11th - 19th May 2024

Sunday, 19th May: After a rather chilly start in a moderate W/NW breeze, a fine, sunny and pleasantly warm day as the wind backed to a light SSW.

Barnham Brooks: An early start today revealed a small influx of waders and wildfowl, plus two rival Cuckoos calling. A total of 10 Shoveler were located, consisting of 2 obvious pairs and 6 other drakes, together with 3 Tufted Ducks, a single Teal, 10 Mallard and 18 Gadwall, whilst 2 Egyptian Geese and 2 Canada Geese were also present. However, also of interest were two presumably feral geese, (non-birders and those less interested might like to move on from this goose bit now!).....one clearly looking like a good candidate for a Barnacle, whilst the other appeared to be a small-type Canada/Cackling Goose; however closer scrutiny revealed it to probably be a hybrid Canada/Barnacle and who knows what else).

Apart from the regular Lapwings and Redshanks, other waders included a Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers and a single Dunlin. The regular warblers were all in good voice this morning and a pair of Buzzards and a Kestrel were also noted.

(above) hybrid-type Canada Goose (top bird) with Barnacle Goose, (below) Tufted Ducks flying over Shovelers and (bottom) Dunlin with Ringed Plover

Saturday, 18th May: A grey, mainly cloudy and calm morning with a gentle W/NW breeze, accompanied by occasional periods of light spitty rain.

Elmer Rocks: Once again the sea was all but dead for bird migration, the only hints being a flock of 16 Turnstones that flew W then E, accompanied by 8 Sanderlings, whilst 2 Great Crested Grebes were still offshore. However, in the incongruous setting of a bramble bush at the back of the beach, a newly arrived Reed Warbler was singing stridently. The usual Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs were still present, plus a Blackcap and 4 Linnets.

A walk behind Poole Place and just onto the edge of the Climping area then produced my bird of the morning, in the form of a Red-legged Partridge! What was probably a pair appeared along a farm track, but one quickly disappeared into the field margin, whilst the second bird remained to look at me awhile, showing itself well before also disappearing. This species is not at all common on the patch nowadays (rather like its cousin the Grey Partridge) and is probably declining, so it was a welcome year-tick!

Red-legged Partridge, Climping. So, I didn't have my camera available when I needed it! The above is my fairly pathetic attempt to at least get some sort of image on my mobile phone, so please make allowances!

Friday, 17th May: A pleasant morning of sunshine with light cloud in just a light S/SE breeze and feeling quite warm at times.   

Lidsey WTW and area: Around the WTW, a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Swallows were feeding, whilst 3 Cetti's Warblers and a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing. The flooded fields behind the works are still very wet, but held little of interest bar a few Little Egrets, a pair of Gadwall and 2 Lapwings well hidden in the vegetation, and nearby were a pair of Little Grebes.

Moving to the wider Lidsey area where there are still plenty of floods, a Little Ringed Plover was found, followed by a pair of Egyptian Geese, 8 Canada Geese and c.12 Mallard. The hedgerows and rifes held the expected Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, plus Whitethroats and Blackcaps, at least 2 pairs of Greenfinch and a Yellowhammer.

Greenfinch at Lidsey

Barnham Brooks: Two Cuckoos were heard early on (D.Boon), but the main interest this morning was a small selection of waders, consisting of Oystercatcher (2), Lapwing, Redshank (4), Little Ringed Plover (1), Ringed Plover (3) and Dunlin (1). Apart from the regular warblers, other species included Buzzard, Kestrel, Gadwall (4) and Shelduck (15+).

Oystercatchers at Barnham Brooks, and (below, photos by D Boon) Cuckoo and Redshanks

Thursday, 16th May: A grey and calm morning, initially dry, but soon becoming damp with intermittent light drizzly rain and a light variable breeze, then heavier rain by late morning.

Elmer Rocks (0720-1020hrs): The rain didn’t hold off as long as predicted, but it was another generally quiet sea-watch, with a few flocks of Common Scoter (62E, 3W), some Gannets (10E, 5W) and several Sandwich Terns (5E) being the only real movement. At least 2 Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, whilst 7 Oystercatchers were feeding around the rocks and beach. Four singing Whitethroats were heard proclaiming their territory along bushes and hedgerows behind the beach (from the Kiosk to Poole Place), plus 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap.

Bilsham farm: An evening visit found a Common Sandpiper on the reservoir and 2 Oystercatchers also briefly popped in, whilst the only wildfowl were 3 Tufted Ducks and several Mallard, including the female with the well-grown brood. Around the area were 2 Buzzards, the usual warblers and a pair of Reed Buntings, plus 2 Lapwings and 2 Yellowhammers.

