BROOKLANDS PARK: An evening cycle to Brooklands Park to sift through the gulls produced a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls (including a juvenile) and two juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls of note. Two House Martins, a Common Sandpiper, a Cetti's Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, three Swifts and the family of Mute Swans (still six juveniles) were also noted. David Campbell
FERRING RIFE: It was two of everything this morning with GREEN SANDPIPERS taking the
top spot. Also Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Swallows, Little Egrets and Linnets. Clive Hope
6th August 2020
ADUR ESTUARY: "The early afternoon high tide left a fair amount of saltmarsh exposed, helpful for the roosting waders but making it tricky to count them. A low-flying Sparrowhawk stirred things up a bit, leading to best counts of three Oystercatchers, 30 Lapwings, two Dunlins, one Common Sandpiper, 40 Redshanks, three Greenshanks, 20 Whimbrel and one Snipe. Ten Little Egrets. About 30 loafing Black-headed Gulls, and a few Herring Gulls, were joined by two restless Sandwich Terns. Just before high tide a Kingfisher flew past, my first here since early March." SOS
FERRING FIFE: My birding today was a slow walk up and back down Ferring Rife. After a quick check of the beach, where three Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, two Turnstones and six Little Egrets were feeding, my first surprise was a Kingfisher that made to land right next to me, before inevitably spooking and flying on. Just after this shock of blue, it took me a little longer to compute the dazzling red bird which flew out from the reeds: a male Northern Red Bishop, looking pleased with the habitat he'd selected post-breakout. My previous form for finding escaped landbirds is rather poor, with only one Cockatiel that I recall, so it certainly qualified as a highlight of the morning. Further upstream, I froze when I heard a GREEN SANDPIPER calling and it wasn't long before it flew past me. Only my second locally in getting on for three years in Worthing, this was a moment to savour. Later on, I relocated the bird feeding on mud a hundred yards or so downstream of the central bridge, where a little fieldcraft allowed good views without spooking this local rarity.
Eight Willow Warblers were encountered, some giving lovely views as they fed with little hurry in low vegetation, while five Reed Warblers were local birds. A brood of Goldcrests confirmed breeding and a Coal Tit broke into song briefly. Six Swifts and 10 Swallows flew through. A similiar number of Little Egrets to that on the beach began to gather in the conifers. David Campbell
FERRING FIFE: My birding today was a slow walk up and back down Ferring Rife. After a quick check of the beach, where three Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, two Turnstones and six Little Egrets were feeding, my first surprise was a Kingfisher that made to land right next to me, before inevitably spooking and flying on. Just after this shock of blue, it took me a little longer to compute the dazzling red bird which flew out from the reeds: a male Northern Red Bishop, looking pleased with the habitat he'd selected post-breakout. My previous form for finding escaped landbirds is rather poor, with only one Cockatiel that I recall, so it certainly qualified as a highlight of the morning. Further upstream, I froze when I heard a GREEN SANDPIPER calling and it wasn't long before it flew past me. Only my second locally in getting on for three years in Worthing, this was a moment to savour. Later on, I relocated the bird feeding on mud a hundred yards or so downstream of the central bridge, where a little fieldcraft allowed good views without spooking this local rarity.
Eight Willow Warblers were encountered, some giving lovely views as they fed with little hurry in low vegetation, while five Reed Warblers were local birds. A brood of Goldcrests confirmed breeding and a Coal Tit broke into song briefly. Six Swifts and 10 Swallows flew through. A similiar number of Little Egrets to that on the beach began to gather in the conifers. David Campbell
5th August 2020
LADYWELL: 13 Willow Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and two Treecreepers among the birds trapped for ringing. Also Little Egret, Peregrine and 12 House Martins. Bt
LANCING: Hobby at 8pm. SOS
MILL HILL: Willow Warbler. SOS
PATCHING HILL: "91 Linnets left their roost first thing and a good number were present for the remainder of my visit. The most unusual sighting this morning was a flock of 10 Canada Geese in one of the stubble fields on the hill until flushed by a dog. The only obvious migrant was one Wheatear. A regular feature recently has been flyover CROSSBILLS, this morning 17SE and later 1E. Other birds of note included four Grey Partridges, one Corn Bunting, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler." SOS
SALVINGTON: A vocal Coal Tit was present in the south-east corner of Durrington rec early morning, also 2 Black-headed Gulls over purposely west. Nick Bond
LANCING: Hobby at 8pm. SOS
MILL HILL: Willow Warbler. SOS
PATCHING HILL: "91 Linnets left their roost first thing and a good number were present for the remainder of my visit. The most unusual sighting this morning was a flock of 10 Canada Geese in one of the stubble fields on the hill until flushed by a dog. The only obvious migrant was one Wheatear. A regular feature recently has been flyover CROSSBILLS, this morning 17SE and later 1E. Other birds of note included four Grey Partridges, one Corn Bunting, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler." SOS
SALVINGTON: A vocal Coal Tit was present in the south-east corner of Durrington rec early morning, also 2 Black-headed Gulls over purposely west. Nick Bond
