July 27th 2018

GORING GAP: A productive morning started with an unseen Green Sandpiper calling over my vismig point. A mooch around the bushes felt autumnal, with a Cuckoo, a Garden Warbler and four Willow Warblers. A family of five Whitethroats was nearby. Good counts on the beach included 129 Mediterranean Gulls and 19 Little Egrets, while three Dunlin, three Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover and two Common Gulls were also present. The sea itself only offered singles of Gannet and Sandwich Tern. A Sand Martin, eight Swallows, a Pied Wagtail and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were among the other birds logged. DKC

Willow Warbler DKC

A Humming-bird Hawk moth was seen in a garden near Broadwater green NB

July 26th 2018

GORING GAP: Lately some mornings have offered plenty of Mediterranean Gulls and other days the species have been in curiously short supply. This was a good morning, with 58 birds noted during my visit, including some active movers, mainly in a westerly direction (where some Black-headed Gulls were heading too). Two Willow Warblers were in the bushes and a Grey Wagtail flew west; a Pied Wagtail also flew over. Swifts and hirundines trickled through in small numbers, with 18 Swifts, five Sand Martins and 21 Swallows migrating across the fields. Singles adults of Lesser Black-backed and Common Gull were seen, and the beach held a Whimbrel, a Redshank, seven Oystercatchers and 11 Little Egrets. DKC

At home in WEST WORTHING, 12 Mediterranean Gulls flew over in the evening - just my second record here and possibly birds coming inland for flying ants? Also five Swifts still, and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were relatively unusual visitors. DKC

Willow Warbler - autumn is here! DKC

July 25th 2018

GORING GAP: The first Common Sandpiper of the autumn called as it flew west along the beach early this morning and a Willow Warbler, also a season-first, called in the Plantation behind me. A walk around later revealed another in the northwest corner. A Yellow Wagtail called overhead. 21 Mediterranean Gulls included 11 westbound movers and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was mobbing a Grey Heron. 12 Little Egrets were on the beach, and five Gannets and a Sandwich Tern flew past. Additional waders comprised my first four Turnstones of the autumn, two Redshanks, four Oystercatchers, a Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. A Swallow flew east, followed by a nice fast-moving flock of eight Sand Martins which skipped over the Plantation at the end of the visit. DKC

26 Swifts were over my West Worthing garden mid-afternoon (33 late yesterday). DKC

July 23rd 2018

GORING GAP: Today's highlight was a fine male Stonechat which flew behind me and briefly alighted at the seaward end of the Plantation. A flock of nine Shelducks flying west was also noteworthy, and three Common Scoters flew past. Also offshore were seven Gannets, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, eight Sandwich Terns and five Mediterranean Gulls. Four Little Egrets were on the beach and a juvenile Green Woodpecker was noted. I logged five Swallows and two Swifts west. DKC/GJ

male Stonechat DKC

WEST WORTHING: 22 Swifts were still over Boundary Road late evening. DKC

July 21st 2018

CISSBURY RING: Juveniles of Lesser Whitethroat and Treecreeper found their way into the net, and a Woodpigeon proved something bigger to get our hands on. Two Crossbills calling as they flew ESE was the best moment of the morning for me, though. In the nearby fields a Corn Bunting sang and a few Red-legged Partridges were arguing among themselves. Three Yellowhammers seen included a juvenile. A Swift, four Swallows, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Buzzards were among some of the other species noted. DKC with V.Bentley, M. Bambrick and F. Domhnall

juvenile Lesser Whitethroat DKC

juvenile Treecreeper DKC

WEST WORTHING: 30 Swifts were overhead in the evening. DKC

July 20th 2018

GORING GAP: Most of the interest this morning was provided by the gulls feeding on the greensward. Some 50 Mediterranean Gulls were around: 29 adults, 15 juveniles, four 2CYs and two 3CYs. The first juvenile Common Gull of the year was probably the highlight, and a nice juvenile Yellow-legged Gull dropped in for a short while before heading east. Good numbers of Black-headed Gulls were around - 200+. Two Whimbrel flew east along the beach then one doubled back a few minutes later and a Dunlin flying east beyond the beach was probably actively moving. A distant flock of eight Common Scoters flew west and the Gannet tally increased to 31 in the easterly breeze. Four Sandwich Terns flew east. 10 Little Egrets, a juvenile Grey Heron and two Oystercatchers were along the beach. DKC

juvenile (left) and adult Common Gulls

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

juvenile Mediterranean Gull: some nice subtle variation in these today

three adult Mediterranean Gulls (back) with adult Black-headed Gull and juvenile Mediterranean Gull (foreground)

an underdog simply for being abundant: a smart juvenile Black-headed Gull

juvenile Grey Heron

Little Egrets on their tide commute

July 18th 2018

GORING GAP: [Trektellen] This morning was quiet, although a few Mediterranean Gulls were moving (11 actively heading west and 11 milling around). Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were more notable and Common Gulls increased to three, all adults. A Grey Wagtail was heard overhead, two Pied Wagtails flew west and four Sand Martins and two Swallows tracked the beach west.  10 Little Egrets and four Oystercatchers were on the beach. five Gannets and four Sandwich Terns offshore was about as lively as seabird activity as got recently! It didn't look as though any Swifts were moving for a while but there was a mini-pulse of 13 birds west mid-watch. DKC

adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

 
The best of a short visit to FERRING RIFE late morning was limited to a Linnet, two Whitethroats and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. DKC

