Picture titles

Lesser Crested Tern - Oman 28th Feb 2024

31 May, 2020

Avoided the beach because of the weather so a stroll around Marsh Farm found a Great-crested Grebe and a pair of Pochard on the big pool, plenty of Swifts and Swallow overhead with at least 6 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk. 4 Cetti's Warbler heard,  plenty of Stock Dove, Reed Warbler, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff seen, several Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Grey Heron, with singles of Mistle Thrush and Grey Wagtail. 

Grey Wagtail 

Kestrel 


Records yesterday for Climping (RP)

Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Grey Heron - 4
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Great-crested  Grebe - 1
Med Gull - 2
Little Egret - 1
Mistle Thrush - 2
Swallow - 8
Swift - 7
Whitethroat - 10
Reed Warbler - 10
Blackcap - 4
Cetti’s Warbler - 2
Sedge Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 3
Reed Bunting - 2

 Readers are asked to check a neighbouring blog run by Owen Mitchell and  covers from Poole Place up to Elmer and the surrounding Farm land. (The Elmer Birder) at elmerbirder.blogspot.com 

29 May, 2020

Another fine sunny morning with just a Shelduck flying west over the camp site, 3 Med Gull in the area, Little Egret and still quite a few Reed Warbler calling from the rife. 

27 May, 2020

A sunny bright sunny day at Climping, very quiet with a Cuckoo calling from the camp site, 2 Med Gull flew west and couple of Sandwich Tern east. Singles of Redshank,  Grey Heron, and 2 Little Egret feeding on the low tide.

Climping Beach


Cuckoo at the camp site

24 May, 2020

Early evening walk around Tortington in glorious sunshine produced 5 Grey Heron, Cuckoo and Cetti's Warbler heard, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler several Yellowhammer, Common & Lesser Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Med Gull and many Swift's screaming overhead.

21 May, 2020

Another bright sunny morning with the Cuckoo still present around the golf course. Warblers still present in smaller numbers with Cetti's, Reed, Sedge, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, several Reed Bunting, with singles of Whimbrel, Little Egret and Grey Heron in the area. 

A late report of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on feeders in the Atherington area in the last couple of days.

Cuckoo



Reed Warbler

20 May, 2020

Another fine bright morning starting at Kent Cottages, up to the golf course, covering the Mill Climping Beach and back to the Kents.

Hobby - 1 north of kents
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Cuckoo - 1 heard around the golf course
Grey Partridge - 2
Little Egret - 2
Ringed Plover - 1
Whimbrel - 2
Bullfinch - 1
Song Thrush - 2
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Swallow

Grey Partridge

19 May, 2020

An afternoon visit around the patch with a Spotted Flycatcher in First Wood being the only surprise. Also 4 Grey Partridge, 2 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard and the usual array of Warblers still present in smaller numbers.

18 May, 2020

Very quiet today in lovely bright sunny conditions,  a southwest breeze strengthening through the morning, although only Gannets and Sandwich Tern in small numbers moving offshore.

Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 12
Blackcap - 17
Reed Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 4
Skylark - 7
Reed Bunting - 2
Bullfinch - 1
Green Woodpecker - 2
Whimbrel - 2E
Oystercatcher - 9W
Turnstone - 10W
Little Egret - 2
Grey Heron - 1
Grey Partridge - 2
Kestrel - 2
Buzzard - 1

17 May, 2020

Out on the bike around Tortington this morning up through Angmering Park and back home through Poling today with the highlight being a Red Kite and Cuckoo, around Goose Green, Little Egret several Great-spotted Woodpeckers, and Buzzards, Whitethroat ,Chiffchaff and Blackcap, good numbers of Yellowhammer and a pair of Bullfinch.

16 May, 2020

Another visit to the patch this morning from the car park up to Poole Place and the surrounding area. Generally quiet again offshore with then ever present trawlers this time close inshore followed by c.150 Gannet. Also several Sandwich Tern moving, 2 Med Gull west and 3 Great-crested Grebe on the flat calm sea. 


Gannets following the Trawlers at Climping Beach
A Hobby flew west over Poole Place and  a single Yellow Wagtail and 2 Lapwing east. Swift and House Martin again present in small numbers with a constant trickle of Swallows through. Bullfinch again around the Atherington Cottages, singles of  Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Little Egret and 3 Ringed Plover.

Hobby drifted west over Poole Place


Lapwing east over Poole Place

15 May, 2020

With spring migration moving into the closeing stages, results produced as anticipated although yet another Red Kite in the area flew west around Kents, and a Yellow Wagtail east over the golf course.

Red Kite - 1
Buzzard - 2
Little Egret - 2
Grey Heron - 2
Swift - 2
House Martin - 2
Swallow - 23
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Reed Warbler - 10
Sedge Warbler - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd
Reed Bunting - 3
Whitethroat - 17
Blackcap - 8
Chiffchaff - 4
Bullfinch - 2
Great-crested Grebe - 1
Gannet - c.50 following trawlers
Sandwich Tern - 17 
Med Gull - 2

Sedge Warbler

Skylark


10 May, 2020

6 Red Kite through the patch this morning all moving north west, a Hobby and my first Cuckoo of the year being the other highlights.

Red Kite - 6
Hobby - 1
Kestrel - 1
Cuckoo - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 5
Pied Wagtail - 2
Swift - 9
Swallow - 40
House Martin - 10
Sand Martin - 5 
Whimbrel - 12
Little Egret - 3
Grey Heron - 1
Grey Partridge - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 2
Mistle Thrush - 1
Bullfinch - 1 fem
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Reed Warbler - 12
Sedge Warbler - 5
Whitethroat - 20
Blackcap - 10
Chiffchaff - 5
Reed Bunting - 2
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2
Med Gull - 2

Hobby west Climping Beach

Red Kite moving in good numbers

Yellow Wagtail golf course

Fox cub

07 May, 2020

 Had a late visit (11.15-15.00) to Climping Gap and area today after an appointment then back along the river (15.00-17.00). Small numbers but some quality.(MD)


Pomarine Skua - 1E 11.33

Arctic Skua - 1E 12.15. 

