30th April 2022

FERRING RIFE: My 1st Swift of the year wizzed north up the rife very early am, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 6 Swallow, two Mediterranean Gull east.   Very brief scan out to sea with bins by Bluebird Cafe - 3 Whimbrel west, 4 Gannet 1 Turnstone and a Seal. (GK)

GORING: 4.10 pm two Spoonbills high over campsite north of Goring going west.(Ann Corner)

GORING GAP:  1 White-tailed Eagle W being harassed by 3 Arctic Skuas and a myriad of gulls, 3 Eiders (1m, 2fm) W, Swallow 10 N, Gannets 10, Sandwich Tern 10, Whimbrel 2 E, 1 Great-crested Grebe W. (RI) 

KINGSTON GORSE: 3 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, male Sparrowhawk, 6 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and a Green Woodpecker. (GK)

MARINE GARDENS: 06:30-10:15

Swallows 6N, Little Gull 3e @ 06:45, Commic Terns 6e, Fulmar 1e, Bonxie 1e, Arctic Skua d/p 1e. Mediterranean Gulls 14e,  Whimbrel 30, Bar-tailed Godwit 7, Red-breasted Mergansers 2e, Common Scoter 4, Eider 3e then w, Brent Geese 25.

6+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins east @ 07:55 and back west @ 10:00. Must be shoals of fish around as 1000+ Herring / Black-headed Gulls feeding offshore (NO/CO et al)

3.45 - 5.15pm Not much happening on sea this afternoon, but 1 Bonxie and 26 Mediterranean Gulls E close in .

PATCHING POND:  2 House Martins (RI)

RUSTINGTON: Wood Sandpiper heading west over rustington beach 6.15am, Arctic Skua east, 3 Eiders offshore,  small pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins (GDM)

29th April 2022

EAST PRESTON: Distant Red Kite going west and a Peregrine Falcon north over Roundstone Drive (GK)

MARINE GARDENS: There are still plenty of Swallows arriving today, with 30 coming in off the sea at Marine Gardens this morning between 0905 and 1005. A small grey/brown warbler flew into the shelter but skipped out before I got a decent view! Sea passage remains quiet with the hour producing Sandwich Tern (5), Whimbrel (3), Bar-tailed Godwit (8), Oystercatcher (2), Gannet (9), Mediterranean Gull (3), Black-headed Gull (3) and a single Heron and Bonxie all flying east and seven Common Scoter and a single Gannet flying westward. 

Grey Herons are not a common species to log on a local seawatch; in 15,217 hours logged since 1978 just 156 have been recorded with zeros in several years and a maximum of 13 noted during 2011. (JN)

WEST WORTHING: A Pomarine Skua past Ham Road at 17.10 (MG)

28th April 2022

EAST WORTHING: Several Swallows arriving in small groups and heading north (NB)

GORING GAP: 7.15-8.30am Great-white Egret 1N Bar tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 4, Swallow 20, Peregrine Falcon 1, Wheatear 1, Sandwich Tern 20, 4 Turnstone, 6 Great-crested Grebes, Gannets 15 (RI)

MARINE GARDENS: 06:30-08:30am

Fulmar 2e, Sandwich Tern 22e, Whimbrel 22e, Curlew 1e, Bar-tailed Godwit 7e & Shoveler 2e. 16 Swallows in off, Peregrine Falcon hunting over the sea. (NO)

27th April 2022

EAST WORTHING: 6 Swallows together north over Meadow Road, seen the odd singles all moving north at various spots around Worthing. A Whimbrel flew east towards brooklands calling just inland too (NB)

GORING GAP: this morning. Whimbrels 23E, Gannet 40, Sandwich Terns 35, Pintail 2E, Great-crested Grebe 5, Swallow 2N. (RI)

HIGHDOWN: Black Redstart in horse paddocks (GJ)

RUSTINGTON: 6.30 to 8.15am 4 Bonxie on sea, 35 Whimbrel, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, male & female Gadwall  resting on sea before going off east, 3  Shelduck east, 10 Common Scoters, 3 Great-crested Grebes, 55 Gannet east, Little Egret (GDM)

