10th - 11th February 2025

Tuesday, 11th February: Another grey and cloudy day, though perhaps a little less dull than recently, and drier too, with a light N/NW wind, making conditions feel more pleasant.

Elmer Rocks: As I left home a Grey Heron dropped onto a nearby roof, then on my arrival at the beach it felt quite pleasant after the recent days of gloomy weather, with a much lighter wind, a calm sea and even some hazy brightness. There were quite a lot of birds offshore, the main focus being on Red-throated Divers, which seemed to be everywhere! Although many were quite distant, there were closer birds too; three different groups of about a dozen were noted, plus other ones and twos behind all the rock islands, whilst further birds were flying mainly east. It is difficult to be exact, but I estimate at least 45 were on the sea, with a similar number flying offshore, so at least 90 in total.

There were also a good number of Red-breasted Mergansers, with several small groups displaying, say a total of c.25. Also logged were three Great Crested Grebes and 8E and 1W Brent Geese, whilst 12 Oystercatchers and c.50 Turnstones flew west. Away from the sea, other species recorded included two Song Thrushes, two Greenfinch and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

(above) Rooftop Grey Heron which dropped in and (next three below) Red-throated Divers offshore.

(above) Red-breasted Mergansers (three males and a female) and (below) Oystercatchers heading west

Monday, 10th February: Another very grey, cold and murky day, with high pressure still dominating but bringing with it low cloud and light drizzly rain, and a fresh NE wind force 4-5.

Climping Gap: I tried some partly-flooded low vegetation to the north of the area, and it paid off this morning, when I located a total of four Jack Snipe and at least six Common Snipe. I confess I was greatly aided by my small thermal imager and doubt that I would have achieved too much success without it, eventually managing some great views. I did check out some of the adjacent fields for other species too, locating just 25 Linnets, 15 Goldfinches, several Greenfinches, a couple of Reed Buntings and a Kestrel.

Two of this morning's Jack Snipe; seen at this range it is amazing and you realise just how delicate but delightful these well camouflaged little birds are!

5th - 9th February 2025

Sunday, 9th February: A generally cool, grey and cloudy day, with persistent light drizzly rain for much of the time, a few brief glimpses of the sun and a fresh NE wind force 4-5.

There really hasn't been much to report from the patch over the last couple of weeks, so I've been taking the opportunity to catch up with a few 'year ticks' by travelling a bit and birding elsewhere. This morning found me at Shoreham harbour and Henfield Levels, but on the way back I dropped in at Climping for a brief visit, staying around the Atherington area.

There was again little to report, but the flooded fields were still of some interest, producing three Shelducks, a single Brent Goose and a good number of gulls, of which at least 20 were Mediterranean Gulls. A Kestrel was hunting and frequently perching on a convenient large tree stump, a Buzzard was perched up in tree-tops and a couple of noisy Jays were back and forth along the hedgerows. The field edges held a dozen feeding Blackbirds and at least four Song Thrushes, whilst several Greenfinches were giving their wheezing calls from song posts in the bushes. Two bickering Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the trees, with perhaps another more distant bird drumming. A few Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were in the wet fields, before I called it a day.

The Kestrel on its favoured tree-stump at Atherington, Climping.

Friday, 7th February: A cold, grey and overcast morning, with fairly frequent showers and a brisk and chilly E/NE wind force 5-6.

Bilsham farm: The blustery wind and showers weren't the best conditions to visit the reservoir and there was little of note on arrival, with just 12 Tufted Ducks, a single Shoveler, two Little Grebes and 38 Coots present, whilst a couple of Song Thrushes were around the periphery hedgerows. In the distant fields the herd of c.20 Mute Swans was still in its regular location.

Elmer & Ancton: A look around the fields and hedgerows locally didn't produce anything beyond regular fare. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers - one occasionally drumming - and two Green Woodpeckers were noted, and in the partly flooded fields a single Brent Goose, two Shelduck and a Curlew were all feeding together, whilst several Skylarks and Pied Wagtails were also to be found. Three or four Song Thrushes were encountered, but perhaps unsurprisingly, none of them were singing today. A couple of noisy Jays and two Buzzards were also logged, but it was slow going indeed!

