7th - 8th May 2026

Friday, 8th May: It was very murky early on, with some drizzly rain, too, though brightening up slowly, whilst the breeze remained moderate and from the south-east throughout...........

Selsey Bill: A Great White Egret came in from the north and headed west early on and there was a modest, but steady amount of eastward passage this morning, including four Arctic Skuas, 38 Arctic Terns, two Little Gulls, 80 Common Terns, 31 Little Terns, 87 Common Scoters, seven Whimbrel and eight Bar-tailed Godwits. Full log below. 

(JA/PB/PM/IP/PA/AH/OM/BFF)

(0500-1400hrs) (SE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

diver sp - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 35E, 21W, 6os

Great White Egret - 1W

Shoveler - 1E

Common Scoter - 87E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 1W

Sanderling - 14E

Whimbrel - 7E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 8E

Arctic Skua - 4E

Little Gull - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3E

Great Black-backed Gull - 12E, 6W, 5os

Kittiwake - 17E

Sandwich Tern - 110E, 45os

Common Tern - 80E

Arctic Tern - 38E

'Commic' Tern - 24E

Little Tern - 31E, 7os

Razorbill - 2E

Swallow - 9N

(1600-1800hrs) ()SH/JA)

Gannet - 5E, 2W

Arctic Skua - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 12E

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 4E, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 20os

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

This morning's gallery of regular observers, (being photo-bombed by Max, the local dog looking for his usual treats!) (OM)

Ferry Pool: There was an increase to 24 Avocets on the pool, and there were still c60 Black-tailed Godwits around, but otherwise there were just a Little Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, five Gadwall and c30 Shelducks on the pool with a Greenshank and five whimbrel in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later, an Osprey flew across the harbour, viewable from the Tramway. (AB)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Whimbrel & Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: A female Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite went over this morning, and there was also a calling Cuckoo in the vicinity. (BFF)

North Wall: A pair of Garganey were showing well on the Breech Pool this morning, as well as four Tufted Ducks, two Shelducks, two Gadwall, a Great Crested Grebe and the nesting Mute Swans, whilst four Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, and eight Buzzards, six Red Kites, a Raven, two Cuckoos, and a Kestrel were also about..

A Kingfisher was by Owl Copse, where one of the young Grey Herons was exploring around the nest, and along the reeds there were plenty of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, plus a Lesser Whitethroat, about, whilst a Chiffchaff and a Mistle Thrush carrying food were at Halsey's Farm and a Yellow Wagtail was in the paddock, where the Swallows were busy around the stables.

There were also handful of scattered Cattle Egrets in the fields with five more and 70 Mediterranean Gulls following a plough in the fields along Church Farm Lane...(LP/MJa/AH/BFF)

Garganey (top 3 LP, lower 3 AH) (above), Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier, (AH) Yellow Wagtail, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler (LP), Mistle Thrush & Chiffchaff (AH)  at the North Wall

West Itchenor: A Nuthatch was still in Chalkdock Copse today. (PH)

Thursday, 7th May: It slowly warmed and brightened up after a cold and hazily grey start, with the breeze initially light and from the north, veering to south-east and freshening during the morning.......

Selsey Bill: The swing to the south-east for the breeze came too late to stir up much activity this morning, though a Black-throated Diver, an Arctic Skua and a few Kittiwakes and waders went east. Full log below. 

(PB/SH/JA/PA/PM/LP/SP//IH/AH/OM/CRJ)

(0515-1230hrs) (N, F3, later SE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Black-throated Diver - 1E                                                                    

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Gannet - 41E, 18W

Mallard - 2

Common Scoter - 46E, 5W

Oystercatcher - 6E

Grey Plover - 2E

Whimbrel - 11E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 10E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 7os

Kittiwake - 20E

Sandwich Tern - 65E, 65os

Common Tern - 30E, 43os

'Commic' Tern - 21E

Little Tern - 6E, 15os

Swallow - 14N

House Martin - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

(1600-1800hrs) (JA/SH)

Gannet - 2E

Mallard - 2os

Common Scoter - 5E,k 9os

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 50os

Common Tern - 40os

Little Tern - 16os

Sandwich Terns (above), Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel, Black-throated Diver, Kittiwake & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Wood Sandpiper, the Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, 14 Avocets, 63 Black-tailed Godwits, two Shovelers, five Gadwall and 14 Shelducks were present, whilst the two Greenshanks were still in the channel opposite and a Marsh Harrier went over. (AH/PA)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The only waders seen this morning in a quick look were three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Curlew and a dozen Oystercatchers, though there were still vast numbers of birds around the islands, including two Common Terns, c25 Little Terns and c250 Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls. (AH)

Mediterranean Gull (above) & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

East side: There was a surprisingly good total of 105 Whimbrel along the side of the harbour this afternoon, though, otherwise there were only three ~Bar-tailed Godwits, seven Dunlin and 13 Grey Plovers to be seen, whilst three Red Kites went over with 14 Buzzards. (PA)

Whimbrel along the East side (PA)

Honer Reservoir: There were just a pair of Coots and two Gadwall on the water this morning, whilst in the surrounding fields two Cuckoos were very mobile and along the rife there were six Whitethroats, four Goldfinches, eight Sedge Warblers, one Chiffchaff, two Linnets and one Wren.

