13th - 15th October 2025

Wednesday, 15th October:  The wind was from the east-north--east again today winds but with the prospect of a bit of blue sky breaking through the murk as the day progresses and still dry......

Selsey Bill:  A Merlin in off the sea was the highlight this morning with the first two Brambling of the year also notable, otherwise it was pretty standard fare for the time of year and wind direction. Full log below. (SH/MO-W/MRe/ML) 

(0715-0900hrs) (ENE F4)

Red-throated Diver - 1W
Gannet - 1E, 7W
Shag - 4E
Brent Goose - 26W
Common Scoter - 2E, 7W
Merlin - 1N, in off the sea with prey
Turnstone - 9
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
auk sp - 101E, 121W
Razorbill - 6W

Grey Heron - 1S

Oystercatcher - 4W

Sanderling - 1W

Swallow - 11E

House Martin - 8E

Pied Wagtail - 28E

Meadow Pipit - 5N

Chiffchaff - 6

Blackcap - 1

Brambling - 2N

Siskin - 2N

Redpoll - 1N

Linnet - 31

(1500-1600hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 9E, 2W, 2os

Shag - 1W

Mediterranean Gull 1E

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 5E, 4W

Chiffchaff - 4

Church Norton: There were still good numbers of Siskins in the trees at the Severals this morning and eight Skylarks were at the end of the spit with as many Meadow Pipits. Two Stonechats were along the front and a flock of Siskins were in the tree tops between the Severals.(AW)

Siskin, above, Stonechat & Skylark at Church Norton (AW)

A walk from East Beach to the Severals produced some excellent viz-mig mid-morning including a Woodlark, Crossbills, Redpolls and Siskins. (MRe)

21 Wigeon -- (ten at the second Several plus 11 north)

35 Stock Dove -- North

1 Sparrowhawk

1 Buzzard

2 Jay

1 Woodlark (south)

25 Skylark

22 Swallow (south)

7 House Martin (south)

3 Chiffchaff

4 Cetti's Warbler

1 Blackcap

6 Goldcrest

2 Firecrest (Park Copse)

1 Song Thrush

1 Blackbird

4 Stonechat

31 Pied Wagtail  (north)

51 Meadow Pipit

38 Chaffinch (south)

4  Greenfinch

43 Linnet (north)

18 Redpoll (north)

21 Crossbill (north)

392 Goldfinch (north)

117 Siskin (south)

2 Yellowhammer

3 Reed Bunting

Pagham Harbour, East Side:There was a decent selection along the East Side on the falling tide with 18 Brent Geese, five Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, c200 Wigeon, 50 Pintail, 100 Teal, 32 Shelduck, five Shovelers, six Great Crested Grebes, c200 Dunlin, c100 Ringed Plovers, 24 Grey Plovers, 16 Curlews, two Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 24 Lapwings, eight Oystercatchers and two Knot. (LP)

Shovelers, top, and Brent Geese along the east side (LP)

North Wall: The four Spotted Redshanks were still along White’s Creek, and a Little Grebe was by the sluice, while on the Breech Pool there were two Water Rails, two Snipe, eight Black-tailed Godwits and four Pintail, with a Marsh Harrier further back over the reeds. Two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and a few Chiffchaffs were along the hedges, a Kingfisher was fishing in the harbour by Heron Island, and six Cattle Egrets were with the cows at Halsey’s Farm & a Buzzard was nearby. (LP/CT/EB/AD)

Snipe, above, Water Rail, Pintail and Rock Pipit at the North Wall (LP), Buzzard (AD)

Medmerry: Easton lane to the Stilt Pool: There were 11 Buzzards thermalling today & seven Kestrels and two Marsh Harrers were the other raptors noted. Twenty-nine Egyptian Geese were near the reservoir and six Brent Geese were seen moving west offshore. 

The banks held seven Chiffchaffs, four Dartford Warblers, 15 Stonechats, five Goldcrests and six Yellowhammers with viz-mig consisting of 15 Swallows & c.30 Meadow Pipits. Twenty Skylarks and c.50 Linnets were also logged around the fields. (SaH/SH)

Tuesday, 14th October:  Winds still from the ENE, a pattern that looks set in until Saturday now...remaining dry and still overcast...

Selsey BIll: A Red-throated Diver went east this morning, a Mute Swan flew over the gardens and a Woodlark went over north. Full log below. (PB/ML/P&LH)
(0715-100hrs) (ENE F3) 

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 5E, 1W

Shag - 9E

Little Egret - 1E

Mute Swan - 1E
Brent Goose - 1E, 21W
Common Scoter - 6E, 5W
Wigeon - 1W

Ringed Plover - 1E

Turnstone - 14

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Razorbill - 160E, 45W

auk sp - 114E, 186W

Woodlark - 1N

Swallow - 121W

Pied Wagtail - 9

Meadow Pipit - 17E

Blackbird - 1N, in off the sea

Song Thrush - 1N

Chiffchaff - 8

Goldfinch - 40

finch sp - 50

Ferry Pool: Two Green Sandpipers were still on the pool this morning as was the Lapwing flock, 35 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler and 36 Teal. In the channel the hybrid duck sp. was still around the sluice as were two Grey Herons, six Redshanks and a Little Egret. (P&LH)

Wigeon, Mallard and hybrid duck sp. in Ferry Channel (LH)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool: The banks were very quiet today with best birds being a Peregrine, a female Marsh Harrier, four Stonechats, three Yellowhammers and 12 Swallows heading east.  

