Sunday, 22nd December: A cold, bright and very breezy morning with sunny periods in a blustery NW wind 5-6, gusting to force 7, with cloud increasing by afternoon.
Elmer Rocks: Predictably slow in the brisk NW wind. A few brief looks at the sea were not productive with little moving offshore, whilst along the shore and rock islands were 15+ Mediterranean Gulls, half a dozen Oystercatchers and c.25 Turnstones. A walk along the back of the beach and the set-aside was also quiet, but there was a single Chiffchaff, plus three Linnets, two Pied Wagtails and a Green Woodpecker which flushed from near the main path and flew into a palm tree in a beachside garden.
Green Woodpecker in a beachside garden palm tree, having flushed from near the footpath.
Bilsham farm: A Pochard was new in on the reservoir, whilst Tufted Duck numbers had increased to 23, but it was otherwise much as before, with just a pair of Shoveler, c.80 Coots and several Little Grebes.
Pochard (centre left) with Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir
Friday, 20th December: A chilly start with a touch of overnight frost, bright and sunny at first in a moderate NW breeze force 4, but gradually clouding over as the day progressed and the wind freshened. Rainy by late afternoon.
Lidsey WTW and area: A flock of 20 Gadwall was flushed from the WTW by workmen and there were several Pied Wagtails on the filter pans but little else. Nearby were just 10 Shoveler, a single Teal, two Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. However, in the trees and hedgerows around the perimeter of the works there were a good number of Chiffchaffs feeding on swarms of insects; I estimated at least 20 birds, although I couldn't find any paler ones amongst them today.
(above) female Shoveler and (below) Chiffchaff feeding around the WTW...note the swarm of insect food!
Moving on to another nearby area away from the WTW things picked up with a nice little bit of variety. A splendid male Marsh Harrier flew over a reedy area, whilst nearby were a Snipe, 40 Linnets, six Song Thrushes, a Chiffchaff, two Stonechats and then a surprise Dartford Warbler. The biggest surprise for me however came when I was leaving and making my way along a footpath and back to my car, when suddenly a flock of five Bullfinches - three males and two females - flew into some low trees ahead of me. As I watched whilst fumbling to get my camera from its case they soon decided to fly off in typical fashion, just before I was ready! Bullfinch is becoming increasingly uncommon in our little corner of the world and is never easy to see on the patch; I can't remember when I last saw five together anywhere!
Marsh Harrier over a reedy area at Lidsey and (bottom) Stonechat nearby
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