Also, near to Honer Farm there were ten Shelducks, four Cattle Egrets and one Marsh Harrier with another near the sewage farm along with two Grey Wagtails. (GHi)

Cuckoo (above), Grey Wagtail, Marsh Harrier, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat & Linnet at Honer Reservoir (GHi)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks this morning there were c25 Whitethroats, four Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, three Sedge Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, four Cetti's Warblers, a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Yellowhammers, plus six Swallows over, with a Common Tern, a cattle Egret and five Buzzards on/over the reserve. (S&SaH)

4th - 6th May 2026

Wednesday, 6th May: It was surprisingly cold early on, though warming up later as the sun pushed through, with the breeze remaining moderate to fresh and from the north throughout.............

Selsey Bill: A very slow morning, with just a few of the regular species seen. Full log below. (AH)

(0645-0800hrs) (N, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 7W, 15os

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 6os

Sandwich Tern - 4e, 40os

Common Tern - 3E

Swallow - 1N

Shag (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Hobby was seen over the Discovery Area early on, then again over the pool later in the morning, whilst the Wood Sandpiper was showing well, with a Common Sandpiper still present, too, along with four Redshanks, 15 Avocets and 58 Black-tailed Godwits, with two Greenshanks still in the channel opposite, along with another Avocet and ten Whimbrel.

There were a lot less wildfowl about, though, with just two drake Shovelers, six Gadwall, a dozen Mallard and 14 shelducks about. (AW/AH/NR)

Hobby (AW) (above), Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank (AH) & Avocet (AW) at the Ferry

Mill Pond Marsh: A Cuckoo was calling from the trees late this morning, but a pair of Shelducks and a pair of Gadwall were about it on the flooded field. (AH)

Cuckoo (above) & Shelducks at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Greenshank and an Oystercatcher were the only waders on a very quiet Stilt Pool this morning, and three Cattle Egrets and a few Canada Geese, plus a Red Kite and a Swallow over was about the sum for the reserve.

The banks were slow, too, with just c20 Whitethroats, half a dozen Reed Warblers, a Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers, a couple of Reed Buntings and Skylarks, six Yellowhammers and c30 Linnets noted. (AH)

Red Kite (above), Cattle Egret, Greenshank, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat & Linnet at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Four Swifts and five House Martins were among c100 Swallows feeding over the barley fields this evening, whilst a family of Stonechats were along the roadside bushes and there were also three or four skylarks and Whitethroats about. (AH)

Swift (above), Swallow, House Martin & Stonechat at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 5th May: After a grey start, a morning of hazy sunshine, though the north-easterly breeze started light before freshening through the day........

Selsey Bill: Another reasonably quiet morning, though with a few bits to maintain interest, including a Black Tern, seven Arctic Terns, four Arctic Skuas and a few waders east and a Hobby and a Yellow Wagtail in off the sea. Full log below. (PB/AH/IP)

(0545-1000hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet - 12E, 9W, 1os

Grey Heron - 1E

Mallard - 2W

Hobby - 1N

Kestrel - 1

Oystercatcher - 4E, 3W

Sanderling - 5E

Knot - 3E

Whimbrel - 2E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 25E

Arctic Skua - 4E

Mediterranean Gull - 

Great Black-backed Gull - 11os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 38E,14os

Arctic Tern - 7E

Little Tern - 24os

Black Tern - 1E

Razorbill - 5W

auk sp - 2W

Swallow - 16N

Yellow Wagtail - 1N

Selsey: An Osprey went high over the north of the town late in the morning. (MRe)

Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Kestrel with House Sparrow & PB showing the dedication needed to be Pom-King at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the pool this morning, along with four Redshanks, 16 Avocets, 45 Black-tailed, three drake Shovelers, ten Gadwall, c50 Mallards and c60 Shelducks, whilst a Greenshank, two Avocets and three Whimbrel were in the channel opposite. (AH)

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

This evening the Wood sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the pool and a Greenshank was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Wood Sandpiper (above) & Common Sandpiper at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: It was fairly quiet in the freshening breeze this morning, with just the snippet of Reed and sedge Warbler song, though half a dozen Whitethroats, a couple of Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets, plus a Skylark and a Red-legged Partridge in the field, were more conspicuous.

