I started off watching from Elmer, then mostly at Poole Place, on a lovely crisp, frosty morning - but there was very little of note.

There was a single Red-throated Diver on the sea there, and no more than 8 R/b Mergansers present today at low tide. Also a couple of Grey Plovers were along the beach and 30+ Ringed Plovers. A flock of at least 100 Brent Geese were on the sea off Climping, before flying inland to the fields, then back again! A single Firecrest was in the wood behind the beach neat the Elmer set-aside.

I had a quick look at the fields off Ferry Road...looked promising, but found nothing; too sunny and thermal wasn't much use.

Then a quick look around Bailiffscourt - where the highlight was a flock of 19 Golden Plover in the arable field behind....near the concrete road. (OM)

Golden Plover 

Quiet offshore this morning with a Great-northern Diver west being the only bird of note.

Wigeon - 20w

Red-breasted Merganser - 2e

Great-crested Grebe - 2 os

Auk sp - 1w

Grey Plover - 3e

Turnstone - 30w 20e

Sanderling - 6w

Oystercatcher - 6

Med Gull - c50

Brent Geese - c200

Yellowhammer - 6

Stonechat - 1

Skylark - 30

Pied Wagtail - 6

Kestrel - 1

 

Brent Geese in field opp Bailiffs entrance

Late morning visit to Climping Beach but was rewarded with a Goosander west close inshore at 09:43 and a Velvet Scoter west at 09:58. Little else of note apart from 150 Brent Geese in the field opposite the entrance to Bailiffscourt.

Red-throated Diver - 2e

Diver sp - 2w

Great-crested Grebe - 8w

Auk sp - 1e

Gannet - 2w

Med Gull - 1w

Sanderling - 30w

Turnstone - 17w

Grey Plover - 4e

Brent Geese - 1e 3w 

Cold bright cold sunny morning with the highlight being a Tawny Owl at the back of first wood, viewed from the footpath at the back of the golf course.

Red-throated Diver - 1 on sea

Great-crested Grebe - 2 

Red-breasted Merganser - 14 

Brent Geese - 56 field west of bread lane

Med Gull - 12

Little Egret - 1

Turnstone - 20

Sanderling - 1

Goldfinch - 75 mostly east
Linnet - 15

Meadow Pipit - 12

Skylark - 30

Yellowhammer - 3

Reed Bunting - 7

Stonechat - 8

Chiffchaff - 2

Goldcrest - 1

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 7

Very cold this morning early on. I spent a couple of hours (0815-1015) mostly watching the sea and mostly around the Poole Place end of the rocks. There was a steady trickle of  birds, although it was fairly slow going, but of interest were a Gt Northern Diver west, a Red-throated on the sea, a Shag east and two Sandwich Terns west. My log below.... (OM)

Gannet - 2W
Red-throated Diver - 1 o/s
Great Northern Diver - 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 2 o/s
Little Egret - 3
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 7W
Shelduck - 3W
R/b Merganser 10+ o/s
Oystercatcher - 10
Grey Plover - 1
Ringed Plover - 52
Turnstone - 20
Sanderling - 22
auk sp - c.40+ W...very distant along horizon
Med Gull - 10E
Sandwich Tern - 2 o/s drifted W
Pied Wagtail - 2W
Firecrest - 1 woods behind beach
Chiffchaff - 1 set-aside wood behind beach

Nothing exciting, but of note were a Kingfisher on the rock islands at high tide, three SandwichTerns that went east, and three Egyptian Geese that went in all directions....flew in calling, from the North and then out South to sea, them turned East and headed towards Climping, lost from view, then two minutes later seen offshore heading West!
cheers O My log was:-

Gannet - 3 o/s
Great Crested Grebe - 3 o/s
Brent Goose - 10W
Egyptian Goose - three flew around before finally heading off west offshore
Common Scoter - c.10W distant
R/b Merganser - 10 o/s
Oystercatcher - 10
Ringed Plover - 20 on rocks
Kingfisher - one fishing from rock island around high tide
auk sp - most very distant - 30E & 50W
In the field  and hedgerows behind the beach were:
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 5
Firecrest - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 10
Siskin - 5
Green Woodpecker - 2
Jay - 2

The first autumn gathering of R/b Mergansers - 14 birds - was behind the rock islands and there were a few bits and pieces, as below (0835-11.35hrs) OM

