22nd September 2026

Tuesday, 22nd September: Another very warm morning, with unbroken sunshine in just the lightest north-easterly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: The main interest again this morning was hirundines - with a lot of Swallows moving through early on, then later a huge build-up of House Martins. Full log below. (AH/IP et al)

(0700-0830hrs) (NE, F1-2)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Shag - 4E

Common Scoter - 3W

Oystercatcher - 5W

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Swallow - 666E

House Martin - 850

Yellow Wagtail - 1E

Grey Wagtail - 1E

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Meadow Pipit - 7E

Linnet - 11E

Shag and Cormorant (above), Common Scoter, Swallow & House Martins at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 92 Lapwings roosting on the pool this morning, but otherwise there were just a Redshank and a juvenile Shelduck present. (AH)

Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Great White Egret was out in the middle of the harbour this morning, and there were good numbers of Pintail, Wigeon and Teal about, plus a few Shelducks, along with a Spotted Redshank, four Greenshanks, c20 Black-tailed Godwits and 50+ Redshanks, whilst 11 Common seals were hauled out at the far end.

Also, a juvenile Marsh Harrier went over, ten Cattle Egrets were in the fields, four Little Grebes were on Owl Water and, unusually, two Bar-tailed Godwits were in the creek at Halsey's Farm, along with another half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Stonechats were at Halsey's Farm, whilst at least another four of the latter, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, three Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and up to ten Reed Buntings were along the wall, with a dozen Meadow Pipits, c30 Swallows and c50 House Martins going over. (PB/LP/MJa/AH/EB/P Gomersall et al)

Great White Egret (above), Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler (AH), Blackcap, Meadow Pipit, Stonechats (LP), Bar-tailed Godwit (AH) & Black-tailed Godwits (LP) at the North Wall

East side and Pagham Spit: A Spotted Redshank was among the Redshanks in White's Creek this morning, with three Knot, 40 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plovers, 40 Ringed Plovers, 50 Turnstones, five Great Black-backed Gulls and good numbers of Pintail and Wigeon out in the harbour.

Also, a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk went over, a Jay and a dozen Chiffchaffs were in the hedges along the Slipe Field and a Wheatear, c20 Meadow Pipits and c100 Linnets were around the Spit and six Little Grebes and two Great Crested Grebes were on the Lagoon. (DHo/P Gomersall)

Pintails (above), Knot, Dunlin, Grey and Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and Turnstone, Turnstones, Lapwing & Jay along the East side (DHo)

Medmerry: Breach area and Ham Farm - There was a Spoonbill among the Little Egrets at the Breach this morning, with a Greenshank, two  Bar-tailed Godwits, half a dozen Dunlin, ten Ringed Plovers and a few Curlews in the vicinity, too

Also, two Whinchats and three Wheatears were along the fences between the breach and Ham Farm.with a Reed Warbler, one or two Stonechats and a few Linnets about, too, whilst a Hobby, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, four Red Kites, a Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards and two Kestrels went over went over.. (KT)

Whinchat at Medmerry (KT)