1st - 11th April 2024

Apologies  if you've noticed a break in my regular reports, due to me being away from home for several days....normal service will resume by the weekend at the latest. 

Sunday, 7th April: Bright and breezy today, with sunshine breaking through the early morning cloud to give a dry and pleasant day, but staying blustery in a fresh SW wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: A brief sea-watch revealed that little was on the move; a handful of Sandwich Terns and 2 Mediterranean Gulls went east, whilst a Great Northern Diver flew west and 32 Oystercatchers dropped onto the rock islands for a short while. A newly-arrived Wheatear was also on the beach.

However, since yesterday's Hoopoe report, it has become apparent that a small influx, involving several birds, has occurred at a few other Sussex locations, so I spent most of the morning checking likely locations on the patch, just in case! No luck I'm afraid - but I'm not alone - for I'm aware that several local birders were also out looking, with the same result, although a few other species were found in the process.

Wheatear on Elmer beach

Ancton & Elmer: My count for the morning produced 2 Swallows, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Linnets and several Greenfinch among other species, but it was disappointingly quiet.

Climping area: Amongst the species found by other local observers were a male Redstart and a couple of Whitethroats. (D.Booker/H.Ramm)

Saturday, 6th April: A dry morning of grey cloud and sunnier interludes, with a brisk wind SSE-SW 5-6, easing to force 4 later, with the risk of showers later, though overall very mild.

Bilsham farm area: I was off the patch most of the morning, committed on a wildfowl count, so had only a short time to make a visit here. The reservoir remains very quiet – perhaps because of all the other fresh water around the flooded fields – with just 9 Tufted Ducks and 2 Mute Swans present, although 2 smart Wheatears were on the adjacent fields. The hedgerows held a Willow Warbler, several Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap, but nothing else of note.

Climping: This was perhaps not the best day for me to be off the patch and away from the coast, as observers from elsewhere logged an interesting list of species.... an Arctic Skua was recorded here passing through eastwards (H.Ramm), whilst scarcer still was a report of a Hoopoe having been seen on the R. Arun riverbank....the sighting and exact location is still not fully confirmed, but it appears at this stage to have been just within the eastern boundary of the 5Km patch.

Friday, 5th April: After overnight rain, a blustery day of overcast skies with sunny periods in a fresh to strong SW wind force 6. 

Elmer Rocks: My personal highlight was seeing my first Swallow of the year, battling in over the rough sea and heading north over the Kiosk. Whilst I'm aware that quite a number have now been recorded across Sussex, there is still a delight in observing one's first of the year....perhaps a first for M-o-S parish too, unless anyone else has done better?

I'm often asked "are there are any Dolphins around this morning?" so was pleased that today I could answer "yes".....however, don't get too excited, as there were only about four, half way to the horizon, with lots of sunny reflections on a rough sea, so viewing was tricky and a telescope was essential!

Most of the limited offshore movements this morning involved birds heading west, best among them being a Great Northern Diver, which dropped onto the sea at some distance, whilst other species included 6 Common Scoter (and 5E), 10 Gannets and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Common Scoters behind the rock islands and (below) Gannets passing west offshore

Ancton paddocks area: My visit to the local paddocks was less successful this time, with no sign of the recent Black Redstart, though in the woods immediately behind a newly-arrived Blackcap and up to 3 Chiffchaffs were singing, a pair of Long-tailed Tits were present and several Greenfinches were display-flighting. Other species recorded included a Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Stock Doves and a pair of Jays.

Thursday, 4th April: Another very unsettled and blustery morning in a fresh SW wind force 5-6, pushing through banks of heavy cloud and squally showers, interspersed with some sunny interludes....but remaining very changeable!

Lidsey WTW & area: It was a matter of trying to dodge the heavy showers this morning - not always successfully - whilst the water levels have increased again with some footpaths still flooded in places. There was nothing to report from within the WTW itself, but around the hedgerows were about 8 Chiffchaffs, at least 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 singing Song Thrushes.

There was more activity however in the flooded meadows behind the works, the highlight being a fairly distant Great White Egret - presumably the bird seen yesterday at nearby Barnham Brooks - and 8 Little Egrets, whilst several Lapwings looked as if they were paired up. Some wildfowl were also still present; 50 Teal, 40 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler and a pair of Pintail.

