10th - 12th November 2026

Thursday, 12th November: A very bright and sunny morning, but distinctly cool in the brisk north-easterly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: The most unusual bird of a slightly better morning was a Snipe that shot through, heading east, whilst a couple of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers were about, too. full log below. (AH/IP/P&LH)

(0730-0900hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 1os

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Snipe - 1E

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 3E

auk sp - 14E, 4W

Stock Dove - 30E

Meadow Pipit -  1N

Goldfinch - 35

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper and a Snipe were on the roadside pool this morning, whilst an Avocet was on the main pool, along with c250 Lapwings, four Shelducks, c60 Shovelers, c40 Wigeon and c60 Teal. 

Also, a Black-tailed Godwit(, half a dozen Redshanks and a few more wigeon and Teal were in the channel opposite, and five Skylarks and two Buzzards went over the fields. (AH/P&LH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Green Sandpiper and Snipe, Wigeon & Shovelers and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

East Beach: A look around East Beach Pond this morning just produced a Grey Heron, three Turnstones, a Collared Dove, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a couple of Pied Wagtails.

Then from Park Lane to Bluebell Wood, the best was a small flock of c15 Long-tailed Tits with a few Blue Tits, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest among them before they quickly departed inland, and there was also a female Sparrowhawk briefly over the sea clutching a Turnstone, which it left dead on the tideline. (CRJ)

Grey Heron (above), Pied Wagtail & Oystercatcher at East Beach (CRJ)

Church Norton: There wasn't much to report from the harbour this morning, with just 15 Brent geese, c20 Teal, c50 Wigeon, c25 Grey Plovers, a Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, eight Curlews and c200 Dunlin on the mud, and as couple of Chiffchaffs in the hedges. (P&LH)

North Wall: Highlight of the morning was a male Bullfinch that flew into Owl Copse, and there were plenty of Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Stonechats along the bushes, whilst a Raven flew over and a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were also about.

A Rock Pipit was along the wall, two Song Thrushes and two Pied Wagtails were in the paddock, also a Kingfisher was by the sluice, and the two Spotted Redshanks were still along White’s Creek. (LP/SP/KR/CT/DHi/KU/EB/TRH)

Kingfisher (above), Stonechat & Yellowhammer at the North Wall (LP)

East Side: There were still lots of waders along the East Side on the rising tide, including Redshanks, Curlews, Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers, Avocets, Lapwings, Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits and Turnstones.

The Barnacle Goose was still with the Brent Geese and there were Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck and a Little Grebe on the water. (LP/SP/TRH)

Barnacle Goose and Brent Geese (above), Golden Plovers, Lapwings and Dunlin & Avocets and Teal along the East side (LP)

Wednesday, 11th November: A morning of drizzly rain and leaden skies in a fresh north-easterly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: It was absolutely dead this morning! Full log below. (AH)

(0730-0830hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Shag - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E

Razorbill - 1W

Goldfinch - 25

Ferry Pool: An Avocet was on the pool this morning, along with c400 Lapwings, four Shelducks, c75 Shovelers and c60 Teal. (AH)

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

Church Norton: A look around the Severals area this morning produced 11 Chiffchaffs, four Firecrests and 15 Goldcrests. (MRe)

North Wall: Around high tide this morning there were 50 Brent Geese, 30 Wigeon, 12 Teal, six Pintail, 62 Shelducks, two Shovelers, and a Little Grebe on the water, with a few waders around the edges including Redshanks, Curlews, Lapwings, six Avocets and a Greenshank, whilst 18 Snipe flew out from the harbour.

A Peregrine and two Marsh Harriers were over the fields, and along the wall there were two Rock Pipits, 22 Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer, a Chaffinch, six Song Thrushes and a Redwing, also a Kingfisher was by the outfall at Halsey’s Farm. (LP/JDW/KR)

Avocets and Lapwings (above), Rock Pipit, Song Thrush & Curlew and Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were c300 Golden Plovers and c250 Lapwings on the reserve today, with two Marsh Harriers and a Raven going over, but half a dozen Yellowhammers were the only birds in the bushes. (SaH)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - The male Black Redstart was still present, though further towards the breach this morning, with a pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Meadow Pipits at each end the only other passerines about, save a few Pied Wagtails among the caravans.

