From the River bank, from the track opposite Tortington Lane, Mute Swan numbers up to 40, c.200 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover flew over calling, a cream capped Marsh Harrier, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, and good numbers of Yellowhammer and Skylark.

A quick look around Marsh Farm produced Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, and 2 Chiffchaff.

Movement again offshore from Poole Place this morning but sadly to distant to identify. (OM)

Red-throated Diver - 3E 1 os

Razorbill - 2

Shag - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 12

Great-crested Grebe - 4

Brent Geese - 30W

Med Gull - 22

Sanderling - 4

Ringed Plover - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Green Woodpecker - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 22

Buzzard - 1

Jay - 2

A hour this afternoon at Climping beach was rather quiet with just 3 Red-throated Diver west, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 17 Med Gull, 12 Oystercatcher and a single Meadow Pipit.

Yesterdays highlight was a Great-northern Diver, close inshore at Climping Beach, (AH), with small numbers of Brent Geese moving east and west.

Good variety seen in around the patch this morning with the highlights being 2 Velvet Scoter moving west (09:20) and further along the coast at Elmer/Middleton a Slavonian Grebe and a Merlin reported, lots of birds sadly moving distantly offshore. 

Velvet Scoter - 2W

Great-northern Diver - 2W

Red-throated Diver - 4W 1E

Diver sp -3W 1E

Med Gull - 15E 9W

Gannet - 25W

Brent Geese - 17E 10W

Shag - 1W

Teal - 23W

Shelduck - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 25 offshore

Great-crested Grebe - 1W

Oystercatcher - 12

Dunlin - 3W

Sanderling 2E 

Buzzard - 2

Pied Wagtail - 7

Meadow Pipit - 1

Skylark - 4

Jay - 1

Late start, but very quiet this morning compared from yesterday.

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Brent Geese - 13W

Common Scoter - 5 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 9 os

Great-crested Grebe - 2W

Sanderling 11W

Ringed Plover - 40

Dunlin -3

Oystercatcher - 10

From the river bank east of Tortington found good numbers of Yellowhammer, Skylark, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit in the fields east of the river, also the following.

Red Kite - 1

Buzzard - 1

Sparrowhawk - 2

Kestrel - 1

Mute Swan - 28

Common Sandpiper - 3

Oystercatcher - 1

Redshank - 1

Stonechat - 1

Chiffchaff- 1

Red Kite preformed well in good light

One of three Common Sandpiper

Hundreds of Gannet moving west at distant this morning, also many Auks.

Great Skua - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 4W 1os

Med Gull - 10

Common Scoter - 1

Wigeon - 5W

Shelduck 2W

Brent Geese - c.150+ 

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1

Red-breasted Merganser - 20

Great-crested Grebe 3os 1E

Dublin - 2W

Oystercatcher - 10

Common Scoter with Brents

An afternoon walk after the rain, found nothing in the fields, but hundreds of Gulls distantly moving west.

Red-throated Diver 1W

Med Gull - 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W

Oystercatcher - 20

Sanderling - 3

Turnstone - c.50

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 4

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 11

Skylark - 18

Meadow Pipit - 1

Stonechat - 1

Jay - 1

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Green Woodpecker - 1

Sea watch from Elmer Rocks from 08:55- 10:55 (OM)

Red-throated Diver 1E, 1W

Great-norther Diver - 1os

Diver sp - 2E

Brent Geese 176E, 3W

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 5W

Red-breasted Merganser - 8W

Razorbill - 2W

Auk sp - c.60 moving offshore

Kittiwake - c.80W, 20E

Med Gull - 2W

Checking the fields north of Ford Railway station found only 28 Mute Swan, but two Marsh Harrier east of the River opposite the Tortington turn off from Ford Road. Also singles of Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff,  2 Stonechat and 100+ Lapwing.  

Marsh Harrier

Yellow cap & dark Juv with tag

Common Sandpiper

A walk around Marsh Farm this morning found a Green Sandpiper showing well in the field opposite Peregrine House from Ford Lane,  also 3 Bullfinch, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Buzzard, and 3 Gadwall the only other birds of note.

A few stops around around the patch this morning found 4 Golden Plover in fields south off Ferry Road, also a single Mistle Thrush and 10 Song Thrush from Kents Farm.

A quick look around Climping this afternoon found c.450 Brent Geese in the field east of the Mill, 7 Skylark and a Grey Wagtail.

 An afternoon visit to Climping beach found several Divers on the sea with at least 9 present, drifting slowly west, also 3W 1E Diver sp. Also on the sea 1 Guillemot, 14 Wigeon, 20+ Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Great-crested Grebe, and 1E Common Scoter. Along the shoreline and in the fields, 40 Sanderling, 19 Grey Plover, 85 Turnstone, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Skylark and 1 Jay.

