Thursday, 15th - Wednesday, 21st August: A family holiday in Spain for yours truly, so apologies for the lack of reports during this period. As a birder, it's always a bit of risk going away at this time of year, when migrant birds have begun moving in earnest; I did keep an eye on the local bird news reports and fortunately don't seem to have missed any new local rarities during my absence, but even so, nice species such as Redstarts and Garden Warblers were of course found - and even a Turtle Dove at Climping (per B.Akinola) - so I'm looking forward to getting out locally again.....
Wednesday, 14th August: Cloudy and a bit murky at first, before gradually becoming brighter later, with a very light SE breeze.
Climping: Yesterday - and not before time - saw the first proper movement of passerine migrants in the area and elsewhere, so hopefully that theme will now continue. A short break away from the patch is pending for me, so when I got a late afternoon call from neighbouring birder Bola at Climping, informing me of a juvenile Red-backed Shrike there, I had to make the effort and go to join him. Alas, the Shrike was being elusive all the time I was there and we could not re-locate it by the time I had to leave.
Other species in the area were some compensation, with a close Peregrine, a Whinchat, several Stonechats and a fly-over Whimbrel amongst others, though Bola had seen a good number of other migrants earlier, including a Redstart....and predictably, the Shrike did show again to others later into the evening!
Fuller details of the Shrike and a list of other species seen can be found on Bola's blog 'The Birds of Climping Gap & Lower Arun valley' (climpingbirds.blogspot.com) - and there is a direct link on this blog, (see Relevant Birdlng Links on the right).
Tuesday, 13th August: Another fine, sunny and warm day, with scattered cloud and a moderate SW breeze 3-4, though perhaps a notch down on yesterday's temperatures.
Shripney area: A fairly early visit this morning, where a small roost of egrets was a surprise, consisting of six Cattle Egrets and two Little Egrets, together with three Grey Herons. Along the hedges and field margins the usual flocks of Goldfinches and Linnets were present and there was a little more activity than of late, with two Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, a couple of Willow Warblers and a Blackcap.
The reservoir area held a Common Sandpiper, three Teal, two Tufted Ducks and six Little Grebes.
Common Sandpiper on the reservoir area (it did have two legs!) and (below) Cattle Egrets and Little Egret roosting
Felpham & Flansham: A look along the hedgerows and trees from the footpath at the back of the Golf Course paid dividends when a female-type Pied Flycatcher popped nicely into view for a short time in a large bush, before quickly being harassed by a couple of Willow Warblers. Thereafter it dropped deeper into cover as I struggled with my camera, giving occasional glimpses, before flying across to taller trees where it was lost from view. A total of about four Willow Warblers were logged, plus two Blackcaps and half a dozen House Martins.
Monday, 12th August: Another very warm, fine and sunny day, with high temperatures predicted inland, although the fresh coastal breeze SE 3-4, veering SW later, ensured more comfortable conditions locally.
Elmer Rocks: A morning visit before the heat of the day prevailed, but it was again very quiet bird-wise, with nothing except a few gulls moving offshore. A couple of Turnstones and Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and a single Common Gull were along the beach, whilst a flock of c.30 Mediterranean Gulls, with some Black-headed Gulls, was roosting on the rock islands.
One of these Meds was a white-ringed bird, and I managed to get a few shots before the whole flock suddenly took flight. Subsequently, after later adjusting my poor images I was able to get enough detail to show this bird as white 3NY0. This and the previously-reported Med Gulls will have their sightings histories posted on this blog in the near future, for those interested.
A look around the fields and set-aside behind the beach was not very productive, but sightings included 20 Stock Doves, a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Linnets, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap, with a heard-only Chiffchaff giving a brief 5-second burst of song.
Adjusted shots of Mediterranean Gull bearing white ring 3NY0 on Elmer Rocks
adult Common Gull (foreground) with Black-headed Gull on the beach at Elmer
Sunday, 11th August: A cool and foggy start to the early hours of the morning, soon developing into very warm and sunny conditions, with a light SE breeze picking up a little along the coast, as ever just tempering an otherwise hot day.
Bilsham farm: After completing a monthly wildfowl count (WeBS) off the patch, on my return I made a quick visit here, where a single Common Sandpiper was on the reservoir, plus two Little Grebes and 52 Coots, but there was precious little else of any note beyond a local pair of Buzzards.
Common Sandpiper on Bilsham reservoir
Shripney: A later visit didn't produce too much either....a single Common Sandpiper was present here, together with six Little Grebes and two Tufted Ducks, whilst in the adjacent fields and hedgerows were a smart Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 50+ Goldfinches and 20 Linnets. A single Swift was the first I've seen for some days and doubtless many have already moved out on their return migration, whilst a small mixed flock of say a dozen Swallows and House Martins was above. A Green Woodpecker along the path was doubtless one of the family which was present a short while ago.
Green Woodpecker and Common Sandpiper at Shripney
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