2025 Done & Dusted - December Round Up

Well that’s another year of local birding done and dusted. Despite our stretch of coastline being highly developed there has been plenty to see within the environs of Worthing.  A haul that contained a spring Bluethroat,  multiple Hoopoes, a couple of September Wrynecks and three separate November Pallas’s Warblers within our urbanised area isn’t bad. Throw in a fly over Black Stork and a photographed Ortolan Bunting, our area has punched above its weight again.

December Round Up

Inevitably December was mostly wet and grey making winter birding hard work, though bright blue skies and sunshine over the Christmas period lifted spirits even though the pickings were still slim.

Seawatching

There was little to report on the sea with Wigeon (9w) and Teal (7w) from Marine Gardens on 6/12 a drake Goosander west past Goring 19/12 and a reasonable movement of Brent Geese, with circa 350 heading east on 23/12.

A two hour watch from Brougham Road (07:50-09:50) on 30th December produced masses of distant auks with an approximate count of c1100  mostly going east but only close enough to identify were Razorbills (26).  Also observed were Red-throated Diver (19e,7w), Great Northern Diver (1w), Red-breasted Merganser (18), Great Crested Grebe (8), Common Scoter (5e) Brent Goose (2w) and Kittiwake.

Coast and Goring Gap

Nine Brent Geese were in the fields at Goring Gap on 5/12 whilst the gull roost contained Great Black-backed Gulls (16) and Mediterranean Gull  (2 ad).  Ferring Rife held Kingfisher, Water Rail and two Stonechats (29/12).

The usual waders were around with a good count of Sanderling (98), Oystercatchers (11) and Turnstone (7) on the beach opposite Sea Lane Cafe. 

Cissbury and the Downs

19th December Downland Circuit north of Cissbury : the Downs were very quiet with only small numbers of buntings and finches seen mostly along the north escarpment from Steyning Round Hill along the SDW. Birds noted included Chaffinchs (15), Corn Buntings (6), Yellowhammer (3), Stonechat and Fieldfare (6+).

22nd December : Monarch’s Way and Stump Bottom yielded very little with the most notable sighting being Painted Lady near the Downs Barn and a Peacock on the Monarch’s Way.  Apart from that a mixed flock of Redwings, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush near No Man’s Land was the only interest.

The cold weather was presumably responsible for a flock of Lapwings (20) flying north up Findon Valley on 24/12 with further reports of  44 heading north over Angmering on 27/12.

Two adult White-tailed Eagles  displaying over Long Furlong were an impressive sight on 24/12 though they drifted north towards Chantry Hill rather than towards the observers enjoying a mince pie with their coffee on the west side of Cissbury Ring. Also present were Redwing (6), Blackbird (6), Song Thrush (2) both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flock of Lapwings  (6) heading east over the trigpoint.

30th December Downland circuit north of Cissbury: Following a similar route to 19/12, though also taking in No Man’s Land and Stump Bottom, produced similar numbers of finches, buntings and thrushes. However additionally the cold weather had brought a flock of Lapwings (39) feeding on tilled fields and the Wiston Estate workers reported 8+ Woodcocks flushed by the morning pheasant shoot. 

Many thanks to all local observers who have contributed to helping ensure news is spread quickly and responsibly via the Worthing Birding WhatsApp group. We start again in the morning - Happy New Year and good birding in 2026.

Look to the East - December Highlights

In November we featured two star birds (Tale of Two Shrikes) in the Adur Valley though technically they failed to meet the 10km criteria. This month three scarcities in the far east livened up the dreary short damp days of December.  These very popular birds were all in the well watched environs of the Adur Estuary, though all were viewable inside the Worthing 10km boundary. 

Widewater

The shallow saline lagoons of the Widewater LNR always hold good numbers of Mute Swans and Little Grebes and can be a regular haunt for Grey Heron, Little Egret and Kingfisher. It is very well watched and occasionally something much scarcer drops in though often birds move on all too quickly, the male Citrine Wagtail being an all too painful example, evading all the local birders.

