14th - 15th May 2026

Friday, 15th May: It remains surprisingly cool, but the north-westerly breeze eased overnight, leaving a pleasant morning of hazy sun and cloud.......

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua and two Great Northern Divers were about this morning, along with plenty of terns, mostly well offshore. Full log below. (IP/AH))

(0645-0815hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 12os

Arctic Skua - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 75os

Common Tern - 6os

Little Tern - 10os

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 1

There were a lot of birds i a distant feeding flock this afternoon, including an impressive 26 Sandwich Terns. Full log below. (JA)

(1600-1730hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3s

Common Gull - 2os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 11os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Herring Gull - 1600os

Sandwich Tern - 268os

Common Tern - 18os

Little Tern - 35os

Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a Common Sandpiper, two Redshanks, c30 Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning until a Red Kite and a Buzzard went over at the same time and upset them all, but otherwise there were just a drake Shoveler, three Gadwall, a dozen Shelducks and c30 Mallard present. (AH)

Also, later, a Little Ringed Plover was again on the pool and a Greenshank was in the channel opposite. (AH/P&BJ)

Red Kite (above), Common Sandpiper, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits & Shoveler and Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were up to four Marsh Harriers about, including the regular pair, though it looks as if the potential second pair's nest has failed, whilst among a good selection of other raptors there were a Hobby chasing things high up, at least two Red Kites and a Kestrel mobbing one of at least five Buzzards present.

Also, a Cuckoo was behind the Breech Pool, at least a dozen Swifts were feeding high up, a Kingfisher was still around Owl Copse and the Swallows were still around the paddocks and plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers were along the wall. (LP/IH/CT/TRH/MJa/EB/AH et al)

Also, a Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm again, early this morning (AW), whilst later there were a calling Cuckoo, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Casttle Egrets, a pair of Gadwall annd a pair of Canada Geese in the vicinity P&BJ).

Marsh Harrier (above), Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Swallow (AH), Marsh Harriers, Reed Warbler, Mute Swan family, Cattle Egret & Great Crested Grebes (EB) at the North Wall 

Pagham Spit, There were 197 Dunlin, 144 Ringed Plovers, two Sanderlings and a Turnstone in the high tide roost this morning, whilst c40 Little Terns, eight Common Terns, c250 Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull and c100 Mediterranean Gulls were around the islands.

There were also two Meadow Pipits and a handful of Skylarks and Linnets along the spit. (PA)

East side: A first-summer Little Gull was off the end of White's Creek this morning, along with c100 Dunlin and c80 Ringed Plovers, whilst further out there were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel and half a dozen Grey Plovers, plus at least six Common Seals. (AH/PA/LP/TRH/MJa)

Little Gull (above), Grey Plover & Bar-tailed Godwit along the East side (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Along Church Farm Lane this morning there were a Cattle Egret, four Shelducks, eight Mediterranean Gulls, six Stock Doves and a couple each of Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Song Thrushes. (P&BJ)

Honer Reservoir: There were just three Gadwall, six Mallards and five Coots on the reservoir, with a Yellowhammer in the hedges and five skylarks in the fields, with another Yellowhammer, a Whimbrel, nine Curlews, nine Shelducks, six Cattle Egrets, seven Stock Doves and a Kestrel in the fields towards Honer Farm. (P&BJ)

Church Norton: The two first-summer Little Gulls were on Tern Island again this afternoon before flying out to sea, whilst the were still half a dozen Common Terns and c25 Little Terns among the many Sandwich Terns, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls.
Also, four Avocets dropped in, but seven Whimbrel and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Grey Plovers and Ringed Plovers were the only waders in the southern end of the harbour, though a lot of presumably Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were along the main Channel. (AW/AH/P&BJ)

East Head: At Snowhill Creek this morning there was very little to report, just seven Avocets and a female Wheatear of note. (PA)

Thursday, 14th May: Another cold and windy morning, with the stiff north-westerly pushing through banks of heavy cloud and squally drizzle, with brief sunny spells between.......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with just a few terns lingering offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0700-0815hrs) (NNW, F5)

Gannet - 5E, 14W

Whimbrel - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 11os

Little Tern - 8os

House Martin - 4

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Whimbrels at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the small, roadside pool, whilst on the main pool there were 27 Avocets, 57 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Shoveler, a drake Gadwall, 11 Shelducks and c25 Mallards.

