March 27th 2019
A brief mid-afternoon watch at GORING GAP with special guest Ed produced two Common Scoters, four Gannets, four westbound Black-headed Gulls and a Great Crested Grebe. Chiffchaff and Skylark were in song and a Grey Seal was just offshore. DKC/ESt
March 26th 2019
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: A walk around Brooklands late morning produced 7 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest as well as a Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker around the bushes. The lake held 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Teal and a handful of Coot, Moorhen plus a Mute Swan. Moving onto the beach the Black Redstart was still present flitting from groyne to groyne along with 6 Turnstone on the tideline whilst offshore there was a lone Great Crested Grebe.
Still around the northern end of the sewage works was 100+ Chub and also a Yellow-bellied Slider which is native to the USA which must have been dumped by a pet owner. GJ/MR/NB
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| Black Redstart on beach opposite Brooklands Pleasure Park |
Still around the northern end of the sewage works was 100+ Chub and also a Yellow-bellied Slider which is native to the USA which must have been dumped by a pet owner. GJ/MR/NB
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| Yellow-bellied Slider, Brooklands Pleasure Park |
March 22nd 2019
GORING GAP: Movement was limited but included a nice flock of four Eider (one adult drake), 56 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, four Common Scoters, five Sandwich Terns, a Curlew, 31 Meadow Pipits, four Pied/White Wagtails and two Gannets. 27 Red-breasted Mergansers and five Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, while the beach held a Redshank, three Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 40 Sanderlings, 28 Turnstones, four Dunlin and a Little Egret. Seven Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls were logged. Other birds included a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a singing Skylark. DKC/RS
A walk up FERRING RIFE and back down again produced two Water Rails, three Chiffchaffs, the singing male Reed Bunting, two of both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pheasant, two Mallards and 22 Moorhens. Five Skylarks were counted and a singing Coal Tit was notable for the site. An additional nine Dunlin were on the adjacent beach. I also logged 58 Meadow Pipits, a singing Song Thrush and a pair of Long-tailed Tits. DKC
A walk up FERRING RIFE and back down again produced two Water Rails, three Chiffchaffs, the singing male Reed Bunting, two of both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pheasant, two Mallards and 22 Moorhens. Five Skylarks were counted and a singing Coal Tit was notable for the site. An additional nine Dunlin were on the adjacent beach. I also logged 58 Meadow Pipits, a singing Song Thrush and a pair of Long-tailed Tits. DKC
March 21st 2019
GORING GAP - Pretty quiet around the fields, patch quality in the form of a Yellowhammer that flew up from the pumping station area and headed off north east, a smart male Stonechat appears to be a new bird in and a noticeable eastward movement involving 23 Mediterranean Gulls was taken place. Other noteable sightings included 7 Greenfinch by the pumping station and a trickle of Meadow Pipits overhead and 2 Pied Wagtails NB
Stonechat - Goring - NB
FERRING VILLAGE - A Woodcock was sadly found dead by a local shopkeeper outside his shop in the village. This constitutes our first record of this species within our recording area since the start of the blog. GJ
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| Dead Woodcock - Ferring Village |
March 20th 2019
GORING GAP: Meadow Pipits and Pied/White Wagtails were in evidence overhead again today, even more so in fact, with 59 and nine respectively. Three Wheatears arrived, including a female on the beach who was so reluctant to make the final hop to firm ground that she kept sitting tight till the tide rose to her belly and pushed her off. A female Stonechat was in the fenced area, three Chiffchaffs were singing and a Redwing might well be the last bird of the spring. Song Thrush is still thin on the ground so one was notable, the same applying for singles of Linnet and Goldcrest. DKC
Two Canada Geese which circled the Gap before heading north were by far the rarest bird for the site, though, and my first record there. A pair of Long-tailed Tits was still busy gathering nest-building material near the seaward end of The Plantation. A Green Woodpecker called while a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed and four Skylarks were in the fields. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew west, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls were in the roost field and a juvenile Woodpigeon was seen. A Sparrowhawk dashed through and the beach held 25 Turnstones, 19 Sanderlings, three Grey Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers and four Dunlin. On the sea were four Great Crested Grebes and three Red-breasted Mergansers.
I walked along the path at the Gap at about 0820-30 and at the eastern end (near where the orange boat used to be) I came across several Wheatears on the beach. They moved through westwards and came on
to the path so when I retraced my steps there were at least seven (six males). I reckon if I'd had longer more would likely have dropped in.
