HOT, HOT, HOT !

                                             Parched Downland near Cissbury ( Nick Oliver)

I’m sure you’ve probably noticed it’s been a long hot summer but as far as the birding calendar is concerned autumn is well and truly underway, which means birds which have bred in Britain and Northern Europe will be beginning their south bound migration. Before we move on to migration, the high days of summer are associated with screaming Swifts, scything Hobbies and invisible Quail singing from the crop fields.

Swifts featured in their own separate blog recently and our local breeders have already departed but noteworthy reports of 50+ over Lancing Ring (29/7), 30+ Angmering (23/7) and 20+ Cissbury (2/8).

Nationally there has been an influx of Quail  this summer, although only a few individuals were reported on the Downs around Worthing, with birds near Chanctonbury (3/7), Steep Down (20/7) and north of Cissbury (22/7). Perhaps the most popular was a singing bird, uttering the famous “wet-my-lips” song, just north of our 10km radius at Chantry Hill from 24-27 July.

Reports of Hobbies increased with birds seen over Steep Down (23/6), Findon (24/7), Sompting Brooks (30/7),  Chanctonbury (9/8) and Angmering (16/8).

Although the peak time for seeing migrating birds locally is mid August through to October, from late July the first migrants had begun to arrive at downland hotspots before departing our shores. Whilst it hasn’t exactly been raining birds,  and lets face it rain of any kind would be most welcome, an increase in Common Whitethroats and yellow tinged juvenile Willow Warblers marked the start of autumn passage.

Amongst them the first Redstarts were noted with an early record from Cissbury (7/7). After that singles were regularly reported from Cissbury (14/7) and Nepcote Gallops (24/7), increasing to four birds (19/7) and a peak count so far this autumn of eight (16/8).  Lesser Whitethroats (2) were first reported from Nepcote Gallops (24/7) with singles then being reported regularly around Cissbury from 6/8.

August is an excellent month for Pied Flycatchers, which is always a good bird to find locally as it is much scarcer and more elusive than Spotted Flycatchers, which can be numerous by late August and early September. However so far this year we have done well for Pied Flycatchers with a very early bird found on the north east side of Lancing Ring on 29/7, followed by two records from Cissbury on 11/8 and 17/8. Perhaps the most interesting bird was a well marked Pied Flycatcher found by James Grundy along Ferring Rife on Sunday 16th August, which showed a second wing bar and white primary patch.

                                                   Pied Flycatcher Ferring Rife ( Nick Oliver) 

                                                  Pied Flycatcher Ferring Rife ( Jacob Bowley) 

                                                Pied Flycatcher Ferring Rife ( Jacob Bowley)

The first Spotted Flycatchers were reported from Monarchs Way and Lancing Ring (6/8), Chanctonbury (9/8), and Mill Hill (2 on 16/8) with the biggest count so far coming from Cissbury (6 on 18/8), though numbers will build up as autumn progresses.

Other classic August arrivals are Wheatears and Whinchats with the first Wheatears being reported from Steep Down (20/7) and Whinchat along Monarchs Way (1/8). The set aside and weedy fringes along “The Dip” in Monarch’s Way, north of Cissbury, is particularly good for Whinchat and Wheatear with up to five of each species still present up to 14/8. Both species were also reported from Truleigh Hill (10/8) and Sompting Church (15/8) and again numbers would be expected to peak in late August / early September.

By contrast Yellow Wagtails have been few and far between with a fly over reported from Steep Down (22/7) and small groups along Ferring Rife (25/7) and the Adur near Cuckoo Corner (31/7). Hopefully if we ever get some rain they will start to appear with grazing cattle.

Other noteworthy local records were a migrant Reed Warbler on Mill Hill (9/7), a brief Grasshopper Warbler on the east side of Steepdown (19/7) and a Wood Warbler amongst the phyllosc flock at Ferring Rife (15/8). 

The best is yet to come so if you are able head out and find it ! 

Last Days of Summer - Guest Blog by Andy Jinman

It has been a successful summer for our local Swifts with the classic screeching calls as they zip over the rooftops a welcome background to warm summer evenings sat in the garden. They arrived in early May returning to breeding territories across Worthing but by the end of July most of our local birds have already headed south, leaving our skies quiet and empty. If those sights and sounds fill you with delight and with longing for the return of our swifts next May, then please read on; if they leave you cold, then this short piece is probably not for you !!”