A female Goosander took up residence on 10th November and was still present at year end. More excitingly a male and female Goldeneye dropped into Widewater on 20th November but unfortunately this locally scarce bird didn’t linger. Three Goosander including a male were present on 7th-8th December.

                                                        Slavonian Grebe ( Nick Oliver)

Much more obliging was a Slavonian Grebe found by Jenny Holter on the 23rd November and remained until 30th November, which delighted observers and locals alike for several days, often giving very close views. A single Brent Goose was also present with up to 15 Little Grebes and 6 Coots.

Southwick Canal

The heavily industrialised canal basin of Southwick Canal lies on the border of the Worthing 10 km radius (anything west of Power Station is included). It can attract wintering seabirds and this December played host to a popular Red-necked Grebe between 8th-11th December, which although difficult to see at times did the decent thing being seen as far west as the lock gates. 

Also present for much of December was a Great Northern Diver and up to two Shag.

                                                    Red-necked Grebe ( Jerry Campbell) 

Southwick Beach

The final treat in the east were two first winter Little Gulls feeding along the tideline from Southwick Beach. The first sighting was a single 1st year bird on 17th December from the west breakwater of the harbour before two birds were relocated off the Power Station between 19th-23rd December. These delicate gulls proved popular during their five day stay with three birds seen briefly on 22/12.

Also noted was Black Redstart (21/12) and an early easterly movement of Brent Geese (c 350e) on 23/12.

                                                       1w  Little Gull ( Nick Oliver)

November - Best of Rest

Predictably as November progressed things settled down into a winter routine with most rewards to be found along the coastal strip. A Woodlark was probably the highlight of the month but there was still a trickle of finches and a few late Swallows. It was very quiet on the Downs with a notable absence of winter thrushes though a female Hen Harrier along Monarchs Way on 26th November was a good record. 

A Purple Sandpiper roosting on Worthing Pier from 24th-26th November was unusual as this species is rarely reported away from the regular winter roosts further east at Shoreham Harbour and Brighton Marina. After the excitement of the Pallas’s Warblers at the start of the month the best Brooklands could offer were Firecrest (2), Goldcrest (6+), Treecreeper, Blackcap and Chiffchaff ( 10th November).

Purple Sandpiper ( Nick Oliver)

Goring Gap and Ferring Rife

5th November : 34 Oystercatchers and 20 Turnstones were on the beach and 2 Stonechats in the rough field. Overhead passage was light but included Goldfinch (165e), Siskin (35e), Meadow Pipits (26e), Reed Bunting and Swallow. 

6th November :  Goldfinch (75e) at Goring with Swallow (2), Linnet (c.60),  Skylark (12) along west side of Ferring Rife. 

7th November : A Swallow south and Goldfinch (241e) flew over Goring Gap, whilst on the beach Bar-tailed Godwit (1), Redshank (4), Grey Plover (4), Oystercatcher (43), Sanderling (5), Dunlin (5) but only a handful of Turnstones were counted before the high tide. Passage included Wigeon (10w),  Brent Geese (34w), Common Scoter (5e), Red-breasted Merganser (3w) and Shelduck (2w). 

The gull roost contained Lesser Black-backed Gulls (4) , Med Gulls (5) and Common Gulls (4). 

8th November : The pick of the visible migration at Goring Gap was a Woodlark, with a steady trickle of Redpoll and Siskin and a couple of Grey Wagtails overhead. The plantation held good numbers of Goldcrest and four Chiffchaffs. 

14th November : Goring Gap: Firecrest (3), a couple of Chiffchaffs and several Goldcrests around the Plantation. 

15th November : A walk along Ferring Rife produced Water Rail, Snipe (3), Chiffchaff (8), Cetti’s Warbler (2), Goldcrest (25), Firecrest (2), Stonechat (2), Linnet (30) and a Reed Bunting.

17th November : There was still a few small flocks of Goldfinches and Redpoll heading east at Goring Gap with Lapwing (6) flying north. On the sea late Sandwich Terns (3w) were a surprise with Gannets (11) feeding close offshore. Red-breasted Mergansers (7), Red-throated Diver (1), and Great Crested Grebe (5) were also noted. 

