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