Red-throated Divers off Climping Beach

The 3 White-fronted Geese with a single Brent, seen on west beach, then again at the bottom of longwood and finally settled north of the golf course behind first wood.

White-fronted Geese - 3

Brent Geese - 1

Brambling - 1 hrd atherington pools

Water Rail - 1

Grey Heron - 5

Kingfisher - 1

Redshank - 1

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 2

Sanderling - 7

Kestrel - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Meadow Pipit - 1

Skylark - 5

Stonechat - 2

Song Thrush - 3

Goldcrest - 5

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Green Woodpecker - 1

White-fronts west beach

bottom of longwood

3 Egyptian Geese in fields north of the Knucker hole, also 160+ Lapwing in the area.

This morning covered the area from Kents Farm to the sea and back, finding the White-fronts still present and an increase in Brent Geese numbers. (RP)

White-fronted Geese - 3

Brent Geese - 891

Red-throated Diver - 2

Med Gull - 6

Auk sp - 1

Turnstone - 20

Buzzard - 3

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Pied Wagtail - 10

Grey Wagtail - 1

Skylark - 3

Chiffchaff - 1

 3 White-fronted Geese with c.350 Brent Geese in fields west of the Mill until 14:00 at least. Also 40 Grey Plover west beach, singles of Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, and 5 Skylark, 3 Great-crested Grebe on the sea and several of both Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit in the setaside field.

3 White-fronted Geese

Good coverage around the patch this morning still didn't provide anything of note.

Brent Geese - c.500+

Grey Plover - 46

Dunlin - 22

Ringed Plover - 12

Oystercatcher - 25

Sanderling - 20

Turnstone - 100+

Red-throated Diver - 2W

Shelduck - 2W

Great-crested Grebe - 7 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 12

Stonechat - 4

Song Thrush - 2

Meadow Pipit - 50

Pied Wagtail - 30

Common Sandpiper - 1 river

From Woods and fields north of Poole Place this morning produced a Woodcock from the field margin, a Brambling calling from treetops, and 31 Lapwing from the fields with a single Brent Goose. From the woods a Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. (OM)

Caspian Gull

 A productive couple of hours around the golf course this morning, with a male Black Redstart and 3 Grey Partridge, the first seen for a while, and Brent Geese still present in good numbers. Whilst trying to get a decent shot of an adult Lesser Blacked-backed Gull, looking at the only image shows a good candidate for a 1st winter Caspian.

Black Redstart - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Stonechat - 5

Redwing - 1

Grey Partridge - 3

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1

Snipe - 1or 2

Kingfisher - 1

Little Egret - 1

Grey Heron - 1

Brent Geese - c.700

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Green Woodpecker - 1

Meadow Pipit - 17

Skylark - 1

Goldfinch - 37

Pied Wagtail - 15

1st winter Caspain & Lesser BB Gull

Greenfinch

Elmer Rocks A fairly casual visit this morning produced a Rock Pipit on the beach, where there were also 42 Sanderlings roosting before the inevitable dog-walking disturbance. Offshore there was little to mention except for 6 Red-throated Divers east, 2 of which turned back and settled on the sea.

On the rock islands, 10 Ringed Plovers, a Grey Plover and several more Sanderlings were roosting, whilst about 15 Turnstones were around. The only passerines of note were 2 Pied Wagtails and 3 Chaffinch near Poole Place.

Rock Pipit (OM)

Sanderling (OM)

Quiet again offshore, with a few distant divers on the move. Brent numbers on the increase with c.750 present west of the Mill, and small numbers of waders along the beach.

Brent Geese - c.750

Wigeon - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 3, 1E 2W

Diver Sp - 4

Great-crested Grebe - 6 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 17 offshore

Med Gull - 1W

Grey Plover - 19

Curlew - 1W

Dunlin - 6

Sanderling - 18

Turnstone - nc

Skylark - 18

Meadow Pipit - 25

Pied Wagtail - 15

Stonechat - 1

Song Thrush - 1

Treecreeper - 1

Goldcrest - 6

Kestrel - 1

Brent numbers on the increase (Both pics AH)

An afternoon stroll around Marsh Farm in glorious sunshine found Chiffchaff present in double figures, singles of Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, 19 Gadwall on the big pool with a drake Wigeon.

An Egyptian Goose and Fieldfare from Rope Walk today. (RP)

Nothing moving offshore at Climping this morning, but an increase number of Brent Geese in the fields, good numbers of Merganser offshore and Sanderling along the beach.

Brent Geese - c.400+

Wigeon - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 8

Red-breasted Merganser - c.40+

Sanderling - 80+

Curlew - 1

Grey Plover - 36

Dunlin - 1

Ringed Plover - 2

Oystercatcher - 13

Turnstone - c.100

Med Gull - 2W

Meadow Pipit - 27

Skylark - 19

Pied Wagtail - 15

Grey Wagtail - 1

Stonechat - 2

A single Wigeon amongst the Brent flock

A nice walk around Marsh Farm with a Firecrest and a Raven the highlights this morning.

