28th -30th November 2025

Sunday, 30th November: A cold, but bright morning in a brisk north-westerly breeze......

Selsey Bill: It was quality over quantity this morning, with the general lack of activity punctuated by a few good birds, including the Red-necked Grebe and two Slavonian Grebes on the sea, a Goosander west and a Velvet Scoter west. Full log below. (SH/BI/PB/MRB/AH/IP/RAI)

(0720-0920hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3W

diver sp - 1W

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2W, 1os

Gannet - 1W, 1os

Shag - 6E

Brent Goose - 2W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 2E, 3W, 20os

Goosander - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 1W, 5os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Turnstone - 3E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 10E

auk sp - 4W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldfinch - 18W

Velvet Scoter (above), Great Northrn Diver & Shag at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c120 Lapwings on the pool this morning, along with a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, but wildfowl just comprised an Egyptian Goose, a dozen or so Shovelers and Teal and 16 Shelducks, with c80 Wigeon and c20 Mallards on the fields behind. (AH)

Egyptian Goose (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Pied Wagtail was present around the farm buildings and two Jays flew along the treeline at the eastern end of the fields, but that was it! (IP).

Church Norton: There was no sign of the Barnacle Geese this morning, though c300 Brent Geese were around the harbour, with more coming and going, too.

Otherwise, the main interest was offshore, where the Black-necked Grebe, two Slavonian Grebes and four Great Crested Grebes were on the sea and a Kittiwake flew west.

The harbour was full of birds, but just the usual, including a dozen Avocets, c500 Knot, c1000 Dunlin, c80 Grey Plovers and a few Golden Plovers, along with c25 Shelducks, c40 Pintail and 100+ Teal and Wigeon.

Also, a couple of Siskins were in with c30 Goldfinches along the path to the beach, a Chiffchaff and three Goldcrests were between the Severals, a Reed Bunting and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Greenlease farm and a pair of Stock Doves went over Priory Wood. (AH/BI/PB/MRB/RAI/IP et al)

Brent Geese (above), Siskin, Knot & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There was a vast amount of birds out in the harbour, but they were all the regular species except for four Avocets, and 500 Brent Geese were along White’s Creek, with many small groups moving between the fields and the harbour, whilst two Kingfishers were around the sluice, and a Cetti’s Warbler was in the bushes nearby.
Two Rock Pipits were along the wall and there was lots of activity in the hedgerows with ten Yellowhammers, 12 Reed Buntings, four Greenfinches, ten Long-tailed Tits, two Stonechats,12 Goldfinches, two Song Thrushes, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk around the Honer fields, whilst five Snipe flew over and a Buzzard and the male Marsh Harrier were also about.
A Water Rail was again showing well along the banks of Owl Water, and a Little Grebe was on the water along with three Shovelers. (MJa/MRi/LP/CRJ/SP/CT/JDW/EB/SBr)

This evening there were two Stonechats at Halsey's Farm, with just a single female Marsh Harrier in to roost, and not much else beyond two Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail. (SH)

Water Rail (LP top, EB lower) (above), Rock Pipits (LP top, EB lower), Yellowhammers, Song Thrush, Shoveler (LP), Reed Bunting & Little Grebe (EB) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The banks were quiet today, with just three Stonechats, two Goldcrests, a Reed Bunting, five Yellowhammers, up to ten Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and c50 Linnets, with 75 Brent Geese, eight Egyptian Geese and c200 Lapwings and Golden Plovers on the reserve and a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel over. (SH)

Saturday, 29th November: A very murky morning, with drizzly rain never far away in a fresh and blustery south-westerly.......

Selsey Bill: It was a busy morning, dominated by a huge westward movement of 1324 Kittiwakes, with many dropping in on the big distant feeding flock as they went.

