14th - 16th May 2026

Saturday, 16th May: A bright and breezy morning, still cool in the breeze that started light and from the north-west, but freshening as it backed to the south-west......

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Tern among the many Sandwich, Common and Little Terns offshore, and two Sanderlings that dropped in on the beach before they all moved off east were the only birds on the move on a quiet morning, where the only other thing of note was the first Whitethroat of the year at the Bill in the gardens. Full log below. (JA/SH/AH/IP) 

(0600-0800hrs) (NW, F3)

Gannet - 6E, 14W

Common Scoter - 3E

Oystercatcher - 1

Sanderling - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 157os

Arctic Tern - 1E

Common Tern - 12os

Little Tern - 43os

House Martin - 4

Whitethroat - 1

Linnet - 1

(1530-1700hrs) (SH/AH)

Gannet - 2E, 3W

Oystercatcher - 1W

Arctic Skua - 4E, 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Great Black-backed Gull - 5os

Kittiwake - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 162os

Common Tern - 7os

Little Tern - 12os

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - 2E

Swift - 2

Little Terns (above), Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling & Whitethroat at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 42 Avocets and 82 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning, along with a drake Shoveler, a dozen Shelducks and c40 Mallards, with the pair of Gadwall again in the channel opposite and a Cattle Egret was in the fields. (PA/AH/IP/P&BJ et al)

Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A Spotted Flycatcher was in the gardens at the start of the Long Pool early, then along the path before it flew over to the Tramway.

Also, a Sedge Warbler was in the Small Pool, with half a dozen more, plus at least that Reed Warblers and Whitethroats, three Cetti's Warblers, four Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets along the path, with a couple of Skylarks in the fields and a couple of Swallows over.

The pair of Great Crested Grebes still had at least two chicks on the pool, though the pair of Little Grebes didn't appear to have any young with them, whilst in Ferry Channel and adjoining saltmarsh there were a Greenshank, a couple of Redshanks, three Whimbrel and a Curlew. Also, a Marsh Harrier went over and a pair of Redshanks were holding territory in the fields.(PA/AH/IP/P&BJ et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebe family, Greenshank & Whimbrel at the Long Pool (AH)

Church Norton: A Spotted Flycatcher was along the path to the beach early on, but could not be re-found later, but a couple of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats were the only other things in the hedges.

In the harbour, the two first-summer Little Gulls were again in the edge of Tern Island, with two Arctic Terns, at least 13 Common Terns, c30 Little Terns and c200 Sandwich Terns about, too, whilst waders included three Bar-tailed Godwits, five Whimbrel  and a handful of Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin. (AW/AH/IP/G Bagnall et al)

Blackcap (above) & Little, Common and Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: Two Common Sandpipers were on Rocks by the quay early this morning, and later on, a Red Kite went over (LL), whilst in-between, a female Marsh Harrier went over and there were 11 Gadwall, two Shelducks and 14 Tufted Ducks, plus a Little Grebe on the flooded field (AH).

Marsh Harrier (above) & Gadwall at Mill Pond Marsh (AH)

North Wall: A Glossy Ibis dropped into the Breech Pool briefly, before heading off north, and was later seen heading west over the Honer fields. Also on the Breech Pool were two Tufted Ducks, a Shoveller, the nesting Great Crested Grebes and the Mute Swan family still with all six cygnets.

The reeds and bushes along the wall held a good selection of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, and Cetti’s Warblers, plus a few Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat, whilst further back over the reeds the Marsh Harriers were again very busy.

At Halsey’s Farm, a young Mistle Thrush, a Song Thrush, a Goldcrest, a Cuckoo, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Chaffinches were in the small wooded area, ten Cattle Egrets were in the fields, two Oystercatchers and a Kingfisher were along the rife, and at least four Buzzards and a Kestrel were also about. (EB/SBr/MJa/LP/KU/GW)

Glossy Ibis (EB) (above), Cattle Egret, Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Collared Doves (LP) at the North Wall

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Cuckoos around this morning, with the banks holding c20 Whitethroats, eight Chiffchaffs, seven Cetti’s Warblers, 13 Reed Warblers, six Sedge Warblers, two Stonechats, a Pied Wagtail, a Reed Bunting and 14 Yellowhammers, plus six Swifts and eight Swallows over.