19th November : A brief seawatch at Goring Gap (0900-0930) only produced Red-breasted Merganser (8w, 2e),  Great Crested Grebe (1e) and Common Scoter (1e).

21st November : A single Brent Goose in the western field at Goring Gap, whilst the beach held Ringed Plover (1), Dunlin (1), Sanderlings (17), Turnstone (39), Grey Plover (8) and Oystercatcher (64). A Kingfisher flew west over the beach, whilst on the sea Common Scoters (2), Red-breasted Merganser (11) and Great Crested Grebe (3) were noted. 

26 November : An influx of finches along the west side of Ferring Rife  was mostly Chaffinches, Linnets and Goldfinches but attracted Reed Buntings (8) a Blackcap and a couple of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes

30th November : A walk around Ferring Country Centre and Ferring Rife this morning produced Water Rail, Little Egrets (2), Stonechat, Reed Buntings (4), Skylarks (6) and a Peregrine. 

The Downs

A Black Redstart at Maudlin Farm Steyning Bowl (13th November) was a nice find away from the coast.

                                                         Black Redstart (Richard Phillips)

A decent southwesterly movement of Wood Pigeon (4100) and Stock Dove (110) on 8th November was the only significant report from Highdown with Crossbill (2e) and Reed Buntings (2) also noted.

Apart from a few roving Long-tailed tit flocks and the odd Stonechat very little was reported from Cissbury during the month. As winter thrushes were in short supply an arrival of 25+ Redwing (15th November) was most welcome being virtually the only reports all month.

A long circuit of the Downland north of Cissbury on 25th November eventually produced wintering finch & bunting flocks, but numbers were generally low with Reed Bunting (1), Corn Bunting (40+), Yellowhammer (25+), Chaffinch (15+). A Firecrest and a single Chiffchaff were seen along Worthing GC track but the continued absence of winter thrushes, despite plenty of berries, was perplexing. 

A Tale of Two Shrikes - so near yet so far !

When the Worthing Birding blog was launched the boundaries were drawn as a 10 km radius centered around Worthing Pier. This covers a lot of sea to the south and a semi-circle stretching from Sea Lane, Rustington in the west to Shoreham Power Station in the east. (See map in About/Contact). The north east boundary lies on the River Adur several hundred metres north of the recently reopened footbridge across the river.

Two of the best local birds of the autumn arrived in late October / early November in the Adur Valley and teased us by holding territories right on the limits of our self imposed 10km boundary. Admittedly the Isabelline Shrike at Woods Mill was closer to 10 miles rather than 10 km from the pier, but the Great Grey Shrike was only just outside the semi circle (and would have been comfortably in if the centre point was The Cricketers, Broadwater).

However Shrikes are such good birds we thought they deserved an honorary mention.

Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike Woods Mill ( 26th October - 2nd November)

                                                              Isabelline Shrike ( Nick Oliver)

Things used to be simpler,  and a pale sandy coloured 1st winter shrike with a reddish tail found in late autumn would historically have been called an Isabelline Shrike. However these days even DNA  is not a 100% reliable way of separating 1st year Isabelline (Daurian) from Turkestan (Red-tailed) Shrikes and we can’t even agree on a name never mind the identification features. What hasn’t changed is the fact that either species is extremely rare  in Sussex with only four previous records. This meant a confiding and long staying bird found by Alex Rosenfeld at Woods Mill was extremely popular during its 8 day stay. 

Great Grey Shrike - Beeding Brooks (12th-18th November)

                                             Great Grey Shrike Beeding Brooks (Richard Phillips)

Great Grey Shrike was once an almost annual winter occurrence somewhere on the heaths and forests of Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire but in recent years it has become much harder to catch up with. A typically mobile bird was found by Bob Eade in the Adur Valley, on Beeding Brooks 3/4 mile north of the footbridge, on Wednesday12th November. This bird showed well for much of the following day but then moved further back and proved frustratingly difficult to see over the rest of its stay.