It is with regret that I have to inform you of the passing of Eric Standing, who died on thursday morning. A personal friend, great birder with a wealth of knowledge of the local area he will be sadly missed by all.
The Climping Gap remains one of the last undeveloped sites along the coast in West Sussex. This site is dedicated to Birds seen in and around the Climping Gap area by myself and a few die hard friends, that live in the area and have been birding the local patch for decades. (Please email your sighting's to lobas@btinternet.com or Tweet to @BirdsofClimping).
Bird Title
Mongolian Ground-Jay - Mongolia 14th May 2023
26 December, 2021
22 December, 2021
Quiet offshore this morning so a quick romp around the fields which was equally quiet.
Red-throated Diver - 7e
Diver sp - 1e
Wigeon - 1e
Great-crested Grebe - 5 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3e 2 os
Oystercatcher - 1w
Sanderling - 30w
Turnstone - 25w
Lapwing - 2
Med Gull - 3e
Little Egret - 1
Reed Bunting - 7
Yellowhammer - 5+
Skylark - 40+
Meadow Pipit - 11
Pied Wagtail - 5
Bullfinch - 2
Stonechat - 1
Goldfinch - 17
Linnet - c.100
Buzzard - 1
Marsh Harrier - 2
Great-crested Grebe - 1
Lapwing - c150+
Mute Swan - 46
Black Swan - 1
Lapwing - c150+
Egyptian Geese - 2
Shelduck - 2
Linnet - c100+
Stonechat -3
Great-crested Grebe |
Marsh Harrier |
21 December, 2021
Elmer Rocks: The cold weather had obviously prompted a bit of an influx and there were a lot of birds on the sea today. There were at least 12 Red-throated Divers on the water – some quite close behind the rock islands – whilst a further 27 flew west, though the highlight was the two Velvet Scoters which took off from the sea and flew east a short way, before dropping down again off Poole Place. My log for the morning (0830-1100hrs) was as follows. (OM)
Red-throated Diver – 1E, 27W, 12 o/s
Great Crested Grebe – 60 o/s
Gannet – 7E
Brent Goose – 8E, settled o/s
Common Scoter – 3 o/s
Velvet Scoter – 2 o/s
Red-breasted Merganser – 45 o/s
Wigeon – 4W
Curlew – 1E
Oystercatcher – 9 o/b
Grey Plover – 5
Ringed Plover – 25
Sanderling – 8
Dunlin - 1
Turnstone – 12
Razorbill – 3E, 1W
Auk sp – 6E, 1W
Nearby, 28 Curlews were feeding in the back fields behind the Poole Place area.
20 December, 2021
17 December, 2021
Elmer Rocks: The highlight of a fairly slow morning was a Great White Egret passing leisurely east offshore at 0910hrs, although quite a way out. Scope views were ok but attempts at a photo however were predictably less successful! Offshore there were 20+ R/b Mergansers, 15 Great Crested Grebes, singles of Razorbill and Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver, with several of the latter going E & W. A flock of 33 Brent eventually settled on the sea before heading back W and a Curlew went E, but waders were few, with just eight Oystercatchers and six Ringed Plovers. A Kestrel was again hunting over hotspot set-aside, but I couldn’t find anything of interest there. (OM)
15 December, 2021
Not the spectacle of yesterday but 3 Velvet Scooter flew in from the west and landed on the sea off the car park, and at least 3 Great-northern Diver west with probably a few more.
Velvet Scooter - 3
Great-northern Diver - 3w
Red-throated Diver - 4w
Diver sp - 18w 1e
Brent Geese - 4w
Auk sp - 1e
Shelduck - 3w
Med Gull - 5w 2e
Red-breasted Merganser - 12w 9e 7os
Great-crested Grebe - 1 os
14 December, 2021
Late on parade this morning with other duties, a call from OM at 08:35 about a flock of c90 Barnacle Geese west at Elmer,at 08:35 had me scurring down the patch, and fortunaetly further flocks continued on the move with a total of 333 seen moving through the area.