Two Shelduck, a Brent Goose and a Curlew feeding together in gloomy conditions in the local fields.

Wednesday, 5th February: A cold and frosty start to a bright and fairly sunny day, with hazy sunshine, high cloud and just a light W/NW breeze.

Elmer Rocks: Pleasant conditions on my visit this morning, but co-inciding with a dead low tide and a flat calm sea, which also meant that those birds offshore were all fairly distant. There were at least six Red-throated Divers, c.10 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Great Crested Grebes and four Shoveler present, whilst five Brent Geese flew west. There were good numbers of commoner gull species along the beach and extending towards Climping, but I could find nothing unusual amongst them, the best being about 40 Mediterranean Gulls.

Behind the beach my circuit produced three singing Song Thrushes; one in the wood near Elmer rife, one in the long hedge near Poole Place and one on the west side of that. A Great Spotted Woodpecker - or possibly two - was heard drumming from the woodland, a handful of Pied Wagtails and Skylarks were in the fields, but a check of the rife on the way back paid off with views of a Kingfisher again, quite near to the sluice, though partly obscured by vegetation. Fortunately, I was able to show the bird to several of the locals today, before it eventually flew further inland.

The Kingfisher at Elmer rife; I was delighted to be able to show it to several of the local walkers this morning.

1st - 3rd February 2025

Monday, 3rd February: A cold and very frosty start with some sunshine early on, in a fairly light SE breeze 2-3. Then becoming grey and quite murky, with some drizzly dampness by early afternoon.

Elmer Rocks: A short sea-watch and a look along the beach at low tide produced very little and it soon became clear I wouldn't be making a lengthy visit. A few gulls and a couple of Gannets were distantly offshore around a fishing boat, whilst around the rockpools a group of about 35 Mediterranean Gulls and two Oystercatchers were about it! The flooded area of the arable field behind the beach held a Grey Wagtail, whilst a single Song Thrush was in full song and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was distantly drumming, but with so little to show for my efforts it was time to move on.

Grey Wagtail in the flooded field behind the beach and Mediterranean Gulls feeding along Elmer beach at low tide 

Ancton & Elmer: A visit to the Lane End paddocks area and local woods produced two Greenfinch, two Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus a few Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in the fields, but though it was generally quiet, the highlight was a mixed flock of 30+ Fieldfares with 70 Starlings in the tree tops for a while.

(above) Green Woodpecker and (below) Great Spotted Woodpecker at Ancton paddocks

(above) mixed flock of Fieldfares and Starlings and (below) Fieldfares at Ancton

Sunday, 2nd February: A cold, dry start but becoming pleasantly bright and sunny as the day progressed, with a fairly light SSE breeze and high pressure building.

Hotham Park: An early start, though I was a bit surprised at the number of walkers about, but fortunately there was a bit of birding interest. A Firecrest was the first bird of note, followed by a Green Woodpecker, a singing Song Thrush and then a pair of Coal Tits obviously pairing up, with the male singing and chasing around. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming, then two pairs of Stock Doves were calling frequently and displaying. There were plenty of Blue and Great Tits, but the highlight for me was the Nuthatch that spent its time almost evading me. This latter species may be commoner inland, but it is decidedly scarce on the coast and within my 5Km patch, so it is always a welcome addition to a year list! (I still haven't yet caught up with Treecreeper here though).

Stock Doves at Hotham Park this morning whilst (bottom) a sought after Nuthatch - well, half of it anyway - which finally showed briefly after it kept evading me!

Lidsey WTW & area: Around the floods and small reservoir were 70 Gadwall, 15 Teal and a Little Grebe, with a Cetti's Warbler calling nearby. Chiffchaffs were still present in good numbers around the trees and hedgerows surrounding the WTW and I logged at least 30. There was little else though and I was just about to leave, when a notably pale bird, which immediately stood out from the rest, was located in a thick hedge at the back of the oil field, opposite the Works. Suspecting it might be a 'Siberian Chiffchaff' I put in an hour or so, trying to get any sort of photo and also scrutinising it for critical detail, before eventually deciding it was indeed of that form.

