1st - 3rd July 2025

Thursday, 3rd July: Back to warm and sunny weather, with plenty of sunshine, some high white cloud and a light to moderate SW breeze.

Bilsham farm: With the prolonged dry conditions I decided to visit three sites locally where there was at least some fresh water still remaining. First up was the farm reservoir here, but it proved to be quite disappointing today....

There were just three Tufted Ducks and five Mallards, (including a female with a brood of fairly small young), four Little Grebes and 22 Coots on the water, plus a few of the commoner gulls. Four House Martins and five Swallows were feeding above for a while, whilst the surrounding hedgerows held a singing Yellowhammer, a Blackcap and a family of Whitethroats, with one of the latter singing almost continuously, but that was about it, except for two noisy Jays making their presence felt.

Shripney area: On my way to two small and adjacent farm reservoirs, the hedgerows held a singing Yellowhammer, ten Goldfinches, four Greenfinches which seemed to be a family group, four Linnets (a pair and two juveniles), a Chiffchaff, two Blackcaps, two Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler carrying food to its nearby nest in a patch of reeds. A pair of Buzzards was also noted in the area.

On reaching the reservoirs, the larger one held just a single Little Grebe and two female Mallards - one with a brood of six well-grown young and the second with a brood of six much younger and smaller ducklings. Three Swifts and a couple of Swallows were also feeding above the water here for some while. The smaller reservoir held five Coots and a surprise pair of Little Grebes with small young.

Scanning the recently cropped arable fields behind the reservoirs, a large falcon resting on the ground turned out to be a Peregrine, probably a young bird.

Pair of Little Grebes with young and female Mallard with six small young on Shripney reservoirs

Moving on to the Lidsey WTW area I was pleased to catch up with a wader at last when a Common Sandpiper was located. On the water here were three Little Grebes, a Mallard with a brood of small young and seven Tufted Ducks. A pair of Greenfinches were active and six Swallows were feeding over the water.

At Lidsey this morning: Common Sandpiper, Tufted Ducks and Mallard with brood of small young, and Greenfinch

Tuesday, 1st July: A very warm day right from the outset, with prolonged sunshine and some high white cloud, but feeling quite muggy in just a light SW breeze, before the wind brought some relief as it gradually increased to force 4 along the coast. 

Elmer Rocks: A predictably quiet morning for birding in the calm and very warm (hot!) conditions. There was little to report, with hardly any Mediterranean Gulls about now, perhaps just three or four in a large mixed flock of gulls moving about offshore, whilst a total of six Sandwich Terns were fishing and moving back and forth. Four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were also feeding along the shoreline on the low tide, before too many walkers and beach-goers were around. 

A circuit of the fields behind the beach found at least three Blackcaps present and singing quite frequently, plus two Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff, whilst high up and at distance were at least four Swifts and a Buzzard. Around Poole Place there four Linnets, a couple of Greenfinches, around ten Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, two Green Woodpeckers and four Stock Doves.

Little Egrets feeding along the shoreline at Elmer Rocks, and Sandwich Tern fishing close inshore

26th - 30th June 2025

Monday, 30th June: The mini heatwave continues: a very dry and warm day with prolonged sunshine, little or no cloud and blue skies, but with a welcome light SSE coastal breeze taking the edge off the temperature and making conditions more bearable.

Elmer & Ancton: A family party of at least four Swifts were screaming about over the village in the general area of the Beresford pub....and it is quite probable they have bred at that location or, if not, then close by.  This has been a regular nesting site over the years, but following maintenance works I and others could not locate them last year, so it is to be hoped they have returned. Any sightings or further info re. nesting would be appreciated.

Bilsham farm: A visit to the reservoir seemed a good bet in the dry conditions this morning, although  nothing beyond the expected species was seen again. A Great Crested Grebe was again present, having been absent for some while, whilst four Little Grebes consisted of two adults and two juveniles, so presumably breeding has occurred there unseen, or nearby. Six Tufted Ducks, now well into their eclipse moult, were new in, and likewise a female Mallard with a brood of fairly small young, whilst six Swallows and two Swifts were feeding over the water at times. As usual a gathering of resting and preening gulls was present, with over 50 Herring and six Great Black-backed Gulls, and another single fledged juvenile Black-headed Gull. There were fair numbers of commoner butterflies around the reservoir banks, including plenty of Meadow Browns and five Marbled Whites.

