26th -28th October 2026

Wednesday, 28th October: A fairly pleasant morning of sunshine and cloud in a moderate westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: A Hawfinch flew over heading north early on, with just a little bit of visible migration going on - notably 805 Wood Pigeons heading south, whilst offshore two drake Eider and 17 Brent Goose went west and a few Little Gulls were still along the beach. Full log below. (SH/AH/IP)

(0630-0830hrs) (W, F4)

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 17W

Eider - 2W

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1 present

Little Gull - 9W, 7os

Mediterranean Gull - 5E, 50W

Great Black-backed Gull - 3W

Wood Pigeon - 805S

Stock Dove - 3S

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2

Skylark - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 12W

Meadow Pipit - 6W

Chiffchaff - 1

Hawfinch - 1N

Linnet - 34W

Goldfinch - 50

Little Gulls (above), Shag & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were ten roosting Avocets, c25 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Redshanks, c150 Lapwings, c55 Shovelers, c40 Wigeon and c200 Teal spread around the pool at high tide today. (AH)

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

North Selsey: A Woodlark flew over Asda, at the north of the town, this morning. (MRe)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a Kingfisher were in White's Creek this morning, whilst the six Yellowhammers and a pair of Stonechats were along the wall this morning, along with a Grey Wagtail and three Rock Pipits.

Also, both the male and female Marsh Harriers were about, and c500 Wood Pigeons and c200 Stock Doves went over, heading south-west. (AH/SP/LP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Bar-tailed Godwit and Wigeon, Yellowhammer, Stonechat & Stock Doves at the North Wall (AH)

Early this afternoon a Short-eared Owl was seen from the wall, and the Marsh Harriers were showing well. (GR/RWi/EB  et al)

Short-eared Owl (above), Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Yellowhammer & Rock Pipit at the North Wall (EB)

East side: There were lots of waders in the harbour on the rising tide, including two Greenshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, c50 Grey Plovers, c20 Knot and c100 Dunlin, with c30 Brent Geese, five Shovelers and plenty of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal on the water, and there were also c15 Linnets around the Slipe Field and a pair of stonechats along the side of the harbour. (AH/SP/LP/CRJ)

Brent Geese (above), Shovelers & Grey Plovers and Dunlin along the East side (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Dartford Warbler, five Cetti's Warblers, a dozen Stonechats, three Yellowhammers and c20 Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were along the banks this morning, with a Kingfisher and c20 Golden Plovers on the reserve and a Greenshank and 54 Ringed Plovers on the Stilt Pool, and there were also three late Clouded Yellows and a Painted Lady about. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 27th October: The morning started grey and drizzly, but slowly improved to warm sun and white cloud, but with a brisk westerly breeze throughout..........

Selsey Bill: There were still a minimum of 35 Little Gulls along the front, as well as c60 Mediterranean Gulls, but literally the only thing that moved further offshore was a single Great Northern Diver. Full log below. (AH)

(0715-0845hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2os

Turnstone - 28

Little Gull - 35os

Mediterranean Gull - 60os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Little Gulls (above), Little, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were ten Avocets, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, c120 Lapwings, c30 Shovelers, c20 Wigeon and c80 Teal on the pool this morning. (AH)

Avocets and Lapwing (above) & Shovelers, Teal and Lapwing on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Little Gull was in the harbour, seen from here, this morning. (HRa)

Pagham Beach and Spit: At least six Little Gulls were seen from the yacht club this afternoon, with a further two, and three sandwich Terns, off the spit. (SP/LP)

Church Norton: At least 20 Little Gulls were among a dozen Common and Mediterranean Gulls and c100 Black-headed Gulls along the beach this morning, whilst in the harbour there were a Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Grey Plovers and Dunlin and the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers. 

Also of note, a Swallow went over, a Tree-creeper was near the concrete wall, a Yellowhammer was with half a dozen Reed Buntings along the path to the beach, a pair of Stonechats were in the horse field and c50 Meadow Pipits and c80 Linnets were along the start to the spit. (AH)

Little Gull (above), Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnets & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 26th October: A return to the wet weather this morning, with fairly persistent drizzly rain throughout in a brisk and freshening south-south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: A total of 40 Little Gulls, of which about a third were adults, were lingering off shore, drifting slowly west this morning, and three Greenshanks - unusual here - flew west, too, but it was otherwise very quiet. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0645-0845hrs) (SSW, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Brent Goose - 1W

Teal - 2E

Common Scoter - 1W

Greenshank - 3W

Turnstone - 22

Little Gull - 40os

Mediterranean Gull - 29os

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Kittiwake - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 1W

Goldfinch - 18

Little Gulls at the Bill (AH)