Common Chiffchaff (above) in the hedge along Lidsey WTW, whilst (below) four images of the putative Siberian Chiffchaff. It was a bit of a nightmare trying to get any sort of photo as it preferred to stay in a dense hedge and was very active.

Saturday, 1st February: An overcast, grey day with a decidedly chilly SSE wind force 3-4, though remaining dry.

Elmer Rocks: It was, as expected, a fairly slow day with not too much moving, but there were a few bit and pieces of interest. A total of ten Red-throated Divers were logged (7E & 3W), and two other distant and unidentified diver sp going west were also probably Red-throated. At least ten Red-breasted Mergansers were also offshore, moving back and forth, whilst two Brent Geese spent a good while loafing on the sea off Poole Place, before eventually flying inland.

The were plenty of the commoner gulls along the shoreline and on the sea, including c.40 Mediterranean and six Common Gulls, then as the tide was rising a loose flock of 21 Oystercatchers flew in to rest on the rock islands for a while.

Away from the sea, Song Thrushes were the most conspicuous birds of the morning and on my circuit around the fields and woods behind the beach I logged six birds, four of which were singing stridently as they sense the lengthening daylight hours. Two rival birds in particular were giving it some volume around the set-aside and hedges near Poole Place, prompting a couple of local folks to enquire of me what birds they were, and a couple of Chaffinches there were also making their presence felt. A small flock of Long-tailed Tits were also present in the area and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker was again in the woods.

Song Thrush at its singing post in Elmer woods behind the beach - one of at least half a dozen present this morning - perhaps spring is not too far away!

29th - 30th January 2025

Thursday, 30th January: A welcome change to dry and sunny conditions, though rather cool in exposed spots due to the fresh N/NW wind force 3-4/5.

Bilsham farm: A fairly brief lunchtime visit, on my way back from birding the Selsey & Pagham areas this morning. It was very quiet, with the reservoir holding just 15 Tufted Ducks (the majority being males), 36 Coots and 3 Little Grebes. Numbers here are now beginning to steadily decrease as the winter draws out and thoughts of early spring gradually come into the reckoning. In the distance a herd of 22 Mute Swans was still in situ, but there was precious little else to report, beyond a few Skylarks and Pied Wagtails, plus two Buzzards starting to do a bit of display.

There was little to show for my visit this morning, but 15 Tufted Ducks were still present, the majority being drakes.

Wednesday, 29th January: The strong wind of yesterday subsided overnight, to give a grey but dry morning of cloud with a few hints of brightness and just a light W/SW breeze. Changing again by afternoon, to become overcast with rain setting in and the wind increasing.

Barnham Brooks: Having not visited here for a little while I decided to do a circuit this morning, where the fields were found to be partly flooded but largely devoid of wildfowl, with not too much else on offer either. Twenty-two Mute Swans were in the back fields, whilst three Grey Herons were roosting in the regular nesting colony, presumably just beginning to take an interest there. Two Stonechats were along the path, two Greenfinches were obviously paired up, three Cetti's Warblers were singing from various locations and two rival Song Thrushes were singing stridently, whilst two Buzzards were loafing in tree tops and hedges and up to 20 Skylarks were chasing around the fields.

Stonechat along the fenceline at Barnham Brooks 

Shripney area: I took the long walk, where I eventually found the herd of 54 Mute Swans out in the fields. On the small reservoirs were just 28 Coots and a Grey Wagtail, but the perimeter area held six Chiffchaffs, actively flycatching from the trees and hedges. The flooded arable fields held around 10 Skylarks and 30 Meadow Pipits, plus 20 Goldfinches and half a dozen Pied Wagtails, but there was nothing else worthy of note.

Grey Wagtail on a farm reservoir at Shripney

27th - 28th January 2025

Tuesday, 28th January: Another very windy day with rain early on, clearing as the morning progressed.  Generally grey and cloudy with a few brighter interludes and a near gale force W/SW wind, easing only slowly and always with the risk of a shower.

