16th November 2025

Sunday, 16th November: A much cooler morning under leaden skies as the breeze freshened and backed to the north-east......

Selsey Bill: There was a long list of species recorded this morning, including the first Goosanders of the year on the Peninsula - a pair going east, over 100 Brent Geese going mostly west, a Bonxie lingering offshore and small amount of visible migration, including a Crossbill and a Brambling among a varied selection. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/IP/MO-W/AH)

(0700-0930hrs) (NE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Gannet - 6E, 20W, 9os

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 27E, 84W

Egyptian Goose - 2W

Teal - 19W

Common Scoter - 1E, 24W

Goosander - 2E (pair)

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1E, 1W

Sanderling - 1W

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 2E, 2W

Great Skua - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 12E, 20W, 12os

Black-headed Gull - 200os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 1W, 10os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os

Kittiwake - 52E

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 15E, 29W, 4os

auk sp - 31E, 1055W

Wood Pigeon - 6E

Skylark - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 7E

Meadow Pipit - 2N

Song Thrush - 1E

Starling - 212N

Brambling - 1E

Crossbill - 1E

Redpoll - 5E

Linnet - 20W

Goldfinch - 13

Kittiwake (above), Gannet, Red-throated Diver & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was present again on the roadside pool this morning, along with two Snipe, whilst the main pool held five Avocets, c30 Lapwings, 14 Shelducks, c30 Shovelers, c50 Wigeon and c75 Teal, all put up by a low-flying Marsh Harrier. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Avocets, Shelduck, Lapwings and Avocet & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There was nothing bar a Coot on the flooded field, though a drake Gadwall was on the Mill Pond (IP) and a Marsh Harrier went over Rookery Lane (SH)

North Wall: Six Rock Pipits and four Yellowhammers were along the wall this morning, along with a Jay carrying acorns, whilst a Kingfisher was along the creek at Halsey's Farm, with a Black-tailed Godwit among the Wigeon there, too, and a Cattle Egret flew out from Owl Copse. (IP)

Also, a Marsh Harrier and three Egyptian Geese went over Halsey's Farm, and two Stonechats were in the fields there. (SH), 

Chichester GPs: There wasn't too much to report this morning, with 42 Pochard the best count, but, otherwise two Egyptian Geese, two Shovelers, 39 Tufted Ducks and ten Great Crested Grebes on the water, along with two Kingfishers and a Little Egret.

Also, a male Blackcap was along the hedges, together with nine Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, ten Goldcrests, 27 Long-tailed Tits, two Song Thrushes and three Redwings. (MRe)

Sidlesham: A Bar-tailed Godwit, 31 Dunlin and 170 Golden Plovers were unexpected birds over Cow Lane early this morning, presumably displaced from the harbour.

There was also a bit of visible migration overhead, including four Fieldfares, two Redwings, a Redpoll, two Linnets, four Yellowhammers, two Grey Wagtails, seven Meadow Pipits, two Egyptian Geese and 269 Stock Doves (PA)

Fishbourne Creek: Along the creek at high tide this morning there were 30 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, ten Grey Plovers, 15 Lapwings, c30 Dunlin and Turnstones and 70 Black-tailed Godwits, plus c50 Common Gulls, with a Marsh Harrier over.

Five Rock Pipits were along the edge, with a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and three Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, whilst around Apuldram churchyard there were two Tree-creepers, a Coal Tit, a Firecrest, four Goldcrests and a Mistle Thrush. (MRe)

Church Norton: There were at least 500 Brent Geese spread around the harbour this morning, with a steady flow of new arrivals from the east constantly dropping in, but otherwise there was little to see on the high tide beyond a few Great Crested Grebes, Wigeon and Teal and the odd Redshank and Curlew, with most of the waders, apart from c40 Turnstones on the beach, roosting over by the harbour mouth. (AH et al)

Brent Geese (above) & Turnstones at Church Norton (AH)