There were also a number of interesting birds seen, including a Red-necked Grebe that dropped in offshore, along with two Slavonian Grebes and the Long-tailed Duck, with a Black-throated Diver,  the first returning Fulmar of the autumn and a very late Manx Shearwater among the birds going west. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/BI/IP/AH/MRe)

(0710-1010hrs) (SW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1W

Black-throated Diver - 1W

diver sp - 3W

Red-necked Grebe - 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Manx Shearwater - 1W

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 44W

Shag - 5E

Brent Goose - 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 1W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Ringed Plover - 1E

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

Common Gull - 5W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6E, 13W

Kittiwake - 1324W

Guillemot - 5W, 1os

Razorbill - 134W, 5os

auk sp - 14E, 224W

Kittiwakes (above), Black-throated Diver, Gannet & Razorbill at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were c150 Teal on the pool this morning, along with 16 Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall, c40 Shovelers, c25 Lapwings and a lone Avocet, whilst the Kingfisher was again in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Avocet and Lapwing & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There was a flock of 51 Barnacle Geese out in the harbour this morning, with another flock of 11 flying over, but not settling. This late autumn/early winter arrival of what are presumably wintering continental birds has been a feature of recent winters, though not the last one, with flocks turning and staying for just a day or two before moving on again.

Apart from that, though, it was pretty standard fare, with a few Brent Geese and Pintail about, along with plenty of Wigeon and Teal, with up to a dozen Avocets along the main channel and c250 Knot and c500 Dunlin, plus c50 Grey Plovers, out on the mud. (BI/AW/MRe/AH)

The flock of 51 Barnacle Geese were still out in the main channel late this afternoon, with 14 Avocets, two Greenshanks and a Bar-tailed Godwit about, along with three Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. (AWi)

Barnacle Geese (top two AW, lower two AH) (above) & Knot and Dunlin (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: It was dire along the wall this morning in the wind and rain, with just a Rock Pipit along the wall and a few Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal along White’s Creek, and c200 Lapwings and a few Redshanks out on the mud.
A Marsh Harrier flew over the fields, and five Shovelers went over the Breech Pool, but apart from a couple of Stonechats in the paddock that was it. (LP)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: Eighteen Linnets, three Meadow Pipits, and two Stonechats were along the spit and a Kingfisher was on the ironwork, whilst in the harbour there were only a few waders about, but a reasonable selection with a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Turnstone, a Dunlin, three Redshanks, four Grey Plovers, five Oystercatchers and a Curlew. There were small groups of Brent Geese scattered around as well as c100 Wigeon and Teal, and a Common Seal was hauled out on the mud.
On the lagoon it was just the usual, with eight Tufted Ducks, 18 Little Grebes, four Great Crested Grebes and c80 Coots. (LP)

Greenshank (above) & Grey Plover at Pagham Spit (LP)

West Wittering: A Barn Owl was seen from the road on the outskirts of the village this evening. (per GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Green Sandpiper was in the ditch opposite Marsh Barn this afternoon, with two Snipe on the Stilt Pool and a Kingfisher, c100 Lapwings and c300 Golden Plovers on the reserve, but the banks were quiet beyond five Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, seven Yellowhammers, ten or so Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and c40 Linnets, plus four Kestrels over. (SH)

Friday, 28th November: A mostly overcast morning, with the odd brighter spell, fairly mild in a moderate south-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There was just a mix of the regular species, though three Slavonian Grebes were on the sea again and 33 Brent Geese went west. Full log below. (P&LH/IP/AH)

(0730-0915hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 3W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1W, 1os

Gannet - 4W

Shag - 8E, 2os

Brent Goose - 33W

Common Scoter - 16E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 1W, 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Razorbill - 34W, 4os

auk sp - 1E, 23W

Pied Wagtail - 1W

Meadow Pipit - 5W

(1130-1230hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 2W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Pied Wagtail - 1

