27th - 28th February 2025

Friday, 28th February: A bright, clear morning, cold enough for a touch of frost, with just a light NW breeze and prolonged sunshine through the day.

Elmer Rocks: An interesting morning with a bit of variety and a fair number of waders, on the late morning high tide. At least 18 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, with some displaying to each other, whilst three Red-throated Divers were also on the sea, eventually heading off east, followed by a fourth bird. Two Sandwich Terns then went steadily east; most likely they were from the small wintering population present on the Selsey Peninsula, although somehow they had that spring migration feel! Wader numbers built up as birds flew in to roost on the rock islands and surrounding beach, with peak total as follows: Turnstone - 120, Sanderling - 85, Oystercatcher - 24 and Grey Plover - 1.

Behind the beach it was nice to hear a couple of Skylarks singing over the fields in the almost spring-like weather and three different Green Woodpeckers were also seen. Then a Stonechat popped up along the lower path and telegraph wires near Poole Place, to be joined briefly by a surprise Black Redstart. A lady walker close by flushed both birds as she passed and although the Stonechat soon re-appeared, the Black Red flew over to the large pile of rocks and was then lost to view, not showing again before I departed.

Stonechat (above) Turnstones on the rocks and Red-breasted Merganser (bottom)

Thursday, 27th February: A dry, bright and fairly cool day, with sunny spells at times and a light-moderate NW breeze.

Climping Gap: An evening visit as dusk approached produced a Barn Owl, and possibly a second bird present in one area, whilst nearby on flooded fields a Lesser Black-backed Gull was amongst about 150 Herring Gulls and several Mallards. My thermal imager was put to good use later on, but there were few avian highlights, and a few Foxes and a couple of Badgers were the only sightings of interest.

24th - 26th February 2025

Wednesday, 26th February: A dry, overcast and cool start, very soon changing to light then heavier rain, with a strong W/SW wind 5-6, gusting to force 7.

Elmer Rocks: A fairly short sea-watch this morning and I just about squeezed in an hour before the conditions prompted me to leave. There was just a little movement though, with the highlight being my first Fulmar of the year here....

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 4W

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 5E, of which four dropped onto the sea

Red-breasted Merganser - 8 o/s, often chasing about back and forth

Oystercatcher - 4W, dropped onto the shore

Turnstone - 20+ W

Fulmar moving west of Elmer Rocks this morning

Mediterranean Gulls moving west, calling as they went, and (below) four Oystercatchers which dropped onto the shore

Tuesday, 25th February: The rain overnight continued passing through until after 09:00hrs, then subsided to give a bright day with sunny periods and some cloud, together with a fresh NW breeze force 4.

Barnham Brooks: The recent rains have now boosted the area, which until recently had been fairly dry and quite hard going. My circuit this morning took in much of the Lidsey side, where the floods had at last encouraged some wildfowl to drop in, with a variety consisting of 35 Pintail, c.20 Wigeon, c.40 Teal, 12 Mallard, 12 Shoveler and five Shelduck. Two Snipe were encountered in the damp fields, though doubtless there would have been more, and two Buzzards were occasionally disturbing the local gulls. There wasn't too much else to report, although four Chiffchaffs and two Cetti's Warblers were in the hedgerows and two rival Greenfinches were giving their wheezy song to each other at close quarters.

At last some floodwater to encourage the wildfowl at Barnham Brooks. Mixed duck species (above) over the floods; the majority shown in flight are Wigeon and Pintail, with Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck on the water.

The below two images show a pair of Pintail on the water (with another male looking on), and more Pintails in flight.

Monday, 24th February: Heavy rain overnight and into the early morning, before becoming showery, then easing as brightness and sunny spells eventually appeared. Generally breezy throughout, with a blustery W/SW wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: My first day out birding for a few days, having been committed on non-birding matters over a long weekend, (well, since you asked, a soul music/dancing event on the Isle of Wight!) So, typically, it seems that the first early spring up-Channel movements of Brent Geese and ducks, especially Pintail, took place just as soon as I was away - and doubtless a good many went unrecorded locally. So be it, but hopefully there will be a good few more in the coming weeks.

This morning the old umbrella came into use for a while, but it was hardly worth it as there just wasn't much at all to record. Two flocks of Brent Geese - totalling 21 birds - went east quite high up, whilst five Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea. A single Med Gull was on the beach amongst the regular gull species and as the tide began to fall 20 Oystercatchers were feeding along the rocky shore, together with 18 Sanderlings and a few Turnstones. The only other bird worthy of note was a Song Thrush singing in the rain from a thick bush in the hedgerow near Poole Place.

Brent Geese (top two) passing Elmer Rocks, whilst Sanderlings (two below) were running and feeding along the beach.

Bilsham farm: As the end of the winter approaches it's always worth a look at the reservoir, but there was no change since my last visit, with just 13 Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes and 38 Coots present. It hasn't been a great winter here, so I'm hoping for an improvement when spring arrives.

Out on the Brooks, the distant herd of Mute Swans contained 24 roosting birds.

Tufted Ducks remain on the reservoir, but their numbers will soon decline as they move away to their breeding grounds.

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.

13th - 14th February 2025

Friday, 14th February: A cold, grey and cloudy start, but some sunshine breaking through later. Remaining dry throughout, but feeling very chilly with the wind having shifted to the SE and increased to force 5-6.

Bilsham farm: On the reservoir this morning were a single Egyptian Goose, 17 Tufted Ducks, a Shoveler, three Teal, and two Little Grebes. Then a herd of about 30 Mute Swans flew generally west over the adjacent fields, before half a dozen of this flock broke away from the main group and settled on the reservoir. One pair of the small group then began a courting and mating display, before the small group also flew off west. Amongst a flock of the regular gulls there was also a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

On Bilsham reservoir this morning (from the top) were: Egyptian Goose, Tufted Duck, Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo doesn't really show its nicely yellow legs), Little Grebe and courting Mute Swans.

Ancton: A brief visit to check the damp fields off Ancton Lane produced the feeding flock of Curlews, together with two Little Egrets. The trouble was, my viewpoint in the Lane was not good, being hampered by the thick hedge, but also a herd of cattle which were up close to the road and so consistently blocking my view! I estimate there were about ten Curlews, but trying to photo them was difficult and I only got three of the group!

Curlews at Ancton Lane; one partly obscured by a cow's rear end!

Thursday, 13th February: Yet another day of grey skies and just a few hints of brightness later, with a light to moderate NE breeze force 3-4, though remaining dry. 

Elmer Rocks: After the recent influx of divers, today it was a return to quiet conditions again, without a single diver seen, although there were 15 Red-breasted Mergansers,  four Great Crested Grebes and two Gannets offshore, whilst a Seal appeared fairly close in. A flock of 13 Oystercatchers flew in to join two individuals on the rocks and three Sanderlings were on the beach as the tide rose, but otherwise there was little else of note.

(above) This flock of 13 Oystercatchers flew in to join two others on the rock islands, whilst (below) a  Seal popped up briefly inside the islands and I managed to capture this image showing it to be a Common (Harbour) Seal - not the expected Grey Seal.

Ancton area: A small flock of a dozen or so Curlews has been visiting the damp fields off Ancton Lane in order to feed over several days (with thanks to D. Bole), whilst two Buzzards were around and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were prospecting a hedgerow, but otherwise it was just regular/common species.

Buzzard at Ancton

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!