WORTHING: Male Wheatear Worthing seafront late afternoon east of grand avenue and 17 Whimbrel & s/p Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on shore. Only birds moving 30+ distant Bar-tailed Godwit , 11 Whimbrel & Fulmar all east 16:30-17:45. (NO)

26th April 2022

EAST PRESTON: A Avocet was heard migrating at night (GK)

FERRING: Two Bonxies on sea close inshore and 11 Whimbrel east. (CH)

FERRING RIFE: 8 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Swallow, Peregrine over bluebird cafe , female Sparrowhawk and a Whimbrel flew north inland calling. (GK)

GORING GAP: 1 male Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Swallows 1 Tree Pipit north,4 Whitethroat 1 Blackcap (NB) also this morning 8 Great-crested Grebes, Gannet 6, Grey Heron 1E, Sandwich Tern 4 (RI)

Whinchat - Goring Gap - appears to be different to yesterday's find by (RS) when comparing photos of both birds (NB)

KINGSTON GORSE: 1 male Whinchat, 1 female Redstart 2 female Wheatear, several Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff. (GK)

Beach between Lancing and Worthing this morning: 10.30 am White-tailed Eagle heading N, then an hour later unexpected Spoonbill quite high going W. Also my first Common Sandpiper on the groyne (Shemi)

Also of local interest, Hoopoe's have been reported in Steying and in a private garden in Dominion Road East Worthing but there is no further details 

25th April 2022

GORING GAP: Male Whinchat along fenceline of tough field (RS)

Whinchat - Goring Gap (RS)

MICHELGROVE: 3 Wheatears and a Whinchat in paddocks at the end of Michelgrove Lane (RS)

WORTHING BEACH: this morning : Wheatear, 2 Brent Geese, 1 Yellow Wagtail N, 1 Willow Warbler where the Snow Bunting was, 6 Gannets, 1 Meadow Pipit N. (RI)

24th April 2022

HIGHDOWN: Tree Pipit over N, White Wagtail in horse paddocks then flew N. Also Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaffs and 9 Blackcaps. (GJ)

WORTHING: Seawatch 0609-1125: Whimbrel 55E, Bar-tailed Godwit 26E Knot 1E, Sanderling 6E, Sandwich Tern 34E, Arctic Tern 3E, Common Tern 1E, Commic 3E, Fulmar 4W, Diver sp 2W, Shelduck 2 W then E) Mallard 2E, Common Scoter 6E, Little Egret 1E, Peregrine 2 (1 took a feral pigeon) in off: Swallow 16, Goldfinch 10, Linnet 2, Chiffchaff 1 (MG), later on 2 unidentifiable skuas, Bonxie, 23 Whimbrel E, 23 Bar-tailed Godwits & 1 Swallow in off.

22nd April 2022

SOMPTING: A Barn Owl flew over A27 at 2.40am near Lyons Farm (NB)

21st April 2022

GORING GAP: 7 to 8.30am  9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Whimbrel, 17 Sanderling, Redshank, 2 Common Tern, 42 Sandwich Tern, 2 Fulmar, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Shoveler, 6 Great-crested Grebe, Little Egret, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail in off,  male Wheatear rough area on fence, also Whitethroat singing, Ring-necked Parakeet flew over (GDM)

FERRING: Country centre paddocks 2 Wheatear, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Swallows, Kestrel, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, good numbers of Linnet and Goldfinches (NB)

Goldfinch and Peacock - Ferring (NB)

20th April 2022

ANGMERING: Yellow Wagtail headed north over Downs Way (GDM)

FERRING: 4 Wheatears 3 Swallow Ferring country centre paddocks (CH)

GORING GAP: A Tree Pipit and a Woodlark flew east (RS)

KINGSTON: Two Woodlark flew over Kingston West of Ferring at 9.45am (CH)

WORTHING BEACH: 3 Sandwich Tern, Whimbrel 1, Gannet 3, Great-crested Grebe 4 - 2 displaying. (RI)

19th April 2022

CISSBURY RING: this morning 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Bullfinch, 1 Swallow (RI)

