4th - 5th September 2026

Saturday, 5th September: A pleasant morning of near unbroken sunshine in a moderate westerly breeze.........

Selsey Bill: There was a massive westward move of Mediterranean Gulls this morning - 1332 in total, beating the previous best count here by nearly 500 birds. There were relatively few terns, though today, with, apart from a huge feeding flock just offshore, most of the interest was overhead, including a Tree Pipit, 27 Yellow Wagtails, a mix of hirundines and a Peregrine. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/PM/BI/AH/JFi/IP)

(0600-0900hrs) (WNW, F3-4)

Gannet - 8E, 51W

Mallard - 3

Common Scoter - 3W

Sparropwhawk - 1

Peregrine - 1W

Oystercatcher - 4W, 2 present

Sanderling - 2W

Turnstone - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1os

Little Gull - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 1332W

Black-headed Gull - 1190W

Common Gull - 7W

Herring Gull - 800os

Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 9W

Sandwich Tern - 18E, 28W

Common Tern - 1E, 18W

Swallow - 19E, 41W

Sand Martin 19W

House Martin - 135W

Yellow Wagtail - 27W

Grey Wagtail - 3W

Tree Pipit -  1W

Meadow Pipit - 1N

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Peregrine (above), Wheatear, Arctic Skua, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just a Lapwing and three young Shelducks on the pool this morning, with a Black-tailed Godwit and half a dozen Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later, a Spotted Flycatcher was in the overflow car-parek by  the Visitor Centre. (RP)

Lapwing at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: Around 50 Yellow Wagtails, a Stonechat, a dozen Pied Wagtails, c50 Sand Martins, c100 House Martins and c200 Swallows, plus a Buzzard were on or over the fields this morning, along with at least a dozen clouded Yellows.. (SH)

Church Norton: There were a few migrants about in the better conditions this morning, including two Whinchats and a Wheatear on the horse field, a Redstart in the Severals and another and a Spotted Flycatcher behind the hide, half a dozen Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and two or three Whitethroats along the front and up to a dozen Blackcaps and two or three Willow-Chiffs near the hide, plus a Yellow Wagtail, a sand Martin and c50 Swallows over.

The harbour was quiet, though two or three Whimbrels, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit, six Knot, c75 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 21 Ringed Plovers, seven Pintail, 11 Teal a family of Shelducks were about, whilst two juvenile Peregrines were buzzing the birds by the harbour mouth, a Raven went over the churchyard, being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard, with another three of the latter and a Kestrel also seen. (IP/PM/AH/JFi/E&SB/SH/HR/DMe et al)

Redstart (above), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Raven at Church Norton (AH)

Late this afternoon an Osprey was fishing unsuccessfully in the harbour before drifting off south-west, and there was also a female Marsh Harrier over the far end of the harbour and a Greenshank, three Whimbrel, half a dozen Knot, c30 Grey Plovers and c50 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers on the mud. (AH)

Osprey at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek this morning, along with eight Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Redshanks, three Curlews, five Shelducks and two Teal, with a few Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin further out on the mud and a Kingfisher by the sluice.

A Wheatear was along the rocks and a Redstart was in the bushes by Owl Copse, but otherwise there were just a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting, and a Whitethroat, whilst five Buzzards and c70 Swallows and House Martins were high over the fields.

At Halsey’s Farm, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Meadow Pipit, five Cattle Egrets, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and three Wheatears were around the fields, and a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels and a Buzzard were overhead. (LP/IH/DHi/MJa/JDW)

Cattle Egret (above), Reed Bunting & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The first Merlin of the autumn was seen this afternoon, with two Kestrels about, too, with a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, seven Knot and c200 Mediterranean Gulls on the reserve, but just a Greenshank was of note on the Stilt Pool.

Also, along the banks, there were a Wheatear, a Dartford Warbler, four Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, nine Stonechats, nine Yellowhammers, c20  Meadow Pipits and c50 Yellow Wagtails. (S&SaH)

Friday, 4th September: A morning of near gale-force south-westerlies, mild and grey with the odd spell of drizzle.....