Elmer Rocks: Similar conditions to yesterday really, with a big high tide, waves crashing over the rock islands and the strong wind pushing the spray inshore. It was again very quiet birdwise, as might be expected, but there was just a little more to report.....

A Red-throated Diver flew east and a flock of 26 Wigeon and a single Brent Goose went west offshore. There were a good many of the commoner gulls feeding amongst the surf along the tideline, with at least a dozen Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls amongst them. There were very few waders about as the waves were crashing up the beach, but a single Grey Plover and a handful of Turnstones made a brief appearance. A quick look at the wet and windswept fields behind the beach produced two Song Thrushes feeding amongst at least ten Blackbirds.

(above) Immature (1st-w) Mediterranean Gull and (below) two adults of the same species riding it out over a rough sea, whilst (bottom) a Common Gull feeds amongst the waves.

Monday, 27th January: A very windy and changeable day, with a gale-force SW wind, heavy squally showers and even hail, heavy black cloud at times, interspersed with bright sunny spells and then a mainly dry and sunny afternoon.

Elmer Rocks: Two visits for me today, with very little reward. My first was in the morning, co-inciding with a near high-tide, heavy waves crashing over the rocks, much spray and some heavy downpours.....diabolical really. There seemed to be nothing moving at all beyond a few of the commoner gulls and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls on the beach with a couple of lonely Oystercatchers. It became increasingly difficult to watch or find enough shelter and then finally a burst of spray told me it really was time to go...!

Stormy conditions produced very few birds this morning and defeated me too!

I later made a mid-afternoon visit in drier and sunnier conditions, although the wind was still near gale force. Hopes of any storm-driven birds soon evaporated, but two distant Gannets went west, whilst along the beach were 10 Mediterranean Gulls and 2-3 Common Gulls, then a number of waders dropped in with a handful of Sanderlings and Turnstones and half a dozen Oystercatchers around the rockpools.

22nd - 25th January 2025

Saturday, 25th January: A complete change from yesterday, with dry, bright and sunny conditions in a light to moderate but cool NW breeze force 2-3.

Lidsey WTW area: After a visit to the Selsey Peninsula early on, I returned to the patch late morning and decided on a visit to the sewage works area for a change. I was beginning to regret my decision for a while, whilst stuck on the A29 at a set of traffic lights at yet another building site (sigh...) but I eventually got through.

On a small reservoir were 68 Gadwall, 16 Teal, singles of Shelduck and Shoveler and two Little Grebes, whilst nearby was a Grey Wagtail and 20+ Pied Wagtails. In the trees and fields were at least 25 Redwings, but 30 Chaffinches were to and fro between these fields and the Works, where the birds seem attracted to the piles of screened material The highlight though was the number of Chiffchaffs present today, in all the hedges surrounding the works, the nearby trees and along the footpath. At one time I had 20 birds present in one field of view feeding along the perimeter hedge in the sunshine, and there was certainly that number again in other areas, so I estimate at least 40 here today, a remarkable total for late January.

Gadwalls on the reservoir (above), Chaffinch near the WTW (centre) and Chiffchaff in trees along the path (bottom)

Friday, 24th January: A wild and windy night as Storm Eowyn passed through, fortunately not as severely as other parts of the country further north. A grey, wet and very windy start to the morning, with a SW gale gusting to force 8/9, though easing back fairly quickly by 09:00 and with the rain ceasing also.

Elmer Rocks: I waited until conditions had improved somewhat before doing a sea-watch from 0930-1100hrs, although the murky conditions out towards the horizon were less than ideal...and there really wasn't much moving either, with just a couple of distant Gannets and eight Red-breasted Mergansers flying west.

Mediterranean Gulls were more obvious today, with some moving back and forth along the shoreline and some on the beach, giving a total of c.30 and joining two Common Gulls and the other more regular gull species. The regular wader species also began to appear, with small flocks dropping in to feed, and I logged 18 Sanderlings, at least 14 Oystercatchers, c.50 Turnstones, c.20 Ringed Plovers and three Grey Plovers.

