The Kumlien's Gull still present from the river mouth at midday today, also the Hoopoe still viewable from the horse paddock late afternoon. A Long-tailed Duck moving east with Common Scoter landed on the sea for a couple of minutes then continued its passage east at 09:08 the rest of the sea watch totals include,
Sandwich Tern 15e
Brent Geese 118e
Red-throated Diver 5e 1os
Diver spa 1e
Fulmar 3e 2w
Mediterranean Gull 7e
Common Scoter 187e
Shelduck 2w
Red-breasted Merganser 7e 4w
Gannet 1e
Great-crested Grebe 5os
The best of the rest include 1 White Wagtail, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Coal Tit around the Marina, 1 Yellowhammer, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Buzzard and 2 Peregrine.

Late report for yesterday, of  2 Jack Snipe flushed from the field adjacent to Longwood, flew into undergrowth and lost to view. All birders visiting the area are reminded of the need to use the beach car park and do not park in the hotel grounds.

Combined totals for today from 06:45, started with a sea watch from the car park that included a Spoonbill north east at 08:55 and a Hoopoe in the horse paddock at 11:00, then relocated in the hotel grounds, were 2 Raven flew over early afternoon.

Hoopoe Horse Paddock

Also 5e Little Gull, 3e Med Gull, 10e Sandwich Tern, 5e Shoveler, 1w Fulmar, 1e Eider, 7e Curlew, c130 Common Scoter with 40os, 16e Brent Geese, 7 Ringed Plover, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Buzzard, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail,  4 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, and 2 Peregrine.

In a bitterly cold ESE wind I brave the elements for two hours from 09:00 for some sea watching from the car park. The best I could muster was 145e Common Scoter, 274e Brent Geese, and 4e Pintail. The White Wagtail still in the horse paddock along with 2 Grey Partridge, and the Kumlien's Gull flying over the river mouth at 11:50.

Brent Geese on the move

Around Marsh Farm late afternoon, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 1 Water Rail, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 Little Egret, 6 Tufted Duck, 20 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Lapwing, 3 Shelduck, 2 Buzzard, 20 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing and c60 Black-headed Gull.

Very slow again offshore with 3e Sandwich Tern, c40os Common Scoter, 1w Brent Goose, 1w Gannet, 2e 2w Red-breasted Merganser, 2os Great-crested Grebe, 7 Ringed Plover and 30 Sanderling. In and around the bushes 1 White Wagtail and 2 Grey Partridge in the horse paddock, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Jay, and 4 Buzzard.

The Kumlien's Gull on the wall west side of the river 100yds from the river mouth.

Combined totals for this morning include 3-4 Wheatear and 2 Yellowhammer at West Beach, 1 White Wagtail and 2 Grey Partridge horse paddock. 1 Blackcap at the Mill, good number of both Linnet and Meadow Pipit in off the sea, 2 Chiffchaff 1 Goldcrest and 3 Buzzard.   Offshore 27e Brent Geese, 20os Common Scoter, 3os Great-crested Grebe, 4w Red-breasted Merganser,  1w Med Gull, 1w Fulmar, 3 Curlew, 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret.

White Wagtail Horse Paddock

The Kumlien's Gull on the ramp of the Life Boat Station and Glaucous Gull present near the river mouth at midday today.

Kumlien's Gull present at the River mouth this morning. 3 Wheatear around West Beach and the Yellowhammer back of the Golf Course. Very quiet offshore, but c50 Common Scoter on the sea along with 11 Red-breasted Merganser, and 5 Great-crested Grebe. Waders on the tideline included, 15 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, and 8 Ringed Plover. 3 Lesser B B Gull at the Marina, singles of both Grey Heron and Little Egret and 4 Buzzard in the fields.

Lesser B-B Gull Marina

Linnet Golf Course

Afternoon visit around the Farm produced 12 Little Egret, 30 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 2 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 10 Lapwing, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Buzzard 3 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunting and 1 Fieldfare.