Selsey Bill: The highlight of another busy morning was two Cory's Shearwaters heading west together in fairly leisurely fashion, just inside the Mile Basket Line at 0746hrs, and allowing all present some decent views.

There was also another big push of birds going west, including 728 Sandwich Terns, 154 Common Terns, three Black Terns, a Little Tern, two Arctic Skuas and 247 Gannets. Full log below. (BI/CRJ/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0600-1000hrs) (SW, F7)

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Cory's Shearwater - 2W (0746hrs)

Gannet - 5E, 247W, 31os

Oystercatcher - 4W

Ringed Plover - 2W

Sanderling - 2E

Turnstone - 61

Arctic Skua - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 139W

Black-headed Gull - 649W

Common Gull - 8W, 1os

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5W

Great Black-backed Gull - 6W, 3os

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 728W, 20os

Common Tern - 3E, 154W

Little Tern - 1W

Black Tern - 3W

Swallow - 19W

House Martin - 5

A bit later there was another pulse of Sandwich Terns through. Full log below -

(1040- 1155hrs) (P&LH)

Gannet - 11W

Kestrel - 1

Turnstone - 69

Mediterranean Gull - 76W

Common Gull - 2W

Great Black-backed Gull - 12W

Sandwich Tern - 81W

Common Tern - 5W

Swallow - 21W

(1345-1445hrs) (P&LH) 

Gannet - 4W

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 47W

Sandwich Tern - 6W

Arctic Skua (AH top two, LH lower) (above), Black Tern (AH top two, LH lower), Common Terns, Sandwich Terns, Gannet (AH) & Common and Black-headed Gull (LH) at the Bill 

Ferry Pool: There was just a juvenile Shelduck on the pool this morning, with a Greenshank and a handful of Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Greenshank (above) & Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were just a few migrants about, including a Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a handful of Blackcaps and Whitethroats around the sheltered hedges, with a Whinchat in the horse field, three Wheatears along the spit and a dozen Swallows over.

The harbour was fairly quiet, though there were three Greenshanks, three Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Dunlin and a couple of Ringed and Grey Plovers on the mud, along with a roosting flock of 65 Sandwich Terns. (AH/P&LH)

Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Sandwich Terns (AH), Wheatear & Greenshank, Little Egret and Curlew (LH) at Church Norton 

This evening a Little Tern and two Common Terns were among c40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour at high tide. (AH)

Little Tern (above) & Sandwich Tern at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: Approximately 125 Yellow Wagtails were flying around over the Breech Pool late this evening, whilst two Wheatears were along the wall and two spotted Redshanks, seven Greenshanks, five Knot, c30 Grey Plovers, six Pintail and 15 Wigeon were in the harbour. (MB)

Also, a visiting birder reported a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the harbour, earlier in the day. (Eds)

Medmerry: Ham Farm - A Short-eared Owl was over the solar panels between Ham and Golf Links Lane early this afternoon. (JWo)

West Itchenor: An Osprey was hovering over Chichester Harbour, viewed from Chalkdock early this afternoon, and a bit later, what was probably a different one went west past Itchenor jetty. (PH)

1st - 3rd September 2026

Thursday, 3rd September: A mostly overcast, but warm and muggy morning in a brisk westerly breeze..............

