31st December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: The approach to high tide from the viewpoint opposite the houseboats brought a good deal of Snipe activity, with groups of up to 20 flying up from the saltmarsh. A cautious estimate would be at least 50 birds. Also seen were about 40 Redshanks, a Greenshank, a Curlew, 10 Lapwings, about 50 Teal and a Little Egret. Steve Gilbert via SOS

BROOKLANDS PARK: My first ever Kingfisher here (Brooklands) earlier today and flock of about 150 Ringed Plovers and Dunlin in front of the park on the beach. Also some Great Crested Grebes and passing seven Red-breasted Mergansers. Shemi via SOS

GORING GAP: A quiet end of year visit to Goring Gap produced 15 Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 38 Dunlin, three Skylarks and two Pied Wagtails in the roost field. On the beach a Redshank was roosting on the groynes. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the eastern most plantation along with three Goldcrests and a Greenfinch. Gareth James

        Seawatching in a light NW wind this morning between 08.45 and 11.45 produced the following: Red-throated Diver 21W 1E, BLACK-THROATED DIVER 1E, Great Crested Grebe 29W 1o/s, Gannet 37W, Brent Goose 1E, Common Scoter 5W 8E, Eider 3W, Red-breasted Merganser 5W 22E, Razorbill 3E, diver sp. 1W 1E, and auk sp. 25W 34E. Dave Smith via SOS

WIDEWATER LAGOON:  A sleepy Grey Heron shared an island with a similarly dozing Little Egret. A first year Brent Goose, a Cormorant and one or two Little Grebes. Steve Gilbert via SOS

WORTHING:  Just a walk along the beach today to sign the year off, but it was a gorgeous morning. Seven Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying west and three Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea were the avian highlights. At home a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from across the road and I retrapped a Wren. David Campbell

30th December 2020

GORING GAP: Late afternoon in the roost field at Goring Gap were up to c1500 gulls. They comprised mainly of Common and Black-headed Gulls. Much to my surprise, I could only find two Mediterranean Gulls amongst them. Gareth James

29th December 2020

BROOKLANDS: Drake POCHARD still present on the lake this morning along with eight Mute Swans, nine Teal, two Little Grebes and 14 Moorhens. In the stream near the sewage works was a Grey Heron. On the beach was eight Turnstone. Offshore was two SLAVONIAN GREBES, three Great Crested Grebes and 22 Red-breasted Mergansers whilst two Red-throated Divers and four Auk Sp. headed W and three Common Scoters headed E. Others birds noted around the park included a Kestrel, a Jay, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, six Pied Wagtails and a Reed Bunting. Gareth and Paul James

SALVINGTON: A Peregrine flew north-west over St.Lawrences Avenue. A Coal Tit visited my feeding station today for the first time this winter as did a small party of Long-tailed Tits. Nick Bond

SHOREHAM BEACH: Black Redstart at Shoreham Sailing Club. Gareth and Paul James

28th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Greenshank, Curlew, four Dunlin, three Snipe, c20 Redshanks and 12 Teal. 

GORING: A short walk this morning from home down to Sea Lane and through the L-Shaped road at Goring Gap produced a 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull off Goring Greensward. Five Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Oystercatchers flew E. Of note in the roost field at Goring Gap were 12 Ringed Plovers and two Mediterranean Gulls. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in the Holm Oak plantation. Pretty quiet but just nice to get some fresh air! Gareth James

A seawatch for two hours this morning with Dorian Mason produced the following: Gannet 20W, Red-throated Diver 3W 2E, Shelduck 1E, Common Scoter 6W 1E, Velvet Scoter 6W (2 groups of 3), Pintail 2W, Red-breasted Merganser 8W, Mediterranean Gull 1W 1E, Kittiwake 13W, Sanderling 10W and auk sp. 3W 1E. Dave Smith via SOS

SALVINGTON: A Great-spotted Woodpecker and 2 Redwings in garden adjacent to Durrington rec. Nick and Claire Oliver. A vocal Green Woodpecker at the south end of Offington Lane. Nick Bond