Yellowhammer Marsh Farm

The Glaucous and Kumlien's Gull still at river mouth, two male Wheatears around dunes with 1 also at the horse paddock along with 2 Grey Partridge.

What a day, glorious sunshine and signs of spring passage at last. Sea watching off Climping car park at 07:15 looked very slow with only 1w Gannet, 3w Shelduck, and 1w Fulmar, then discovered 2 Slavonian Grebe west of the car park moving slowly west. Observers then gathered then Dan Booker picked up 5 Red Kite  over Poole Place, 2 later seen heading north over the golf course and a further 3 flying in off the sea heading up river. Ten Red Kite but could possibly been even more, what a great spectacle.

Also today, 20 Great-crested Grebe, c50 Common Scoter, 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 2w Dunlin, 60w Oystercatcher, c150w Turnstone, 9w Grey Plover, 2 Wheatear,  horse paddock and west beach, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer, back of the golf course,  1 Chiffchaff, 8 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, and small groups of mainly Meadow Pipit in off the sea.

Wheatear horse field

Red Kite proved prominate today with 1 at 08:00 and 2 at 10:12 moving west behind Longwood. The Kumlien's Gull still present in the river on the roof of the Look See Centre. Very quiet offshore with only 23 Common Scoter on sea, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3w 1e Brent Geese, 2w Dunlin, 1 Blackcap at the Mill path, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 1 Wheatear just outside the patch at Elmer.

A visit to Marsh Farm late morning produced a Black Redstart in the field right of the footpath from the Yapton road. Also present, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, 13 Gadwall, 8 Pochard, 20 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebe, 5 Little Egret, 1 Greylag Goose, 7 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 50 Redwing, and 3 Kestrel.

Black Redstart Marsh Farm

Pied Wagtail

The fog never lifted until late afternoon putting paid to a good day's birding. The Kumliens and Glaucous Gull still present from the River mouth this afternoon, 1 Wheatear, West Beach, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing Bailiffscourt, 37 Meadow Pipit mainly moving north, 2 Buzzard, 5e Brent Geese, 2e Med Gull, 26 Sanderling and a Peregrine Falcon on the Gas Tower.

 Herring Gull with abnormal bill

The Kumliens and Glaucous Gull present this morning from the River mouth, 2 Grey Partridge in the horse paddock and 2 Firecrest seen at Atherington.

Below is the history of two Mediterranean Gulls seen in a flock of 75 birds at West Beach Littlehampton on the 5th March 2014. 

White        3C14      v             18/08/2005 La Flotte en Ré, Pointe des Barres, Ile de Ré, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,11N 1,18W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v              29/08/2005 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          12/09/2005 La Flotte en Ré, Pointe des Barres, Ile de Ré, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,11N 1,18W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          14/09/2005 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          07/12/2005 Beauvoir-sur-Mer, Matte à Naulleau, Vendée, FRANCE  46,54N 2,03W Cosson, Matthieu

White       3C14      v          08/01/2006 Ile de Noirmoutier, Passage du Gois, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Cosson, Matthieu

White       3C14      v          08/01/2006 Ile de Noirmoutier, Passage du Gois, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Warembourg, Jacques

White       3C14      v          08/01/2006 Ile de Noirmoutier, Passage du Gois, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Warembourg, Nicolas

White       3C14      v          11/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Gibourdel, Severine

White       3C14      v          11/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Huchin, François

White       3C14      v          12/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Gibourdel, Severine

White       3C14      v          12/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Huchin, François

White       3C14      v          17/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Gibourdel, Severine

White       3C14      v          17/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Huchin, François

White       3C14      v          18/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Huchin, François

White       3C14      v          18/04/2006 Le Platier d'Oye Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  51N 2,02E Gibourdel, Severine

White       3C14      c          03/06/2006 Ardres, le Pont d'Ardres, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  50,53N 1,59E Deroo, Sandrine

