7th November 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: Adult Yellow-legged Gull opposite Shoreham Airport at low tide this morning. Richard Fairbank via SOS

BROOKLANDS: An excellent morning for diurnal passage produced 2545 Goldfinches (!), five CROSSBILLS, 20 Siskins, 23 redpoll, a Brambling, six Chaffinches, five Meadow Pipits, 10 Linnets, two Skylarks and five House Martins up until 09:45. All birds were passing over the south end of Brooklands heading east following the coastline. 

The bushes held two Goldcrests, three Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker. The lake held two GADWALL, 17 Mallards, two Great Black-backed Gulls, five Mute Swans, 12 Teal and a Little Grebe. A Water Rail was heard from the reeds whilst also hiding away was two Cetti's Warblers and more obliging was a  Stonechat perched near the southern end of the lake. Over the golf course was two Sparrowhawks and two Kestrels and a Song Thrush headed east over the old refuse tip. Gareth and Paul James

It was a busy morning at Brooklands Park, mostly with birds flying over. Goldfinches, in particular, were on the move. I missed the big numbers as the larger flocks were hugging the coastline, as I realised when I eventually made it to that side of the park! But I did notch up over 800. Other vismig highlights for me included two CROSSBILLS, three Grey Wagtails, 25 redpolls, 50 Siskins, five Skylarks, a Reed Bunting, 11 Linnets, 18 Chaffinches, 21 Meadow Pipits and 12 Pied/White Wagtails. A pair of GADWALL on the lake was a pleasant surprise. At least one Kingfisher was hurtling around and three Cetti's Warblers were in voice. Also on the lake were two Little Grebes, nine Teal and five Mute Swans (the female with her four surviving cygnets). Two Coal Tits, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also noted. A Firecrest was waiting by my car when I was getting ready to leave. David Campbell

Cissbury Ring: Ring Ouzel. Shane Burtenshaw

DURRINGTON REC: At least five Lesser Redpolls with mobile Goldfinch flock in gardens. Nick Oliver Early afternoon three Red Kites drifted over. A Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and a Grey Wagtail were also noted here  Nick Bond

EAST PRESTON: Two Lesser Redpolls on feeder in garden. George Kinnard

SOMPTING: Brambling briefly on feeder in garden. Mike and Karen Galtry

STEEPDOWN: A circular walk around Steepdown produced two Buzzards, c80 Corn Buntings, two Kestrels, 40+ Skylarks, four Goldcrests, five Meadow Pipits, three Stonechats, five Linnets, two Reed Buntings and a Brimstone was on the wing. Gareth and Paul James

UPPER BEEDING: Two redhead Goosanders passed south along the River Adur opposite St Peter's Church this afternoon. Also Barn Owl and Kingfisher. Bridget and Gareth James

WIDEWATER LAGOON: A close Guillemot flew east. Richard Fairbank via SOS. In the afternoon on the lagoon was a Little Grebe, a Turnstone, two Redshank and a Little Egret. Also flock of 15 Brent Geese flew west offshore at 15:04. Alan Kitson via SOS

6th November 2020

ADUR ESTUARY: A tour by bike around the lower Adur this morning brought multiple sightings of Kingfisher, thought to include at least two birds. One hovered repeatedly before diving to catch a small prey object, which it carried off to consume on the far bank. A Grey Wagtail with two Pied Wagtails at Ropetackle. Waders comprised quite numerous Redshanks, a Greenshank, a Curlew, three Grey Plovers, 16 Oystercatchers near Norfolk Bridge, some tens of Turnstones, a Ringed Plover and 62 Lapwings on the airfield. Maybe 10 Little Egrets. A Stonechat was on the fence along the eastern side of the airfield, and there were about 20 Skylarks, one or two Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel here also. A Cetti's Warbler singing near New Salts Farm. A Common Seal moved up the river on the rising tide, disappearing under water for long periods, last seen near the Toll Bridge. Steve Gilbert via SOS

CISSBURY RING: I soon located a DARTFORD WARBLER - one of the two or three birds found there yesterday - a little way south of the trig point. It was a pretty vocal and showy individual, and my first in the local area. Other highlights included three Ravens, a Reed Bunting, four Yellowhammers, a Stonechat, nine Meadow Pipits, a Redwing, two Mistle Thrushes and eight Skylarks. David Campbell. The Dartford Warbler was still present in the afternoon and a Hen Harrier flew west over the north end. Mike and Karen Galtry

 

WEST WORTHING: I started the day with a couple of hours vismigging from the garden. Four redpolls, five Siskins, 165 Goldfinches, a Linnet, five Chaffinches, a Meadow Pipit and 95 Woodpigeons flew east, while seven Pied/White Wagtails mostly flew west. A Grey Wagtail and a Common Gull flew north, while a local Peregrine headed over too. David Campbell

5th November 2020

CISSBURY RING: A DARTFORD WARBLER was seen at the South end near the flint mines. In addition to Dartford Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare, Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, Brambling, 6 Chaffinches, 14 Skylarks, 10 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Buntings. Movement of 800+ Woodpigeon early morning then fizzled out. Nick and Claire Oliver.

