April 2024
March 2024
31st - A better sea-watch today with over 500 Common Scoters recorded off Marine Gardens and a good supporting cast including 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Greylag Geese and double figures of Sandwich Tern. A Peregrine Falcon gave a nice fly by. 3 Wheatears were on the beach off Brougham Road, with 3 Swallows over and a Shag was seen seen here too on the basket gantry offshore with Cormorants. The female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands and 5 Red Kites were together over Lancing Ring. All full log from Marine Gardens can be found here : https://ebird.org/checklist/S166601727
Common Scoter - big numbers moving offshore today (N.Bond)
30th - A quiet sea-watch early doors produced 2 Sandwich Terns and 28 Common Scoter of Marine Gardens, a Swallow was over Goring Gap and 2 distant Spoonbills were also observed offshore here at 14.25 hrs
Corn Buntings - many reported singing up on the downs today (D.Kay)
29th - Brooklands Park, the female Goldeneye remains and 2 Cettis Warbler and a Kestrel there
28th - Female Goldeneye still at Brooklands.
25th/26th - A summary of seawatching highlights by N.Oliver.
Steady passage of Brent Geese on both days (275 and 115), Common Scoter (33, 270) and trickle of Sandwich Terns (10,13). Highlight on 25th was Great Skua which flew directly towards us and dropped into to bathe briefly on tide line, before heading back west. Also three Kittiwakes were our first of year. Today (26th) a pod of at least 6-7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins including a youngster put on a superb display including several full breaches. They were watched for 20 minutes hunting of Marine Gardens before heading east and managed to show at least one member of public them through scopes. The female Goldeneye remains at Brooklands Park.
24th - A Willow Warbler was singing in Sompting just west of Sompting Church. 17 Adders recorded at Cissbury Ring.
23rd - The female Goldeneye still at Brooklands Park, at least 5 Adders reported from the west side of Cissbury Ring.
Adder - Cissbury Ring (N.Oliver)
22nd - Another good arrival of Wheatears to the area, a Black Redstart was found on the beach opposite Brooklands Park where at least 10 Wheatear were feeding up. The female Goldeneye was still in Brooklands Park.
21st - A good arrival of Wheatears along Worthing beaches today, a Firecrest was singing in Durrington cemetery.
Wheatear (D.Kay)
20th - A Wheatear on the beach opposite Heene Road, 2 Swallows over Marine Gardens were the first for spring, sea-watching very slow still with just 2 Shoveler, 7 Brent Geese and 17 Common Scoter noted. At Patching Hill an impressive flock of 42 Corn Buntings. In the woods nearby, 3 Firecrests, 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap, all in song. 2 Buzzards and 2 Red Kite west over Durrington. Brimstone butterflies were out in force enjoying the spring sunshine. At Brooklands the female Goldeneye was still present, a Buzzard over the park and at least 3 Chiffchaffs. At Goring Gap, a Rose-ringed Parakeet was in the northern end of the plantation, 2 Wheatears by the pumping station.
19th - Single Wheatears were reported at Splash Point, Ferring country centre and at Worthing sailing club. 2 Green Woodpeckers also at FCC
18th - 3 Wheatears were on the beach at Splash Point, Worthing (opposite the Crabshack) and a Cetti's Warbler in Sompting
Wheatear (N.Bond) and Cetti's Warbler (M.Galtry)
17th - 3 Greylag Geese east Iver Offington Avenue was a very un-expected sightings, whilst a singing Blackcap was in Angmering and a Chiffchaff which presumably had just arrived was actively feeding and calling in East Worthing. 3 Adders were at the southern end of Cissbury Ring
16th - Another spring arrival was a Sandwich Tern observed off Marine Gardens, where a c320 Brent Geese moved east and good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great-crested Grebes on the sea. A Bottle-nosed Dolphin was seen briefly. The female Goldeneye is hanging on at Brooklands Park, where 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and a Reed Bunting were around.
14th - 3 Wheatears were first for the spring at Shoreham Fort and beach, the wintering Eider was in the harbour and 1 Purple Sandpiper still around.
13th - A night of Redwings migrating followed by a morning of Brent Geese migrating off our shores with c1,400 recorded moving through from Marine Gardens, the largest flock being a c180 which out-numbered Saturdays count alone! A fantastic spectacle as was a flock of 64 Mediterranean Gulls moving east. 6 Mediterranean Gulls were on the fields at Goring Gap and the female Goldeneye still at Brooklands Park.
Brent Geese moving eastwards off Marine Gardens (N.Bond) and Mediterranean Gulls - Goring Gap (R.Allan) Ringed individuals in breeding plumage
12th - 5 Ringed Plovers were on the roost field at Goring Gap, a Pheasant was crossing a road nearby. A large Redwing movement could be heard through the night by several observers.
