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| Bar-tailed Godwits DKC |
April 25th 2019
GORING GAP: Trektellen. A brisk SSE/southerly breeze saw another decent seawatch. Highlights included three Arctic Terns (at least, among Commics), eight Little Terns and Swift, as well as two Manx Shearwaters, a flock of seven Velvet Scoters, 20 Bonxies, 12 Arctic Skuas, four Fulmars, 218 Common Scoters, 206 Gannets, six Red-throated Divers, 29 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Whimbrel, 22 Bar-tailed Godwits (including two on the beach), five Guillemots/Razorbills, 44 Mediterranean Gulls and eight Common Gulls. DKC/GJ
April 24th 2019
GORING GAP: I arrived at dawn for what turned out to be a steady but hugely satisfying seawatch. Waders were soon on the move, mainly Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel (72 and 24 in the end, respectively), with singles of Dunlin and Grey Plover thrown in. Skuas soon started as well, though never reached any lofty numbers, with four each of Arctic Skua and Bonxie. One of the Bonxies lingered offshore the whole morning, at one point shredding a gull/tern corpse on the water's surface, which it may well have killed. More importantly, one of the Arctic Skuas was in the company of a group of three Pomarine Skuas in the distance as they tracked east. Despite the great range, they were in decent enough view for a minute or so and a very pleasing way to get my first of the year. These birds weren't picked up further west beforehand, at least not today, but made it to Splash Point 45 minutes later. Other seawatch highlights included 48 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver, two Fulmars, 50 Sandwich Terns, 28 Gannets and a Swallow. Two Yellow Wagtails flew over, as did 17 Linnets and a further five Swallows. The beach held 21 Turnstones, a Dunlin, two Sanderlings and four Oystercatchers. A quick walk around the Gap revealed just three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, a Green Woodpecker and a Whitethroat, though a Whimbrel flying over the fields was nice. DKC
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| Pomarine Skuas (left/lower) and Arctic Skua [phonescoped] DKC |
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| Whimbrel flying over land DKC |
April 23rd 2019
GORING GAP was quiet this morning, though a flock involving two Shovelers and seven Teal flew east, as did a Whimbrel and 16 Mediterranean Gulls. Eleven Linnets flew over and later on a Greenshank - only my second record for the patch and my first seen - was on the beach, making the visit worthwhile. Also noted were three Great Crested Grebes, a Grey Heron, 12 Turnstones, four Sanderlings, a Swallow and two Blackcaps. DKC
FERRING RIFE added two Reed Warblers, a Reed Bunting, four Whitethroats, a Song Thrush, three Linnets, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, five Swallows, 12 Moorhens and singles of Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. DKC
A wander around HIGHDOWN produced a House Martin, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Red Kite, six Buzzards, three Mallards, two Green Woodpeckers, a Kestrel, two Yellowhammers and small numbers of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Four pairs of Long-tailed Tits were going about their business. DKC
Later, a Linnet flew over my WEST WORTHING garden. DKC
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| House Sparrows at Goring Gap DKC |
FERRING RIFE added two Reed Warblers, a Reed Bunting, four Whitethroats, a Song Thrush, three Linnets, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, five Swallows, 12 Moorhens and singles of Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. DKC
A wander around HIGHDOWN produced a House Martin, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Red Kite, six Buzzards, three Mallards, two Green Woodpeckers, a Kestrel, two Yellowhammers and small numbers of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Four pairs of Long-tailed Tits were going about their business. DKC
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| Chiffchaff at Ferring Rife DKC |
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| Red Kite over Highdown DKC |
Later, a Linnet flew over my WEST WORTHING garden. DKC
April 22nd 2019
GORING GAP : I had a great seawatch at Goring Gap this morning!