Along the periphery hedges a Yellowhammer was again singing, as were a Chiffchaff briefly and a Whitethroat frequently. Along the small ditch and creek off Bilsham Lane a Moorhen was with a couple of very small fledged young, whilst nearby a Jay and a Buzzard  were also seen.

(above) drake Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir; note the rear bird still sports his dark head tuft and mainly white flanks, whilst the other two have largely lost these features. Also (below) a solitary juvenile Black-headed Gull and (bottom) not a great shot of a Marbled White butterfly.

Friday, 27th June: A mostly cloudy sort of day, with few sunny breaks, though fairly warm and humid despite the fresh SW wind force 4-5....the sunshine being far more limited than was forecast, at least along our coastal patch!

Elmer Rocks: Only limited time for birding available to me over the next couple of days, so a short return visit to the beach area this morning seemed the best bet. Once again Mediterranean Gulls featured strongly, but unlike yesterday there seemed to be none on the beaches. I counted 120 passing west in small groups and another 80+ were well offshore feeding amongst a gull flock, so a total of at least 200 were present today. 

It was however rather slow going otherwise, with just eight Sandwich Terns, two Gannets and two Oystercatchers heading west and two Little Egrets feeding along the beach. The Carrion Crow family mentioned yesterday was briefly seen and about eight Swifts were high up over the back fields, but there was little else of note. A couple of Marbled White butterflies were also still to be found in beachfront gardens, together with a Painted Lady.

Mediterranean Gulls moving west at Elmer Rocks this morning

Thursday, 26th June: After overnight rain, a rather grey and cloudy morning, with some occasional light drizzle and feeling quite cool in a strong and blustery WSW wind force 5-6. Gradually clearing through the afternoon to give some long sunny intervals and feeling a tad warmer too.

Ancton & Elmer: A late entry from yesterday....in the afternoon a Coal Tit was singing from various gardens, whilst late evening after dark a Tawny Owl was hooting from the woods somewhere near the horse paddocks.

Elmer Rocks: A morning that was dominated by Mediterranean Gulls. Initially, there were c.100 along the beach and around the rock islands at Elmer, together with a fair number of other gulls, the vast majority being Herring Gulls. Further along, on the east side of Poole Place towards Climping, there was another much larger flock of up to 300 around the rockpools. Eventually, as people began walking the beaches, the whole lot were disturbed, but most eventually settled on the Elmer side and/or the sea, so I estimate a total of about 400 Meds present today.

Meanwhile, along the shoreline, the first returning Common Sandpiper was present for a short while, indicating that birding autumn is almost here already! It didn't linger long and headed off eastwards towards Climping  when disturbed by a walker. Then offshore, a total of five Curlews flew west, plus seven Gannets, eight Sandwich Terns and two Little Egrets. On the telegraph wires behind the beach, three Linnets and two Greenfinch put in an appearance, whilst nearby a family of Carrion Crows deserves a mention, not that it's a species that is usually considered noteworthy! An adult was sat on some rocks, literally supervising its noisy brood of four well grown and recently fledged youngsters below, squabbling and clumsily trying to feed themselves amongst beach debris and seaweed - most amusing.

(above) adult Mediterranean Gull and (two below) mainly Mediterranean Gulls with Herring Gulls along Elmer beach

(above) Family of four juvenile Carrion Crows squabbling whilst parent (out of shot) looks on and (below) four Curlew heading west offshore.

Bilsham Farm: A brief visit found it all rather quiet again and on the reservoir were just three Little Grebes. a Tufted Duck, several Mallard and the usual Coots. A small gathering of gulls - mainly Herring Gulls - was as usual washing and preening, but amongst them were five Great Black-backed Gulls and the first juvenile Black-headed Gull I've seen on the patch. The regular couple of Whitethroats and several Swallows were also noted.

(above) Great Black-backed Gulls and (below) juvenile Black-headed Gull - the first such juvenile on the patch this season

20th - 23rd June 2025

Monday, 23rd June: A bright and very breezy day, with plenty of sunshine, some cloud and feeler fresher than of late, with a brisk W/NW wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: There was a large gathering of gulls well offshore this morning, with perhaps a thousand or more birds fishing and wheeling around. I spent some time trying to sort them out, but distance and heat haze prevented much accurate identification. Even so, there were clearly a good number of Mediterranean Gulls amongst the melee, though it was not possible to give an accurate estimation, but there were also about a dozen or so Gannets present and an uncertain number of Sandwich Terns.

