Yet another unrewarding attempt at a sea watch, with the highlight being a pod of Dolphin, some close inshore, moving slowly east.

Sandwich Tern - 87E 37W

Commic Tern - 2E

Gannet - 12E

Med Gull - 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 4E

Whimbrel - 33E

Oystercatcher - 5W

Turnstone - 3W

Common Scoter - 22E

Brent Geese - 13E

Swallow - 9 

Dolphin

Whimbrel

Brent Geese

I was just finishing a cup of tea at home, when Paul Bowley, who was at Selsey Bill, reported a flock of four Pomarine Skuas going east, at moderate range, via the WhatsApp group. Knowing that a good number of such Poms are too distant to see from the local patch, I hesitated for a minute or two, pondering my chances. It usually takes about 20 minutes for such birds to appear at Elmer Rocks, if they are going to, so it was up and away, onto my push bike, and I was in position with a good five minutes to spare. A few birds were moving offshore, but no sign on any Poms at the 'designated' time. A few minutes passed and I was thinking it was too late - but then at 0637hrs they appeared, a flock of 4 Poms in a line, close together and at a range allowing good views. Magic. Presumably the very strong headwind had slowed them somewhat. I immediately put the news out and the birds were subsequently reported off Worthing at fairly close range. A very productive half-hour's local birding.

ther stuff seen was:-
Arctic Skua – 1 l/p chasing terns then flew off east
Bar-Wit – 10E
Whimbrel – 5E
Fulmar – 1 o/s flew off west
Sand Tern – 4E
Gannet – 2E
Gt B-b Gull – 4E
 
In just over half-hour, cheers OM

Very warm in sheltered spots and cold and very windy out in the open, with the strong NE wind gusting to near gale-force at times.

Bit and pieces today, though nothing very startling. I did just 2 hrs on and off, list below….

Red-throated Diver 1W, dropped onto sea

Bar-tailed Godwit – 45E

Whimbrel – 5E

Sanderling – 22, most resting on rock islands before flying off

Dunlin – 1E

Oystercatcher – 2 on rocks

Turnstone -  4 on rocks

Gannet – 2E & 3W

Sandwich Tern – 4E & 10W

Little Tern – 1W, quite possibly 2

Great Black-backed Gull – 6

Swallow – 16 flew in N from sea

Whitethroat – 3 in hedges behind beach

Linnet - 4

Kestrel campsite

Out late morning in bright sunny windy conditions, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat present in good numbers, but nothing unexpected in areas out of the wind.

Lesser Whitethroat - 1 heard camp site

Red-legged Partridge - 1 south side longwood

Swift - 6

Sand Martin - 2

Swallow - 30+

Stonechat - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 3

Reed Warbler - 10

Sedge Warbler - 4

Yellowhammer - 3

Reed Bunting - 4

Whimbrel - 10 golf course

Bart-tailed Godwit - 3E

Great-crested Grebe - 3 os

Sandwich Tern - 5W

Med Gull - 2

Little Egret - 4

Grey Heron - 1