11th - Goring Gap 0650-0945: Brent Goose 63W c50E, Shelduck 7W, Black-tailed Godwit 1W, Meadow Pipit 23N, Reed Bunting 1W. 32 Red- breasted Mergansers, 13 Great-crested Grebes and 1 Mallard on sea. 5 Mediterranean Gulls. 3 Chiffchaffs including 1 in off (R.Simpson)
10th - Nocturnal movement of Redwing and Fieldfare was heard by J.Grundy over Lancing, interestingly, Dungeness had recorded a large movement overnight aswell of various migrating birds
9th - The sea was fairly productive first thing with good number of Brent Geese and Black-headed Gulls moving east and at least 2 Fulmars offshore from Marine Gardens..full account here https://ebird.org/checklist/S164176749 A Brimstone butterfly was seen in Sompting
Record shots of Brent Geese, Common Scoter and a Curlew as they flew past (N.Bond)
8th - Only reports came from Goring Gap. Light passage this morning included (flying east) 3 Shelducks, 2 Curlews, 13 Teal, 4 Shovelers, 2 Mallards, 17 Pintails, 16 Wigeon. 7 Grey Plovers were on the beach when I arrived. A handful of Meadow Pipits flew in overhead (R.Simpson).
Peacock - (Emma Cameron)
7th - The first Common Redstart of the year was at Sompting (M.Galtry) and a Goshawk was sighted over Worthing (R.Ives). A few more signs of spring with a Brimstone butterfly in a Ferring garden and a exceptionally early Hummingbird Hawk-moth in East Worthing
6th - A showy Cetti’s Warbler by stream at Brooklands plus another in west side reeds. Goldeneye still and Little Grebes. A singing Chiffchaff at Widewater.
Black-headed Gull and Cetti's Warbler - Brooklands (R.Allan)
4th - The Goldeneye still remains at Brooklands, 2 Teal and 2 Chiffchaff also reported here. Upto 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls remain at Goring Gap.
3rd - A major improvement in the weather with spring finally in the air, 2 Red Kites moved purposely North East over East Worthing were a pair of Sparrowhawks were also displaying overhead here. A Blackcap was also seen in the same East Worthing garden. A Firecrest was near Downs Barn Sompting and 2 Velvet Scoter were reported offshore from Ferring.
2nd - 6 Egyptian Geese flying west over Sompting Church was a good local record, the female Goldeneye was showing really well in the afternoon from.the concrete steps in Brooklands Park, a pair of Teal and 4 Little Grebes were also around. On the beach were 6 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin, whilst offshore good numbers of Common Gulls were patrolling the beach
Goldeneye and Teal - Brooklands (N.Bond)
1st - Grim conditions again today but this produced some decent Gull numbers at Goring Gap with a influx of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with at least 12 birds present along with 20 plus Great Black-backed Gulls, a 2nd cy Yellow-legged Gull hanging around the south western roost field
Yellow-legged Gull - Goring Gap (N.Bond)
February 2024
29th - A singing Firecrest was singing at Durrington Hill (R.Ives)
28th - A Red-necked Grebe was seen on the sea this morning off Goring Gap (R.Simpson) before drifting out to sea, good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great-crested Grebes and c10 Red-throated Divers were also noted offshore. A small movement of Brent Geese was recorded too with c145 moving east through the morning. A adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and upto 8 Mediterranean Gulls were in the roost fields
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Goring Gap (N.Bond)
26th - Huge numbers of Common Gulls gathered on the fields at Goring Gap, a conservative estimate of 800 birds, just 4 Mediterranean Gulls were in the area, much the same at Brooklands Park with the Goldeneye still present, 5 Little Grebes, a calling Cetti's Warbler and a Goldcrest by the water treatment works
Little Grebe - Brooklands Park (R.Allan)
24th - The female Goldeneye still showing well at Brooklands Park, with 4 Little Grebes, 2 Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Bunting
Goldeneye - Brooklands Park
23rd - The female Goldeneye again at Brooklands Park today, a female Blackcap in a West Worthing garden
Blackcap - West Worthing (Emma Cameron)
22nd - A single Shelduck flew west over Angmering village a good garden record for Ralph Simpson!
21st - The wet weather brought a return of some feeding waders on the roost fields at Goring Gap with 25 Turnstones joined by 10 Dunlins, Gulls included 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls.
Dunlin - Goring Gap
20th - The female Goldeneye still present at Brooklands Park along with a Chiffchaff, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and Cetti's Warbler. Several Mediterranean Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Goring Gap. Several Turnstones still resident on Worthing pier.