Common Swift over Broadwater (with thanks to Lee Manvell)

The Common Swift is one of our most iconic birds and, for many, one of THE sounds of Summer, but the news backdrop around them is a familiarly depressing one:- the species has drastically declined in the UK over the past 30 years. For every 10 you would have seen back in 1996, on average, you would only have seen 3 in 2025 !

Our local Swifts have received a welcome boost from the Worthing and Adur Swift group set up in 2025 to try and support this iconic species, and although the work this Summer is not yet quite complete, the trends in just our second year of activity are hugely encouraging.  Comparing 2026 to 2025 volunteer numbers have quadrupled from 10 to over 40,  allowing three additional local areas to be included in breeding surveys. As a result of these, we have been able to detect many more active nest-sites, which is crucial to help protecting them from damage in the future.

Thanks to Paul Stevens (an SOS champion) and his ladders, we have been installing new Nest Boxes since April and although we are not quite done for the Summer yet we aim to complete around 100 new Nest Boxes ready for next year. Crucially almost 50 boxes have new callers installed next to them, (thanks to grant funding from Sussex Ornithological Society), which significantly increases the chance of those boxes being used for nesting in the next 2 to 3 years.  Plus there is other good news, with three local housing developers pledging to include Swift bricks in their new projects.

                                                 Paul Stevens in action (Andy Jinman)

The results have been impressive, with several box-hosts already reporting plenty of young “bangers” checking out the new box, with a view to using it next year, helping increase the local breeding  population from the 22 known nest sites at the start of 2025.

What has been amazing (and rewarding) this Summer, has been seeing the sheer delight and enthusiasm of many recipients of the new boxes and callers. I suspect it’s because so often the plight of a particular bird-species requires a huge, co-ordinated campaign (by the likes of RSPB or SWT, working with farmers and others); whereas “saving our swifts” can genuinely be the work of individuals who care - walking their streets to record birds and nests and/or putting up a box + caller on their own house !

So a huge thank you to all the volunteers, to Paul Stevens, to the hosts of boxes + callers, to SDOS for supporting us and to SOS for generously providing the funds which have funded 37 callers so far this season. 

We now have over 270 members in our Facebook page, so please join or contact us if you would like to help our Swifts in 2027 !!

Email - one5wift@proton.me

Facebook page - Worthing & Adur Swift Group

Or via the SDOS website 

Stone Curlew - Autumn Reprise

Back in early April we posted about the remarkable appearance of Stone Curlew on Spring passage with a bird on the beach at Widewater followed by another sighting at Sompting Brooks, both of which were only seen by the original finders. This is a secretive wader which breeds in very small numbers on stony farmland or heaths in southern England and is seldom seen away from a few publicised protected breeding sites, due to its largely nocturnal lifestyle. 

Fast forward to Monday 27th July and Ralph Simpson was completing one of his regular early visits to his Goring Gap patch. Much to his surprise at about 06:45 he flushed a Stone Curlew from the beach, which flew low towards Sea Lane Cafe where it appeared to land. Despite searching it couldn’t be relocated, so once again after a great local find  the trail went cold and the wait went on for a more obliging bird within the Worthing 10km area. 

However this proved to be short lived as on Monday 3rd August Richard Phillips was out searching his local area for an early Whinchat or Wheatear. He had drawn a blank until he reached the River Adur, near Botolphs, when while scanning the far sheepfields he picked up a distant wader in the haze. He felt it looked good for a Stone Curlew and quickly crossed the bridge to close the distance and minimise the heat distortion. Viewing from the east bank he was delighted to confirm his suspicions as he enjoyed scope views of a “boggle eyed” Stone Curlew.

Stone Curlew - Botolphs Sheep Fields (Nick Oliver)

Having been found at about 10:30 the Stone Curlew did the decent thing and remained in the sheep field all day, though could be tricky to see well particularly when sat down in the grasses. It proved to be a very popular bird with a steady stream of admirers throughout the rest of the day. By early evening the light was perfect, the haze much reduced and as the temperature cooled the Stone Curlew became much more active chasing after its large insect prey and avoiding the unwelcome attention from the local corvids.

