7th October 2019

ADUR ESTUARY: Two Grey Plovers, eight Oystercatchers, 30 Ringed Plovers, three Turnstones, a Redshank and a Kingfisher (BirdTrack).

CISSBURY RING: After my failed attempt yesterday, I returned to Cissbury Ring in somewhat calmer conditions to search for Ring Ouzels, and I certainly found some. I encountered a few small flocks, though none settled for very long - around 20 birds in all, some giving that delightful burbling call. Not a touch on some recent counts elsewhere, but I was equally pleased to count 50 Song Thrushes, mostly actively migrating overhead. There were also two Mistle Thrushes again around the yews, and a single Redwing over. Three Golden Plovers and a Siskin also passed overhead, along with 34 Skylarks, four Reed Buntings, a House Martin, eight Swallows, 65 Meadow Pipits, 33 Linnets and 54 Chaffinches. A Firecrest, 15 Goldcrests, 18 Chiffchaffs, nine Blackcaps and five Stonechats were on the ground. Other birds included three Yellowhammers, two Bullfinches, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, two Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel and 30 Long-tailed Tits (DKC). Other sightings included a Snipe overhead and a Brambling overhead, two Ravens, around seven Mistle Thrushes, another Siskin and boosted counts of 30 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps

GORING GAP: I concentrated my time covering the southern end of the gap, and was rewarded with 2 Common Redstarts that were feeding along the edge of the eastern field, 1 was a nice male bird, 2 Stonechat were nearby in the rough field. 6 Skylarks were fairly active and there aas a c50 Meadow Pipits in the fields. Other evidence of vis-mig included to groups of Swallows moving through 42 birds in total, 28 Linnet, with another 7 buzzing around the fields, the most bizarre sight was 14 Blue Tits in one flock moving through before taking flight and heading south out to sea! On the beach 14 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Turnstone, 2 Sandwich Tern flew west, whilst a single Wheatear was still on the beach. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were the only raptors on offer (NB/GDM)

Common Redstart and Wheatear - Goring Gap (NB)

SALVINGTON: A single Firecrest was seen in my garden this morning in Rogate Road pand again in the afternoon, seemed to roost in nearby trees (NB)

WORTHING PROM: Redwing flew over at 5.30am plus at least six Song Thrushes.

6th October 2019

ADUR ESTUARY:  A morning walk in Shoreham while the tide was still going out produced three amber- and one red listed species: five Dunlins, one Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew quite close to each other (TQ213048) best seen from Town Quay. Around 20 Redshank, 15-20 Oystercatcher and a couple of Turnstone were foraging here as well. Under the railway bridge a flock of about 40 Turnstones was spooked by a passing train and made a few circles before settling down again (TQ209051). A Kingfisher was present too but I had to be content with just the usual quick flypast this time. A mixture of gulls up and down the river with a few Cormorant fishing/sunbathing (SOS). Also seven Grey Herons, three Little Egrets and a total of 60 Turnstones (BirdTrack).

 CISSBURY RING: Five RING OUZELS were at the Rifle Butts (a flock of 11 Mistle Thrushes at nearby Gallops) (SOS/NO/CO). Also two Mistle Thrushes, two Blackcaps, two Kestrels and a Goldcrest (DKC).

GORING GAP: A blustery morning down on the beach and there was not a lot moving. There were about 20 Swallows battling against the westerly wind and a Curlew followed them. A couple of distant auks proved to be Razorbills. Then I picked up a fairly large shearwater scything its way eastwards. It towered across the waves and was extremely dark both above and below. Its long bowed wings and flight were diagnostic of a SOOTY SHEARWATER. I hope that some others were able to pick it up on its way through (RI)

WEST WORTHING: My first Redwing of the season, a little overdue, was heard over my garden this morning but with clear skies and a strong breeze it was no surprise that my attempt at vismig otherwise fell a bit flat, with four Pied/White Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits and three Goldfinches moving. A Goldcrest and a Coal Tit were calling next door and a Common Gull overhead was a fairly uncommon sight from the patio (DKC).