Barnacle Geese - 233w
Red-throated Diver - 3w
Teal - 2w
Kittiwake - 3w
Med Gull - 45w 10e
Great-crested Grebe - 2w
Ringed Plover - 1w
Grey Plover - 43
Turnstone - 15w
Stonechat - 1
Yellowhammer - 5
Song Thrush - 5
Reed Bunting - 1
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Linnet - 9
Skylark - 30
River Arun fromTortington
Marsh Harrier - 2
Shelduck - 6
Eygptian Geese - 2
Greylag Goose - 1
Teal - 1
Lapwing - c160+
Snipe - 2
Linnet - c150-+
Common Sandpiper - 1
Redshank - 1
Mute Swan - 37
Grey Heron - 2
12 December, 2021
A very grey day covering west beach, seaside, long wood and the back of the golf course.
Peregrine - 2
Kestrel - 1
Yellowhammer 6+
Reed Bunting - 4
Skylark - 40+
Meadow Pipit - 20
Song Thrush - 3
Chiffchaff - 2
Brent Geese - 2e
Med Gull - 12w 7e 5 os
Grey Partridge - 4
Redshank - 1 river
Oystercatcher - 4
Stock Dove - 18
11 December, 2021
Arun/Tortington - A change of scenery this morning. Along the river were a Common Sandpiper, a Redshank and an Oystercatcher, whilst the fields held a herd of 30 Mute Swans in the regular area. In the marshy fields and bushes on the east bank were a Little Egret, two Stonechats, six Yellowhammers, two Reed Buntings, c.150 Linnets and eight Song Thrushes (with six of the latter in a single bush – most seemed rather dark, perhaps continental birds?) Also hundreds of corvids...surely 500+ Jackdaws.(OM)
Records for Friday 10/12/21
Elmer Rocks - There was next to nothing on the sea, with the local Great Crested Grebes and R/b Mergansers having largely gone, presumably due to the recent storm. A single Red-throated Diver going W and a couple of Med Gulls were all I could muster, whilst along the shore were 20+ Ringed Plovers, two Grey Plovers and a handful of Turnstones and Sanderling. Also, a flock of 35 Linnets flew W along the beach, 10 Meadow Pipits were in the field adjoining Poole Place and a total of 47 Curlews were feeding in the back fields there.(OM)
06 December, 2021
Good passage offshore this morning with the highlight being 2 Black -throated Divers found by the rampion surveyor's off West Beach.
Black-throated Diver - 2 os
Red-throated Diver - 7w 4 os
Eider - 3w
Slavionian Grebe - 1 os
Great-crested Grebe - c30
Red-throated Merganser - 40w 20 os
Razorbill - 4w
Guillemot - 2w
Auk sp - c100+ w
Teal - 6w
Shelduck - 4w
Kittiwake - 17w
Gannet - 62w 39e
Med Gull - 1
Brent Geese - 10w c150e
Curlew - 1
Sanderling - 21
Grey Plover - 5
Oystercatcher - 1
Ringed Plover - 2w
05 December, 2021
Around Marsh Farm this morning checking on the pools, not really cold enough but an increase in wildfowl numbers nevertheless.
Mallard - 45
Wigeon - 15
Teal - 11
Pochard - 9
Tufted Duck - 7
Gadwall - 6
Mute Swan- 3
Cormorant - 6
Little Grebe - 1
Goldrest -2
Chiffchaff - 1
Grey Wagtail - 1
Pied Wagtail - 5
Yellowhammer - 3
Redwing - c40
Fieldfare - 7
Song Thrush - 3
Water Rail - 1 heard
Goldfinch - 33
Linnet - c50
Buzzard - 3
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 2
Raven - 3w
Jay - 1
Stock Dove - 3
Grey Heron - 1
Linnets |
Redwing |
Fieldfare |
Climping this morning from RG, probable Black-throated Diver offshore, Razorbill, Peregrine and 40 Curlew in the fields north of Poole Place.
04 December, 2021
Cold bright morning with a brisk north west breeze found several Kittiwake moving west offshore although mainly distant.
