Wednesday, 20th March: The spring equinox brought a welcome bit of pleasant spring weather this morning, with some warm sunshine after a grey start, and just a light NE breeze 2-3, becoming more SSE and variable later.
Elmer Rocks: Unforeseen commitments again resulted in a bit of a late start and I didn't arrive on site until about 10:00hrs. There was very little to report on the migrant front and my log produced more of the same, as below;-
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2 o/s
Brent Goose - 3E and 5 on beach/fields
Common Scoter - 12W
Red-breasted Merganser - 16 o/s
Mediterranean Gull - 6E
Meadow Pipit - 1N from sea
Flock of Common Scoter heading west offshore
The Grey Seal was also offshore, occasionally bobbing his head up behind the rock islands, but once again it was the Dolphins (Bottle-nosed) who stole the show, with a pod of about 10 or so about half a mile out, or perhaps a little more, lingering awhile before drifting away slowly east. There were at least two large individuals - presumably males - together with a variety of smaller ones, some leaping clear of the water. As readers will have now discovered, photography is not my strong point, nor do I have any high quality equipment, but I zoomed up my bridge camera, tried to get something in the viewfinder and clicked away. The below is the best I could do....!!
The Dolphins at play off Elmer Rocks....not very brilliant images I know, but at least it gives the general idea.
Elmer fields/woods: Rook is a very common species, rarely featured, and will be familiar to most people, but actually within the coastal M-o-S Parish boundary it is not that common at all really. So, in 2021, I was interested when I found that a pair had nested in the tall trees facing the back of the set-aside field. It wasn't long before a whole gang of local Carrion Crows (some breed nearby) began to hassle them and it wasn't long either before this pioneer pair of a new colony seemed to have been driven off. Then, next year, to my surprise at least two Rook pairs had a go at nesting in the same area and seemed to have been successful for at least a while, despite their unfriendly neighbours, Then last year, in early March 2023, I discovered that up to 5 pairs of Rooks were present in the same site, a proper colony now, with occupied nests and more Rooks to defend against marauding Crows.
The only thing is, I don't actually know if any of the pairs mentioned have actually raised young, for it becomes impossible to monitor nests once the leaves and vegetation have grown to obscure all views.
So, what of this year, I hear you ask! Well, I hadn't seen any Rook activity until very recently, but today can confirm there is one pair with a nest - already seen fighting off the local Crows - so time will tell how things go. Odds against, I'm thinking....
Rooks with their nest at Elmer woods
Monday, 18th March: A fairly pleasant day of cloud and hazy sun early on, then becoming duller with some intermittent drizzly showers, in a moderate SW breeze force 3-4.
Elmer & Ancton: I start with some belated news from early February this year... a local resident on the Elmer Sands estate was visited by a Water Rail for a period of a fortnight or so, when this normally shy and retiring bird took to visiting a garden and even feeding underneath a bird feeder. Although this might seem an unusual occurrence for a reed-bed specialist, it would presumably have taken up temporary residence in a nearby rife or ditch, for the species is well capable of migratory movements. (My thanks to Mrs V. Kirby for the info and accompanying photo).
Water Rail feeding in an Elmer garden (Mrs V Kirby)
This morning, there were up to 3 Siskins visiting the feeders in a local garden in Elmer, together with a few Goldfinches and a Greenfinch. (I am most grateful to D. Bole for the info and the opportunity to visit his garden to see them). Nearby, a Coal Tit was singing to establish its territory.
Siskins feeding in an Elmer garden
These two occurrences of birds in local gardens highlight the potential of such gardens, situated on the coast and right 'in the firing line' of birds arriving or departing on migration. There will be more....so if you do encounter one, please do let me know as soon as possible, and if you are able to take a photo, so much the better.
Please also bear in mind that some apparently common birds are in fact a lot less common or downright scarce in our little patch. A good example of this is Nuthatch, which is regular just inland a few miles but certainly not here! I've never seen one within the parish boundary. Bullfinch is another; yes it does occur but very occasionally and can be mighty tricky to locate. So if you do find one I'd love to hear from you!