Three Oystercatchers were roosting on the rock islands at high tide, then two Ringed Plovers were located on the beach, but a total of four Curlews heading west offshore were less expected. There wasn't much else of note, but along the beach footpath, from the kiosk to the boat compound, a total of four Marbled White butterflies were counted amongst the much commoner Whites and Meadow Browns.

Three roosting Oystercatchers (above), Ringed Plovers on the beach (middle two) and Curlews flying west offshore (lower two) at Elmer Rocks this morning.

Bilsham farm: A look at the reservoir late morning produced a Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebes (two adults and a juvenile), 30 Coots. two Gadwall, six Mallard and a Tufted Duck, whilst amongst the 50 or more Herring Gulls washing and preening were three Lesser Black-backed Gulls (two adults and an immature). There wasn't much else of note, although the male Yellowhammer and two Whitethroats were singing from the periphery hedgerows and the regular Buzzard was soaring over.

Adult (left) and juvenile Little Grebes and (below) adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (with Herring Gull and Coot) on Bilsham reservoir.

Saturday, 21st June: A rather grey and windy start, with a fresh E/SE wind force 4-5 along the coast keeping the temperature down. Although high pressure is dominating and conditions improved to periods of cloud and sunshine, then some heavy showers, it certainly didn't feel like the predicted heatwave, in the local area at least.

Elmer Rocks: Another morning when a sea-watch seemed likely to be the best option and I'd started on my usual circuit before eventually meeting up with birding friend Bola, who was already watching from near Poole Place. We sea-watched together for some while, and it was slow-going, but several small flocks of distant gulls held a number of Mediterranean Gulls, with a total of perhaps 20 or so, plus a couple of Gannets. There were also a number of Sandwich Terns back and forth and feeding in the flocks; I logged about a dozen, but Bola who'd been watching for longer probably recorded more.

The highlight though was non-avian, when a pod of about eight Dolphins - almost certainly Bottle-nosed Dolphins - was spotted at about 09:50hrs heading generally eastwards, about half-way to the horizon (so binoculars needed really). There was at least one large male and a couple of smaller ones too; seeing them is one thing however, but trying to locate them in a choppy sea and in a heat haze is quite another, and a few snippets of action is the best that either of us could do!

After the excitement, Bola and I went our separate ways, and I added three Oystercatchers and a Little Egret roosting on the rock islands. A pair of Greenfinch were calling still from the long hedgerow, but there was little else of note bird-wise, however a couple of Marbled White butterflies were seen in beach-front gardens as I made my way back.

The Dolphins offshore from Elmer Rocks this morning; not the greatest shots and I missed the male leaping right out (!) but the best I could do in the circumstances.

Marbled White butterfly in beachfront gardens at Elmer

Friday, 20th June: The fine and very dry weather continues, but the morning started with rather hazy conditions and plenty of high cloud in a surprisingly fresh E/SE wind force 5, keeping the temperature well down along the coast, before becoming very sunny and considerably warmer later, especially inland.

Lidsey WTW area: A noisy post-breeding flock of 300+ Starlings, containing many juveniles, was present in the WTW, especially on the filter pans, whilst two Swallows were feeding above, but these apart, the works was very quiet bird-wise. On the small reservoir nearby there were four Tufted Ducks, which had clearly begun their annual moult to their duller eclipse plumage, whilst also present were six Mallard, two Little Grebes and the pair of Coots with their two young, the latter now quite well grown although now reduced in number from the original four which fledged. Around the periphery a Cetti's Warbler was singing frequently and three Blackcaps and two Whitethroats also sang briefly.

Pair of Tufted Ducks on small reservoir near Lidsey WTW;  the male (rear) in particular can be seen to be in moult to its dull eclipse plumage, with a head tuft not visible and the bright white flanks already mainly dingy and brownish.

Bilsham farm: It was again quiet on the reservoir, with just a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, a single drake Tufted Duck, six Mallard and 24 Coots. A small number of gulls were coming and going to drink and bathe - most being Herring Gulls - but including a fine adult (intermedius-type) Lesser Black-backed Gull which appeared for a very short time before departing. Four Swallows coming and going were probably the family visiting from the local donkey paddocks.

Around the hedgerows a Yellowhammer was singing for some while and nearby two Whitethroats were heard, though it was otherwise generally quiet. High up several Swifts were over the fields, no doubt alarmed by a soaring Sparrowhawk nearby, and then a Red Kite also drifted over

Yellowhammer at Bilsham farm

16th - 18th June 2025

Wednesday, 18th June: Another fine, very dry and sunny day, soon becoming quite warm, with a light to moderate SW breeze 2-3/4. It appears summer has now well and truly arrived, with high pressure currently dominating and a spell of very warm weather predicted.

