Elmer Rocks: Today’s local patch highlight (and year tick) was three Canada Geese – actually quite a scarce species here - flying W along the beach before heading N inland. Eight Sanderlings were also feeding along the shoreline, but the sea was predictably very quiet otherwise with just a few Sandwich Terns and Med Gulls seen. On the beach a family of Carrion Crows including two recently fledged young were present, a Little Egret went east and a couple of Swallows were overhead.

 Elmer fields: A look at the fields behind Poole Place produced a Grey Wagtail feeding around the edge of a large puddle, two Swifts high up and a pair of Buzzards. The now-resident Whitethroats were largely silent, giving just the odd brief snatch of song, but a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and two Song Thrushes were more obvious and still singing loudly. Two Great Spotted and a single Green Woodpecker were the best of the rest. (OM)