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.