Autumn Seawatching
Autumn seawatching on the Sussex coast is hard work and despite the south westerly gales pushing 500+Balearic Shearwaters and several Grey Phalaropes and Sabines Gulls into Sussex waters, these eagerly awaited goodies failed to materialise in-front of our brave sea watchers.
1st - 3rd September
A Little Gull was seen heading west past Widewater on the 1st, ahead of the gales which hit our coast on the 3rd September. 50 mph south westerly winds raised hopes for a few fool hardy observers, positioned along the seafront at Marine Gardens, Brougham Road and Widewater, and although heavy squalls and poor visibility hampered things, 100+ Gannets heading west close in were impressive.
The combined observations added Fulmar (2w) , Common Tern (2w) and a juvenile Kittiwake (1w) and a frustratingly brief Storm Petrel sp. past Brougham Rd.
13th - 17th September
Another strong south westerly blow battered our coast over the 14th-15th September, which pushed record numbers of Balearic Shearwaters into Sussex waters. Once again our intrepid sea watchers sought refuge behind various beach huts and shelters as the wind gusted to over 50mph.
On Saturday 13th despite the reports of over 100 Balearics west past Selsey only Gannets (6w) and a Shag were seen off Worthing beach this morning.
Another sea watch on Sunday 14th from Marine Gardens between 1350-1530 only produced Gannets (20+), Common Scoter (3e), Sandwich Tern (c10e) , Commic Terns (c15e) whilst Ringed Plover (5e) flew along shoreline and Razorbill (3) landed on the sea.
The gale peaked on Monday 15th resulting in a steady flow of Gannet and frustrating records of two distant shearwater sp. off Marine Gardens and a probable Balearic Shearwater west past Goring Beach along with two Arctic Skuas.
A vigil from Brougham Road on Wednesday 17th after the winds had subsided recorded Gannet (165w) of which 70 were all dark juveniles, Sandwich Tern (4w) and Common Scoter (19w).