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 1o/s
Mute Swan - 3 adults offshore behind rocks for an hour, before eventually flying off east
Brent Geese - 209W
R/b Merganser - 14 o/s
Wigeon - 8W
Teal - 1W
Gannet - 5 o/s
Little Egret - 3
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Oystercatcher - 10
Turnstone - 45
Sanderling - 12
Ringed Plover - 58
Great Skua - 1 o/s
Med Gull - 12E
Chiffchaff - 1

Owen & myself still searching the wooded areas around the patch, although seemed very quiet with 2 Firecrest  at least 20 Goldcrest around, 2 Chiffchaff a female Blackcap in 1st wood, 10 Song Thrush and the Little Owl put in an appearance around Bailiffscourt.

Little Owl

 

 Morning spent covering the back of the golf course and longwood.

Firecrest - 2

Goldcrest - 19

Siskin - 6

Chiffchaff - 2

Cetti's Warbler - 3 or 4 hrd

Water Rail - 1 hrd

Reed Bunting - 1

Yellowhammer - 1

Linnet - 30

Skylark - c100

Meadow Pipit - 20

Pied Wagtail - 11

Stonechat - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 1

Kestrel - 1

Buzzard - 1

Firecrest

Stonechat

Three of us covered the Bailiffscourt area/overflow car park area to no avail for at least three hours this morning. I was notably quieter than yesterday and even the Long-tailed Tit flocks had rather little with them.  Our joint total was 1 Firecrest, about a dozen Goldcrests and 20+ Long-tailed Tits.  I checked the field behind the overflow and found 2 Fieldfares, 4 Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird feeding on berries in the hedge. Also Kestrel, 2 Jay, 2 Gt Spot and 2 Green Woods. (OM)

Fieldfare

 Out late morning due to other commitments and still searching for the rare Siberians, persistence paid off with a Pallas's Warbler in the overflow car park at Bailiffscourt. Seen just a couple of times and heard to call once, not the obliging individual that was hoped for but nevertheless a good bird for the patch. Also a Firecrest in the same area, at least 3 Chiffchaff and a dozen or more Goldcrest. The pictures are not going to win any awards, but you get the idea.

I managed 45 mins of sea-watching which produced 
Brent Goose - 94 W
Wigeon - 11W
Med Gull - 20o/s E&W

Little Egret - 8

Grey Plover- 5

Ringed Plover - 2 

Turnstone - 22

Oystercatcher - 8
and 2 Rock Pipits on Poole Place rocks. I then spent a couple of hours just behind Poole Place and around the concrete road; at least 10 Goldcrest but really nothing else worth a mention.
Heavy showers and frequent sheltering under the trees - but no sign of anything more exciting. (OM)

Good coverage this morning with little reward, just happy to be reacquainted with a couple of scarce local birds. Combined totals below.

Little Owl - 1
Chiffchaff - 8
Goldcrest - 35+
Treecreeper - 1
Redpoll - 4
Siskin - 20+
Firecrest - 4 Bailiffs & Kents

Skylark - c30

Meadow Pipit - 10

Linnet - 12

Reed Bunting - 1

Stonechat - 4
Long-tailed Tit - 25
Song Thrush - 10

Mistle Thrush - 1
Great-spotted Wood - 2
Green Wood - 3
Jay - 2
Kestrel - 3
Buzzard - 2

Sparrowhawk -1

Gannet - 3e 6w

Kittiwake - 1w

Med Gull - c100+

Turnstone - 30

Sanderling - 4w

Firecrest Bailiffscourt (OM)

A strong southerly so I opted to sea-watch on the local patch, mostly from near Poole Place. There were a few bits and pieces, with the highlight being a late Arctic Tern which was close in and went west. 

