10th - 12th October 2025

Sunday, 12th October:  The northerly winds had picked up overnight to F4, still very overcast.... 

Selsey Bill: (0700-0900hrs) (NE F4) (SH/P&LH/BI) Much the same as yesterday, a few Brent Geese moving through and a trickle of overhead migration. Full log below:

Brent Goose 66w

Wigeon - 5e 19w

Red-throated Diver - 1 e

Great Northern Diver - 1e then back w

Gannet - 3e 5w

Shag - 4e

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 5e

auk sp. 14w 40w

Razorbill - 3e 20w

Swallow - 97e

Meadow Pipit - 35n

Pied wagtail  53n

Grey Wagtail - 1
Mipit 35n
Chiffchaff 7

Siskin 55e

Redpolls 6E
Chaffinch 1
Linnet 14

Goldfinch 29
Reed bunting 1e

Brent Geese, above, Chiffchaff and Grey & Pied Wagatils at the Bill (BI)

More from this morning's watch: Great Northen Diver, above, and Brent Geese (LH)

(1200-1400hrs) (P&LH) More Brent Geese moved west later in the day and three Skylarks flew north.

Brent Goose - 122w

Wigeon - 1 w

Common Scoter 5e 2w 3os

Teal - 3w

diver sp. - 2w

Gannet - 4e 3w

Shag - 1e 1os

Turnstone - 19

Mediterranean Gull - 1w

auk sp. - 24w

Razorbill - 2w

Sylark - 3n

Meadow Pipit - 19n

Pied Wagtail - 5n

Chiffchaff - 7

Chaffinch - 2n

Early this evening 72 Brent Geese went west past east beach. (SR)

Gannet, above, and more Brent Geese moving west this afternoon (LH)

Park Farm: This evening there were five Stonechats, two Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and two Pied Wagtails around the fields. (SaH/SH)

Ferry Pool/Tramway: The Lapwing flock were still on the pool this morning, a Green Sandpiper was also present here and a Spotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel (BI) At 1115hrs there were two Green Sandpipers on the pool as well as five Lapwing, a Redshank, 12 Teal and two Pied Wagtails. Red Barn Ditch held a Little Egret and a Small White was nearby. (CRJ)

Spotted Redshank & Green Sandpiper at the Ferry (BI), LIttle Egret & Small White at Red Barn Ditch (CRJ)

Mill Lane Marsh: There was nothing at all on the marsh this morning bar two Coots and a Moorhen with a Water Rail heard from the reedbed the only bird of note. (BI)

Church Norton: At the Severals tonight were 16 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and two Stonechats whilst a Peregrine flew over. A Kingfisher was on the metalwork, two Gannets went east offshore, 103 Brent Geese went along the beach heading west and a further 27 Brent were in the harbour. (SaH/SH)

North Wall: The highlights among sixty species recorded this morning were: three Spotted Redshanks and two Curlew Sandpipetrs in White's Creek, a Water Rail in the reeds, two Kingfishers and a female Marsh Harrierb towards the Breech Pool. Also noted were at least 50 Siskins overhead, a Rock Pipit along the wall, a Greenshank and a Cattle Egret. A Goldcrest was along the path, four Snipe flew through, as did a Raven, and good numbers of Wigeon as well as a few Pintail were around the harbour. (PB/MRB)

Later, a Wheatear was along the wall, a Marsh Harrier was out over the harbour, and a Sparrowhawk was by Owl Copse, whilst at Halsey’s Farm, four Mistle Thrushes were in the field by the entry gate, and at least four more Goldcrests were along the bushes. (MRi/LP/MJa/DHi)

Spotted Redshanks with Black-headed Gull, above, Wheatear, Kingfisher & Mistle Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: This morning along the banks a Wheatear was near Marsh Barn, a Blackcap was by the poplars, two Kingfishers were near the sluice and four Dartford Warblers, six Stonechats and Chiffchaffs were noted. Overhead there was a constant movement of Meadow Pipits with five Redpoll, a Siskin and c.30 Swallows. A flock of 300+ Linnets were over a field by the barn, as well as the usual Yellowhammers and Skylarks. A Peregrine was sat in the centre of the reserve and three Kestrels and a Buzzard were around. Lapwing numbering 140 and a single Golden Plover were put up by the Peregrine, a Greenshank was towards the brick hut, and a noisy flock of 54 Egyptian Geese, possibly the largest ever Peninsula count, were by one of the reservoirs. (HB)

