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).
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.