FERRING: A female Redstart was by the gate to the paddocks west of the country centre, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, 4 Pied Wagtails, 3 Swallows. Along the Rife a Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, 2 Little Egrets and another Whitethroat (NB)

Whitethroat - Redstart - Willow Warbler - Ferring (NB)

GORING GAP: A Wheatear on rough field fenceline (LH)

SALVINGTON: A Red Kite and female Peregrine Falcon over Rogte Road mid-morning (NB)

18th April 2022

ANGMERING: A total of 4 Red Kites and 1 Swallow over Downs Way, a signing Willow Warbler and Blackcap (GDM)

BROOKLANDS PARK: There were at least 2 singing Willow Warblers, Cetti's Warbler and Goldcrest, on the beach a Wheatear, the sea brought quite a lot of Sandwich Terns, my first Sanderlings (2 of them ) of the year, Fulmar, pair of Shoveler, 13 Mediterranean Gulls. 2 (one winter one summer plumage) (Shemi)

LADYWELL RINGING: Birds trapped and ringed are logged in the table below

GORING GAP: Summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe on sea, Arctic Skua also east (RS, NO et al) 

7am - 8am Red necked Grebe 1, Slavonian Grebe 2 in s/p, Gannet 3, Little Gull 2, Black Tern 1, Common Tern 2, Sandwich Tern 10, Mediterranean Gull 10, Whimbrel 1, Little Egret 1, Whitethroat 3. (RI)

MILL HILL: 1 male Ring Ouzel

WIDEWATER: Bar-tailed Godwit and a few Linnets also passed above. (Shemi)

17th April 2022

FERRING: Guillemot on sea then flew east (CH)

MARINE GARDENS: Steady movement of 100+ Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns 120+ and Mediterranean Gulls 50+ all east past 06:30-11:30.

Bonxie offshore 09:20-10:40 then east also 3 Common Tern, 6 Shoveler , 8 Teal , 9 Whimbrel and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and s/p Sanderling. (NO)

16th April 2022

ANGMERING: 6 White Stork looking north circling over Angmering school then drifted off east 12.20pm (GDM)

GORING GAP: 4 Gannets, 8 Great-crested Grebes, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs. (RI)

EAST WORTHING: Ham Rd seawatch 0817-1104: Great-crested Grebe 2, Red-throated Diver 1E, Sandwich Tern 57E, Common Scoter 12E 3W, Velvet Scoter 1E, Whimbrel c19, Bar-tailed Godwits c30 Mediterranean Gull 22 E, Black-headed Gull 29 E, Cormorant 14 E. (MG)

SOMPTING: 6 White-Storks over north-east of Lambleys Lane (MG)

15th April 2022

ANGMERING: A White-tailed Eagle over north with entourage of 18 Buzzards (RS)

White-tailed Eagle and Buzzard - Angmering (RS)

CISSBURY RING: A White-tailed Eagle to the east distantly (MG)

GORING GAP: A smart male Redstart livened up a quiet but stunning morning. 11 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Shelducks flew east. Offshore were 15 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Bonxie. Numerous Sandwich Terns were feasting offshore. A Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit were singing. (RS) 1 Bonxie sitting offshore, 10 Great-crested Grebes, Sandwich Tern 10, Shelduck 4 W, Whimbrel 4E, Whitethroat 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 6 (RI)

Common Redstart and Sandwich Tern - Angmering (RS)

14th April 2022

FERRING: White Stork over moving east (CH) later seen over Salvington (GJ)

13th April 2022

GORING GAP: 2 Red-necked Grebes offshore for most of the day, 3 Velvet Scoters east (RS/GDM/RI et al)

12th April 2022

ANGMERING: A female Black Redstart in garden on Downs Way (GDM)

GORING GAP: I found coasting Osprey E, and 2 Bonxies swimming offshore for the SDOS field meeting this morning. 20+ Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Teal, 8 Shelduck, 2 Common Scoter, 8 Common Gull, 10+ Sandwich Tern. (RI et al)

MARINE GARDENS: Highlights of seawatch off Worthing beach so far this morning, most movement east:-Red-necked Grebe 1, Great Northern Diver 1, Black-throated Diver 1 Red-throated Diver 11, Mediterranean Gull 35, Common Scoter 107 (DS/DM/JD/GDM)