Two views of the distant Great White Egret at Lidsey; note also the Shovelers in the left foreground of the lower image.

Barnham Brooks: There were 6 Little Egrets this morning (but no Great White Egret - see above) and on the flooded fields were at least 2 Redshank, c.12 Lapwings and a single Ringed Plover. Wildfowl consisted of 14 Shoveler, a few Teal, 8 Shelduck and 8 Mallard, but with yet more heavy rain threatening, I cut short my visit and headed for home.

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These two images (flight shots) of Great White Egret (above) and Little Egret (below) were taken very recently at Barnham Brooks (D. Boon). They highlight the differences between the two species: the Great White is much larger overall, long-winged and long-legged, being about the size of a Grey Heron, with a long orangey-coloured bill and a saggy neck in flight.

The Little Egret is a notably smaller and more compact bird (note it was much closer to the photographer) with a blackish bill and notably yellowish feet, smaller wings, a more rapid flight action and a less saggy foreneck. Although not shown in this image, it may in the breeding season also have two long, narrow plumes extending from the nape down the back of the neck. 

Wednesday, 3rd April: Overnight rain, giving way to a murky and windy morning, with a fresh breeze S/SSW 4 gradually increasing to a strong W 6/7.

A short update:  This new local blog has so far covered the first three months of the year and I'd always planned to review things after this time, basically to see how it was received and to decide whether it was worthwhile continuing. I'm glad to say I feel it certainly is, and I'm grateful for the support and kind comments received from both local residents and a number of birders so far.

I have tried to balance my output to be of interest both to those who have perhaps just a passing interest in the birds of the area, as well as those who are more committed birders - and indeed those in-between - so I hope there is at least something for everyone. I'm sure I won't always get things right and I may have to adapt as time goes on, but it's so far so good.

Finally, I should just explain that there may be some days when no report appears; it could well be I'm birding 'off-patch' that day or perhaps I'm away from home for a few days, but I'll update the local reports as soon as I'm able. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open and check those gardens, and if you do find something unusual, do please tell me asap. Prize for the rarest confirmed garden rarity on the patch this spring! 

Barnham Brooks: The Great White Egret was again present this morning, together with 11 Little Egrets, but the highlight was a large gathering of 474 Black-tailed Godwits on the flooded fields. Other waders included 4 Redshank, 10 Lapwings and a single Dunlin, whilst a total of 46 Shelduck were also logged. Along the hedgerows were 4 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs. (D.Boon)

Tuesday, 2nd April: A fairly bright and breezy morning, in a surprisingly cool southerly breeze force 4, with cloud increasing later and some rain by late afternoon.

Barnham Brooks: I called in late morning, following news of a Great White Egret being present there, and after some while located it out on the flooded brooks feeding alongside a Grey Heron, both birds looking roughly the same in height. At least 8 Little Egrets were also around, plus a number of Lapwings and several Redshank, then 2 Ruff were seen, feeding along a grassy margin, albeit a bit distant, (thanks to D. Boon). Lingering wildfowl included 11 Shelduck and 8 Shoveler, whilst nearby were a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Willow Warbler.

Great White Egret, feeding alongside a Grey Heron.

Easter Monday, 1st April: A mainly sunny and bright start with a moderate SSW breeze 3-4, but soon clouding over with occasional heavy showers developing.

Elmer Rocks: A brief look at the sea this morning produced very little once again, with just a single Common Scoter and a couple of Sandwich Terns heading east being the only birds of any note. A check of the hedgerows and set-aside area produced a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs and a pair of Linnets as the only reward for my efforts.

Bilsham farm area: It was disappointingly quiet here again, the highlights being a Willow Warbler singing its delightful 'sound of spring' song in the rain, 3 Cetti's Warblers and the same of Chiffchaffs and a decent-sized flock of 75+ Linnets. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also of interest, bathing in the floods with other gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the floods at Bilsham Farm. Excuse the rain blobs in this image, but the birds flew off as the rain stopped!   (Birders note: This appears to show the two different forms which occur regularly....the paler grey-mantled graellsii (left) and (presumably) the darker intermedius of Europe)