Also, 16 Common Terns were over the reserve, hopefully ready to return to their rafts, 14 Sandwich Terns went east offshore, five Whimbrel flew over and a Cattle Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were about, too. (S&SaH)

Also, a Little Ringed Plover, two pairs of Oystercatchers, three Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Cormorants and five Tufted Ducks were on the Stilt Pool, a pair of Lapwings were west of Marsh Barn, three Whimbrels were near Marsh Farm, five Stock Doves, two Green Woodpeckers and 23 Canada Geese were on the reserve and a Lesser Whitethroat and ten Yellowhammers were along the banks. (P&BJ)

Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards and four ducklings were still on New Lake today, with a Spotted Flycatcher and c50 Swifts in the vicinity and another 100 over Vinnetrow Lake. (CRN/T Savvides)

Also, around the other pits there were a pair of Egyptian Geese, 13 Greylag Geese, including a pair with two goslings, a Pochard, a Kingfisher, two Cetti's Warblers, a Stock Dove, a Song Thrush and seven Long-tailed Tits. (P&BJ)

Friday, 15th May: It remains surprisingly cool, but the north-westerly breeze eased overnight, leaving a pleasant morning of hazy sun and cloud.......

Selsey Bill: An Arctic Skua and two Great Northern Divers were about this morning, along with plenty of terns, mostly well offshore. Full log below. (IP/AH))

(0645-0815hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 12os

Arctic Skua - 1os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 75os

Common Tern - 6os

Little Tern - 10os

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 1

There were a lot of birds in a distant feeding flock this afternoon, including an impressive 268 Sandwich Terns. Full log below. (JA)

(1600-1730hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 1os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3s

Common Gull - 2os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 11os

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Herring Gull - 1600os

Sandwich Tern - 268os

Common Tern - 18os

Little Tern - 35os

Great Northern Diver at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were a Common Sandpiper, two Redshanks, c30 Avocets and c60 Black-tailed Godwits on the pool this morning until a Red Kite and a Buzzard went over at the same time and upset them all, but otherwise there were just a drake Shoveler, three Gadwall, a dozen Shelducks and c30 Mallard present. (AH)

Also, later, a Little Ringed Plover was again on the pool and a Greenshank was in the channel opposite. (AH/P&BJ)

Red Kite (above), Common Sandpiper, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits & Shoveler and Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: There were up to four Marsh Harriers about, including the regular pair, though it looks as if the potential second pair's nest has failed, whilst among a good selection of other raptors there were a Hobby chasing things high up, at least two Red Kites and a Kestrel mobbing one of at least five Buzzards present.

Also, a Cuckoo was behind the Breech Pool, at least a dozen Swifts were feeding high up, a Kingfisher was still around Owl Copse and the Swallows were still around the paddocks and plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers were along the wall. (LP/IH/CT/TRH/MJa/EB/AH et al)

Also, a Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm again, early this morning (AW), whilst later there were a calling Cuckoo, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Casttle Egrets, a pair of Gadwall annd a pair of Canada Geese in the vicinity P&BJ).

Marsh Harrier (above), Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Swallow (AH), Marsh Harriers, Reed Warbler, Mute Swan family, Cattle Egret & Great Crested Grebes (EB) at the North Wall 

Pagham Spit, There were 197 Dunlin, 144 Ringed Plovers, two Sanderlings and a Turnstone in the high tide roost this morning, whilst c40 Little Terns, eight Common Terns, c250 Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull and c100 Mediterranean Gulls were around the islands.

