20th April 2020

RIVER ADUR: I rode my bicycle up the Adur river beyond Upper Bedding starting when was still dark. Great birding, highlight was pair of Garganey on flooded meadow up the river - my first record in Sussex! Also two singing Nightingales up there (didn't hear them last year), one Cuckoo and hooting Tawny Owls and Barn Owl in flight. Singing Stock Dove also there. In Shoreham Shelduck, 4 Whimbrels and Black-tailed Godwit and bit further also Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper. All the way up quite a lot of Linnets (more then last year) and Greenfinches and some singing Yellowhammers. Sedge Warbler was also recorded as well as Cetti's Warbler, both in Upper Beeding. There were also Red Kite and Corn Buntings close to Lancing and 2 passing Mediterranean Gulls (Shemi via SOS - unsure whether e.g. Garganey in our area or not).
By bike along Coombes Lane to Cuckoo Corner, returning via the airport road and Norfolk Bridge. A rather windy mid-afternoon wasn't ideal for hearing bird song, although Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Skylarks, among others, were noted. Three Mute Swans at Cuckoo Corner, and a couple of Swallows flew through to the north. Along the river, one Shelduck, two (possibly three) Whimbrels, four Oystercatchers, a lone Lapwing and a Little Egret (Steve Gilbert via SOS).

DURRINGTON: Whinchat and Wheatear at Holt Farm bridleway just north of A27; also Grey Heron. Garden Warbler singing at Goring Castle (SOS).

GORING GAP: A Bar-tailed Godwit, two Blackcap, five Chiffchaff, a Common Tern, six Gannet, 18 Goldfinch, a Great Crested Grebe, two Green Woodpecker, nine Greenfinch, a Jay, four Linnet, six Oystercatcher, a Pheasant, five Sanderling, 22 Sandwich Tern, a Siskin, six Skylark, three Stock Dove, four Swallow, 40 Turnstone and 20 Whimbrel.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Goring Gap

MILL HILL: Lesser Whitethroat (Bt).


UPPER BEEDING: Garden Warbler, two Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Buzzard and a Red-legged Partridge (Bt).

WORTHING: Arctic Skua, 36 Sandwich Terns, five Common Gulls and an adult Gannet. Willow Warbler at Dominion Road and Swallow over (SOS).