Almost as soon as I arrived It was clear that good numbers of birds were on the move, although sadly no poms for me. As I approached the beach I was surprised to hear a Snipe call and then watch it fly off west, I'm pretty sure I had flushed it from the edge of the sand. Totals of birds moving were: Mediterranean Gull 146E 9W (mostly adults), Black-headed Gull 141E 3W, Common Gull 42E, Whimbrel 44E, Dunlin 2E, Common/Arctic Tern 13E, Brent Goose 107E, Common Scoter 136E, Sandwich Tern 101E 10W, Arctic Skua 3E, Bonxie 3E and 1 on the sea, Fulmar 2W, Red-breasted Merganser 3E, Bar-tailed Godwit 400+E mostly after about 9am and including impressive flocks c100 and at least 150 (probably more), Linnet 23E 4W, Yellow Wagtail 2E and Swallow 4E. 21 Gannets were feeding offshore and a Peregrine flew along the tideline RS
April 17th 2019
FERRING : I did a watch from Ferring 'bock' this morning from 0940 till 1100. Sea fog limited visibility to c.500 m but there was a good passage of Med Gulls, many of them nearly overhead. I logged 52. Also 20 Whimbrel, a Great Skua, a Gannet and a few Sandwich Terns CH
April 16th 2019
MARINE GARDENS: A Red-necked Grebe, was picked up mid-morning offshore. The bird was distant but showed reasonably well. Presumably the the same bird which has been lingering off this area of the coast for a while and was seen off Rustington by GDM the other day. The sea was dead other than the grebe and the only notables I had were 7 Common Scoter east as well as 2 Gannets. GJ
GORING BEACH (SDOS outing) : In calm conditions and with visibility far from ideal we struggled to get 14 species in the log between 0700 (0800 for most) and 0945. For the record they were as follows.
Gannet 8E, Cormorant 5E and 2 on sea, Fulmar one W, Brent Goose 19E, Common Scoter 9E, Whimbrel one E, Sandwich Tern 21 E (two were loafing offshore for much of the time) Common Gull 2E, Med Gull 2 W, BH Gull 2E, Herring Gull and GBB Gull both present as were a couple of Turnstones.
Three Swallows flew in off the sea CH et al
GORING GAP : Nice to hear the middle plantation full of bird song in a brief visit, several Blackcap and Chiff chaffs around and a single Willow Warbler giving several brief bursts of song NB
CISSBURY RING: A gentle-paced and enjoyable morning's ringing with Val. We caught a small number of Blackcaps and a few Long-tailed Tits, a couple of Song Thrushes, etc. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming all morning and a couple of Green Woodpeckers yaffled. A Tawny Owl hooted briefly. Skylarks were in voice in the surrounding fields and a walk around the top later on revealed a pair of Stonechat and half a dozen Yellowhammers. A Red Kite and seven Buzzards soared overhead.
GORING BEACH (SDOS outing) : In calm conditions and with visibility far from ideal we struggled to get 14 species in the log between 0700 (0800 for most) and 0945. For the record they were as follows.
Gannet 8E, Cormorant 5E and 2 on sea, Fulmar one W, Brent Goose 19E, Common Scoter 9E, Whimbrel one E, Sandwich Tern 21 E (two were loafing offshore for much of the time) Common Gull 2E, Med Gull 2 W, BH Gull 2E, Herring Gull and GBB Gull both present as were a couple of Turnstones.
Three Swallows flew in off the sea CH et al
GORING GAP : Nice to hear the middle plantation full of bird song in a brief visit, several Blackcap and Chiff chaffs around and a single Willow Warbler giving several brief bursts of song NB
CISSBURY RING: A gentle-paced and enjoyable morning's ringing with Val. We caught a small number of Blackcaps and a few Long-tailed Tits, a couple of Song Thrushes, etc. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming all morning and a couple of Green Woodpeckers yaffled. A Tawny Owl hooted briefly. Skylarks were in voice in the surrounding fields and a walk around the top later on revealed a pair of Stonechat and half a dozen Yellowhammers. A Red Kite and seven Buzzards soared overhead.