Raven - 1

Firecrest - 1

Goldcrest - 6

Chiffchaff - 7

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Treecreeper - 1

Yellowhammer - 4

Linnet - 13

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 6

Skylark - 1

Meadow Pipit - 7

Bullfinch - 2

Redwing - 1

Fieldfare - 6

Song Thrush - 7

Jay - 5

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 3

Green Woodpecker - 1

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 2

Gadwall - 3

The local Brent Geese moving east at Climping Beach this morning, gathered on the sea and eventually all relocated in the field east of the Mill.

Brent Geese - 276E 14W

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Common Scoter - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 23

Great-crested Grebe - 20

Grey Plover - 35

Ringed Plover - 4

Sanderling - 17

Oystercatcher - 13

Med Gull - 7

Skylark - 13

Linnet - 9

Meadow Pipit - 16

Pied Wagtail - 9

Reed Bunting - 1

Stonechat - 1

Goldcrest - 2

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Buzzard - 1

Green Woodpecker - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Jay - 1

Stock Dove - 2

Stonechat

 A walk around the golf course and up to bread lane and back, found a Common Sandpiper and Redshank in the river from the footbridge and a Firecrest in 1st wood.

Firecrest - 1 

Goldcrest - 5

Chiffchaff - 2

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Stonechat - 4

Meadow Pipit - 30

Skylark - 9

Pied Wagtail - 17

Siskin - 6

Redpoll - 3

Song Thrush - 3

Mistle Thrush - 2

Jay - 1

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Little Egret - 1

Buzzard - 1

Grey Plover - 16

Med Gull - 7

Great-crested Grebe - 3

Brent Geese - c.300

Redshank - 1

Common Sandpiper - 1

Brent Geese field west of Mill

Little Egret north of camp site

An afternoon look at the sea for an hour at Climping from 13:45:

Brent Geese - 300 cudlow field

Pintail - 2 os

Common Scoter - 2W

Red-breasted Merganser - 17 

Great-crested Grebe - 7

Diver sp 1W 1E

Med Gull - 15

Knot - 1w

Dunlin - 1w

Sanderling - 29

Oystercatcher - 19w

Kingfisher - 1 Ath pools

1st win Med Gull

Sanderling climping beach

Brent Geese - 250 cudlow field, 50W

Shelduck - 11W

Shag - 1 os 

Common Scoter - 1W 2E

Med Gull - 7

Grey Plover - 53

Sanderling - 39

Dunlin - 24

Ringed Plover - 9

Oystercatcher - 11

Lapwing - 1

Little Egret - 2

Meadow Pipit - c.50

Skylark - 19

Pied Wagtail - 15

Reed Bunting - 2

Redpoll - 3

Kestrel - 1

Buzzard - 1

A Firecrest in the wood north west of Poole Place, and good counts of 24 Great-crested Grebe and 28 Red-breasted Merganser from Elmer Rocks. (OM)

Quiet offshore this morning with small numbers of Gannet, Med Gull, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Mergansers and best of all a Little Gull west off Climping beach. 230+ Brent Geese in the field west of the Mill, also a single Lapwing. 50 Meadow Pipit, 25 Pied Wagtail and a Stonechat around the setaside.

Little Gull climping beach

White headed Brent in the flock this morning

Dunlin & Grey Plover sheltering yesterday bottom of longwood

A brisk south west with intermittent showers, but no Shearwaters.

Skua sp 3W 2 08:38, 1 09:00

Great-northern Diver - 1W 

Gannet - 195+ W

Eider - 2W

Shelduck - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 2 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 13W

Common Scoter - 7E

Wigeon - 9W 3 os

Shelduck - 1W

Brent Geese - 4W c.200 in cudlow field

Kittiwake - 1W

Med Gull 1W

Curlew - 2W

Skua sp - 1W

Knot - 1 Field west of Mill

Dunlin - 34 (10w 22 in field 

Grey Plover - 22

Ringed Plover - 9

Sanderling - 48W

Turnstone - 75

Pied Wagtail - 20

Meadow Pipit - 9

Little Grebe - 1 Marina

Common Sandpiper - 1

Kingfisher - 1

An interesting mid-afternoon visit around Marsh Farm with a Merlin hunting over the new scrape.

