A Little Gull commuting between Littlehampton beach and the first field west of the golf course with several Black-headed Gull until midday at least. 3 large flocks of duck moving distantly west offshore c.200, a small flock consisting of 12 birds held both Wigeon and Pintail. Also 1 Diver sp east, 1w Shelduck, 10 Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat in the paddock, and singles of both Kestrel and Buzzard.

Far too busy in the patch this morning, dog walkers I mean. With a good SSE blow and bright conditions I was hopeful of some movement offshore, alas everything too far out, even the Brent moving distantly.

Brent Geese - 63e
Red-breasted Merganser - 3 on sea
Mediterranean Gull - 5w
Grey Plover - 49 on beach
Sanderling - 22w
Oystercatcher - 7w
Kestrel - 1
Stonechat - 1
Pied Wagtail - 5

Kestrel climping car park

Med Gull

Pied Wagtail

A couple of hours spent in the patch this morning produced a single flock of c.200 Brent Geese flying  east over the car park.  A  Coat Tit with the Tit flock around Atherington, also Treecreeper and 4 Goldcrest, plus singles of Buzzard, Kestrel and 3 Jay.

A sea watch from the Climping car park for just over an hour from 09:15 until the rain kicked in produced.

Great Northern Diver - 1w
Sanderling - 75w
Grey Plover - c.100w
Knot - 1w
Turnstone - 70 on beach
Oystercatcher - 5w
Ringed Plover - 1w
Red-breasted Merganser 5w
Brent Geese - 4w 2e
Mediterranean Gull - 4w
Gannet - 15w

An adult winter Little Gull on east beach amongst the roosting Black-headed Gull was a nice surprise this morning. On West Beach 19 Sanderling, 5E Brent Geese 3 Meadow Pipit 1 Grey Heron and a Redshank at the Marina concluded the measly totals

With the incessant tide washing away more of the shingle forming the sea defence at Climping Beach, more of the historical buildings that lied in the parish of Cudlow are now exposed.

Cudlow exposed

Very quiet in the patch this morning from mid morning with little movement offshore and no sign of the recent Dusky Warbler, last seen on the Friday 11th.
Gannet - 18W
Brent Geese - 14E 10W
Red-breasted Merganser - 7E 5os
Great-crested Grebe - 1os
Sanderling - 17W 5E
Auk sp - 1W
Common Scoter - 1W
Grey Plover - 1
Oystercatcher - 17
Mediterranean Gull - 5
Grey Partridge - 3
Meadow Pipit - 9
Pied Wagtail - 6
Goldcrest - 1
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 1
Kingfisher - 1

The Dusky Warbler still present today although proving to be very elusive, also singles of Chiffchaff and Stonechat, offshore in a thirty minute sea watch from 11:30 produced 47 Gannet 3Med Gull, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Brent Geese and 15 Ringed Plover all moving west.

Marsh Farm Yapton 08:20 - 11:00

2 Egyptian Geese on the big pool

Egyptian Geese - 2
Gadwall - 65
Teal - 19
Wigeon - 5
Pochard - 3
Shelduck - 1
Little Grebe - 1
Water Rail - 1
Cormorant - 7
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 3
Goldcrest - 5
Siskin - 3
Bullfinch - 2
Yellowhammer - 2
Fieldfare - 3
Redwing - 5
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1
Lapwing - 47
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 2

Started the morning with a sea watch at Climping which proved very uneventful, but was rewarded for my efforts with a Dusky Warbler around Atherington Pools, calling frequently but mobile, apologies for not obtaining better shots.

Dusky Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 5
Siskin - 4
Stonechat - 1
Brent Geese - 73W 6E
Pintail - 3W
Common Scoter - 1W
Diver sp - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 4W 1 on sea
Great-crested Grebe - 6W 3 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4W 7E
Grey Plover - 33W 24 in fields

Sanderling - 5W
Curlew - 45
Ringed Plover - 23
Grey Partridge - 5
Peregrine - 1

A bit of movement this morning off Climping car park with all three divers noted, a Velvet Scoter and a Slav Grebe that drifted east then back west.
Velvet Scoter - 1W 
Slavonian Grebe - 1 on sea 
Great Northern Diver - 2W
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Diver sp - 4E
Brent Geese 32E 41W
Common Scoter - 1E
Great-crested Grebe - 15W 3E and 7 on sea
Red-breasted Merganser - 9W 5E
Mediterranean Gull - 2W 1E 1 on sea
Razorbill - 1W
Grey Plover - 37 in field end of long wood
Dunlin - 1

