30th May 2018
GORING GAP/FERRING RIFE: It was a fairly quiet visit to the patch this morning before domestic stuff called. The Gap had two Sanderlings and three Turnstones, plus an Oystercatcher, 14 Swifts and two Swallows of note. At the Rife, I added another two Swallows and 11 Swifts, plus a Jackdaw, a Pheasant and a Mallard. Three Reed Warblers were actually a patch tick for me, showing perhaps more than anything my recent neglect of the 'secondary half' of the patch which is the Rife. DKC
27th May 2018
GORING GAP: I spent a couple of hours at the Gap this morning, the most notable observation being a Yellow Wagtail calling as it headed north - a rather late individual but incredibly my first of the year on the patch! A Curlew, three House Martins, three Swallows, five Swifts, five Common Scoters, four Shelducks, 55 Gannets, three Black-headed Gulls and two Sandwich Terns were also noted. Trek report here. DKC
25th May 2018
Sightings at GORING GAP this morning included nine Common Scoters, a Fulmar, two Mediterranean Gulls, seven Gannets, 11 Sandwich Terns, a Little Egret, four Ringed Plovers, three Sanderlings, five Swifts, a Swallow and a singing Goldcrest. I had to double-take when, sitting in my WEST WORTHING garden later on, I heard a Reed Warbler chuntering away a few gardens along! Late migrants of this species can indeed turn up in strange places. A couple of Swallows flew through and a Goldcrest was singing next door. I guess the latter might be starting second broods. DKC
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| Little Egret on the beach at Goring |
24th May 2018
GORING GAP: I was surprised to see a Spotted Flycatcher in exactly the same spot as Monday's bird but presumed it was probably the same individual. This was called into question when I spotted two more crossing the open fields and landing in the central plantation! 11 Swifts also came in, including two actually seen arriving over the waves together, and four Swallows flew through. In 5-minute seawatch, I recorded 24 Gannets and seven Sandwich Terns (these feeding along the shore). Three Black-headed Gulls were also seen. DKC
WEST WORTHING: Sitting in the garden later in the day, a House Martin calling overhead produced another garden tick (a Swallow also flew through and the Swifts were busy) and analysis of my nocturnal sound trap revealed that at least one Oystercatcher flew over at last knockings on 22nd (a Dunlin from 15th also makes its way into our record book this way). DKC
WEST WORTHING: Sitting in the garden later in the day, a House Martin calling overhead produced another garden tick (a Swallow also flew through and the Swifts were busy) and analysis of my nocturnal sound trap revealed that at least one Oystercatcher flew over at last knockings on 22nd (a Dunlin from 15th also makes its way into our record book this way). DKC
22nd May 2018
WEST WORTHING: A Siskin, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Greylag, a Linnet, three Swallows, a Cormorant and seven Swifts were over Boundary Road. DKC
21st May 2018
GORING GAP: The clear highlight today was a Spotted Flycatcher which entertained as it sallied in the scrub in the north-west corner. A light movement of Mediterranean Gulls was evident, with seven birds moving west over land. An Arctic Skua and a Bonxie crossed paths during a short mid-afternoon seawatch. See today's Trektellen for further sightings/details. DKC
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| Spotted Flycatcher - DKC |
14th + 15th May 2018
15th May 2018 :
Watched a Peregrine Falcon hunting over the Teville Gate site. It fell out of the sky in a characteristic stoop but pulled out at the last moment as a canny dove abruptly changed direction.
Watched a Peregrine Falcon hunting over the Teville Gate site. It fell out of the sky in a characteristic stoop but pulled out at the last moment as a canny dove abruptly changed direction.
Also a total of seven individual Swifts. Two just South of Tarring Road and five over the Pavillion Road area where there were five last year for a number of weeks while I assume they were breeding. I did not identify a nest site then but I think it was just North of Jacob's Ladder.