                                          Stone Curlew - Botolphs Sheep Fields (Nick Oliver)

So remarkably there have now been at least three and possibly four birds within our 10km this year, and this early August sighting ties in with a number of other national records of birds moving south. 

Not suprisingly the bird moved on overnight presumably continuing its southbound migration.

Whatever happened to May & June ?

Sitting here in the midst of another heatwave looking back to what is normally expected to be the peak month of Spring migration seems a long time ago, but those cool northerly winds which seemed to continue through most of May would be very welcome now.

By May most of the regular summer arrivals have moved quickly on to their breeding territories in northern Britain or Scandinavia, but the month often delivers a scarcity or two and local birdwatchers wistfully daydream of finding an exotic rarity such as a Bee-eater, Shrike or a decent wader.  Meanwhile traditionally the start of May is regarded as the peak time for up channel movements of Pomarine Skua as the climax of the sea watching season.

Rarities and Scarcities

So what happened this year ………… well to be honest not a lot as the previously mentioned cool winds were stuck in the northerly direction and failed to deliver any birds of note.  A few rarities made it to Sussex with highlights being a male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Beachy Head and two “spotty” Spotted Sandpipers on the River Ouse but locally we missed out. 

The closest we came was a Golden Oriole heard singing in Tottington Woods, Small Dole on Saturday 16th May a couple of kilometres NE of our 10km boundary. 

A Black Kite found by James Grundy at Amberley on  25th May was also outside our area but was heading south so may have crossed into our airspace, but it probably didn’t. More expectedly there was a good movement of Red Kites over the weekend of 23/24th May with 71e over Angmering on the Saturday being noteworthy, although why we get these Spring coastal movements is not really understood. .

June can also sometimes delivery a rarity but it didn’t and even an exceptional national influx of Quail, which we normally do reasonably well for on our local downland, managed to evade us until a bird was reported singing from fields north of Cissbury car park on 21st June.

Seawatching

So did skua passage save May - well no!

Near perfect conditions on Friday 1st May saw an expectant crowd waiting at Marine Gardens hoping the light south easterly winds would deliver, and although  it started promisingly with Arctic Skuas (5e before 07:00) after that just Barwits 62e, Whimbrel 40e, Grey Plover 2e, Sanderling 10e, Common Tern 1e, Sandwich Tern 90e Kittiwake 1e, Rt Diver 2e, C Scoter 173e, Brent Goose 62e.

Finally a distant Pom Skua was seen heading east at 10:20 when only two observers remained which was also tracked past Worthing Pier.

Watches continues until 12th May but this proved to be the only Pomarine Skua reported from Worthing in May and the only further skuas seen were Arctic (3e on 7/5 & 2e on 9/5). 

Just when it looked like the seawatching season would end without a Little Tern being reported James Grundy saved the day recording a single bird heading east past Goring Gap on the evening of 11th May.

And that folks was it for the spring as we moved into summer with focus switching inland to the Sussex Heaths for Nightjars and Honey Buzzards, whilst Swifts screamed over the town and dare I say it some people started to turn their attention towards insects!

Summer Arrivals and Spring Passage

Now the weather finally feels like summer it’s time to recap on spring migration, with the peak arrival of summer visitors in April and early May heading for their breeding grounds in northern Britain and Scandinavia. Once again this key period coincided with a spell of cool settled weather with persistent northerly winds and clear skies meaning birds moved through quickly. Despite low numbers of grounded birds there was still a good variety of species noted,  including some very good local records. 

Flycatchers

                                              (Pied Flycatcher Clapham Woods - Simon Cross)

A superb male Pied Flycatcher was an excellent find by Simon Cross on the afternoon of 6th April at Clapham Woods but unfortunately didn’t linger to be appreciated by other local birders. This can be a difficult species to catch up with locally at anytime and a striking black and white male makes it all the more special. In contrast Spotted Flycatcher is much more common especially in autumn but there are usually a few spring records as well. However the only report this year was from Goring Gap on the very late date of 21st May. 

