ADUR - BOTOLPHS TO COOMBES: I parked at Botolphs then walked south along the Adur to a little way south of the cement works, then back. This produced a handful of good birds, not least a 'SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF' just by the little forest school as I got back to the car. It turned out to be quite a vocal bird after watching it for a few minutes and I ended up with some sound recordings. The other surprise of the outing was a flock of at least 24 Corn Buntings spotted by fluke in on a fence bordering a distant field well east of the river towards Beeding Hill. Further highlights included a Common Sandpiper, three Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, a family of five Mute Swans, 12 Redwings, a Red Kite, a Redshank, two Buzzards, 35 Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting, three Grey Herons and two Kestrels (including nice views of an adult male) (DKC). Also a Grey Wagtail (BirdTrack).
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| Siberian Chiffchaff at Botolphs (DKC) |
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| Common Sandpiper on the Adur near the cement works (DKC) |
ADUR ESTUARY: A Mute Swan, a Teal, a Little Egret, 10 Oystercatchers, 138 Lapwings, a Grey Plover, six Turnstones, 14 Redshanks, a Kestrel and a Meadow Pipit (BirdTrack).
PATCHING: 'NORTHERN TREECREEPER' (nominate form familiaris) reported still near The World's End pub.
SHOREHAM FORT: On the adjacent wooden jetty early morning were four Purple Sandpipers actively feeding in the company of 10 Turnstones and a Rock Pipit with a severe growth of its left foot (which it largely kept tucked away, shuffling along on its right leg). Two Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew east overhead and a glance out to sea revealed just two Gannets (DKC).
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| Purple Sandpiper at Shoreham (DKC) |
WORTHING: Blackcap (BirdTrack). Grey Wagtail over town centre and 200 Starlings roosted at pier (SOS).