A look round the Tramway just produced a Lesser Whitethroat, two Blackcaps, three Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs and a scattering of half a dozen or so Whitethroats, whilst a lone Whimbrel was on the salt-marsh. (AH)

Later, with the tide up, there were a Common Sandpiper, 17 Dunlin plus a Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 74 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Shoveler on the pool, whilst a Cuckoo was heard, and 26 Swifts and a male Marsh Harrier went over. (P&BJ)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Chiffchaff & Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A pair of Great Crested Grebes with four small chicks were on the pool today, along with a Little Grebe. (P&BJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A Barn Owl was along Church Farm Lane this evening, with a Yellowhammer, a Cattle Egret and 20 Mediterranean Gulls around, too. (P&BJ)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out hunting just before dawn at Halsey's Farm, with a Cuckoo calling from the copse and a Mistle Thrush nearby. (AW)

Barn Owl (above), Mistle Thrush & Roe Deer at the North Wall (AW)

The Barn Owl was seen again briefly later on, and two Ravens flew over the wall and across the harbour, whilst the reeds were still busy with Sedge and Reed Warblers as well as a couple of Reed Buntings, a Lesser Whitethroat was at Owl Copse, and a pair of Little Grebes were nest building on the water.

The Mute Swan family with their six new cygnets were on the Breech Pool, where there was also two Tufted Ducks, a Shoveler, a Gadwall, two Shelducks and 28 Mallards, whilst the pair of Great Crested Grebes were carrying out some maintenance on their nest.

Elsewhere, there were 16 Grey Plovers out in the harbour, a Little Tern was fishing at high tide, the Marsh Harriers were very active over the reeds, and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees at the back. (MJa/TRH/LP/JDW)

Shoveler (above), Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck & Mute Swan family at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Half a dozen Turnstones, two Curlews and a dozen Oystercatchers were the only waders seen, whilst five Common Terns, a dozen Little Terns and c40 Sandwich Terns were on the last vestiges of mud.

A couple of vocal Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats was about it for the hedges, with four Swallows over Rectory Lane the only other things of note. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon  two first-summer Little Gulls were on Tern Island, with two Bar-tailed Godwits and five Whimbrel on the mud and c40 Little Terns among the colony. (P&BJ)

There was no sign of the Little Gulls later, though at least 60 Little Terns and 300 Sandwich Terns were about, along with a Greenshank, a Grey Plover, two Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits. (AH)

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

10th - 13th May 2026

Wednesday, 13th May: Another cool morning, with a mix of sun and fast moving, often heavy, cloud in the near gale-force westerly........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of inward migration this morning, despite the unpromising conditions, with two Hobbies, 11 Swifts and 11 Swallows coming in, and two summer-plumaged Knot and nearly 50 Razorbills/auks going east. Full log below. (SH/IP/AH)

(0600-0900hrs) (W, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, then E

Gannet - 47E, 12W

Common Scoter - 1E, 7W

Hobby - 2N

Oystercatcher - 3W

Knot - 2E

Whimbrel - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 1os

Kittiwake - 1E, 6W

Sandwich Tern - 72os

Common Tern - 19os

Little Tern - 6os

Razorbill - 17E, 1W

auk sp - 32E, 8W

Swift - 11N

Swallow - 11N

This afternoon, two distant Manx Shearwaters went east. Full log below. (SH)

(1400-1530hrs)

Manx Shearwater - 2E

Gannet - 4E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W, 2os

Kittiwake - 10W

Sandwich Tern - 62os

Common Tern - 2os

auk sp - 1E

Swift - 2N

Kittiwake (above), Swifts & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 33 Avocets and 62 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, but not much else beyond a couple of Redshanks, 14 Shelducks and c25 Mallards. (AH)

Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A combination of a high tide and the windy conditions made the harbour very quiet this morning, with just a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Curlews, half a dozen Grey Plovers and c20 Oystercatchers the only waders, and, again, there were just half a dozen Little Terns and c20 Sandwich Terns away from the colony.

