The Downs
Aside from the much anticipated early migrants, two summer plumaged Golden Plover which briefly dropped into fields along Lambleys Lane, Sompting (8th March) and a smart Black Redstart on Cissbury (18th-19th March) were the pick of the month’s sightings.
A decent flock of 130 Corn Buntings and c40 Skylarks around Steep Down on 28th March were also noteworthy.
Angmering
The flood around Angmering continued to attract good numbers of wildfowl and if the muddy fringes remain through April it may attract a few migrant waders. This habitat is extremely scarce within the Worthing area so the Little Ringed Plovers (3) which dropped onto the flooded fields would have been much appreciated if their stay wasn’t all to brief (13/3). Fortunately another bird was found on 23rd which was still present the following day allowing Angmering birders the chance to catch up with this local scarce migrant wader.
The floods also held upto 100 Teal, with 55 still present on 21st along with Wigeon (15), Gadwall (6), Shoveler (6) and Lapwing (2) and six Little Egrets.
Seawatching
2nd - Brougham Rd: a reasonable passage of wildfowl between 07:00-09:40 with Red-throated Diver (9e), Great Northern Diver (1e), Pintail (187e), including a single flock of 120 birds, Common Scoter (23e), Shoveler (36e), Teal (5e), Shelduck (6w) and Brent Goose (5e).
4th - Highlight of a quiet watch from Marine Gardens were a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphins (4w) but otherwise only Sandwich Terns (3), Red-breasted Merganser (1), Great Crested Grebe (3) and Red-throated Divers (3) were noted.
18th - Two Garganey were tracked heading east past Goring Gap and Brougham Road. Whilst other birds noted past Ferring and Goring (0615-0915), included Curlew (1e), Sandwich Tern (3e), Brent Goose (89e, 1w), Shelduck (5e), Teal (4e), Shoveler (16e) and Common Scoter (17e). Waders on the beach included Oystercatchers (17), Sanderlings (11) and Turnstones (35).
23rd - in calm conditions a count of Red-breasted Merganser (12) on the sea off Goring Gap.
29th - Very quiet off Marine Gardens with Red-throated Diver (7e), Gannet (15os), Sandwich Tern (7w), Curlew (1w) and Mediterranean Gull (10w).
31st - the best record of the month was Black-necked Grebe, found by Richard Phillips, which was tracked drifting west from Widewater to Lancing, but unfortunately there was no further sign after late morning.
