1st - 15th February 2024

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   Featured species, February:   Red-breasted Merganser

Pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, (male left, female right). This is actually a regular species offshore at Elmer and along our part of the coast during winter and early spring, when 40 or more birds may be present. I have tried to show this species to a number of people who have enquired in the past, with limited success, and the birds are often - but not always - some way off, so binoculars are needed. Most people who ask are genuinely surprised when I tell them of the numbers present. They belong to a group of ducks called 'sawbills' (note their long thin bills with a serrated edge) and their smart plumage and the male's reddish breast (hence their name!)

I have to admit to a bit of cheating here, for none of my own photos were up to the job, so (with thanks) I've borrowed this nice image from the photographer and birding friend Les Phillips, who took the shot at Pagham Harbour earlier in the winter.

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Tuesday, 13th February: A real change from yesterday, with mainly grey and cloudy skies, light rain and a moderate SSW breeze 3-4, the wind and the rain increasing by early afternoon.

Elmer Rocks (0835-1045hrs): Although the morning was predicted to be dry, the persistent and fairly irritating drizzly rain ensured that conditions were not great, so once again sea-watching seemed the best option. Annoyingly though, a number of birds were too distant for me to safely identify in the gloom, but of the rest the following were logged:-

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 3W, 1os

diver sp - 1 o/s

Great Crested Grebe - 2 o/s

Gannet - 12W

Brent Goose - 1E

Common Scoter - 1W, 6 o/s

Red-breasted Merganser - c.15 o/s

Oystercatcher - 12

Sanderling - 20

Mediterranean Gull - 15W

Common Gull - 10 on the beach

Common Gulls on the beach at Elmer Rocks (above with Herring Gull). Common is a bit of a misnomer for this gull really, for whilst it is regularly seen and is by no means scarce, it is far from being the commonest gull around and can at some times of year be difficult to locate.

Monday, 12th February: A cold but bright start with a touch of frost,clearing to give some welcome sunshine and blue skies, with a light NW breeze 2-3.

Elmer Rocks - Atherington (Climping): On my arrival this morning a Chiffchaff was present in the Kiosk gardens, feeding actively before soon moving on, causing me to wonder if this could actually be an early migrant arriving in the spring-like weather, as opposed to an over-wintering bird - a feeling that was only enhanced when a couple of Meadow Pipits were seen to arrive from the sea and head inland. I then decided to walk to Atherington, whilst checking the sea occasionally, logging half a dozen Red-throated Divers heading east, c.12 R/b Mergansers and 2 Great Crested Grebes offshore, plus 15 Oystercatchers, 3 Grey Plovers, 45 Turnstones and 6 Sanderlings on the beach and rock islands.

Moving on to Cudlow's field, Atherington, there were 50 Mediterranean Gulls amongst other gulls feeding over the partly-flooded field and along the beach, then a small flock of 15 Brent Geese further on. A check around the trees and bushes at the old car park and on to to Bailiffscourt produced another 2 Chiffchaffs, again very active and continually feeding, soon followed by a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. A pair of agitated and very noisy Jays were showing their displeasure at the presence of a Sparrowhawk, whilst plenty of birds are now singing, especially Song Thrushes, Blue and Great Tits and other common species, leaving the feeling that spring is surely on the way soon.

Chiffchaff at Atherington (Climping) - one of three birds along the coast this morning - surely likely to be early migrants rather than over-wintering birds?

Brent Geese in Cudlow's field, Atherington - it won't be very long now before they all depart on their spring migration...

An early spring? Blackthorn already in early bloom around Atherington pool.

Saturday, 10th February: Rain early morning, then cloudy with some hazy sunshine at times and a light SSW breeze 2-3,  interspersed with the odd short shower.

Bilsham farm: On the water were 42 Coots, 10 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. However, there was more activity today in the adjacent flooded fields and around the fences, which produced 15 Meadow Pipits, 10 Yellowhammers, a Grey Wagtail and a dozen Skylarks.

Meadow Pipit (above) and Yellowhammer at Bilsham farm

Lidsey WTW & area: A flock of 45 Gadwall with 3 Tufted Ducks were in the reservoir, whilst the fields behind the WTW, which are again well flooded, held 400+ Teal, a few Wigeon and 50 Lapwings. The hedgerows were busy with Chiffchaffs (25+),  2 Cetti’s Warblers and a couple of Song Thrushes.