Kittiwake - c50+
Med Gull 9w
Auk sp - 100+w
Guillemot - 1
Red-throated Diver - 3w 3os
Great-crested Grebe - 7 os
Red-breasted Merganser - nc
Common Scooter - 6e
Little Egret - 2
Grey Heron - 1
Dunlin - 6w
Grey Plover - 32
Turnstone - nc
Yellowhammer - 10+
Reed Bunting - 6
Linnet - 15
Skylark - 30+
Meadow Pipit - 12
Stonechat - 2
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
29 November, 2021
The overnight snow did not produce the anticapted activity offshore this morning, with little movement and nothing of note. Combined totals below.
Red-throated Diver - 8W 1 os
Great-crested Grebe - 19 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 4W 2E 8 os
Brent Geese - 4W
Teal - 1E
Guillemot 1W 1 os
Med Gull - 30
Common Scoter - 2E
Oystercatcher - 3E 1W
Sanderling - 25
Turnstone - 40
Ringed Plover - 2
Golden Plover - 3 Elmer Beach
Stock Dove - c30
Grey Heron - 2
Little Egret - 1
Peregrine - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Buzzard - 1
Song Thrush - 12+
Yellowhammer - 5
Reed Bunting - 7
Stonechat - 4
Skylark - 40+
Meadow Pipit - 20
Linnet - 15
Goldfinch - 6
Sanderling Climping Beach |
28 November, 2021
A Black-throated Diver offshore from the car park was the highlight of a cold bright morning, with bvery little moving offshore. (BA, RG)
Red-throated Diver - 1 os
Diver sp - 1E
Razorbill - 1 os
Auk sp - 2W
Brent Geese - c100
Great-crested Grebe - 2E 9 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 10E 4 os
Gannet 1W 1E
Med Gull - 20
Oystercatcher - 5E 2W
Turnstone - 27W
Ringed Plover - 2W
Sanderling - 1W
Grey Partridge - 1
Yellowhammer - 6+
Reed Bunting - 12+
Skylark - 30+
Linnet - 7
Meadow Pipit - 20
Grey Wagtail - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
24 November, 2021
Several reports from today resulting in good coverage in grey cold overcast conditions.
Redshank - 2
Common Sandpiper - 1
Grey Plover - 17W
Golden Plover - heard
Turnstone - 11
Red-breasted Merganser - 7 os
Great-crested Grebe - 4
Little Egret - 2
Stonechat - 5
Reed Bunting - 5
Yellowhammer - 3
Grey Wagtail - 1
Linnet - 8
Meadow Pipit - c50+
Skylark - 30
Goldcrest - 2
Pied Wagtail - 15
Song Thrush - 3
Bullfinch - heard
Siskin - heard
Peregrine - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 2
Common Sandpiper river |
Razorbill - 2
Great-crested Grebe - 8
Red-breasted Merganser - 6
Common Scoter - 1
Velvet Scoter - 3
Sanderling - 3
Turnstone - 13
Med Gull - 6
Stonechat - 2
Meadow Pipit - 30
Kingfisher - 1
Set-a-side, 6 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 pair Stonechat, 2 Skylark.
Long Wood 1 Jay
Beach, 17 Grey Plover, 12 Pied Wagtail, 2 Med Gull
Offshore, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great-crested Grebe
Bailiffscourt A few Great & Blue Tits, 6 Blackbird 1 Goldcrest (CJ)
23 November, 2021
Quite offshore this morning, with just the usual Great-crested Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser offshore. A Golden Plover calling over longwood west, Peregrine and good numbers of Reed Bunting present in the setaside by the campsite.
Highlight for (OM) this morning was 3 Firecrest in the wood west of Poole Place.
22 November, 2021
The cold front found plenty of interest on the sea this morning, with a Whooper Swan west at 08:50 and 3 Goldeneye not seen locally for a while, 5 Gadwall and a Slavonion Grebe drifting offshore from the car park.
