18th September 2025

Thursday, 18th September: A generally cloudy and overcast day, but remaining dry and surprisingly quite warm in a fresh SW wind 4-5, easing down a notch later.

Elmer Rocks: Although rather quiet overall, there were a few bits and pieces to maintain the interest, the highlight being a pale-phase Arctic Skua chasing a couple of Sandwich Terns offshore, before the skua drifted off east. A few Gannets were moving through westwards, as was a Great Crested Grebe and several Mediterranean Gulls. A Common Sandpiper also went west along the beach, whilst some of the regular waders dropped in to roost at high tide. 

.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

It has become apparent over the last few months that there is an ongoing problem with this blog on the Blogger system. Monitoring the 'page view' option on the blog has shown a massive and unexplained increase (e.g. there have been 900 alleged views since this morning!) and further research shows the majority of these originate from the USA at the present time, although recently other sources have included Brazil and Russia.

Those more knowledgeable than me have advised this is is due to AI 'crawlers' collecting data off the web, but that unless people click on unexpected links there should be no problem. It seems there has been a massive increase in this activity world-wide since the start of the year. I confess that all this tech is well beyond me, for this little blog was set up for those local people interested in birds and nature, entirely free and with no commercial connections whatever. Whilst it seems there is no obvious or immediate risk to anyone using the site, the motives of these AI bots is unclear and I am not prepared to take the risk if one exists.

I think it is very unlikely, but if you should receive any future communication with a link, any request for payment or anything purporting to be from me in respect of this blog, please do not open said link and delete immediately.

It is a sign of the times I fear, but in view of this situation and after due consideration, I regret to say that ....

I WILL BE CLOSING THIS BLOG WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

I am most grateful to those who have provided information, encouragement or support over the time the blog has been running, and although the blog has now been closed, I will still be seen birding along the beach or elsewhere on the patch in the usual way.

Best wishes to all,

The Elmer Birder