28th September 2026

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

Turnnstone - 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

25th - 27th September 2026

Sunday, 27th September: Southerly winds forecast for today, staying dry early on but with showers forecast from 1500hrs...

Selsey Bill: The first Woodlark of the year went south this morning as did a Hobby and there was some Swallow and Meadow Pipit movement. (SH/IP/BI)
(0645-0915hrs) (SE F5) Full log below:

Teal - 1E

Common Scoter - 4E

Gannet - 6E 8W 13os

Hobby - 1S

Oystercatcher - 1E 1ob

Turnstone - 3

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E 4W

auk sp. - 1W

Woodlark - 1S

Swallow - 513E

Meadow Pipit - 25E

Pied Wagtail - 4E

Chiffchaff - 1

Linnet - 13E

Turnstone at the Bill (BI)

This afternoon two Great Skuas went east and four Brent Geese (two pairs) went west, 35 Gannets were offshore and two Sandwich Terns moved west. (AWi)
(1500-1600hrs)

Brent Goose - 4W

Gannet - 35os

Kestrel - 

Turnstone - 1

Great Skua - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Brent Geese, above, and Great Skua at the Bill (AWi)

Ferry Pool: The Little Stint reported last night was still in situ this morning in the company of three Dunlin. Also present on the pool were c.105 Lapwings, three Redshank and a Shelduck, the bushes held c.20 Meadow Pipits and a mixed Tit flock and a Firecrest was seen in the conifers. (BI) The Little Stint was still present with two Dunlin at 1514hrs and a Kingfisher was nearby. (AWi)

Dunlin with LIttle Stint, below, & Little Stint at the Ferry Pool (BI)

Church Norton: A Little Stint was on the mud with 17 Dunlin this morning and 9 Bar-tailed Godwits were further out in the harbour where there was also a Redshank, a Greenshank, a Shoveler and 24 Pintail. The bushes were largely quiet, and there was nothing at all behind the hide, but a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler and two Jays were seen. A Marsh Harrier was hunting over the harbour and 106 Swallows and a single Sand Martin flew over. (IP)

Mill Lane: A Firecrest, several Goldcrests, five Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and three Mistle Thrushes were in the area today. (ML)

Medmerry: west side Two Woodlarks were here this morning as were 15 Skylarks, 12 Chiffchaffs, 8 Yellowhammers, four Cetti's Warblers and two Dartford Warblers. Also notable was a good count, 25, of Stonechats, c.150 Linnets, c.30 Meadow Pipits, 100 Swallows and 100 Lapwings. Raptors today were a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier. On the Stilit Pool, which remains quiet, was a single Greenshank. (SaH/SH) Later on two Green Sandpipers were briefly on the Stilt Pool before flying west and a Dartford Warbler and a female Merlin were around the bunds and c.30 Egyptian Geese and a Whinchat were at Easton Lane. (JBo/ABG)

Medmerry, east side: A female Merlin was seen around the breach area this morning. (MB)

North Wall: At least six Stonechats and four Chiffchaffs were around the paddock, and a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail and a Meadow Pipit were by the sluice, whilst further along White’s Creek there were two Avocets, a Spotted Redshank and 24 Black-tailed Godwits. Elsewhere it was fairly quiet with 16 Cattle Egrets around the cows and a few Swallows passing overhead. (LP/MRi/MJa)

Avocet, above, and Stonechats at the North Wall (LP)

East Head: Highlights this afternoon at Snowhill creek included a curlew Sandpiper, 11 Greenshanks, a Bar-tailed Godwit, c80 Black-tailed Godwits, a Yellow Wagtail and a Hobby. (PA)

Saturday, 26th September: Winds light and variable "round-the-clock" today, staying dry and with average temperatures for the time of year...

Selsey Bill: At least six Wheatears were along the front on the house roofs this morning and a Hobby flew powerfully out south. (SH/PB/IP/JA/P&LH/BI) 

(0630-0900hrs) (ENE F1-2) Full log below:

Shelduck - 3W
Common Scoter - 1os
Gannet - 2E 2W 30os
Shag - 2E
Kestrel - 1E
Hobby - 1S
Oystercatcher - 2E 1W
Turnstone - 7ob
Great Black-backed Gull - 3W
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Sandwich Tern - 4W
Stock Dove - 1W
Skylark - 2N
Swallow - 37p
House Martin - 40p
Meadow Pipit - 36W
Pied Wagtail - 4W
Grey Wagtail - 6W
Chiffchaff - 8
Wheatear - 6ob
Magpie - 20W
Jay - 6N
Linnet - 5E
Chaffinch - 1
Linnet - 5E
Goldfinch - 20p

Wheatears, above, and Chiffchaff at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm: Two Buzzards, five Pied Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, a Blackcap and seven Chiffchaffs were here today. (SH/MRe)

Park Copse, East Beach: Six Chiffchaffs were logged from here this morning. (MRe)

Ferry Pool: There were c.70 Lapwings present early this morning, but no wildfowl, with just a few Black-headed Gulls for company. (BI) This afternoon two Ravens flew over, as did a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier was at the back, a Buzzard was on a post and a Wheatear was present. (P&LH) Late tonight a Little Stint was reported as present. (per RBA)

Church Norton: Highlights in an early look included a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, 50 Grey Plover and a Knot out in the harbour, 35 Pintail, 14 Wigeon, 25 Teal, a Kingfisher and a Marsh Harrier. Also noted were c.500 Swallows, ten House Martins, two Jays and a Wheatear. Ten Chiffchaffs were in the hedges, along with ten Long-tailed Tits, and a single Grey Wagatil flew over. In the churchyard were seven Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps. The Severals were largely quiet but three more Jays were seen, 17 Meadow Pipits flew over and a Stonechat was present. 

