25th - 28th October 2024

Monday, 28th October: A generally cloudy and fairly grey day, but still quite mild and remaining largely dry with a moderate W/SW breeze force 4, though later some drizzly dampness into the afternoon.

Barnham Brooks: Around the area I logged two Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, five Song Thrush, four Stonechats, three Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Buntings and four Chiffchaffs - all fairly standard fare - with a late Swallow perhaps the best of the bunch. Having completed my circuit, I made my way back to where I'd parked my car, at the edge of the Brooks and adjacent to the A259 crossing. As I loaded my gear into the vehicle, I caught a brief view of a bird low down along the hedge and upon grabbing my bin's, I soon discovered it was a female-type Black Redstart. Funny how it goes sometimes; I'd looked for one all week without success and now one had come to find me! Long story short, as I fumbled to retrieve my camera, the bird dropped onto the ground, then flew off to the other side of the road and was gone.

Bilsham farm: The Black-necked Grebe was still present on the reservoir, together with seven Little Grebes, 25 Canada Geese, two Tufted Ducks, three Shoveler, 20 Mediterranean Gulls and c.160 Coots. A Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer were in the hedges and a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard flew over.

On Bilsham reservoir this morning:  Canada Geese and (below) Black-necked Grebe with Herring, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls

(above) Mediterranean Gulls (front and left) with Black-headed Gulls, and (lower) Shovelers and (bottom) Little Grebe with Coot

Sunday, 27th October: A beautiful late autumn day; after a chilly start a day of glorious sunshine, surprisingly warm for the time of year, with very little cloud and just a light NW breeze.

Elmer Rocks & area: Only limited time available for birding this morning, so just a quick look around the local area. Four Brent Geese flew west offshore as did 15 Ringed Plovers, but there was apparently little else moving over the sea. A Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, five Skylarks, seven Chaffinches, a couple of Siskins and 20 Goldfinches flew east, whilst two Swallows were seen heading south over the fields before continuing out to sea. A single Chiffchaff was the best I could muster in a short look around the hedges.

Saturday, 26th October: A generally grey and cloudy day, although remaining fairly mild, with intermittent periods of light rain and drizzle in a moderate E/SE wind 3-4, decreasing 1-2.

Elmer Rocks and Area: A brief look at the sea revealed it to again be very quiet, although early on there were no less than 65 Ringed Plovers and eight Oystercatchers on the beach before being flushed by walkers.

Given the number of Hawfinches that have appeared in the county this autumn - presumably originating from a small continental influx - my plan was to concentrate on the coastal woodlands locally in the hope that one or more might happen to drop in....a long-shot I know but worth a try. As expected, my efforts drew a blank, but I wasn't too far off the mark, for I later received news from Climping that three had just been seen on the patch by local birder Dan Booker, flying over the old campsite area towards Littlehampton! Well done Dan.

My circuit around various areas of Elmer/Ancton woodland revealed an obvious influx of Goldcrests, with a total of at least 25 recorded, plus at least three Firecrests and seven Chiffchaffs. A small flock of about half a dozen Siskins went east, as did 120+ Goldfinches, a Grey Wagtail, four Pied Wagtails and two Skylarks. Two Little Egrets were again in the fields and other regular species included Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Green Woodpecker (3), Buzzard (3), Kestrel (1) and Mediterranean Gull (25).

Firecrests at Elmer (top three) and Chiffchaff (bottom)

Friday, 25th October: A pleasant enough start to the morning; dry with some brief sunshine showing through the clouds and a moderate SE breeze 3-4 giving a slight chill. However, cloud soon thickening to become overcast with showers developing from around 10:30hrs......

Elmer Rocks: Out before the showers and back home just in time today. The sea was again very quiet bird-wise, so it didn't receive much attention from me and I concentrated on the beach and adjacent fields. The birds found were fairly typical autumn fare, perhaps having an air of species repetitiveness, but of course not necessarily involving the same individuals as they are constantly on the move at this time of year.

There was another movement of Woodpigeons going through, though it seemed to be on a smaller scale than of late, whilst there was also a bit of 'vis-mig' again with a number of passerines heading mainly east. A number of flocks were just unidentifiable to me as a sole observer, but there were just a few Siskins, at least 25 Linnets, 30 Goldfinches, a handful of Meadow Pipits and a couple of Skylarks and Pied Wagtails. A single Grey Wagtail also passed, apparently heading west.

Around the fields and hedgerows there was little to add. Three Little Egrets were back feeding in a field amongst plenty of gulls, which included a couple of Common Gulls and c.25 Mediterranean Gulls. A female Kestrel was again hunting the area at the back of the beach, three Chiffchaffs and two Goldcrests were in the hedges and two Stonechats were in the set-aside area, which is now very wet.

Stonechat at the Elmer set-aside; the notably pale wing coverts indicating this new arrival is surely a different individual than the recent birds present here.

Female Kestrel - clearly a resident here - using a favourite perch to look for prey