ADUR ESTUARY: A morning walk in Shoreham while the tide was still going out produced three amber- and one red listed species: five Dunlins, one Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew quite close to each other (TQ213048) best seen from Town Quay. Around 20 Redshank, 15-20 Oystercatcher and a couple of Turnstone were foraging here as well. Under the railway bridge a flock of about 40 Turnstones was spooked by a passing train and made a few circles before settling down again (TQ209051). A Kingfisher
was present too but I had to be content with just the usual quick
flypast this time. A mixture of gulls up and down the river with a few Cormorant fishing/sunbathing (SOS). Also seven Grey Herons, three Little Egrets and a total of 60 Turnstones (BirdTrack).
CISSBURY RING: Five RING OUZELS were at the Rifle Butts (a flock of 11 Mistle Thrushes at nearby Gallops) (SOS/NO/CO). Also two Mistle Thrushes, two Blackcaps, two Kestrels and a Goldcrest (DKC).
GORING GAP: A blustery morning down on the beach and there was not a lot moving. There were about 20 Swallows battling against the westerly wind and a Curlew followed them. A couple of distant auks proved to be Razorbills.
Then I picked up a fairly large shearwater scything its way eastwards.
It towered across the waves and was extremely dark both above and below.
Its long bowed wings and flight were diagnostic of a SOOTY SHEARWATER. I hope that some others were able to pick it up on its way through (RI)
WEST WORTHING: My first Redwing of the season, a little overdue, was heard
over my garden this morning but with clear skies and a strong breeze it
was no surprise that my attempt at vismig otherwise fell a bit flat,
with four Pied/White Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits and three Goldfinches moving. A Goldcrest and a Coal Tit were calling next door and a Common Gull overhead was a fairly uncommon sight from the patio (DKC).
WIDEWATER LAGOON: A Kingfisher alighted for a few minutes on a little boat at the back of someone's house, and a fine adult female Sparrowhawk was doing the rounds of the waterside gardens while a Kestrel hovered nearby. Two Teal, five Mute Swans and five Little Egrets were on the water and the beach had a Turnstone. I also noted a Grey Wagtail, four Linnets, a House Martin and six Meadow Pipits (DKC).