A Cuckoo was calling from Priory Wood and a couple of Swallows went over, but, otherwise, it was just the odd Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap in the sheltered hedges. (AH)

Little Terns (above), Sandwich Tern & Whitethroat at Church Norton (AH)

This evening there were just five Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and five Ringed Plovers, plus a few Little and Sandwich Terns on the mud. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Whimbrel & Little and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Chichester GPs: There were c60 Swifts over the pits this evening. (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Despite the wind, there were still a few birds along the banks, including 10 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, eight Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, five Cetti’s Warblers, a Reed Buntings and three Yellowhammers, plus 13 Swifts and four Swallows over.

Also, a lone Avocet was on the Stilt Pool, and a Cattle Egret, three Common Terns and a Kestrel were on/over the reserve. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 12th May: After another cold start, a warm and mostly sunny morning in a moderate to fresh south-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was nothing moving again this morning, bar a Yellow Wagtail over, whilst House Martins were busy gathering mud in Grafton Road. Full log below. (IP/AH)

(0630-0815hrs) (SW, F4)

Gannet - 4W

Oystercatcher - 2E, 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 2W

Sandwich Tern - 50os

Common Tern - 6os

Little Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 1E

Swallow - 2

House Martin - 7

Yellow Wagtail -1N

Linnet - 1

Kittiwake (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were two Common Sandpipers on the pool this morning, along with 32 Avocets, four Redshank and 63 Black-tailed Godwits, with another 11 of the latter, a Greenshank and four Whimbrel in the channel opposite, whilst wildfowl comprised just four Gadwall, 11 Shelducks and c20 Mallards. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Greenshank, Whimbrel & Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: An Osprey put everything up on the islands before drifting off east and out to sea over Pagham Spit this morning, being mobbed by two Buzzards among the gulls, though the harbour was quiet, with just a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrel and four Curlews noted, and the area around the islands was generally calmer - hopefully an indication that birds are finally settling down to nest.

There wasn't too much to report from the land, though a likely migrant Reed Warbler was singing from the bushes near the hide and a Lesser Whitethroat was between the Severals, with the odd Blackcap and Chiffchaff at both locations, with plenty of Whitethroats and Linnets and a few Reed Warblers, plus a family of Long-tailed Tits, along the front. Also, half a dozen Swifts and similar of Swallows were over the fields beyond the Severals. (AH)

Osprey and Buzzards (above), Sandwich and Little Terns, Whitethroats, Long-tailed Tit & Tern Island at Church Norton (AH)

This evening the only waders in the harbour were three Dunlin, three Ringed Plovers, a Sanderling, a Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Whimbrel, four Curlews and c25 Oystercatchers, whilst the areas around the islands were relatively quiet again. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrel, Ringed Plover & Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 11th May: A surprisingly cool morning, mostly hazily grey in the moderate north-westerly breeze.......

Selsey Bill: There was a big, distant feeding flock offshore this morning, but absolutely nothing on the move. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0830hrs) (NW, F4)

Gannet - 20os

Common Scoter - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Common Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 100os

Common Tern - 30os

Little Tern - 1W

auk sp - 2E

Swift - 1 

Skylark - 1W

House Martin - 2

Sandwich Tern (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank were on the ferry, with c60 Black-tailed Godwits and c30 Avocets commuting between the pool and the channel, where there were also another Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a pair of Gadwall, whilst other wildfowl just consisted of four more Gadwall, eight Shelducks and c20 Mallard.

Also, c20 Swifts were distantly viewable over the sewage works, three Buzzards were airborne and one or two Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps called from the hedges. (PA/AH/BFF/SL)

Greenshank (above), Greenshank and Avocet, Whimbrel, Gadwall & Whitethroat at the ferry (AH)

East side: There were good numbers of waders along the east side this morning, including 13 Sanderling, 12 Knot, five Turnstones, 104 Dunlin, 63 Grey Plovers and 83 Ringed Plovers, with a handful of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits and over 30 Shelducks about, too. (PA)

North Wall: A Grey Wagtail and a White Wagtail, seen carrying nesting material, were in the paddock this morning, and a Cuckoo, a Red Kite, four Marsh Harriers, three Swallows and four Swifts were also around. Six Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool and there were a few Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Long-tailed Tits along the hedges.

