22nd - 23rd April 2026

Thursday, 22nd April: Another bright morning, and a bit warmer as the still fresh breeze eased a little and tilted towards the east........

Selsey Bill: It was another morning with a wide range of species seen, though volume was fairly modest, with highlights being a Pomarine Skua and 65 Whimbrel east, a splendid pair of Eider sat close offshore and a bit of visible migration including a Tree Pipit, three Yellow Wagtails and all three hirundine species. Full log below. (SH/BI/PA/MO-W/AH/CRJ et al)

(0535-1120hrs) (ENE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 23E, 49W

Shag - 1E

Shelduck - 7E

Teal -  5E

Shoveler - 3E

Mallard - 1E

Eider - 2os

Common Scoter - 25E, 6os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 4E, 2W

Ringed Plover - 2E

Sanderling - 8E

Whimbrel - 65E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E

Turnstone - 10E

Great Skua - 1os

Pomarine Skua - 1E (1113hrs)

Arctic Skua - 2E

Little Gull - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 9E

Common Gull - 5E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 10os

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 231E, 9W, 40os

Common Tern - 75E, 2os

'Commic' Tern - 35E

Little Tern - 6os

auk sp - 3E

Swift - 6N

Skylark - 1N

Swallow - 62N

Sand Martin - 7N

House Martin - 6N, 2 present

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Tree Pipit - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Willow Warbler - 4

Linnet - 10W

There was more activity this afternoon, including a flock of 11 Black Terns and 3000 Herring Gulls going east. Full log below. (SH/JA)

(1615-1800hrs)

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E

Grey Plover - 5E

Common Gull - 2E

Herring Gull - 3000E

Sandwich Tern - 44E, 30os

Common Tern - 6E, 1os

'Commic' Tern - 17E, 30os

Black Tern - 11E (in one flock)

Swallow - 2N

Eider (above), Whimbrel, Common Scoters, Swallow (AH) & Sanderlings (AW) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There were at least 60 Whimbrel spread around the harbour off the Tramway this morning, with a Greenshank in the main channel and another and a Black-tailed Godwit in Ferry Channel, and there were more waders further out, including c25 probable Bar-tailed Godwits.

The pool was much the same as recent days, though, with a Green Sandpiper in the meanders at the back and a total of eight Avocets present, along with ten Shovelers, eight Gadwall and 47 Shelducks, plus seven Swallows over.

Also, the Tramway circuit produced a scattering of singing Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs and a Mistle Thrush flying over with food, but not too much else. (PA/AH)

Avocet (above), Whimbrel, Mistle Thrush, Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Whinchat was on the fence at Halsey’s Farm, and a pair of Gadwall were along the rife, while in Owl Copse the Grey Heron chick in the visible nest was showing well. The two remaining Brent Geese were still in the fields and a Wigeon was on the Breech Pool along with two Great Crested Grebes and eight Shelducks, with the Marsh Harriers in their usual area and a Peregrine high overhead.
Out in the harbour, a Greenshank was by Heron Island, but the only other waders about were four Whimbrels, three Curlews and an Oystercatcher, whilst along the wall there were a few Linnets, Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers, with two Swallows around the paddock, as well as two Pied Wagtails, and a Greenfinch. (LP/MJa/TRH/JDW)

Whinchat (above), Swallow, Whitethroat, Grey Herons, Wigeon, Greenfinch, Linnet & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Five Bar-tailed Godwits and c25 Oystercatchers were the only waders visible at high tide this evening, though the colony on and around Tern Island was as busy as ever. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwits (above) & Tern Island at Church Norton (AH)

Wednesday, 22nd April: A bright and sunny morning, but kept quite cool by the brisk easterly, freshening towards gale-force by midday......

Selsey Bill: A Pomarine Skua went east, fairly close in this morning, with two Bonxies, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, 68 Whimbrel, 43 Common Terns and 201 Sandwich Terns also going east, whilst a dark-phase Arctic Skua and four Fulmars went west, and seven Swifts and 28 Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below.