There were also still c60 Common Scoters - presumably mostly first-autumn birds - offshore, with two Razorbills, a Red-breasted Merganser, a Sandwich Tern, three Great Crested Grebes and two distant feeding Gannets also present, but the breach just held c20 Brent Geese, a handful of Teal and a few Curlews and Oystercatchers. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Razorbill, Sandwich Tern, Common Scoters & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 10th November: Another cool and grey morning in a fresh easterly breeze, with rain slowly setting in later on.....

Selsey Bill: It was just the regular species in small numbers this morning. Full log below. (AH)

(0715-0845hrs) (E, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 1W

Shag - 2E

Common Scoter - 2E, 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 3E

Razorbill - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Goldfinch - 20

Shags (above), Common Scoters & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were at least 300 Lapwings present this morning, along with c30 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers and c100 Teal. (AH)

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

North Wall: The Barnacle Goose was out in the harbour among the Brent Geese again this morning, and there were also six Avocets, a dozen Snipe, up to 400 Golden Plovers and similar of Lapwings around White's Creek and the adjacent harbour, together with a Spotted Redshank, two Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Black-tailed Godwits and plenty of Wigeon and Teal.

There were also at least two Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard, a Little Grebe, a couple of Rock Pipits and a Kingfisher about, whilst a Water Rail and a Chiffchaff were around the paddocks. (JC/AH/SP et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Barnacle Goose and Brent Geese & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at the North Wall (AH)

East side: There were up to 300 Brent geese in the harbour this morning, along with c40 Pintail and innumerable Wigeon and Teal, whilst eight Bar-tailed Godwits, c20 Ringed Plovers, c50 Grey Plovers and Turnstones, c2100 Knot and c500 Dunlin were moving about as the tide rose.

There were also c70 Great Black-backed Gulls in the harbour, a Grey Wagtail, a Reed Bunting and a couple of Chiffchaff along the sides and a Peregrine went over. (AH)

Peregrine (above), Grey Wagtail, Knot and Grey Plovers & Pintails along the East side (AH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A cracking male Black Redstart was along the beach, halfway towards the Oasis centre this morning, with a Rock Pipit and half a dozen Stonechats and Meadow Pipits nearby, and a good handful of Common Scoters were offshore. (T Taylor).

7th - 9th November 2026

Monday, 9th November: The fog came and went again overnight, leaving a cold and mostly grey morning in a freshening north-easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety again this morning, including two Red-throated Divers east and a few Gannets offshore, though numbers remain low. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0715-0900hrs) (NE, F3-4)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 8E, 3W, 12os

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 2W

Common Scoter - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E

Razorbill - 4E, 2os

auk sp - 42W

Stock Dove - 9E

Wood Pigeon - 250E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 6E

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldfinch - 20

Red-throated Divers (above), Shag, Razorbill & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were again c250 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with c80 Shovelers and c50 Teal, with another c50 of the latter and similar of Wigeon in the channel opposite. (AH/TG-P)

Late this afternoon a Spoonbill - presumably the one seen earlier along the East side -was in Ferry channel. (TG-P)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey: A Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders in the garden this morning. (SaH)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Selsey garden (SaH)

Church Norton: There were three Greenshanks among the roosting Redshanks near the concrete blocks on the rising tide this morning, with c50 Grey Plovers and c250 Dunlin around the metalwork and c100 Brent geese and c50 Wigeon and Teal on the water, along with a group of four Little Grebes.

Around 20 stock Doves and c60 Wood Pigeons went over heading east, but two Chiffchaffs in the churchyard were just about the only passerines noted. (AH)

Greenshanks (above), Little Grebes & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

East Side: There was a nice selection of birds along the side of the harbour this morning, before they were all moved off by the rising tide, including a Spoonbill that was out on the mud and the Barnacle Goose again with the Brent Geese, whilst there were good numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plovers, Knot, Golden Plovers, Redshanks, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, and Shelducks, as well as two Spotted Redshanks, and a few Shovelers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones and Oystercatchers.