There were also two Meadow Pipits and a handful of Skylarks and Linnets along the spit. (PA)

East side: A first-summer Little Gull was off the end of White's Creek this morning, along with c100 Dunlin and c80 Ringed Plovers, whilst further out there were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel and half a dozen Grey Plovers, plus at least six Common Seals. (AH/PA/LP/TRH/MJa)

Little Gull (above), Grey Plover & Bar-tailed Godwit along the East side (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Along Church Farm Lane this morning there were a Cattle Egret, four Shelducks, eight Mediterranean Gulls, six Stock Doves and a couple each of Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Song Thrushes. (P&BJ)

Honer Reservoir: There were just three Gadwall, six Mallards and five Coots on the reservoir, with a Yellowhammer in the hedges and five skylarks in the fields, with another Yellowhammer, a Whimbrel, nine Curlews, nine Shelducks, six Cattle Egrets, seven Stock Doves and a Kestrel in the fields towards Honer Farm. (P&BJ)

Church Norton: The two first-summer Little Gulls were on Tern Island again this afternoon before flying out to sea, whilst the were still half a dozen Common Terns and c25 Little Terns among the many Sandwich Terns, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls.
Also, four Avocets dropped in, but seven Whimbrel and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Grey Plovers and Ringed Plovers were the only waders in the southern end of the harbour, though a lot of presumably Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were along the main Channel. (AW/AH/P&BJ)

East Head: At Snowhill Creek this morning there was very little to report, just seven Avocets and a female Wheatear of note. (PA)

Thursday, 14th May: Another cold and windy morning, with the stiff north-westerly pushing through banks of heavy cloud and squally drizzle, with brief sunny spells between.......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with just a few terns lingering offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0700-0815hrs) (NNW, F5)

Gannet - 5E, 14W

Whimbrel - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 40os

Common Tern - 11os

Little Tern - 8os

House Martin - 4

Little Tern (above), Common Tern & Whimbrels at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the small, roadside pool, whilst on the main pool there were 27 Avocets, 57 Black-tailed Godwits, a drake Shoveler, a drake Gadwall, 11 Shelducks and c25 Mallards.

A look round the Tramway just produced a Lesser Whitethroat, two Blackcaps, three Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs and a scattering of half a dozen or so Whitethroats, whilst a lone Whimbrel was on the salt-marsh. (AH)

Later, with the tide up, there were a Common Sandpiper, 17 Dunlin plus a Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 74 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Shoveler on the pool, whilst a Cuckoo was heard, and 26 Swifts and a male Marsh Harrier went over. (P&BJ)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Black-tailed Godwit, Chiffchaff & Whitethroat at the Ferry (AH)

Long Pool: A pair of Great Crested Grebes with four small chicks were on the pool today, along with a Little Grebe. (P&BJ)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: A Barn Owl was along Church Farm Lane this evening, with a Yellowhammer, a Cattle Egret and 20 Mediterranean Gulls around, too. (P&BJ)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out hunting just before dawn at Halsey's Farm, with a Cuckoo calling from the copse and a Mistle Thrush nearby. (AW)

Barn Owl (above), Mistle Thrush & Roe Deer at the North Wall (AW)

The Barn Owl was seen again briefly later on, and two Ravens flew over the wall and across the harbour, whilst the reeds were still busy with Sedge and Reed Warblers as well as a couple of Reed Buntings, a Lesser Whitethroat was at Owl Copse, and a pair of Little Grebes were nest building on the water.

The Mute Swan family with their six new cygnets were on the Breech Pool, where there was also two Tufted Ducks, a Shoveler, a Gadwall, two Shelducks and 28 Mallards, whilst the pair of Great Crested Grebes were carrying out some maintenance on their nest.

Elsewhere, there were 16 Grey Plovers out in the harbour, a Little Tern was fishing at high tide, the Marsh Harriers were very active over the reeds, and a Cuckoo was calling from the trees at the back. (MJa/TRH/LP/JDW)

Shoveler (above), Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck & Mute Swan family at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: Half a dozen Turnstones, two Curlews and a dozen Oystercatchers were the only waders seen, whilst five Common Terns, a dozen Little Terns and c40 Sandwich Terns were on the last vestiges of mud.

A couple of vocal Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats was about it for the hedges, with four Swallows over Rectory Lane the only other things of note. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Common Tern & Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and Little Terns at Church Norton (AH)

This afternoon  two first-summer Little Gulls were on Tern Island, with two Bar-tailed Godwits and five Whimbrel on the mud and c40 Little Terns among the colony. (P&BJ)

There was no sign of the Little Gulls later, though at least 60 Little Terns and 300 Sandwich Terns were about, along with a Greenshank, a Grey Plover, two Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)