23rd January 2026

Friday, 23rd January: After more overnight rain spilling into the dawn, an improving morning, ending up bright and breezy, though the breeze - south-easterly early on, southerly later - remained very fresh and blustery.....

Selsey Bill: Over 60 Red-throated Divers went east, a Fulmar went west and a Slavonian Grebe was offshore, though, otherwise it was just a mix of the usual species. Full log below. (SH/AH)

(0745-0915hrs) (SE, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 60E, 3W, 5os

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 10E

Common Scoter - 3E, 8os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 3W, 11os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W, 3os

Kittiwake - 3E

Sandwich Tern - 5os

Razorbill - 2E, 8os

auk sp - 6E, 1W

Red-throated Divers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Two Avocets and at least 80 Black-tailed Godwits and 500 Lapwings were around the pool and fields this morning, along with two pairs of Gadwall, six Shelducks, c50 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c250 Wigeon. (AH)

Avocets (above), Gadwall & Black-tailed Godwits on the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Spotted Redshank and an Avocet were at the far end of Ferry Channel this morning, along with 25 Redshanks, whilst a vast flock of c500 Golden Plovers and c2000 Lapwings came up from further out in the harbour.

A Water Rail was calling noisily from the pool and a Buzzard went over, but a Reed Bunting and a handful of Linnets were all that could be found along the path. (AH)

Spotted Redshank (above), Avocet, Buzzard, Golden Plovers & Lapwings and Golden Plovers along the Long Pool (AH)

East Head: There was no sign of the Snow Bunting in a late morning visit, with an Avocet the meagre highlight. (JC)

Fishbourne Creek: Highlights on the rising tide this morning included 79 Coot and a Greenshank in the River Lavant outflow, with a second further down the creek, whilst along the main channel there were an Avocet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 58 Black-tailed Godwits, 28 Ringed Plover, two Pintail, 100+ Wigeon, a drake Goldeneye and a Little Grebe. (RW)