Also, a Marsh Harrier flew over the far side and a Kingfisher shot through, whilst the bushes contained two Yellowhammers, a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (LP)

Spoonbill (above), Barnacle Goose and Brent Goose, Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Golden Plovers, Pintail & Yellowhammer along the East side (LP)

North Wall: This morning a Kingfisher was sat on the ladder at the sluice early on, and the two Spotted Redshanks were in close in White's Creek, whilst five Shovelers and a few Mallards were on the breach pool and along the wall there were about a dozen Yellowhammers, several pairs of Stonechats, three Rock Pipits, a male Marsh Harrier, with another at Owl Point, along with four Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kestrel. (DHo)

Kingfisher (above), Spotted Redshanks, Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit, Stonechat & Yellowhammer along the North Wall (DHo)

Birdham Pool: There were 33 Little Grebes - all in a tight flock - on the pool this afternoon. (SH)

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were c60 Common Scoters feeding offshore this morning, with a couple of Sandwich Terns and a stonechat about, too. (AW)

Common Scoters (above), Sandwich Tern & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)

Sunday, 8th November: A very frustrating morning of dense fog that only started to clear towards midday.....

Selsey Bill: There was about as much offshore as would be expected with the sea not visible from the beach, and there was nothing in the gardens, either. Full log below. (SH/AT)

(0645-0815hrs) (NW, F1)

Pied Wagtail - 1

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Ferry Pool: There were c250 Lapwings roosting on the pool late this morning, along with four shelducks, c60 Shovelers and c150 Teal. (AH)

Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were along Park Lane this morning. (SH)

Church Norton: The Hume's Leaf Warbler was heard once and seen briefly once before 0900hrs, but there were no further reports, despite plenty of people looking.

Otherwise, there were just a few Goldcrests in the wood, a visiting birder reported three Firecrests towards the Severals early on, a Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff were along the path between the Severals, a Blackcap was in the churchyard and a Fieldfare was along Rectory Lane.

The harbour was basically lost to the fog, though a few Brent Geese, Teal and Wigeon were near the concrete blocks and the odd Redshank and Curlew could be heard. (MRe/BI/JA/IP/PB/AGB/JBo/AH/AT et al)

Chiffchaff (above), Brent Goose & Wigeon at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was challenging in the dank and foggy conditions this morning, with only a few Wigeon and Mallards, a Redshank, a Curlew and a Grey Plover visible out in the harbour.

Six Brent Geese flew over the wall and a Water Rail was on the Breech Pool, where there was also a Pied Wagtail, a Teal and 15 Shovelers.

A Kingfisher flew off the wall, and three Rock Pipits were along the rocks, whilst it was busy along the bushes with c30 Reed Buntings, six Yellowhammers, four Stonechats, two Greenfinches, a Chaffinch, two Redwings, two Song Thrushes, 12 Long-tailed Tits and numerous Dunnocks and Robins.

It was quieter at Halsey’s Farm, with just a few Wigeon on the Rife, although a Firecrest was a welcome sight along Rookery Lane. (MRi/LP)

Redwing (above), Yellowhammer, Rock Pipit, Reed Bunting & Curlew at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was a good selection of raptors about this afternoon, comprising a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers, whilst out on the reserve there were a Snipe, c200 Golden Plovers and Lapwings, 100 Wigeon and 13 Brent Geese and a Greylag Goose among c100 Canada Geese.

