Sunday, 12th January: A heavy frost with cold, crisp and sunny conditions early on, in a light E/SE breeze, before increasing cloud allowed the temperature to rise later.
This morning - and in fact the last couple of days - have seen me chasing around the Pagham Harbour and Selsey Bill areas, trying to add a few decent birds to my year list, but in the afternoon it was time to get back to the local patch....
Shripney area: I haven't visited here for a little while so decided to pay a visit. There were few small birds about, with just the common species, although on a flooded arable field were ten Pied Wagtails and three Meadow Pipits. However, the two small reservoirs here held 65 Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 21 Coots, two Tufted Ducks and two Gadwall, whilst on the fields behind were two Egyptian Geese amongst a herd of 53 Mute Swans. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were the only other birds of note.
Canada Geese on Shripney reservoir with Coots and pair of Gadwall (centre right), and (below) with Greylag Goose (centre)
Thursday, 9th January::A dry, bright and mainly sunny day in a light to moderate NW breeze 3-4, with just a little high cloud later.
Elmer Rocks: There didn't seem to be much moving offshore as I did my usual circuit along the beach, with just five Red-throated Divers going east and four Gannets heading west the most notable species. A total of 18 Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach and flying around, with just a handful of Ringed Plovers and Turnstones feeding along the shoreline. A single Chiffchaff was flitting around the hedgerows of the boat compound and calling occasionally, whilst six Song Thrushes were amongst Blackbirds, feeding along the hedgerows and fields just behind the beach.
Nearby, at Elmer woods, a group of three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were making quite a commotion, until it became apparent that two of them - presumably now paired up - were trying to drive out an intruding bird, which they eventually did.
Climping/Atherington: On the east side of Poole Place, at least 24 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers and 12 Skylarks were all feeding in Cudlow's field (i.e. the large arable field just behind the beach, which lies between Poole Place and Climping 'car park' Atherington).
Ringed Plovers in Cudlow's field, Atherington (Climping)
Skylark (above) and Mediterranean Gull in flight
Wednesday, 8th January: A dry but decidedly cold start, with a fairly light E/NE breeze in generally overcast conditions, though with a few brighter intervals through the morning. Then becoming grey and wintry by early afternoon, with rain then sleet and snow as the wind increased to force 4-5.
Elmer Rocks: There wasn't much moving offshore, with the highlight being a Great Northern Diver that flew east, eventually dropping out of sight, whilst a Red-throated Diver, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes were offshore, a single Gannet flew west and a flock of five Mute Swans also flew in that direction along the back of the beach.
A number of waders were on the rockpools and beach behind the rock islands, consisting of 32 Grey Plovers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 22 Turnstones and 5 Oystercatchers, together with 15 Mediterranean Gulls.
In the Elmer woods and fields behind the beach a Great Spotted Woodpecker was repeatedly drumming, then two Firecrests were located at the woodland edge. Finally, a male Sparrowhawk was on a garden fence at Ancton, no doubt eyeing up the small flock of House Sparrows nearby.
Waders on the beach at Elmer Rocks this morning; mainly Grey Plovers, with a few Turnstones amongst them and a Ringed Plover (above, at bottom left, foreground)
Mediterranean Gulls on the beach
No comments:
Post a Comment