Sadly it is many years since the swift nests in Pavilion Road disappeared PT
On the subject of Swifts - a pair was seen prospecting a site on Goring Road, whilst at least 5 birds were seen over Worthing train station/ Morrisons, with 2 birds in the Salvington Road area...all potential resident/breeding birds NB
14th May 2018 - Cissbury Ring :
Swallow (25 including one flock of 12), House Martin (8 in one flock), Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Bullfinch (male and female), Yellowhammer, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie, Jackdaw, Raven (1 moving West), Green Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (male and female), Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Wood Pigeon
Botanical highlight was several patches of early purple orchids in the woods on the South side of the ring PT
10th May 2018
GORING GAP: The best bits there were a/the female Whinchat in the north-west corner, a Sand Martin, a Peregrine, a Willow Warbler, a House Martin, five Sanderlings, 13 Turnstones, four Oystercatchers, seven Swallows, a Moorhen, a Whitethroat and a Black-headed Gull. DKC
FERRING RIFE: Sightings included five House Martins, six Swallows, a Little Egret, two Grey Herons, a Red Kite, two Buzzards, a Kestrel, two Swifts, five Whitethroats, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, six Mallards, two Moorhens and a Jackdaw. DKC
FERRING RIFE: Sightings included five House Martins, six Swallows, a Little Egret, two Grey Herons, a Red Kite, two Buzzards, a Kestrel, two Swifts, five Whitethroats, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, six Mallards, two Moorhens and a Jackdaw. DKC
9th May 2018
GORING GAP: A walk around the Gap this morning was pleasant but quiet in terms of passage migrants, just a Willow Warbler and a Meadow Pipit of note till I came back to where I started and spotted a female Whinchat feeding along the fenceline bording the rough field, which made my day! Gareth and Garry came along for a look and a natter. The Sedge Warbler was remarkably still singing around the scrub in the northwest corner. At long last, two Swifts flew over and a suggestion of hirundine movement involved a House Martin and 10 Swallows, while five Jackdaws seemed to move east. Other bits included a Sparrowhawk, five Buzzards, a Moorhen, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, nine westbound Black-headed Gulls, six Oystercatchers, five Whitethroats, four Linnets, three Sandwich Terns and a Goldcrest. I didn't really look at the sea but two Great Crested Grebes were bobbing around offshore. DKC
Whinchat - Goring Gap - NB
WORTHING TOWN CENTRE - Nice to the Swifts are hunting the skies above again with at least 3 around the Christchurch road area. A single House Martin went over too. Popped into the gap just after lunch to see the Whinchat DKC had found here earlier (record shot above) NB
7th May 2018
FERRING : 0815-0915: Gannet 12 E and 2os, GCGrebe one os, Shelduck one W, C Scoter 43 E, Red b Merganser a drake on sea flew off W, Whimbrel one E, Pomarine Skua - a loose flock of 7 flew E at 0905, Bonxie 2 on sea and one E, Sandwich Tern 8E, Little Tern 8 E and Commic Tern 8 E plus two Commons fishing inshore CH
MARINE GARDENS: Highlights from a morning watch included 4 Pomarine Skuas that passed east at a fair distance around 7.40 am. Other birds included some Little Terns a Yellow Wagtail in off and good number of Common Scoter NB/MP/JN
GEORGE V AVENUE: Seawatch highlights 18:20-20:15 included a Pomarine Skua, the 2CY Iceland Gull, four Arctic Skuas, a Whimbrel, three Great Crested Grebes, a Shelduck, a Black-headed Gull and a Kittiwake. DKC/GJ/MP
WEST WORTHING: Three Swifts and a Swallow were over Boundary Road. DKC
MARINE GARDENS: Highlights from a morning watch included 4 Pomarine Skuas that passed east at a fair distance around 7.40 am. Other birds included some Little Terns a Yellow Wagtail in off and good number of Common Scoter NB/MP/JN
GEORGE V AVENUE: Seawatch highlights 18:20-20:15 included a Pomarine Skua, the 2CY Iceland Gull, four Arctic Skuas, a Whimbrel, three Great Crested Grebes, a Shelduck, a Black-headed Gull and a Kittiwake. DKC/GJ/MP
WEST WORTHING: Three Swifts and a Swallow were over Boundary Road. DKC
6th May 2018
FERRING : 0615-0830:
Gannet 20 E 6 offshore, GC Grebe 3 on sea, Fulmar one E, Greylag Goose 4 E along the shoreline!, Common Scoter 2 W, Bonxie one on the sea, Whimbrel 24 E, Bar-tailed Godwit 5 E, Commic Tern 16 E, Sandwich Tern 34 E, Turnstone 6 E, Sanderling one E, Swallow one N.
In and around the Rife /fields were 2 Wheatears, 2 Reed Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, 12 Skylarks and Red Kite over CH
Gannet 20 E 6 offshore, GC Grebe 3 on sea, Fulmar one E, Greylag Goose 4 E along the shoreline!, Common Scoter 2 W, Bonxie one on the sea, Whimbrel 24 E, Bar-tailed Godwit 5 E, Commic Tern 16 E, Sandwich Tern 34 E, Turnstone 6 E, Sanderling one E, Swallow one N.
In and around the Rife /fields were 2 Wheatears, 2 Reed Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, 12 Skylarks and Red Kite over CH
4th May 2018
GORING GAP : - Coverage of the gap produced several hirundines on the move with Swallow, House and Sand Martins all seen slowly making their way north, although passage halted slightly by mid-morning. A Sedge Warbler was found in the gardens of the house that backs onto the fields on th western side of the gap. At least 2 Whitethroats were around too, a single Wheatear and a late Redwing added to the variety around. Blackcap and Chiffchaffs were in song at various points around the gap NB/GJ
2nd May 2018
GEORGE V AVENUE: Trektellen log here. The sea was watched for 4 hours this morning. Despite the conditions being challenging and the visibility being very poor from a couple of hours in, I stuck at it and was rewarded with a distant reappearance from the 2CY Iceland Gull, my first patch Tufted Duck, seven Manx Shearwaters, nine Arctic Skuas, 13 Bonxies, three Whimbrel, three Shelducks, five Kittiwakes and a trickle of Sandwich and Common(+'Commic') Terns. Some 20 Fulmars, 293 Gannets, 40 Common Scoters and 29 auks (five of which were within identifiable range and revealed themselves to be Guillemots). A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the sea. DKC
1st May 2018
GORING GAP: A singing Sedge Warbler was in the northwest corner and other highlights were a Whimbrel, two Wheatears and two Willow Warblers. A Swallow, nine Oystercatchers, three Turnstones, three Gannets, two Sandwich Terns, a Moorhen four Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs and a Mallard were noted. DKC/GJ
FERRING RIFE: Two Swallows. GJ
ICELAND GULL - GORING GAP 2018
Time to reflect on one of our popular sightings at Goring this winter! NB
FERRING RIFE: Two Swallows. GJ
ICELAND GULL - GORING GAP 2018
Time to reflect on one of our popular sightings at Goring this winter! NB
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