Oystercatcher - 12 in fields
Turnstone - 15 along beach
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Gannet - 20W
auk sp - 25W distant, sure I missed plenty
Razorbill - at least 5W identified
Kittiwake - 10W
Med Gull - 15
Arctic Tern - 1W close
Meadow Pipit - 8 on vegetated shingle, drifted west. (OM)

Med Gull - c300 in the fields

Starling - c200

Stonechat - 12

Skylark - c50

Linnet - 30

Goldfinch - 25

Chiffchaff - 4

Goldcrest - 10

Treecreeper - 1 Bailiffscourt

Redpoll - 1

Buzzard - 1

Kestrel - 2

Jay - 3

Little Egret - 1

Auk sp - 20w

Gannet - 5w

Turnstone - 40w

Treecreeper

Stonechat

 Hard going this morning so just concentrated on the woods looking for warblers, but just one Chiff was all I found. Best were 3 Firecrests, 8 Goldcrests and a small flock of about ten L/t Tits, Also Three GS Woods and 2 Green Woods, a Kestrel, and two Jays. (OM)

Very quiet this morning with the vis-mig slowing down and very little movement offshore.

A Marsh Harrier favoring the back of 1st wood, seen from the footpath at the back of the golf course, but maybe best viewed from Ferry Road. Also a Dartford Warbler in the set-aside (AH)

Water Rail - 1 heard back of golf course

Cetti's Warbler - 3 heard

Chiffchaff - 6

Goldcrest - 3

Stonehat - 5

Reed Bunting 15

Yellowhammer - 6

Meadow Pipit - 45

Skylark - 50

Linnet - 30

Redpoll - 1

Siskin - 1

Pied Wagtail - 45

Song Thrush - 3

Jay - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Turnstone - 3

Oystercatcher - 5

Snipe - 2

Grey Heron - 1

Little Egret - 1

Buzzard - 3

Kestrel - 2

Med Gull - 30

Great-crested Grebe - 4

Green Woodpecker - 1

Elmer - Poole Place:  I covered my local area up to Poole Place (0800-1030hrs), with a bit of sea-watching there, plus  a look at the fields behind the beach. Totals were : (OM)

Red-throated Diver - 1W
Little Egret - 10 in fields
Gannet - 7W
Pied Wagtail - 40+ most in fields
Grey Wagtail - 1E
Meadow Pipit - 10
Rock Pipit - 1
Swallow - 1
Med Gull - 60+
Siskin - several heard not seen
Linnet - 10
Goldfinch - 70 (mostly W)
Goldcrest - 2
Chiffchaff - 6

For me the highlight was a Merlin flying over the Marina early afternoon, and c150 Med Gull in the fields.

Quiet this morning in sunny bright conditions, with the westerly wind picking up through the morning. 

Firecrest - 2 Atherington cottages

Goldcrest - 6

Chiffchaff - 9

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 25

Meadow Pipit - 50+

Skylark - c35

Goldfinch - 40

Stonechat - 6

Yellowhammer - 6

Reed Bunting - 5

Swallow - 10

Kestrel - 2

Buzzard - 4

Red-legged Partridge - 1

Med Gull - c175

Gannet - 3w

Redshank - 2 river

Red-legged Partridge

 A Yellow-browed Warbler in the north west corner at the back of Poole Place this morning,  initially seen twice before flying into the main garden. Also a Woodlark heard and seen flying west at the same location. (OM)

 A few observers around today giving good coverage but again very little reward. A Dartford Warbler along the rife in the set-aside, Chiffchaff & Goldcrest numbering in the 30's with fewer Song Thrush, with a single Wheatear from bread lane. Half a dozen of Stonechat and Blackcap, with Siskin in the treetops around the hotel grounds and Redpoll moving west with Goldfinch flocks. On the river 2 Redshank and a Kingfisher.

Reed Bunting present in good numbers again

Chiffchaff

Two Dartford Warbler the highlight this morning with one behind the cafe at the river mouth and another in front of the old camp site.  

Mute Swan - 9

Redshank - 2

Oystercatcher - 18

Ringed Plover - 30

Grey Heron - 2

Little Egret - 5

House Sparrow - 45

Pied Wagtail - 17

Reed Bunting - 22

Yellowhammer - 2

Goldcrest - 17

Chiffchaff - 18

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Redpoll - 33

Siskin - 5

Linnet - c120

Goldfinch - 15

Wheatear - 1

Stonechat - 6

Meadow Pipit - c60

Skylark - 45

Swallow - 25

Jay - 3

Song Thrush - 1

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1

Buzzard - 3

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 1

Clouded Yellow - 1

Dartford Warbler 

Wheatear

The Scaup still on the local reservoir this morning with 51 Tufted Duck and 15 Pochard. (OM

 A little variety this morning before the rain brought a halt to proceedings.