Elmer Rocks: A flock of 30 Brent Geese went east, high up, this morning, followed by a single straggler, but there was nothing much else on the move, Offshore, there were 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and at least a dozen Common Scoters, whilst 25 Turnstones were along the beach and rocks. Two Chiffchaffs were singing around the set-aside area, as was a Skylark and 2 Greenfinches.
Bilsham farm/Barnham Brooks: A short visit late morning found at least 4 singing Chiffchaffs and 3 Skylarks, but little else to suggest migration. On the reservoir were 15 Tufted Ducks and 4 Mallard, whilst a scan of the flooded fields produced just a herd of 41 Mute Swans and a distant gathering of gulls which included c.120 Common Gulls.
It was great to see the banks and ditches well covered with flowering Primroses - another sure sign that Spring is here.
Primroses at Bilsham farm
Sunday, 17th March: A wet morning with heavy rain for several hours, before easing to become cool, damp and very misty, in a moderate breeze, W/SW 4....the mist finally clearing early afternoon with some brighter spells.
Elmer Rocks: An awful morning which limited the birding opportunities and I didn't venture out until the rain stopped around 1100hrs....only to be confronted with thick mist rolling in off the sea and very poor visibility all around and almost zero views offshore. There was very little to be seen and my meagre list consisted of a flock of 15 Turnstones flying west over the beach, a Sparrowhawk going east over the set-aside, a single Stonechat in the set-aside and 2 Linnets on the telegraph wires above the long hedge near Poole Place.... one of those mornings best forgotten!
(above) A gloomy and misty view looking west along Elmer beach from Poole Place, and (below) two Linnets on the telegraph wires
Saturday, 16th March: A cool start, giving way to a pleasant morning with a light NW breeze and sunshine, but clouding over later as the wind veered SSW 4-5.
Two reports from other observers during my absence from birding today.....
Elmer & Ancton: The first Siskin of the year was seen today - on a garden bird feeder - and I'm grateful to the finder (D.Bole) for the information and a photo. (A number of these birds were reported elsewhere today, so there has obviously been a movement of them....do keep your eyes open for this lovely little finch).
Male Siskin at Elmer on a bird feeder (D.Bole)
Climping/Littlehampton: The Little Ringed Plover was again present on the flooded field just south of Ferry Road. Also worthy of mention in the area were a Red Kite, 7 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, a Firecrest and 3 Chiffchaffs. (B.Akinola)
Friday, 15th March: Another rather grey day with a few sunny periods and sporadic drizzly showers, and staying windy with a fresh WSW force 5-6.
Things didn't start well today when my plans to visit another area were thwarted by the joys of the A259 and Comet Corner; suffice to say it was again gridlock all around and I eventually abandoned and headed back home, wondering what on earth it will be like once additional traffic joins in from all the new over-developments in the area. I'd best stop there before I go into one on what I think of the current governmental policy!
So, I decided a walk around the Elmer & Ancton area might be best to calm me down, and I checked out the Lane End horse paddocks, which were very quiet today. The regular Green Woodpecker, a singing Greenfinch, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Chiffchaff and a Buzzard were the best I co do.
Lidsey WTW & area: There were up to half a dozen Chiffchaffs (most singing) and a single Cetti's Warbler in the hedgerows around the works, plus 6 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe nearby. The majority of the birds though were in the totally flooded fields behind the WTW, where around 400 ducks were present, consisting very approximately of 200 Teal, 70 Gadwall, 80 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 10 Mallard and 10 Pintail.
Pintails (above) and Wigeon still on the Lidsey floods behind the WTW
Climping/Littlehampton: A Little Ringed Plover was again present on the flooded field just south of Ferry Road (B Akinola). It seems probable this is the same bird that was first found on 9th March, although as far as I'm aware there have been no reports since so it's possibly another.
Thursday, 14th March: A dry and cloudy morning with some sunny breaks and a fresh W/SW breeze force 4-5, then backing due S force 5 by afternoon, with occasional brief showers.