4th August 2020
CISSBURY RING: Reed Warbler, 28 Willow Warblers and two Garden Warblers among the birds trapped for ringing today. Also Mistle Thrush. Val Bentley
HIGHDOWN; My first two Tree Pipits buzzed high overhead, unseen in the clear skies, while on the ground there were just singles of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. 45 Swallows were made up by a couple of main groups, one of which was clouding around a Sparrowhawk. The wooded area held a brood of Goldcrests, a couple of Treecreepers and a Nuthatch, while the grassland was charmed by around 60 Goldfinches, with smaller numbers of Linnets and Greenfinches thrown in. A young Buzzard cried in the distance and an adult was noted, while a Kestrel and a Canada Goose were among other birds heard. David Campbell
SALVINGTON: Greater black-backed Gull over south, first seen here for a while. Nick Bond
SPLASHPOINT: Wheatear still. Bt
WIDEWATER LAGOON: Four Little Egrets. SOS
HIGHDOWN; My first two Tree Pipits buzzed high overhead, unseen in the clear skies, while on the ground there were just singles of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. 45 Swallows were made up by a couple of main groups, one of which was clouding around a Sparrowhawk. The wooded area held a brood of Goldcrests, a couple of Treecreepers and a Nuthatch, while the grassland was charmed by around 60 Goldfinches, with smaller numbers of Linnets and Greenfinches thrown in. A young Buzzard cried in the distance and an adult was noted, while a Kestrel and a Canada Goose were among other birds heard. David Campbell
SALVINGTON: Greater black-backed Gull over south, first seen here for a while. Nick Bond
SPLASHPOINT: Wheatear still. Bt
WIDEWATER LAGOON: Four Little Egrets. SOS
3rd August 2020
RIVER ADUR AT CEMENT WORKS: 10+ Common Sandpipers just north of cement works. SOS
THE DOWNS: Two Hobbies along track from Downs Barn. Mike Galtry
LADYWELL: A Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, two Red Kites, two Kingfishers, four Swallows, eight House Martins, 45 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, 10 Reed Warblers and three Garden Warblers. Bt
SPLASHPOINT: Wheatear on beach. SOS
WIDEWATER LAGOON: Three MANDARINS. Twitter
THE DOWNS: Two Hobbies along track from Downs Barn. Mike Galtry
LADYWELL: A Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, two Red Kites, two Kingfishers, four Swallows, eight House Martins, 45 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, 10 Reed Warblers and three Garden Warblers. Bt
SPLASHPOINT: Wheatear on beach. SOS
WIDEWATER LAGOON: Three MANDARINS. Twitter
2nd August 2020
THE DOWNS (Monarch's Way nr Cissbury Ring): Four Whinchats, a Wheatear, three Stonechats, Corn Buntings, c50 Linnets, a Raven and two or three Red Kites. SOS
THE DOWNS (NW of Lambley's Barn): Two Redstarts in hedge. Mike Galtry
FERRING RIFE/KINGSTON GORSE: A Whinchat, two Wheatears, c10 Willow Warblers, six Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, two Buzzards, two Whitethroats and around eight Greenfinches. Clive Hope
GORING GAP: It was devoid of migrants this morning, besides a fly-through Sand Martin, but two vocal juvenile Sparrowhawks in the Plantation made my day. Two Common Gulls and seven Mediterranean Gulls were in the back fields. David Campbell
STEYNING DOWNLAND: A Marsh Tit, two Ravens and eight House Martins. Bt
WORTHING: The female Peregrine was back on Manor Lea and another Sparrowhawk flew over West Tarring Allotments. David Campbell
THE DOWNS (NW of Lambley's Barn): Two Redstarts in hedge. Mike Galtry
FERRING RIFE/KINGSTON GORSE: A Whinchat, two Wheatears, c10 Willow Warblers, six Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, two Buzzards, two Whitethroats and around eight Greenfinches. Clive Hope
GORING GAP: It was devoid of migrants this morning, besides a fly-through Sand Martin, but two vocal juvenile Sparrowhawks in the Plantation made my day. Two Common Gulls and seven Mediterranean Gulls were in the back fields. David Campbell
STEYNING DOWNLAND: A Marsh Tit, two Ravens and eight House Martins. Bt
WORTHING: The female Peregrine was back on Manor Lea and another Sparrowhawk flew over West Tarring Allotments. David Campbell
1st August 2020
CISSBURY RING: An enjoyable session at Cissbury this morning with Pete and Val produced 44 species. The ringing was our best day so far this year in terms of number and variety. The highlights in the nets were a Spotted Flycatcher, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and four Garden Warblers, while Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff also featured in small numbers. A flock of 10 Crossbills flew over towards the end of the session but the highlight was a juvenile Cuckoo showing well on a nearby fenceline, guzzling a fair few big caterpillars. A Marsh Tit, three Yellowhammers, two Red Kites, two Ravens, 10 House Martins, seven Swallows, a Treecreeper and two Bullfinches were among other observations. David Campbell, Val Bentley and Pete Denyer
Other sightings here included a Wheatear and Silver-spotted Skipper. Andy Ashdown
STEEP DOWN: 10 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, a Raven, a Corn Bunting and three Stonechats. Bt
STEYNING RIFLE RANGE: A male PIED FLYCATCHER in hedge on south bank mid-morning. Also Spotted Flycatcher, Nightingale, two Grey Wagtails and three Marsh Tits. SOS
Other sightings here included a Wheatear and Silver-spotted Skipper. Andy Ashdown
Silver-spotted Skipper - Cissbury Ring (Andy Ashdown)
STEEP DOWN: 10 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, a Raven, a Corn Bunting and three Stonechats. Bt
STEYNING RIFLE RANGE: A male PIED FLYCATCHER in hedge on south bank mid-morning. Also Spotted Flycatcher, Nightingale, two Grey Wagtails and three Marsh Tits. SOS
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