Common Gull (above) and Mediterranean Gulls (lower two) at Elmer Rocks

These Oystercatchers (above) and Sanderlings dropped on to the beach to feed and are regularly seen at this time of year.

Wednesday, 22nd January: A murky, misty and rather grey day, fairly calm but chilly, with just a light to moderate NE breeze 2-3.

Elmer Rocks: Back on the patch this morning for a fairly brief look around, having returned from several days away on a pleasant birding trip to Norfolk with a couple of birding friends. Visibility offshore was not great, but closer in there were at least 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, some of which were displaying to each other, plus half a dozen Great Crested Grebes. The only visible movement in an hour and a half was a small trickle of Red-throated Divers going east, with at least 14 logged and probably a fair few others missed.

On the beach and rockpools were at least 20 Grey Plovers, two dozen Ringed Plovers and 50 or more Turnstones, plus a few Sanderlings and Oystercatchers, but it was otherwise all rather quiet. The bushes and set-aside area were very still, the only thing punctuating the quiet being a lone Song Thrush singing and a few of the local Blue Tits and Great Tits becoming more active.

Bilsham farm: There was little change from my last visit and nothing exciting this morning. Four Shoveler and 28 Tufted Ducks made up the bulk, with just two Little Grebes and a substantial fall in Coot numbers to 38. A selection of the commoner gulls was also present, with nothing beyond the normal. In the distance 20+ Mute Swans were in the damp fields towards Barnham.

17th - 18th January 2025

Saturday, 18th January: A similar day to yesterday, though perhaps a little colder; dry, grey and cloudy with a fairly light to moderate E/NE wind, force 3.

Elmer Rocks: The fairly calm conditions again allowed good views over the sea to some distance, where birds were offshore at various ranges. A Great Northern Diver was present for a while and Red-throated Divers featured well amongst other regular species. On the land there was no sign of yesterday's Kingfisher, although the Song Thrushes and Great Spotted Woodpecker were still present.

My log was as follows:-

Red-throated Diver - 13E, 8W & 20 o/s

Great Northern Diver - 1 o/s

Great Crested Grebe - 10 o/s

Gannet - 6E

Red-breasted Merganser - 30+ o/s

Grey Plover - 24 on beach

Oystercatcher - 10

Turnstone - 150+

Sanderling - 26

Ringed Plover - 20+

Common Gull - 1 o/b

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 drumming from woods behind beach

Song Thrush - 2 singing from set-aside/woods

At Elmer Rocks: (top) Grey Plovers,  (centre)  adult Common Gull and Grey Plover, and (lower) Turnstones and Sanderlings in flight

Friday, 17th January: A dry, rather grey and cloudy day, generally calm with a light but chilly SE breeze.

Elmer Rocks: An interesting morning with the first bird of the day for me being a Slavonian Grebe on the calm sea and at moderate range. There wasn't a great deal on the move beyond six Brent Geese going west, but the calm conditions allowed scrutiny of some species on the sea at quite a distance and gradually I logged at least eight Red-throated Divers on the water and a further two going west, c.15 Great Crested Grebes and 20+ Red-breasted Mergansers.

After the arrival of a couple of boats well offshore and full of anglers, a large number of gulls began to assemble in what was clearly a feeding frenzy, then suddenly masses of Gannets also appeared and I estimated there were eventually c.200 of the latter amongst the throng - quite spectacular. Several flocks of Turnstones then flew west as the tide got higher, totalling at least 150, before many returned to drop onto the rock islands, subsequently followed by 25+ Ringed Plovers, 15 Sanderlings, 10 Oystercatchers and 20 Grey Plovers.

Two Song Thrushes were singing from rival locations behind the beach and around the set-aside and more distantly a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker was also heard - the increasing daylight length at this time of year no doubt prompting avian thoughts of spring territories. However, perhaps the highlight of the morning was the Kingfisher present on Elmer rife, just behind the weedscreen area and near the footpath.

Two views of the Kingfisher along Elmer rife and just behind the footpath this morning.

13th - 15th January 2024

Wednesday, 15th January: A mainly grey, overcast and reasonably mild day, with some early murk and mist, in just a light W/NW breeze.

