A fine sunny morning so I decided to go birding and stay local at Climping, whilst abandoning plans for Xmas shopping. I started at the Marina (R.Arun) for a change, where a Common Sandpiper was located with an escort of 14 Mallards, a flock of 100 Wigeon flew W high overhead, and 2 Peregrines were roosting in their regular spot on the gas tower. The Golf course area proved to be very quiet with just a single Snipe, a Chiffchaff and a noisy rabble flock of 15 Magpies. On to Atherington where a flock of 300 Brent Geese was commuting between the sea and the fields and a Kingfisher was on the small pools. Ten Med Gulls were just offshore, with small numbers of Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Oystercatcher along the shoreline, whilst nearby were a Stonechat and several Goldcrests.

Too a stroll around the fields N/E of the Bodyshop this morning, not to much about but a fabulous day. 3 Water Rail, 33 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 12 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed Bunting, and 1 Little Grebe.

Walk around the Farm this morning produced an unexpected Slavonian Grebe on the little pool, along with 22 Gadwall, 16 Teal, and 2 Little Grebe, 2 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, and small numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare, Skylark and Goldcrest. Peregring on the gas tower at 09:00.

Took a stoll around the Farm this morning in glourious sunshine, with small numbers of wildfowl on the main pool. 20 Teal, 9 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and a Pochard. 17 Lapwing flew west, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Yellowhammer, 2 Chiffchaff, and singles of Water Rail squealing from the reeds, Green Sandpiper flying north over the fields, Buzzard, and a Goldcrest.

350 Brent geese in the fields at Climping mid morning, very quiet offshore with 12 Great-crested Grebe, 6w Shelduck, small numbers of Red-brested Mergansers, 1w Diver spa, and a single Common Scoter. Elsewhere singles of Stonechat, Redwing and Little Egret.

Sat 8th Dec - Flock of 350 Brent Geese on the sea this morning, moving onto the fields to feed where deliberately harrassed by dog-walkers. At sea a couple of Gt Crested Grebes offshore, 30 Teal W and 5 Wigeon E. A Stonechat and a couple of fly-over Siskins about the only thing of note on land.

Lovely day in the patch this morning with 200 Brent stil in the field west of the mill, but the highlight was a Short-eared Owl that was flushed from the long grass. Very quiet offshore with only a couple of both Red-breasted Mergansers and Great-crested Grebe, 5 Grey Partridge behind the horse paddock that also held 1 Stonechat. The best of the rest being 1 Bullfinch, 3 Siskin, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Buzzard,61 Oystercatcher, 34 Ringed Plover and single figures of both Meadow Pipit and Skylark.

Marsh farm

400+ Black H Gull following the tractors as they ploughed the fields this morning. On the pools 25 Wigeon, 19 Teal, 7 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, and 1 Little Grebe. A group of 13 Yellowhammer in the bushes, also 2 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 5 Fieldfare, 3 Goldcrest, 15 Lapwing flew over heading west and a Buzzard.

Records for Friday 30th

1 Great Northern Diver off Climping Beach on a flat carm sea this morning, also 2 Great-crested Grebe, but not much else offshore. 200 Brent Geese still in the fields and 300 Wood Piegeon around long wood. 3 Bullfinch, 2 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 20 Skylarks, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Redshank and small numbers of various finches flying over.

Took a quick look around the patch late afternoon during a rain break, 180 Brent Geese in the fields, 1 Stonechat, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, and a couple of Goldcrest.

Sunday 25th Nov

2 Great Northern Diver west at Climping today 0915 and 1030 in strong windy conditions, which the wind seem to die down mid morning. Also 2w Shelduck, 2 Eider, 12e Red Breasted Mergansers, 5w Great Crested Grebe, 5e 2w Gannet and 160 Brent Geese in the fields.

Bright sunny day this morning, in contrast to the last couple of days in the patch produced 3 Bullfinch 1st wood, 1 Snipe over the golf course, 1 Marsh Tit Seen at feeders, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Redpoll, 8 Siskin, 10 Goldcrest, and 40 Brent Geese.

Late news about a Black Redstart seen in bushes at bread lane at 1540 on Saturday.

A brighter day at Climping this morning produced 60 Brent Geese in fields east of Bread Lane, 1 Marsh Tit with the Long-Tailed Tit flock at Bailiffscourt, also 1 Treecreper there. 12 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 8 Siskin calling flying over, 1 fem Bullfinch, 1 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Linnet and 5 Grey Partridge, ended proceedings.

A Very gloomy day at the patch mid morning and very queit offshore with only 6w Red-Breasted Mergansers moving. 47 Brent Geese in the fields, 54 Cormorant on the river mouth, 5 Dunlin in amongst the 90 Sanderling at West Beach. Singles of Firecrest and Swallow at the mill, 2 Redwing Atherington. The best of the rest being 1 Little Egret, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 2 Grey Partridge.