Part of a decent arrival in West Sussex CH
WORTHING SEAFRONT - Upto 3 Wheatears were around the Splash point area just east from Worthing Pier JPC
SALVINGTON - the male Blackcap was still feeding up in my garden feeding station throughout the day with upto 3 Common Buzzards over NB
At home in WEST WORTHING, two Redwings were heard calling in the darkness. DKC
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| one of two male Wheatears |
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| female Wheatear in the sea... |
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| ...she then hopped to the next rock as the tide flowed, and so on |
Two Canada Geese which circled the Gap before heading north were by far the rarest bird for the site, though, and my first record there. A pair of Long-tailed Tits was still busy gathering nest-building material near the seaward end of The Plantation. A Green Woodpecker called while a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed and four Skylarks were in the fields. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew west, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls were in the roost field and a juvenile Woodpigeon was seen. A Sparrowhawk dashed through and the beach held 25 Turnstones, 19 Sanderlings, three Grey Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers and four Dunlin. On the sea were four Great Crested Grebes and three Red-breasted Mergansers.
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| Canada Geese! |
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| no wonder this Carrion Crow has such poor quality wing feathers... |
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| female Greenfinch |
to the path so when I retraced my steps there were at least seven (six males). I reckon if I'd had longer more would likely have dropped in.
Part of a decent arrival in West Sussex CH
WORTHING SEAFRONT - Upto 3 Wheatears were around the Splash point area just east from Worthing Pier JPC
SALVINGTON - the male Blackcap was still feeding up in my garden feeding station throughout the day with upto 3 Common Buzzards over NB
At home in WEST WORTHING, two Redwings were heard calling in the darkness. DKC
March 19th 2019
GORING GAP: With a light and variable wind, it was a quiet morning offshore, with a lone Great Crested Grebe the only bird noted. As the tide flowed, I counted the waders on the beach: 27 Sanderlings, four Dunlin, 26 Turnstones, two Grey Plovers and five Oystercatchers. 11 Mediterranean Gulls and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were logged and a Jackdaw flew north. A Skylark and a Song Thrush were in voice, while a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed briefly. There seemed to be a little something going on with Meadow Pipits and Pied/White Wagtails, with three and five, respectively, but no consistent directional movement. DKC
A mid-morning visit produced at least 3 Wheatears in the south western roost field with 2 together showing just south of the pumping station whilst another was on the western side of the pumping station, believed to be the first for the site for the year. 2 Chiff chaffs were another sign of spring arrivals with one in sub-song whilst Meadow Pipits were moving overhead in small numbers. A male Greenfinch appeared to be on territory near the pumping station and a Common Buzzard over the north fields NB
FERRING RIFE had two showy Water Rails, a singing male Reed Bunting (giving the unpaired version), three singing Chiffchaffs, 23 Moorhens, two Pheasants, five Skylarks, two Green Woodpeckers, a trio of Long-tailed Tits, two Song Thrushes, three Meadow Pipits, a Linnet and three Pied/White Wagtails. DKC
A mid-morning visit produced at least 3 Wheatears in the south western roost field with 2 together showing just south of the pumping station whilst another was on the western side of the pumping station, believed to be the first for the site for the year. 2 Chiff chaffs were another sign of spring arrivals with one in sub-song whilst Meadow Pipits were moving overhead in small numbers. A male Greenfinch appeared to be on territory near the pumping station and a Common Buzzard over the north fields NB
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| Great Crested Grebe at Goring Gap DKC |
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| adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Goring Gap DKC |
FERRING RIFE had two showy Water Rails, a singing male Reed Bunting (giving the unpaired version), three singing Chiffchaffs, 23 Moorhens, two Pheasants, five Skylarks, two Green Woodpeckers, a trio of Long-tailed Tits, two Song Thrushes, three Meadow Pipits, a Linnet and three Pied/White Wagtails. DKC
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| Water Rail at Ferring Rife DKC
CISSBURY RING - A Firecrest and a single Wheatear NO
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March 18th 2019
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: A male Wheatear and Black Redstart were found on Lancing Beach around lunchtime opposite Brooklands Pleasure Park this afternoon by Alan Kitson. The Wheatear is the first for the Worthing area this year, hopefully it won't be long before one appears at Goring Gap.