Whinchat

Early birds were found on Steep Down (x2 - 8/4) and Cissbury (16/4) followed by a bird on the beach at Marine Gardens (4/5). Three Spring records is disappointing though it is usually much more numerous in autumn.

Ring Ouzel

After a single bird at Mill Hill in March the only other Ring Ouzel reported was a brief roadside encounter on Titch Hill early on 6th April, whilst driving over the Steyning to Sompting Road.

Nightingale

Whilst this famous songster is relatively frequently encountered north of the Downs it is a notable record within the Worthing 10 km boundary. A minimum of two birds were reported this year with a singing bird near Black Ditch Angmering first heard on 20th April and still present on 25th April. A second bird was singing at the east side of Worthing Golf Course on 23rd April and it or another further up the same footpath on 6th May. 

Cuckoo

Three brief records on the Worthing side of the Downs was noteworthy, with birds heard from Angmering (3/5), Sompting Brooks (4/5) and Goring (13/5).

Redstarts

   

   (Redstart  Brooklands - Nick Bond)

The first Redstart of the Spring was a fine male discovered at Brooklands (1/4) with other males seen at Steep Down (6/4) and Cissbury (13 & 14/4).

Wheatear

Wheatear are perhaps the most obvious of our returning migrants, with the first records reported in small numbers from mid March. There was a big arrival along our coast in the first week of April with notable counts from Marine Gardens (8 - 1/4), Widewater (13 - 2/4), Ferring C.P. (12 - 6/4) and Highdown (10 - 6/4). There was further arrival between 18-20th April with daily sightings from Goring Gap and Marine Gardens  (max count - 9) and then singles (30/4) and (8/5).  Away from the coast sightings were few and far between with only a report of two birds at Lychpole Farm (18/4).

Whitethroats

Common Whitethroats arrived en masse from 9th April with 6+ around Cissbury and 5+ at Steyning Round Hill and territorially males were conspicuous throughout after this date.  The first Lesser Whitethroats were present on Cissbury (13/4) and Mill Hill and Highdown (19/4) and by 23rd April there were  at least four rattling males singing from various locations around Cissbury. 

Warblers

Willow Warblers seemed to be moving through in reasonable numbers from early April and notable early Garden Warblers were recorded from Ferring Rife (14/4) and Sompting Brooks (17/4). 

Our first Reed Warblers were reported back in suitable breeding territories at Brooklands (7/4), Black Ditch (13/4), River Adur (14/4), Sompting Brooks (17/4), and Ferring Rife (20/4), whilst migrant birds were seen away from breeding habitat on Cissbury (23/4), Lancing Ring (25/4) and Mill Hill (2/5, 4/5).  Sedge Warblers were present at Black Ditch (8/4) and Brooklands (14/5), which surprisingly is rare at this location ( only 20 records since 1970).

Yellow Wagtail

There were no grounded reports of Yellow Wagtails in the Worthing area this Spring but birds were seen and heard flying in / off sea from Worthing Pier (9/4) and Marine Gardens (18/4, 22/4  & 23/4).

Hobby

The first Hobby of the year was seen over No Mans Land (9/4) with further sightings over Sompting (12/4) and Beeding Brooks (19/4 & 20/4) where two birds were seen  hunting together. They were seen over East Preston (30/4) and flying in off the sea from Marine Gardens (30/4) and (9/5).

Swift

The first Swift was recorded  over Long Furlong (19/4) and Cissbury (22/4) with birds also seen coming in over the sea from 21/4 onwards. Other April sightings came from Lancing (7 - 25/4) and Durrington Rec (3- 29/4) then from early May there were regularly reported around breeding sites. 

Hirundines

After not being reported in March the first Sand Martins were finally seen from Marine Gardens and Angmering on 6th April preceded by the first House Martins at Black Ditch on 4th April. Swallows started arriving in good numbers from early April and birds seen battling the headwinds as they skimmed over the sea to reach the safety of the shore was a regular highlight of the April and May sea watching season, with a peak arrival of 30 birds.

