Very slow this morning with no suprises sitting offshore.

Red-throated Diver - 10 os 7W 3E 

Diver sp - 5W

Auk sp - 400+E

Razorbill - 2 os

Med Gull - 15

Red-breasted Merganser - 35 

Great-crested Grebe - 11 os 6E
Oystercatcher - 11

Grey Plover - 33

Ringed Plover 25

Turnstone - 40

Sanderling - 17

Pied Wagtail - 5

Stonechat - 2

Meadow Pipit - 22

Skylark - 15

Mistle Thrush - 1

Song Thrush - 7

Goldcrest - 2

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 1

Wood Pigeon c1000

Buzzard

Stonechat

Morning River Arun walk (MD)

Great-crested Grebe.   1

Little Grebe.  1

Redshank.  7

Common Sandpipers.  2

Lapwing.  135

Buzzard.  2

Corn Bunting.  3

Reed Bunting.  3

Yellowhammer.  15

Stonechat.  1

Linnet.  70

Bullfinch.  2

Skylark.  4

Mute swan.  46

Black Swan.  1

Wigeon.  58

Teal.  1

Shelduck.  5

Little Egret.  3

Grey Heron.  4

Elmer Rocks (OM)

A high tide co-inciding with a flat calm sea and a crisp frosty morning made conditions just right for some interest on the local patch today. The highlights were two Velvet Scoters again and a single Slavonian Grebe offshore, together with 40 R/b Mergansers (some flocks displaying) and c. 30 Great Crested Grebes (one pair displaying), whilst a couple of Common Scoter and three Red-throated Divers were also present. Nine Brent Geese were resting on the sea as a flock of 24 Wigeon W passed them, whilst a flock of 32 Grey Plovers with a few Sanderlings and a dozen Ringed Plovers was also of note before the beach got too busy. A few Turnstones were along the shingle and a total of 14 Oystercatchers was logged (nine in the fields and five around the rock islands) 

Mid afternoon visit to the River from Tortington found the following.

Corn Bunting - 4

Yellowhammer - 8

Linnet - c100

Skylark - 10

Stonechat - 4

Starling - c100

Song Thrush - 3

Pied Wagtail - 2

Jackdaw - c500

Buzzard - 2

Marsh Harrier - 1

Mute Swan - 47

Black Swan - 1

Redshank - 2

Common Sandpiper - 2

Egyptian Goose - 2

Shelduck - 3

Grey Heron - 1

Little Egret - 1

Cormorant - 1

 

Corn Bunting

Elmer Rocks (0900-1100hrs): A 2hr sea-watch which started very slowly but ended up being quite interesting, the highlights being two Velvet Scoters offshore, three Sandwich Terns close in and a couple of flocks of Wigeon. Full log below:- (OM)

 Red-throated Diver – 2W, 1o/s 

 Cormorant – 24E 

 Great Crested Grebe – c.20 o/s 

 Brent Goose – 58E, 35W (the latter heading over towards the fields) 

 Velvet Scoter – 2 o/s 

 Common Scoter – 5 o/s 

 Red-breasted Merganser – 30+ o/s 

 Wigeon – 45W 

 Mediterranean Gull – 4W 

 Sandwich Tern – 3W

 A very brief visit between 8-9am with a few bits to report.(AH)

 2 Sandwich Terns East

13 Red Breasted Merganser OS

11 Great Crested Grebes OS

Grey Seal OS

3 Turnstones

3 Sanderling

8 Herring gull

11 Grey Plover

2 GBBG

Red throated Diver OS

2 Oystercatchers

12 Brent Geese OS

26 Cormorants OS , some in obvious breeding plumage

5 Med Gulls OS

Around carpark and setaside

Grey wagtail

10 Skylark

Snipe

Wren

2 Mute Swans

Robin

2 Dunnock

5 Linnets

Magpie

5 Crow

Pigeon c100

Moorhen

Blue Tit

2 Mallards

 

Records for Tuesday 25/01/22 (OM)

Elmer Rocks: The first Fulmar of the year went west early on, but the other notable feature was an early eastbound movement of Brent Geese, with several decent flocks heading up-Channel well out, totalling 114 in two hours, whilst separately 22W were logged close in. The usual c.25 R/b Mergansers and perhaps 20 Great Crested Grebes were offshore, plus a couple of Red-throated Divers on the sea, with a few more moving east and a single Common Scoter.

Along the beach at low tide were 25 Ringed Plovers, half a dozen Sanderling, just a few Grey Plover and Turnstones and a Little Egret.

Three noisy Great Spotted Woodpeckers had an aerial squabble over Poole Place before two were eventually driven off, returning to Elmer woods.

Two Slavonian Grebe the highlight of the morning from Poole place. Very little movement offshore on a low tide.