White       3C14      c          03/06/2006 Ardres, le Pont d'Ardres, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  50,53N 1,59E Deroo, Serge

White       3C14      c          03/06/2006 Ardres, le Pont d'Ardres, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  50,53N 1,59E Duborper Jean Pierre

White       3C14      c          03/06/2006 Ardres, le Pont d'Ardres, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  50,53N 1,59E Duponcheel, Camille

White       3C14      c          03/06/2006 Ardres, le Pont d'Ardres, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE  50,53N 1,59E Raevel, Pascal

White       3C14      v          24/09/2006 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          23/03/2007 Marais d' Olonne, Vendée, FRANCE  46,33N 1,48W Barzic, André

White       3C14      v          27/02/2008 Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, GB  51,1N 1,14W Shillitoe, John

White       3C14      v          23/04/2008 Noordelijk Insteekdok, Oost-Vlaanderen, BELGIUM  51,17N 4,13E Flamant, Renaud

White       3C14      v          29/04/2008 Noordelijk Insteekdok, Oost-Vlaanderen, BELGIUM  51,17N 4,13E Flamant, Renaud

White       3C14      v          02/05/2008 Noordelijk Insteekdok, Oost-Vlaanderen, BELGIUM  51,17N 4,13E Flamant, Renaud

White       3C14      v          16/07/2008 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          28/07/2008 La Flotte en Ré, Villeneuve, Ile de Ré, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,11N 1,2W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          15/08/2008 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          02/03/2009 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Marty, Régis

White       3C14      v          13/03/2009 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Marty, Régis

White       3C14      v          30/03/2009 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Marty, Régis

White       3C14      v          03/07/2009 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE  47,25N 0,48E Griard, Benjamin

White       3C14      vv         14/09/2009 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          07/10/2009 Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Le Goulet, Vendée, FRANCE  46,24N 1,32W Salmon, Franck

White       3C14      v          08/10/2009 Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Le Goulet, Vendée, FRANCE  46,24N 1,32W Croisé, Jean Claude

White       3C14      v          17/05/2010 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE  47,25N 0,48E Griard, Benjamin

White       3C14      v          18/09/2010 L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,12N 1,12W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          28/09/2010 Marsilly, Les Conches, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,13N 1,1W Le Gall, Pierre

White       3C14      v          02/07/2011 Saint-Denis-d'Oleron, la Morelière, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,02N 1,23W Jomat, Loïc

White       3C14      v          03/07/2011 Saint-Denis-d'Oleron, la Morelière, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,02N 1,23W Jomat, Loïc

White       3C14      p          06/12/2011 La Rochelle le port, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,1N 1,13W Mercier, Fabien

White       3C14      v          20/10/2012 Puyrolland, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,02N 0,41W Jourde, Philippe

White       3C14      v          27/12/2012 La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,09N 1,1W Gonin, Julien

White       3C14      v          10/05/2013 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Liard, Pierre

White       3C14      v          13/05/2013 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Liard, Pierre

White       3C14      v          14/05/2013 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Liard, Pierre

White       3C14      v          16/05/2013 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Liard, Pierre

White       3C14      v          16/05/2013 Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE  46,56N 2,09W Marty, Régis

White       3C14      k          10/11/2013 Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Le Goulet, Vendée, FRANCE  46,24N 1,32W Salmon, Franck

White       3C14      v          01/02/2014 La Rochelle le port, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,1N 1,13W Mercier, Fabien

White       3C14      v          05/02/2014 La Rochelle le port, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE  46,1N 1,13W Mercier, Fabien

White       3C14      v          05/04/2014 Littlehampton beach, Sussex, GB  50,48N 0,32W Pulley, Richard

