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

one of two male Wheatears

female Wheatear in the sea...

...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.

Canada Geese!

no wonder this Carrion Crow has such poor quality wing feathers...

female Greenfinch

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