November - Starts with a Bang

In the October Highlights Blog we commented on how a small phylloscus warbler from Siberian Russia was one of the most eagerly sought scarcities during autumn migration. We were of course referring to Yellow-browed Warbler, which is itself a fine bird, full of character and energy and blessed with a bold yellow eye stripe and two smart wing bars, but is now almost expected each October. However there is an even brighter and more energetic seven-striped sprite, which boast a dazzling lemon rump that is glimpsed as it hovers to snatch aphids from autumnal leaves - Pallas’s Warbler.

Now this is a much rarer visitor to the south coast and often arrives a little bit later than Yellow-browed Warblers in late October / early November and so far we have been lucky enough to have not one, not two, but THREE individuals turn up in our recording area. This hasn’t made them easy to see as each bird proved to be elusive and only graced us with a fleeting appearance and all were gone the next morning.

Saturday 1st November Langmeads Park, East Preston

                                                   Pallas’s Warbler Langmeads ( Mike Galtry)

The fun started at Langmeads Fields, East Preston, local patch to Colin Jupp who has previously found several Yellow-broweds here. His constant efforts were rewarded early in the month when he discovered a small bright warbler with a bold eye and crown stripe and even before he had seen the lemon rump he knew it was a Pallas’s Warbler. This bird showed on and off for most of the day and being a weekend allowed many local birders an opportunity to catch up with it, though it was highly mobile and proved frustratingly difficult to see well or indeed photograph.

Wednesday 5th November- Brooklands

                                              Essence of Pallas’s Warbler Brooklands (Nick Oliver)

Those that missed the first chance didn’t have to wait long as a second bird  was found at Brooklands Park a few days later and although very mobile did show on and off, before disappearing about 14:30 never to be seen again. This bird associated with a small group of Tits and Goldcrests, which also contained 1-2 Firecrests, which kept the crowd entertained whilst waiting for the Pallas’s Warbler. It was found in the small clump of Sallows at the north end of the park in exactly the same spot as the most recent Worthing record from November 2018. That bird was found by Gareth James whilst out birding with his dad Paul and the 2025 bird was found by his Mum Bridget James who was also birding with her husband Paul !

Saturday 8th November - Ferring Rife

The James family struck again the following weekend with Gareth finding a third individual along Ferring Rife, although that too proved difficult to catch up with and was gone the following morning. 

WOW -  three local Pallas’s Warblers in eight days! These birds were part of a nationwide influx at the start of November with birds seen along the entire east and south coast including at least six other Sussex records. Additionally another Yellow-browed Warbler was present in a private garden in Angmering on 9th-12th November. 

Thanks to Maria McGrath for the best shot to date of the Brooklands bird.

Pallas’s Warbler - Brooklands (Maria McGrath)

October News - Best of the Rest

Highlights

                                                   Dartford Warbler Goring Gap (Duncan) 

Two late Spotted Flycatcher at Highdown and a Whinchat on Cissbury on 2/10 were the last reports of the year. Wheatears continued to pass through with records from Goring Gap (1/10), Cissbury (2/10), Marine Gardens x2 (9/10) and Steyning Round Hill 13-15/10, which also are likely to be the last sightings until next March as any Wheatear in November may be prove to be something significantly better.

The first Redwings (5) were at Highdown on 11/10 and Fieldfare (3) at Steyning Round Hill on 13/10 but after that very few others records during the month. Hopefully there will be a decent arrival in November as there are plenty of berries around this year.

There was a small arrival of Dartford Warblers with birds passing through as they move from the inland heaths to coastal wintering grounds. The first was seen on Cissbury on 2/10 followed by a surprising find in an East Preston garden on 14/10. Finally a third bird was present at Goring Gap on 25-26/10 keeping company with six Stonechats and a Black Redstart.

A sure sign of the approaching winter was an increase in raptor sightings on the Downs with Merlin at Steyning Round Hill on 13/10, two Marsh Harriers at same location on 15/10 and a female Hen Harrier at No Man’s Land on 31/10. A late Hobby was also seen over Cissbury on 16/10.

Seawatching

A reasonable count of Gannets (184w) including 19 all dark juveniles were seen from Brougham Road on Friday 3rd October along with Common Scoter (3w), Mediterranean Gull (2w), Kittiwake (1e), Fulmar (1w) and four unidentified auks. 

