4th March 2026

Wednesday, 4th March: After a misty start, a bright and sunny morning in a moderate easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: A few Meadow Pipits in off the sea was the only hint of migration on another slow morning. Full log below. (PB/IP/AH)

(0700-0900hrs) (ENE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2E

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 8E

Common Scoter - 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 5E

Curlew - 1E

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

Common Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 3os

Sandwich Tern - 24os

Meadow Pipit - 7N

Pied Wagtail - 3E

Linnet - 6E

Sandwich Tern (above), Great Northern Diver, Shag & Red-breasted Merganser at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Green Sandpiper and two Redshanks were on the roadside pool, but otherwise it was the usual mix of wildfowl, comprising eight Shelducks, three Gadwall, c80 Shovelers and Teal and c120 Wigeon, plus lots of gulls at the back. (AH)

Later, a Sand Martin was over the back of the pool. (AB)

Gadwall and Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A smart male Bullfinch was around the tops of the trees in Owl Copse this morning, as well as a Chaffinch, two Chiffchaffs, four Greenfinches, eight Goldfinches, six Cattle Egrets and eight Grey Herons, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were in the fields and an Avocet was along the Rife.

Eleven Tufted Ducks and two Great Crested Grebes were on the Breech Pool and four Gadwall, 26 Shovelers and 62 Brent Geese were in the flooded fields, also two Rock Pipits were along the wall, and as the tide rose a Spoonbill was out in the harbour, along with the Avocet and c60 Grey Plovers.

The two Grey Wagtails were again in the paddock and a Pied Wagtail, two Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker and a Goldcrest were around the hedgerows, whilst further back the male and two female Marsh Harriers were over the reeds and three Buzzards were high overhead. (CT/MJa/LP et al)

A Merlin was around this evening, along with a Kestrel, a Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers, whilst 71 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse and three Cetti's Warblers, three Meadow Pipits and a Reed Bunting were along the wall. (SH)

Bullfinch (above), Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtails, Cattle Egret & Spoonbill at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A Spoonbill was in the harbour before relocating towards the North Wall, but otherwise it was the usual mix of waders, including c100 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c600 Dunlin, along with half a dozen Pintail, c20 Teal and c50 Wigeon, with a Sandwich Tern and c20 Brent Geese also present and another c200 of the latter flying around to the north. (PB/AH)

Knot and Dunlin (above), Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers & Grey Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Breach area - A Marsh Harrier, three Stonechats, three Meadow Pipits and a Pied Wagtail were around this morning. (SH)

West Wittering: A Black Redstart was briefly in the garden early this afternoon. (GM)

West Itchenor: A couple of Great Northern Divers and a Red-throated Diver were on the water off Ella Nore today, and there were also two Grey Partridges by the horse pond. (RBe)

Great Northern Diver (above) & Grey Partridges at West Itchenor (RBe)