A circuit from Elmer rocks to Climping setaside and back this morning. There was actually very little I could find on the setaside itself, but herewith my birds of interest....(OM)

Along the beach just east of Poole Place there were 42 Oystercatchers (these later moving to Elmer rocks to roost on the high tide). There were hundreds of Swallows moving through, mainly eastwards (no count attempted) and also plenty of Meadow Pipits amongst them.

However, on the back fields behind Poole Place, there were at least 300 (and probably many more) Meadow Pipits – which all took to the air when disturbed by a low-flying helicopter.

Two Buzzards and a kestrel also. Two Wheatears were on the coast path approaching Atherington. In the horse paddocks were a Whinchat, a Stonechat and 2 Whitethroats, plus around 10 Chiffchaffs in the hedgerows, whilst 6 Sandwich Terns were on the groynes by the car park. 

Not much else except 5 med Gulls and a couple of Little Egrets. Between Poole Place and Elmer hotspot/Kiosk there were at least 6 Clouded yellow butterflies. 

Sandwich Terns (OM)

Clouded Yellow (OM)

My first back of the golf course and dunes walk for over a year was very good. Some very nice birds and good to be out. Rather stiff and sore as a consequence but at least I made it. (RP)

Kestrel - 2 

Grey Heron - 2 

Med Gull - 40 

Moorhen - 2 

Green Woopecker - 1 

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1 

Swallow - 250+ 

House Martin - 25

Yellow Wagtail - 2 

Spotted Flycatcher -1 

Wheatear - 4 

Stonechat - 8 

Whinchat - 3 

Skylark - 1 

Blackcap - 6

Chiffchaff - 45 

Cetti’s Warbler - 1 

Whitethroat - 4 

Meadow Pipit - 45

Goldfinch - 15

Greenfinch - 10 

Linnet - 50family: arial;">

Records for Monday 20th Sept, generally pretty quiet with an afternoon walk from Kents down to the sea.(RP)

Buzzard - 2 

Kestrel - 2 

Dunlin - 2 

Swallow - 40 

Meadow Pipit - 6 

Wheatear - 2 

Stonechat - 1 

Whinchat - 1 

Whitethroat - 1

Lesser whitethroat - 1

Chiffchaff - 8