GORING GAP: A very early morning visit and my first for a long while to the gap took a while to get going probably down to the overnight thundery downpours and much fresher and autumnal atmosphere. 6
Little Egrets were seen departing to the west from the beach and was a constant movement inland of
Black-headed Gulls. 2
Stock Dove were around the southern most fields and the
Whinchat was still around the rough field area. 17
Cormorants were seen flying high east out to sea, otherwise the area in general was quiet with little in the bushes around the pumping station and surrounding fields. Things picked up somewhat when checking the area in the north-west area which hosted a large number of birds with birds constantly feeding up and on the move. Highlights here included a good number of
Blackcap and 3
Garden Warbler which were all observed in one tree together. A
Lesser Whitethroat popped up and there was constant activity with
Willow Warbler featuring strongly, some breaking out in sub-song as the sun warmed things up a little. There was a large tit flock passing through which featured mainly
Long-tailed and
Blue Tits with many fledglings in-tow hopefully signifying a good breeding season. 2
Common Whitethroat were also seen on my return route. A
Swift flew northwest.
NB. I had an additional three Willow Warblers and three Whitethroats, as well as a Swallow, a Pied Wagtail and two juvenile female Sparrowhawks. Offshore or on the beach was a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, two Common Terns (adult and juvenile), a Ringed Plover, three Turnstones, a Redshank, nine Gannets, three Sandwich Terns and nine Little Egrets. DKC
Blackcap - Goring Gap - NB
BROOKLANDS PARK:
Couple of hours birding around the park this morning produced 2 Pied Flycatchers with the possibility of a third bird.All three birds were in the 2 sycamores by the first seat north of the stream.We had 2 birds close together with another bird in the same area.They were very flighty this morning frequently very high in the canopy being extremely difficult to watch.Also noted 8 Willow Warbler,Coal Tit and 7 Little Egrets around the lake BFF/DM
LANCING: A Wood Warbler was trapped and ringed at private site.