Later in the afternoon the Wheatear was still present but I couldn't find the Black Redstart. It was frequenting the groyne opposite the row of beach huts. There is always something special about seeing your first Wheatear of the year and this bird certainly didn't disappoint, giving fantastic views. A quick walk around Brooklands Pleasure Park afterwards was quiet with the main birds of note being 19 Teal on the lake and 2 Chiffchaffs singing in bushes. Around the sewage works end of the stream there was 100+ Chub perhaps explaining why I often see gulls perched on the rail here. GJ
Later in the afternoon the Wheatear was still present but I couldn't find the Black Redstart. It was frequenting the groyne opposite the row of beach huts. There is always something special about seeing your first Wheatear of the year and this bird certainly didn't disappoint, giving fantastic views. A quick walk around Brooklands Pleasure Park afterwards was quiet with the main birds of note being 19 Teal on the lake and 2 Chiffchaffs singing in bushes. Around the sewage works end of the stream there was 100+ Chub perhaps explaining why I often see gulls perched on the rail here. GJ
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| Male Wheatear, Lancing Beach |
GORING GAP: A quick look this morning produced a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and a few Skylarks in the fields. Other than that very quiet. GJ
March 17th 2019
This morning's seawatch off GORING GAP wasn't too bad, with a Great Northern Diver making its way west, while two Mute Swans and two Sandwich Terns headed in the opposite direction. Backup came in the form of two Common Scoters, 45 Red-breasted Mergansers (mostly flying west), nine Great Crested Grebes, seven Gannets, two Mediterranean Gulls and nine Common Gulls. Six Meadow Pipits flew west and two Ringed Plovers and an Oystercatcher flew along the beach. DKC
As I got through the door at home in WEST WORTHING another Meadow Pipit called overhead. DKC
My first visit to Goring Gap for a while was fairly quiet. The clear highlight was a Great Northern Diver that flew west quite close in. Other birds moving included Mute Swan 2E, Gannet 5W, Red-breasted Merganser 16W (looked like birds repositioning rather than movement) and Teal 3W. 2 Common Scoters settled offshore. On the beach were 37 Turnstones, 7 Sanderlings and 1 Grey Plover. 2 distant Red Kites drifted east, north of the gap RS
As I got through the door at home in WEST WORTHING another Meadow Pipit called overhead. DKC
My first visit to Goring Gap for a while was fairly quiet. The clear highlight was a Great Northern Diver that flew west quite close in. Other birds moving included Mute Swan 2E, Gannet 5W, Red-breasted Merganser 16W (looked like birds repositioning rather than movement) and Teal 3W. 2 Common Scoters settled offshore. On the beach were 37 Turnstones, 7 Sanderlings and 1 Grey Plover. 2 distant Red Kites drifted east, north of the gap RS
March 16th 2019
FERRING RIFE: The horse paddocks at the northern end held 32 Herring and 10 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Moorhen, 10 Woodpigeon and 4 Starling. Other birds noted during my walk included 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Greenfinch, and singles of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker and Skylark. GJ
March 15th 2019
GORING GAP: Another morning of strong winds so I decided not to walk the fields but instead look at the gulls. Today there was two separate roosts of gulls in the morning. In the Northern fields was 17 Black-headed, 14 Herring, 7 Great Black-backed and 3 Common Gulls. Whilst in the 'normal' roost field was 28 Black-headed, 2 Mediterranean, a Herring and Common Gull. The tide was low and waders are always hard to count accurately when this is the case but there were several Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and Turnstones.
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: On the lake were 105 Black-headed, 21 Herring and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 14 Teal, 14 Coots, 4 Mallard and 2 Mute Swans. Around the bushes there was 2 Chiffchaff including one in song as well as a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. GJ
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: On the lake were 105 Black-headed, 21 Herring and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 14 Teal, 14 Coots, 4 Mallard and 2 Mute Swans. Around the bushes there was 2 Chiffchaff including one in song as well as a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. GJ
March 13th 2019
Early morning I had a walk around Ferring Rife. The horse paddocks held 7 Black-headed and 3 Herring Gulls, 8 Moorhens and a single Kestrel. Other notable birds of this visit included 8 Greenfinch, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Common Snipe and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Reed Bunting.