(SH/PA/KT/LP/TR/MO-W/AH/OM/JDa/AWi)

(0545-1215hrs) (E, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Fulmar - 4W

Gannet - 6E, 50W

Common Scoter - 10E, 1W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1os

Kestrel - 1N

Oystercatcher - 4E, 4W

Grey Plover - 1E

Whimbrel - 68E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 17E

Turnstone - 7

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0757hrs)

Great Skua - 2E

Arctic Skua - 1W

Little Gull - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 9E

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 201E

Common Tern - 43E

Little Tern - 2E, 5os

auk sp - 3W

Swift - 7N

Swallow - 28N

Meadow Pipit - 4N

House Martin - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Linnet - 2

Pomarine Skua (above), Bonxie, Whimbrel, Little Tern & Swift at the Bill (AH)

At 1520hrs, a little group of waders went past the Bill, comprising of four Whimbrels, a Dunlin and a Knot. (AW)

Later in the afternoon there was more interest, with three Black Terns heading east and an unexpected Balearic Shearwater and three Eider heading west. Full log below. (SH/AW/AT/AH)

(1615-1800hrs)

Balearic Shearwater - 1W (1715hrs)

Gannet - 1E, 3W

Eider - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 13E

Common Tern - 115E

Black Tern - 3E

Swallow - 4N

House Martin - 1

Whimbrel, Knot & Dunlin at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were both in Ferry Channel again this morning, but a fairly quiet pool just held seven Avocets, four Black-tailed Godwits, four Gadwall, four Shovelers, 22 Mallard and a good count of 54 Shelducks. (OM/AH)

Spotted Redshank (AH top two, OM lower)(above) & Greenshank (AH top & OM lower) at the Ferry

This afternoon a male Ring Ouzel was along the bank beyond the back of the pool, showing well, albeit distantly, into the evening, and there were also a Wheatear and a Green Sandpiper in the vicinity. (GRAB/PA/BI/AH/NM et al)

Ring Ouzel at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Swift went over this morning. (GR)

19th - 21st April 2026

Tuesday, 21st April: High pressure dominating still. Rather cloudy and cool at first, the cloud giving way later to a fine day with plenty of sunshine, but with a chilly, fresh to strong north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: The first two Pomarine Skuas of the year went east this morning, shortly followed by two Spoonbills, with 202 Sandwich Terns and 70 Common Terns, plus a flock of 34 Knot among a scattering of waders also going east, whilst a Hobby, seven Swifts, a Tree Pipit, ten Yellow Wagtails and 135 Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below. (PB/PM/AH/IP)

(0600-1100hrs) (NE, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

diver sp - 1E

Fulmar 2W

Gannet - 24E, 16W

Spoonbill - 2E

Brent Goose - 1E

Shelduck - 8E, 5W

Shoveler - 5E

Mallard - 1E

Common Scoter - 3E, 3W

Red Breasted Merganser - 2E

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 5E

Sanderling - 1E

Knot - 34E (one flock)

Dunlin - 1E

Whimbrel - 15E

Curlew - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 8E

Turnstone 6E 2W

Pomarine Skua - 2E (1050hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Great Black-backed Gull - 7E, 5os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 202E

Common Tern - 70E

'Commic' Tern - 6E

Little Tern - 8E, 4W

auk sp - 6W

Swift 7N

Barn Swallow - 136N

Sand Martin - 1N

House Martin - 3N

Tree Pipit - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 10N

Willow/Chiff - 2N

Goldfinch - 4E

Spoonbills (PM top, AH lower) (above), Whimbrel (PM), Bar-tailed Godwits, Swift & Yellow Wagtails (AH) at the Bill

This afternoon a Sooty Shearwater went west at 1615hrs and a flock of 23 Bar-tailed Godwits went east. Full log below. (AH/AWi/SH/AW)

(1530-1730hrs)

Sooty Shearwater - 1W (1615hrs)

Gannet - 8E, 7W

Peregrine - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwits - 23E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 5W

Sandwich Tern - 17E, 3W

Common Tern - 6E

Swallow - 2

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Peregrine & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were in Ferry Channel again this morning, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst another Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, four Black-tailed Godwits, seven Avocets, three Gadwall, six Shovelers and 22 Shelducks were around the pool. (AH/AS)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank & Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A Cuckoo was along the lane this morning. (LL)

North Wall: A Greenshank and three Redshanks were by Heron Island, but the only other waders seen were two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and a Grey Plover along the East side.

A few Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats were in the bushes along the wall, as well as two Lesser Whitethroats, a Kingfisher was around, and a pair of Gadwall were in the rife at Halsey’s Farm.