Wednesday, 15th May: A generally bright, warm and sunny day, with high white cloud and a fresh SE wind force 4 again taking the edge off the temperature along the coast.

A day full of personal commitments restricted my available birding time, but did allow a fairly brief visit to Barnham Brooks this morning. Highlights were 2 Avocets and 3 Grey Plover on the floods (2 of the latter in splendid summer plumage), plus 4 Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover and several Lapwings, whilst a pair of Gadwall and a much-reduced flock of Shelduck were also noted.

Avocets amongst vegetation at Barnham Brooks - and surprisingly difficult to view at times

Also Grey Plovers on the Brooks - with two in delightful summer plumage - and (below) a Lapwing

Tuesday, 14th May: After heavy overnight rain, a cool, grey and chilly start, eventually brightening up to give some hazy sunshine in a fresh SSE wind force 3-4/5.

Elmer Rocks: An unavoidably late start for me this morning, where visible movement offshore was again minimal in the extreme. A few Gannets were drifting through (both E & W) and several close  Sandwich Terns went E, whilst up 4 Great Crested Grebes were also present. A Red-throated Diver offshore was probably bird of the morning, but it appeared to be rather heavily oiled, although still diving frequently and presumably able to feed. Just behind the beach, a Little Egret was feeding in the set-aside area, whilst 4 Whitethroats were also located.

Great Crested Grebe on the sea and Little Egret in the set-aside corner, just behind the beach at Elmer

Monday, 13th May: A decidedly cool, grey and overcast morning, with some murky light drizzle at times, before slowly clearing, with a few breaks in the cloud allowing some brightness. Wind WSW 2-3, backing SSE 4 later.

Of interest: yesterday afternoon, I got a text from my teenage non-birder grandson, who was with his mates at a playing field in the Eastergate/Westergate area (near the Wilkes head pub for those that know it!) "What's this bird, grandad?" he enquired, forwarding a phone camera shot. Expecting something mundane, I was most surprised to see what appears to be a Violet Turaco (a West African species and presumed escape). However, this is likely to be the bird that has roamed West Sussex for a number of years, popping up from time to time, so it must be getting on a bit now! (This location is just outside the boundaries of the 5Km patch, but included for interest,)

Violet Turaco, Eastergate area (photo: Josh Bishop)

Elmer Rocks: More of the same, with little at all moving offshore, an hour and a half producing just a few Gannets, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Oystercatchers and half a dozen Sandwich Terns W. The usual warblers were along the hedgerows and the only highlights were a Wheatear on the beach which soon headed inland, and a couple of Swallows N from the sea.

Bilsham Farm: A Common Sandpiper was on the reservoir this morning, along with a pair of Canada Geese and several Mallard. There were also at least 20 Swifts feeding above, together with about 6 House Martins and 4 Swallows.

Swifts and Common Sandpiper at Bilsham farm reservoir this morning

Sunday, 12th May: Early cloud soon giving way to another warm and sunny day, with a light to moderate E/NE breeze force 3-4 just taking the edge off the temperature along the coast.

Elmer Rocks (0715-0900hrs): I started my day with a sea-watch again but soon realised it was another dreadfully slow session, producing just a few Gannets (4E, 1W), a flock of Common Scoter (14E) and a handful of Sandwich Terns (8E). I was pleased to be joined for a while by Bola Akinola, my counterpart who covers mainly the Climping Gap area...so at least we could have a gold old grumble together about the general lack of birds this spring! Then just as I was leaving a Coal Tit was heard singing from the pine trees at Poole Place.

Barnham Brooks: A Wood Sandpiper was again present this morning, though often very elusive amongst thick vegetation, whilst the regular Redshanks and Lapwings were more easily seen. Wildfowl numbers have now dropped somewhat, but did include 4 Pochard (3 males and a female) and a pair of Gadwall.

Pair of Gadwall (above) on Barnham Brooks, and (below) male and female Pochards

Saturday, 11th May: Another fine, sunny, warm and dry day, after a hazy start, with a fairly light breeze, NE-SE 2-3.

Elmer Rocks: I had less than an hour available this morning for a sea-watch, before needing to leave to do a monthly WeBS count elsewhere. In that time I logged just 3 Gannets offshore, a Common Scoter E and 3 Sandwich Terns W, but then a Red Kite suddenly appeared over the rock islands, being harassed by a Carrion Crow, before gaining height and drifting off generally eastwards. There seems to have been a bit of an influx of these Kites along the Sussex coast during the last few days, with multiple sightings at a number of locations. Whether this involves continental birds, or just UK birds dispersing, is not clear - but my hunch is that the former is most likely.

