November 30th 2018

GORING GAP: Two hours of migration watching this morning was fairly quiet in general but a/the Red-necked Grebe heading west provided a clear highlight. Red-breasted Mergansers were hard to count but a bare minimum of 11 were on the sea. Four Dark-bellied Brent Geese, six Great Crested Grebes, a Shelduck, a Red-throated Diver and a Gannet also passed. 10 Skylarks, two Meadow Pipits and two Linnets flew through. TwoAll of the usual wader species were on the beach but I only managed to count Sanderlings, Grey Plovers and Ringed Plovers, the former numbering 90 and the plovers 24 each. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls and 11 Common Gulls were logged. Two Goldcrests were in the seaward section of The Plantation. DKC

November 28th 2018

GORING GAP : Atrocious weather but the beauty of birding at the gap there is always something to search through from the car and birds were around in quantity rather than quality in the roost field at mid-morning. 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Greater-black backed Gulls, c160 Dunlin, 44 Ringed Plover , 164 Starling was an impressive count, only 2 Skylark and 2 Pied Wagtail were noted and brave enough to stick it out in the fields NB

November 26th 2018

GORING GAP: The 1CY drake Eider was still on the sea this morning, along with six Razorbills, 19 Red-breasted Mergansers and 33 Great Crested Grebes. Six Red-throated Divers were logged, including one or two pitching down, as well as two Kittiwakes, five Gannets, a Guillemot and six further auks. Light overhead passage involved 50 of both Linnet and Chaffinch, two Siskins, nine Meadow Pipits, 75 Goldfinches and a Skylark. With the bonus Redshank still present, all the usual waders were on the beach, including 24 Grey Plovers. The female Stonechat, four Mediterranean Gulls and two Common Gulls were also noted. DKC

November 25th 2018

GORING GAP: Wildfowl are the enduring theme of patch birding at the moment and an eventful first few minutes of seawatching/vismissing this morning saw an adult drake Goosander pass east along the shore and a 1CY drake Eider bobbing on the sea. Later, a flock of six Egyptian Geese west over land was constituted an unexpected patch tick. Offshore 28 Red-breasted Mergansers and 23 Great Crested Grebes made up the numbers, while 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Red-throated Divers, 36 Gannets, four Kittiwakes and 16 auks - mostly Razorbills - went through. The Goldfinch tap was still on, with 160 heading east, along with 22 Meadow Pipits and 12 Linnets. The usual waders were on the beach, including 20 Grey Plovers and 16 Oystercatchers, plus a Redshank but the high tide roost was again non-existent, the birds evidently using another site at the moment. Four Lesser Black-backed Gulls (three adults and a 2CY) were in the roost field, along with eight adult Mediterranean Gulls and two Common Gulls. 23 Skylarks, a Jackdaw, a Chiffchaff and five of both Goldcrest and Pied Wagtail were also logged. DKC

1CY drake Eider DKC

Egyptian Geese DKC

three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls - the scarcest 'common gull' here, with one of the omnipresent Great Black-backed Gulls DKC

November 23rd 2018

GORING GAP: There was a marked increase in the number of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes on the sea since my last visit, with 34 and 10 respectively. 40 auks were mostly very distant but those passing within ID range were Razorbills, while a Guillemot was on the sea close in. A Common Scoter and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew past, while 12 Red-throated Divers, 18 Kittiwakes and 43 Gannets were noted. The usual waders were on the beach, along with my first Redshank for the site since the summer, and four adult Mediterranean Gulls and five Common Gulls were around. What I presume to be the same Reed Bunting as on 18th was calling from the fenced rough at dawn. 30 Skylarks were in the roost field, a Song Thrush (still thin on the ground) was in The Plantation, three Meadow Pipits were on the stubble strip and the female Stonechat was still by the blocked road. Goldcrests had decreased to just three. Two Linnets and five Goldfinches moved east and 12 Pied Wagtails were around. I missed out on the Great Northern Diver reported by an unknown and unseen birder. DKC

November 21st 2018

GORING GAP: A 2-hour seawatch this morning was rewarded with a nice selection of wildfowl, headlined by a group of three Eiders [in fact just after wrapping up the seawatch, spotted behind me by a pitstopping CH while I was counting waders in the field field] and no fewer than eight Velvet Scoters heading east offshore, including a group of five and a singleton with a Tufted Duck in its wake. 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, three Teal, 10 Common Scoters, two Great Crested Grebes and a Kittiwake flew east, while four Dark-bellied Brent Geese went the other way and 19 Red-throated Divers, 236 Gannets and 73 auks were also logged passing. Waders present included 30 Grey Plovers and 75 Dunlin, though only 11 Ringed Plovers and four Turnstones. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was in the roost field, while two Mediterranean Gulls and four Common Gulls were also seen. A female Stonechat was by the blocked road, a Chiffchaff was in the northwest corner and six Skylarks, four Goldcrests and two Song Thrushes were among the other birds noted. DKC

