26th - 28th January 2025

Tuesday, 28th January: Another very windy morning, with a very fresh and blustery westerly breeze pushing through a lot of cloud and the odd heavy shower.........

Selsey Bill: The Black Redstart showed briefly, but there was very little going on offshore. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0800-0900hrs) (WSW, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 3W

Gannet - 4W

Common Scoter - 1os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 5W

Turnstone - 2

Black Redstart - 1

Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)

Later, a Kittiwake and half a dozen Common and Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls off Hillfield Road, but there was no sign of any Little Gulls. (KJ et al)

Ferry Pool: There was an increase to 28 Avocets on the pool this morning, with c40 Black-tailed Godwits still present, along with at least 800 Lapwings, with c50 Shovelers, c200 Wigeon and Teal and four Shelducks also about. (AH)

Avocets and Lapwings (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Hunston: Around 15 Cattle Egrets were in the fields by the sub-station at the start of Mundham Road this morning. (per KJ)

West Itchenor: There were three Great Northern Divers together on the high tide at the confluence of the Bosham and Chichester Channels. 

Also, this afternoon, a Black-necked Grebe was offshore from the jetty. (PH)

Church Norton: The Whimbrel, two Greenshanks and two Bar-ailed Godwits were among the waders in the harbour, along with vast numbers of Knot, Grey Plovers, Dunlin and Lapwings, though most were over the far side.

There were also a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, two Great Crested Grebes and three Little Grebes in the harbour, along with c200 Brent Geese and a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, but a few Common Gulls were the only things of note offshore. (AH/KJ/SM et al)

Greenshanks and Redshanks (above), Whimbrel, Pintail, Red-breasted Mergansers & Common Gulls at Church Norton (AH)

Monday, 27th January: A very wild and windy morning, with a gale-force south-westerly pushing through squalls of rain and heavy cloud, though with quite warm sunny spells in between.........

Selsey Bill: There wasn't much to report early on, though two Fulmars and a few Gannets went west and the Black Redstart was on show again. Full log below. (PA/IP/AH/SR)

(0745-0900hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 4W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 45W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 2os

auk sp - 1W

Black Redstart - 1

Black Redstart (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Late morning, there were two Little Gulls - an adult and a first-winter - feeding close offshore from Hillfield Road. (PA/MRe/AH/AW)

Little Gull at the Bill (AH)

Later, another adult Little Gull was just east of the Bill, too. (AW)

Little Gull at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There were 18 Avocets roosting at the back this morning, along with c40 Black-tailed Godwits, and at least 400 Lapwings were on the field, and there were also c150 Wigeon on the fields and four Shelducks, two pairs of Gadwall, c50 Shovelers and at least 200 Teal around the pool. (AH)

Avocets (above) & Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: First thing this morning there were large flocks of waders being moved around by the rising tide, mostly Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plovers, Turnstones, and a few Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few Common Gulls were among the larger gulls and Brent Geese.

Other than three Red-breasted Mergansers there was little else of note, though later a Greenshank and a Whimbrel were among the few visible roosting waders and a couple of Goldcrests were among a dozen Long-tailed Tits in the sheltered hedges. (AW/AH)

Lesser Black-backed Gull & Bar-tailed Godwit (above) , Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Dunlin (AW), Greenshank, Teal, Goldcrest & Long-tailed Tit (AH) at Church Norton

North Wall: The ten Barnacle Geese were again in the field at Halsey’s Farm, and c200 Wigeon, 24 Curlew and 46 Black-tailed Godwits were along the rife, whilst a Rock Pipit was long the wall, c2000 Brent Geese were spread across the Honer fields, and out in the harbour there were still plenty of Lapwing and Golden Plovers.

It was busy in the paddocks, with a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, nine Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel about, with a female Marsh Harrier over the reeds further back. (LP)

Barnacle Geese (above), Brent Geese, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Coastguards - There were no Common scoters or Eider about today, but this afternoon a Guiilemot was close offshore. (PA)

Guillemot at Medmerry (PA)

Sunday, 26th January: An increasingly dismal morning's weather, as the strong southerly steadily increased towards gale-force, bringing heavy rain with it.....

Pre-blog years 1975-2012: Just a short note to say that the latest additions have been made to this paper, now taking the updates up to the end of the 1980's. Just click the link on the title bar in the usual way.

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of activity this morning, including a Slavonian Grebe and six Great Northern Divers offshore, 66 Kittiwakes east and good numbers of Gannets present throughout. Full log below. 