Very quiet in the patch this morning with 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Goldcrests, plus 1 Stonechat. Also 25 Brents in the fields with 5 Grey partridge.
Had a light passage of finches going E - 120 Goldfinch, 35 Siskin and 8 Redpoll, plus 8 Skylarks and then 3 late Swallows.

Climping Gap: The weather forecast promised a dry and fairly bright morning in this area, but it was way off the mark as rain was the order of the day. I put in a couple of hours at Atherington, which was predictably slow, feeling like winter has arrived:-
Great Crested Grebe – 6 offshore
Red-b Merganser – 14 o/s moving back and forth
Gannet – 5 W
Brent Goose – 10 in fields
Grey Partridge - 5
Redpoll – 2 E
Siskin – 2 E
Long-tailed Tit – flock of 18
Goldcrest – 4

Very quiet in the patch this morning with 40 Brent Geese in fields east of bread lane. 3 Redpoll over Bailiffscourt, 1 Treecreper, 7 Goldcrest, 1 Little Egret 1 Sparrowhawk, good numbers of Pied Wagtail on the beach as well as several Sanderling.

Very quiet in the patch this morning with nothing moving offshore apart from 5w distant Gannet, 2w 2e Brent Geese with another 3 in the field west of the mill. 60 Sanderling, 23 Grey Plover on West Beach, and 33 Cormorant roosting on the river mouth arm. The best of the rest being singles of Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Stonechat, Little Egret, Jay, 5 Goldcrest and 10 Meadow Pipit.

1 RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER at Climping beach this morning seen from the car park with the local tit flock, and  then again from the footpath that runs between the Atherington Pools upto the sea front. Also today singles of Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Firecrest, Garden Warbler, and Wheatear. 2 Stonechat, 20 Chiffchaff, 25 Blackacap, 4 Redpoll, 60 Siskin, 20 Pied Wagatil, and 45 Goldfinch. Offshore 5w Gannet, 1 Great-crested Grebe and several Med Gull.

A short visit to Climping today, where it was much the same as yesterday for common migrants though Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were fewer in number and Meadow Pipits more obvious. The only highlight being a flock of 5 Jays west  and a Nuthatch at Bailiffscourt hotel entrance.

Climping on Thursday where  in three hours 50 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff were logged, also singles of Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, and a steady stream of House Martin and Swallows moving west. Bird of the morning was a Woodlark that was located by its musical call.

Combined totals today include 5 Golden Plover seen twice flying over fields west of Bailiffscourt, also Little Owl there showing well. 3 Stonechat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, 30 Chiffchaff, 7 Wheatear, 13 Yellow Wagtail, 130 Pied Wagtail, 50 Meadow Pipit, 24 Linnet, 33 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, small groups of Goldfinch, 10 Skylark, 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk,  27 Med Gull, 7 Little Egret, 1 Great-crested Grebe, several Gannet offshore, and good numbers of Swallow and House Martin constantly moving west.

Late look at Climping Beach this afternoon produced good numbers of Med Gull on the tidline with at least 90 being recorded> Also 4 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 17w Brent Geese, 8w Sandwich Tern, 12 Curlew, a few distant Gannets offshore, and good numbers of Swallow moving east.

Thurs 27th Produced a notable increase in migrant activity at the patch. Good numbers of finches were on the move with 52 Siskin, 25 Linnets and 120 Goldfinch moving east, plus a couple of Yellow Wagtails and 2 Grey Wagtail west. The bushes held at least 60 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, and singles of Garden Warbler, Redstart, and Wheatear, whilst overhead a mixed flock of about 1000 hirundine eventually moved off east.

Additional records for the day include 1  Nuthatch heard at the nw corner of the golf course, 4 Pied Wagtails, 12 Skylark, 1 Bullfinch, and 70+ Meadow Pipit.

Combined totals for today were rather disappointing considering the coverage the patch received today.  A flushed Grasshopper Warbler in Bailiffscout Court was a welcome surprise late morning, 1-2 Redpoll  and 26 Siskin calling moving east. There seemed to be more Blackcap than Chiffchaff with 40 of the former and 30+ of the latter, 6 Yellow Wagtail,  4 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler,  50 Linnet, 25 Meadow Pipit, 1-2 Stonechat, 5 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 20 Med Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern and  70  House Martin.

Bit of a ground hog day at the patch this morning fewer numbers of Med Gull with 50+ reported, singles of  Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 30 Chiffchaff, 24 Blackcap, 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear, 2 Reed Warbler, small numbers of Siskin moving east and good numbers of Swallow and House Martin, in the area. Also1 Little Egret, and 8 Curlew.

Thurs 19 Sept -  At Least 120 Med Gulls at Climping Beach this morning, of which 40 came in from the east. Most were on the beach near Poole Place, but didn,t get onto those until late morning and suspect more were present earlier. Other records for the day include 30 Chiffchaffs, 20 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, a couple of Yellow Wagtails and Siskins, 80 Meadow Pipit, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler and 4 Sandwich Tern.