Slavonian Grebe - 2

Red-throated Diver - 11E 10 os

Diver sp - 2E

Great-crested Grebe - 27 os

Red-breasted Merganser - c50 os

Common Scoter - 4 os 2E

Brent Geese - c200W

Med Gull - 17

Gannet - 3E

Cormorant - 37E 11W 9 os

Curlew - 5

Grey Plover - 11

Oystercatcher - 7

Sanderling - 25W

Turnstone - 33W

Stonechat - 1

Skylark - 15

Yellowhamme - 2

Reed Bunting - 3

Linnet - 19

Goldfinch - 25

Pied Wagtail - 2

Wood Pigeon - c1000

Stock Dove - 40

Grey Heron - 1

Yellowhammer Setaside

1st Win Med Gull bread lane

Productive morning offshore with thousand of auks moving east on the horizon, Brent Geese in from the west landed on the sea and then returned west reached for figures and with many Divers, Grebes and Mergansers offshore.

Great-northern Diver - 2 

Red-throated Diver - 15E 7W 25 os

Diver sp - 35 mainly east

Eider - 6 os west beach (RG)

Common Scoter - 6 os

Great-crested Grebe - 55 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 35 os

Auk sp - 1500+ E

Razorbill - 1E

Gannet - 95E 12W

Med Gull - 2 os

Brent Geese - c1000+ W

Dunlin - 27W

Grey Plover - c100W

Ringed Plover - 17W

Sanderling - 20W

Turnstone - 47W

Oystercatcher - 11

Curlew - 12W

Cetti's Warbler - 1 heard

Pied Wagtail - 4

Meadow Pipit - 19

Stonechat - 1

Kestrel - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Wood Pigeon - c500+

Red-trhroated Diver

Brent Geese

Combined totals from a cold sunny morning at Climping.

Red-throated Diver - 9 os 3E

Diver sp - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 1E

Med Gull - c50

Brent Geese - 22W 32E 5os

Shag - 1 os

Wigeon - c175W

Teal - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 20 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 17 os

Grey Plover - 20W

Turnstone - 55W

Oystercatcher - 5

Curlew - 22W

Little Egret - 1

Kingfisher - 1

Yellowhammer - 5

Reed Bunting - 7

Skylark - c50+

Meadow Pipit - 12

Stonechat - 1

Goldcrest - 3

Song Thrush - 7

Mistle Thrush - 1

Peregrine - 1

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 2

Jay - 1

Wood Pigeon - c750+

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 3

Common Sandpiper - 1 Marina

 

Elmer Rocks: There was a considerable westward passage of auks very distantly along the horizon this morning, with some very big flocks moving, but although no count was attempted it must have run into four figures. Red-throated Divers were also prominent with around 10E, 8W and up to four offshore, whilst also present were a gathering of 22 Cormorants, 25 R/b Mergansers, 35 Great Crested Grebes, six Common Scoter and 45 Brent Geese. Waders along the beach and roosting on the rocks consisted of ten Oystercatchers, 15 Grey Plover, 24 Ringed Plover and unusually 25 Dunlin, plus several Turnstones. A Chiffchaff was very active and calling in the tamarisk by the kiosk and a few Long-tailed Tits were nearby. (OM) 

 Records for Tuesday 18/01/22  Elmer Rocks: 

There were at least 20 Red-throated Divers offshore this morning early on and although nothing unusual was present, it was an interesting start with lots of birds on the sea. Behind the rock islands a party of six Common Scoters and 12 Razorbills were initially close in, both species in a tight group and diving frequently, amongst up to 30 Great Crested Grebes and a dozen R/b Mergansers. Waders roosting on the rocks at high tide were 15 Sanderlings, a single Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plovers, five Grey Plovers and several Turnstones, whilst the usual nine Oystercatchers were on the beach and fields. A flock of eight Long-tailed Tits were the only passerines of note.(OM)

A crisp morning dog walk this am - main birds from camp site to Tortington turn:(MD)

Corn Bunting - 2 

Yellowhammer - 4 

Reed Bunting - 10+ 

Linnet - 150+ 

Skylark - 15 

Marsh Harrier - 2 (ad fem + juv) 

Buzzard - 1 

Common Sandpiper - 2 

Redshank - 2 

Lapwing - 60+ 

Water Rail - 1 

Mute Swan - 63 

Black Swan - 2

 A bit of variety around Marsh Farm this morning with a showy Firecrest and a couple of Raven.

Firecrest - 1

Goldcrest - 4

Cetti's Warbler - 2 heard

Raven - 2

Fieldfare - 50+

Redwing - 10

Song Thrush - 15

Treecreeper - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Bullfinch - 2

Reed Bunting - 6

Yellowhammer - 4

Linnet - 8

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 4

Meadow Pipit - 4

Buzzard - 3

Shoveler - 17

Gadwall - 16

Wigeon - 30

Teal - 12

Water Rail - 1 heard

Firecrest

Grey Wagtail

Raven

Yet another bright sunny day with a flat calm sea and not a hint of a breeze.

