GORING GAP: With calm conditions and a flat sea I thought a check on what was out there
Starting at West Worthing (shelter opp Marine Gardens) from 0900-0930 I logged 21 Great Crested Grebes and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers. 30 Dunlin
landed on the beach there.
Then from 0945 to 1045 off Ferring and Goring Gap I counted a further 14 GC Grebes, 65 Red-breasted Mergansers (including one 'raft' of 30 birds)
and nine Brent Geese (close inshore).
Meanwhile wader numbers totalled c.150 Dunlin, 30 Sanderling. 15 each of Oystercatcher and Grey Plover and at least 25 Turnstones.
By 1230 when I returned the only birds remaining (all on the field at the Gap) were 16 Ringed Plovers and 12 Dunlin. The sea was empty! (CH)
I had similar number of birds on the sea and waders to (CH), a Red-throated Diver was on the sea before moving off east, a Treecreeper was in the middle plantation, around a dozen or so Skylark and c50 Pied Wagtails on the beach and surrounding fields. 2 Stonechat still in the rough field. The 9 Brent Geese on the sea eventually moved off west, the Kestrel was also around the pumping station. A battered Red Admiral was also seen on the wing in the pleasant conditions (NB)
I had similar number of birds on the sea and waders to (CH), a Red-throated Diver was on the sea before moving off east, a Treecreeper was in the middle plantation, around a dozen or so Skylark and c50 Pied Wagtails on the beach and surrounding fields. 2 Stonechat still in the rough field. The 9 Brent Geese on the sea eventually moved off west, the Kestrel was also around the pumping station. A battered Red Admiral was also seen on the wing in the pleasant conditions (NB)
The view off Goring Gap today (NB)
SHOREHAM: Swallow flew south (SOS).
WEST WORTHING: Sparrowhawk (BirdTrack).