SHOREHAM HARBOUR: At the Fort, on the wooden pier as the tide waned were two Purple Sandpipers, while on the wall of the long breakwater two Turnstones were chummy with fisherfolk. Alan Kitson via SOS

WIDEWATER LAGOON: This morning, in rain, at the Widewater Lagoon was a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming and diving and a close-knit group of four Little Grebes. Alan Kitson via SOS

27th December 2020

GORING: 1w CASPIAN GULL on greensward then flew off. Four Red-throated Divers, six Common Scoters, 11 Kittiwakes, two Red-breasted Mergansers, auk sp, nine Oystercatchers and three Sanderlings flew past. Dave Smith via SOS

GORING GAP: 1w Yellow-legged Gull, six adult Mediterranean Gulls, 18 Grey Plovers, 52 Ringed Plovers and 100+ Dunlin. Garry Messenbird

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Bonxie flew east at 9.10am.

26th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Adur at Shoreham this morning: Brent Goose, 6 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, Grey Plover, 81 Lapwing, Curlew, 22 Redshank, Greenshank, 2 Kingfishers & 2 Meadow Pipits. Paul James

GORING GAP: Two adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose in the roost field at lunchtime. David Campbell

SALVINGTON: A Grey Wagtail finally visited my garden feeding station. Has been in the area for a while so finally nice to get the bird on the deck. Nick Bond 

TITCH HILL: 2 Red Kites over. Nick Oliver

25th December 2020

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR BLOG FOLLOWERS FEOM ALL THE WORTHING BIRDING TEAM!!

BROOKLANDS PARK: Drake POCHARD still, Lapwing flew over harassed by male and female Peregrine, two Teal, a Little Grebe, a Grey Wagtail, three Chiffchaffs, plus the two new adult Mute Swans and two of the immatures. David Campbell and Ed Stubbs

GORING GAP: Six Dark-bellied Brent Geese and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. David Campbell and Ed Stubbs

PATCHING SEWAGE WORKS: Three Chiffchaffs, a Red Kite, a Grey Wagtail and five Redwings. David Campbell and Ed Stubbs

SALVINGTON: A Firecrest was seen and heard on the junction of Offington Lane and Rogate Road whilst on my dog walk this morning, a group of c15 Long- tailed Tits also moved through the area. Nick Bond

WIDEWATER LAGOON: c110 Dunlin on beach with a Sanderling and 30+ Ringed Plovers. A Kingfisher and five Little Grebes on the lagoon. Three Great Crested Grebes offshore. David Campbell and Ed Stubbs

24th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Continued down to the Adur near the Toll bridge; single Merganser [sic - presumably Goosander? ]in flight, dozen or so Reed Buntings, 18 Lapwings, five Yellow-legged Gulls, Fieldfare and Redwing a-plenty enjoying the feast along the old railway path. Ken Tanner per SOS

22nd December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Three Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and two first-winters), two Mediterranean Gulls, three Grey Plovers and Kingfisher. 57 Teal in houseboats channel.

BROOKLANDS PARK: Drake POCHARD still, seven Teal and a Cetti's Warbler. Bernie Forbes via SOS

THE DOWNS (Lychpole Farm/Beggars Bush area): Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, seven Yellowhammers, four Meadow Pipits, 10 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, 15 Skylarks, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. David Campbell

FERRING RIFE: Water Rail and two Reed Buntings. David Campbell

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Two Common Scoters offshore. Two Red-breasted Mergansers, five Little Grebes, two Kingfishers, 196 Dunlin and 45 Ringed Plovers.

WORTHING: Seawatch from East Worthing beach this morning. Predictably very little moving with only a very light SW breeze, but made worthwhile by a quite distant Velvet Scoter on the sea, a male I think. Also on the sea, a Wigeon, three Great Crested Grebes, five Red-breasted Mergansers and Herring, Black-headed, Common and Great Black-backed Gulls. A further three Red-breasted Mergansers flew west, as did three Common Scoters, a Gannet, c150 Dunlin, three Turnstones, and a couple of distant unidentified auks. Colin Holter via SOS

20th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Knot, Greenshank, Curlew, 54 Lapwings and 21 Redshanks at high tide.