On Saturday 18th October a Sooty Shearwater was seen heading east from Goring Gap having been initially reported from Selsey 35 minutes earlier. Also noted were Brent Geese (9w), Wigeon (18w) and several Gannets offshore. 

The following day a Red throated Diver  and a near full summer plumage Great Northern Diver headed east from Brougham Road. There was a large group of gulls and Gannets (100+) feeding  offshore  whilst a passage of Brent Goose (5e,7w), Common Scoter (5e), Wigeon (8w) and Teal (2w) were noted along with Mediterranean Gull (13), Razorbill (7e,10w) and distant auk sp. (54e,8w). 

Finally on Friday 31st October a very late Arctic Skua went west along with Sandwich Tern (1w),  Auk sp. (138w), (Razorbill (8w) , Brent Goose (3w), Common Scoter (3e), Red-throated Diver (1e) and Shelduck (1w).

A Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost at Goring Gap on 19/10 whilst Paul James went one better and found a first winter Caspian Gull there the next day.

The Downs

Whilst most of the action was along the coast there was still evidence of visible migration on the higher ground to the north of the town.  Crossbills were reported from Cissbury (4) - 1/10 & 9/10 and Highdown (4) on 1/10 along with a small number of Siskins. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps which continued to be reported from Highdown and Cissbury and other Downland sites up until 11/10 after which numbers reduced significantly. Meanwhile Swallows and House Martins trickled south over the Downs with the last notable counts from Cissbury being House Martins (125) on 10/10 Swallows (150) on 18/10

There was a good arrival of Goldcrests with Firecrest (2) amongst a flock at Highdown on 11/10. A Golden Plover along Monarch’s Way on 7/10 and Lapwings (9) over Steyning Round Hill on 14/10 were good records as was a count of Corn Bunting (150) on Monarch’s Way on 2/10.

Finally Black Redstarts (2) were a good find in a Steyning Alloment on 16/10.

                                                    Wheatear Goring Gap (Ralph Simpson)

October News - Coasting Finches

A notable feature of October is the migrating flocks of finches along our coastline. This is usually best on days with light easterly or north easterly winds and on several days conditions were perfect with decent counts recorded from Ferring and Goring Gap. This movement is mostly confined to the coast with very few finches seen from our Downland watch points on days with big counts along the coast.

Where have they come from and where they are heading? It is believed that food shortages in continental Europe can lead to an influx to the UK with some birds wintering here or heading further south into France and Spain.

Wednesday 1st October

Goring Gap between 0650 and 0930 recorded a light overhead passage including Pied Wagtail (82e), Yellow Wagtail (1) Grey Wagtail (1), Meadow Pipit (c30e), Swallow (c105e) and finch flocks containing Goldfinch (c150e), Siskin (c60e)and Redpoll (2e).

On the beach were  17 Little Egrets,  lined up on the groynes, a Redshank and a single Wheatear, whilst the first Great Crested Grebe of the winter was noted on the sea. 

Tuesday 7th October

No overhead passage but lots of birds feeding around Ferring Rife and adjacent fields, mostly Linnets, Goldfinches, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks plus a few Greenfinches. Along Ferring Rife Chiffchaffs (15). Blackcaps (2) and Stonechat. 

Thursday 9th October

A small movement over East Preston with a flock of Siskin  (12) and Redpoll (5) while Wheatears (2) were on the beach near Marine Gardens.

Friday 10th October

A short visit to Ferring Rife saw Goldfinches (60+) heading east with three south bound Swallows. Grounded migrants included Chiffchaffs (12), Firecrest (1), Goldcrest (6) and Stonechat (2).

Monday 13th October

The first big movement of the month with a busy morning at Goring Gap. In three hours from 07:00 today a continuous stream of finches with Goldfinch (c1060e), Linnet (c115e),  Siskin (c150e). Crossbill (9e), Redpoll (7e). They were joined by 150+ of each of Swallow and House Martin also moving east into the wind. 

On the sea returning geese and wildfowl included Brent Geese (67w 7e) and Wigeon (27w 17 offshore).