(JA/SH/PB/MRB/IP/BI/AH et al)

(0725-0925hrs) (S, F6-7)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 11W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 53E, 123W, 90os

Cormorant - 88E

Common Scoter - 4E, 1W, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 18E, 18W, 2os

Turnstone - 22E

Mediterranean Gull - 1E

Common Gull - 3E, 2W

Kittiwake - 66E, 14W

Razorbill - 4E, 6W

auk sp - 15E, 41W

This afternoon, the first Bonxie of the year went east, along with a Fulmar. Full log below. (SH)

(1345-1530hrs) (S, F8)

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Fulmar - 1E

Gannet -112E, 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3W, 5os

Great Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 1E

Great Northern Diver (above), Kittiwake, Gannet & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Around 40 Black-tailed Godwits were at the back this morning, along with c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal, c30 Mallards and at least 300 Wigeon, whilst a female Marsh Harrier was over the field to the south. (AH/IP)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were 23 Avocets roosting near Tern Island this morning, with a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the adjacent salt-marsh. (PB/MRB)

Sidlesham churchyard: A Firecrest was present this morning. (IP)

North Wall: It was predictably very quiet along the wall this morning at high tide in the very windy conditions. There were still lots of Lapwing and Golden Plover about, and the Brent Geese were moving between the harbour and the fields, but apart from a Rock Pipit along the wall and a Jay in the paddock that was about it. (LP/BI)

Rock Pipit at the North Wall (LP)

Late this afternoon, the flock of ten Barnacle Geese flew around over Halsey's Farm for several minutes, before deciding to drop into the harbour.

There wasn't much else to report, though, beyond c200 Wigeon in the adjacent harbour and c500 Brent Geese over west. (AH)

Barnacle Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Lagoon and Spit: There were six Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, eight Common Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, and a female Red Breasted Merganser on the Lagoon, but it was quiet along the spit with just four Linnets seen before the rain set in. (LP)

Red-breasted Merganser (above), Tufted Ducks & Common Gulls on Pagham Lagoon (LP)

Sidlesham: This morning, c60 Lapwings went over the garden, heading east, and late this afternoon a Firecrest was present. (AH)

Medmerry: Coastguards - The drake Eider and flock of c60 Common Scoters were again off the Coastguard Station this morning. (AH)

Eider and Common Scoters at Medmerry (AH)

23rd - 25th January 2025

Saturday, 25th January: A cool and bright morning in just a light to moderate north-westerly breeze...........

Pre-blog years 1975-2012: Just a short note to say that the latest additions have been made to this paper, now taking the updates up to the end of the 1980's. Working through my old diaries has brought back many memories; some events seem like yesterday to me at and it's hard to realise just how many years have slipped by! Just click the link on the title bar in the usual way.

Selsey Bill: Five Slavonian Grebes went east this morning, and a few Kittiwakes and Gannets went west, but not too much else was on the move. full log below.(JA/SH/PB/BI/SR/IP/P&LH/OM)

(0730-0945hrs) (NW, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 5os

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 6W, 1os

diver sp - 4W

Slavonian Grebe - 5E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 45E, 110W

Shag - 7E

Shelduck - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 8W, 10os

Oystercatcher - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 3W

Common Gull - 8W

Kittiwake - 18W

auk sp - 91E, 116W

Ferry Pool: A Kingfisher was in the channel opposite, and over 500 Lapwings flew into the harbour from the west, early this morning, whilst on the pool there were c40 Black-tailed Godwits, six Gadwall, 14 Shelducks, c70 Shovelers, c150 Teal, c200 Wigeon and c30 Mallards. (AH)

Kingfisher (above), Gadwall & Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham Quay: A Hawfinch was heard, though not seen, in the line of conifers between the pond and the marsh along Mill Lane. (M&LL)

Also, a Coal Tit was showing occasionally and singing repeatedly from pines nearby. (OM)

North Wall: A Water Pipit was reported as seen and heard in flight by visiting birders at Halsey's Rife and a White-tailed Eagle was reported flying north of the Breech Pool, whilst a Coal Tit was in Pagham churchyard. (BI et al)

Late this afternoon, a Barn Owl was out at Halsey's Farm and the c15 Lesser Redpolls were still present, along with the ten Barnacle Geese. (AB)

Church Norton: There were a few birds offshore this morning, though all distant, including the drake Long-tailed Duck, three Red-breasted Mergansers, three Great Northern Divers, two Great crested Grebes and a Red-throated Diver on the sea, with another nine of the latter heading west together, along with half a dozen Gannets.

The harbour was full of birds on the falling tide, including the Whimbrel, three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling, 19 Avocets, c50 Knot,  c60 Ringed Plovers and Turnstones and vast numbers of Dunlin and Grey Plovers, with at least 60 Pintail among the Wigeon and Teal.

Also, at least 2000 Brent Geese, including the Pale-bellied bird,  were commuting between the harbour and the fields behind the church and a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were distantly over the far side, but a Chiffchaff and a Meadow Pipit were the only small birds of note. (AH/P&LH/JEv et al)

Brent Geese (above), Pintails, Avocet, Ringed Plovers & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Also, the partially albino Blackbird, first seen last autumn, is still going strong in the field by the Mound. (HK)

Also, there was an unconfirmed report of two Spotted Redshanks and a Goosander near the harbour mouth (Per RBA)

partially albino Blackbird at Church Norton (HK)

Selsey Peninsula: All three Long-eared Owls were still present today. (Eds)

Fishbourne Creek: Three Red Kites and two Buzzards were at the top end of the creek late this morning, whilst two drake goldeneyes, two Red-breasted Mergansers, half a a dozen Little Grebes and a dozen Great Crested Grebes were on the water.