Elmer Rocks: The clear highlight was finding the first Wheatear of the year on the patch, on the rocks near Poole Place. All birders look forward to their first Wheatear as a harbinger of spring (probably more so than the first Swallow!) and the species is usually fairly obliging to observers - but not this one! It showed for just a short time before just disappearing, presumably heading northwards.
Offshore, a total of 39 Brent Geese flew east, whilst 6 Mediterranean Gulls did likewise and a further 2 went west. The lingering flock of c.30 Common Scoter was still present, though some way out on the low tide, accompanied by 12+ Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Great Crested Grebes.
There was little else of note on the birding front, but a small pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins went east at some distance, often accompanied by the tell-tale sign of a flock of attentive gulls above them.
Wheatear (male) (strictly speaking Northern Wheatear, as there are many other Wheatear species worldwide) at Elmer Rocks and (below) 2 Mediterranean Gulls heading west
Barnham Brooks: A Marsh Harrier and at least 3 Chiffchaffs were present today. (D.Boon)
Wednesday, 13th March: A mainly dry, grey and cloudy morning with just a few hints of sunshine, and although mild, feeling decidedly chilly in the brisk wind, W/SW force 5-6.
Elmer Rocks: An early message from a birding friend further along the coast alerted me to a good movement of Brent Geese going on. I hurried down to my local spot for a sea-watch and sure enough managed to see several hundred birds - mostly high up, quite distant and in fairly large flocks - passing through eastwards on migration. Oddly, a total of 17 Brent, much closer in, decided to fly westwards - who knows where they were off to! Unfortunately though, the movement above was fairly short-lived and tailed off before mid-morning, when the reality that little else was moving soon became apparent.
Eight Mediterranean Gulls flew east, as did a single Red-throated Diver, whilst a Great Crested Grebe and up to 10 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore on the choppy sea. Small birds were at a premium, with nothing other than a few Goldfinches and a Greenfinch of any note.
Bilsham farm area: A short visit found little to report, the best being 16 Tufted Ducks, a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Skylarks....all very disappointing.Things will doubtless improve as the month goes on......
Monday, 11th March: A grey, overcast and rather murky morning, clearing slowly and remaining dry, but with a chilly NW breeze force 4.
Elmer Rocks: Visibility offshore was not great at first, but it slowly lifted, allowing a bit of visible migration as a few inbound migrants got the chance to arrive safely. A Chiffchaff was observed flying in from the sea, passing almost overhead before diving into cover in bushes near Poole Place, whilst a newly arrived Stonechat sat just offshore on one of the rock islands at high tide for some while, before eventually heading inland. A Grey Wagtail and a few Meadow Pipits increased the tally and the full log is below:-
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2o/s
Great Crested Grebe - 4 o/s
Brent Goose - 15E, 17W
Red-breasted Merganser - 20 o/s (some displaying)
Oystercatcher - 58 roosting on rocks at high tide
Grey Plover - 10, as above
Dunlin - 1
Sanderling - 15
Turnstone - 45
Meadow Pipit - 12N from sea
Grey Wagtail - 1N
Stonechat - 1 on rocks, flew N inland
Chiffchaff - 2 (one in N from sea)
Elmer & Ancton: I'd just arrived home when the calls of agitated gulls and crows alerted me to some activity outside....a peek out revealed a Red Kite flying over northwards with a possee of birds chasing it. Struggling to find my camera, with no chance to adjust settings I only managed a couple of silhouette record shots.....
I checked out the horse paddocks and woods nearby, but could find no sign of the Black Redstart today....so perhaps it has finally departed, There were however still 50+ Fieldfares in the tree-tops, plus a Chiffchaff, and 2 Green Woodpeckers were again in the paddocks.
Red Kite north over Ancton - not the greatest shots but you get the idea! Although becoming increasingly widespread, this species is still not common on the patch, though it now occurs annually. March sees some movement of these birds and it is just as likely this one arrived from the sea, perhaps originating from the Continent.
Fieldfare (lower bird) with Starling at Ancton paddocks
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