Red Kite at Elmer Rocks

Shripney: A brief visit at around lunchtime found the water levels reducing, but although there were plenty of muddy edges, no waders were present bar a single Lapwing. At least 15 Little Egrets found it to their liking however, with birds feeding all around, whilst above several Swifts and a couple of Buzzards were present. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedges, as was a Yellowhammer, and other warblers included Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler.

1st - 10th May 2024

Friday, 10th May: Another fine, warm and pleasantly sunny day, with just a light NE breeze, veering S/SE force 3 later.

Elmer Rocks: A very quiet day once again, with very little migration over the calm sea, although with just a little more movement than the last few days, as below......

Great Crested Grebe - 4 o/s

Gannet - 2E, 4W

Little Egret - 1W

Shelduck - 4E

Whimbrel - 10E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Grey Plover - 1E

Turnstone - 38E

Dunlin - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Swallow - 6N

Whimbrels passing Elmer Rocks

Barnham Brooks: A quieter morning than yesterday, with fewer wildfowl and waders, though a Ringed Plover was a new addition, and it was nice to see some well-concealed young Lapwings with their attentive parents.

Thursday, 9th May: A fine spring day of warm sunshine, scattered cloud and light winds; initially SE1-2, gradually veering to S3.

Elmer Rocks: Another dreadfully quiet day in fine conditions, my short visit producing very little once again. Two Whimbrel heading E were the only hint of migration, whilst a Great Crested Grebe and 8 Gannets (2E & 6W) were about the only other birds of interest. The regular now-resident warblers were also present.

Barnham Brooks: A selection of wildfowl were present this morning, including a fine drake Garganey, a drake Pochard, 4 Gadwall, a pair of Shoveler, a small flock of Shelduck, up to 10 Mallard and 6 Canada Geese. Two Wood Sandpipers were birds of the day (thanks to D.Boon) but they could be very difficult - if not impossible - to see when obscured in the vegetation, whilst other waders included 2 Whimbrel, 4 Redshank, a couple of Little Ringed Plovers and some Lapwings. Singing Reed and Sedge Warblers were particularly obvious today, whilst a pair of Reed Buntings did their best to compete. A Raven and a large feeding flock of 80+ Stock Doves were also in the area.

Drake Garganey, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler at Barnham Brooks

Wednesday, 8th May: A murky, foggy start with limited visibility, but clearing by about 0930 to become quite warm with prolonged sunshine and a light S/SE breeze 2-3.

Elmer & Ancton: A Barn Owl was seen in the area last night.

Climping/Atherington: The foggy conditions made looking at the sea a waste of time, so I checked out the hedgerows and fields, with very limited success. The regular Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were singing, but the only highlights were 2 Grey Partridges which unexpectedly flushed (and soon disappeared) from set-aside near Bread Lane, and a distant Cuckoo calling from somewhere beyond Bailiffscourt Hotel.

Bilsham Farm: Two Great Crested Grebes and the Mallard with her brood were the only birds present on the reservoir. A Raven was seen being chased by a couple of angry Carrion Crows and there were 3 Lapwings (including an obvious pair) on the wet fields, but otherwise it was just the resident breeding species, including Skylarks, Reed Buntings, Cetti's Warblers, Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers.

Elmer Rocks: Although the fog had fully cleared by late morning, there was little to be seen offshore; a couple of Gannets went east and 2 Sandwich Terns went west, whilst 28 Oystercatchers dropped in to roost on the rock islands, to be joined by a single Whimbrel.

Whimbrel with Oystercatchers on Elmer Rocks

Tuesday, 7th May: After a grey and rather murky start, it soon became brighter with some welcome sunshine developing and feeling quite warm, despite a moderate NE breeze, later becoming variable before backing SW.

Elmer Rocks: Another promising-looking morning on a prime date, but once again the sea was devoid of visible seabird passage. There were lots of gulls - mainly Herrings - around the anglers' boats this morning but these apart the only movement I saw was 6 Sandwich Terns offshore and heading west, plus several Gannets. Five Great Crested Grebes were quite close together behind the rock islands and the flock of 20 Oystercatchers appeared again, but that was it in an hour and a half!

Three Swallows arrived from the sea, 2 Wheatears were on the beach and the regular Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing, whilst a pair of Linnets were carrying nesting material; however, with little else on offer, I decided to walk on to Climping/Atherington.