WIDEWATER LAGOON: A Kingfisher alighted for a few minutes on a little boat at the back of someone's house, and a fine adult female Sparrowhawk was doing the rounds of the waterside gardens while a Kestrel hovered nearby. Two Teal, five Mute Swans and five Little Egrets were on the water and the beach had a Turnstone. I also noted a Grey Wagtail, four Linnets, a House Martin and six Meadow Pipits (DKC).

5th October 2019

CISSBURY RING: Birds processed during ringing included 25 Blackcaps, 26 Chiffchaffs, two Firecrests, 22 Goldcrests and 23 Long-tailed Tits. A Tawny Owl, two Redwings, a Sparrowhawk, a Raven, a Bullfinch, two Buzzards and a Kestrel were also logged (VB/PD/MB).

GORING GAP: Goring Gap this morning: many House Martins, Swallows and Meadow Pipits overhead and going in all directions. 1 Yellow Wagtail E. Over the sea: Brent Goose 69W, Wigeon 3W, Sandwich Tern 4E 1W, Curlew 1E. 2 Wheatears and a Rock Pipit were on the beach (RS)
A short look this morning around 0915-0945 just resulted in 35 Swallows east (CH).

LADYWELL: Birds processed during ringing included 41 Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests and a Song Thrush. Other stuff noted included two Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, two House Martins, a Mistle Thrush, two Skylarks, a Grey Heron (MM et al).

MONARCH'S WAY: Perhaps 1,000 each of Linnet and Goldfinch (SOS). 

SHOREHAM: Short visit in Shoreham brought 50 Turnstones, 40 Lapwings, 20 Redshanks, 15 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, 3 Dunlins and one Bar-tailed Godwit. Also still moving Hirundines but much less than lately. There were also 2-3 Kingfishers and 10 Teal (SOS).

4th October 2019

ADUR ESTUARY:  From the Norfolk Bridge at 16.15 I could make out ca. 40 Redshank, one Greenshank and two Curlew at roost in the remnant vegetation along with six Little Egret and four Grey Heron (SOS). Also 22 Turnstones and 12 Oystercatchers (BirdTrack).

GORING GAP: Hard going at the gap this morning in a brisk westerly, it was soon apparent there had been a mass clearout of the bounty of birds just a few days ago, with no more than a dozen Meadow Pipits grounded or overhead, a trickle of Swallows and just a single House Martin noted, just a single Wheatear on the beach and smaller numbers of Chiffchaffs a0round. Other birds of note were 3 Grey Plovers that were initially pushed up by a walker on the beach before heading of north west and high over Ferring, 4 Little Egrets were on the beach, resident birds included a Grey Heron, a Kestrel and 6 Skylarks. A single Firecrest and a Treecreeper were in the middle plantation. The sheltered spot in the north west corner hosted quite a few fresh looking Red Admirals, small whites, Ivy bees were everywhere and smart looking Hornet mimic Hoverfly was found and a Common Darter dragonfly was seen sunning itself (NB)

Hornet mimic Hoverfly  Volucella zonaria (NB)

Common Darter and Red Admiral (NB)

SHOREHAM FORT: 24 Turnstones but no sign of Purple Sandpiper. 

3rd October 2019

ADUR ESTUARY: A Greenshank, c40 Redshanks, two Curlew, six Little Egrets and four Grey Herons from Norfolk Bridge late afternoon; elsewhere on the estuary a Knot, 20+ Ringed Plovers, 25 Turnstones, 30 Lapwings and a Kingfisher (SOS). 

BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: The highlights of a couple of hours at Brooklands were three Siskins, 42 Meadow Pipits, 19 Pied/White Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, six House Martins, 12 Swallows and a Skylark overhead. 11 Goldcrests and 20 Chiffchaffs were scattered in the bushes. A Treecreeper and three Coal Tits, two Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were also noted. The lake held the whole Mute Swan family, a Little Grebe and four Teal (DKC).

