25th-27th September 2025

Saturday, 27th September:  The wind switched to due south this morning and although there was a suspicion of drizzle early on the day looks set to be fair...

Selsey Bill:   A Whinchat was on the Oval Field this morning and a steady stream of Meadow Pipits flew over eastwards. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/BI)

(0645-0930hrs) (S F4)

Gannet - 15E 49W 13os

Shag - 8E

Brent Goose - 8W

Sparrowhawk - 2

Sanderling - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Common Scoter - 14E, 10W

Common Tern - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 30E

Razorbill - 13E

auk sp. - 7E, 13W

Swallow - 42E

Meadow Pipit - 445E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Yellow Wagtail - 2E

Willow Warbler - 1

Whinchat - 1

Chiffchaff - 5

Goldcrest - 1

Siskin - 8E

This afternoon there were four Sanderlings off Hillfield Road. (RP)

Whinchat, above, Meadow Pipits & Shags at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm, Selsey: A minimum of four Chiffchaffs were around the farm early morning, whilst over 75 Meadow Pipits were over the fields, along with a flock of four Skylarks and a few Swallows. 

On my return there were two Goldcrests at the seaward end of Park Lane and a Buzzard over the fields. (IP)

Ferry Pool: First one, then two, then three Little Stints were on the pool this morning as was a Green Sandpiper with another of the latter on the concealed pool. Also present were c.20 Lapwings and a scattering of Mallards and Teal as well as c.50 Black-headed Gulls. (AW/GW/KB/BI et al)

Little Stint, above, Little Stint with Green Sandpiper on the Ferry Pool 

& Green Sandpiper on the concealed pool. (AW)

Church Norton: A Marsh Harrier was over the harbour today and there were numerous Siskins passing through. Waders were again limited to the regular three of Redshank, Curlew & Oystercatcher, plus a Greenshank, five Turnstones and two Grey Plovers, in addition, there was a steady flow of Swallows heading north through the Harbour, a Kingfisher was briefly on the metalwork and a Little Grebe was around Tern Island (the latter rare at this time of year here). 

A Kestrel was sat out on the concrete blocks, another two were over Priory Wood and a fourth was over the Park Copse cottages. Wildfowl was limited to about 30 Teal, a handful of Wigeon and a lone male Pintail.(KB/IP)

Greenshank at Church Norton (IP)

MIll Pond Marsh: Two Grey Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits and four Pied Wagtails were on the marsh today but otherwise it was just the regular wildfowl species. (BI)

Grey Wagtails, above, & Meadow Pipit at Mill Lane Marsh (BI)

Merston:  A Barn Owl was quartering the fields here at first light. (BI)

Marsh Farm Sidlesham: A quick look produced the large flock of Goldfinches still present, a Grey Wagtail on the sheds, at least 12 Stonechats along the tracks and nine Cattle Egrets in the fields. (BI)

North Wall: A Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier and three Kestrels were the raptors seen this morning whilst in White's Creek there were four Curlew Sandpipers noted. Two Kingfishers were about, as were three Water Rails, six Stonechats were on the fenceline at Owl Point and two Yellow Wagtails flew over. A Cetti's Warbler was also seen and heard. (SaH/SH/KB)

A gallery from the North Wall today: Wheatear, top, (SaH), Spoonbill, top three (AD), following two, including a Wigeon, (C.Stockwell), Grey Plover (AD), & Kingfisher (C. Stockwell)

Later at the North Wall the Curlew Sandpiper count had risen to five at the sluice and further up Whites Creek were three Spotted Redshanks whilst a Marsh Harrier flew through. (AHu)

Marsh Harrier, above, Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpipers at the North Wall (AHu)

Honer:An 8.5km walk around Honer, Honer reservoir and the Summer Lane area yielded two Spotted Flycatchers in the oaks at the beginning of the fields near the WTW. The hedges were noticeably full of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps were present along with two Whitethroats. A White Wagtail was on the dirt mound and two Grey Wagtails were in the field. 