Peaks and troughs of April Seawatching

 

Marine Gardens Worthing (N Oliver)

As usual April saw huddles of local bird watchers at various places along the seafront from Goring to Widewater hoping to witness the spectacle of bird migration up the Channel. The most popular watch point being Marine Gardens with upto 10 observers on the most promising looking days. The month was dominated by north easterly to easterly winds with a prolonged period of sunny weather. In total observation took place on 20 days, with more than 100 hours recorded, mostly early morning and occasionally  again in the evening if winds are from a favourable south easterly direction. 

The biggest daily total was saved until last, the 30th April, with 24 species (650 individuals) noted. 

Highlights

Brent Geese: (Total seen 116). Although peak movement of Brents is March, there is usually still reasonable numbers heading east in April though this year it has been limited to a few stragglers with counts on just 8 dates with a peak of 16e (4th) and 17e (11th) until a final late flurry with 70 recorded on 26th. 

Common Scoter: (Total seen 720). Distant black dots scurrying eastwards are usually a continuous feature of April seawatching with many hundreds being recorded. However this year, although birds were seen on 80% of watches, the only counts >50 were (60e-4th), (151e-11th), (147e-14th), (76e-25th), (79e-26th) and (54e-30th) with all the remaining dates being < 20. Frustratingly seven distant birds on 30th may have been the flock of Velvets recorded past Selsey that morning.

Other Ducks - Eider (6) were recorded on three dates between 24-26th with a maximum of three birds, otherwise duck movement was limited to a few Red-breasted Merganser (10), Shelduck (41), Shoveler (26) and Teal (2) though a probable female Goosander was observed on 14th. 

Divers / Grebes - A close small grebe on the evening of 26th took observers by surprise but was confirmed as a Black-necked Grebe following consultation with various reference documents. However there have been very few divers noted this month with Red-throated Diver (total 13, peak count 5) and single Great Northern Diver (10th) and Black-throated Diver (26th). 

Terns- Terns continue to disappoint with numbers much lower than the expected historical records. The first Common Terns (4e) were seen past Rustington on 8th and then Marine Gardens (3e) on 20th but after that only a handful of Common/Arctic Terns have been sighted with the only notable count (20e) on 27th.

As yet no Little Terns have been reported past any of the Worthing sea watching sites, which will hopefully be addressed in May.

Whimbrel: (Total seen 920) - The first records were past Marine Gardens (1e) and Ferring (4w) on 7th with further single figure counts from Rustington (6e) on 8th and Marine Gardens (2e) on 9th and (3e) on both 10th and 13th. From 19th April onwards they were recorded daily with peak counts on 24th (351e including a single flock of 100+),  26th (143e) and 30th (92e).

Bar-tailed Godwit: (Total seen 750). - The first Bar-tailed Godwits  (4e) were seen heading east on 19th. Barwits were then recorded on all subsequent watches but in surprisingly low numbers with the only notable counts on 20th (44e) However a late afternoon watch from Brougham Road on 23rd produced several large flocks of distant waders which were identified as Barwits from photos.  A further huge flock of 150+ distant birds creating a black smoke like cloud across the horizon was seen on 27th. 

Finally numbers increased in the last few days of the month with peak totals on 29th (230) and 30th (186). One of the joys of spring migration is seeing mixed flocks of waders flying close to the shoreline with the stunning red summer plumaged godwits travelling with the larger Whimbrels.

Other Waders - Avocet were recorded on two dates with 5w on 18th and 2e on 28th. There was a good movement of Grey Plover (82e) on 30th and a few Red Knot were also recorded mostly in mixed flocks (peak count 10 on 30th). Greenshank were also picked out on two dates hidden in groups of Barwits. Smaller waders included Dunlin (total 14, peak count 9) on 28th and Sanderling (total 101, peak count 85)  on 30th. 

Pomarine Skuas: (Total seen 26). - The Pom season began early with low numbers of birds seen daily past Selsey between 21st and 25th April, keeping Worthing based observers on high alert.

Unfortunately most seemed to pass by too far out to see but our first Pom Skuas (2e) of the season were tracked moving slowly east very distantly from Marine Gardens and Brougham Road (11:35-12:10) on 21st April, but views were very poor.