Yellowhammer at Medmerry (HB)

Medmerry, Chainbridge to Ham viewpoint:  THere were plenty of Skylarks, Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits along the banks and fields this morning. Forty Chiffchaffs were also noted as were seven Dartford Warblers and 19 Stonechats. Twelve Siskin flew through with 12 Swallows and two Pied Wagtails also moving. Raptors included a Kestrel, a Peregrine and two Buzzards whilst four Reed Buntings, a Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer where also logged. (SaH/SH)

Corn Bunting, top, & Dartford Warbler at Ham (SaH/SH)

Saturday, 11th October: Another calm day of light winds, staying dry but rather overcast...

Selsey Bill: (0700-0900hrs) (NE F1) (SH/PB/BI/AE) Circa 30 Brent Geese went west, some auks were also moving and there was again a little viz-mig. Full log below:

Brent Goose - 29w

Common Scoter - 9w

Gannet - 2e 4w

Shag - 7e

Grey Heron - 1w

Little Egret - 1ob

Sparrowhawk - 1

Turnstone - 41

Mediterranean Gull - 2w 3os

Common Tern - 1os

auk sp. - 7e 69e

Razorbill - 95w

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 21w

Sand Martin - 1w

Pied Wagtail - 13w

Meadow Pipit - 7n

Chiffchaff - 5

Goldfinch - 50

Siskin - 25w

Linnet - 7w

Brent Geese, top, Little Egret & Pied Wagtail at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm: A Marsh Harrier was over the fields and three Stonechats were in the hedges with viz-mig providing 30 Meadow Pipits, 30 swallows, two Grey Wagatils and four Pied Wagtails. (SaH/SH/PB)

Ferry Pool: It was much the same as yesterday with c.200 Lapwings and the regular wildfowl present; there were, however, two Green Sandpipers briefly at the back of the pool before they flew off south. (BI) Mid-afternoon found a Firecrest in the bushes here, a few Redpolls moving over and one Green Sandpiper back on the pool. (ESt)

Mill Lane Marsh: It was just wildfowl on the marsh this morning whilst the bushes held a few Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers. (BI)

Chiffchaff at Mill Lane (BI)

Church Norton: A Firecrest was along the path to the harbour this morning and a Merlin was on the fence at Tern Island. At the Severals, there were c.75 Siskins, c.10 Chiffchaffs, a Mistle Thrush and a Reed Bunting  with c.40 Swallows and 50 Meadow Pipits movning over. In the harbour, a Kingfisher was noted on the metalwork. (AW/HB/SaH/SH/PB) This afternoon the Red-throated Diver was again offshore. (AW)

Firecrest, top, & Red-throated Diver at Church Norton (AW)

Pagham Harbour, west side: Forty Brent Geese flew over south, a female Marsh Harrier was in the area and two Jays, three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, seven Goldfinches & 25 Siskin were also noted. (CRJ)

North Wall: There were still three Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek this morning, along with three Spotted Redshanks, a Kingfisher, two Dunlin, two Grey Plovers, a Grey Wagtail and all the regular species. It was busy along the reeds and bushes with four Stonechats, 18 Chiffchaffs, 12 Reed Buntings, two Yellowhammers, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Wren, four Meadow Pipits, 13 Long-tailed Tits, and lots of Great Tits and Blue Tits, whilst at Owl Water, a Water Rail was again showing well along the banks and three Little Grebes were on the water. (MJa/LP/CT)

Curlew Sandpipers, above, Stonechat, Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Goldcrest, Grey Wagatil & Spotted Redshank at the North Wall. (LP)

Runcton: A circuit late morning found two Egyptian Geese, 31 Mallard, 15 Teal, eight Shoveler, eight Tufted Ducks, three Little Grebes, six Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, a Stonechat, a Cetti’s Warbler, 25 Chiffchaff, two Jays, a Brown Hare and a Stoat. (CRJ)