Later in the day three Wheatears were on the concrete blocks, 11 Stonechats and five Linnets were in the horse field, two Cetti's Warblers were calling and two Buzzards, two Sand Martins and 40 House Martins and 300 Swallows were skyward and a helice Clouded Yellow was along the beach. (IP/CRJ/MRe/SaH/SH/P&LH/MI/MO-W)

Chiffchaff, above, & helice Clouded Yellow at Church Norton (CRJ)

North Wall: A Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails were by the sluice, and along White’s Creek there was a Spotted Redshank, two Avocets, three Snipe and the regular c.70 Redshanks, Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews, as well as ten Greenshank, whilst on the water there were Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelducks and Mallards as well as five Great Crested Grebes. Three Sandwich Terns were fishing in the harbour and 35 Dunlin were on their island. It was quiet along the wall with just a few Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and a Stonechat along the bushes, a few Swallows passed over, and a Water Rail was by the Halsey’s Outfall, while around the fences there was a Wheatear, six Meadow Pipits, and five Skylarks. (LP/AWi et al)

Kingfisher, above, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (LP)

Snowhill Marsh, East Head: Five Brent Geese were noted today, possibly the over-wintering quintet rather than new arrivals. (ATh/SM)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to Ham Farm: There were two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk soaring this afternoon and other raptors included all four common falcon sp.: a Kestrel, a Merlin (mobbed by corvids), and a Peregrine which flushed a Hobby. Along the banks were 24 Stonechats, a Whinchat, a Cetti's Warbler, a Dartford Warbler, eight Yellowhammers and six Meadow Pipits. A nice flock of 150 Linnets near Ham Farm was also seen. (SH/SaH)

Friday, 25th September: Another cool morning to start with but with temperatures expected in the mid-20s by early afternoon...winds light and variable...

Selsey Bill: A Coal Tit, scarce here, was calling briefly from the bushes early on and two Great White Egrets headed over east in the twilight. Otherwise there was some limited vizmig including c.400 Swallows but the sea remained very quiet with almost nothing moving past. (SH/IP/AH/BI/S.Davies)

(0630-0830hrs)  (ENE F2), full log below:

Tufted Duck - 2E

Common Scoter - 1W

Gannet - 3W 20os

Shag - 1E

Great White Egret - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2E 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Sand Martin -2E

Swallow - 382E

House Martin - 20E

Rock Pipit - 1

Meadow Pipit - 7E 24W

Pied Wagtail - 3W

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Chiffchaff - 1W

Coal Tit - 1

Linnet - 11E

Goldfinch - 20p

Reed Bunting - 1W

Turnstone, below, & Swallows at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: Five Lapwings and c.10 Teal were present this morning. (AH)

Church Norton: The year's first Grasshopper Warbler was briefly in the reeds at the second several this morning, the latest autumn bird recorded this century. Also, five Stonechats were along the bushes and 18 Meadow Pipits went over. (MRe) Later in the day four Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier were overhead and five Stonechats, five Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were along the hedges. (SaH/SH)

East Side, Pagham Harbour: A Peregrine was hunting out in the harbour on the rising tide and a Marsh Harrier flew over towards Church Norton, also a Kingfisher flew along the channel, and a Shoveler was with the Pintails, Wigeon, Teal, Shelducks, and Mallards on the water, along with six Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe.

There was a good selection of all the regular waders about, including Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Lapwings, Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, as well as two Avocets, four Greenshanks and a Spotted Redshank, whilst c200 mostly House Martins and a few Swallows passed overhead. (TRH/LP/SP/IH)

Peregrine, above, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Avocet, Knot, Wigeon with Knot & Grey Plover and Pintail at the East Side (LP)

North Wall: A mid-morining visit to North Wall produced: a female Stonechat in the paddocks, eight Greenshank and two Avocets were in Whites Creek and a fly-over Kingfisher was here too. Behind the Breech Pool were a Kestrel and two Buzzards and a Bar-tailed Godwit dropped onto the mud where two Grey Wagtails were also present. The bushes held a number of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps as well as five Cetti's Warblers whilst a Marsh Harrier was out over the harbour. (JC)

Medmerry,east side: Three Brent Geese went west at 6:30pm. (RP)

West Wittering: A Spotted Flycatcher was in a local garden this afternoon. (GM)

Spotted Flycatcher at West Wittering video (GM)