Friday, 15th August: The prolonged fine and dry weather continues; very warm and sunny after some early cloud and haziness, with the light breeze veering from N2 to SW 3-4 as the day progressed.
Climping - Atherington: An early start paid off this morning and at last there were some interesting species to report. Soon after my arrival, in the Bailiffscourt area, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher were found in close proximity to each other, although both were quite elusive, and then a Tree Pipit was located on some telegraph wires in the same general area. A good start - and although things slowed down considerably thereafter, there were still a good variety of species, including three Whinchats.
My log was as follows:-
Little Egret - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 40
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 1
Green Woodpecker - 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Swift - 2
Swallow - 50+
House Martin - 30
Sand Martin - 10+
Pied Flycatcher - 1
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Tree Pipit - 1
Skylark - 15
Whinchat - 3
Wheatear - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 15
Reed Warbler - 2
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 3
Whitethroat - 12
Willow Warbler - 8
Chiffchaff - 1
Greenfinch - 8
Linnet - 8
Goldfinch - 15
Reed Bunting - 1
At Climping this morning: (above) Kestrel in the sunshine, (below) Tree Pipit on telegraph wires and (bottom) Whinchat in the set-aside.
Thursday, 14th August: After a rather hazy and cloudy start, a sunny, bright and breezy day with a moderate SW breeze force 4-5, becoming quite warm by afternoon.
Elmer Rocks: Several domestic commitments ensured I only had a couple hours available for birding this morning (1000-1200hrs). There wasn't much happening, with most interest being along the beach at low tide. A flock of about 20 Sanderlings were feeding amongst the rockpools and along the shore, whilst at least 30 Turnstones dropped in to join them, followed by three Oystercatchers. There were also three Common Gulls and 40+ Mediterranean Gulls spread along the beach, especially near Poole Place, where two Sandwich Terns - an adult and a fledged juvenile - were roosting on the sand.
A look around the hedges, gardens and fields behind the beach revealed that it was notably quiet, but I eventually logged five Willow Warblers and two Whitethroats, whilst a Blackcap was 'tacking' from a blackberry bush. Other species noted included Stock Dove, Buzzard, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch and Long-tailed Tit.
On Elmer beach: (above) Sanderling, (below) Sanderlings with Turnstones and (bottom) summer-plumaged Turnstone living up to its name and feeding by turning stones...."it does what it says on the tin!"
Wednesday, 13th August: Fairly grey and cloudy all morning and although quite muggy, noticeably a little cooler than of late. Some sunny breaks by afternoon in a moderate SW breeze 3-4, then a few showers with thunder before evening.
After spending much of the morning at Pagham Harbour and away from the local area, I called in at Bilsham farm for a quick look as I returned to the patch on the way home. There were two Common Sandpipers feeding around the water's edge, whilst on the water were 6 Little Grebes, 36 Coots, 10 Mallard, 17 Tufted Ducks and a single Pochard. A mixed gathering of gulls included a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Mediterranean Gull. A couple of pulses of hirundines also passed through, with estimates of 25 House Martins, 10 Sand Martins and a dozen Swallows.
(above) Two Common Sandpipers at Bilsham reservoir, and (below) hirundines, mainly House Martins, feeding over the water
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