A pair of DARTFORD WARBLERS also seen just near the trig point, 8 Siskins, 4 Redpoll, 2 Stonechat and a Green Woodpecker. Richard Ives

THE DOWNS (off Titch Hill): 30 Corn Buntings near Steep Down, Little Owl near Lychpole Farm and two Tawny Owls towards Cissbury. Also two Reed Buntings and two Stonechats. David Campbell

GORING: Lapwing heard over Goring Street at 6.44pm. David Campbell and Ingrid Allan

GORING GAP: Beautiful sunny morning at the gap, a good fall of Pied Wagtails on the beach and the fields. A single Knot was on the beach with 14 Grey Plovers but was soon moved on by a dog. 2 Buzzards drifted over, 2 Stonechat were along the rough field fence, just 3 Mediterranean Gulls were on the fields and 10 Skylark. 3 Rooks were with the Carrion Crows and Jackdaws in the northern fields, we have had the odd flyover this autumn so was nice to see them on the deck here. As the temperature rose a few butterflies emerged, including Red Admiral, Peacock and Large White. A Common Darter dragonfly was also noted. Nick Bond

Buzzard and Rook (Nick Bond)

SALVINGTON: A Skylark over Rogate Road north east and was pleasantly surprised to witness some Blackbirds migrating first thing with 5 birds together flying east, quite high up and calling continuously, another did the same but flew south west. A Grey Wagtail was also around. Nick Bond

SOMPTING: Two male Black Redstarts on rooftops at Cokeham Road at midday. Shemi via SOS

WORTHING: Peregrine. David Campbell

4th November 2020

ANGMERING: A male Blackcap in garden on Downs Way, Siskin over. Garry Messenbird

SALVINGTON: 5 Redwings over Rogate Road, a Redpoll, 2 Jay's and several Chaffinch grounded. A Greater-spotted Woodpecker was calling too. Nick Bond

CISSBURY RING: As conditions were cold and it was my first session 'flying solo' at Cissbury, The first bird caught was a juvenile Woodpigeon, while setting the western nets. After getting a feel for the day after an initial round and hearing some redpolls flying over, I stuck the Lesser Redpoll tape on by the F nets. This soon produced two Lesser Redpolls, followed by another on the next round. This used to be a staple species at my initial ringing training ground of Leith Hill but I've handled very few since so I was delighted. All were adults, and two were lovely pink males. Of the 19 birds caught in total, it was nice to catch two November Blackcaps (one a retrap) and a Chiffchaff, while four Goldcrests (two retraps) were more obviously late autumn fare. Often underrated, an adult male Chaffinch was another pleasing catch. 

It was obvious that birds were seizing the chance to move after the relentless brisk southwesterlies with so much rain over the last couple of weeks. Being so clear, I was mainly hearing calls without being able to count flocks, and obviously I was ringing, but a couple each of Brambling, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer flew over, along with a single Golden Plover, a small flock of Crossbills and a trickle of redpolls, Siskins, Chaffinches, Skylarks, Pied/White Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Linnets. A male and a female Peregrine tussled directly overhead, the male at least giving that fantastic gull-like chatter. Later, one of them was in pursuit of a flock of Woodpigeons, another species that was moving in good numbers today. Two Ravens came and went throughout the morning and towards the end there were singles of Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel. David Campbell

3rd November 2020

ANGMERING: A Redpoll, 2 Skylark and 2 Mediterranean Gulls over Downs Way. Garry Messenbird

BROOKLANDS PARK: 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail and 6 Teal. Richard Ives

THE DOWNS:  A walk near Steep Down at the end of the day was rewarded with a juvenile HEN HARRIER quartering the fields near Annington Barn. There were also a few Corn Buntings preparing to roost. David Campbell

GORING GAP: 15 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Swallows west. Garry Messenbird

SALVINGTON: A Black Redstart was on Copthorne Hill this morning. Mike Booker

WORTHING TOWN: A Grey Wagtail flew over Chapel Road. Nick Bond

2nd November 2020

GORING GAP: A male MERLIN flew west along the coast before heading inland, 510 Mediterranean Gulls on the fields before majority moved off west and 2 Rock Pipits on the beach. Garry Messenbird

WORTHING: 1 Red-breasted Merganser on the sea and 3 Mediterranean Gulls west. Richard Ives

1st November 2020

BROOKLANDS PARK: Standing by the lake at Brooklands, Lancing this morning wondering what the hell I was doing as the wind and driving rain battered against me, a loud call from the tree behind me alerted me to a ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET which soon flew east calling all the way. I know not everyone’s cup of tea but brightened up a miserable morning. Shane Burtenshaw via SOS

CISSBURY RING: A rare break in the rain had me ascending the eastern flanks of Cissbury which held two Mistle Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, and 6 Bullfinches. A male Ring Ouzel was at Nepcote. Richard Ives