25th March 2020

BROOKLANDS PARK: Today's daily exercise was a three hour sea watch this morning in warm sunshine off Brooklands, totals seen were 7 Gannet, 216 Brent Geese, 4 Dunlin, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 72 Common Scoter, 13 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern and best of the day, a patch tick, 2 juv & 2 adult SPOONBILL (SOS).

FERRING:  I did another hour or so this morning (0735-0840) and logged: Gannet 2E, Red-Throated Diver one E, Cormorant 3E, Brent Goose 48 E, Common Scoter 34 E,  Sandwich Tern 2E, Black-headed Gull 6 E, Common Gull 4E, Mediterranean Gull one E, Curlew one E. On the sea were four GC Grebes and two Red Breasted Mergansers and on the beach 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Sanderlings, a Ringed Plover and a few Turnstones. 

A Red Kite flew east over my house at 1020  and another was chased by gulls to the west of Ferring at c.midday (CH)

OFFINGTON: Another Red-legged Partridge seen in a private garden, possibly the same bird seen in Rogate road last week, bizarre that they are appearing more reguarly in peoples people's gardens and in urban surroundings in our town

Red-legged Partridge (Alan Maddocks)

A Red Kite and a Buzzard were seen over Rogate Road, whilst on my early morning dog walk, 2 Chiffchaff and a singing Blackcap were highlights near to my place, butterflies in the garden included my first Orange Tip of the year, Comma, Peacock and Brimstone (NB)

SEA LANE TO GORING GAP: A late afternoon walk for my daily exercise allowance produced 10 House Sparrows in the bushes by Sea Lane Cafe, two adult Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach between here and Goring Gap. Whilst offshore at Goring Gap a Curlew, two Sandwich Tern and 34 Black-headed Gulls all headed east and on the land were a Greenfinch and two Chaffinches (GJ).

WEST WORTHING: As I stepped out into the garden this morning, a SERIN announced itself as it flew low northeast! Listen on SoundCloud here (best with headphones). If lockdown continues like this, I could get used to it! Later, it turned out to be a good morning for flyover raptors with a low Red Kite my first for the garden, as well as a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk. Two Siskins flew east and a male Blackcap made its way into my mistnet. Further sightings included a Grey Heron, two Cormorants, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Coal Tit, two Jackdaws and four Long-tailed Tits.

Red Kite over West Worthing (DKC)

male Blackcap in West Worthing (DKC)

Buzzard with Carrion Crow over West Worthing (DKC)

Jackdaw (uncommon over the garden) over West Worthing (DKC)

Sparrowhawk over West Worthing (DKC)

WORTHING: Firecrest in garden and male Sparrowhawk (SOS).