FERRING RIFE: 17 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, two Moorhens, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel and two Swallows (BirdTrack).

SHOREHAM FORT: 24 Turnstones at high tide at 3.30pm but no sign of Purple Sandpiper (SOS).

GORING GAP: Between 0900 and 1000 I counted 180 Swallows flying east as well as 16 Goldfinches and a Pied Wagtail. There were 40 Linnets and two Stonechats and a Kestrel on the fields and more distant flock of c.20 House Martins were feeding over the Ilex trees. 35 Gannets were fishing offshore and two Med Gulls went west (CH)

2nd October 2019

ADUR ESTUARY: A circuit of the river from Shoreham Airport found 4 Wheatear on the path to the east of the airfield. three Skylarks were having a tussle out on the field. 20+ Swallows were going west at the north of the path. The sand bank to the north of the Toll Bridge had 38 Lapwing and 2 Redshanks. On the return down the east bank of the river the birds of note were 2 Little Egrets and 7 Turnstones just up from the Norfolk Bridge (SOS). Also reported were a Greenshank,  Common Sandpiper, 35 Lapwings, two Stonechats, 15 Meadow Pipits, two Chiffchaffs, a Kingfisher, a Kestrel, two Buzzards, three Redshanks, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron and three Mute Swans (BirdTrack). Also a Grey Wagtail, 15 Redshanks, three Chiffchaffs and a Sparrowhawk (SOS).

CISSBURY RING: Three hours here in glorious sunshine found two Mistle Thrush in the aril-laden female yew, an eye-catchingly pale Common Buzzard with two normal morphs, a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrel, some 30 Stonechat, a Wheatear and a Redstart, a good many Meadow Pipit and Swallow both mostly flying west, several Chiffchaff and Blackcap, two Common Whitethroat both fly-catching and gorging on blackberries and a tit-flock of some 20 each of Long-tailed and Blue Tit and one Great Tit. Butterflies included still some meadow brown and flowers included scabious and yellow wort (SOS). Also a Redstart, a Wheatear, 15+ Stonechats, 50+ House Martins/Swallows, a Raven and good numbers of Chiffchaffs (SOS).

GORING GAP: With a northwesterly breeze I thought I'd give some vismigging at Goring Gap a go, though the clear blues skies did not particularly help. Passerines included two Reed Buntings, 344 Meadow Pipits, 61 Pied/White Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, two Sand Martins, 121 House Martins, 33 Swallows, 53 Linnets, 12 Chaffinches, 40 Goldfinches, four Skylarks and two Jackdaws. On the ground was a Wheatear, six Stonechats, two Song Thrushes, seven Goldcrests, three Whitethroats, three Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs. Offshore, Dark-bellied Brent Geese were returning from Siberia, with 122 heading west, along with a flock of seven Shelducks. A Whimbrel, a Redshank, three Grey Herons, 16 Little Egrets, eight Ringed Plovers and 19 Turnstones were on the beach. Also around were two Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk, two Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls. Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers included two so embroiled in a silent and note particularly violent face-off that they argued just feet away from me (DKC).

WEST WORTHING: Casual observations around and over the garden included singles of Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit and Sparrowhawk (DKC).

WORTHING BEACH: A brief stop on Worthing Beach was very worthwhile as I recorded my first returning Brents of the autumn with small flocks numbering 30 birds in ten minutes. A surprise was two PALE-BELLIED BRENT GEESE flying together westwards. There were also 10 Common Scoters, 4 Sandwich Terns and 3 Gannets. Not a bad ten minutes! Winter is quickly approaching  (SOS).

1st October 2019

GORING GAP : A very obliging Bar-tailed Godwit was on the greensward, allowing some great photos. Wheatear were also in the area (GK/AA)

Bar-tailed Godwit (AA -top GK bottom 2)

sho Wheatear - Goring (AA)

SHOREHAM FORT: Purple Sandpiper at high tide with 20 Turnstones and six Ringed Plovers. This morning five Wheatears, Rock Pipit and three Pied Wagtails (SOS).