1st February 2026

Sunday, 1st February: The heavy overnight rain continued into the early morning, slowly giving way to persistent drizzle and the odd brighter interlude, though quite mild in the light to moderate south-westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a huge westward movement of 335 Red-throated Divers going west this morning, with a good selection of other species heading west, too, including three Red-necked Grebes together, early on, four Slavonian Grebes, a Velvet Scoter and two Fulmars. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH)

(0730-1000hrs) (SW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver 3E, 335W, 2os

Red-necked Grebe - 3W (together!)

Slavonian Grebe - 4W

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 74W

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Common Scoter - 14W, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 5W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 6os

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 2W

(1415-1515hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

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

Great Crested Grebe -1os

Gannet - 6E, 7W, 5os

Common Scoter - 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 8os

Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 1os

Red-throated Divers (above), Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes, Velvet Scoter, Fulmar & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper was on the road-side pool and two Avocets were roosting on the main pool, whilst at least 2000 Lapwings were on the pool and fields, along with eight Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall, c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Gadwall & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: Two Ravens went over, with one settling in nearby trees, but a Cetti's Warbler and a dozen Linnets were the only birds along the hedges.

There were plenty of birds at the far end of Ferry Channel on the full tide, including c30 roosting Avocets, plenty of Redshanks and Curlews and another 500 Lapwings, with c40 Shelducks , c100 Brent Geese and similar of Wigeon and Teal on the water. (AH/GW)

Ravens (above), Linnets & Avocets at the Long Pool (AH)

North Wall: A look at Halsey's Farm late this afternoon produced a Spotted Redshank in the creek, along with half a dozen Redshanks, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c60 Wigeon, plus c30 Curlews on the field, until they were all put up by a Marsh Harrier. (AH)

Drayton Pits: Two White-fronted Geese were among a flock of Greylag Geese in the adjacent fields this morning before they flew back into the pits.

Also, a female Bullfinch was in the hedges there. (BI)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to Ham - Just two Stonechats, a Reed Bunting, a Grey Wagtail and six Skylarks were seen along the banks today, with c50 Lapwings and c300 Golden Plovers on the reserve and c50 Knot and Grey Plovers and c200 Dunlin on the tidal areas. (S&SaH)

West Wittering: There was lots of activity on my Crab-apple tree this morning, with a small flock of Goldfinches joined by a Chiffchaff, a Blackbird and a couple of Goldcrests, which were too quick for the camera! (GM)

Chifchaff (above), Goldfinch & Blackbird in a West Wittering garden (GM)