Sunday, 15th September: A lovely, pleasantly warm morning of prolonged sunshine after a cool start, with scattered cloud and a very light SSW breeze 1-2.
Elmer Rocks: A flat calm sea and calm conditions, but very little moving offshore, whilst migrant numbers in the bushes were also much reduced. A couple of Sandwich Terns drifted E and later five Wigeon flew W, but apart from c.20 Mediterranean Gulls moving back and forth there were few seabirds of interest. A number of waders were roosting on the rocks at high tide, consisting of 31 Oystercatchers, 34 Ringed Plovers and 10 Turnstones, with, unusually, four Little Egrets roosting there amongst them
There was a bit of visible migration going on, with two Pied Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail and two Grey Wagtails passing through, together with several Meadow Pipits. In the bushes were two Blackcaps and at least 12 Chiffchaffs. Also, a noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling frequently and moving around between a number of different trees. It was however the hirundines that were the most conspicuous birds today, with hundreds, if not into the thousands, present over the sea and the land; the majority were Swallows but there were good numbers of House Martins too.
Ringed Plovers at Elmer Rocks
Don't really wish to be unkind, but just got to add this one. Picture the scene; lovely peaceful and calm morning with glassy sea, I'm looking at the horizon when one of those noisy 'sea motorbikes' (jet skis) appears....peace shattered with irritating noise, visual disruption and birds scattered. Each to his own, but one such machine can spoil things for many. Fast forward a short while and a Lifeboat zooms past, then a short time later the Lifeboat returns, with a now-silent machine and its crestfallen rider aboard being towed at a snail's pace, as it sedately sets course for Littlehampton. Sometimes you just gotta laugh!!
Climping: The Wryneck found yesterday was still present this morning in the same general area, attracting a number of visiting birders.
Saturday, 14th September: Another clear night with a chilly start, then a lovely bright and sunny autumn day with lighter and variable winds, becoming SW 2-3.
Climping: I decided to check out some of the favoured migrant areas this morning, hoping to perhaps find something scarce like a Wryneck, but I hadn't gone too far when I bumped into local birders Dan and Michael Booker who had had the same idea! There were a number of migrants about, including a good number of Chiffchaffs and three Whinchats, but nothing unusual. After a while Michael went to check another area, whilst Dan and I checked an area of shingly set-aside, speculating that it looked great for our target bird, but we drew a blank, so I moved on a short distance to the beach....mistake!
Within a couple of minutes I got the call...would you believe it, but sure enough Dan had just found a Wryneck - along the ditch that runs behind the set-aside. I arrived soon after, when it had flown to a hedge where it was partly visible, but before long I had managed to see it. Thereafter it moved around a bit and was quite elusive for a while, before it began to settle and show more consistently. Job done!
(above) My first view of the partly-obscured Wryneck (centre of pic) and below, as it started to move around. (You will doubtless see better photos elsewhere of this bird - but if you want to see properly what the species looks like, have a look at Highlights 2020 for one photo'd at Elmer).
My other sightings here this morning were as follows:-Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Jay - 3
Sandwich Tern - 2
Stonechat - 6
Whinchat - 3
Wheatear - 3
Meadow Pipit - 10
Skylark - 3
Yellow Wagtail - 3
Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 4
Reed Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - c.40
Sand Martin - 2
Swallow - c.300 (no count)
House Martin - (perhaps 40, no count)
(note these are just my own sightings, not joint totals from other observers, which will be higher).
Bilsham farm: On the reservoir were three Teal, two Pochard, 34 Tufted Ducks, 120 Coots, six Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe. Around the area were
c. 40 Swallows and 10 House Martins, plus c.10 Chiffchaffs.
Bilsham Farm: (above) You know it's autumn when the Swallows gather on the wires (top two) and (bottom) joined by a House Martin (centre bird).
Friday, 13th September: A clear night with just a light N wind gave a few touches of frost this morning, and a reminder it is now autumn, before the sunshine came through to give a fairly warm and pleasant day, with a little scattered cloud and the wind backing W/NW 3-4.
Shripney area: I was birding off the patch this morning, but managed a short visit here on my way back. There was not a great deal to be seen, but there were a few highlights, notably a flock of c.15 Yellow Wagtails in a field of horses, the birds flying around at times and calling - some even settling on the power cables and pylons. A Yellowhammer was along the hedgerows, as were around eight Chiffchaffs, whilst above were a Kestrel and a group of three or four Buzzards, probably a family party.
On the adjacent reservoir a Common Sandpiper was feeding around the edges, and five Tufted Ducks and six Little Grebes were on the water.
Common Buzzard at Shripney; one of a small group which was presumably a family party.
Ring-necked Parakeet: This bright green, rather exotic-looking bird may be (well) known to some readers, especially if you are from the South London/Home Counties area, where it is a common sight and occurs in good numbers. Although a feral bird, presumably originating from escapes, it's population is now self-supporting and as such it forms part of the official British birdlist.
I tell you this because in this area of Sussex it is still decidedly uncommon and even sought-after by some birders. I have now received info that one of these birds has taken to visiting bird feeders and gardens in Elmer, and very recently, video was taken confirming its identity beyond doubt. Do please keep your eyes open and if you see it please let me know....I'd very much like to see it too!
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