Selsey Bill: There was good westward movement of Sandwich and Common Terns this morning, with an Arctic Skua, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Kittiwake and a few Gannet5s going west, too. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0645-0810hrs) (WSW, F5-6)

Gannet - 45W

Turnstone - 3

Arctic Skua - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 175W

Yellow-legged Gull - 1W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 6E, 314W

Common Tern - 87W

Swallow - 5W

There was another big westward movement of terns this evening, including a Black Tern. Full log below. (SH)
(1645-1745hrs)

Gannet - 1E, 2W

Shag - 1W

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 8W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 253W

Common Tern - 80W

Black Tern - 1W

Common Terns (above), Sandwich terns and Common Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 14 Lapwings and a Shelduck on the pool and a couple of Redshanks in the channel opposite this morning. (AH)

Church Norton: Two Spotted Flycatchers and four Blackcaps were in the sheltered hedges this morning, but not much else, though a Yellow Wagtail went over, whilst the harbour held three Whimbrel, two Dunlin, ten Ringed Plovers, two Black-tailed Godwits two Pintail, six Shelducks and five Sandwich Terns. (IP)

This evening, a Little Tern was among c40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour, and there were also two Bar-tailed Godwits about. (AH)

Little Tern (above), Little Tern and Sandwich Terns & Bar-tailed Godwits at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were four Spotted Redshanks along White’s Creek this morning, together with six Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and the usual Redshanks and Curlews, whilst further along were 12 Pintail, 14 Wigeon, and two Shelducks. Also, a Kingfisher was by the sluice, 62 Lapwings flew over from the fields, and a Wheatear was along the rocks.
The bushes and hedgerows were quiet in the blustery conditions with just a few Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits about, whilst at Halsey’s Farm a Tree Pipit was seen briefly, a Raven was around the fields, and two Snipe were along the rife. (MJa/LP/AWi)

Wheatear (above) & Snipe at the North Wall (LP)

Wednesday, 2nd September: A fairly cool and grey start, in a moderate south-westerly breeze, though it steadily freshened bringing squally rain and drizzle with it.........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much going on this morning, with a close Kittiwake and a few terns and Swallows west, too, being the best. Full log below. (AH/IP)

(0650-0805hrs) SW, F3-4)

Gannet - 11W

Turnstone - 8

Mediterranean Gull - 95W

Great Black-backed Gull - 12os

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 17W

Common Tern - 14W

Swallow - 59W

House Martin - 1

This evening a good count of 197 Sandwich Terns and 62 Common Terns went west. Full log below. (SH)

(1645-1800hrs)

Gannet - 13W

Sanderling - 1

Redshank - 1W

Turnstone - 32

Mediterranean Gull - 23W

Great Black-backed Gull - 2W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 197W

Common Tern - 62W

Kittiwake (above), Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: An adult and a juvenile Avocet were on the pool early on, with just a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and a handful of Redshanks and Teal in the channel opposite. (AH)

Later, a Wood Sandpiper was on the pool briefly (JS), whilst the channel opposite and adjacent harbour held, a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, a Whimbrel, two Greenshanks, two Avocets, two Black-tailed Godwits and a few Redshanks, plus a Clouded Yellow. (LL/CRJ)

Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Osprey was around the harbour again this morning, even sitting on the post near the benches at one point, whilst two Common Sandpipers were on the concrete blocks and 15 Pintail, a couple of Whimbrel and a dozen Curlews and Redshank were out on the mud.

Also, a Redstart was along the Severals and a couple of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus a Jay were behind the hide. (AH/NR/TG-P/MW/IH et al)

Osprey (above), Blackcap, Jay & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Tuesday, 1st September: A pleasant, early autumn morning of sun and white cloud, cool early on but warming up as the westerly breeze steadily freshened.......

Selsey Bill: Nothing was really moving offshore, but a bit of visible migration included three Tree Pipits, one of which dropped in briefly in Bill House garden, 17 Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails and good numbers of hirundines, and there were also two Peregrines chasing each other along the beach. Full log below. (PM/AH/IP/P&LH)

(0600-0830hrs) (W, F2-3)

Little Egret - 1E

Common Scoter - 1W

Peregrine - 2W

Oystercatcher - 3

Turnstone - 17

Mediterranean Gull - 28os

Sandwich Tern - 76os

Common Tern - 8os

Swallow - 164E

Sand Martin - 67E

House Martin - 283E

Yellow Wagtail - 17E

Grey Wagtail - 6E

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Tree Pipit - 3E

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

Tree Pipit (LH top, PM Lower two) (above), Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, Peregrines (PM), House Martin, Sand Martin & Swallows, Sand and House Martins (AH) at the Bill