Near the reservoir, the field was full of Stonechats and Chiffchaffs again with a few Reed Buntings. A good number of hirundines over with many Meadow Pipits moving, too. A Goldcrest was in the hedges also. The reservoir itself was pretty empty with just two Mute Swans, a Little Grebe, two more Grey Wagtails and a few Coots. (AHu)

Medmerry, Easton lane to the Stilt Pool: Raptors this afternoon included four Buzzards, three Kestrels, a Peregrine and four Marsh Harriers, a male and three females. A Kingfisher was near the sluice, seven Skylark flew over east, eight Swallows went through and 16 Yellow Wagtails were noted. 

Along the banks were 13 Chiffchaffs, 11 Stonechats, a Goldcrest, two Dartford Warblers, two Reed Buntings and a single Yellowhammer. The only bird of note on the Stilt Pool was a Curlew Sandpiper but c.20 Meadow Pipits were recorded in this area. (SaH/SH)

Friday, 26th September: A cool start to to the day with variable winds generally from the east forecast to be become south-easterly by the afternoon...staying dry...

Selsey Bill:  It was very quiet offshore this morning with just four Shags and a single Sandwich Tern of note. Viz-mig consisted of relatively low numbers of Meadow Pipits, wagtails and hirundines but there were at 12 Chiffchaffs along the bushes and a Lapwing flew over heading north. Later in the day a flock of Wigeon flew east and there were a few Gannets about. Full logs below.  (BI/IP)

(0640-0820hrs) (NNE F3-4)

Shag - 4W

Little Egret - 1E 1W

Oystercatcher - 5W

Lapwing - 1N

Turnstone - 11

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Swallow - 19W

Chiffchaff - 12p

Grey Wagtail - 3E

Pied Wagtail - 13E

Meadow Pipit - 28W

Chaffinch - 2N

Siskin - 10W

(0850-1015hrs) (CRJ)

Gannet - 1os

Wigeon - 38E

Teal - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Swallow - 6N

Turnstone, above, & Chiffchaff at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: A few Chiffchaffs were around the hedges but on the pool itself were only 15 Teal and 40 Black-headed Gulls. (BI)

Mill Pond Marsh: Unsually, three Wigeon were on the pool with the regular Mallards, Tea and Gadwalls this morning but otherwise it just singles of Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler in the hedgerows. (BI)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham to Honer: There were probably 1000 gulls, mainly Herring and Black-headed, around the farm today predominantly in the newly ploughed field where there were also c.20 Cattle Egrets. The activity attracted the attention of the Glossy Ibis which flew in and circled round before dropping out of sight somewhere near the flock. 

The other notable count from this area was of Goldfinches with a minimum of 350 around the teazel, chicory and thistles at Chalder Farm. Towards Honer there where six Yellowhammers, ten Siskins, six LInnets, more Goldfinches and seven Greenfinches logged but the reservoir held just a few Coots. Please note that this area is very busy with farm traffic at the moment so please exercise care if visting. (AHu/BI)

Goldfinches at Chalder Farm (BI) & Glossy Ibis at Marsh Farm (AHu)

Church Norton:  Early this morning there was a flock of 40+ Siskins around the trees near the hide, before they flew off east. There was a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits and Swallows overhead also heading east. An Osprey was seen in the harbour mouth before drifting over towards Pagham North Wall. 

Three Brent Geese were around the harbour entrance, along with a Common Gull. A Short-eared Owl was seen initially on the beach before being mobbed by a Herring Gull and driven out to sea. Behind the hide was a Spotted Flycatcher, a female Blackcap and five Chiffchaffs and two Spoonbills were out in the harbour. (AW/CRJ/GC)

Siskins, above, Osprey, Brent Geese, Common Gull & Short-eared Owl at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: What was presumably the same Osprey as seen at Church Norton was relocated in trees to very back of the Breech Pool mid-morning before flying off south. One of the Little Stints was also still at Halsey's Farm. Also noted today were two Avocets and two Marsh Harriers. (SM/LP) This evening the Glossy Ibis dropped into the rife at Halsey's Farm just after 1900hrs. (AS)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - It was fairly quiet but a good number of Yellowhammers were in the bushes and a Marsh Harrier was out in the middle of the reserve.

