4th - 5th September 2025

Friday, 5th September: A generally dry, fine and sunny day with some scattered cloud and feeling pleasantly warm later, in a moderate W/SW breeze.

Bilsham farm: Two Ravens were flying around the back fields, annoying the local crows, before settling to feed awhile but at some distance. On the reservoir there was an obvious influx of Little Grebes this morning, with at least 18 counted, together with a Great Crested Grebe. Also present were three Common Sandpipers, a drake Pochard, 20 Tufted Ducks and two Teal, Around the margins were a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and a couple of Chiffchaffs on the perimeter hedge, whilst around 30 Swallows and 50 Sand Martins were feeding over the water.

Juvenile Common Sandpiper (above) and two presumed adults (below) on Bilsham reservoir this morning

An influx of at least 18 Little Grebes included this nine (above), whilst a distant Raven was feeding in the fields (excuse cropping and heat haze!)

Climping - Atherington: I stayed around the Atherington area finding a variety of migrants in the bushes and trees, but there just wasn't time to cover more ground or even the beach in the restricted time of under two hours available to me today. My highlights were three Spotted Flycatchers, a Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, six Whitethroats, at least 12 Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs and five Willow Warblers (including one singing in the sunshine)....and also a Hummingbird Hawkmoth!

Spotted Flycatcher (above) and Whinchat at Atherington

Thursday, 4th September: Another really changeable day, with frequent heavy and squally showers all morning, pushed through with a near gale-force SW wind force 6-7, occasionally gusting 8, but also with brief periods of bright sunshine in-between.

Elmer Rocks: I managed nearly three hours sea-watching this morning, but it was more of a test of endurance rather than a productive session, with very little on the move, and none of the scarcer species hoped for after yesterday's stormy conditions. The meagre log for my efforts shows just Gannet - 24W, Common Gull - 1W, Mediterranean Gull - 1, Sandwich Tern - 8W, Oystercatcher - 2 and Ringed Plover - 22.....and, apart from the other regular gull species, that was it!

(above) Mediterranean Gull (1st-winter) and (below) Common Gull at Elmer Rocks

1st - 3rd September 2025

Wednesday, 3rd September: A wet and very windy day, confirming that summer is well and truly over, with leaden grey skies, frequent heavy rain and a gale force SW wind through much of the day, with just a few drier interludes in between. Eventually becoming clearer and brighter by late afternoon.

Elmer Rocks (0820-1050hrs): I managed to get to my usual fairly sheltered spot after getting caught in an initial cloudburst, but visibility offshore was variable throughout, ranging from about zero for some of the time, to reasonable during the brief drier intervals. It was slow-going as expected. with none of the hoped-for scarcer seabirds that sometimes occur, but there were a few species of interest, and my log is below:-

Gannet - 15W

Fulmar - 1W

Oystercatcher - 3E

Turnstone - 10 along the beach

Ringed Plover - 71W

Knot - 1W (amongst Ringed Plovers)

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Common Tern - 3W

Mediterranean Gull - 2W

(top two) Ringed Plover flocks heading west, (centre) 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull and (bottom two) Fulmar heading west off the rock islands.

With news of interesting seabirds appearing at several places along the South Coast, I made a brief second visit to Elmer Rocks late afternoon (1630-1730hrs), but alas there were no real excitements. Unusually though, a juvenile Shag was resting on the rock islands, this being my first of the year on the local patch. Whilst this species is becoming increasingly regular nearby at Selsey Bill, it still remains scarce here. Other species noted were Gannet (2), Common Gull, Sanderling (2), Ringed Plover (c.50) and Turnstone (15).

Shag (juvenile) at Elmer Rocks this afternoon

Bilsham farm: A short visit to the reservoir, just in case some birding waif had been pushed in on the strong winds, but sadly this was not the case. It proved to be very difficult to hold my optics and camera still enough to get any count or photo, due to the lack of cover from the strong gusty wind, but I logged the following:- Great Crested Grebe - 1, Little Grebe - 8, Mallard - 4, Pochard - 1 drake, Tufted Duck - 31 and Common Sandpiper - 3. There were also a few Swallows and up to ten Sand Martins present.

Mostly Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir

Monday, 1st September: Another very changeable and autumnal day, with a mixture of bright sunny spells, interspersed with heavy grey cloud and frequent squally showers pushed through by a strong and gusty W/SW wind force 5-6.

Elmer Rocks: A sea-watch from a sheltered spot seemed the best option given the conditions, but even then it wasn't easy, with bright, glaring sun from the sea one minute and heavy rain obscuring the view the next. I managed to put in a couple of hours (0800-1000hrs) which was fairly slow going, but did at least produce a few bits and pieces, including an Arctic Skua and some Gannets heading west. Log below:- 

Gannet - c.50W

Little Egret - 8 along rock islands

Common Scoter - 5E

Oystercatcher - 14

Sanderling - a single with other waders along beach

Turnstone - 15+

Ringed Plover - 30+

Arctic Skua - 1W

Common Gull - 2 on beach

Common Tern - 1W

Starling - 150+

An autumnal day with very varied weather, including a rainbow!

Common Gulls on the beach and Little Egrets around the rocks

A lone Sanderling (above) and a group of Turnstones (below) on the beach, whilst (bottom) a local flock of Starlings was frequently visiting the piles of sea-weed to feed.