Whooper Swan - 1
Slavonian Grebe - 1
Goldeneye - 3
Gadwall - 5
Shelduck - 11 8 os 3W
Teal - 10 os
Wigeon - 7 os
Common Scoter - 27E
Red-breasted Merganser - 19 os
Great-crested Grebe - 20 os
Brent Geese - 29W 8E
Guillemot - 1
Oysercatcher - 2W 1E
Grey Plover - 8 on beach
Lapwing - 1E
Turnstone - 25W
Little Egret - 2
Kestrel - 3
Starling - 55N
Pied Wagtail - 11
Skylark - 17
Stonechat - 3
From the river at Tortingington found 2 Marsh Harrier, 17 Mute Swan, Black Swan, 3 Buzzard, 2 Little Egret, 1 Snipe and c100 Linnet.
20 November, 2021
Grey overcast morning with good numbers of Skylark & Meadow Pipit present with very little movement offshore.
Yellowhammer - 3
Grey Wagtail - 1
Pied Wagtail - 12
Reed Bunting - 7
Stonechat - 3
Skylark - c60
Meadow Pipit - c70
Cetti's Warbler - 1 heard
Red-breasted Merganser - 15 os
Great-crested Grebe - 7 os
Auk sp 2W
Diver sp - 1W
Gannet - 4E
Med Gull - 1 os
Oystercatcher - 1W
Ringed Plover - 16W
Turnstone - 15W
Little Egret - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
19 November, 2021
An unexpected suprise with two Long-tailed Duck flying east at Climping Beach at 08:00 this morning, a Great-northern Diver west and a Red Kite late morning east over Bailiffscourt.
Long-tailed Duck - 2E
Great-northern Diver - 1W
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Diver sp - 1 os
Great-crested Grebe - 15
Red-breasted Merganser - 3 os
Brent Geese - 3E 2W
Wigeon - c100 W
Gannet - 2W
Turnstone - 3W
Grey Plover - 16W
Mute Swan - 7E
Little Egret - 2
Grey Heron - 1
Red Kite - 1
Peregrine - 1
Buzzard - 2
Kestrel - 2
Reed Bunting - 3
Skylark - 24
Meadow Pipit - 25
Stonechat - 4
Pied Wagtail - 7
Goldcrest - 3
Jay - 2
Great-spotted Woodecker - 2
Green Woodpecker - 3
Stock Dove - 5
18 November, 2021
More Yellowhammers seen this morning with flocks of six seen twice around the old camp site and then again around the paddock. A short -eared Owl seen north of the camp site pursed by corvids. RP & ES
Buzzard - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Short-eared Owl - 1
Grey Heron - 2
Little Egret - 1
Brent Geese - 4W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Common Scoter - 4
Great-crested Grebe - 8
Skylark - c30+
Meadow Pipit - 20
Grey Wagtail - 1
Pied Wagtail - 10
Green Woodpecker - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1
Stonechat - 2
Song Thrush - 3
Reed Bunting - 4
Yellowhammer - 6+
13 November, 2021
Good variety this morning in grey cloudy windless conditions with a Black-throated Diver offshore at Climping and two Swallow west late morning.
Black-throated Diver - 1 os
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Shag - 1 os
Razorbill - 2W
Auk sp - 6W 2E
Common Scoter - 12E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E 3W 3 os
Great-crested Grebe - 7W 2E
Gannet - 47W
Med Gull - 1W
Brent Geese - 2W 1E 16 os
Grey Plover - 21W
Ringed Plover - 19W
Osytercatcher 1W 1E
Curlew - 1W
Turnstone - 13W
Swallow - 2W
Grey Wagtail - 1
Pied Wagtail - 18
Meadow Pipit - 25
Linnet - 5
Skylark - 18
Goldfinch - 14
Siskin - heard
Song Thrush - 1
Stonechat - 5
Cetti's Warbler - heard
Stock Dove - 9
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 1
Grey Partridge - 1
12 November, 2021
Quiet offshore this morning in the rain, but a Little Gull west was some consolation.