Velvet Scoters DKC

November 18th 2018

GORING GAP: The first Pintail of the autumn, a drake, flew west past the Gap this morning. Flocks of 11 and four Golden Plovers flew over, along with a Lapwing, and offshore five Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Curlew, three Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Crested Grebe and a lone Gannet passed. Goldfinches were still bombing through east in decent numbers, 660 in all, with six Siskins, 39 Chaffinches and 15 Linnets thrown in, and 24 Meadow Pipits heading the same way. A Reed Bunting and a female Stonechat were in the fenced rough, while an impressive flock of 58 Skylarks toured the fields. Waders on the beach included the usual Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Turnstones, with a skittish flock of 50 Dunlin and small numbers of Grey Plovers. A Grey Heron flew west and an adult  Mediterranean Gull was noted. A circuit of the site totted up 12 Goldcrests, plus a Chiffchaff, and a Kestrel was hunting. In excess of 300 Woodpigeons  flew through but just what they were doing was unclear. DKC/RS/SS

November 17th 2018

CISSBURY RING: An early start saw Val, Mya, Terry and I meet at dawn to set the mist nets. It was a pretty lively session with a good variety in the catch, including three Firecrests, a Bullfinch and the odd Blackcap, Redwing, Song Thrush and Chiffchaff (one of the latter interestingly being a 2CY+ caught and ringed on site in August while in post-breeding moult!). I'm always keeping an ear and eye out as much as possible while ringing and scanning between net rounds scored us a fly-over Great White Egret as it headed northeast late morning. A heard-only Lapwing was also noteworthy, as was a marvellous flock of nine Ravens, and some 200 Common Gulls fed in the adjacent fields.  Fieldfares and Redwings moved overhead, along with much smaller numbers of Siskins, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Linnets. A Tawny Owl was vocal first thing. DKC

Great White Egret DKC

Redwing DKC

male Bullfinch DKC

November 16th 2018

GORING GAP: A Golden Plover which dropped into the central fields was the first main highlight, followed by a surprise Black-necked Grebe on the sea (later twitched by Garry and Clive) and 17 Lapwings overhead. The sea was quiet otherwise, with just a lone Great Crested Grebe. The beach held four Grey Plovers and reasonable but uncounted numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Turnstones, plus a couple of Oystercatchers. A Grey Wagtail, four Mediterranean Gulls, nine Skylarks, nine Goldcrests, two Pied Wagtails and five Meadow Pipits were among the other species logged. DKC/GJ
 

Black-necked Grebe DKC

November 14th 2018

FERRING : There was a fly-by adult Little Gull at Ferring (over the beach) and at 
least 25 Med Gulls on the rocks there yesterday morning CH

November 13th 2018

BROOKLANDS PARK : The Pallas's Warbler is still present in Brooklands Park Worthing although extremely elusive BFF

GORING GAP : 140 Mediterranean Gull's - 80ad, 25 2ndw, 35 1stw. (ring no's= 2ndw green ring r.leg facing (RT81). Ad white ring left leg facing (3238). Ad white ring left leg facing (3322). Ad white ring left leg facing (3038). Ad white ring facing right damaged ring (3C66) Or Bc66. Ad green ring facing right damaged ring (0RC 0r an 0). GDM

November 12th 2018

GORING GAP: I didn't bother looking at the sea and just did a circuit of the Gap. Overhead 145 Goldfinches trickled east, including one or two Siskins calling among them. 15 Chaffinches went the same way. A Firecrest was by the pumping station, with another in the northwest corner, along with a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff. 12 Goldcrests were dotted around and an unploughed area attracted 22 Skylarks, six Meadow Pipits and 29 Linnets. 10 Pied Wagtails and 220 Starlings were also feeding in the fields. The Treecreeper announced its presence in The Plantation. Five Mediterranean Gulls were logged, along with an increase to 50 loafing Common Gulls, though few waders were around, with a quick look at the beach and the roost field around high tide revealing just 12 Ringed Plovers, three Dunlin and two Turnstones. DKC

BROOKLANDS PARK : The Pallas's Warbler is still present in Brooklands Park Worthing for its third day . In the northern section of the park  in the copse in the middle of the cycle track. Extremely elusive often disappearing for long periods and then only being seen briefly feeding amongst the willow copse. Plenty of observers  around a great deal of patience is required. In the copse  there are many Goldcrest with a few Chiffchaff and mixed tit flock. I did find a very grey looking Chiffy that rapidly disappeared. 2 Redpoll flew over the park this morning BFF

November 11th 2018

GEORGE V AVENUE, GORING: Another quiet seawatch did produce a 2CY Yellow-legged Gull, which made it feel worthwhile. Otherwise, the only birds noted moving offshore during the hour were singles of Mediterranean Gull and Great Crested Grebes. DKC