Records for Sunday 16th, despite the cloud not as productive as Saturday, with 30 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Reed Warbler, 10, Wheatear, 30 Meadow Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 5 Grey Partridge, 5 Great spotted Woodpecker, 100 Swallow, 6 House Martin, and 1 Buzzard, offshore produced 1 Med Gull and 1 Great-crested Grebe.

Good number of birds moving west through the patch this morning. Combined totals include 250 Meadow Pipit, 70 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 30 Chiffchaff, 2 Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Stonechat, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Willow Warbler, 10 Wheatear, 15 Blackcap, 3 Reed Warbler,  9 Grey Partridge, 2 Buzzard 2 Little Owl and a Sparrowhawk.

Good number of birds around this morning, the most common being House Martin, with totals reaching 200+  20 Sand Martin, and good numbers of Swallow. 70+ Yellow Wagtail in the top fields along with 17 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat several Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtail over. In and around the bushes 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 23 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 2  Buzzard, 1-2 Sparrowhawk,  2 Little Egret, and 7 Med Gull.

Lot quieter in the patch today with only 1 Hobby, 2 Peregrine, 1 Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 12 wheatear, and 12 Whitethroat.

Red Footed Falcon Ivy Lake Chichester 06/09/2012

Lot quieter today with only 4 Redstarts, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Yellow Wagtail,  7 Willow Warbler, 9 Wheatear, 11 Whitethroat,4 Reed Warbler,  1 Sparrowhawk, and 1 Buzzard.

Few shotrs from Marsh Farm yesterday afternoon.

Still a lot of variety at the patch this morning with combined totals producing a Marsh Harrier gliding slowly east over the shoreline from the car park, 1-2 Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Redstart, 20 Wheatear, 30 Yellow Wagtail,3 Lesser Whitethroat,10 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler,  singles of Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Little Egret, 5 Curlew, 6 Med Gull and 4 Sandwich Tern on the beach.

Quick around the  golf course this morning produced 3 Redstart, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Bullfinch,  9 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 11 Whitetroat, and 1 Sparrowhawk, with good numbers of Swallow moving west along with 50+ House Martin, and several Sand Martin.

The calm and pleasant start to the morning didn't last, and the light drizzle that began soon turned into rain. There were a few migrants to be found before rain stopped play; a Grasshopper Warbler showed well briefly, singles of both Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler, 2 Redstarts were seen flitting around hedgerows, 12 Yellow Wagtail moved west and a Nuthatch which is scares at Climping was found in trees near the Black Horse Pub. 10 Reed Warblers low numbers of Blackcap, Whitethroat, and Willow Warbler and the regular Little Owl in Bailiffscourt

Additional records for friday 31st August include 1 Spotted Flycatcher, a Juv Grey Wagtail with 10+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Buzzards and 8 Sandwich Tern offshore.

With most of yesterdays Wheatear having departed and only 5 reported this morning, still plenty of variety in the area with 1 Hobby, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 50 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 1 Spotted Redshank, and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit.

A bit of a fall seem to have occurred at Climping today or was it that the wind had dropped  and everything was showing well, as the following numbers were logged. 65 Wheatear in the area along with 6 Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 12 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 11 Blackcap, 6 Reed Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, 50 Yellow Wagtail, 30 House Martin, 50 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk

In a non productive nw wind and passage offshore was virtually dead, the field and bushes were the only option. The highlight of the morning was a MARSH HARRIER that drifted west over the old camp site at 0900. Also today 1 Swift, 1 Redstart,2 Yellow Wagtail,  2 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Wheatear, 5 Reed Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler and Blackcap present. Still good number of finches in the area with 80 Linnet, 50 Greenfinch, and 5 Med Gull in field from the beach at Climping.

Good numbers of Gannet, Sandwich and Commic Tern offshore this morning moving mainly west, 7 Med Gull, but the highlight of the blustery morning was a Juv BLACK TERN giving close views. In Bailiffscourt the Little Owl and 1 Spotted Flycatcher present also 2 Yellow Wagtail flew over Bread lane.

A good variety of birds this morning in glorious sunshine, combined totals for the patch include singles of Hobby, Merlin, Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Pipit, Green Sandpiper, Peregrine,  Sparrowhawk and Whinchat.1-2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4-5 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Wheatear, 20 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Sand Martin, 7 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Little Egret, still about 50 Mediterranean Gull in the area,  good numbers of Commic and Sandwich Tern moving west, 1 Gannet, 2 Curlew, and 60+ Greenfinch.

In a brisk southerly breeze that seem to get stronger, it was pretty hard going at Climping this morning, highlights being 1 Hobby that drifted west over the camp site, 80+ Yellow Wagtail most west although about 25 settled in field behind horse paddock. 1 Spotted Fly at the Mill, 15 Sand Martin, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 5 Reed Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, and 2 Buzzard. Offshore still plenty of Med Gull in the area, and 20w Sandwich and 2 Commic Tern.

Sunday 26th 1 Redstart, 9 Willow Warbler, 4 Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 3 Blackcap and 2 Reed Warbler.