Wheatears on the beach at Elmer Rocks, near Poole Place

On my way back I arrived in the area of the set-aside corner about 11:00hrs, (I call it 'hotspot corner' for reasons you can probably work out!) and was on the lower path when suddenly a large bird of prey passed me from behind...it was a Red Kite, but as luck would have it I was in the wrong place as my view was temporarily obscured by the copse there. By the time I got an open view the bird was going away and I only managed a brief shot; but then hang on, there's two, and another, and another! Initially I counted 6 Red Kites, now all moving higher and heading NE, too far for a photo. Eventually I counted 9, all going higher and moving NE over Poole Place. It seems likely they all arrived from the sea, and although the species has increased steadily in recent years, it is still comparatively uncommon here, so perhaps they originated from the Continent.

Red Kite at Elmer - my first effort was the only chance I got!

Climping/Atherington: Another Wheatear was along the open path and beach, but in truth it was very disappointing with little to report other than the regular warblers on territory - Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus a Reed Warbler and Cetti's Warbler, etc. A couple of Swallows flew over but otherwise it was just resident species.

Barnham Brooks: Water levels are still very high after the recent rains, with fewer muddy areas for waders. A single Whimbrel was noted amongst the regular Redshanks and Lapwings, whilst wildfowl included 4 Gadwall and a pair of Shoveler amongst the Shelduck flock, but no sign of the recent Egyptian Geese.It was otherwise much the same as recent visits, although a single Red Kite was a bonus.

Pair of Shoveler at Barnham Brooks

Sunday, 5th May: A cool but bright start, with early sunshine and a chilly E/SE wind force 3-4, but clouding over by mid-morning to become dull with occasional drizzly showers.

Elmer Rocks: Once again the weather for sea-watching looked promising, only to disappoint, an hour producing just 10 Gannets offshore, moving both E & W, just a few Sandwich Terns, 20 Oystercatchers and nothing else of note, bar the nearby Whitethroats, Blackcap and Chiffchaff and a single Swallow arriving. An hour was enough, before I moved on. Just where all our migrant birds are this year I really don't know....!

Lidsey WTW & area: Four Tufted Ducks and 2 Little Grebes were first seen, then a mixed flock of 20+ House Martins and 10 Swallows feeding over the works. On the re-flooded fields at the back of the WTW there were still some wildfowl, consisting of 24 Gadwall, a small flock of a dozen Teal, several Mallard and 3 Shelduck.

 

Gadwall over the floods behind Lidsey WTW

Barnham Brooks: A flighty flock of c.30 Black-tailed Godwits were at the back of the flood and difficult to see amongst vegetation when they landed, whilst other waders included a Greenshank, 4 Redshank and the usual Lapwings. A pair of Egyptian Geese suddenly appeared (perhaps the same birds recently seen at Shripney?) and 8 Canada Geese were also present, plus 4 Gadwall and the usual gathering of Shelduck. Small numbers of Swallows and House Martins were noted, and the now-resident Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were in good voice, together with Whitethroats and Blackcaps and a couple of pairs of Reed Buntings. A Kestrel and at least 4 Buzzards were also logged.

Egyptian Geese preening at Barnham Brooks...perhaps the same birds as seen recently at Shripney?

Saturday, 4th May: A bright and calm spring morning of sunshine with a very light SW breeze, and feeling quite warm at times, before the wind backed to the SE force 3-4.

Elmer Rocks: Conditions looked ideal for some decent seabird passage today, but inexplicably, yet again it didn't happen and it was another very disappointing session; I'd planned to stay for several hours but in the event and hour and a half was more than enough! There were 5 Oystercatchers on the rocks, 4 Great Crested Grebes offshore, and half a dozen Sandwich Terns moving W, with the 'highlight' being 2 Gannets and 4 Shelduck going E !! The now usual Chiffchaff, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were singing but it was soon time to leave.

Shelducks passing east offshore at Elmer Rocks - you know it's a slow day when this is the highlight!

Bilsham farm: My visit here was also disappointing and the reservoir held just 3 Tufted Ducks, the lone Mallard with her brood of 8 and a pair of Great Crested Grebes, whilst a pair of Buzzards and a Kestrel were in the area and a Yellowhammer and several Whitethroats were singing.

Pair of sleepy Great Crested Grebes at Bilsham reservoir

Friday, 3rd May: A generally cloudy morning and a little cooler than of late, though remaining dry, with a fresh W/SW wind 4-5 and some brightness developing by early afternoon.