GORING: 5 Red-throated Divers E,  1 Shag W,  2 Kittiwakes E, 22 Gannets W. Dave Smith

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Female Common Scoter offshore and two drake Red-breasted Mergansers on lagoon. Also c95 Dunlin, c15 Turnstones and six Ringed Plovers at high tide.

18th December 2020

 BROOKLANDS PARK: Another visit today was primarily a dog-training exercise but I did note the drake Pochard, two Little Grebes, four Teal and a Cetti's Warbler. Two Stock Doves were remarkably approachable. The female Mute Swan had only three immatures in tow but a new adult pair was at the other end of the lake... David Campbell

17th December 2020

BEEDING HILL: Ringtail HEN HARRIER flew over. Dave Sadler via SOS

BROOKLANDS PARK: The drake POCHARD was again showing on the lake, along with a Little Grebe, five Teal and the family of Mute Swans. Along the stream was a Kingfisher, while other birds included a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Redwing and a Meadow Pipit. David Campbell and Gareth James

NO-MAN'S-LAND: Ringtail HEN HARRIER flew NE at 12.54pm. RBA

SHOREHAM FORT: Black Redstart and two Rock Pipits still. Dave Sadler via SOS. Also Purple Sandpiper and Guillemot. Liz and Lee via SOS

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Almost as soon as I arrived this afternoon the near-obligatory Kingfisher put in an appearance, flying across the eastern lagoon and perching on decking on the landward side. Latterly there has often been a single Turnstone on the lagoon, apparently eschewing the company of others on the beach, and so it was today. Two each of Redshanks and Little Grebes. The heavy swell made viewing anything on the sea difficult, but there was a Red-throated Diver just offshore and occasional glimpses of Great Crested Grebes. Some Common Gulls on the sea and along the shoreline. Around 25 further Turnstones on the rock groynes, an Oystercatcher flew past, and at the western end a roost of waders comprising about 230 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plovers, 12 Sanderlings and a Knot. Steve Gilbert via SOS

16th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Two Curlew, Greenshank, 22 Snipe, 51 Teal and Grey Plover.

FERRING: 70 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew east 9am-9.10am. Clive Hope

PATCHING: Drake TUFTED DUCK, Moorhen and Cormorant on Patching Pond. Two Chiffchaffs at sewage works Clive Hope

WIDEWATER LAGOON: 115 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Kittiwakes, four Red-throated Divers and 20 auks offshore this morning. 

15th December 2020

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Widewater and beach: Little Egret, Redshank, some Turnstone and a Kingfisher at Widewater, mixed flocks of Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the beaches but best on the choppy sea, two Red-throated Divers, Guillemot, at least three Razorbill and lots of Great Created Grebes plus quite a few Common Gulls and a beautiful Seal in front of Widewater. Shemi via SOS

14th December 2020

SHOREHAM HARBOUR: A Rock Pipit, three male Greenfinches and two Purple Sandpipers roosting on the wooden jetty at high tide. Bernie Forbes via SOS

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Just the usual suspects with two Great Crested Grebes, the rear end of an auk sp flying W and around 60 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying high E. Bernie Forbes via SOS

13th December 2020

GORING GAP: 09.00 all movement W 1 Arctic Skua 3 White-fronted Geese, 2 Brent Geese, 75 Auks, 300 Gannets. Dave Smith

1x adult, 1x 1stw Yellow-legged Gull, 3x adult 1x 2ndw Argentatus Herring Gull, 15x Lesser-black backed Gull, 25x Great-black backed Gull, 100+ Dunlin. Garry Messenbird

12th December 2020

CISSBURY RING: A Woodcock was flushed, and 11 Redwings, a Blackcap and two Goldcrests where among the birds processed during ringing. Also two Yellowhammers Pete Denyer and Val Bentley