Firecrest - 1

Goldcrest - 25

Chiffchaff - 21

Treecreeper - 1 Bailiffscourt

Crossbill - 8 flew south over Kents

Blackcap - 2

Grey Wagtail - 1

Pied Wagtail - 10

Stonechat - 4

Rock Pipit - 1

Wheatear - 1

Linnet - c100

Meadow Pipit - 30

Skylark - 40

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 2

Jay - 3

Song Thrush - 5

Swallow - c50e

Egyptian Geese - 5w

Brent Geese - 8e

Wigeon - 1e

Little Egret - 1

Gannet 10w 3e

A couple of pictures of yesterday's Caspian Gull found by (AH) 

 A Sooty Shearwater seen at several locations along the coast this morning flew east from Elmer at 09:03 (OM)  also 2 Razorbill on the sea and a good candidate for a 1st Win Caspian Gull along the beach (AH)

I watched mainly from the Poole Place area (the gateway to shelter from the force 4-5 SSE wind)

from 0810-1010hrs.... the clear highlight was the Sooty Shearwater heading east at 0903hrs, not too far out all, about half way I'd say, in very clear visibility. Originally seen at Selsey very close in about 0845 and subsequently seen at Worthing by Nick Bond, also a report off Hove. Mylog was....

Sooty Shear - 1E

Gannet - 57E, 12W

Little Egret - 10 in fields

Brent Goose - 37W

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon  - 5W

Teal - 3W

Oystercatcher - 12

Turnstone - 6

Razorbill - 10E, 5W

auk sp - 42E, 6W

Swallow - 3E

Linnet - 7

Siskin  - a couple heard, not seen

Dartford Warbler - 2 setaside (H)

I should mention separately I made a visit to the local reservoir late morning, where there had clearly been a bit of an influx of wildfowl. I eventually came across a Scaup amongst the flock, which was very elusive to start with but eventually gave itself up a bit. Adam Huttly came across to see it...I attach 2 photos, mine first and his second. For the record there were 39 Tufted and 18 Pochard there also.

Scaup (AH)

(OM)

An Osprey seen flying south over first Wood and then the golf course at 12:15 today, seen by  BS.

Just returned from extended trip to the West Country. Here are today’s totals from a quick trip around the golf course area. Nothing spectacular but good to connect with a few old friends. (RP)

9 Mute Swan
2 Mallard
2 Common Pheasant
X Feral Pigeon
3 Stock Dove
X Common Woodpigeon
1 Water Rail -- Heard
1 Common Moorhen
X Black-headed Gull
5 Mediterranean Gull
X European Herring Gull
1 Great Cormorant
1 Little Egret
1 Grey Heron
1 Common Buzzard
2 Common Kingfisher
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Eurasian Jay
2 Common Magpie
X Eurasian Jackdaw
X Rook
X Carrion Crow
2 Eurasian Blue Tit
1 Great Tit
4 Eurasian Skylark
10 Common Chiffchaff
2 Cetti's Warbler -- Heard
1 Dartford Warbler
1 Eurasian Wren
X Common Starling
8 Song Thrush
X Eurasian Blackbird
X European Robin
8 European Stonechat
2 Dunnock
20 House Sparrow
1 Pied Wagtail
X Meadow Pipit
110 Common Linnet
X European Goldfinch
6 Yellowhammer
1 Common Reed Bunting

Another grey overcast morning with the wind from the northeast, found a White-tailed Eagle seen initially flying west at West Beach, being harassed by the local corvids, and moments later seen flying with prey, and landed in conifers at the old camp site near Kent's cottages. Also, three Woodlark calling flying east over west beach, and three Ring Ouzel, with two in hedge behind the cabins at the back of the overflow car park Bailiffscourt and a male flew east at the Mill. 

Good numbers of Swallow & House Martin continue to be seen moving through the patch, combined totals below from BA & OM.