At Halsey’s Farm, another Cuckoo in the bushes, a Gadwall was along the rife, and on the harbour side, a Great Crested Grebe was in the channel and a Curlew was on the mud, but otherwise out in the harbour there were just a few distant Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and a couple of Whimbrels. (LP/MJa/KU)

Also, a Barn Owl was seen at dawn at Halsey's Farm. (MJa)

White Wagtail (above), Sedge Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting & Curlew at the North Wall (LP),

Church Norton: A total of 22 Bar-tailed Godwits and six Whimbrel, plus a single Knot, flew in this morning, whilst three Avocets, a dozen Grey Plovers and c20 Oystercatchers were out on the mud, but there were no small waders about at all.

There were still three Common Terns and c20 Little Terns among the mass of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, but nothing in the hedges beyond a couple of Whitethroats and Blackcaps. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot, Whimbrel & Little Tern at Church Norton (AH)

Runcton: South of the village this morning were a pair of Mute Swan, 11 Shelducks, 11 Mallard, two Gadwall, a pair of Pochard, two pairs of Tufted Ducks, four Little Grebes, two Grey Herons, a flyover Cattle Egret, three Common Buzzards, a Green Woodpecker, three Cetti’s Warblers, five Reed Warblers, four Blackcaps, three Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler. (CRJ)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham - Two Cuckoos, four swifts and two Swallows were about this evening, with a good selection along the banks including five corn Buntings, half a dozen Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, a Stonechat, ten Whitethroats, 12 Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers and five Cetti's Warblers. (S&aH)

Chichester GPs: This morning the odd Red-crested Pochard family were still on New Lake - two drakes, a female and four ducklings. There were also at least twenty Swifts hawking over Ivy Lake, with a similar number of Swallows and two Sand Martins. (AW)

Red-crested Pochard family (above), Sand Martin & Swift at Chichester GPs (AW)

Sunday, 10th May: A pretty dismal morning's weather, with a strong and cold north-easterly pushing through frequent squalls of drizzly rain.......

Selsey Bill: There was a good-sized feeding flock of terns and Gannets offshore, but 39 Common Terns were about the only things going east, whilst there also a Manx Shearwater west and a Yellow Wagtail in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/AH/IP)

(0500-0900hrs) (NE, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Gannet - 24E, 27W, 21os

Mallard - 2W

Common Scoter - 5E, 4W

Oystercatcher - 3E

Whimbrel - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 10E, 1W, 5os

Kittiwake - 1E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 51os

Common Tern - 39E, 14os

Commic' Tern - 1E

Little Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 2W

auk sp - 2W

Swift - 1N

House Martin - 2

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Also, between 0900hrs and 1045hrs, another Manx Shearwater and a Fulmar went west. (KB)

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

Ferry Pool: There were still a Little Ringed Plover, c60 Black-tailed Godwits and 24 Avocets spread between the pool and channel, with two Greenshanks and a Whimbrel also in the channel, whilst wildfowl on the pool comprised a pair of Shoveler, five Gadwall, 14 Shelducks and c20 Mallard. 

There was also a Lesser Whitethroat in the hedges.(AH/KB/PA)

Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit (above), Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwits & Gadwall, Shovelers and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was no sign of the Roseate Tern this morning, though c40 Little Terns, a couple of Common Terns and c200 Sandwich Terns were about, with the few waders present comprising one Whimbrel, one Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, five Ringed Plovers, two Curlews and a dozen Oystercatchers. (AH/BI/PA/MWh et al)

Little Terns and Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern and Sandwich Terns, Bar-tailed Godwit & Ringed Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was predictably quiet along the wall in the persistent rain with just a Great Crested Grebe and a Little Egret along White’s Creek and 11 Shelduck, two Tufted Ducks and a few Mallards on the Breech Pool, whilst Sedge and Reed Warblers were in the reeds, a Cuckoo was calling, and a Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff were by the stables. (LP)

Great Crested Grebe at the North Wall (LP)

East Side: There was a nice selection of waders along the East side, including 14 Sanderlings, 78 Ringed Plovers, 45 Dunlin, 22 Whimbrels, 26 Grey Plovers, 12 Knot, two Curlews, a Redshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 5 Oystercatchers, with a Little Tern fishing along the channel, and 60 Great Black-backed Gulls further out on the mud. (LP/MJa)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Ringed Plovers, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Knot & Sanderlings along the East side (LP)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was back on the stilt Pool this morning. (ML)