July 17th 2018

GORING GAP: [Trektellen]. The WNW breeze ignited something of a Swift movement this morning, rattling up a total of 425 by 08:00 but then the supply immediately ran dry. The first Yellow Wagtail of the autumn flew east with a Pied Wagtail, and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was on the beach along with 14 Mediterranean Gulls, an adult Common Gull, 10 Little Egrets and two Oystercatchers. Three Curlews west signalled something stirring within the species, especially with two of these over land. A juvenile Grey Heron flew east over the beach, a Lesser Black-backed Gull coursed east over the fields and activity offshore was limited to singles of Gannet and Sandwich Tern. DKC

July 14th 2018

GORING GAP: Trektellen. Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, four Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Sandwich Tern, two adult Mediterranean Gulls, three Oystercatchers, two Swifts. DKC

July 13th 2018

Today's highlights at GORING GAP [Trektellen] were the dramatic sight of an adult Hobby bolting in to seize a House Sparrow from the rough field, and a calling Treecreeper at the very seaward end of the Plantation which I eventually tracked down to photograph. 10 Mediterranean Gulls included two juveniles, while two Common Gulls were an adult and a 2CY. Three Teal, two Grey Herons and 13 Little Egrets were on the beach. Waders comprised three of both Whimbrel and Oystercatcher, as well as singles of Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Redshank. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls tracked east over land and just four Gannets and seven Sandwich Terns were offshore (the sea was still very dead!). Nine Swallows and three Swifts flew through. DKC

Treecreeper just inches from the shingle beach at Goring Gap! DKC

Pleasant few hours up around CISSBURY RING this afternoon, 3+ Corn Bunting singing, 3 Yellowhammer's singing, male Kestrel, Meadow Pipit singing and carrying fecal sac, Skylarks fluttering about, Red Kite over a copse and best of all (if a bit distant) were three Whinchat - 2 of which males - hopping around in a set aside strip next to the Monarch's Way just north of the ring. ED

July 12th 2018

A short watch at GORING GAP this morning: Conditions weren't great and it was soon evident that little was moving, but three season-firsts involved a Shoveler on the beach with a Teal, and a Dunlin. Other sightings included a Whimbrel, seven Little Egrets, three juvenile Grey Herons, five eastbound Swifts, three adult Mediterranean Gulls, five Oystercatchers, an adult Common Gull, two Pied Wagtails and five Sandwich Terns. DKC/M.Andersson. CH had three Gadwall fly east.

Shoveler (left) and Teal at Goring Gap DKC

WEST WORTHING: Around 40 Swifts were swirling around Boundary Road at 21:00. DKC

July 11th 2018

GORING GAP: Trektellen. The clear highlight of the morning was a Crossbill - although I somehow managed to not clap eyes on it, the bird was calling clearly as it headed west over the seaward Plantation. Most of the 29 Mediterranean Gulls - which included 10 juveniles - were actively moving, as were a few Black-headed Gulls. A Ringed Plover heard calling along the beach was my first in a while and singles of Curlew and Oystercatcher represented the rest of the waders noted. Offshore, 38 Sandwich Terns mostly moved east, as did three Common Terns. Eight Gannets flew past and three Little Egrets were along the shore. Other birds noted included a Sparrowhawk, 15 Swifts and a Pied Wagtail. DKC

migrating Mediterranean Gulls

This Poplar Hawk-moth was found in a Worthing garden in Rogate Road NB

July 10th 2018

FERRING BLOCK: A seawatch by CH 07:00-08:20 produced:
Gannet 3 E
Cormorant    6 E
Curlew One E
Sandwich Tern    4W
Med Gull one E
BH Gull 15W
Sand Martin  3  NW

July 9th 2018

GORING GAP: A Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua and a Shelduck were season-firsts at Goring Gap this morning. A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew northwest over the fields and 18 Mediterranean Gulls included seven juveniles. Some were moving purposefully, including a flock incorporating two adults and six juveniles. Two adult Common Gulls and three juvenile Pied Wagtails were seen. Other birds noted included 14 Swifts, seven Gannets, four Swallows east, two Sandwich Terns and three Oystercatchers. DKC

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at Goring Gap DKC

 

