In the patch this morning 50 Grey Plover in fields opposite the entrance to Baliffscourt, 40 Brent Geese flying west then landed on the sea at Climping beach, 1 Stonechat in the horse field with several Meadow Pipits and a Kingfisher at Atherington Pools.

Quick stroll around the patch this morning, weather very grey but still birds around. 1 Mediterrainean Gull flew east at Ballifscourt, also 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Green Woodpecker. 1 Stonechat around the horse fields with at least 20 Meadow Pipit there with several Song Thrushes and Blackbirds, and  28 Grey Plover in the field behind. 1 Buzzard and a Bullfinch make up the day totals.

A bright, sunny and very cold morning enticed me down to the local patch again, where the best on offer was a Jack Snipe, flushed from the damp set-aside strip (behind the sea wall) at Atherington. A Common Snipe was also nearby, but there was no sign of any Brent Geese in the frozen fields today. At sea, c.20 R/b Mergansers and 8 Great Crested Grebes, but nothing really moving within viewing range, (though a few distant blurs on the horizon may have been Wigeon?) At Climping/Bailiffscourt a Firecrest showed well, a Chiffchaff did not, and a Treecreeper soon flitted off. There was an indication of a cold weather arrival of Song Thrushes with at least 8 logged; also lots of Blackbirds, 2 Siskins flew over calling and 2 Stonechats appeared.

A walk up the river this morning produced 2 Bullfinch, 1 kingfisher, 6 Redshank, 4 Little Grebe, 6 Grey Heron, 2 Chiifchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, and 2 Great S Wood.

West Beach - 19/12/2009

Started the morning walking up to the river mouth were there was a  Kingfisher, 1 Rock Pipit on the beach along with about 2 Stonechat, 60 Turnstone 30 Grey Plover and several sanderling. Further along the beach 1 Woodcock was flushed from the dunes and flew north onto the golf course. 200 Brent Geese were at Climping Beach and several small flocks of Duck mainly teal and Wigeon were moving west. On the golf course i could only manage 2 Snipe, 8 Lapwing and a male Bullfinch at 1st wood.

Marsh Farm

Cetti's Wawbler still calling from the corner of the big pool, also 45 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk,13 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 18 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunting, 20 Pied Wagtail and 1 Redshank.

Still at least 1 Firecrest present at Atherington this afternoon, along with a Treecreeper and the Long T Tit flock. Several Meadow Pipits and 2 Stonechat in the car park.  4 Redshank feeding under the breakwater in the river mouth along with 50 Turnstone and another Stonechat near the Sailing Club.

Marsh Farm

Nice walk late morning after the rain had stopped, with a Cetti's Warbler heard from the corner of the main pool. Also 1 Jay, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 30 Wigeon, 17 Gadwall, 14 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe.

Very quiet offshore at Climping with only 120 Brent Geese in  the fields.

Two hour seawatch from Climping at 0800 in a SSW, produced 5w Common Scoter, 14e 2w Red B Mergansers, 30w Sanderling, 12w Shelduck, 170w Wigeon, 28w Pintail, 1w Gilleybill, 170 Brent Geese, and 1 Stonechat.

Nice sunny winters day that produced some good birds on the patch. Firstly a Short-eared Owl flying  east over bread lane at 1110,  1 Kingfisher, 2 Firecrest , 1 Stonechat and a Tree Creeper at Atherington.  Offshore a total of 70+ Brent Geese, 42w Wigeon, 3w Shoveler, and 50 Sanderling on Elmer rocks. A Peregrine seen flying back towards its roost at 1420.

Also of note a Great Northern Diver seen flying close inshore at Climping Beach.