(1330-1500hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Black-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Red-throated Diver (above) & Great Crested Grebe at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the roadside pool this morning, with 24 Shelducks, c40 Shovelers and c120 Teal on the main pool and c80 Wigeon, a par of Gadwall and c20 Mallards on the flooded parts of the fields, whilst the Grey Wagtail was in the channel opposite. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above) & Grey Wagtail at the Ferry (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were just a handful of Shovelers and c25 Teal on the flooded field this morning, and half a dozen Blackbirds and a calling Cetti's Warbler n the hedges, whist a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the adjacent area of harbour salt-marsh. (AH)

Marsh Harrier at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

Church Norton: A large flock of 600+ Golden Plovers flew over high, heading west early on and there were large numbers of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers around the harbour entrance, whilst c300 Brent Geese were in the harbour before dispersing in small groups.

Also, two Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were among a mixed flock of tits in the trees between the Severals, a Green Woodpecker, two Meadow Pipits and a dozen Linnets were along the spit and a Mistle Thrush was by the churchyard. (AW)

Later, two Pintail, c30 Shelducks, c25 Wigeon, c70 Teal, c30 Grey Plovers, a Ringed Plover, c100 Knot and c150 Dunlin were in the harbour, with two Mistle Thrushes and a Redwing around the churchyard. (P&LH)

Golden Plovers (above), Green Woodpecker & Dunlin at Church Norton (AW)

Sidlesham: A Tawny Owl was calling very loudly right outside our house in Cow Lane just before dawn this morning, with another, a bit further east replying each time. (AH)

Westhampnett Pit: A Bullfinch was here today and there were also two Egyptian Geese present. (BI)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Short-eared Owl was hunting over the tidal area this morning, with a Corn Bunting nearby and two more in the fields west of Ham viewpoint, along with a flock of c400 Stock Doves, c150 Skylarks and a few Yellowhammers, whilst a mobile flock of c400 Brent Geese ewre in the fields along the Medmerry Trail. (MWh)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to Wilson's Farm - Up to 40 Yellowhammers, c20 Skylarks, half a dozen Linnets and two or three Chaffinches were on the cover crop fields by Wilson's Farm late this morning, with a Stonechat and a few more Skylarks along the path from the car-park.

Also, a hunting Marsh Harrier appeared to catch something on the reserve, c50 Stock Doves and six Egyptian Geese flew over onto the reserve. (AH/MWh)

Yellowhammers (above), Marsh Harrier & Stock Dove at Medmerry (AH)

25th - 27th November 2025

Thursday, 27th November: It was back to overcast skies this morning, with the odd bit of drizzle, too, in a brisk westerly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: There were three Slavonian Grebes and six Great Northern Divers on the sea this morning, but the only things on the move were over 850 Razorbills/auks, mostly going west. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0720-0920hrs) (W, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 6os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 14W, 4os

Shag - 14E, 2os

Common Scoter - 2E, 9W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 4W

Kittiwake - 1W

Razorbill - 2E, 162W

auk sp - 108E, 617W

Common Scoters (above), Razorbills & Shags at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just c60 Shovelers, c40 Teal, three Gadwall, four Mallards and six Shelducks on the pool, with c120 Wigeon on the field at the back, whilst a Kingfisher, four Redshanks and c25 Teal were in the channel opposite. (AH)

Kingfisher (above) & Teal in Ferry Channel (AH)

Church Norton: An Avocet and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the harbour this morning, along with c100 Knot, c200 Dunlin, c30 Grey Plovers, c20 Shelducks, c30 Pintail, c75 Teal and c100 Wigeon, with c40 Brent Geese over, but two Great Crested Grebes were all that could be seen offshore on the low tide.

There were also c50 Meadow Pipits and c20 Linnets along the beach, with two or three Goldcrests among a big roving Blue and Long-tailed Tit flock along the hedges. (AH)

Bar-tailed Godwit (above), Avocet, Pintail and Wigeon & Meadow Pipit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were still two Spotted Redshanks along White’s Creek, joined today by two Avocets and all the regular species, whilst a Kingfisher flew out from the sluice and c300 Golden Plovers were way out on the mud.