Turnstone - Worthing pier - (Duncan Kay)
16th - A nice flock of 300 plus Common Gulls were on the fields at Goring Gap today, just a single Lesser Black-backed Gull and 10 Mediterranean Gulls, also 3 Stonechat in the area and Skylarks are finding their singing voices.
15th - A dozen or so Mediterranean Gulls were feeding on the greensward along with a sizeable flock of Black-headed Gulls including the German ringed Mediterranean Gull from the 13th.
Mediterranean Gull - Goring (N.Bond)
14th - 24 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Goring Gap on a very wet and windy day. News and a photo reached us today of a 1st winter Shag sat on Worthing pier recently.
13th - Only reports today were again from Goring Gap, where Mediterranean Gull numbers have built up to just over 40 on the fields including 2 ringed individuals (German and Belgium rung). 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present in the roost too
Common Gull, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gull both close to breeding plumage and the German ringed Mediterranean Gull (N.Bond)
12th February - Approximately 30 Mediterranean Gulls were at Goring Gap.
11th - Yellowhammers are usually seen around Cissbury Ring, this bird was seen by Duncan Kay
9th - A few interesting reports today, a female Hen Harrier north of Cissbury flew west over Stump Bottom, a Rose-ringed Parakeet flew over Palmerston Avenue, Goring and a single Brent Goose was on the roost fields brieflt at Goring Gap.
8th - A 1st winter Caspian Gull was found in the gull roost at Goring Gap and as per usual did not hang around too long. 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls were here too.
Capian Gull - Goring Gap (N.Bond)
7th - 15 Mediterranean Gulls of various ages on the roost fields at Goring Gap mid-morning. The female Goldeneye still around at Brooklands Park lake.
6th - Good number of Common Gulls were commuting between the roost fields and bech at Goring Gap at lunchtime.
5th - A Slavonian Grebe was seen on the sea this morning off Sea Lane Cafe, a good number of Gannet were also recorded going west here. 31 Turnstones, 48 Oystercatchers, 16 Sanderlings and 9 Mediterranean Gulls were at Goring Gap
4th - 4 Mediterranean Gulls were seen with Black-headed Gulls off Sea Lane cafe this morning with c20 Sanderlings also here
Black-headed Gull (left) and Mediterranean Gull (right) - D.Kay
2nd - 3 Stonechats were still at Goring Gap, with at least 40 Sanderling on the shoreline and a few Grey Plover. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were on the fields, a Merlin was also seen at Highdown Hill
1st - 3 Stonechat remain at Goring Gap around the rough field area where it has emerged a licence application has been placed to sell alcohol on the land! Good sele tin of the usual waders offshore here at low tide with at least 14 Grey Plover being noteworthy.
January 2024
New Year - The latest sightings is back!
30th - 22 Mediterranean Gulls on the fields at Goring Gap is a sign perhaps of birds starting to move through, 32 Pintail were also observed flying west offshore
29th - A Firecrest was with 2 Goldcrests and a Blackcap on Romany Road, a dozen Redwing were still in the area too.
28th - 66 Red-throated Divers were recorded moving east off Ferring beach (C.Hope) whilst a Fulmar and a c25 Great-crested Grebes were the highlights off from Marine Gardens (J.Newnham). A Black Redstart was a nice find in the caravan park just west of Widewater (M.Galtry), the female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands(K.Galtry)
27th - Good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares around No Man's Land (M.Galtry),
26th- Female Goldeneye still at Brooklands Park, with 5 Teal, Water Rail and singing Cetti's Warbler here (R.Simpson) 2 Egyptian Geese were still at Patching Pond
25th - The female Goldeneye again at Brooklands Park the only highlight reported today
24th - A Rose-Ringed Parakeet was heard over St.Lawrences Avenue (feels strange calling them as such after many years being known as Ring-necked!), at Brooklands Park the female Goldeneye remains, with Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff still around, whilst upto 23 Mute Swan were at Widewater with a few Redshanks, a pair of Stonechats and Little Grebe here.
23rd - 15 Mediterranean Gulls were on the roost fields at Goring Gap mid-morning along with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 9 Dunlin were around and 26 Oystercatchers on the beach here
22nd - 2 Egyptian Geese were at Patching Pond (R.Simpson), good number of Redwing were feasting on the Cotton-easter berries on Romany Toad/Faraday Close junction. At least 87 Lapwing were on the fields west of Sompting Church.
21st - Only news reported today was that of the female Goldeneye at Brooklands Park.
20th - A Merlin was seen early doors flying south over Adur Avenue (M.Galtry) and c30 Lapwings were still in the fields west of Sompting Church (T.Sadler), the female Goldeneye remains at Brooklands Park.
