Elmer Rocks: A few Brent Geese (23) moved east offshore this morning, as did 12 Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull and a single Gannet, whilst two Great Crested Grebes and seven Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea There seemed to be little evidence of any inward migration, but then two Pied/alba Wagtails were seen coming in of the sea. It had to be worth staying a while longer, and in due course it paid off when a newly arrived Wheatear was found on the beach. This was my first of the year and there is always something special about this smart little harbinger of spring, which shows that migration is well and truly underway...!
Brent Geese moving east past Elmer Rocks and (bottom) Red-breasted Mergansers offshore
Wheatear on the beach - a smart little bird and it's always a joy to get your first one of the year!
Elmer & Ancton: I paid a visit to the Ancton Lane horse paddocks and was pleased to find some welcome migrants. Highlights were three Black Redstarts (two smart males and a female), together with my first patch Blackcap of the year, singing and showing, plus two singing Chiffchaffs. Also present were a Mistle Thrush, a Pied Wagtail, two Green Woodpeckers and several Greenfinches.
Black Redstarts - female (above) and male (below), plus a Green Woodpecker (bottom)
Sunday, 23rd March: A fairly grey, cloudy and sometimes murky morning, but mild with just a very light S/SE breeze, then some intermittent drizzly showers later.
Lidsey area: I started my visit around the WTW area, where the sewage seemed particularly pungent today, whilst a Grey Wagtail was on the filter pans, half a dozen Chiffchaffs were active (with some singing) and a small group of at least 10 Redwings were in the tree-tops. Nearby it was quiet for wildfowl, with just four each of Mallard and Tufted Duck and a single Little Grebe.
Moving on to another part of the area, I found the partly flooded section now seems to be steadily drying out, but it was still able to attract 17 Mute Swans, eight Grey Herons, a Little Egret, four Shoveler and c.100 Teal. Two Snipe and 20 Lapwings were the only waders located, some of the latter clearly becoming frisky as spring sets in, with frequent bouts of display flighting and calling, and a Reed Bunting was singing almost continually in the background.
At Lidsey this morning: (above) Lapwing in flight displaying, (centre) Mute Swans on the still flooded area and (bottom) Redwings in the tree-tops.
Saturday, 22nd March: A dry and cloudy morning with brighter spells, after a bit of overnight rain - the first for some while - with a fresh breeze E/SE 4, although reasonably mild.
Elmer Rocks: A very short visit of a little over half an hour this morning, when it all seemed very quiet with no sign of any incoming migrants. All I logged were a couple of Gannets and two Sandwich Terns going east, plus two Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea and a few Turnstones on the beach. Then a message came in from the birders at Selsey Bill advising of a flock of 400 Brent Geese heading east....and sure enough 20 minutes later they passed Elmer - quite a sight! As I left a Red Kite soared over the back fields towards the A259.
Bilsham farm: There was no sign of anything beyond the regular on the reservoir, with just nine Tufted Ducks, four Mallard, a Little Grebe and 20 Coots present. Towards Barnham Brooks a herd of Mute Swans was still in an arable field at some distance and I counted at least 27 birds. Three Chiffchaffs (two singing) were the only sign of any migrant activity, whilst local birds included a male Yellowhammer, two Greenfinches and a displaying Lapwing.
Greenfinch (above) in flight and male Yellowhammer at Bilsham farm
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