Friday, 9th February: After heavy overnight rain, a showery and blustery start to the morning, giving way to sunshine and heavy cloud later, with the threat of more showers by afternoon. Wind strong SW force 6, gradually easing 5-4 through the day.

Elmer Rocks (0915-1100hrs): I ventured out once the showers eased, but in the blustery conditions sea-watching was clearly the best option. Given the date it was predictably rather quiet, the only highlight being the first Fulmar of the year, heading west beyond photo range. There were a few Red-throated Divers (2E & 3W), plus a Gannet, an auk sp and a couple of Mediterranean and Common Gulls drifting through, and a few R/b Mergansers offshore, whilst 40 + Turnstones were back and forth in the wind and along the shoreline, but otherwise nothing of note.

Tuesday, 6th February: A generally grey and cloudy day, but very blustery with a near gale force W wind force 6-7 keeping the mild temperature down.

Elmer Rocks: An hour’s sea-watch this morning was enough, but did produce 2 Pintail, a Guillemot and another unidentified auk sp all heading W. Small numbers of the regular waders were along the beach, with at least 20 Mediterranean and 6 Common Gulls also present and c.15 R/b Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were bobbing about on a rough sea..

Bilsham farm: Tufted Duck numbers on the reservoir had increased to 30, whilst Coot numbers had also increased with a count of 48. However, gulls were the main feature this morning, with several hundred birds of seven species present and resting/bathing, though several times they were all disturbed by a low-flying Buzzard. At least a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were amongst c.200 Black-headed, a dozen Common and 100+ Herring Gulls, but also present were 8 Great Black-backed and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Closer scrutiny of the Herrings for something scarcer eventually produced a reward, with a notably darker grey-mantled bird, with a solid head, largish bill and - when it briefly flew – pale yellow legs, revealing itself as a (sub-adult) Yellow-legged Gull.

above - Tufted Ducks at Bilsham farm reservoir

Yellow-legged Gull (presumed sub-adult) amongst other gulls (back centre bird). Note the darker back (mantle) which consistently stood out when compared to the silvery grey Herring Gulls; also note the heavy head and stout bill.  Not the best shots I know but taken at distance in dull conditions and exposed to a near gale-force wind!

Monday, 5th February: Mainly cloudy and grey with a few chinks of brightness and some light drizzle at times, but although mild, feeling cooler in the brisk W wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: I spent an hour watching the sea, where there wasn’t much on the move, but 2 Shelduck went W behind the rocks and 60 Brent Geese went E (perhaps the first hint of return passage). Offshore there were 15 Red-breasted Mergansers and on the beach were 18 Oystercatchers, a dozen Sanderlings and Turnstones and 10 Mediterranean Gulls.

Ancton: A look around the paddocks found the Black Redstart was still present, looking a bit faded now and quite elusive still, plus a couple of Pied Wagtails. The partly flooded arable field behind the woods produced 50 Brent Geese and 6 Curlew, with a flock of 35 of the latter species flying between fields, whilst 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 2 calling Green Woodpeckers were also noted. 

A poor image of the Black Redstart - just to prove it is still there!

Saturday, 3rd February: Fairly mild but grey and cloudy, though remaining dry, with a fresh wind, W force 4-5.

Although a quiet day with nothing out of the ordinary, at Bilsham Farm there was a slight increase in numbers, with 40 Coots, 21 Tufted Ducks and a single Gadwall on the water. 

Lidsey WTW area the flooded fields are now drying out steadily and they produced 3 Snipe and 2 Little Egrets. In the surrounding hedgerows and ditches there were 2 Cetti’s Warblers and c.30 Chiffchaffs.

Thursday, 1st February: A fine spring-like day, with hazy sunshine, some high cloud and a gentle breeze NW2.

Elmer Rocks: A lovely morning with a flat calm sea. There was little or no movement of birds moving through, but quite a number of birds offshore, albeit some were quite distant. At least 12 Red-throated Divers were present, including a flock of 9 close together, plus c.30 Red-breasted Mergansers (some displaying) and 6 Great Crested Grebes, whilst a distant flock of gulls, feeding well out, held at least 20 Gannets amongst them. At least 50 Mediterranean Gulls were spread along the beach around Poole Place and in Cudlow’s field. The 2 Stonechats were still in the hotspot set-aside corner and a Firecrest was in the woods behind. Other species logged included a Kestrel, 2 singing Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Long-tailed Tits.

Stonechat (above) at the set-aside corner Elmer beach and (below) a not great, but heavily-cropped image of the nine Red-throated Divers offshore.