Little Gull - 1W
Med Gull - 2W
Gannet - 2E
Common Scoter - 3W
Wigeon - 45S
Auk sp - 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 2 os
Great-crested Grebe - 2W 3 os
Grey Plover - 5
Turnstone - 33
Oystercatcher - 1E
Rock Pipit - 1
Pied Wagtail - 5
Yellowhammer - 1
Skylark - 11
Buzzard - 2
11 November, 2021
Marsh Farm this morning, with nothing of note.
Buzzard - 6
Mute Swan - 2
Black Swan - 1
Gadwall - 43
Wigeon - 2
Teal - 1
Tufted Duck - 2
Chiffchaff - 5
Goldcrest - 3
Cetti's Warbler - 3 heard
Redwing - 6
Song Thrush - 17
Fieldfare - 3
Reed Bunting - 5
Grey Wagtail - 3
Pied Wagtail - 10
Siskin - 1
Bullfinch - 2
Linnet - 5
Meadow Pipit - 9
Skylark - 3
Jay - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 3
10 November, 2021
A short-eared Owl west over the sea at West Beach being mobbed by Gulls was the highlight this morning, closely followed by the number of Buntings in the area.
Short-eared Owl - 1w
Redshank - 2 river
Common Sandpiper - 1
Grey Plover - 1
Turnstone - 27
Sanderling - 3
Curlew -3
Common Sandpiper - 1 river
Oystercatcher - 1
Snipe - 1
Mute Swan - 9
Little Egret - 4
Grey Heron - 1
Red-breasted Mereganser - 4 os
Yellowhammer - 4
Reed Bunting - 10
Stonechat - 4
Redwing - 2
Song Thrush - 5
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 2
Bullfinch - 2
Linnet - 5
Meadow Pipit - 22
Skylark - 9
Pied Wagtail - 20
Starling c100
Jay - 3
Green Woodpecker - 1
Peregrine - 2
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
06 November, 2021
Not as cold this morning and very slow offshore, so it was a tramp around the bushes that also didn't inspire a prolonged visit.
Curlew - 18
Grey Plovers - 1
Turnstone - 30
Sanderling - 10
Red-throated Diver 3 os
Great-crested Grebe - 7
Red-breasted Merganser - 5W
Auk sp - 2W
Shelduck - 3W
Common Scoter - 5E
Brent Geese - 19W 2E
Gannet - 1E
Med Gull - 10
Grey Heron - 2
Little Egret - 3
Siskin - heard
Redpoll - heard
Reed Bunting - 1
Stonechat - 3
Linnet - 7
Pied Wagtail - 11
Meadow Pipit - 17
Chiffchaff - 1
Song Thrush - 2
Skylark - 5
Jay - 1
Green Woodpecker - 5
Stock Dove - 3
Peregrine - 1
Kestrel - 2
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 1
Seal - 1
05 November, 2021
Good numbers of Brent moving through west this morning, an Artic Skua late morning and 2 Black Redstart reported on Elmer beach west of Poole Place was the best of the rest.
Artic Skua 1w dak phase
Brent Geese - 378W 4E
Mallard - 1E
Tufted Duck - 2W
Teal - 7W 5 os
Red-throated Diver - 2 os
Great-crested Grebe - 15 os
Red-breasted Merganser - 11W
Shelduck - 8W
Common Scoter - 18W
Turnstone- 33W
Dunlin - 7W
Sanderling - 2
Curlew - 2
Razorbill - 1 os
Lapwing - 2W
Gannet - 1W
Med Gull - 10
Grey Heon - 1
Brambling - heard
Siskin - heard -
Redpoll - heard
Chiffchaff - 1
Reed Bunting - 2
Stonechat - 1
Pied Wagtail - 8
Grey Wagtail - 2
Meadow Pipit - 25
Linnet - 15
Skylark - 7
Song Thrush - 1
Seal - 2
04 November, 2021
A Gooseander flying east close inshore was the highlight of a cold morning. Combined totals below.
