Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and c100 Linnets, with 40 Swallows going over, too.
Also, a Kingfisher was on the reserve, a Greenshank was on the Stilt Pool and a Marsh Harrier, four Red Kites, four Kestrels and six Buzzards were about. (S&SaH/EB)

Dartford Warblers (above), Yellowhammer & Clouded Yellow at Medmerry (EB)

Bracklesham: A Maize Wainscot moth - a first for Sussex and only the tenth ever British record of this Southern European species - was trapped by Derek Lee. (per PA)

Maize Wainscot at Bracklesham (PA)

Thursday, 1st October: After the overnight rain cleared just after dawn, a warm morning of sun and white cloud in a moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Bonxies were lingering offshore this morning and over 300 Gannets went west, along with a limited amount of visible migration. Full log below. (PB/SH/KT/AH)

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

Gannet - 335W

Shag - 2E

Turnstone - 7

Great Skua - 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W

Kittiwake - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 5W

auk sp - 16W

Swallow - 9E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 4W

Meadow Pipit - 21W

Linnet - 5

Gannets (above) & Meadow Pipit at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning there were two Snipe, a Dunlin, three Redshanks, six Teal and c80 Lapwings on the pool, but just a Kingfisher, an Avocet, a handful of Redshank and c30 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH/PA)

The Little Stint re-appeared again early this afternoon as the tide rose, and there were also a dunlin, two Pied Wagtails and 15 Meadow Pipits about. (RJS/MG/AWi)

Snipe (above), Avocet & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Two Spotted Flycatchers, a Whitethroat and a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were behind the hide this morning, with a Lesser Whitethroat and eight or nine Stonechats around the horse field area and a Firecrest between the Severals, with more Chiffchaffs spread throughout, and c20 Swallows went over, too.

Also, in the harbour there were four Greenshank, a Whimbrel, two or three Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Grey Plovers and similar of Dunlin, plus two Kingfishers around the metalwork. (PA/AH/KT/RJS/MG/EB et al)

A look at the roosting waders along  the west side at high tide this afternoon produced  a Spotted Redshank, four Greenshanks, a Knot, 19 Bar-tailed Godwits, six Golden Plovers, 21 Grey Plovers, a Whimbrel, 25 Curlews and 120 Redshanks, with a Sandwich Tern, Hobby, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and c30 Swallows also seen. (AWi/PA),

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were ten Stonechats and two Chiffchaffs around the paddock and along White’s Creek were two Spotted Redshanks, an Avocet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 36 Black-tailed Godwits and the usual Redshanks, Curlews, Lapwings, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Shelducks.

Three Grey Wagtails, two Pied Wagtails, a Redshank and a Dunlin were on the Breech Pool, and along the bushes there were two more Stonechats, six Blackcaps, three Yellowhammers, a Whitethroat, four Reed Buntings, seven more Chiffchaffs, five Cetti’s Warblers and eight Long-tailed Tits, whilst a Kingfisher flew through and four Meadow Pipits and six Skylarks passed overhead.

At Halsey’s Farm, 50 Cattle Egrets were again in the newly mown fields, and two Snipe were by the rife, with a Water Rail in its usual spot and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the channel by the outfall. (LP/TRH/MJa/IH/SP/CT/CRJ et al)

Blackcaps (above), Long-tailed Tit, Stonechats, Avocet, Shelduck & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The White Stork was up over the reserve this morning, gaining height and eventually drifting off east, whilst a Peregrine, a Kestrel, two Red Kites, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were also taking advantage of the conditions.

Alsop, two Snipe and two Greenshanks were on the stilt Pool, with another of the latter, a Kingfisher and two Egyptian Geese were on the reserve, with a Gannet and three Sandwich Terns seen offshore.