Also, a Cuckoo was calling early on, and the two Brent Geese were still in the fields, but apart from the Marsh Harriers over the reeds, that was about it. (LP/MJa)

This evening a Spotted Redshank and two Greenshanks were in the harbour, along with four Little Terns, whilst along the wall were two Lesser Whitethroats, two Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, four Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers, five Reed Warblers and three Reed Buntings, with a Marsh Harrier going over. (S&SaH) 

Kingfisher (above) & Gadwall at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: On the low tide this morning the Glossy Ibis was in the top part of the creek, whilst downstream there were nine Greenshanks, three Whimbrel, a Ringed Plover, a Brent Goose and a female Red-breasted Merganser. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool early on. (JSm)

Later, two Cattle Egrets, a Peregrine, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting and a Yellowhammer and a Buzzard apparently carrying a snake were also seen. (EB)

Peregrine (above), Buzzard, Cattle Egrets, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer & Stonechat at Medmerry (EB)

Monday, 20th April: A bright and sunny morning, tempered somewhat by the freshening north-easterly breeze........

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity again this morning, including the first Hobby of the year in off the sea, along with two Swifts, a Yellow Wagtail and half a dozen Swallows, whilst over 200 Common Terns and a small selection of waders went east and a Black-throated Diver was on the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/PA/KT/IP/AH)

(0545-0900hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Black-throated Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 8E, 9W, 8os

Mallard - 2

Hobby - 1N

Oystercatcher - 11E

Grey Plover - 4E

Ringed Plover - 2E

Dunlin - 1E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 6E

Whimbrel - 8E

Mediterranean Gull - 24E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 4os

Sandwich Tern - 61E

Common Tern - 209E

Little Tern - 10E, 4os

Swift - 2N

Swallow - 6N

House Martin - 4

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Linnet - 4

Yellowhammer - 1

Swallow (above), Whimbrel & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Three Whimbrel went east at lunchtime (AW) and a Little Gull and 54 Common Terns went east this afternoon (SH)

(1530-1700hrs) (SH)

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 1E

Common Scoter - 6E

Little Gull - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 11E

Common Tern - 54E

auk sp - 2W

Whimbrel at the Bill (AW).

Ferry Pool: There wasn't too much going on again this morning, with just a Little Ringed Plover, seven Avocets, nine Black-tailed Godwits, six Gadwall, two pairs of Shovelers and 17 Shelducks around the pool, with a Greenshank and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite, earlier on. (ABi/AH)

Later, ten Whimbrel in the harbour, the Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were together in Ferry Channel, four Red Kites were circling high together south of the Ferry, a Swift went over and there was a clear increase in Reed Warbler numbers, with at least seven singing birds, and there was also a couple of Lesser Whitethroats singing. (PA)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Gadwall & Avocet, Black-tailed Godwits and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)

Honer Reservoir: There was no sign of the Woodchat Shrike this morning, though a Cuckoo was along Pagham Rife. (MJa et al)

Church Norton: A Nightingale was singing well late this afternoon along the path to the harbour, with a couple of Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest singing nearby, yoo.

Also, out in the harbour there were six Whimbrel, five Common Terns and a dozen Common Gulls. (PA/AH/BI)

North Wall: Two Little Terns were fishing along the wall this afternoon. (AW)

Little Terns at the North at the North Wall (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A good selection along the banks this morning included three Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, six Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, 11 Cetti's Warblers and 22 Whitethroats, along with two Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Yellowhammers, plus six Swallows over.

A dozen Avocets were the only things of note on the Stilt Pool, whilst a Cattle Egret was on the reserve and two Kestrels and six Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - A Cuckoo could be heard to the north of the concrete road this morning, though it was always distant, whilst along the trail there were two Lesser Whitethroats, three or four Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Reed Warblers, with at least 25 Whitethroats being very conspicuous all the way along.

There were also a Stonechat, a couple of Yellowhammers and half a dozen Linnets and Skylarks about, whilst a couple of Swallows, a Red Kite and four Buzzards went over. (AH)

Also, a probable Nightingale was heard singing occasionally further along the Trail to Ham. (JWo)

Whitethroat (above), Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Skylark & Red Kite at Medmerry (AH)

Chichester Canal: A Song Thrush was feeding a fledged youngster this morning, and there were plenty of Reed Warblers and Blackcaps about, but not too much else. (AW)

Reed Warbler (above) & Song Thrush at Chichester Canal (AW)

Sidlesham: A Cuckoo was calling to the south of Cow Lane this evening. (AH/PA)

Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was feeding on the saltmarsh among the Little Egrets this afternoon, and a flock of 24 Whimbrel flew out heading north, whilst two Greenshanks were about, too.