        Total number of sightings :                        54

 R52N  ringed by Cap Ornis Baguage team

vv       07/01/2011 Foz do Lizandro, Mafra, Lisboa, Estremadura, PORTUGAL  38,56N 9,25W - Rooselaer, Edwin

vv       07/01/2011 Foz do Lizandro, Mafra, Lisboa, Estremadura, PORTUGAL  38,56N 9,25W -Flamant, Renaud

vv       07/01/2011 Foz do Lizandro, Mafra, Lisboa, Estremadura, PORTUGAL  38,56N 9,25W -Goris, Guido

vv       07/01/2011 Foz do Lizandro, Mafra, Lisboa, Estremadura, PORTUGAL  38,56N 9,25W Verdegem, Philippe

vv       07/01/2011 Foz do Lizandro, Mafra, Lisboa, Estremadura, PORTUGAL  38,56N 9,25W Kearsley, Lyndon

vv       30/07/2011 Morsalines, 'La Redoute', Manche, France  49,34N 1,18W    Crestey, Samuel

vv       18/09/2011 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, 'Pont de Saire', Manche, FRANCE  49,36N 1,15W Crestey, Samuel

vv       13/10/2011 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, 'Pont de Saire', Manche, FRANCE  49,36N 1,15W Crestey, Samuel

vv       08/08/2012 Gatteville, Plage de Gattemare, Manche, FRANCE  49,42N 1,17W        Salmon, Franck

vv       08/08/2012 Gatteville, Plage de Gattemare, Manche, FRANCE  49,42N 1,17W        Legrand, Laurent

vv       10/08/2012 Gatteville, Plage de Gattemare, Manche, FRANCE  49,42N 1,17W        Salmon, France                                                                                                                                                     

vv       10/08/2012 Gatteville, Plage de Gattemare, Manche, FRANCE  49,42N 1,17W Legrand, Laurent

vv       04/01/2013 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, 'Pont de Saire', Manche, FRANCE  49,36N 1,15W Crestey, Samuel

vv       02/02/2014 Gatteville-Phare, 'Le Crabec', Manche, France  49,41N 1,16W Hemon, Audrey

vv       02/02/2014 Gatteville-Phare, 'Le Crabec', Manche, France  49,41N 1,16W Lecaplain, Benoît

vv       05/03/2014 Littlehampton beach, Sussex, GB  50,48N 0,32W Pulley, Richard

This afternoon around Marsh Farm produced,
Little Grebe  - 2
Lapwing - 7
Gadwall -  6
Teal -  2
Pochard - 1
Shelduck - 2
Wigeon - 2
Tufted Duck - 3
Little Egret - 3
Snipe - 2
Greylag Geese - 2
Black-headed Gull - 150
Common Gull - 40
Fieldfare - 23
Redwing - 2
Jay - 2
Chiffchaff - 2

Greylag Geese

The Kumlien's Gull still present this morning down river opposite the Golf Club entrance mid morning. Offshore a Black-necked Grebe off Climping car park at 07:25, also 1os  Red-throated Diver, 2os Little Gull, c50os Common Scoter, with small groups moving east and west, 2w Teal, 2w Shelduck, 1e Curlew, 5 Med Gull, 2os Great-crested Grebe, 40 Sanderling, 5e Brent Geese, and several Red-breasted Mergansers. A Woodcock flushed from the footpath behind the Golf Course, singles of Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Grey Partridge, and 2 Goldcrest. Small numbers of Linnet and Meadow Pipit around West Beach.

Kumlien's Gull

Meadow Pipit West Beach

3 Red Kite NE over Littlehampton at 14:00

The Kumlien's Gull still present at the River mouth this morning, also 3-5 Little Gull still in the area. 3 Sandwich Tern the first of the spring flew east,  2 Greylag Geese, 1w Fulmar, 1w Shelduck, 2w 1e Great-crested Grebe and 1 Kiitiwake west over the fields. 1 Grey Wagtail flew east over bread lane,  at least 5 Chiffchaff in and around the patch with 1-2 Firecrest in woods behind the Golf course, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk  displaying and 2 Treecreeper Bailiffscourt.

Treecreeper Bailiffscourt

Water Vole in ditch Bread Lane