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| adult male Blue Tit, ringed as a juvenile in 2014! |
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| male Blackcap |
April 15th 2019
WORTHING SEAFRONT (Marine Gardens) : 6.15 - 9.15am
The forecast was good but arrived a little later than I planned to but was surprised to see the shelter empty and the only observer up until a little later when I was joined by JD and JN. A brisk ESE and morning high tide produced a decent sea-watch this morning, although trying to stay warm in the shelter was a challenge the birds were passing through reguarly to keep you there! Birds were also passing through much closer this morning and although we dont get the numbers that Selsey to the west and Seaford to the east, you get a nice selection and highlights included a nice pale phased Arctic Skua that went through and a Great Skua very early on as did 3 Garganey and 2 Arctic Terns that were close enough to be scrutinised and confirmed, just a single Little Gull which lingered for a while before heading east a good passage of Common Scoter too, the larger flocks were distant but no Velvet Scoter for us, but some were seen further east at Seaford/Dungeness..totals below up until 9am when JN took over the count - all east unless stated NB/JD/JN
Great-crested Grebe x 2 (offshore)
Shoveler x 1
Garganey x 3
Teal x 2
Shelduck x 1
Common Scoter x 216
Cormorant x 12
Gannet x 119E 3W
Arctic Skua x 1 pale phased
Great Skua x 1
Fulmar x 6E 1W
Black-headed Gull x 7
Little Gull x 1
Curlew x 1
Whimbrel x 7
Sandwich Tern x 32
Arctic Tern x 2
Common Tern x 1
Sanderling x 2
Grey Plover x 12
Swallow x 1 (in off)
FERRING :
I did a seawatch on Ferring block this morning from 1115-1200 and 1215-1300 with the following seen in a fresh ESE wind:
Gannet 3E; Cormorant 4E; Brent Goose 32 E; Common Scoter 2E; Med Gull
one E; Sandwich Tern 23E; Bonxie one E; Whimbrel 32E including two that
flew inland NE; Bar-tailed Godwit one on beach; Turnstone 62 flew along
the shore in groups - moving feeding sites I guess; Sanderling 45 on beach.
Visibility was poor after the first 1/2 mile. i.e no horizon CH
Arctic Skua - the pale phased individual that went through today - Adam Huttly (photographed off Rustington)
The forecast was good but arrived a little later than I planned to but was surprised to see the shelter empty and the only observer up until a little later when I was joined by JD and JN. A brisk ESE and morning high tide produced a decent sea-watch this morning, although trying to stay warm in the shelter was a challenge the birds were passing through reguarly to keep you there! Birds were also passing through much closer this morning and although we dont get the numbers that Selsey to the west and Seaford to the east, you get a nice selection and highlights included a nice pale phased Arctic Skua that went through and a Great Skua very early on as did 3 Garganey and 2 Arctic Terns that were close enough to be scrutinised and confirmed, just a single Little Gull which lingered for a while before heading east a good passage of Common Scoter too, the larger flocks were distant but no Velvet Scoter for us, but some were seen further east at Seaford/Dungeness..totals below up until 9am when JN took over the count - all east unless stated NB/JD/JN
Great-crested Grebe x 2 (offshore)
Shoveler x 1
Garganey x 3
Teal x 2
Shelduck x 1
Common Scoter x 216
Cormorant x 12
Gannet x 119E 3W
Arctic Skua x 1 pale phased
Great Skua x 1
Fulmar x 6E 1W
Black-headed Gull x 7
Little Gull x 1
Curlew x 1
Whimbrel x 7
Sandwich Tern x 32
Arctic Tern x 2
Common Tern x 1
Sanderling x 2
Grey Plover x 12
Swallow x 1 (in off)
FERRING :
I did a seawatch on Ferring block this morning from 1115-1200 and 1215-1300 with the following seen in a fresh ESE wind:
Gannet 3E; Cormorant 4E; Brent Goose 32 E; Common Scoter 2E; Med Gull
one E; Sandwich Tern 23E; Bonxie one E; Whimbrel 32E including two that
flew inland NE; Bar-tailed Godwit one on beach; Turnstone 62 flew along
the shore in groups - moving feeding sites I guess; Sanderling 45 on beach.
