13th - 15th November 2024

Friday, 15th November: A very calm, dry and largely cloudy day with just a very light NE breeze and occasional glimpses of the sun later, with the gentle breeze becoming more variable later.

Elmer Rocks: The high tide combined with virtually no breeze made for a calm sea, allowing a good opportunity to count the birds offshore. The majority were off the west end of the rocks today and there had been a small influx, with counts of 24 Great Crested Grebes and at least 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst a single Teal flew in and dropped onto the sea. Waders numbers too had increased as flocks dropped onto the rocks to roost; at least 75 Ringed Plovers, 30 Sanderling and 25 Turnstones were logged, with just half a dozen Oystercatchers.

Along the beach were two Rock Pipits and four Pied Wagtails, whilst a Grey Wagtail flew over and three Chiffchaffs were again in the hedgerows and the regular Kestrel also made an appearance, although it was quickly chased away by a Sparrowhawk.

Ringed Plovers, Sanderlings and Turnstones dropping onto the rocks and (bottom) Pied Wagtail on the beach

Climping Gap: I made a visit to the West Beach (Local Nature reserve) by the cafe and the rivermouth, and spent a very pleasant hour there (1120-1220hrs according to my car park ticket). My target was a Dartford Warbler that has been present for some days and fortunately I didn't have to wait too long for it to appear, and also present there were two Stonechats. I then spent half an hour sea-watching and was surprised to find two late Sandwich Terns going east, followed by four Red-breasted Mergansers, then two Brent Geese and a Common Scoter went west.

(above) Dartford Warbler and (below) Stonechat at West Beach Climping....I saw them well but somehow the photos obtained were fairly dire. Oh well!

Thursday, 14th November: Slightly misty at first but soon clearing to give a morning of sunny breaks and scattered cloud in a light but cool breeze, NNW3/4; then becoming warmer and clearer by afternoon with pleasant sunshine and the wind veering NE2-3.

Bilsham farm: Despite a good search of the reservoir this morning, I could find no trace of the long-staying Black-necked Grebe, which had been present for around three weeks (since 21st Oct). It seems likely it has now departed, although it is just possible it may have moved to another nearby water body - time will tell. There were as usual plenty of birds present however, as listed below:-

Canada Goose - 36

Pochard - 12

Tufted Duck - 3

Shoveler - 22

Little Grebe - 6

Coot - 175

Lapwing - 14 flew over

Meadow Pipit - 2 on banks

Pied Wagtail - 30+ in adjacent ploughed field

Stock Dove - 80+ ditto above

Chiffchaff - 2 in surrounding hedges

Long-tailed Tit - 10 ditto above

Mute Swan - herd of 30 viewed distantly in fields Barnham Brooks

At Bilsham reservoir this morning, (above) Pochards and (below) flock of Lapwings flying over

In addition, there were several hundred of the commoner gulls present, of mixed species. I spent a good while searching through them for the scarcer species, with no success, but in amongst the c.200 Herring Gulls I found two that were surely a good call for Scandinavian Herring Gulls (sub-species argentatus).

Presumed Scandinavian Herring Gull (sub-sp argentatus) top centre. Note the darker greyish mantle compared to the Herring Gull (sub-sp argenteus) immediately below it, together with slightly stockier build, pronounced head/neck streaking and mask (not showing up too well in this pic) pink legs and other features.

Elmer Rocks: A beautiful afternoon for a look around the beach at low tide. There wasn't too much to show for my efforts, but a Curlew flew east, whilst offshore were seven Red-breasted Mergansers and six Great Crested Grebes. Along the beach were eight Oystercatchers, 20+ Ringed Plovers, two Sanderling, a Rock Pipit, two Meadow Pipits and two Pied Wagtails. There were also four Chiffchaffs which were notably active and calling frequently in the sunny hedgerows and tamarisk.

Wednesday, 13th November: A bit cooler, but a splendid late autumn day, with sunshine most of the time and a little scattered cloud in a moderate N/NE breeze 3-4.

Elmer Rocks: I started off with my usual look at the sea, where nothing special was on offer but there were a few things of interest, as below:-

Gannet - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 6 o/s

Brent Goose - 1E, 1W

Shelduck - 4W

Teal - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 3o/s, 1W

Sanderling - 18 (roosting on rock islands at high tide)

Ringed Plover - 15 (ditto above)

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 2E

Goldfinch - c.80E

Also, along the hedgerows and bushes were 3 Chiffchaffs and several Long-tailed Tits, whilst the now-regular Kestrel was present and hunting close to the footpath.

This Kestrel has generated a good deal of local interest lately, often perching at fairly close range to passers-by as it looks for its prey. I have been asked about it almost daily and today a lady showed me a nice flight shot she had taken on her mobile (better than my efforts I fear) as I explained the situation. I think it is a young female bird, hatched this year, and it is now fending for itself as it faces its first winter. As yet it is not too wary of humans, but that will gradually change if it survives. Some folks have asked whether it is likely to be an escapee from captivity, but I'm sure it's not and as can be seen from the photo below there are no rings on its legs which would indicate this.

The 'regular' Kestrel at Elmer beach

My circuit around the beach was cut short however, when I received a message from local birder Dan Boon who was on his way to work in Felpham when a Hoopoe flew over, having likely just been disturbed from the George V playing field. The next couple of hours or so I spent checking out a number of sites on the patch considered as good bets for the bird to appear, but alas with no success.