It remained bright and sunny but cold with a northerly wind that eventually swung around to the south east later in the week resulting in more seabird passage. Cissbury and the Downs seemed to be firmly trapped in winter with the only signs of the approaching Spring being the first Blackthorn and a few female Adders basking in favoured sheltered spots.
We were still in the depths of winter on Sunday 16th March where a single Redwing in the hedgerows by the football pitches at Goring Gap was only notable due to their virtual absence so far this year. However by Thursday 20th March temperatures were in the high teens and the first two Willow Warblers of the year were singing in a birder’s garden in Lancing.
A steady trickle of Meadow Pipits were noted arriving over the sea and heading north over Goring Gap and East Worthing on Thursday 30th March whilst another Wheatear was found on the beach opposite Brooklands that afternoon.
The warm weather continued to bring in freshly arrived migrants with two Black Redstarts west of Angmering on Friday 21st March with an interesting “pale-looking” Stonechat found by Colin Jupp, which was still present on the Saturday. (Photos to be added later).
Seawatching
It was another good week for Brent Geese and the first Common Terns were reported along with a steady increase in Sandwich Tern sightings as you would expect as March progresses. but the highlight of the week were three Black-necked Grebes found on a flat calm sea off Widewater by Richard Fairbank on Thursday 20th March which were present until mid morning allowing Shoreham based birders to catch up with this scarce grebe.
Wednesday 19th March
A big easterly movement of 1692 Brents was recorded past Brougham Road in a three hour vigil from 06:30 with the largest single flock of 440, along with 38 Red-throated Divers, 38 Med Gulls, 13 Common Scoter 4 Shoveler and 2 Curlew. In addition to the Brents a Sandwich Tern was seen past Goring Gap.
Thursday 20th March
Brents Goring Gap Nick Bond
Another good day for Brent passage with 1860 counted moving east from Widewater before 09:00 along with 130 Common Scoter, 16 Red-throated Divers and 3 Curlew (in amongst a Brent flock). A further 400+ Brents past Goring Gap between 08:50-10:00 along with 12 Teal. The best count of Sandwich Terns so far were 10 past Goring Gap with 4 recorded earlier further east past Widewater.
The Brent Goose movement can be observed anywhere along the coast and long lines of birds often pass close to shore making it quite a spectacle. Early morning is best with passage often dropping of by 09:30 though smaller numbers usually continue to trickle through.
Sandwich Terns Goring Gap Nick Bond
Good numbers of waders were present on the beach at Goring Gap with 40 Oystercatchers, 60 Turnstones, 30 Sanderling, 2 Grey Plovers and a Knot (which is probably the bird first reported last week on 12 March).
Friday 21st March
The sea was quieter today with only a handful of Brents present noted resting on the beach, though Sandwich Terns were reported from both Goring Gap and Marine gardens with a peak count of 11. Other birds heading up channel included Red-throated Divers18e, Common Scoter 72e and a single Kittiwake.
Saturday 22nd March
With good cover from 06:20 - 11:30 between Brougham Road and Marine Gardens this produced another decent count of Brents with 730e before 10:20 followed by another big flock of over 370 observed close inshore from both Marine Gardens and Widewater later in the morning. The main highlight however was the first reported Common Terns with two recorded by Colin Holter along with 61 Sandwich Terns. Other birds noted included Red-throated Divers 47e, Great Northen Diver 1e and Common Scoter 189e.