The banks were busy, too, with a Whinchat, a Wheatear, a good count of 39 Stonechats, five Dartford Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, five Yellowhammers, two Pied Wagtails, c20 Skylarks and c50 Meadow Pipits and Linnets noted. (S&SaH/PB)

28th - 30th September 2026

Wednesday, 30th September: A muggy and grey morning, with spells of heavy rain in a strong southerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There weren't many species this morning, but there was a bit of interest, including a Hobby coming in from way out, and an Arctic Skua, a Guillemot and 21 Brent Geese heading west. Full log below. (SH/AH/KB)

(0700-0900hrs) (S, F6)

Gannet - 3E, 45W

Brent Goose - 21W

Common Scoter - 1W

Hobby - 1os

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 7E, 5W

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 3W

Guillemot - 1W

Swallow - 1E, 6W

(1315-1500hrs) (SH/PB)

Gannet - 15W, 1os

Merlin - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 8W, 4os

Great Black-backed Gull - 7W

Sandwich Tern - 4W

Swallow - 2W

Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Little Stint was present again early this afternoon, and a Spotted Redshank was in the channel opposite. (KB)

A bit later, five Rock Pipits - unusual here - were feeding on the pool and two Snipe and an Avocet were about, too. (PA)

Late this afternoon the Little Stint was among c50 Redshanks and c30 Lapwings on the shingle islands and a Snipe was at the back. (AH)

Little Stint, Redshanks and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the creek in the harbour this morning, viewable from Mill Lane. (LL)

Church Norton: The  first Brambling of the year was seen in a bush along the west side this morning, with a Dartford Warbler and  a Yellow Wagtail also about, along with a Hobby, two Peregrines and a Marsh Harrier.

A good count of 11 Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour, along with three Whimbrel, five Greenshanks, a Knot and c60 Grey Plovers. (KB/BFF et al)

North Wall: A Kingfisher flew out from the sluice and two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek this morning, along with an Avocet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 27 Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Redshanks, Wigeon, Pintail and Teal, whilst a Greenshank was on the Breech Pool, and a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk flew over the fields and across the harbour.

Elsewhere, 53 Cattle Egrets were in the newly mown fields at Halsey’s Farm, a few Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs were along the wall, and eight Stonechats were in and around the paddock. (LP/SP)

Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Cattle Egrets & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: A White Stork was perched on the dead trees south of the poplars late this morning, whilst a Peregrine flew over low, a Redstart, a pair of Dartford Warblers and a few Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were along the banks, seven or eight Egyptian geese were on the reserve and a handful of Swallows went over. . (RBe)

Peregrine at Medmerry (RBe)

Sidlesham: A Raven went over Cow Lane early this afternoon. (AH)

Chichester GPs: On Ivy Lake this morning there were 43 Canada Geese, with another 52 on West Trout Lake, whilst along the main path there were a Cettis Warbler, two Chiffchaffs and a Clouded Yellow.

Also, several pairs of Migrant Hawkers were mating on the reeds at Nunnery Pit. (CRJ)

Migrant Hawkers at Chichester GPs (CRJ)

Tuesday, 29th September: A fairly mild, but hazily grey and blustery morning in a fresh south-easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was a fair range of expected species seen this morning, but only Meadow Pipits and Linnets in more than modest numbers. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/AH/P&LH) 

(0645-0900hrs) (SE, F5-6)

Gannet - 3E, 12W, 40os

Shag - 4E

Grey Heron - 3

Wigeon - 20W

Common Scoter - 4E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1 present

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E, 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 1W, 2os

Sandwich Tern - 5E

Swallow - 28E

Sand Martin - 1E

House Martin - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 6E

Meadow Pipit - 89E

Jay - 3E

Linnet - 78E

Goldfinch - 40

Shags at the Bill (AH)

(1155-1355hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 3E

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 2W

Ringed Plover - 1

Sanderling - 2

Knot - 1

Turnstone -   42

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Swallow - 16E

Knot (above), Sanderlings & Ringed Plover at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: The Little Stint dropped in again on the pool late this morning, and there were also 102 Lapwings, four Shelducks present, with a Mistle Thrush, a Raven, a Buzzard, a Kestrel and six Swallows going over. 

Also, three Spotted Redshanks, two Dunlin, an Avocet, c20 Redshanks, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Gadwall and 54 Teal were in the channel opposite and a Grey Wagtail was again near the hide. (JC/AH/G Duckworth)

Spotted Redshanks (above), Lapwings (AH) & Buzzard (G Duckworth) at the Ferry

Park Farm, Selsey: A big Greenland-type Wheatear was on the fields this morning, along with eight Skylarks and c50 Pied Wagtails, whilst a Cetti's Warbler was in the hedges and two Swallows and a Buzzard went over. (SH/PB)

Mill Pond Marsh: A White Stork went high over the harbour in the company of seven Grey Herons, seen from Mill Lane  early this afternoon. (LL)

Church Norton: There was a good selection in the fields along rectory Lane this morning, including a Wheatear, two Stonechats, eight Golden Plovers and c25 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, whilst there were two more Wheatears on the concrete blocks, eight Stonechats around the horse field, and three Cetti's Warblers, four Skylarks, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and c30 Linnets along the Severals, along with c20 Swallows and a Raven over, but a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs was about it for the hedges.