The evening of 24th was more rewarding with six birds moving quickly east past Marine Gardens much closer to shore (1e @17:08, 1e @18:45 and 4e @19:05). On the 25th three birds were tracked from Selsey past Rustington at 15:47 and St George’s Road Worthing at 16:01 and later that evening another four distant birds were reported from Marine Gardens or Sea Lane.

Strong easterlies on the morning of the 30th produced a memorable encounter with a superb leisurely fly past. Two groups of majestic “fully spooned” Pomarine Skuas (4e @07:09, 2e @ 09:23) were seen from Marine Gardens and Widewater, with more distant birds (2e@07:00 and 3e@10:50) as part of a bigger movement of skuas past Selsey.

Arctic Skuas: (Total seen 17) - Arctic Skuas have been very scarce this month with the first record being the evening of 24th with a total of five individuals including three close inshore and two accompanying the Poms. Further sighting from Worthing Pier / Marine Gardens (8e) on the evening of 25th and subsequently there were singles on 26th, 27th and 2e on 30th.  

Great Skua: (Total seen 6). - The first record was a single bird seen past Ferring on 23rd, which then lingered off Marine Gardens chasing gulls behind a fishing boat. Singles were then seen daily off Marine Gardens between 24th - 27th, though these sightings must relate to 1-2 lingering birds.

Fulmar / Kittiwake- Fulmars were seen regularly with records on 14th, 18th and then daily until end of April  with a maximum count of four. A group of adult Kittiwakes (5e) were seen on the evening of 24th and a smart juvenile was  sat on the beach for 10 mins on the 25th. The only other sighting were all adults (6e) on  30th.

Manx Shearwater - The only shearwaters (4e) were seen from Marine Gardens on the evening of 24th.

Little Gull- the only April record was an adult dip feeding whilst flying slowly east on evening of 26th.

Egrets - Unthinkable 10 years ago but now almost expected. Great White Egrets were recorded heading east on 4th and 26th, whilst a flock of 15 Cattle Egrets headed east on 27th.

Passerines - There was a steady arrival of Wheatear with in excess of 30 birds between 1st - 20th with a peak of 12 (1st) and 9 (19th), then a gap until a single seen coming in off sea on 30th.

Swallows (total estimate >200) were recorded almost daily (peak count 40) and a handful of Sand Martins  battling their way across the channel to speed off inland once they reached the safety of the shore, and the first Swifts were seen on 21st from Marine Gardens (ln) and Brougham Rd (2n). 

Bottle-nosed Dolphins - On calm still days regular sightings of Bottle-nosed Dolphins helped relieve the tedium with the local pod of up to 10 individuals hunting offshore anywhere between Ferring and East Worthing.

                                           Standing room only at Marine Gardens  (R Phillips)

April - Osprey Flyway

                                            (Osprey - one of three in East Preston - George Kinnard)

The iconic Osprey is a conservation success story with breeding birds spreading into northern England and Wales from a healthy Scottish population supplemented by a relocation programme at Rutland Water and Poole Harbour. As a result the number of sightings of migrant Ospreys, returning from wintering grounds in West Africa has increased and can almost be predicted.

1. They return to their northern breeding territories in early April so sunny days at the start of the month are key dates for finding your own local Osprey.

2. Birds can arrive at any point over our coastline and usually the local gulls give them a noisy escort out of their airspace, drawing attention to their presence over our urban gardens. 

3. Once they hit land they tend to head north along rivers and waterways with birds regularly reported heading towards the Arun and Adur rather than up Findon Valley or the over Downs. 

Remarkably upto five birds were recorded between 4th and 14th April with three birds flying north or west over the same East Preston garden! 

• Osprey 1 - Saturday 4th April circa 12:20 heading north.
• Osprey 2 - Monday 6th April circa 15:00 heading west.
• Osprey 3 - Tuesday 14 April circa 13:00 heading north

A fourth bird was photographed carrying a fish over a lucky observer’s garden north of West Worthing station at about 12:00 on  Monday 6th April and another possible was seen heading low towards town from East Worthing about 10:30 on Wednesday 8th April accompanied by gulls.

Additionally just outside our area another two Ospreys were recorded flying north over a birder’s garden in Littlehampton on Saturday 4th April and Sunday 5th April.