Visibility was poor after the first 1/2 mile. i.e no horizon CH
April 14th 2019
Worthing sea-watch (Marine Gardens) : 18.20 - 20.00
With a brisk easterly and a high tide I decided to chance a evening sea watch which can sometimes prove productive off Worthing this time of year and this proved the case with a few birds seen moving east. My first Whimbrel of the year went through as did Sandwich Tern in steady numbers and 'Commic Terns' were too far off in fading light to split..totals below and bodes well for the following morning...the highlight for me was the many Common Gull moving east (mainly non-breeding birds) and Kittiwakes in amongst them, made counting on your own a challenge! NB
Gadwall x 7
Common Scoter x 4
Gannet x 24
Sandwich Tern x 53
'Commic' Terns x 20
Common Gull x c250
Kittiwake x c50 (again included 1st w birds)
Great-crested Grebe x 1 (offshore)
Whimbrel x 12
With a brisk easterly and a high tide I decided to chance a evening sea watch which can sometimes prove productive off Worthing this time of year and this proved the case with a few birds seen moving east. My first Whimbrel of the year went through as did Sandwich Tern in steady numbers and 'Commic Terns' were too far off in fading light to split..totals below and bodes well for the following morning...the highlight for me was the many Common Gull moving east (mainly non-breeding birds) and Kittiwakes in amongst them, made counting on your own a challenge! NB
Gadwall x 7
Common Scoter x 4
Gannet x 24
Sandwich Tern x 53
'Commic' Terns x 20
Common Gull x c250
Kittiwake x c50 (again included 1st w birds)
Great-crested Grebe x 1 (offshore)
Whimbrel x 12
April 9th 2019
An hour at GORING GAP first thing produced my first patch Swallow of the year, a Little Egret, a Red-throated Diver, four Common/Arctic Terns, five Mediterranean Gulls, 27 Linnets (mostly moving east), two Gannets, 11 Sanderlings, eight Turnstones, three Oystercatchers, two Meadow Pipits, two Green Woodpeckers, a singing Skylark, a Goldcrest two Pied/White Wagtails. DKC
FERRING RIFE added my first patch Willow Warbler of the year, 27 Linnets, a Mediterranean Gull, a Pheasant, four Mallards, two Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a singing Goldcrest, four Meadow Pipits and a Green Woodpecker. DKC
April 6th 2019
From Worthing beach this morning 09.00-9.45am
Garganey 1E
Velvet Scoter 4E
Gannet 8
Common Scoter 50
Sandwich Tern 15 RI
April 5th 2019
GEORGE V AVENUE, 06:30-10:30 Trektellen: It was a busy morning's seawatching, with skua, tern and wildfowl passage featuring well. Skuas started before long, finishing on six Bonxies and eight Arctic Skuas east, with three Bonxies west, two of which were perhaps earlier birds backtracking. Common Scoters went through at a steady pace, finishing on 648 east. A trio of Velvet Scoters - seen at various other points along the coast today - flew east, along with 12 Teal and six Red-breasted Mergansers. The star species was a Red-necked Grebe which tracked east at 7.30am. A 2CY Little Gull was another nice year tick and a forerunner to a strong push of Sandwich Terns and Commic Terns, which finished on 337 and 122 respectively. 39 of the Commics came within reasonable range to assign them as our first Common Terns of the year. Wader passage involved a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrel, two Grey Plovers and two Curlew. A Shelduck, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 215 Gannets, 20 Red-throated Divers, 14 Fulmars, five Kittiwakes and six Great Crested Grebes were also logged. Two Linnets and a Meadow Pipit flew over. DKC/GJ
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| dark morph Arctic Skua DKC |
April 4th 2019
An excellent 4-hour seawatch (from 06:30) from the car at GORING GAP this morning produced 10 Manx Shearwaters west (a group of eight, then two singletons) and three Arctic Skuas east (both year ticks), as well as five Bonxies, 232 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 33 Common Scoters, a Shelduck, eight Red-throated Divers, 28 Fulmars, two Great Crested Grebes, eight Kittiwakes, a Guillemot, 37 Sandwich Terns and an eastward flurry of 24 Mediterranean Gulls. It was great to witness a busy sea again, and the onset of spring migration along the Channel! DKC Later, 11:35-12:10 saw a Bonxie, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Fulmar and nine Gannets pass, as well as three Great Crested Grebes on the sea CH
See TREKTELLEN for more detail
See TREKTELLEN for more detail
April 3rd 2019
An hour at GORING GAP early morning produced eastbound Whimbrel and Curlew, a female Wheatear, 41 eastbound Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Sandwich Tern, 11 Linnets overhead, a Sparrowhawk, two Mediterranean Gulls, a 3CY Common Gull and five Great Crested Grebes. The beach held an unusually tight flock of 73 Turnstones, along with 32 Sanderlings, a Ringed Plover and two Dunlin. DKC
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| Canada Geese on the sea off Goring Gap then launching themselves on to the beach DKC |
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