Two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, but there was just a single Redshank on the Breech Pool.

A Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail, two Stonechats, two Meadow Pipits and two Reed Buntings were around the paddock, but the only other bird of note was a Goldcrest at the end of Church Lane. (MJa/IH/SP/LP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Rock Pipit & Spotted Redshank, Avocets and Wigeon at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks this morning there were four Stonechats, six Goldcrests, two Cetti's Warblers, five Skylarks, c20 Meadow Pipits and c40 Linnets, with three Marsh Harriers, four Kestrels and a couple of Buzzards and Sparrowhawks over.

Out on the reserve there were c300 Brent Geese, 400 Lapwings and c50 Golden Plovers, with a couple of Egyptian Geese and Snipe, a Water Rail and ten Dunlin also about. (SH)

Wednesday, 26th November: Another cold and sunny morning in a slight north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much on the move, beyond the Black-necked Grebe and a good count of 31 Shags going east, but there was lots of activity on the sea, including three Slavonian Grebes, the Long-tailed Duck and five Great Northern and five Red-throated Divers. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRe/AH)

(0710-0855hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 5os

diver sp - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 3os

Black-necked Grebe - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2os

Gannet - 2E

Shag - 31E

Brent Goose - 6E, 12W

Shelduck - 1W

Teal - 6W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Common Scoter - 7E, 16os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4os

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 17W

auk sp - 28E, 17W

Pied Wagtail - 1

Shag (above) & Red-throated Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just three Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Lapwings on the pool, which was dominated by c400 Wigeon, with just c30 Shovelers and Teal and four Shelducks otherwise, plus the Peregrine on the very top of the radar mast (AH)

Later the Green Sandpiper was back, along with a Snipe and a Grey Heron, with two Gadwall and a Canada Goose also present, along with the Grey Wagtail

Also, six Red-legged Partridges were on the bank and a Kingfisher, six Redshanks and 15 Teal were in the channel opposite. (JC)

Peregrine (above) & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Park Lane, Selsey: What was very probably a Red-necked Grebe was offshore from the end of the lane this morning, though difficult to clinch in the bright sun. (MRe)

Long Pool: A look along the pool this morning produced a Dartford Warbler,  four Reed Buntings, a dozen Linnets and three Meadow Pipits, with a pair of Little Grebes on the water and three Snipe and six Brent Geese over. (AH)

Snipe (above), Linnet, Meadow Pipits, Little & Brent Goose at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: Two Spotted Redshanks were along White’s Creek, and five Rock Pipits were along the wall, whilst ten Reed Buntings and eight Stonechats were along the bushes as well as a Song Thrush, with a female Marsh Harrier further back.

A Kingfisher was around the Breech Pool, and five Snipe flew over, whilst at Owl Water, three Water Rails were along the banks, and two Shovelers were on the water.

At Halsey’s Farm, c200 Wigeon were along the rife, but otherwise there were just two Redshanks and a Snipe on the mud. (LP/MJa/CT)

Kingfisher (above), Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Reed Buntings & Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were seven Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, four Goldcrests, two Song Thrushes, a Reed Bunting, two Yellowhammers and ten Linnets along the banks this today, with three Kestrels the only raptors seen.

Also, two Egyptian Geese, four Dunlin and ten Ringed Plovers were on the Stilt Pool and c20 Brent Geese, c100 Lapwings and c400 Golden Plovers were out on the reserve. (SH)

West Itchenor: There appears to be a wintering Common Sandpiper frequenting the area between Itchenor hard and the harbour office, still present today after being around the vicinity for several weeks. (PH)

Runcton: I was surprised to flush a Cormorant from under my front window this morning. It didn’t looked injured and later, opening the front door I found a 15 inch long dead Eel outside. Presumably the Cormorant had caught it in the brook or dropped it when flying over, but, either way, it walked off up the road, probably to catch a bus back to the lakes! (CRJ)

Cormorant (above) & Eel at Runcton (CRJ)