Slav Grebe

Peregrine - 1W
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Pied Wagtail - 7
Siskin - 2
Stonechat - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 3

Highlight of the morning for one lucky observer was a Lapland Bunting calling over head from the golf course but not reloacted. Combined totals for the rest of the morning below; 

Blackbird

Lapland Bunting - 1

Peregrine - 2

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 2

Water Rail - 1
Gannet 1E

Grey Heron - 2

Wood Pigeon - 60

Red-throared Diver - 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 10E 2W

Great-crested Grebe - 12

Shelduck - 1W

Razorbill - 1W
Brent Geese - 20W 5E & 10 on beach

Grey Plover - 37

Redshank - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Reed Bunting - 2

Greenfinch - 50

Linnet - 40

Goldfinch - 70

Siskin - 7

Meadow Pipit - 19

Skylark - 9

Stonechat - 1

Song Thrush - 7

Grey Wagtail - 1

Goldcrest - 7

A walk around Marsh Farm this afternoon produced 2 Firecrest on track down to the level crossing.

Firecrest - 2 

Goldcrest - 4

Chiffchaff - 1

Bullfinch - 5

Siskin - 10
Skylark - 3

Redwing - 11

Fieldfare - 7

Grey Wagtail - 1

Yellowhammer - 6

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Gadwall - 57

At least 2 Firecrest today

Teal - 19

Pochard - 5

Water Rail - 1

Grey Heron - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Green Woodpecker - 1

Several Bullfinch Marsh Farm

Fieldfare

With the the Environment Agency back for the winter moving the shingle,  the beach was not as productive as yesterday, but another Great Northern Diver this time heading west.
Great Northern Diver - 1W

Great Northern Diver, honestly

Shoveler - 1W
Gannet - 4W
Great-crested Grebe - 7 4W 3 on sea
Brent Geese - 3W
Sanderling - 15
Dunlin - 1
Turnstone - c. 70
Grey Plover - 1W
Curlew - 1W
Little Egret - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 7

Meadow Pipit Climping Beach

Goldfinch - 55W
Siskin - 2W
Pied Wagtail - 14
Meadow Pipit - 6
Stonechat - 2

Mediterranean Gull

Turnstone

Sea watch from Climping car park, very grey start, intermittent sunny spells mid morning with the wind from west south west. First good count of Brent Geese along the beach.

Great Northern Diver - 1E

Red-Throated Diver 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1 on sea

Brent Geese - 245E  51W

Mediterranean Gull - 15W

Sanderling - c.100W

Turnstone - 120 on beach & west

Oystercatcher - 11 beach

Golden Plover - 5 fields west of Bailiffscourt

Grey Plover - 3E 1W

Wigeon - 1W

Great-crested Grebe - 1W

Kingfisher - 1

Kestrel - 1

Meadow Pipit - 5

Linnet - 33

Pied Wagtail - 9

Goldcrest - 2

 Very quiet in the patch over the last few days even with some good coverage, with very little moving offshore. 

Sanderling Climping Beach

West Beach
Turnstone - 40
Sanderling - 20
Meadow Pipit - 15
Greenfinch - 2
Pied Wagtail - 1
Brent Geese - 5w
Ringed Plover - 2w
Oystercatcher - 11
Goldfinch - 15w

Climping 

2nd Winter Herring Gull

Mediterranean Gull - 8
Great-crested Grebe - 3 os
Brent Geese - 7w
Curlew - 3w
Grey Plover 2w
Sanderling - 45w
Turnstone - 75 on beach & west
Pied Wagtail - 6
Meadow Pipit - 3
Siskin - 2
Goldcrest - 6
Linnet - 3
Song Thrush - 1
Kestrel - 1
Kingfisher - 1 Ath Pools

Common Gull 

Cormorant Marina

Kestrel

Pied Wagtail

Climping - Tuesday 10th Nov

Brent Geese - 25w 5e
Sanderling - 41w 2e
Turnstone c. 100
Oystercatcher - 6w
Mediterranean Gull - 11w 1e
Great-crested Grebe - 
Diver spa - 1e