WEST WORTHING: A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in private garden this afternoon (EC)

11th April 2022

A busy day for seawatching, various reports from various locations in the area so there will be some duplications in reports

CISSBURY RING: 3 Ring Ouzels by the trig point (2 males, 1 female) (RI)

GORING: Highlights from excellent seawatch at Goring Beach this am: Red-necked Grebe and Bonxie on sea. Bonxie 2E, Arctic Skua 2E, Velvet Scoter 4E, Little Gull 1E, Black-throated Diver 1E, Whimbrel 34E, Common Scoter 195+E, Sandwich Tern 250+E, Bottle-nosed Dolphin 1W (RS/GDM)

GORING GAP : 14.05-14.20 Shoveler 16E, Whimbrel 4E - 2 ended up flying over Goring Hall as the wind was so strong, 4 Sandwich Tern E.  (RI)

MARINE GARDENS: With a fresh south-east wind blowing in the spring it is worth spending some time on the beach.  Between 0745 and 0945 at Marine Gardens shelter I counted the following:-

The high tide and rough sea made for difficult watching as many birds were flying eastward keeping very low to the sea and disappearing into troughs. Not so many Common Scoters as seen by Dave and Dorian yesterday but a strong passage of Sandwich Terns and my first Arctic Skuas and Common Tern of the year. The only really close birds were parties of Whimbrel totalling 57 in this two-hour watch. We have just entered the 10-day period when, in this century, Sandwich Tern passage is at its peak, slightly earlier than last century and in slightly fewer numbers (JN)

15.40 - 17.50 - seawatch

Arctic Skua 2 dp E, Whimbrel 55E, Common Scoter 100E, Great-crested Grebe 1 offshore, Great Skua 1E, Pomarine Skua 2pp E @ 16:23 , Common Tern 2E, Sandwich Tern c200 E, Gannet c30 , Dunlin 3E. (NB/GJ/GDM)

WHIMBRELS - Marine Gardens (NB)

MILL HILL: 3 Ring Ouzels on the lower slope

10th April 2022

ANGMERING: 2 Chiffchaffs in garden on Downs Way, a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets over (GDM)

EAST PRESTON: 3 Wheatears in garden in The Royston (RS)

FERRING: A Great Skua offshore from Bluebird Cafe, Swallow in off also (CH)

MARINE GARDENS: 0742-1206: Common Scoter 283E 10W, Red-throated Divers 19E, Black-throated Diver 4E, Diver sp 15E,4W, Great Skua 1E (almost certainly seen several times E&W), Brent Goose 23E, Fulmar 1W, Sandwich Tern 10os, in off: Chiffchaff 1, Swallow 2, House Martin 2, Merlin 1 (MG/DS et al)

SOMPTING: Singles of Swallow and House Martin overhead (LS/MG)

9th April 2022

BROOKLANDS PARK: this morning 4 Teal, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Blackcap , 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker. 3 Buzzards over Lancing. (RI)

LANCING: This afternoon (4:30pm) fantastic low flying Osprey in off the sea over Lancing beach. Also 3 Curlew, Swallow, 4 Mediterranean Gull and Great Crested Grebe on the sea. In Sompting singing Greenfinch (Shemi)

8th April 2022

ANGMERING: The White-tailed Eagle circled over Downs Way before drifting off south again, 4 Common Buzzards over too (GDM)

CISSBURY RING: A White-tailed Eagle seen and photographed mid-morning (Sussex birders Facebook page)

FERRING: A good search around the Rife and paddocks, very quiet 2 Willow Warblers both in song, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker  a Sparrowhawk, good numbers of Greenfinch around, 2 Chaffinch and Chiffchaffs. As I was leaving, the seagulls got me onto a raptor to the west, a White-tailed Eagle! It started to drift over towards the Bluebird Cafe before circling and soon drifted off west again presumably the same bird seen at Cissbury earlier and Angmering afterwards. There was a report at Pagham Harbour a few hours afterwards, all sightings could relate to this one individual (NB)

