20th March 2026

Friday, 20th March: A lovely spring morning of quite warm, if hazy, sunshine in just a light to moderate north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A smart pair of Wheatears were around the beach and gardens this morning, and two Red Kites drifted west over the gardens, but migration was otherwise restricted to a Chiffchaff and a few Meadow Pipits in off the sea and 14 Brent Geese east. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/P&LH et al)

(0545-0900hrs) (NE, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2W, 3os

Gannet - 2os

Shag - 2E

Brent Goose - 14E

Shoveler - 1os, then W

Common Scoter - 8E, 1W, 1os

Red-breasted Merganser -

Red Kite - 2W

Oystercatcher - 8W

Turnstone - 10W

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Black-headed Gull - 59E

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 8os

Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1os

Meadow Pipit - 28N

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Song Thrush - 1

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 1N, 1 present

Linnet - 1E

Goldfinch - 2E

Also, later a Swallow came in at the Bill and a Red Kite went east over Albion Road. (MRe et al)

Wheatears (above), Red Kites & Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The pair of Common Cranes seen earlier and again later over the North Wall were seen going over the farm shop, just south of the Ferry at 0910hrs. (P&LH)

The five Ruff were present again this morning at the back, along with a Snipe, two Green Sandpipers, five Redshanks, two Lapwings and c25 Black-tailed Godwits, plus two Avocets on the pool, whilst wildfowl comprised 11 Shelducks, six Gadwall, c40 Shovelers and Teal and c100 Wigeon.

Also, a Red Kite and four Buzzards went over, and three Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers were in the hedges. (OM/AH/P&LH et al)

Avocets (above) & Lapwing and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: Highlight of the morning were two Common Cranes that flew in from the north west, and over the back of the Honer fields, before heading off towards Selsey, and an hour later returning across the harbour and heading back north west.

Elsewhere it was fairly quiet, although the three White-fronted Geese were out in the harbour, as well as a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin, whilst on the Breech Pool there were five Tufted Ducks, and in the fields, a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were part of a larger gull flock, 68 Curlews were at the back, and a pair of Gadwall were on the water.

At Owl Copse, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all present, and at Halsey’s Farm 28 Meadow Pipits, six Skylarks, five Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were around the fields, also four Buzzards and three Marsh Harriers were seen during the morning. (LP/SP)

Common Cranes (above), White-fronted Geese, Gadwall, Redshank, Linnet, Mediterranean Gulls &Y Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: There was little to report this morning beyond a few waders, including ten Knot, c40 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and c25 Turnstones, plus six Mediterranean Gulls and a few Wigeon and Teal. (P&LH)

East Head: There was Wheatear here this morning. (PH)