26th - 28th May 2025

Wednesday, 28th May: After a wet and windy day yesterday, a cool morning which began with sunshine and heavy cloud and the odd light shower, in a fresh WSW breeze force 4-5, easing a little later and becoming a little warmer too....

Elmer Rocks: I was hoping the strong winds yesterday and overnight would produce a bit of interest at sea this morning, perhaps even with the odd shearwater, but it wasn't to be. It was decidedly slow going again, although an Arctic Skua going east - albeit quite distantly - was a highlight and at least some compensation.

On my arrival the tide was low and there was a massive flock of gulls very distantly offshore on the horizon, though it was impossible to make any proper identification. Eventually, a few species of interest were noted much closer in, and my log was as follows:-

Great Crested Grebe - 2W, 1 o/s

Gannet - 2E, 4W

Oystercatcher - 13

Whimbrel - 2W

Turnstone - 4

Arctic Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 4W

Sandwich Tern - 6W

Whitethroat - just one heard singing

Linnet - 2 on shingle, flew into cover

Goldfinch - 6

Two Whimbrel heading west off Elmer Rocks and a flock of Oystercatchers hunkered down on the rocks near high tide

Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May: A dry but rather blustery day, with sunny periods and cloud and a fresh to strong WSW wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: The blustery conditions meant that a bit of sea-watching would probably be the best idea, so I concentrated on that this morning. A very large flock of gulls was present offshore in a bit of a feeding frenzy, although well out towards the horizon, so a 'scope was necessary; however, with a bit of patience it could be seen that amongst the swirling flock was a good number of Mediterranean Gulls. It was not possible to do any sort of detailed count, but I suspect the total would be in the region of three figures....so I will say c.100. In addition, there were six or so Gannets and a number of Sandwich Terns - again not possible to count but I'll say c.20.

The tide was by now rising quickly, and as the morning progressed, eventually the flock dispersed, many of the birds drifting off eastwards. Other species logged included a single Fulmar W, and a flock of six Common Scoter and two Common Terns E, the latter birds probably having been in the big gull flock earlier. With the tide well up, a flock of 12 Oystercatchers arrived to roost on the rock islands and later 14 Turnstones arrived along the beach, before also roosting

Behind the beach, a couple of Whitethroats were still singing briefly, a Chiffchaff was heard and a pair of Linnets were still in the long hedge, whilst two or three Swifts were high up over the back fields. 

Turnstones on Elmer beach - note the summer plumage of their upperparts and the camouflage it provides against the shoreline - whilst below, a Sandwich Tern heading east.