Elmer Rocks: An early visit before it got too warm, though there wasn't too much to report, and with the same species as recently featuring again. Sandwich Terns were feeding close inshore and moving back and forth, with at least six counted, whilst two Mediterranean Gulls went west. Little Egrets were the main feature today, with eight feeding along the shore and in the rockpools either side of Poole Place, with a couple of Grey Herons for company. Then a small wader flew east, but frustratingly the conditions didn't allow for an ID to be made, so one that got away! Behind the beach a Whitethroat was again singing and a few Goldfinches were also about....but that was as far as I got, before a message was received informing me of a potentially rare bird over at Medmerry, on the Selsey Peninsula. Ah......

Now, many non-birders know the term 'twitcher' and use it as a general term for all birders (or birdwatchers), as indeed do sections of the media. However, in a birder's world a twitcher is different, someone who is prepared to abandon what he or she are doing and set off promptly in order to get a sighting of a rare bird, sometimes meaning a very long journey. Fortunately, this bird was under 20 miles away, but yes - I showed my twitcher credentials by setting off after it asap and abandoning the local patch! Given the road works, closures and hold-ups in our area it was a frustrating journey, but eventually I got there and saw the bird. 'So what was it?' I hear you cry!

Well, it was a Lesser Yellowlegs, a rare American wader in the UK. In fact, there was a hope it would be the rarer Greater Yellowlegs for a while, before the ID as Lesser was fully established, but either way a fine bird to see. And I didn't expect that when I started my casual look along Elmer beach on a fine morning!

Sandwich Tern at Elmer beach - note the wind turbines in the background

Little Egrets stole the show at Elmer this morning; top two around the rock islands and the bottom image from the rockpools just to the east side of Poole Place

Tuesday, 17th June: A fine sunny day, though a bit hazy at times, and feeling quite warm in a light to moderate SW breeze.

Bilsham farm: After a visit to Pagham Harbour early on, I made a brief stop at the local reservoir for a quick look around before heading home. It was of course generally quiet given the time of year, but I logged a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, two Tufted Ducks, six Mallard and 24 Coots on the water, and several Swallows and a Buzzard above. Two singing Whitethroats were surprisingly vocal today in the hedgerows and a family party of four Swallows were around the donkey compound.

Great Crested Grebe and Buzzard at Bilsham reservoir

Monday, 16th June: A pleasantly sunny and calm start to the morning, with just a light NW breeze, before becoming more hazy and cloudy later, as the wind freshened and backed SW 3-4; then becoming sunny again by late afternoon.

Elmer Rocks: A fine start with a calm sea and the tide low, but initially with very little to be seen bird-wise. However, before long some small gatherings of gulls offshore produced a few Mediterranean Gulls, and further scrutiny produced c.30 of them along the shore or flying back and forth. Likewise, a couple of Sandwich Terns flew east, then further birds were located along the beach and feeding offshore amongst the gulls, the total number of terns reaching a dozen or more. Four Little Egrets were feeding either side of the Poole Place rocks, a couple of Oystercatchers put in an appearance, then surprisingly a party of five Sanderlings flew east just offshore; surely this late group of migrants will be too late to now reach the Arctic in time to breed successfully?

There was little else of note to report; a flock of 12 Goldfinches - including several juveniles - were around the Poole Place area, together with two Greenfinches, two Skylarks were singing above the crop fields behind the beach and a Whitethroat briefly sang from hedge tops before disappearing into cover.

Little Egret feeding along the shoreline, Sandwich Tern offshore and adult Goldfinch at Poole Place

11th - 13th June 2025

Friday, 13th June: A touch of summer; prolonged warm sunshine, blue skies and little or no cloud through the day and feeling quite humid with just a light S/SW breeze....though with a sting in the tail as heavy thunderstorms are predicted overnight! 

It's now that time of the year which some birders consider as the 'summer doldrums,' with migration virtually now at an end, many birds absent whilst breeding in the Arctic, and those that remain here now becoming increasingly quiet as they are busy with parental duties or moulting. There is also a feeling of repetition with the same species being repeatedly encountered, and this is certainly true on the patch at the moment. I therefore had a welcome change of scenery very recently, heading for the inland heathlands of north-west Sussex, where during late evening to dusk I managed to catch up with such delights as Nightjar, Woodcock, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Dartford Warbler and Stonechat. A change is as good as a rest, and feeling duly 'refreshed' so to speak, it's now back to the local patch.....