White-tailed Eagle - Ferring (NB) record shots as the bird drifted away from me going back west

7th April 2022

EAST WORTHING: My first 2 Great Skuas of spring W this am, in strong westerly + un-id diver W, possibly Black-throated but it was past me before I picked it up + a probable Red-necked Grebe half a mile out - difficult very brief views in & out of wave troughs - not GCG (CH)

WEST WORTHING: The gulls have just become very noisy here in West Worthing; no WTE but an Osprey flying north directly over my garden (about 12:30). (JN)

6th April 2022

GORING GAP: 2 Great Skuas flew west this morning (RS) 

5th April 2022

BROOKLANDS PARK: 5 Teal, 2 Cormorant, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Small White butterfly (NB)

CISSBURY RING: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and a singing Corn Bunting. (RI) The male Ring Ouzel still on top of ring near smaller fenced off Yew, Adders multiplying on east side of Cissbury. Also Common Lizard but very few butterflies singles of Comma, Peacock & Brimstone (NO)

FERRING: The Black Redstart was still around, 6 Willow Warblers (GDM), on the wing were a Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White (my first of each this year). Plus Little Egrets making it look like Africa! (AA) 

Black Redstart and Little Egret - Ferring (AA)

WORTHING: Speckled Wood in private garden (EC)

4th April 2022

BROOKLANDS PARK: A Willow Warbler this afternoon along the stream (DKC)

EAST WORTHING: 2 hour seawatch not exactly spectacular in WSW today:

7 Gannets, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Brent Geese, gulls, Great-crested Grebes etc, but did see my 1st Arctic Skua of the year - a dark phase bird - heading E. Counted 38 Meadow Pipits in off (CH)

FERRING: An interesting couple of hours along the Rife this afternoon. 1 of yesterday's Black Redstart remained in the paddock north of the Bluebird Cafe, 2 Willow Warblers and a increase in Chiffchaff numbers, 2 Little Egrets and the albino Starling was around. In the paddocks west of the country centre was 3 Wheatears and my first Swallow of the year which flew west. There was good number of Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch, a single Chaffinch was also noted (NB)

Starling - Little Egret - Chaffinch and Black Redstart - Ferring (NB)

3rd April 2022

CISSBURY RING: Black Redstart in the tree at the top of the rifle range (KG), Male Ring Ouzel briefly on slope below lower ring just south of car park and 2 Fieldfare (NO). 5 Stonechats, 3 Red Kites, 1 Buzzard, 20 Meadow Pipits N, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Yellowhammers, 1 Raven(RI)

ADDERS - several sightings today at Cissbury Ring (MG)

FERRING: 2 Black Redstarts were in the paddock just north of Bluebird Cafe, a Green Sanpiper was seen in flight twice along the stream west of the country centre, the albino Starling was around, Green Woodpecker and Greenfinch, 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew west (NB) 

Black Redstart - Ferring (NB)

2nd April 2022

BROOKLANDS PARK: A drake Tufted Duck was photographed on the main lake 

CISSBURY RING: A male Ring Ouzel at the Rifle Range, 2 female-type Black Redstarts in trees just south of the car park, 2 Fieldfare and 3 Mistle Thrushes (NO/CO/KG et al)

1st April 2022

GORING GAP: 2 Fulmar w, Gannet 6 W, Red-breasted Mergansers x 4 (RI)

PATCHING POND: 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard this morning (RI)

March 2022 Sea-watching for Worthing

The following report has been kindly compiled by John Newnham and hopefully of some interest to any sea-watching enthusiast! 

There have been a number of postings about local seawatching in recent weeks.  Below I have tabulated the totals for March from sea-watches where I have been able to work out start and end times and the flight direction of birds. The figures only include moving birds and not counts of birds either offshore or on the beach. The four right hand columns give the average and maxima of both this and last century observations and these figures combine both east and westbound bird totals. The total of nearly 54 hours watching is well above the average for both this and last century and is just below the previous highest March total recorded this century. As always some species have been recorded in higher than usual numbers, Pintail and Garganey look to be the highest March total whilst Fulmar observations are well down. These figures may change if further timed observations are forthcoming.