New Year - The latest sightings is back!
30th - 22 Mediterranean Gulls on the fields at Goring Gap is a sign perhaps of birds starting to move through, 32 Pintail were also observed flying west offshore
29th - A Firecrest was with 2 Goldcrests and a Blackcap on Romany Road, a dozen Redwing were still in the area too.
28th - 66 Red-throated Divers were recorded moving east off Ferring beach (C.Hope) whilst a Fulmar and a c25 Great-crested Grebes were the highlights off from Marine Gardens (J.Newnham). A Black Redstart was a nice find in the caravan park just west of Widewater (M.Galtry), the female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands(K.Galtry)
27th - Good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares around No Man's Land (M.Galtry),
26th- Female Goldeneye still at Brooklands Park, with 5 Teal, Water Rail and singing Cetti's Warbler here (R.Simpson) 2 Egyptian Geese were still at Patching Pond
25th - The female Goldeneye again at Brooklands Park the only highlight reported today
24th - A Rose-Ringed Parakeet was heard over St.Lawrences Avenue (feels strange calling them as such after many years being known as Ring-necked!), at Brooklands Park the female Goldeneye remains, with Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff still around, whilst upto 23 Mute Swan were at Widewater with a few Redshanks, a pair of Stonechats and Little Grebe here.
23rd - 15 Mediterranean Gulls were on the roost fields at Goring Gap mid-morning along with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 9 Dunlin were around and 26 Oystercatchers on the beach here
22nd - 2 Egyptian Geese were at Patching Pond (R.Simpson), good number of Redwing were feasting on the Cotton-easter berries on Romany Toad/Faraday Close junction. At least 87 Lapwing were on the fields west of Sompting Church.
21st - Only news reported today was that of the female Goldeneye at Brooklands Park.
20th - A Merlin was seen early doors flying south over Adur Avenue (M.Galtry) and c30 Lapwings were still in the fields west of Sompting Church (T.Sadler), the female Goldeneye remains at Brooklands Park.
19th - 1 Slavonian Grebe was still off Worthing pier (C.Jupp) and Lapwings were still present in the field west of Sompting Church (M.Galtry)
18th - 2 Slavonian Grebes were spotted on the sea from Worthing Pier with a Great-crested Grebe driving westward (C.Jupp)
17th - Some belated sea-watching news 3 Velvet Scoter E, 1 Brent Goose W, 35 Great-crested Grebes, 40 Razorbills, 125 auks, 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Marine Gardens (R.Ives)
16th - Worthing Hospital's wintering Black Redstart still present in the Friend's Cafe courtyard. (First seen early December) (T. Sandler), 30 Lapwing on downs north of Cissbury along track to Chanctonbury this afternoon (N.Oliver) and the female Goldeneye reported again at Brooklands Park
15th - Lapwings featured today with small cold weather movement, with c25 seen in the sheep fields between Sompting Church and Lanbleys Lane (M.Galtry), with another 8 just east of Stump bottom (N.Bond). At Goring Gap 47 Great Crested Grebes, 31 Red-breasted Mergansers , c30 Dunlins, c15 Sanderlings, 3 Ringed Plovers, 8 Grey Plovers, 52 Oystercatchers were logged (R.Simpson)
14th - A Great-northern Diver was seen on the sea off Worthing pier at lunchtime (C.Jupp), otherwise it was similar news to that of the last few days with good numbers of birds offshore. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Goring Gap (R.Allan) and the female Goldeneye remains.
13th - A similar story to what was reported yesterday, with the Goldeneye still present at Brooklands and plenty of activity still for the sea-watchers..Good numbers of Gannets are also being seen off our shores. 40 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plovers were at Goring Gap
12th - The female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands Park favouring the southern end, other highlights here included 8 Teal and a Chiffchaff. The sea had plenty of coverage and a large westward passage of auks mainly Razorbills were noted aswell as Red-throated Divers. There was also good numbers of Great-crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers logged on the sea.
11th - Another cold bright day resulted in a few more reports today, the popular female Goldeneye remained at Brooklands Park on the south eastern end of the lake. At Goring Gap 13 Dunlin, 5 Mediterranean Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the fields whilst on the sea 25 Great-crested Grebes, 5 lRed-throated Divers and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were noted (N.Bond/Richard @hallybirder on twitter). Similar numbers were seen from Marine Gardens with the exception of a Great-northern Diver east. A couple of Little Grebes, a Kingfisher and a Snipe were at Ferring Rife (C.Hope)
10th - The female Goldeneye was still at Brooklands Park which attracted a few visitors, some stats here kindly forwarded by J.Newnham (This the first Goldeneye on Brooklands since a male on 19/10/2004. Up to four (Jan-Feb 1968) recorded in 12 years between 1963-2004). Elsewhere 4 Ringed Plovers were with 14 Dunlin at Goring Gap
9th - The first proper cold snap of the winter grounded 5 Lapwing at Goring Gap with a few Mediterranean Gulls still around and 4 Skylark and 2 Stonechat present (N.Bond/C.Hope). The local highlight was reported on the SOS sightings page with news that there was a female Goldeneye present on the Brooklands Park lake, a very good record for the site!
8th - Ferring rife was quiet with just a Chiffchaff and a Snipe of note (B.Forbes), whilst at Goring Gap held 14 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls on the roost field (N.Bond). A sea-watch by J.Newnham at Marine Gardens from 9.30 - 10.30am produced over 30 Great-crested Grebes offshore which was his largest count this winter, whilst movement included Red-throated Diver 1W, 35E, Cormorant 1E, Shelduck 5W, Common Scoter 1E, Red-breasted Merganser 2W, 4E, Black-headed Gull 5E, Auk sp 20W, 1E
7th - A sea-watch off Ferring from 8.15 - 9.15am produced Red-throated Diver 33E, 4W, Great-crested Grebe 8 on the sea, 4E, Common Scoter 5E (C.Hope)
4th - 11 Dunlin, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls were at Goring Gap (N.Bond)
3rd - 15 Chiffchaffs were at Patching treatment works whilst Goring Gap hosted 40 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (R.Ives)
2nd - 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls were at Goring Gap (N.Bond)
1st - On the beach opposite Brooklands Park hosted 155 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone and 15 Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers flew west as did a single Mediterranean Gull. A Chiffchaff, 3 Teal and 2 Cetti's Warblers were of note in the park (N.Bond) A Firecrest was seen in Broadwater Cemetery and a Little Gull was seen moving west offshore of Ferring block (C.Jupp)
Brooklands Beach - Turnstone and roosting Dunlin (N.Bond)