Highlight of the morning was a Firecrest around Atherington pools, with very little moving offshore.
Brent Geese - 10E 6W
Wigeon - 14W
Mediterranean Gull - 5W
Great-crested Grebe - 2W 1 on sea
Curlew - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E
Sanderling - 3
Firecrest - 1
Goldcrest - 17
Goldfinch - 175E
Redpoll - 3E
Linnet - 65E
Siskin - 7
Pied Wagtail - 20
Skylark - 5
Meadow Pipit - 11
Reed Bunting - 1
Kestrel - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1
Jay - 3
Green Woodpecker - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

A grey mild morning with the nothing moving offshore even with a south easterly. Small  flocks of Finches on the move east, a clear out of Goldcrest over night.
Goldfinch - c.450
Siskin - 15
Redpoll - 7
Linnet - 50
Meadow Pipit - 17
Pied Wagtail - 27
Skylark - 7
Reed Bunting - 2
Goldcrest - 15
Mistle Thrush - 2
Treecreeper - 1
Stonechat - 2
Kestrel - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Grey Heron - 2
Grey Plover - 2
Sanderling - 47
Curlew - 21
Kingfisher - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 13
Great-crested Grebe - 5

Very mild for the time of year, no wind but with fog over the coast line until mid morning. Combined totals today include 2 Coal Tit seen in trees by the metal gate along Climping street before the hotel entrance. 

Goldcrest in good numbers today

Coal Tit - 2 
Chiffchaff - 3
Goldcrest - c.75
Grey Wagtail - 1
Pied Wagtail - 25
Meadow Pipit - 20
Redpoll - 7
Siskin - 16
Skylark - 13
Brent - Geese - 11w 7& 16 on beach
Great-crested Grebe - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 5
Sanderling - 11w
Grey Heron - 2

Peregrine 

Little Egret - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Grey Partridge - 5
Peregrine - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 1
Swallow - 2

Dartford Warbler on Climping Beach sunday 1st Nov.  photo's by Dorian Mason

Quiet in the patch this morning with a Black Redstart seen around Climping car park for its second day, small numbers of Siskin and Redpoll moving east and 10 Grey Partridge. 

A mass clearout of Goldcrest must have occured last night with only small numbers present this morning, although the blustery conditions may have prevented a few showing. Records this morning forr west beach and the golf course.
Treecreper - 1
Goldcrest - 7
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldfinch - 80E
Redpoll - 2E
Skylark - 5
Pied Wagtail - 11
Meadow Pipit - 12
Greenfinch - c. 60
Brent Geese - 28W
Turnstone - 42
Sanderling - 3
Grey Plover - 1W
Oystercatcher - 11
Stonechat - 2
Grey Partridge - 10

No sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler reported from Bailiffscourt yesterday but still plenty of Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest in the area.  Dartford Warbler still at Climping beach, 2 Grey Wagtail,  and 6 Chiffchaff. 1 Kingfisher 3 Chiffchaff,  2 Blackcap, 50 Skylark, and 35 Goldcrest, with small numbers of Siskin and Redpoll in and around first wood.

A Yellow-browned Warbler heard several times around the entrance to Bailiffscourt but not seen, and  c. 100 Goldcrest in the area. Also this morning a  single Dartford Warbler at Climping Beach.

A blustery but mild morning on the patch with enough birds to hold your interest but nothing unexpected.

Sparrowhawk - 1

Buzzard - 1

Kestrel - 1

Grey Heron - 1

Grey Rartridge - 5

Little Grebe - 1

Water rail - 1

Med Gull - 6

Redshank - 1

Kingfisher - 2

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 20

Skylark - 45

Stonechat - 3

Goldcrest - 35

Chiffchaff - 5

Goldfinch - 80

Linnet - 250

Siskin a few overhead east

A Great Grey Shrike seen around the horse paddock and nearby fields this morning, showing well until 12:30 at least when it was flushed by a overhead  drone. 2 Dartford Warbler in the Tamerisk on Climping Beach west of the car park, and at  least 2 Short-eared Owl still in the area.  Small numbers of finches still on the move east including 2 Brambling, 1 of which was lingering around Atherington pools. 7 Grey Partridge and a large flock of Linnet totalling c250 seen in the fields.

 Late news of a Lesser Whitethroat and a presumed Saker Falcon with jessies.