Red-throated Diver - 7W 8 os

Common Scoter 5 os

Brent Geese - 12E

Great-crested Grebe - 4E 9 os

Red-breasted Merganser - 25 os 7E 3W

Gannet - 1E

Med Gull - c100

Snipe - 4

Grey Plover - 4

Oystercatcher - 2W 1E

Turnstone - 17E

Little Egret - 2

Yellowhammer - 9

Greenfinch - 7

Goldfinch - 13

Reed Bunting - 6

Skylark - 30

Song Thrush - 6

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Green Woodpecker - 3

Kestrel - 3

Buzzard - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Greenfinch

Kestrel

River Arun from Tortington from 12:00

Marsh Harrier - 3

Buzzard - 4

Red Kite - 2

Shelduck - 10

Egyptian Goose - 1

Mute Swan - 68

Black Swan - 2

Little Grebe - 1

Common Sandpiper - 3

Lapwing - c150

Snipe - 1

Redshank - 2

Little Egret - 2

Linnet - c200

Yellowhammer - 15

Skylark - 20

Stonechat - 2

Meadow Pipit - 17

Song Thrush - 3

Marsh Harriers

Shelduck

Lapwing

Linnet

 A lovely bright sunny morning in the patch found a SandwichnTern moving west as well as several Red-throated Divers moving and at least 4 Jack Snipe in the area.

Jack Snipe - 4

Snipe - 3

Grey Partridge - 3

Stock Dove  9

Kestrel - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Buzzard - 2

Yellowhammer - 9

Reed Bunting - 15

Meadow Pipit - 23

Stonechat - 4

Chiffchaff - 1

Pied Wagtail - 15

Skylark - 60+

Bullfinch - 1

Sandwich Tern - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 13E 5 os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Great-crested Grebe - 9 os 2E

Red-breasted Merganser - 23 os 7E

Shelduck - 1

Med Gull - c.100

Little Egret - 1

Jack Snipe

Med Gulls

Yellowhammer

 2 Jack Snipe showing well in the setaside from Climping Beach late morning. (DB)

Firecrest & 2 Goldcrest Elmer Wood. (OM)

Very quiet offshore again this morning, combined totals below (BA,OM)

Firecrest - 1 Elmer Wood

Diver sp - 10E

Med Gull - c150

Gannet - 1W

Wigeon - 20W

Brent Geese - 36W

Common Scoter - 4os

Shelduck - 1

Great-crested Grebe - 5os

Curlew - 12

Oystercatcher - 1

Dunlin 9W

Ringed Plover - 5W

Sanderling - 5

Turnstone - present

Grey Heron - 2

Kingfisher - 1

Yellowhammer - 11

Reed Bunting - 13

Linnet - c70

Skylark - 45

Meadow Pipit - 7

Pied Wagtail - 5

Stonechat - 2

Mistle Thrush - 2

Song Thrush - 7

Jay - 1

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 1

Med Gulls south Climping School

Shelduck setaside

Morning records from (RP)

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 1

Med Gull - c100

Black -headed Gull c100

Common Gull - 5

Yellowhammer - 14

Reed Bunting - 9

Stonechat - 1

Skylark - 50

Meadow Pipit - 5

Goldfinch - 15

Song Thrush 2

Wood Pigeon - c100

Jackdaw - 50+

Carrion Crow - 75+

Recorded 32 species on a circular walk around the patch this morning from Bread lane to golf course via the beach and then through to Ferry road.
 
Best a Peregrine sat in the field, 11 Yellow Hammers, 12 Med Gulls , 45 Sanderlings and a staggering c80 Ringed Plover on the high tide roost, by far the highest number I've ever recorded. (AH)
 
Black-headed Gull 24
Blackbird 1
Blue Tit 3
Brent Goose 4 (west)
Buzzard 1
Carrion Crow 10
Chaffinch 4
Common Gull 7
Cormorant 1
Dunnock 1
Feral Pigeon 18
Goldfinch 10
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Great Tit 5
Green Woodpecker 1
Jay 1
Kestrel 2
Magpie 13
Mediterranean Gull 12
Peregrine 1
Pied Wagtail 3
Reed Bunting 5
Ringed Plover 80
Sanderling 45
Shelduck (west)4
Skylark 5
Song Thrush 1
Stonechat 2
Turnstone 26
Woodpigeon 23
Yellow Hammer 11

Also 2 Black Swans with 37 Mute Swans at Tortington

Ringed Plover west beach