Herring Gull family at Goring Gap DKC

FERRING RIFE: Today a very short look at the sea was birdless but a stroll up the Rife as far as the footbridge, yielded ; Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, three Whitethroats, just two Swallows (on 6th there were 21 in two groups of nine and 13 feeding/being fed up near the Country Centre paddocks), 3 Little Egrets, two Grey Herons and a Sparrowhawk. CH

July 8th 2018

GORING GAP: While vismigging/seawatching at the Gap, I spotted an adult Cuckoo land in the bushes by the pumping station. After enjoying rather distant views of this patch tick in the scope for a few minutes, with the bird seeming settled I quickly cycled over there to try for some photos. When I got to the spot, the bird alighted just 15 feet in front of me, giving amazing views but too fast for the camera before it spooked and headed strongly east! A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew west and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was notable. 17 Mediterranean Gulls included some heading purposefully west/northwest (including six juveniles). Indeed, even Herring Gulls seemed to be moving, with a few small groups set for a northeast bearing.

Passerines featured more strongly, with the first Meadow Pipit and three Sand Martins of the autumn noted, along with 64 Swallows which mainly moved east along the beach. Swift movement was limited but evident, with 14 east and eight west. A Common Tern flew east offshore and other sightings included 29 Gannets, three Little Egrets, a Curlew, four Oystercatchers, two Sandwich Terns and a Pied Wagtail.

Back home in West Worthing, I counted 28 Swifts screaming and chasing in a tight bunch overhead, and there were two Herring Gull chicks on next door's roof, looking about three weeks old. DKC

FERRING BLOCK: A Red Kite - of all things! - flew east over the sea about a mile out at 08:45 and a Curlew flew west. CH

July 6th 2018

GORING GAP: Trektellen. Three Barnacle Geese heading west were the most random sighting of the morning and a tidy patch tick. Three Mediterranean Gulls, including two fine juveniles, were milling around and later on a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull - my first of the year - was floating just offshore before it flew east. Walking home along the seafront, my pulse raced slightly when I spotted four more large juvenile gulls on distant mud but they all quickly resolved to be Herring Gulls. So much for the early July grace period for YLGs... Other highlights from the morning included six Common Scoters, a/the Peregrine, two Swallows, two Pied Wagtails overhead, a 2CY Common Gull, a Gannet, five Little Egrets, an Oystercatcher, a Curlew, two Sandwich Terns, a Coal Tit, Goldcrest and three Whitethroats.

Barnacle Geese

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Little Egrets

July 5th 2018

Starting the day early at GORING GAP was a bit of a waste of time due to reasonably heavy mist but a flock of 30 Common Scoters flew past east offshore and other bits noted included a Redshank, two Sandwich Terns and three Swifts. Among the birds noted during a brief visit to FERRING RIFE was a Pheasant, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Green Woodpecker, a Swallow, two Jays, a Whitethroat and a couple of Blackcaps.

July 3rd 2018

GORING GAP: Watching from the coastal path at the Gap feels promising for autumn vismig, and I can't wait for some proper movement, but today was decent for early July with a Grey Wagtail east, along with 129 Swifts (of which four went the other way) and a Swallow. A Lapwing and a Pied Wagtail moved west. Offshore was a Razorbill, 12 Common Scoters, 28 Gannets, 15 Mediterranean Gulls and five Sandwich Terns. The beach held a Curlew, a juvenile Redshank and two Little Egrets of note. The adult Common Gull was still on the green. DKC

July 2nd 2018

GORING GAP: Trektellen. An enjoyable session this morning, getting to the Gap early to avoid the crowds. A total of 108 Swifts included 90 eastbound birds and a Swallow moved in the same direction. Among eight Mediterranean Gulls on the beach first thing was a juvenile and an adult bearing a green darvic ring; another eight moved east offshore. Also part of the gull exodus was a smart adult Common Gull. A 2CY Peregrine - probably the one that flew over my garden yesterday - passed overhead. A Bonxie plonked itself on the sea. Six Common Scoters and a Curlew moved east, while seven Little Egrets (at least one juvenile) and two Oystercatchers were on the beach. 16 Gannets and five Sandwich Terns were offshore. Later, a juvenile Red Kite drifted north over the fields and I encountered two Painted Ladies.

Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Goring Gap, including the first juvenile of the year (centre) DKC

juvenile Red Kite over Goring Gap DKC

adult Common Gull at Goring Gap DKC

July 1st 2018

GORING GAP/SEAFRONT: A short morning visit to the Gap produced the first Redshank of the autumn as it tracked west, as well as an eastbound movement of 25 Swifts and six Swallows. Two Little Egrets, three Sandwich Terns and two Oystercatchers were on the beach and one Gannet flew west. While cycling to the Gap, I heard a Pied Wagtail calling near the Sea Lane Cafe, my first on the patch for a while. DKC

Approaching home in WEST WORTHING, a Goldcrest was singing from a garden around the corner and from the patio I counted 33 Swifts as they bunched together overhead, before realising they were reacting to a Peregrine moving overhead. DKC

Peregrine over West Worthing DKC