At the Stilt Pools, 21 Yellow Wagtails were around with two Dunlin and a Greenshank whilst c.30 Ringed Plovers flew in but didn't settle; a Dartford Warbler was in the Gorse by the pools. (AHu)

Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (AHu)

Chichester GPs: A tour of the pits today produced two Egyptian Geese, two Greylag Geese, two Shovelers among other wildfowl as well as a Grey Wagatil. (A.Thomas)

Thursday, 25th September: Another fairly cool, if mostly bright, morning in a brisk northerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A few Wigeon and Teal were moving about well out to sea and a dozen Sandwich Terns were among the very large numbers of gulls offshore, but there was very little moving overhead. Full log below. (AH)

(0710-0825hrs) (NNE, F4)

Gannet - 3E, 32W

Shag - 7W, 2os

Wigeon - 23E, 34W

Teal - 1E, 6W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - c150os

Black-headed Gull - c500os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 4os

Herring Gull - c1500os

Sandwich Tern - 12os

Swallow - 26E

Meadow Pipit - 14E

Goldfinch - 18E

This afternoon, three Brent Geese went west, and a Sanderling and a Clouded Yellow were along the beach. (S Gatley)

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

Ferry Pool: There were just a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank and 16 Teal on the pool early on. (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Four Shovelers among 27 Teal was the only interest this morning. (AH)

Shovelers and Teal at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was by the concrete wall this morning, half a dozen Blackcaps and a dozen Chiffchaffs were around any bits of shelter and six Meadow Pipits and 15 Swallows went over, but the harbour was very quiet, with no small waders about and just c80 Wigeon and c40 Teal along the main channel. (AH/CRJ)

This afternoon, a Red-breasted Merganser - the first  back - and a Whimbrel were in the harbour. (S Gatley)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Chiffchaff & Blackcaps at Church Norton (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Glossy Ibis was around the fields near the farm again late this morning, before flying off some distance south-west, and a Marsh Harrier went over the churchyard, and there were also a Peregrine, seven Cattle Egrets, anda candidate for “fuscus” Lesser Black-backed Gull about (CRJ)

Glossy Ibis (above), Cattle Egret & 'fuscus-type Lesser Black-backed Gull at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (CRJ)

Earlier, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was out in the fields, but only a dozen or so Cattle Egrets could be found, with little else to report, beyond a dozen Chiffchaffs in the hedges by the pond at Chalder Farm, and half a dozen Swallows over. (AH)

Yellow-legged Gull (above), Cattle Egret & Chiffchaff at Marsh Farm, Sidleshjam (AH)

Pagham Spit: An Osprey was fishing close inshore from the beach early this afternoon. (TG)

Osprey at Pagham Spit (TG)

North Wall: A Spoonbill, seven Curlew Sandpipers, two Greenshanks, two Spotted Redshanks, four Grey Plovers and eight Dunlin were along White’s Creek this morning along with all the regular species, and a Wheatear was along the wall.

A Little Stint was still by the rife at Halsey’s Farm, along with a Dunlin, with two Kingfishers also about, whilst overhead there were a few Meadow Pipits and Swallows. (TRH/MJa/SP/LP)

Later, in addition to the above, there were two Stonechats in the paddocks and a Hobby went over. (JC)

Spoonbill (above), Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers, Dunlin and Grey Plovers & Wheatear at the North Wall (LP)

This evening, just after dusk, the Glossy Ibis dropped in again on Bremere Rife, at Halsey's Farm, before flying off to roost with at least 70 Cattle Egrets in Owl Copse.

Also, a female Marsh Harrier came in to roost behind the Breech Pool, the Little Stint was present still on the rife in the late afternoon, but not later, when a Greenshank flew in and back out and a Kingfisher flew through, whilst three different Tawny Owls were calling loudly from around Owl Copse and Halsey's Farm. (SH/IP/AH)

Glossy Ibis (above) & Cattle and Little Egrets at the North Wall (AH)