Elmer Rocks: There was a flock of 2-300 gulls feeding offshore, which contained several Mediterranean Gulls and at least five Sandwich Terns, with another six of the latter moving through westwards, as was a single Common Tern. Along the beach on the low tide was a Little Egret and a solitary Oystercatcher.

A circuit of the woods and fields behind the beach produced a pair of Greenfinches, with the male still giving his wheezy song, two different Great Spotted Woodpeckers apparently returning to their nesting areas, a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard.

Greenfinch singing behind the beach at Elmer Rocks

Bilsham Farm: There was again little of note on the reservoir. On the water were five drake Tufted Ducks, half a dozen Mallard, a Little Grebe and five Great Black-backed Gulls amongst other gulls. A small flock of six Swallows and four House Martins was feeding above the water from time to time, whilst in the perimeter hedgerows a couple of Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff called briefly.

 

The highlight for me was seeing my first Marbled White butterflies of the season, with at least five along one bank and corner of the reservoir - doubtless there were plenty more around - whilst a good few Meadow Browns were also on the wing.

Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir and (below) Marbled White butterflies on the reservoir bank

Wednesday, 11th June: The weather forecasts I watched yesterday evening were some way off the mark and the prolonged sunshine with plumes of warm continental air today didn't really materialise locally! A cool, grey and cloudy morning, with some mist and a brisk SE wind never less than a force 4-5...and it was well into the afternoon before skies cleared and the sunshine finally appeared.

 
Elmer Rocks: A casual visit this morning, with a couple of hours spent looking at the sea on and off. There was a smallish flock of gulls offshore, which held around eight Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Sandwich Terns, with up to another ten of the latter fishing offshore later, before they eventually drifted off eastwards. A single Gannet flew west well offshore, whilst a Little Egret flew west close in, but there was nothing much else on the move, except for a total of 12 Oystercatchers which flew in to roost on the rock islands at high tide.

There was little else to report except for a couple of Greenfinches, three Linnets and ten Goldfinches along the hedgerows and on the telegraph wires and a Whitethroat which sang briefly.

Mediterranean Gull (above) amongst gull flock, Oystercatchers arriving to roost and (bottom) Sandwich Terns feeding offshore.

7th - 9th June 2025

Monday, 9th June: A fairly bright and breezy day, remaining dry with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells in a moderate to fresh breeze W4-5.

I spent the morning birding over at Pagham Harbour, but on my way back home diverted to make a couple of quick visits to the patch, although as expected it turned out to be very quiet.....

Lidsey area: There was very little at the WTW beyond a good-sized flock of Starlings, a couple of Swallows, a Pied Wagtail carrying food and a singing Cetti's Warbler in the perimeter hedgerow. On a small reservoir were two Little Grebes, two Gadwall, six Tufted Ducks and a pair of Coots with young.

Bilsham Farm: A Little Grebe, a female Mallard with a brood of young and 18 Coots were on the reservoir, where a good number of the commoner gulls were washing and preening, together with eight Great Black-backed Gulls and an immature Lesser Black-backed. Nearby, three Buzzards were soaring over the fields together together with four Swifts, whilst along the hedgerows were two Yellowhammers, and a few bursts of song from two Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff.

Not much to be seen on the reservoir today, although these Great Black-backed Gulls were part of the total of eight present 

Saturday, 7th June: Continuing changeable, with steady rainfall overnight and into the morning, clearing soon after 07:00 to give a largely dry morning of sunshine and heavy cloud, in a moderate WSW breeze force 3-4.

Elmer Rocks: Predictably quiet again with just a few bits of interest. There were several smallish flocks of gulls feeding offshore at various ranges - with a handful of Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gull amongst them - and later, three or four of each also flew west, closer in. At least seven Gannets also went west, but more of a surprise were the two separate Curlews that flew through also in that direction, whilst two Great Crested Grebes were offshore. Behind the beach, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was briefly on a telegraph pole near Poole Place, the pair of local Buzzards were in the air together and four Greenfinch were probably all from one family.

Two different Curlews went west off Elmer Rocks this morning

Ancton (Lane End paddocks): A check on the Swallow situation at the stables and paddocks found only two occupied nests, well down in number from a decade or so ago. A male Pied Wagtail was also present in an area where a pair nested earlier; presumably this bird is one of that pair. Things were generally quiet in the area, although two different Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff gave brief snatches of song from the woods behind the paddocks.

Pied Wagtail at Lane End paddocks, and active Swallow's nest in the stables at Ancton