5th - 8th May 2025

Thursday, 8th May: Cool, cloudy and rather grey at first, but soon clearing to become brighter with periods of sunshine and cloud, with the fresh NE breeze force 4-5 backing more to the E/SE later and easing to become light SE3.

Bilsham farm: There were six Common Sandpipers around the edges of the reservoir early this morning, whilst on the water were two Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, nine Tufted Ducks, 12 Mallards (including the female which a brood which has now reduced to nine young) and ten Coots (including the nesting pair on the plastic floats). A few Swifts and Swallows were above the area and two distant Buzzards were over the adjacent fields, whilst a Yellowhammer and the regular Whitethroats, Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff were in the surrounding hedgerows.

Three of the six Common Sandpipers at Bilsham reservoir this morning (above with Mallard)

I was just wondering where to look next on the patch, when news of a rarity was received in the form of a Red-footed Falcon at Amberley Wild Brooks, so my plans to stay local were quickly altered and I headed in that direction. Sadly though, it turned into a hard luck story, for the falcon was apparently still present as I got to Amberley, but by the time I headed out to the Brooks it had disappeared. I put in about three hours of watching and waiting thereafter to no avail, before finally calling it quits. Disappointing, but there were a few compensations there, including a Hobby, a Red Kite or two and a Cuckoo.

Tuesday, 6th May: Another cool start for the time of year, with sunshine but also the brisk and persistent NE wind force 5-6. Remaining sunny through the day with some scattered cloud, with very dry conditions and no real prospect of any rain in the near future.

Barnham Brooks: A circuit around various sites on the Brooks produced nothing out of the ordinary, but reasonable numbers of the regular summer visitors, including Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, plus resident species including Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting and Skylark. A couple of Buzzards and a Kestrel were hunting, whilst high up were c.30 House Martins and six Swifts. I failed in my quest to find a Cuckoo, although they have been reported here a number of times!                                                       

Sedge Warbler at Barnham Brooks

Bilsham farm: On the reservoir were 11 Tufted Ducks, 15 Mallard (including a female with her brood of ducklings) and two Little Grebes, whilst around the edges were two Common Sandpipers. A Yellowhammer and a Cetti's Warbler were singing from the nearby hedges, plus a couple of Whitethroats and Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff. Several Swifts and Swallows were feeding above the water, but it was otherwise quiet in the blustery wind.

The two Common Sandpipers on Bilsham reservoir today

Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May: A notably cool start to the day, with a brisk NE wind force 5-6 keeping the temperature well down, and early sunshine soon giving way to some heavy cloud with occasional brief showers. Remaining changeable all day, with brighter conditions again later.

Elmer Rocks: The cold and blustery north-easterly did nothing, as usual, to assist any sea passage and it was hard going this morning. A few waders were the highlight, though a single Ringed Plover roosting on the rocks was unexpected, raising faint hopes that a breeding attempt was perhaps possible - though unlikely - but time will tell (we lost the last pair a couple of years ago after disturbance and the constant re-profiling of the beach). 

Five Sanderling were re-fuelling along the beach before heading off again on their eastward migration, whilst 22 Whimbrel and two Bar-tailed Godwits also went east. Four distant Gannets also eventually drifted through in that direction, and half a dozen Sandwich Terns did likewise after fishing offshore for a while. Along the hedges and gardens behind the beach at least three Whitethroats were singing, plus a couple of Greenfinch and a Chaffinch at Poole Place.

A single Ringed Plover on Elmer Rocks; probably just a late migrant - or could it just possibly be thinking of breeding in the area? Time will tell.

Sanderlings on the beach (top two), flock of Whimbrels heading east (below) and singing Whitethroat (bottom)

Lidsey WTW & area: Around the reservoir and remaining wet areas at the WTW were 14 Mallard, a pair of Tufted Ducks, a pair of Gadwall, two Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes and two Grey Wagtails, with a single Common Sandpiper feeding around the edges plus two Mediterranean Gulls flying overhead and calling. 

The clear highlight however was an obvious influx of hirundines (at last), especially House Martins, with at least 200+ swirling around the sewage works, reservoir and adjacent fields, and estimates of at least 70 Swallows and 30 Swifts.

(above) Common Sandpiper at Lidsey, (below) Great Crested Grebes and (bottom two) hirundines - mostly House Martins - above the sewage works (or WTW as it's now known!)