19th - 1 Slavonian Grebe was still off Worthing pier (C.Jupp) and Lapwings were still present in the field west of Sompting Church (M.Galtry)
18th - 2 Slavonian Grebes were spotted on the sea from Worthing Pier with a Great-crested Grebe driving westward (C.Jupp)
17th - Some belated sea-watching news 3 Velvet Scoter E, 1 Brent Goose W, 35 Great-crested Grebes, 40 Razorbills, 125 auks, 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Marine Gardens (R.Ives)
16th - Worthing Hospital's wintering Black Redstart still present in the Friend's Cafe courtyard. (First seen early December) (T. Sandler), 30 Lapwing on downs north of Cissbury along track to Chanctonbury this afternoon (N.Oliver) and the female Goldeneye reported again at Brooklands Park
15th - Lapwings featured today with small cold weather movement, with c25 seen in the sheep fields between Sompting Church and Lanbleys Lane (M.Galtry), with another 8 just east of Stump bottom (N.Bond). At Goring Gap 47 Great Crested Grebes, 31 Red-breasted Mergansers , c30 Dunlins, c15 Sanderlings, 3 Ringed Plovers, 8 Grey Plovers, 52 Oystercatchers were logged (R.Simpson)
14th - A Great-northern Diver was seen on the sea off Worthing pier at lunchtime (C.Jupp), otherwise it was similar news to that of the last few days with good numbers of birds offshore. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Goring Gap (R.Allan) and the female Goldeneye remains.
13th - A similar story to what was reported yesterday, with the Goldeneye still present at Brooklands and plenty of activity still for the sea-watchers..Good numbers of Gannets are also being seen off our shores. 40 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plovers were at Goring Gap
12th - The female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands Park favouring the southern end, other highlights here included 8 Teal and a Chiffchaff. The sea had plenty of coverage and a large westward passage of auks mainly Razorbills were noted aswell as Red-throated Divers. There was also good numbers of Great-crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers logged on the sea.
11th - Another cold bright day resulted in a few more reports today, the popular female Goldeneye remained at Brooklands Park on the south eastern end of the lake. At Goring Gap 13 Dunlin, 5 Mediterranean Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the fields whilst on the sea 25 Great-crested Grebes, 5 lRed-throated Divers and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were noted (N.Bond/Richard @hallybirder on twitter). Similar numbers were seen from Marine Gardens with the exception of a Great-northern Diver east. A couple of Little Grebes, a Kingfisher and a Snipe were at Ferring Rife (C.Hope)
10th - The female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands Park which attracted a few visitors, some stats here kindly forwarded by J.Newnham (This the first Goldeneye on Brooklands since a male on 19/10/2004. Up to four (Jan-Feb 1968) recorded in 12 years between 1963-2004). Elsewhere 4 Ringed Plovers were with 14 Dunlin at Goring Gap
9th - The first proper cold snap of the winter grounded 5 Lapwing at Goring Gap with a few Mediterranean Gulls still around and 4 Skylark and 2 Stonechat present (N.Bond/C.Hope). The local highlight was reported on the SOS sightings page with news that there was a female Goldeneye present on the Brooklands Park lake, a very good record for the site!
8th - Ferring rife was quiet with just a Chiffchaff and a Snipe of note (B.Forbes), whilst at Goring Gap held 14 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls on the roost field (N.Bond). A sea-watch by J.Newnham at Marine Gardens from 9.30 - 10.30am produced over 30 Great-crested Grebes offshore which was his largest count this winter, whilst movement included Red-throated Diver 1W, 35E, Cormorant 1E, Shelduck 5W, Common Scoter 1E, Red-breasted Merganser 2W, 4E, Black-headed Gull 5E, Auk sp 20W, 1E
7th - A sea-watch off Ferring from 8.15 - 9.15am produced Red-throated Diver 33E, 4W, Great-crested Grebe 8 on the sea, 4E, Common Scoter 5E (C.Hope)
4th - 11 Dunlin, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls were at Goring Gap (N.Bond)
3rd - 15 Chiffchaffs were at Patching treatment works whilst Goring Gap hosted 40 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (R.Ives)
2nd - 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls were at Goring Gap (N.Bond)
1st - On the beach opposite Brooklands Park hosted 155 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone and 15 Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers flew west as did a single Mediterranean Gull. A Chiffchaff, 3 Teal and 2 Cetti's Warblers were of note in the park (N.Bond) A Firecrest was seen in Broadwater Cemetery and a Little Gull was seen moving west offshore of Ferring block (C.Jupp)
Brooklands Beach - Turnstone and roosting Dunlin (N.Bond)