Stonechat at Runcton (CRJ)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - The monthly WeBS count here produced nothing unusual this morning, though there were a few bits of interest. Totals of 90 Shoveler, 44 Pochard and a dozen Gadwall were about the best, but other species included two Water Rails, three Egyptian Geese, 38 Canada Geese, up to a dozen Chiffchaffs and five Siskin flying over. (OM)

Mainly Pochard, with a few Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe on North pit (OM)

Medmerry Trail to the Stilt Pool: I walked the Medmerry trail this afternoon - after a quiet start two Green Woodpeckers and a Kestrel were seen. The top bushes were quiet as was the Stilt Pool with only a few Ringed Plover and some Dunlin and Lapwing of note.
However, a Kingfisher emerged from the sluice and flew off east and the bushes contained three Stonechats, a few Chiffchaffs and half a dozen Yellowhammers. There were some Meadow Pipits overhead and a Dartford Warbler showed briefly and a flock of Linnets went west. (MRi) 

Later in the day, there were 15 Egyptian Geese, c.200 Golden Plover and a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit, the latter scarce here, around the sluice and marsh and the Stilt Pool held 15 Ringed Plover and 11 Dunlin. Along the paths were four Chifchaffs, four Goldcrests. two Pied Wagtails, a Yellowhammer and 11 Stonechats and raptors included a Peregrine, a Kestrel and four Buzzards.  A Wheatear was also seen by the Periwinkle sculpture. (SaH/SH/RP)

Friday, 10th October: A light northerly breeze today, forecast to be dry with sunny spells...

Selsey Bill: (0715-0830hrs) (N F1) (BI) The sea was extremely quiet this morning bar a large number of Black-headed and Herring Gulls on the Mile Basket rocks and shingle bar and a distant diver sp. that went east. There was a little viz-mig with the best being 32 Pied Wagtails off the sea heading north. 

diver sp. - 1e

auk sp - 2e

Razorbill - 14e

Oystercatcher - 1e

Pied Wagtail - 32n

Grey Wagtail - 1e

Meadow Pipit - 6n

Swallow - 10e

Linnet - 11e

Goldfinch - 21p

Chiffchaff - 4p

Pied Wagatail, top, & Chiffchaff at the Bill (BI)

Ferry Pool: There were c.250 Lapwings on the main pool this morning whilst a Green Sandpiper was on the hidden pool. Also, the hybrid duck from the North Wall was in Ferry Channel along with c.15 Mallards. (BI)

Lapwings, top, Green Sandpiper & hybrid duck at the Ferry (BI)

Church Norton: A very confiding Reed Warbler was along the path to the beach whilst a flock of at least 60 Siskins were aging feeding in the trees between the Severals. A Bar-tailed Godwit was the pick of very few waders on the mud. (AW/SL)

Reed Warbler, above, & Siskins at Church Norton (AW)

This evening the first Red-Throated Diver of the autumn was offshore and three Brent Geese went west. (AW)

Red-throated Diver, top, & Brent Geese offshore at Church Norton (AW)

Mill Lane Marsh: There were six Snipe feeding around the marsh today, a Grey Heron was present, a Water Rail was calling and a Grey Wagtail was on the margins. (BI)

Snipe, top, & Grey Heron on the marsh (BI)

Ham: There were a few Chiffchaffs in the hedgerows but it was generally quiet along the tracks and at the viewpoint with the best sighting being a partially leucistic Carrion Crow. (BI)

Carrion Crow at Ham (BI)

Shopwhyke/Drayton: The first Redwing of the autumn was noted here today. (SM)

Later, c.25 Cattle Egrets and three Little Egrets were on the field north of the railway. (BI)

Westhampnett Pit: Two Egyptian Geese where logged here today. (SM)

North Mundham: A Coal Tit was in a garden here this afternoon. (MJ)

Fishbourne Creek: This morning a Glossy Ibis was present at the top of the creek whilst there were at least six Greenshank moving up the creek with the tide. Four Curlew Sandpiper were in the Lavant outflow and then moved to the main channel. In the area around the sewage works were four Cetti's Warblers and a male Blackcap. (RW)

Glossy Ibis, top, and Curlew Sandpiper with Redshanks at Fishbourne Creek (RW)