Tuesday, 25th November: A cold bright morning in just a light to moderate north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: There were four Sandwich Terns and a few divers about this morning, plus a good count of 22 Shags east. Full log below. (PB/AH/IP/KT)

(0715-0900hrs) (NW,F3)

Great Northern Diver - 3E, 1W, 3os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 28W

Shag - 22E

Brent Goose - 1E, 2W

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 6E, 1W

Turnstone - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 2W, 24os

auk sp - 16E, 3W

Pied Wagtail - 2

A look at lunchtime produced the Black-necked Grebe offshore and four Velvet Scorers flying east. Full log below. (AWi)

(1200-1300hrs)

Black-necked Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Shag - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 4os

Shag - 1os

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 3

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

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

Ferry Pool: There were nine Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Lapwings, a dozen Shelducks and c60 Shovelers and Teal on the pool this morning, whilst c80 Wigeon were on the fields at the back, a Kingfisher was in the channel opposite and the Grey Wagtail was around the hide. (KT/AH)

Later, the Green Sandpiper was back, and three Redshanks, the nine Black-tailed Godwits and 73 Lapwings were on the pool, with a Stonechat in the field and a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the hedges, whilst the Peregrine was gain on the radar msat. (AWi)

Grey Wagtail (above), Kingfisher & Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A redhead Goosander was out in the channels in the harbour mouth this morning, whilst there a lot less Brent Geese than of late in the harbour on the lower tide, with perhaps 100 birds present, along with c30 Pintail, c50 Teal and c100 Wigeon.

There were plenty of waders about, including an Avocet, c500 Knot, c800 Dunlin, c30 Ringed and Grey Plovers ad a few Turnstones, but there wasn't much in a quick look at the hedges beyond two or three Jays and a flock of 14 Pied Wagtails behind the churchyard. (PB/AH/KT)

A look later on produced, in addition to the species seen earlier, six Gadwall, a dozen Avocets, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Sandwich Tern and a Kingfisher. (AWi)

Avocet (above), Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

East Head: A single drake Eider was observed between East Head and Ella Nore from Snowhill Creek, at high tide this afternoon. (RA)

Eider at East Head (RA)

Dell Quay - Fishbourne Creek: There were ten Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Great Crested Grebes and six Little Grebes in the channel around the Dell Quay area, where two Avocets were also of note, Several hundred Brent Geese were making their presence felt amongst the other wildfowl, including Wigeon and Shelducks.

Further along the channel good numbers of the regular Dunlin, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits were along the edges, until an angler also waded into the water! There were a minimum of 93 Mute Swans, together with a Black Swan, with at least eight Pintail nearby, but nothing beyond the regular was located this morning. (OM)

Avocets at Dell Quay this morning (OM)

Chi Marina - Birdham pool: An overdue visit to the Marina found little of note, with just a fewf Little Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser in the channel, together with 40 Wigeon and just a handful of Brent Geese. Nearby there were 45+ Mallard, a couple of Teal, two Grey Herons and at least 15 Little Grebes on the Birdham pool. (OM)

Chi GPs - Ivy Lake complex: The main pits were notably quiet today for wildfowl and there was little to report beyond a few Tufted Ducks, two Grey Herons and up to 15 Little Egrets which were spread around the lakes, whilst two Chiffchaffs were in the bushes along the main path with several Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits.

New Lake was little better, with nothing beyond the usual species, but Runcton Lake was more interesting, holding at least 30 Pochard and 40 Tufted Ducks. One of the latter  caught my eye, although annoyingly it spent the whole time at some distance on the far side of the lake, but it appeared to show a notably large blaze around the bill, a round head with no crest and an appearance initially similar to a Scaup. I spent some time looking and managed a few fairly useless photos, but it was necessary to be cautious as other features had not been clinched, including the bill detail. To cut the story short, later consultation and a more detailed look at the images showed the bird to be a Tufted, albeit a tricky one! (OM)

Tufted Ducks at Runcton Lake (OM)