Dartford Warbler - 2 Fort & Set-aside

Stonechat - 11

Wheatear - 2

Chiffchaff - 50+

Goldcrest - 25+

Blackcap - 3

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Redwing - 1 hrd

Mistle Thrush - 1

Song Thrush - 3

Siskin - c40

Redpoll - 4

Linnet - c150

Meadow Pipit - c50

Goldfinch - c175

Reed Bunting - 6

Pied Wagtail - 11

Jay - 5

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 2

Sparrowhawk - 2

Buzzard - 2

Kestrel - 2

Grey Heron - 4

Little Egret - 5

Kingfisher - 3

Turnstone - 7

Ringed Plover - 2

Oystercatcher - 4

Med Gull - 30

Brent Geese - 22e

Ring Ouzel

Meadow Pipit west beach

Wheatear west beach

Reed Bunting mill path

Chiffchaff mill path

A male Ring Ouzel in hawthorn at the end of the Mill path, and a Dartford Warbler with Stonechat in the set-aside were the highlight of a very grey overcast morning.  although good numbers of finches continue moving east along with good numbers of both Swallow and House Martin.

Ring Ouzel

Redwing

Chiffchaff - 19

Goldcrest - 8

Blackcap - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Stonechat - 9

Yellowhammer - 1

Reed Bunting - 8

Goldfinch - c250

Redpoll - 11

Siskin - 35

Linnet - c150

Meadow Pipit - 40

Skylark - c50

Rock Pipit - 3

Pied Wagtail - 7

Redwing - 1

Mistle Thrush - 1

Kestrel - 2

Sparrowhawk - 1

Buzzard - 2

Jay - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 4

Green Woodpecker - 3

Little Egret - 6

Med Gull - c100

Common Gull - 5

Brent Geese - 2w 7 west beach.

Records for today from (OM)

Little Egret - 7

Brent Goose - 4E & 52W

Wigeon - 3W

Med Gull - 50+

Gannet - 4 offshore/fishing

Swallow - 48E

Goldfinch - 115E

Redpoll - 7E (stopped in Poole P trees for a short while)

Siskin - 55E

Goldcrest - 6

 Very grey and overcast this morning with good numbers of Chiffchaff in every bush, with a Firecrest being the only reward for my patience. Plenty of vis mig, with c50 Swallow and small numbers of House Martin moving east, also, six Rock Pipit in the set-aside.

Chiffchaff - 80+

Firecrest - 1

Goldcrest - 15

Blackcap - 7

Cetti's Warbler - 2 hrd

Rock Pipit - 6

Meadow Pipit - c100

Redpoll - 2

Siskin - 4

Grey Wagtail - 3

Pied Wagtail - 7

Yellowhammer - 11

Reed Bunting - 3

Linnet - c50

Goldfinch - c75

Skylark - 40

Jay - 3

Song Thrush - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 3

Green Woodpecker - 1

Curlew - 3

Oystercatcher - 5

Little Egret - 1

Grey Heron - 1

Buzzard - 3

Kestrel - 2

Sparrowhawk - 2

Med Gull - 15

Rock Pipit Set-aside

Grey Wag Atherington

Pied Wagtail

Chiffchaff Bread Lane

 Two Bearded Tit flew west out of the rife east of the old railway carriages late morning.

Chiffchaff - 23

Goldcrest - 5

Siskin - 7

Skylark - c50

Meadow Pipit - c150

Stonechat - 10

Wheatear - 6

Yellow Wagtail - 3

Cetti's Warbler - 1 hrd

Reed Bunting - 9

Goldfinch - 60

Blackcap - 4

Linnet - 75

Jay - 1

Buzzard - 5

Kestrel - 2

Water Rail - 1 hrd

Grey Heron - 2

Little Egret - 3

Med Gull - c50

Swallow - 30

Clouded Yellow - 4

Wheatear

Yellow Wagtail

Stonechat

Large numbers of Gull and Gannets feeding distantly offshore this morning, but apart from a little flurry of Auks the sea was very quiet.

Gannet - c100+ 

Auk sp 60e 25w

Brent Geese - 4w

Great-crested Grebe - 1os

Med Gull - c150

Mute Swan - 1w

Oystercatcher - 6w

Turnstone - 15w

Little Egret - 3

Siskin - 7

Wheatear - 1

Blackcap - 2

Reed Warbler - 1

Cetti's Warbler - 1

Stonechat - 2

Chiffchaff - 15

Goldcrest - 5

Pied Wagtail - 17

Meadow Pipit - c70

Skylark - 40+

Mistle Thrush - 1

Jay - 2

Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 1

Buzzard - 2

Sparrowhawk - 1

Kestrel - 2

Swallow - 30

House Martin - 1

1st win Med Gull

Kestrel 

Chiffchaff

Wheatear