Also along the banks were a Redpoll, three Dartford Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, nine Stonechats, three Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a Pied Wagtail, c20 skylarks and c150 Linnets. (S&SaH/AH)

Merlin (above), Stonechat, Linnets & Golden Plovers and Lapwings at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 7th November: After a misty start, a very pleasant morning of sun and light cloud in just a light north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Another morning with a long list of species, though, again, no volume, with a briefly viewable Black Redstart the highlight, with other notable birds being a Merlin, two Slavonian Grebes and a couple of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers on the sea. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/PB/MRB)

(0645-0900hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 3E, 3W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 18E, 9W

Teal - 1E, 1W

Common Scoter - 11E, 28W

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Merlin - 1

Oystercatcher - 1E

Sanderling - 1E

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 6W, 1os

Common Gull - 2E, 1W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 5E

Razorbill - 2E, 41W, 12os

auk sp - 4W

Wood Pigeon - 120S

Stock Dove - 5S

Skylark - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 7W

Rock Pipit - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 7W

Black Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 1

Jackdaw - 60W

Linnet - 11E

Goldfinch - 6

Black Redstart (above), Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Diver & Razorbill at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Snipe, three Curlews and c120 Lapwings were on the pool this morning, with 11 Avocets dropping in briefly, too, and there were also four Shelducks, c80 Shovelers and c150 Teal, with a Stonechat and half a dozen Pied Wagtails about, too. (AH/PB/MRB)

Snipe (above) & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

East Beach: A look along the front from East Beach towards Church Norton produced two Bramblings and a Siskin among 47 Chaffinches and 55 Goldfinches going over north, along with a Fieldfare, three Pied Wagtails and 20 Stock Doves.

Also, three Bent Geese went over heading south and eight unassignable grey geese went over, heading north. (MRe)

Church Norton: There was more northward visible migration over the Severals, too, including another Brambling, a Redpoll, a Corn Bunting, 12 Siskins, 28 Chaffinches, 72 Goldfinches, nine Skylarks and a Grey Wagtail.

There were also two Firecrests, six Goldcrests, six Chiffchaffs and a pair of Stonechats about, plus a male Merlin. (MRe)

Later on, there were up to four Firecrests and half a dozen Goldcrests between the Severals, plus a pair of Stonechats on the horse field and a few Linnets and Meadow ~Pipits along the front, whilst in the harbour at high tide there were three Greenshanks, c30 Grey Plovers and c60 Redshanks, along with c200 Brent Geese and plenty of Wigeon and Teal. (AH/PB/MRB)

A possible glimpsed Hume's Leaf Warbler at Bluebell Wood this morning turned into a definite this afternoon after another search, though it was very elusive and only seen a couple of times before disappearing again. (MRe/SH)

This is a new bird for the Peninsula, and the first new one since the Common Nighthawk in October 2020. (Eds)

There was no further sign up until dusk, with a couple of Goldcrests the only birds in the wood. Also of note, two Marsh Harriers were around the first several, looking like they were going to roost. (AB/CD/AH/CRJ/BI/IP)

Firecrest (above), Linnet, Greenshanks and Redshanks & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Short-eared Owl was flushed from the rocks this morning, and the male Marsh Harrier and two Buzzards were about, too, with two Water Rails, a good count of 21 Snipe, two Stonechats, five Cetti's Warblers and 21 Reed Buntings also noted. (S&SaH)

East Side: Early this morning there was a vast number of waders and wildfowl along the side of the harbour, before the majority were moved off by the rising tide. Waders included 1500 Lapwings, 500 Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, 150 Grey Plover, 40 Knot, 30 Ringed Plovers, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 26 Curlews, 17 Avocets, 120 Redshanks, four Oystercatchers and two Turnstones.

Also, the Barnacle Goose was on the water with 150 Brent Geese, 50 Pintail, 100 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 40 Shelducks, 11 Shovelers, five Great Crested Grebes, and two Little Grebes, along with two Rock Pipits, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Meadow Pipit, and three Skylarks. (LP)

Barnacle Goose and Teal (above), Rock Pipit, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit & Avocets and Lapwings along the East side (LP)

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were just a pair of Stonechats and a dozen or so Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails about this morning, though there was a Great Northern Diver on the sea, nine Brent Geese went east and a flock of c50 Common Scoters dropped in, well offshore. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Brent Geese at Medmerry (AH)