Also, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and several Whitethroats were in the hedges. (AWi)

East Head: There were 15 Whimbrel and a Ba-tailed Godwit on the high tide roost area, whilst a Common Snipe, a Greenshank and a single Brent Goose in Snowhill Marsh, with two Wheatears, a couple of Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat also present. (PA)

 

Wheatear at East Head (PA)

Sunday, 19th April: A very pleasant and sunny morning, cool early on, but warming up, in just a light to moderate northerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: There was a reasonable selection of species this morning, including a female Black Redstart briefly in the gardens and the first Swift of the year, but sea passage remains minimal. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/P&LH/RW et al)

(0540-0910hrs) (N, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1W

Gannet - 2E, 11W

Brent Goose - 2E

Shelduck - 2E, 1os

Shoveler - 5W

Gadwall - 2E

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 8E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Oystercatcher - 4E

Sanderling - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 61E, 2W

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 4os

Sandwich Tern - 32E

Common Tern - 57E, 35os

Little Tern - 4E, 10os

auk sp - 1E

Swift - 1N

Swallow - 3N

Pied Wagtail - 1

Black Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Common and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Early this morning both the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were in Ferry Channel. (RW)

There wasn't too much around the pool later in the morning, with just a Little Ringed Plover, five Avocets, three Gadwall, eight Shovelers and seven Shelducks seen, with eight Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite.

There was just the usual mix of a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the adjacent hedges, too. (AH)

Little Ringed Plover, Avocet and Shovelers (above), Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Honer Reservoir: The male Woodchat Shrike was in the flooded field again this morning, with a Whinchat in the vicinity, too, along with a Reed Bunting, a few Linnets and Willow Warblers, up to ten Sedge Warblers and the Little Ringed Plover.. 

Also, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Warbler and two Blackcaps were in the hedges along the path towards Bramber Farm. (MJa/RPo/BI/MB/CRJ et al)

Woodchat Shrike (above), Woodchat Shrike and Reed Bunting, Whinchat & Little Ringed Plover (MJa), Woodchat Shrike & Brown Hare (EB) at Honer Reservoir 

North Wall: A Cuckoo flew over the trees at Halsey’s Farm this morning, and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two Chaffinches and a Song Thrush were along the hedgerows, whilst along the wall there were lots of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Whitethroats.

Just one Brent Goose was in the fields, a Whimbrel was in the harbour, and four Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and two Buzzards were also about. (DHi/LP/MRi/MJa/IH/EB/SBr/CRJ)

Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler & Chiffchaff at the North Wall (LP)

Park Farm, Selsey: Hirundines were back at the farm this morning, with, Swallows seen coming out of stables and c20 House Martins, and a few Swallows and a Sand Martin, plus a Pied Wagtail in the vicinity.

Also, a single Wheatear flew around the fields, a pair of Red-legged Partridges were at the eastern end and a few Skylarks were displaying, whilst at least two different Cetti's Warblers were calling around Park Lane. (IP)

Church Norton: A Lesser Whitethroat was in the stunted oaks next to the horse field, with a male Kestrel hunting over the field, whilst displaying Whitethroats were everywhere, along with a pair of Blackcaps and both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the area.

The harbour was dominated by c500 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls and c200 Sandwich Terns, with two Common and two Little Terns among them.

There were also seven Turnstones, seven Dunlin feeding together by the metalwork, four scattered Whimbrels, two Curlews and two Ringed Plovers, with a pair of Canada Geese on Tern Island, a pair of Mute Swans and a few shelducks seen, too. (IP)

Also, along the west side, there were c100 Dunlin, six Grey Plovers and a drake Red-breasted Merganser. (RW)

Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was reported as present again today. (per RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Whinchats along the banks just north of the Stilt Pool this afternoon. (HB)

Chichester GPs: A look around the Ivy Lake complex didn't produce much this morning, with half a dozen Pochard, c20 Tufted Ducks, four Egyptian Geese, including a leucistic bird and c20 Greylag and Canada Geese the only wildfowl, whilst along the path there were a Sedge Warbler, half a dozen Reed Warblers, two or three Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers and a pair of Reed Buntings. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above), Blackcap, Greylag Goose & leucistic Egyptian Goose at Chichester GPs (AH)

East Head: There were still five very late Golden Plovers present today, along with a Grey Plover, two Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and a good count of 16 Whimbrel.

Also around were a Yellow Wagtail, three Wheatears and seven Swallows. (PA)

Golden Plovers (above) & Wheatear at East Head (PA)