Among the many waders seen were 18 Avocets, two Greenshanks, c75 Black-tailed Godwits and c40 Turnstones, whilst wildfowl included four Pintail, c150 Teal and c1500 Brent Geese, with a dozen Common Gulls, a Kingfisher and a Sparrowhawk also noted. (HB/P&LH)

Mapson's Lane, Sidlesham: Around 35 Fieldfares and a lone Redwing were in roadside trees late this morning. (P&LH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Peregrine was sat out on a dead tree in the middle of the reserve this morning, with at least one Dartford Warbler and half a dozen Yellowhammers also present. (IP)

The Peregrine was still about this afternoon, along with a Buzzard and four Sparrowhawks, with an avocet on the Stilt Pool and a water Rail and six Brent Geese on the reserve.

There were also 16 Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings, three Goldcrests and 23 Fieldfares along the banks. (S&SaH/AH)

Medmerry: Coastguards - A drake Eider was still among the Common Scoter flock of c.60 offshore from the Coastguard station. (OM)

Eider amongst the Common Scoter flock offshore from Coastguards (OM)

Friday, 24th January: After a very stormy night, a morning that started with a gale-force south-westerly and heavy rain, but slowly eased into an average sort of winter's  morning of moderate breezes and an overcast sky.......

Selsey Bill: After a very slow start, there was a little bit of activity, including two Fulmars, a female Eider and 18 Red-breasted Mergansers going west. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH/SR) 

(0740-0940hrs) (SW, F7-8)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe- 2W

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 26W

Shag - 1E

Brent Goose - 2E

Mallard - 3W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 18W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

(1315-1430hrs) (SH)

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 7W

Common Scoter - 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 1os

Razorbill - 1os

Fulmar (above), Sandwich Tern & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just four Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and Wigeon and c80 Teal around the pool this morning. (AH)

Shelducks, Shovelers and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: There were plenty of waders about this morning, including the Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, c300 Knot, c50 Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, along with the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers.

There wasn't much else, though, beyond c30 Brent Geese and a few wigeon and Teal. (AH)

Whimbrel (above), Bar-tailed Godwit & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Church Norton: The Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among the big Brent goose flock, back behind the churchyard this afternoon. (AW)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Church Norton (AW)

North Wall: The Grey Wagtail was in the paddock again this morning, along with a Pied Wagtail, a Meadow Pipit and a Stock Dove, and a Kingfisher flew along White’s Creek, where there was the usual selection of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, with nine Avocets on the mud along with c1000 Lapwings.

At Halsey’s Farm, two Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Jays and a Buzzard were in the trees, and spread around the fields there were 75 Curlews and 52 Black-tailed Godwits. Overhead, there were plenty of geese about, with the 10 Barnacle Geese flying between the harbour and Marsh Farm, 42 Canada Geese and a lone Greylag Goose went over, too, and there was a constant stream of several thousand Brent Geese moving between the harbour and Rookery Lane. (LP/BI/JDW)

Barnacle Geese (above), Grey Wagtail & Great Spotted Woodpecker at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Chainbridge to the Breach - There wasn't much along the hedges beyond a Chiffchaff, three Stonechats, 22 Meadow Pipits, two Green Woodpeckers, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, whilst in the tidal area by the breach, there were a Greenshank, c20 Ringed Plovers, c20 Grey Plovers, c50 Redshanks, c50 Oystercatchers and c200 Dunlin. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Coastguards - There were c60 Common Scoters, plus a drake Eider, off the Coastguard Station this morning. (AH)

Common Scoters and Eider at Medmerry (AH)

Thursday, 23rd January: A morning that started quite calm and pleasant, before the breeze freshened quickly from the south-west, bringing heavy cloud and squalls of drizzly rain with it.....

Selsey Bill: It was quiet this morning, though a few Kittiwakes and Gannets were heading west. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/JDa)

(0750-0920hrs) (SW, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 1W

Gannet - 8E, 120W, c40os

Shag - 3E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 1W

Turnstone - 2W

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 18W

Razorbill - 13W

auk sp - 13E, 39W

Great Northern Diver (above), Red-throated Diver & Gannets at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just c50 Wigeon, Teal and Shovelers spread round the pool and fields this morning. (AH)

Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The huge flock of c800 Golden Plovers and perhaps double that of Lapwings flew in from the far side this morning, and there were also plenty of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Ploverson the mud, plus the trusty Whimbrel, but there was just a scattering of Wigeon and Teal, plus a few Brent Geese, about.

Also, a Cetti's Warbler was along the west side and a Chiffchaff, a Song Thrush and a few Long-tailed Tits were along the sheltered hedges. (AH)

Whimbrel and Curlew (above), Golden Plovers, Knot & Song Thrush at Church Norton (AH)