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
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!
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