Barnham Brooks: I did a good circuit of the area this morning, anticipating a reasonable number of wildfowl on the flooded brooks, but alas it wasn't to be. There were certainly still a few flooded areas remaining, although nothing like last year, but where were the ducks? I managed to log a single Shelduck, but that was it! Perhaps they had been disturbed previously, or more likely they were elsewhere, but either way it was a waste of time today.

I did manage to record three Water Rails, two Snipe, four Stonechats, three Cetti's Warblers and a Kestrel, plus a large flock of c150 Linnets, but otherwise there was just nothing on my long walk to get the pulse racing.

Stonechat at Barnham Brooks on a very quiet morning

Ancton & Elmer: In the fields off Ancton Lane there were six Little Egrets in with the cattle, whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker was again drumming from the woods. Then a male Sparrowhawk visited my garden, catching a House Sparrow, before the hawk settled on my compost bin, giving good views as it ate its meal over the next hour or more!

Sparrowhawk (male) with recently caught House Sparrow prey

Tuesday, 14th January: A pleasant sort of day; a little milder than of late with sunshine and broken cloud and a fairly light SW breeze 2-3.

Elmer Rocks: There was a bit more happening this morning; for a start there was a massive feeding flock of several thousand birds out on the horizon, of which most were gulls but also with a good number of Gannets amongst them, and additionally, several double-figure flocks of Gannets also went west a bit closer in. It is impossible to be sure of the numbers but 100+ would be the starting point, though in reality the total could be several times that figure.

I was pleased to find local birder Bola sea-watching from the beach near Poole Place rocks; fortunately his sharp (and younger) eyes had already picked out two Slavonian Grebes offshore, making it easier for me as they slowly drifted west behind the rock islands, Red-throated Divers too were more numerous today, and my log was as follows:-

Red-throated Diver - 3o/s & 30+ W

Gannet - 100+ o/s

Great Crested Grebe - 2 o/s

Slavonian Grebe - 2 o/s, drifted W

Red-breasted Merganser - c.8 o/s

Grey Plover - 38 on rocks/beach

Ringed Plover - 25

Oystercatcher - 12

Turnstone - 55

Sanderling - 5

Razorbill - 1W

auk sp - c.20W

Mediterranean Gull - 8

Grey Plovers on the rocky shore at Elmer Rocks and (below) Mediterranean Gull along the beach

Hotham Park, Bognor Regis: Not the best timing today as it was quite busy with walkers etc, but Firecrests were again the highlight, with a very minimum of three present and quite probably a fourth bird. These apart, there were not a lot of small birds around however, but two Green Woodpeckers were active and calling frequently, whilst an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the lookout on tree-tops near the café. apparently a regular venue for it.

(above) Firecrest at Hotham Park and (below) adult Lesser Black-backed Gull perched on a tree top overlooking the café - a regular venue by all accounts!

Monday, 13th January: A dry and mainly cloudy day with just a few brief spells of brightness, but still feeling chilly despite the wind having shifted to the SW force 3.

Climping - Atherington: A rather disappointing couple of hours this morning. The chill wind didn't help, but there was nothing really on the sea bar a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers, although a number of Gannets were well out and moving through westwards, as was a Red-throated Diver. There were 15 Mediterranean Gulls along the shoreline and a further 30 in the flooded fields behind the beach, where there was also a Curlew and 10 Oystercatchers.

I didn't spend long sea-watching, opting to check the set-aside and hedgerows instead, but in the event it wasn't very much better, my highlight being a single Goldcrest - actually my first of the year! As always Skylarks were to the fore, with at least 50 in the set-aside, together with about five Meadow Pipits and a few Linnets. A couple of Buzzards rounded off my visit....time to move on.

Bilsham farm: I was hoping the recent cold weather might have caused some of the scarcer wildfowl to appear on the reservoir here, but unfortunately this was not the case....my tally was just two Little Grebes, 52 Coots and 26 Tufted Ducks, with two Song Thrushes feeding around the banks.

Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir were the only birds of any note this morning...note the Barnham windmill in the lower photo (top left).