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.