17th - 19th February 2025

Wednesday, 19th February: A bright but still chilly morning with sunshine and a moderate SE breeze force 4, but just a little milder than recent days. Becoming duller and rather hazy later as cloud developed, but remaining dry.

Elmer Rocks: It was slow going today at low tide, but gradually there were a few faint hints that spring might not be too far away. A flock of three Common Scoter and two Brent Geese were purposefully heading east, whilst a pair of Great Crested Grebes offshore were performing a bit of their display performance and mutual head shaking. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls dropped in on the beach before flying off east to join four others near the Poole Place rocks. Closer scrutiny of these six birds showed that three of the group were all sporting white rings; it wasn't possible to read the numerals, but the white rings would indicate these gulls most likely originate from Belgium, so its quite like they are starting to make their way back there for the breeding season.  

A single Red-throated Diver flew west at some distance, then waders started to appear after the tide had turned and at least 40 Sanderlings were on the beach and rockpools, with up to 45 Turnstones that flew in, plus a dozen Oystercatchers and eight Grey Plovers. 

(above) Brent Geese and (below) Common Scoters flying east offshore this morning

(above) Grey Plovers on the beach and (below) a pair of Mediterranean Gulls; it may be hard to see here, both both these gulls are sporting white rings, so although the full details cannot be ascertained, it is likely they were first ringed in Belgium, where they may ultimately be heading for the breeding season.

Bilsham Farm: Not too much to report this morning, as wildfowl numbers gradually reduce as they head off to their breeding grounds. On the reservoir were 13 Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes and 38 Coots, whilst amongst the regular gathering of gulls washing and preening, the best on offer were four Common Gulls and a single Mediterranean. In the distance the herd of Mute Swans has now reduced to 15, whilst the only other species of interest were a distant Cetti's Warbler singing, a Song Thrush doing likewise, and a Buzzard.

Tuesday, 18th February: Dry and cold again, with high cloud, some brightness and a bit of hazy sunshine, still with the brisk E/SE breeze.

Only limited time available for me today, with my car in the garage for repairs and other unavoidable commitments, so I decided to make a visit to Hotham Park (Bognor) for about an hour and a half. I did realise it would be popular at half-term, and sure enough there were plenty of people and families around, but it wasn't too bad for a lonely birder! My goal was to try and catch up with the (resident?) Treecreeper(s) that has been reported recently by other birders a couple of times; however, despite my best efforts, I just could not locate the bird(s). 

There were a few of the regular species present and signs that spring is now underway. A Song Thrush and a Coal Tit were both singing, whilst the familiar Great Tits and Blue Tits were also singing and displaying, with a couple of the latter seen entering a nest box. At least two pairs of Stock Doves were also seen, with one courting pair apparently now nesting in a tree hole. I thought I may have briefly heard the Nuthatch in the area it was previously seen, but couldn't be sure so had to discount it. Two Green Woodpeckers were calling quite frequently, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was active in a suitably hole-filled tree, a flock of about a dozen Goldfinches were in tree tops and a small group of up to eight Long-tailed Tits were in some lower bushes, before my time ran out and I had to leave.

Pair of courting Stock Doves at their nest hole in Hotham Park

Monday, 17th February: A dry and cloudy day, with periods of weak sunshine at times, in a decidedly cool and brisk E/SE wind force 5.

Elmer Rocks: The penetrating easterly wind was unpleasantly cool this morning, and coupled with the low tide there was initially very little to be seen bird-wise. However, as time went on, a few species appeared, with good numbers of waders dropping in to feed before the tide covered the rocky pools and sand flats, as below:-

Red-throated Diver - 5W

Great Crested Grebe - 1

Gannet - 1 distant

Red-breasted Merganser - up to 10 o/s

Oystercatcher - 75

Grey Plover - 10

Sanderling - 60 (the majority just E of Poole Place)

Turnstone - 45

Mediterranean Gull - 2

There was very little birdsong from the areas behind the beach and even the local Song Thrushes were not performing today. A single Chaffinch gave a brief bit of song from Poole Place garden, whilst a male Kestrel hunted for a while over the set-aside corner.

(above) Grey Plovers around the rockpools on Elmer beach and (below) Sanderlings on the beach just east of Poole Place, where the majority of them were this morning.