Mid-afternoon, I had a walk from the Sea Lane Cafe to the Bluebird Cafe in hope of finding a Wheatear however this failed. However, along the beach I counted 53 Sanderlings and 59 Turnstone but bizarrely there was no Dunlin or Grey Plover. At Goring Gap there was a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Doves and 4 Pied Wagtails. GJ
Mid-afternoon, I had a walk from the Sea Lane Cafe to the Bluebird Cafe in hope of finding a Wheatear however this failed. However, along the beach I counted 53 Sanderlings and 59 Turnstone but bizarrely there was no Dunlin or Grey Plover. At Goring Gap there was a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Doves and 4 Pied Wagtails. GJ
March 12th 2019
GORING: I made my way to George V Avenue this morning to see what Storm Gareth might produce but soon repositioned at Goring Gap were I managed to watch from the car reasonably comfortably. Gareth (non-storm version) showed up too. The highlight was my first Bonxie of the year, along with 14 Fulmars, five Kittiwakes, 60 eastbound Dark-bellied Brent Geese, eight Common Scoters, two Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Gannets and an adult Mediterranean Gull. DKC
March 9th 2019
CISSBURY RING: A morning ringing with Val and Mya. We had extra company with the Worthing Conservation Volunteers showing up mid-morning to help us manage the net rides, which we were very grateful for, and they were delighted to be shown Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and Song Thrush in the hand. We also caught a migrant Chiffchaff with a pollen horn, while another was singing nearby. A Redwing was another decent catch. Observations while ringing included singles of Firecrest, Mediterranean Gull, Red Kite, Raven, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit and Buzzard, as well as two Yellowhammers, six Bullfinches, three Skylarks and a further dozen Redwings. DKC
March 7th 2019
GORING GAP: In an hour of observation this morning, 75 Dark-bellied Brent Geese made their way east offshore, in two flocks of 20 and another of 35. A lone bird headed the other way. Also moving west was a Fulmar and a Great Crested Grebe. Five Red-breasted Mergansers flew east and two Gannets passed. Seven Mediterranean Gulls and two 2CY Common Gulls were floating around. DKC
March 6th 2019
I started the day by looking at the gulls at Goring Gap in the roost field was 60 Black-headed, 7 Common, 9 Herring, 6 Great Black-backed and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. With little else on show at the Gap I headed onto George V Avenue to have a sea watch which was reasonably rewarding. The highlight was the 242 Brent Geese (largest flock - 79) which headed east. Also seen were 8 Common Scoter and singles of Red-throated Diver and a Shelduck as well as 6 Gannets and 5 Kittiwakes. GJ
March 5th 2019
GORING GAP was quiet this morning, save for three fly-over Siskins. There was barely anything offshore: a Kittiwake, three Gannets and four Red-breasted Mergansers. 14 Mediterranean Gulls included a yellow-ringed adult but I was unable to get the full code. The male Reed Bunting was still singing and now looks as though it's intent on holding territory, and a Meadow Pipit was still present. Waders on the beach included 17 Turnstones, nine Sanderlings and 20 Dunlin. DKC
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK had three Firecrests affording excellent views near the stream, where a Cetti's Warbler called briefly. 10 Teal and two Little Grebes were on the lake and a Chiffchaff was in song. A Siskin flew over. DKC
BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK had three Firecrests affording excellent views near the stream, where a Cetti's Warbler called briefly. 10 Teal and two Little Grebes were on the lake and a Chiffchaff was in song. A Siskin flew over. DKC
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| Firecrest at Brooklands Pleasure Park DKC |
March 4th 2019
GORING GAP: A short visit this morning produced three Dark-bellied Brent Geese (two westbound and another lingering), two Common Scoters, 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Mediterranean Gulls (seven 2CYs), 19 Turnstones, 13 Sanderlings, a Song Thrush (still notable currently) and a singing Skylark. DKC
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| adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose DKC |
March 3rd 2019
I gave it an hour from GEORGE V AVENUE, GORING where six Gadwall flying west together over the beach was the highlight, along with two Red-throated Divers, two Common Scoters, 12 Gannets, six Great Crested Grebes, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers and a 2CY Common Gull. DKC
March 2nd 2019
GORING GAP: A flock of 80 Dark-bellied Brent Geese moved east high over the sea this morning and Mediterranean Gull numbers rose to 17 birds, including five 2CYs and three 3CYs. Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 95 Common Gulls also dropped into the roost field. The territorial male Reed Bunting was in voice again and a Meadow Pipit was present. On the beach were 58 Sanderlings but just 12 Grey Plovers, three Turnstones and six Dunlin. Five Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. DKC
FERRING RIFE had a female Sparrowhawk, a singing Goldcrest, a Little Egret, a flyover Rook, 14 Moorhens and a Green Woodpecker. Two Jays were paired up and a Magpie gathered nesting material. DKC
GORING: A Grey Wagtail flew over. DKC
FERRING RIFE had a female Sparrowhawk, a singing Goldcrest, a Little Egret, a flyover Rook, 14 Moorhens and a Green Woodpecker. Two Jays were paired up and a Magpie gathered nesting material. DKC
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| Starling at Ferring Rife - DKC |
GORING: A Grey Wagtail flew over. DKC
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