GORING-BY-SEA: ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET flew over my flat mid-afternoon in Goring, a nice uber patch tick. Gareth James

WIDEWATER BEACH: Roosts of small waders here have recently been posted by Shemi, west of my comfort zone, but this morning they were further east, flying hither and thither as disturbed by people and dogs, but also allowing some good views. In all I reckoned some 300 of which say 30 Turnstone kept to groynes, some 60 Ringed Plover, 14 Sanderlingand the rest ca. 200 Dunlin. The Sanderling were delightful, bathing in and running with the sea and even perching on the groynes. At sea two each of Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe, the female or imm. male Common Scoter with three others flying E, a Razorbill and other Auks flying W. Alan Kitson via SOS

WORTHING: An adult male Goldfinch was a nice catch in the garden, where a Pied Wagtail flew over and a/the Song Thrush was around. David Campbell 

11th December 2020

CUCKOO CORNER: A very muddy walk up the Adur from Cuckoo Corner to just south of the Beeding cement works and back this afternoon. Of note were Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, two Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Peregrine (roosting on the cement works chimney), Chiffchaff and two Stonechats. No sign of the Beaver. Paul James

GORING GAP: RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flew WNW over Goring Gap this morning. Garry Messenbird

SHOREHAM FORT: Black Redstart and two Rock Pipits. Ralph Simpson via Twitter Late morning two Purple Sandpiper on wooden jetty. Adam Huttly via Sussex Bird News WhatsApp.

WEST WORTHING: Grey Wagtail in garden. David Campbell

10th December 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Just before high tide opposite Shoreham Airport an impressive Scandinavian 'argentatus' Herring Gull was present along with 49 Great Black-backed Gulls. One of the latter was colour-ringed (06V - a new, for me, Le Havre bird). Richard Fairbank via SOS 

A circular tour this morning by cycle from Ropetackle via the Toll Bridge, airfield and Norfolk Bridge. About 50 Turnstones, 24 Oystercatchers and 10 Redshanks. Around 40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the river, plus another 40 on the field west of New Salts Farm. Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls also present but not counted. A couple of Little Egrets, sightings of which here have noticeably declined since the late summer. A Stonechat at the pumping station construction site, and further on a flock of 30 Skylarks. Much Yarrow and some Gorse in flower on the river wall. A Kingfisher near the Dogs Trust, this species being an almost dead cert locally at the moment. South of the road a Greenshank and about 60 Lapwings. Steve Gilbert via SOS

CUCKOO CORNER: Beaver late afternoon on River Adur below Lancing College. It has escaped from the Knepp Estate. Richard Osborne via Facebook

GORING GAP: 2x 2ndw Yellow-legged Gull on north field, 25x ad, 1x 2ndw Lesser-black backed Gull, 15x Greater-black backed Gull, 1x ad Mediterranean Gull, 35x Grey Plover. Garry Messenbird

9th December 2020

FERRING: A SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF was in the car park at Asda, seen in bushes in the car parks south west corner. There is also a impressive Pied Wagtail roost here in the evenings. The Chiffchaff was also heard calling. Garry Messenbird

GORING GAP: On the sea between 0900 and 0945 there were 14 GC Grebes, 8 Red-breated Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill. The beach had 27 Grey Plover (most I've seen this winter), c.30 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 15 Oystercatchers and ten plus Turnstones. Clive Hope

24 G C Grebes, 18 Red Breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Guillemot and 1 Common Seal on the sea. Usual waders on the beach plus 2 Redshanks and a Lapwing. Ralph Simpson

SALVINGTON: 10c Redwings in Durrington rec this lunchtime. Nick Bond

8th December 2020

GORING GAP: A short visit this afternoon to scan the sea produced: Red-throated Diver 3 on sea and singles E and W; Great Crested Grebe 10 on sea, Red-breasted Merganser - one raft of 8 birds. On the fields/beach were 9 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling and 10 Turnstone plus 4 Skylarks. Clive Hope