Gooseander - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3 os 3w 2e
Great-crested Grebe - 11 os
Brent Geese - 143w
Shelduck - 3w
Wigeon - 3w
Teal - 1w
Guillemot - 1 os
Razorbill - 2os
Auk sp - 1w
Med Gull -
Oystercatcher - 2w
Dunlin - 7w
Turnstone - 11w
Ringed Plover - 7w
Peregrine - 2
Kestrel - 2
Fieldfare - c100+
Song Thrush - 3
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 1
Skylark - 7
Stonechat - 3
Chiffchaff - 4
Goldcrest - 3
Siskin - 9
Skylark - 7
Pied Wagtail - 7
Meadow Pipit - 10
Grey Heron - 2
Seal - 1
03 November, 2021
A cream capped Marsh Harrier flying west over Atherington late morning and a late Whitethroat north of the golf course were the only highlights this morning. Combined totals below.
Marsh Harrier - 1
Peregrine - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 5
Kestrel - 1
Brambling - heard
Siskin - 5
Chiffchaff - 3
Goldcrest - 1
Reed Bunting - 7
Stonechat - 6
Skylark - 15
Meadow Pipit - 25
Linnet - 17
Pied Wagtail - 24
Jay - 2
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2
Grey Heron - 1
Mute Swan - 9
Wood Pigeon - c.500+ west
Stock Dove - 12
Med Gull - 45
Red-breasted Merganser - 36 os
Great-crested Grebe - 18 os
Tufted Duck - 2w
Ringed Plover - 23
Sanderling - 1
Common Sandpiper - 7 (5)
Curlew - 3 (3)
Redshank - 1 (1)
Lapwing - 154 (0)
Oystercatcher - 10 (10)
Turnstone - 15 (15)
Med Gull - 5 (5)
Common Gull - 3 (3)
BH Gull - 441 (440)
Herring Gull - 508 (490)
Peregrine - 2 (0)
Buzzard - 4 (1)
Meadow Pipit - 12 (8)
Blackcap - 1 (0)
Kingfisher - 2 (1)
Teal - 1 (0)
Little Egret - 6 (3)
Grey Heron - 4 (2)
02 November, 2021
Glorious morning with a good variety seen, without anything of note.
Peregrine - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1 or 2
Kestrel - 1
Brambling - heard
Linnet - 10
Pied Wagtail - 7
Yellowhammer - 3
Reed Bunting - 7
Stonechat - 3
Blackcap - 2
Chiffchaff - 3
Goldcrest - 4
Rock Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 20
Redwing - 1
Song Thrush - 3
Great-crested Grebe - 1E 1os
Med Gull - 30
26 October, 2021
Despite there being several pair of eyes around this morning, still nothing of note, with the highlight being a Merlin over the old campsite. Combined totals below.
Rock Pipit - 2
Meadow Pipit - c35
Lapwing - 1
Swallow - 3
Reed Bunting - 4
Stonechat - 3
Chiffchaff - 6
Goldcrest - 3
Pied Wagtail - 10
Linnet - 10
Siskin - heard
Greenfich - 5
Goldfinch - c75
Skylark - 7
Bullfinch - 2
Green Woodpecker - 3
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2
Buzzard - 2
Jay - 1
Song Thrush - 6
Little Egret - 4
Med Gull - 25
Grey Heron - 4
23 October, 2021
22 October, 2021
A Woodlark heard & seen by (OM) at Poole Place was the highlight of the morning, with hundreds of Wood Pigeon moving west.
Curlew - 14
Turnstone - 25
Oystercatcher - 4
Sanderling - 45W
Snipe - 2
Med Gull - c50
Brent Geese 4W
Little Egret - 5
Grey Heron - 5
Siskin - 16
Goldfinch - c100
Linnet - c40
Meadow Pipit - c60
Skylark - 25
Stonechat - 7
Reed Bunting - 3
Pied Wagtail - 27
Chiffchaff - 5
Bullfinch - heard
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2
Green Woodpecker - 3
Jay - 7
Song Thrush - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 2
Wood Pigeon - c600W
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