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)
