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