Lidsey WTW area: The last few days have seen some heavy rainfall, and as a result, many of the local fields that were beginning to dry up are now under water again. The flooded fields behind the works held just a pair of Teal, 6 Gadwall, a few Mallard and 4 Shelduck, whilst nearby were a pair of Little Grebes. Most of the action though was over the works, where at least 40 Swallows and several Sand Martins had gathered to feed above the filter pans. Other species present included Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers and Cetti's Warblers.

Shripney: Another visit produced much the same as last time, including the pair of Egyptian Geese, 4 Shelduck and about 8 Little Egrets, but the main difference today was the number of Swifts present overhead, with at least 20 counted, together with c.10 Swallows.

Swift over Shripney fields

Barnham Brooks: The water levels here have increased markedly again and some of the footpaths are again flooded, so that wellies are essential equipment at present! Birds of the day for me were undoubtedly the 3 drake Garganey together, loosely associating with 6 Gadwall. Unfortunately, all the time I was there, these ducks remained at some distance at the back of the floods and amongst vegetation, so that they could be tricky to see at times. Initially I located only 2 Garganey and a good scan of the area failed to produce more, yet later, I returned to have another look and found 3 drakes together....I couldn't locate any others but had an uneasy feeling that one or more extras could still be hiding!

A total of 12 Whimbrel were also present; 2 singles and a flock of 10, plus a Greenshank, a couple of Redshank and the usual Lapwings.

(above) Whimbrel at Barnham Brooks and (below) distant and heavily-cropped record shots of the drake Garganey. These birds remained at distance, with views often obscured by vegetation, so this is the best I could do in the circumstances.

Thursday, 2nd May: After a wild night of severe thunderstorms, wind and torrential rain, the morning was a complete contrast, being rather still, grey and generally murky and misty. As the morning progressed, conditions changed a little, remaining grey but with a W/NW breeze force 3-4 developing and the mistiness slowly clearing. 

Elmer Rocks: A dead calm start, but the murky conditions made sea-watching very difficult and it was another very quiet morning with no real sign of any migration going on. A group of 4 Great Crested Grebes were offshore and quite close together, whilst a distant flock of c.15 presumed Brent Geese were just about visible, the only other movement noted being 8W Gannets and c.10 Sandwich Terns (some going E and W), plus a flock of 10 E Oystercatchers and 6 Turnstones. Two rival Whitethroats were clearly on territory behind the beach and singing at each other and likewise 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Blackcaps were heard.

Elmer & Ancton: A few more Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were heard along the field edges, and the (Lane End) paddocks were quiet, although a pair of Pied Wagtails appear to be nesting in one of the wooden stables, a pair of Song Thrushes were collecting food and the usual couple of Green Woodpeckers were around.

Song Thrush collecting food at Ancton paddocks

Bilsham farm: Any hopes that the overnight storms might have dropped in something unusual were soon dismissed and the reservoir and surrounding area continue to be unproductive at present, with just 5 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Gadwall and a female Mallard with 8 fast-growing ducklings on the water and a single Swallow overhead. Two singing Yellowhammers were present in the surrounding hedgerows. 

Wednesday, 1st May: A pleasantly spring-like start with sunshine and some lingering mist offshore, feeling quite warm with just a very light breeze. Cloud developing later as the wind increased to W 4-5 by mid-afternoon, with rain not far behind....

Elmer Rocks: A disappointingly slow morning offshore, on what should really be a prime migration date, produced nothing more than half a dozen Whimbrels and 5 Sandwich Terns going east and 14 Oystercatchers and a few Turnstones west. The long hedgerow behind the beach held 2 Whitethroats, one at least obviously thinking about breeding and establishing a territory, singing stridently from bush-tops and even the telegraph wires. At least 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Song Thrushes in the general area were also singing around the woodland edges.

Whitethroat, full of the joys of spring in the sunshine, singing from telegraph wires behind Elmer Rocks

Shripney: The fields here are still well flooded and a check of the area produced a pair of Egyptian Geese, together with a pair of Gadwall, 4 Shelduck and 8 Little Egrets. Mute Swans are nesting along the rife and nearby were a pair of Lapwings, whilst a Yellowhammer was singing from an adjacent hedge, as were a Greenfinch, a Whitethroat and a Blackcap.

Egyptian Geese at Shripney; this formerly introduced species now breeds in the county and the population has steadily increased. 

Barnham Brooks: A very similar visit to yesterday, with waders including 2 Whimbrel and a single Black-tailed Godwit, but there was no sign of the Pochards today, although a total of 8 Canada Geese were present, together with 4 Gadwall and the flock of Shelduck. Several Sedge Warblers were on territory and singing well, together with Reed Warblers, Cetti's Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats.

Sedge Warbler at Barnham Brooks