Also, the pair of Little Grebes and two small chicks were still on the pool and up to a dozen Whimbrel were at the far end of Ferry Channel. (AH)

Whitethroat (above), Linnet & Little Grebe and chick along the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo was at the Severals this morning, and there were a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits in the harbour. (MRe)

The only waders seen this evening were a Greenshank, a Grey Plover and three Whimbrel, whilst two Common Gulls and c20 Little Terns were among the throng by the islands. (AH)

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

North Wall: The Osprey seen over Selsey was later seen over the harbour. (RHa)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was again on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Greenshank, whilst a Nightingale was on the reserve. (GR/AS)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham Viewpoint - There was a good selection along the banks this evening, including three Cuckoos, four Corn Buntings, six Yellowhammers, eight Reed Buntings, a Stonechat, c30 Whitethroats, c20 Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, three Cetti's Warblers, two Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, and a Chiffchaff, with a Cattle Egret on the reserve and three Swifts and three Swallows over. (S&SaH)

Chichester GPs: The two drake and the duck Red-crested Pochard and their four ducklings were all still on New Lake this afternoon. (AB/CRJ)

Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May: A very grey and overcast morning, only brightening slowly, but quite mild in the light north-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: A fairly quiet morning, though a Pomarine Skua was an unexpected highlight, whilst 37 Brent Geese went east, too, three Eider went west and a Tree Pipit and two Yellow Wagtail came in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/AH et al)

(0500-0930hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 8W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 37E

Eider - 3W

Common Scoter - 31E

Oystercatcher - 3E, 4W, 1 present

Sanderling - 3E, 1W

Whimbrel - 5E

Pomarine Skua - 1E (0909hrs)

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E, 3os

Great Black-backed Gull - 8E, 4W, 13os

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 140os

Common Tern - 12os

Little Tern - 22os

Cuckoo - 1 (heard)

Swift - 4

Swallow - 12N, 4 present

House Martin - 6

Tree Pipit - 1N

Yellow Wagtail - 2N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 1

(1415-1615hrs) (JA/SH)

Gannet - 2W

Shag - 1W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 8W

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 15os

Little Tern - 8os

Eider (above), Brent Geese, Red-throated Divers & Little Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Wood Sandpiper was around again, though often elusive, whilst the Black-tailed Godwit count had risen to 44 and the Avocet count was down to 11, along with a couple of Redshanks, and in the channel opposite there were still two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and a Whimbrel.

Also, two Common Terns dropped in briefly, a Water Rail was calling from the roadside reeds  and there were a lot of wildfowl on the pool, including c70 Shelducks, c50 adult Mallards and c30 ducklings in four different families, with 11 Gadwall and a Shoveler about, too. (PA/AH)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank & Common Terns at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: It was busy in the paddocks this morning, with six Yellow Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, 16 Linnets, three Swallows, four Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, a Whitethroat, two Reed Buntings, and two Cuckoos about, with another Cuckoo and four Marsh Harriers further back.

Along the wall, the reeds were full of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers, while on the Breech Pool there were seven Tufted Ducks, two Shelducks and a Great Crested Grebe. Another Cuckoo was at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was about and two Swifts passed high overhead but the only other bird of note was a Gadwall by the outfall. (LP/MJa/CT)

Yellow Wagtails (above), Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Tufted Duck at the North Wall (LP)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two or three Reed Warblers were singing from the reeds this morning, but a Shelduck was the only thing of note on the flooded field, whilst in the adjacent Yeoman's field there was little to report beyond two or three Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Reed Warbler (above) & Whitethroat at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: Apart from the endless activity around the colony, it was quiet this morning, with just half a dozen Whimbrel and a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits on the mud and just a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the hedges. (AH)

Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Spoonbill was still on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with a Greenshank, whilst five Common Terns were over the reserve and a Little Tern and two Sandwich Terns went east offshore and a Yellow Wagtail and 42 Swallows came in off the sea..

Also, three Lapwings and two Egyptian Geese were on the reserve, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and four Buzzards went over

The banks were quite busy in the stiller conditions, and included a family part of two adult and three juvenile Stonechats, c30 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a B lackcap, four Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, six Sedge Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, five Reed Buntings and 13 Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights of a quiet morning included 20 Whimbrel, two Greenshanks and a Lesser Whitethroat. (RW)

Chichester GPs: The curious family of two drake and one duck Red-crested Pochard and their four ducklings were all still on New Lake this morning. (PA)

West Wittering: A Nightjar was seen roosting in a garden in the village today. (S Arnell)

Nightjar in a West Wittering garden (S Arnell)