2CY Yellow-legged Gull DKC

November 10th 2018

BROOKLANDS PARK : Star find and a good local rarity was found in the form of a Pallas's Warbler which was found early morning by Gareth and Paul James, the last time this species was recorded here was 19 years ago. The bird remained fairly elusive but gave itself up throughout the day, many Sussex birders made the journey to see this little gem. There was 2 Firecrest, c70 Goldcrest, 2 Redpoll and a Chiffchaff around too, so plenty of birds to search through. GJ/PJ/DKC/GDM/NB

The following account describes the finding of the Pallas's Warbler:

Early morning on 10th November after a wet and windy night, PJ and I did a circuit of Brooklands Park. In addition to the large number of Goldcrests and the Chiffchaff mentioned above, we had seen 8 Teal, 2 Little Egrets and a single Grey Wagtail on the lagoon. On the way back to our cars, PJ had a brief glimpse of a warbler with a prominent supercilium and 2 wing bars which he suspected to be a Yellow-browed Warbler. It showed briefly a couple more times and it soon became apparent much to our excitement that the supercilium and wing bars were in fact yellow and that we were looking at a Pallas's Warbler! I also caught a glimpse of its lemon-yellow rump as it flew from the isolated trees it had been in to the trees along the road to the water treatment works. Much to our relief, we soon relocated the bird and had good but fairly brief views of it flitting around in the trees above our head. 

At this point I put the news out on Twitter after which we promptly lost the bird. After a few minutes, the first local birders (BFF, BDJ and DS) arrived and started checking through the numerous Goldcrests that were in the same area. Following a worrying wait of about 30 minutes, BDJ refound the bird further along the road to the sewage works. It then performed well low down showing all the salient features including the crown stripe and rump. 

The bird was seen on and off for the rest of the day by a good number of local birders although it did go missing for long periods. My second Sussex Pallas's Warbler in six days but fortunately this one was a lot more obliging than the Beachy bird. GJ 

Pallas's Warbler - Brooklands Park - photos courtesy of Chris and Juliet Moore

November 9th 2018

GORING, GEORGE V AVENUE: A 90-minute seawatch this morning largely felt quiet but was rewarded firstly by a distant Little Gull moving east, then by a Red-necked Grebe heading in the same direction. Two Teal, two Common Scoters, nine Great Crested Grebes, three Red-throated Divers, a Mediterranean Gull, over 100 Gannets and a few Guillemots and Razorbills were offshore. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew up from the beach and a migrating flock of 20 Goldfinches flew east.

November 6th 2018

MARINE GARDENS/GORING GAP : A look at the sea from the Marine Gardens shelter in West Worthing between 1010 and 1050 this morning produced a mass of Gannets and gulls of six species feeding or moving through west. Highlight was an adult Little Gull close inshore plus c.50 Kittiwakes, one or two Meds and the commoner BH, Common and Herring. Also 3 close Razorbills on the sea. 
Gannet numbers totalled at least 45. Many more fishing off Goring and still Kittiwakes moving through there 45 mins later. CH

Later on a further 5 Little Gulls were seen lingering offshore (4ads and 1 x 1st winter) before eventually venturing west. A Great-northern Diver also flew west close inshore 10 Guillemots and 15 Razorbills were on the sea. 15 adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the roost field along with a 2nd and 1st winter bird. 200 plus Gannets offshore and Kittiwakes were still moving west well into the afternoon GDM

November 4th 2018

CISSBURY RING: Ringing this morning featured some nice catches, such as a Firecrest, two Bullfinches and several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. A Brambling, two Lesser Redpolls, two Reed Buntings, six Siskins, three Yellowhammers, 19 Greylags, a Little Egret, a Treecreeper, eight Pied Wagtails, five Redwings, two Meadow Pipits and four Skylarks were among the other birds noted during the visit. DKC/VB

1CY male Firecrest

1CY female Bullfinch

adult male Chaffinch

November 3rd 2018

GORING GAP: A brief visit mid-/late morning produced three Red-throated Divers, two Great Crested Grebes, three Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Kittiwake, 26 Gannets, 16 Common Gulls, 30 Razorbills/Guillemots (mostly the former), three Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Skylarks, a Little Egret, two Grey Plovers, 20 Oystercatchers and uncounted Dunlin, Turnstone and Ringed Plover. DKC/PGo/GDM

November 2nd 2018

GORING GAP : A female Goosander flew west, 2 Rock Pipit,  3 Grey Plover, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Great-crested Grebe, 45 Sanderling, 75 Turnstone, 35 Gannet, male Stonechat GDM

November 1st 2018

GORING GAP : A quick morning visit, i concentrated mainly on the beach where 11 Grey Plovers were recorded, 27 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egret, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstone were stretched along the shoreline. 2 Great-crested Grebes were on the sea whilst 7 Greater-black backed Gulls and a single Lesser-black backed Gull were on the roost fields NB