(1300-1400hrs) (P&LH)

Dunlin - 60W, 17 present

Turnstone - 7

Mediterranean Gull - 22W

Great Black-backed Gull - 1os

Sandwich Tern - 31W, 40os

Common Tern - 4W

Swallow - 7E

House Martin - 2E

Dunlin (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (LH)

Ferry Pool: There was nothing on the pool, and just a handful of Redshanks in the channel opposite, with a couple of Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs in a roaming tit flock. (AH)

Mill Pond Marsh: There were just a Kingfisher and two Teal about this morning, and a Raven went over this afternoon, whilst the trees overhanging the Mill Pond there were six Willow Emerald damselflies, two Common Darters and two Migrant Hawkers. (LL)

Church Norton: There was a good selection of migrants this morning, including at least 14 Wheatears, six Yellow Wagtails and two Whinchats along the beach and spit, with two more of the latter in the horse field, a Spotted Flycatcher was along the Severals, with another by the concrete wall and two more near the hide, with a Lesser Whitethroats a Garden Warbler, three Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and a Redstart - chased off by a Robin, were around the churchyard, and a few Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps around, too,

Also, an Osprey dropped in to catch a fish before heading off south and a juvenile Peregrine was chasing a Wood Pigeon around the harbour, whilst on the mud there were a Bar-tailed Godwit, ten Knot, eight Grey Plover, 20 Dunlin, c80 Ringed Plovers and three Whimbrel. with a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk going over, along with c300 Swallows and c25 House Martins and Sand Martins. (AW/PM/P&LH)

Osprey (above), Whinchat, Spotted Flycatchers, Sand Martin (PM), Redstart, Redstart and Robin, Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat, Whinchat, Wheatears , Peregrine (AW), Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher & Whimbrel (LH)  at Church Norton 

North Wall: An Osprey flew over Halsey’s Farm before heading out over the harbour late this morning, and around the fields and bushes there were at least seven Whinchats, three Wheatears, a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Yellowhammers, 14 Linnets, 18 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Jay a Green Woodpecker, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, whilst a Yellow Wagtail flew over, and two Common Sandpipers, a Water Rail, a Snipe, a Reed Bunting and a few Sedge Warblers, and Reed Warblers were around the reeds by the rife.

Along the wall, two more Wheatears were on the rocks, a Kingfisher flew along Owl Water, and a good selection of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, and Sedge Warblers were along the bushes, as well as, unusually for here, a Coal Tit.

The two Spotted Redshanks were still along White’s Creek along with a Whimbrel, two Black-tailed Godwits and numerous Redshanks, with two Wigeon on the water, and a few Swallows and Sand Martins overhead. (DHo/TRH/LP)

This evening there were c50 Yellow Wagtails, c50 Sand Martins around the wall, along with a Meadow Pipit, a Chiffchaff, four Wheatears, a Kingfisher, a Greenshank and a Kestrel. (S&SaH)

Osprey (above), Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, Wheatears, Spotted Redshank, Snipe & Whimbrel at the North Wall (DHo)

Honer Reservoir: Most of yesterday's birds were still on the reservoir this morning, including two Ruff, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper, whilst the adjacent hedges and fields held two Wheatears, six Yellow Wagtails, three Spotted Flycatchers and half a dozen Whitethroats and Reed Warblers, with a Sparrowhawk and c50 Swallows going over. (AH)

Ruff (above), Green Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Warbler, Wheatear & Yellow Wagtails at Honer Reservoir (AH)

Chichester GPs: Two Spotted Flycatchers and a Whitethroat were around Deep Lake this morning. (CRJ)

East Head: A Greenshank was in Snowhill Creek this morning and 20+ Yellow Wagtails and four Pied Wagtails were among the cattle in the fields by the car-park. (RWi)