This afternoon a Grey Phalarope went west, along with an Arctic Skua and 23 Little Gulls (12 adults and 11 first-winters). Full log below. (PB/AGB/JBo)

(1400-1600hrs)

Gannet - 14W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Grey Phalarope - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1W

Little Gull - 23W

Mediterranean Gull - 20W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 1W

Little Gulls at the Bill (JBo)

Ferry Pool: Nine Avocets dropped in this morning, with another in the channel opposite, and there were also 22 Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshanks, c180 Lapwings, c40 Shovelers and Wigeon, two Shelducks and c120 Teal about, too. (AH)

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

Church Norton: The very high tide made viewing all but impossible, but there were a few Grey Plovers, Redshanks and Curlews roosting around the concrete blocks, with a few Wigeon, Teal and Mediterranean Gulls out on the water. (AH)

23rd - 25th October 2026

Sunday, 25th October: A gale-force westerly was blowing throughout the morning, though it was bright and sunny, and warm out of the wind...... 

Selsey Bill: A total of 32 Little Gulls drifted east offshore this morning, with three first-winter birds lingering offshore, whilst the Snow Bunting was around again, along with two Rock Pipits. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/MRe/IP/AT/AH/P&LH et al)

(0630-0945hrs) (W, F8)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 11E, 3W

Shag - 3E

Brent Goose - 6E

Common Scoter - 1E, 1W, 1os

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1 present

Turnstone - 30

Little Gull - 32E, 3os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 4W, 2os

Black-headed Gull - 34W, 20os

Common Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4E, 1W, 2os

Kittiwake - 8W

auk sp - 1W

Rock Pipit - 2

Meadow Pipit - 11N, 1W

Starling - 200

Linnet - 4N, 10W

Goldfinch - 5

Snow Bunting - 1

Little Gulls (AH)  (above), Snow Bunting (AH top two, LH lower), Rock Pipit (AH) & Gannet (LH) at the Bill 

(1115-1215hrs) (P&LH/EB)

Gannet - 3W

Turnstone - 35

Little Gull - 3os

Mediterranean Gull - 3os

Black-headed Gull - 30os

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Snow Bunting - 1

(1315-1500hrs) (P&LH/SH)

Gannet - 1W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 1W

Turnstone - 23

Little Gull - 1W, 5os

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Pied Wagtail - 1

Rock Pipit - 1

Snow Bunting (EB) (above) & Little Gulls (LH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were nine Avocets and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits roosting at the back this morning, with c150 Lapwings around the shingle islands, with wildfowl comprising c30 Shovelers, c20 Wigeon and c50 Teal, with a couple of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails on the field. (AH/AT)

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

Church Norton: There were two adult and two first-winter Little Gulls among the feeding flock close offshore, which also included a dozen Common Gulls, a handful of Mediterranean Gulls and 50+ Black-headed Gulls.

Up to three Greenshanks were in the harbour, along with 50+ Redshanks and similar of Grey Plovers and Dunlin, plus a handful of Knot, with a Peregrine also about, along with a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, whilst at least 100 Linnets were on the vegetation by the concrete blocks and five Stonechats and a Reed Bunting were around the horse field. (AH/IP/AT et al)

Little Gulls (above), Greenshanks, Grey Plovers & Pintails at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Kingfisher was by the sluice and a Bar-tailed Godwit was along White’s Creek, together with 16 Black-tailed Godwits and all the regular species, whilst along the rocks there was a Pied Wagtail and three Rock Pipits.

There were just c100 Teal and 12 Mallards on the Breech Pool, the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, six Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings and two Redwings were along the bushes, five Little Grebes were on Owl Water, and two Swallows were over the rife at Halsey’s Farm. (LP/MaJ/DHi)

Yellowhammer (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Kestrel, Rock Pipit & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Just nine Stonechats, two Cetti's Warblers, ten or so Meadow Pipits and c20 Skylarks were seen along the blustery banks this morning, whilst c40 Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool, with a Cattle Egret, c60 Golden Plovers and c100 Lapwings on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier and two Kestrels over. (S&SaH)

East Head: A Little Gull went over Snowhill Marsh this morning, and this evening a Barn Owl was out along Rookwood Lane. (GM)

Saturday, 24th October: The morning started with lighter winds, albeit still a brisk westerly and due to strengthen, with persisting heavy rain setting in from mid-morning.....

