27th February 2018

FERRING RIFE: Highlights included a Kingfisher. a Water Rail and a Redwing, along with the wintering Buzzard and male Stonechat. Other birders reported eight Snipe. GJ/DKC

GORING GAP: A Great Northern Diver on the sea was the clear highlight offshore. The sea also produced four Teal, three Red-throated Divers, six Gannets, and an influx of 28 Great Crested Grebes, these perhaps pushed off inland water bodies by the ice. Also clearly affected by the conditions were Lapwings, with 30 birds seen during the day, all but one of which were seen to arrive directly off the sea, no doubt escaping inhospitable feeding grounds on the continent. A Curlew moving purposefully and distantly east might have had similiar story.

The weather had a noticeable effect on passerines, resulting in an arrival at the Gap involving two Chiffchaffs, 20 Meadow Pipits, 16 Fieldfares, eight Redwings and a new female Stonechat (the wintering male was also present). Some of the nine Skylarks noted were probably also fresh in.

Other sightings included two adult Mediterranean Gulls and 32 Grey Plovers. DKC/GJ

Chiffchaff (DKC)

Skylark (DKC)

new female Stonechat (DKC)

Lapwings (DKC)

Lapwings (DKC)

WORTHING: An adult male Black Redstart was seen in the Worthing Hospital car park early afternoon. GT

26th February 2018

GORING GAP: A flock of 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying east may have signified the start of spring passage for this species. Other birds offshore during a short vigil included five Red-throated Divers, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, five Kittiwakes and 11 Gannets. Among the daily waders were 31 Grey Plovers. DKC

Dark-bellied Brent Geese (DKC)

25th February 2018

A Red Kite flew over the A27 between Patching and Worthing at 17.25pm GJ

19th February 2018

BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: 

A walk around the northern end near the sewage works produced a few Robin, 1 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and 3 Blackbird in the bushes and 2 Moorhen and a Wren in the ditch.

Later, a walk around the lake produced a Water Rail, 8 Coot, 16 Moorhen,19 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 5 Mallard and also 2 Mute Swan underneath the railway bridge near the cafe. The gulls out in the middle consisted of 68 Black-headed Gulls, 42 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. GJ

FERRING RIFE:  
A female Stonechat, 19 Redwings, eight Moorhens, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Little Egret were noted. DKC

GORING GAP:
Highlights included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Redshank, 63 Grey Plovers, 10 Sanderlings, 20 Ringed Plovers, 225 Dunlin, four Skylarks, a Moorhen, five Redwings, two Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The two Greens provided a couple of entertaining minutes of observation as they engaged in a tense territorial face-off.  DKC

WORTHING:

A Grey Wagtail flew over the seafront. DKC

17th February 2018

GORING: A seawatch early morning was soon aborted when it became clear that nothing other than singles of Gannet and Fulmar was moving in the hazy conditions. 13 Red-breasted Mergansers and five Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. Later, eight Mediterranean Gulls were in the roost field and a Moorhen was feeding in the field with the copse. The high tide wader roost really didn't materialse for some reason. DKC

14th February 2018

Goring: Another 2-hour seawatch off first thing produced a Red-necked Grebe which passed east then back west, as well as a Common Scoter, 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, five Red-throated Divers, two Great Crested Grebes, two Gannets and two Kittiwakes. Six Mediterranean Gulls, a 2CY and five adults, were on the green. DKC

13th February 2018

Goring: A 2-hour seawatch produced a Great Northern Diver, five Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers, 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Curlew, seven Fulmars and a Guillemot. The high tide field contained 59 Grey Plovers, 20 Dunlin, eight Ringed Plovers, 12 Sanderlings and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Two Redshanks were on the verge by the beach and three adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the green. DKC