Merlin - 1

Buzzard - 3

Firecrest - 1

Goldcrest - 2

Chiffchaff - 3

Blackcap - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 2 hrd

Mistle Thrush - 2

Redwing - 2

Fieldfare - 7

Song Thrush - 2

Jay - 3

Stonechat - 2

Skylark - 3

Meadow Pipit - 5

Yellowhammer - 1

Kingfisher - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 1

Gadwall - 4

 A report of a 2cy Glaucous Gull  seen in the River Arun, opposite the yacht club at 14:00, unfortunately no further sign despite a few birders looking. (RK)

 A walk around Marsh Farm mid morning found a good numbers of Gulls on the newly created scrape, access off Ford Lane opposite Peregrine House, and follow the footpath north. Looks very promising at the early stages, not quite sure what the developers have in mind but with fresh water pools being a premium in West Sussex, might be worth a look if your passing.

Siskin - 8

Fieldfare - 4

Mistle Thrush - 1

Goldcrest - 8

Chiffchaff - 4

Stonechat - 2

Grey Wagtail - 1

Yellowhammer - 2

Meadow Pipit - 5

Skylark - 3

Jay - 3

Green Woodpecker - 1

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Buzzard - 1

Kestrel - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 1

Gadwall - 7

Treecreeper

Fieldfare

Constant trickle of Brent Geese on the move today with over 100 in the Cudlow Field Climping Beach. Finches still on the move with 1 or 2 Brambling over the setaside field.

Brent Geese - 265 155W,110 cudlow field

Wigeon - 38

Grey Plover - 21

Dunlin - 2W

Turnstone - 45

Sanderling - 7

Med Gull - 10

Gannet - 1E

Green Woodpecker - 2

Kestrel - 1

Skylark - 9

Song Thrush - 2

Stonechat - 1

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - c.75

Meadow Pipit - 90

Brambling - 1 or 2

Redpoll - 10

Siskin - 7

Linnet - 25

Goldfinch - c.250

Reed Bunting - 3

Reed Bunting setaside

Grey Wagtail Cafe car park

Brent Geese Cudlow field

Loads of birds on the move this morning,  present in good numbers and a little variety, unfortunately nothing of note.

 

Mute Swan - 3

Grey Plover - 22

Sanderling - 3

Turnstone - nc

Snipe - 2

Redshank - 1

Med Gull - 20

Little Egret - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Buzzard - 2

Peregrine - 1

Kestrel - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Skylark - 12

Chiffchaff - 2

Cetti's Warbler - 1-2 heard

Goldcrest - 20

Song Thrush - 3

Black Redstart - 1 golf course

Stonechat - 5

Pied Wagtail - c.100

White Wagtail - 1

Meadow Pipit - c.120

Rock Pipit - 1 setaside

Bullfinch - 1

Redpoll - 6

Siskin - 15

Goldfinch - 300+

Black Redstart

Rock Pipit

Cold looking Meadow Pipit

White Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

A late afternoon visit to the beach produced the following numbers.

Brent Geese - 59 cudlow field

Oystercatcher - 72W

Sanderling - 55E

Ringed Plover - 40E

Turnstones - 60

Teal - 1E

Wigeon - 1E

Great-crested Grebe - 1 os

Med Gull - 4 os

A sad report of a dead Barn Owl at the back of Poole Place this morning, no rings or signs of injury. 

Glorious afternoon at Climping beach with a party of Brent in the fields with a few Waders.

Diver sp - 1 west

Great-crested Grebe - 1

Turnstone - 33

Oystercatcher - 3

Ringed Plover - 7

Sanderling - 9

Grey Plover - 2

Med Gull - 20

Common Gull - 13

Little Egret - 1

Buzzard - 1

Kestrel - 1

Skylark - 3

Meadow Pipit - 10

Pied Wagtail - 20

Stonechat - 2

Brent Geese Cudlow Field

Another brief visit found thousands of Wood Pigeon on the move.(RP)

Peregrine - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Little Egret - 2

Wood Pigeons - 2500 west from 8:00/08:20

Kingfisher - 3/4

Stonechat - 1

Pied Wagtail - 6

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Song Thrush - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 2

Goldfinch - 40E

Short walk around the Patch this afternoon, with not a lot about. (RP)

Kestrel - 1

Grey Heron - 3

Redshank - 4

Grey Plover - 20

Sanderling - 8

Turnstone - 10

Brent Geese - 9 4 ad 5 juv

Med Gull - 4

Kingfisher - 1

Swallow - 2

Song Thrush - 1

Skylark - 2

Meadow Pipit - 4

Goldcrest - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Linnet - 8

Goldfinch - 15

 Marsh Farm from mid morning found the big pool very quiet, but a trek around the fields found a little variety.

Green Sandpiper - 1

Brambling - 1

Yellowhammer - 2

Meadow Pipit - 16

Skylark - 3

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 1

Treecreeper - 1

Fieldfare - 8

Song Thrush - 6

Mistle Thrush - 1

Jay - 6

Green Woodpecker - 2

Kingfisher - 1

Stonechat - 6

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 5

Goldcrest - 5

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 2

Little Egret - 1

Stock Dove - 1

Pochard - 1