Selsey Bill: The Snow Bunting re-appeared, and was showing well, this morning along the path just east of the Bill, whilst offshore six fairly distant Little Gulls and three Great Northern Divers went west. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/AGB/JBo//BI/IP/AH)

(0720-0920hrs) (W, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 3W

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W, 1os

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 9E, 3W

Wigeon - 4E

Common Scoter - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 10

Little Gull - 6W

Mediterranean Gull - 12W, 5os

Common Gull - 1E, 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 1E

auk sp -10E

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Meadow Pipit  - 10W

Linnet - 4W

Goldfinch - 50

Snow Bunting - 1

Snow Bunting at the Bill (AH)

The increasingly stormy south-westerly didn't bring too much this afternoon, though an adult and a first-winter Little Gull and 17 Kittiwakes went west and the Snow Bunting was still along the path. Full log below. (JA/AH/MRe/SH/AWi)

(1400-1600hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Gannet - 20W

Brent Goose - 5W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Grey Plover - 1W

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 13

Little Gull - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 17W

Razorbill - 1W

Snow Bunting - 1

Little Gull (above), Kittiwake & Snow Bunting at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were eight Avocets on the pool this morning, along with a Redshank, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, c125 Lapwings, a drake Gadwall, a Shelduck, 34 Shovelers, c60 Teal and 30 Mallards. (AH)

Avocets and Lapwings (above) & Shovelers and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Greenland-type Wheatear was on the concrete blocks this morning, with c150 Linnets feeding on the adjacent vegetation until a juvenile Peregrine took one and proceeded to eat it there.

There wasn't too much in the harbour on the high tide, though five Greenshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a dozen Curlews and c20 Grey Plovers were among c80 roosting Redshanks, with, otherwise, just c30 Brent Geese, seven Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe and a few Wigeon and Teal to be found. (BI/SH/PB/AH)

Greenshanks (above), Linnets (AH) & Peregrine (PB) at Church Norton 

North Wall: Early this morning a Kingfisher was by the sluice, and all the regular species were along White’s Creek, also three Rock Pipits were along the wall and two Pied Wagtails flew over.

A Song Thrush was in the bushes, along with a Cetti’s Warbler, four Reed Buntings, four Yellowhammers, and a Greenfinch, but on the Breech Pool it was just ducks with c100 Teal and 20 Mallards present. (LP)

East Side: On the rising tide there were plenty of Wigeon and Pintail along the channel, and a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers out on the mud, as well as a Bar-tailed Godwit. A flock of c300 Golden Plovers flew around the harbour before landing on the far side, and 12 Brent Geese were up by the harbour entrance. (LP)

Bar-tailed Godwit on the East side (LP)

East Head: A Swallow went over, late this morning. (GM)

Friday, 23rd October: Another wet and very windy morning, with heavy rain in a strong southerly early on before it slowly eased as the wind backed round to the north west and strengthened further as the day progressed.....

Selsey Bill: A flock of seven Snipe that flew in from the east and up over the Oval Field was the most unusual record this morning, whilst three Eider and a flock of 18 Shelducks west were the best of the rest on an otherwise fairly slow morning. Full log below. (BI/SH/PB)

(0730-1030hrs) (SE, backing to NW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3E

Shag - 1E, 1os

Shelduck - 2E, 18W

Wigeon - 12W

Eider - 3W

Oystercatcher - 3

Dunlin - 1

Snipe - 7N

Turnstone - 32

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1W, 3os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 3os

Kittiwake - 8E

Pied Wagtail - 1

This afternoon a Snow Bunting came in off the sea and landed on a roof before dropping down and disappearing, but little else was on the move. Full log below. (AW/AWi)

(1430-1545hrs)

Curlew - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 7E

Black-headed Gull - 70W

Common Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Snow Bunting - 1N

Snow Bunting at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Avocet count on the pool had risen to nine this morning, with another eight flying around at the far end of Ferry Channel, and there were also a Snipe, five Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Redshank and c75 Lapwings present at high tide, along with c25 Shovelers, c40 Wigeon and Mallards and c120 Teal. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were eight Swallows and a House Martin feeding over the harbour this morning, whilst at least 100 Linnets were around Tern Island, the concrete blocks and the Severals and four Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Meadow Pipits were in the horse field, but there was nothing moving in the hedges.

The harbour was very quiet at high tide, with a few roosting Grey Plovers, Redshanks and Curlews the only waders about, and just half a dozen Great Crested Grebes and Little Egrets and just a few Teal and Wigeon besides, whilst a dozen Common Gulls and four Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls along the beach. (AH)

Swallow (above), Swallow and House Martin, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Linnet & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Around high tide this morning, there were just a few Pintail and Wigeon out in the harbour and three Rock Pipits along the wall. The water level on the Breech Pool has risen considerably and there are no muddy areas left, consequently there were just 50 Teal and four Mallards there. Elsewhere, seven Little Egrets and two Grey Herons were out on their island and c50 Lapwings were over the harbour. (LP)

Teal (above), Pintail and the now flooded Breech Pool at the North Wall (LP)