Pictures by Dick Nnapp of today's Great Grey Shrike and Dartford Warbler

At least 5 Short-eared Owl in the patch this morning, with four together flushed from the rife at Climping and another in fields west of the car park. At Climping beach nine Egyptian Goose flew west over the tideline. Small flocks of Goldfinch and Siskin still moving east 

One of five in the area today

Short-eared Owl - 5
Egyptian Geese - 9W
Brambling - 6
Redpoll - 11
Chiffchaff - 33
Goldcrest - 15
Blackcap - 11
Wheatear - 1
Meadow Pipit - 25
Linnet - 45
Reed Bunting - 3
Treecreeper - 1
Redwing - 1

Grey Heron

Kingfisher - 2
Little Egret - 3
Peregrine - 2
Kestrel - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1
House Martin - 3
Swallow - 15
Green Woodpecker - 4
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2
Jay - 2

Plenty of Chiffs back of golf course

Little Egret

Long-tailed Tit 

Meadow Pipit

Male Stonechat

2-3 Short-eared Owl performing around West Beach this morning, a Merlin, and 3 Brambling east with the diminishing number of Finches were the highlights. 

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - 2-3 
Merlin - 1

Brambling - 3

Chiffchaff - 23

Goldcrest - 12
Reed Bunting - 4

Pied Wagtail - 25

Skylark - 22

Redpoll - 10

Goldfinch - 150
Wheatear - 1

Linnet - 35

Stonechat - 3

Swallow - 80

House Martin - 13

 West Beach sand dunes

Meadow Pipit - 27
Mistle Thrush - 1

Kestrel - 1

Buzzard - 3

Peregrine - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Grey Heron - 3

Little Egret - 2
Grey Partridge - 5
Kingfisher - 1
Water Rail - 1
Water Vole - 1

Meadow Pipit West Beach

Blackcap First Wood

Little Egret Golf Course

With plenty of coverage in the patch again this morning unfortunately resulted in little return for the efforts, highlights being 2 Brambling, Coal Tit and Rock Pipit. Still a good movement of Finches on the move although in reduced numbers from the past week, and small numbers of  Hirundine continue to feature. Pied Wagtail present in good numbers this morning with c100  and 3 Grey Wagtail. The best of the rest being Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush and Water Rail heard from the reedbed.

Yesterday Sat 18th 4 Short-eared Owl flushed from the dunes at West Beach was a memorable sight.

Usual fare again this morning despite the good coverage in the patch, the prolonged N/NE weather has resulted in a very quiet period, although hopefully better times to come.

Peregrine - 2

Little Owl - 1

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 2

Curlew - 2

Kingfisher - 2

Water Rail - 2

Pied Wagtail - 80

Meadow Pipit - 40

Stonechat - 7

Goldcrest - 4

Coal Tit -1 (not continental)

Long tailed Tit - 25

Chiffchaff - 24

Blackcap - 1

Siskin - 100+

Goldfinch - 300+

Redpoll - 10

Swallows and House Martins over the sand dunes at West Beach  in reasonable numbers.

Spent the morning wandering around the golf course, counting Goldfinch moving through east.

Stonechat

 Goldfinch - c 800 e

Siskin - c 120

Redpoll - 3

Pied Wagtail - 44

Reed Bunting - 3

Skylark - 8

Meadow Pipit - 16

Stonechat - 3

Chiffchaff - 17

Goldcrest - 7

Blackcap - 5

Teal - 1

Brent Geese - 3 west beach

Kingfisher - 2

Turnstone 

Treecreeper - 1 first wood

Kestrel - 2

Buzzard - 1

Green Woodpecker - 3

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Grey Heron - 1

Little Egret - 1

House Martin - 20

Swallow - 100

Chiffchaff

Plenty of Pied Wag on the golf course

Buzzard

A flock of 30 Redwing moving north over Marsh Farm on Wed 14th were the only birds of note.

Records for Tues 13th covering Climping end of the patch.

Pied Wagtail - 30

Siskin - 60

Redpoll - 8

Goldfinch - c 400

Skylark - 15

Linnet - 17

Meadow Pipit - 40

Chiffchaff - 18

Stonechat - 6

Wheatear - 1

Kestrel - 2

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 2

Great- spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 80

House Martin - 17

Brent Geese - 11W 1E