Wednesday 15th October

A steady passage of Swallows and Goldfinches along the coast between Widewater and Brooklands whilst 100+ Siskins went east over Sompting Brooks. a Kingfisher and two Wheatears were on the beach just east of the pier.

Thursday 16th October

In under an hour at Goring Gap this morning Goldfinch (120e), Siskin (40e), Linnet (35e), Pied Wagtail (6), and Skylark (6) were recorded overhead with 80+ Swallows and House Martins feeding over the fields and Chiffchaffs (20) in the plantation. 

Over 500 Goldfinches were recorded in small flocks heading east in two hours along the seafront between Widewater and Brooklands this morning with the biggest single group containing 40-50 birds. Five Clouded Yellows were also out enjoying the sunshine.

Two Crossbills were noteworthy heading east over Park Road, Worthing early morning.

Friday 17th October

Another bumper day at Goring Gap with obsevations between 0725 and 0950.  Impressive numbers of   Goldfinch (1430e) dominated the morning accompanied by Linnet (66e), Siskin (81e) and Redpoll (8e). Swallow (c90e) and a further 100+ feeding over the fields with c50 House Martins.  A Corn Bunting flying east was an unusual record on the coast.

Saturday 18th October

Fewer finches at Goring Gap this morning but several Meadow Pipits  and Swallows (10) flew out to sea with House Martins (c50e). Swallows (60) were feeding over fields with Skylark (8), Stonechat (2) in the rough field and Firecrest , Treecreeper and several Chiffchaffs in the plantation.  

Sunday 19th October

The last notable finch movement of the month saw Goldfinches (150e) and Redpoll (30e) over Goring Gap with Swallows (150e) and a late Sand Martin. The Plantation held lots of Goldcrest , Chiffchaffs, Blackcap (3) and an arrival of Song Thrushes.

Sunday 26th October

A change in wind direction appeared to have halted the Goldfinches, but Siskin, Redpoll (2w) and Crossbills (4w) over Goring Gap this morning were noted. A flock of Stock Dove (24) went west with an early movement of  Wood Pigeons.

Thursday 30th October

The last finches of the month were a flock of Redpoll (40+) over Goring Primary School and there were still Stonechat (4) in the fields and three late Swallows west at the Gap. 

October Highlights - Ouzels and Yellow-broweds

Whilst nationally October is regarded as the key month for the arrival of scarce and rare birds, locally it signals a change of pace as the season progresses. The Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats and Wheatears, which featured daily through late August and September have now mostly departed and attention turns to seeking out species such as Ring Ouzel and Yellow-browed Warblers. 

In our area, and across Sussex in general, lower than normal numbers of both these prized migrants have been recorded, but a few were found in and around Worthing putting a smile on the faces of the lucky few.

Ring Ouzels

Cissbury Ring is a regular stop over for Ring Ouzels especially the area around the large Yew in the Flint Mines and the month started well with two birds seen in the Yew on 1st October. However their visit was all too brief and we had to wait until 17th October before the next record. Unfortunately it was another brief encounter and wasn’t seen again after early morning despite several birders searching for it.

Other local hot spots such as Mill Hill, Highdown and Steyning Round Hill missed out completely, despite plenty of observer effort and as the month draws to a close it is unlikely we will get another chance to see the “Mountain Blackbird” this year.

Yellow-browed Warblers

This small stripey warbler breeds in Russia, but generally arrive in Britain as a passage migrant in reasonable numbers along the north and east coast, with several birds usually trickling down into Sussex as October progresses. They are very vocal and quite active and are usually found in coastal parks and woods making them popular with local birdwatchers. 

Although several were found locally they were all too brief  and proved very difficult to catch up with. The first of the year was found by George Kinnard on Wednesday 8th October along Ferring Rife and although vocal it was very elusive and was gone the next day. Colin Jupp found another calling bird in Langmeads Park, Rustington on 21st October but it was also difficult to see in a mobile tit flock. Colin then found another on 24th October along the footpath at the north end of Pigeon House Lane, Rustington.  Finally George found a fourth bird along Ferring Rife on Tuesday 28th October which unfortunately also wasn’t seen again. 

Four records is a good count for the month locally, though none of the birds were particularly co- operative, fortunately this species can still be found in November so there is time for a more obliging bird to be discovered.