WORTHING: A Grey Wagtail again near Santander bank on Chapel Road. Nick Bond

7th December 2020

LANCING: Shortly after rain I cycled along the coast in Lancing. It was fruitful trip and brought my first Slavonian Grebe and beautiful Guillemot of the winter. Also at least 6 Great Crested Grebe and two Gannet. Flock of Dunlin built up to around 250 birds resting on the beach in front of Widewater plus some Sanderling and Ringed Plover also there. Shemi via SOS

First Blackcaps of the winter (2) appeared on my feeders in N Lancing this morning followed an hour later by three Redwings feeding on holly berries. . Duncan Livingstone via SOS

WEST WORTHING: I caught another female Blackcap in the garden, while the  Grey Wagtail made another brief visit to the pond - bouncing out of the net - and a Sparrowhawk flew over.

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Down on the beach this morning, in the drear, by chance up to four of us met up at Widewater, where, at sea, were three Red-throated Divers and a Guillemot that spent most of its time under water and four Shelduck flew west; a return visit this afternoon found two Razorbills on the sea and a pop into Shoreham Harbour found a single Razorbill doing much wing flapping while staying afloat. (Thanks to Dave Sadler for the Guillemot, my first this year!). Alan Kitson via SOS

6th December 2020

BROOKLANDS: A quick look late afternoon produced four Mute Swans, 12 Mallard, nine Teal, two Little Grebes, four Moorhens, 131 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, 74 Herring Gulls, three Great Black-backed Gulls and a Pied Wagtail. Gareth James

GORING GAP: Early afternoon in the roost field was 15 Common Gulls, 45 Black-headed Gulls and 22 Herring Gulls. Feeding on the greensward was five Carrion Crows and two Pied Wagtails. It was quiet offshore and the only birds noted was two Great Crested Grebes. Gareth James

LANCING: Male Black Redstart at Marlborough Road opposite fire station. SOS

SOMPTING: A ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET visited garden feeders in West Street this morning. Lou Sadler via Twitter

Rose-ringed Parakeet, Sompting (Lou Sadler)

WIDEWATER LAGOON: 160+ Dunlin, eight Sanderlings and 10 Ringed Plovers on beach. Shemi via SOS

5th December 2020

SALVINGTON: A group of around 20 Redwing were feeding in Durrington rec first thing before departing west. A Grey Wagtail flew over again towards Stone Lane. Nick Bond

4th December 2020

GORING GAP: 1st-winter Brent Goose in fields just before lunchtime. Also Mediterranean and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Gareth James

WEST WORTHING: A female Blackcap was a surprise in my garden ringing net this morning. David Campbell

 

WIDEWATER LAGOON: Three drake Red-breasted Mergansers at Widewater today plus some Common Gulls around. Shemi via SOS

3rd December 2020

GORING GAP: 1w CASPIAN GULL early afternoon in roost field. The bird gave excellent views before it flew to the northern fields and became more distant. Our fifth of the year! Garry Messenbird, Gareth James

1w Caspian Gull, Goring Gap (Gareth James)

2nd December 2020

ADUR VALLEY: A circular walk from the Toll Bridge via Lancing Ring and Coombes, returning along the west bank of the river. About 120 Lapwings on the airfield. Several flocks of Skylarks, including one of about 40 birds. GOOSANDER on the river just south of the cement works, frequently diving then flying off upstream. Other species noted included a Little Grebe, a Kingfisher, and a Little Egret along with sightings of Redshank, Fieldfare, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush (two singing), Kestrel, Buzzard and a pair of Stonechats. Steve Gilbert via SOS

FERRING: RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in fields to west of Ferring Rife mid-morning. Jan Jupp

1st December 2020

BOTOLPHS: Six RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in flooded opposite High Trees Car Park. Matt Palmer/Richard Ives

COOMBES: 12-13 RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew north-west over Coombes at 08:39am. Matt Palmer

GORING GAP: Single RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with two Brent Geese early afternoon. Clive Hope

WEST WORTHING: Probable Swallow seen over West Worthing beach. Emma Cameron