Skua sp 2E - 13.35

Sandwich Tern - 24E 1W

Common Tern - 1E

Gannet 90e plus 80+ distantly around the pod of dolphins at 14.00

Great-crested Grebe - 5os

Ringed Plover - 2 beach

Whimbrel - 7 GC

Common Sandpiper up to 8 along river

Oystercatcher 2 by river just south of Ford railway bridge

Whinchat – 1 by river

Barn Owl – 1 Lyminster area


Rather disappointing results considering the weather conditions and coverage this morning. Offshore rather slow again with 3 Little Tern east, 20 Common Scoter, 6 Great-crested Grebe, as well unsurprising numbers of both Gannet and Sandwich Tern. A pod of Dolphins again seen off Climping beach as well as a Grey Seal. Nothing of note in the bushes.





06 May, 2020


Lovely morning with a cool north-easterly breeze. Nothing special just good numbers of old friends, combined Totals below.

Common Scooter c.80E
Kittiwake - 1E
Gannet - 40E 7W
Sandwich Tern - 15E 5W
Med Gull - 1
Great-crested Grebe - 3  
Whimbrel - 18
Grey Heron - 1
Little Egret - 1
Buzzard - 7
Peregrine - 1
Kestrel - 1
Ringed Plover - 2
House Martin - 1
Swallow - 30
Swift - 12
Yellow Wagtail - 3
Pied Wagtail - 2
Mistle Thrush - 2
Song Thrush - 4
Wheatear - 3
Meadow Pipit - 18
Skylark - 7
Sedge Warbler - 3
Reed Warbler - 6
Blackcap - 20
Whitethroat - 18
Lesser Whitethroat - 5
Willow Warbler - 8
Chiffchaff - 6
Cetti’s Warbler - 2
Reed Bunting - 2

An image of the pod of dolphins seen off Poole Place yesterday.


05 May, 2020

An evening visit to the patch produced this nice male Redstart in the paddock, also a pair of Bullfinch flew along the rife, and singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Buzzard in the area, a couple each of Blackcap and Whitethroat plus 2 Shelduck flew west.


Very quiet again offshore this morning with just a couple of Sand Martin and Swift reported, the highlight being a pod of Dolphin moving east from Poole Place.

04 May, 2020

Dull and cloudy with some dampness early on and an E/SE breeze 2-4, becoming dry with sunshine and cloud.

Poole Place: Along the path were 3 singing Whitethroats apparently on territory, plus a Song Thrush and a Blackcap at Poole Place. A small fall of 5 Wheatears was the highlight, but sea-watching from there (0700-0800hrs) was again disappointing and all I logged was:-

Great Crested Grebe – 1E, 3os
Gannet – 24E
Ringed Plover – 1 o/b
Sanderling – 45W
Whimbrel – 3E, 2W
Common Tern – 2E
Sandwich Tern – 30E
Swallow – 12N

Climping: I walked to Atherington checking the sea and fields as I went along but apart from a Kestrel there was nothing of note. The regular warblers (as yesterday) were still present at Atherington and also a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple more Swallows but otherwise it was quiet. A short sea-watch added just half a dozen Gannets and several Sandwich Terns....but then at 0905 an egret passed at fair distance, which I now think was a Great White Egret.

Afternoon walk around the golf course this afternoon produced good numbers of both Wheatear and Whimbrel with at least 18 of the former present.




Highlight was a pod of at least five short-beaked common dolphins moving east not too far from the shore.(RP)

Grey Heron - 5
Little Egret - 2 
Gannets - 20+
Canada Geese - 4
Sandwich - Tern 10+
Whimbrel - 20
Buzzard - 2
Swallow - 5
Swift - 10/15
Yellowhammer - 1 (DB)
Wheatear - 2
Mistle Thrush - 2
Song Thrush - 2
Chiffchaff - 5
Blackcap - 8
Cetti’s Warbler - 2 hrd
Whitethroat - 15
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Bunting - 3
Pied Wagtail - 2
Meadow Pipit - 6
Skylark - 6

03 May, 2020

Very disappointing given the time of year and weather this morning, but as some would say tomorrow is another day. Good coverage today with little return, combined totals below.

Canada Goose - 1E
Little Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 50E 12W
Gannet - 17E 50+ feeding behind trawlers
Shelduck - 5E
Whimbrel - 20
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2
Ringed Plover - 4
Great-crested Grebe - 3
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 17
Blackcap - 12
Chiffchaff - 7
Reed Warbler - 12
Sedge Warbler - 5
Wheatear - 1
Bullfinch - 1
Reed Bunting - 2
Grey Partridge - 4

02 May, 2020

Very quite offshore again this morning, with just small numbers of Sandwich Tern, Common Tern and Gannets mainly moving west early doors, so it was another bash around the bushes that at least produced a few firsts for the year.

Combined totals below.

Spotted Flycatcher - 3
Redstart - 1 fem
Wheatear - 5
Garden Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 22
Willow Warbler - 15
Chiffchaff - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 2 hrd
Sedge Warbler - 4
Reed Warbler - 6
Bullfinch - 2
Reed Bunting - 3
Swift - 5
Swallow - 30
House Martin - 4
Sand Martin - 2
Buzzard - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1
Grey Partridge - 4
Whimbrel - 15
Little Egret - 3
Dunlin - 1

Spot Fly

Wheatear

Reed Bunting