A seawatch from the beach yielded 14 Brent Geese heading west, 12 Wigeon also west and two Sandwich Terns offshore. Birds moving east were: two Common Scoter, five Gannets, 12 Razorbills and ten auk sp., with another 20 of the latter heading back west. (SaH/PB)

Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was still present at the top of the creek this morning. Three Curlew Sandpipers were along the River Lavant outflow stream, whilst along the main channel were six Greenshank, 13 Grey Plover, three Knot and two Dunlin. 

 At least five Cetti's Warblers were heard and a flock of five Yellowhammers were north of the sewage works. A Kingfisher was perched on one of the yachts at Dell Quay. (RW)

North Wall: Four Spotted Redshanks were still along White’s Creek this morning, as well as 200 Wigeon, 30 Pintail, 120 Teal, 38 Black-tailed Godwits, 26 Lapwings, a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe and a Kingfisher, whilst further out on the mud were c100 Dunlin, 22 Grey Plovers, 15 Shelducks, with eight Brent Geese way over by the harbour entrance. A Shoveler was on the Breech Pool, and a Grey Wagtail flew over, but it was quiet along the wall with just a Wheatear, 18 Long-tailed Tits, two Reed Buntings and four Chiffchaffs in the bushes. 

A Water Rail was again at Owl Water, and eight Cattle Egrets were in the fields at Halsey’s Farm, where three Stonechats were on the fences and four Swallows, two Snipe and 20 Skylarks passed overhead. Elsewhere, four Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit were in the paddock, and a Goldcrest was in the trees down the lane. (LP/MJa et al) 

This evening there were 59 Cattle Egrets at Halsey's Farm, three Marsh Harriers went into roost, a Buzzard was noted, four Water Rails were seen and heard and two Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were in the hedgerows. (SaH/SH)

Pied Wagtail, Shoveler & Pintail at the North Wall (LP)

Halsey's Farm to the Paddocks: Highlights from an afternoon walk along here were 50 Grey Plovers, 75 Lapwings, six Curlews, 25 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank and 20 Black-tailed Godwits out in the harbour. A Little Grebe was on Owl Water, a single Chiffchaff was noted and raptors logged were a Kestrel and a Common Buzzard. (P&LH)

Spotted Redshank in White's Creek (LH)

Church Norton: A quick look late this afternoon found two Mistle Thrushes near the churchyard, together with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, while there were 60+ Pied Wagtails out in the adjacent freshly ploughed field. In the harbour there were 50+ Pintail, including an eclipse drake, along with Wigeon and Teal. (AW)

Mistle Thrush, above, Mistle Thrush & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1w Pied Wagtail & Pintail at Church Norton (AW)

 

Monday, 13th October:  More east in the wind today and it had picked up to F4, still gloomy and overcast with a little drizzle early on...

Selsey Bill: Some more Brent Geese went west this morning but there was little else offshore and next to no viz-mig. Full log below. (BI)

(0715-0815hrs) (ENE F4)

Gannet - 9E, 4W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 68W

Wigeon - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E

Turnstone - 5

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

auk sp - 4W

Swallow - 1E

Meadow Pipit - 5N

Pied Wagtail - 12E

Chiffchaff - 2

Goldfinch - 10

Linnet - 1E

Brent Geese moving west at the Bill (BI)

Park Farm/Lane: A Garden Warbler and a Firecrest were along the hedges this morning. (MRe)

Ferry Pool: A Green Sandpiper, the Lapwing flock and a few Shoveler & Wigeon were present here this morning. (BI)

Green Sandpiper on the Ferry (BI)

Church Norton: There was a significant passage of passerines east along the beach, mainly Goldfinches, Siskins, Linnets, and Meadow Pipits, with a few Reed Buntings and Swallows. Three Stonechats were seen among the gorse bushes and a Dartford Warbler was heard, whilst Brent Geese continued to head west. A Black-headed Gull was seen carrying a vole out into the harbour. (AW)

Goldfinches, above, Siskins, Swallow, Brent Geese & Black-headed Gull with unfortunate Vole at Church Norton (AW)

Itchenor: Twenty Redwings flew over here just before mid-day. (SH)

Medmerry, east side:  A Merlin was seen from the viewpoint this afternoon. (AS)

Mill Lane Marsh: Ten Teal were on the marsh and three Redwing flew over south-west early on. (BI)

North Wall:  A Ring Ouzel was in the trees at Owl Copse before flying over to Halsey’s Farm, and a Glossy Ibis was in the harbour nearby, early on. A Water Rail was again showing well along Owl Water, but there was less activity along the bushes with just four Stonechats, a Blackcap, five Chiffchaffs and a few Blue Tits and Goldfinches seen. 

Three Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek, and a Grey Wagtail flew over the Breech Pool, whilst the paddock was busy with 12 Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, with the male Marsh Harrier further back over the reeds. (LP/MJa/CT/MRe/BI et al)

Glossy Ibis at the North Wall (MJa)

Ring Ouzel, above, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail & Water Rail at the North Wall (LP), Ring Ouzel at Halsey's Farm (BI)

This afternoon there were four Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek and, later, 22 Brent Geese were in situ here. (AW/LP)

Spotted Redshank in White's Creek (AW)

Medmerry, Easton lane to the Stilt Pool:  A walk here this afternoon found 18 Egyptian Geese, seven Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler, four Cetti's Warblers and five Goldcrests. Thirteen Stonechats were also seen as were five Yellowhammers, two Buzzards and three Kestrels. (SaH/SH)