The harbour was fairly quiet, though there were still a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwits, seven Ringed Plovers, c45 Dunlin, c25 Grey Plovers, c20 Turnstones, 12 Pintail and 16 Little Egrets seen. (SH/PB/AH/P&LH)

Greenshank (above) & Linnets at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 28th September: A cool and grey start slowly gave way to plenty of warm sunshine in just a fairly light north-easterly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: It was slow this morning, despite the potentially promising conditions for 'vis-mig'. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH)

(0650-0905hrs) (NNE, F2-3)

Gannet - 2E, 10W, 12os

Shag - 2E

Shelduck - 1E

Common Scoter - 1E

Oystercatcher -2E

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 13E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 4E

Meadow Pipit - 19W

Chiffchaff - 1

Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c120 Lapwings, a Snipe, a Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank, a juvenile Shelduck and 14 Teal on the pool this morning, with a eight Skylarks flying over east and a Kingfisher, an Avocet, three Dunlin, half a dozen Redshank and c60 Teal in the channel opposite. 

Also, a Grey Wagtail was in the small pond opposite the hide and Cetti's Warblers were singing nearby and at the Visitor Centre. (AH/JC)

Later, the Little Stint was seen at the back, 13 Stonechats were in the field and a Rock Pipit was flying about. (TG-P/PA)

Snipe (above) & Dunlin at the ferry (AH)

Long Pool: At least eight Stonechats were along the path and fields this morning, along with a dozen Reed Buntings, 15Meadow Pipits, three Blackcaps and two Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers, plus half a dozen swallows over and two Small Coppers..

Also, a Kingfisher was in the rife at the far end, a Greenshank, the adult and juvenile Spotted Redshanks, an Avocet, two Dunlin and c40 Redshanks were along Ferry Channel and c80 Lapwings, half a dozen golden Plovers and c60 Wigeon were out in the harbour. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Reed Buntings, Kingfisher, Greenshank, Spotted Redshanks and Avocet & Small Copper at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: A Kingfisher, two Spotted Redshanks, four Knot, an Avocet and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were along White’s Creek and the adjacent harbour, and the bushes along the wall were busy with a Redstart, a Reed Warbler, three Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, two Stonechats, 14 Chiffchaffs, eight Reed Buntings, two Yellowhammers, a Meadow Pipit and a few Long-tailed Tits.

Two Grey Wagtails were along Owl Water, a Water Rail was in Bremere Rife, and 22 Cattle Egrets were around the cows, whilst c100 Swallows and House Martins passed overhead. (DHo/MJa/TRH/LP/IH)

Redstart (above), Lesser Whitethroat, Grey Wagtails, Stonechat, Cattle Egrets (LP), Wheatear, Water Rail, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit & Buzzard (DHo) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A good selection of birds were along the banks, including a Whinchat, 35 Stonechats, seven Dartford Warblers, a Blackcap, eight Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, eight Yellowhammers, six Skylarks, c30 Meadow Pipits and c150 Linnets, with a House Martins and c300 Swallows going over.

Also, two Greenshanks were on the Stilt Pool, five Sandwich Terns were offshore and two Dunlin, c40 Ringed Plovers and four Egyptian Geese were on the reserve, with a Peregrine, a Red Kite, two Kestrels and seven Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

East Head: This afternoon a female Merlin was showing well, and there were two Peregrines about, one of which swooped on one of the nine Golden Plovers present, with 13 Greenshanks, four Bar-tailed Godwits, c70 Black-tailed Godwits and an impressive count of 650 Curlews also around, whilst a flock of a dozen Brent Geese flew up the harbour and another 150 were over on the Hampshire side, and six Sandwich Terns were over the water.

Around the dunes there were two Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear and six Stonechats. (PA/AWi)

Merlin (AWi) (above), Dartford Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat (PA) at East Head