Goring Gap
A Osprey was seen coming off the sea heading north at 10.55am GM
I arrived at Goring Gap a few minutes after the Osprey which was extremely frustrating. There was little visible migration in the very cool conditions. However, I did log one Great Northern Diver, 1 Red throated Diver, 4 Gannets and a few Great Crested Grebes and Red breasted Mergansers.
Just as I was leaving I noticed a squabble with a Herring Gull and another bird. I got out of the car and focused on the bird to realise it was a migrating female Marsh Harrier! It passed overhead and did not sway from its due north migration route. It continued towards the downs until it disappeared from view. It was some compensation for missing the Osprey! RI
Nice to see a Red Kite over an urban area of Worthing. Seen squabbling with a carrion crow over the David Lloyd building at 13:00 PT
30th March 2018
GEORGE V AVENUE: Promising conditions came good this morning! A pair of Red-necked Grebes was on the sea before drifting east, only to be replaced by a pair of Black-necked Grebes then in turn a singleton! A Great Northern Diver crashed onto the sea and dived but couldn't be picked up again. Distantly towards the turbines, an immature Iceland Gull was feeding and was presumably the 2CY that has been visiting the Gap recently. A group of six Eiders went east, only to be followed by another group of seven which pitched down offshore for a while. Four Common Terns - the first of the year in the area - flew by, along with 25 Sandwich Terns. A 4CY Yellow-legged Gull flew in off the sea and over town. Common Scoters totalled 157 and two Shovelers went west but only one flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese (18) went through. Thanks to a curious dog-walker, we were put onto a male Wheatear which had arrived on the beach. 15 Black-headed Gulls were in migration flight eastward. 30 Great Crested Grebes and 16 Red-breasted Mergansers were also noted, along with 24 Red-throated Divers, 37 Gannets and two Ringed Plovers; Grey Plover calls were heard. DKC/GDM/GJ/NB
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| Red-necked Grebes |
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| Black-necked Grebes |
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| 4CY Yellow-legged Gull |
29th March 2018
Goring Gap
The regular Iceland Gull dropped into the roost again at mid-day and a visiting birder noted that a 3rd cy bird had been present earlier before heading west (quite possibly the same bird that was seen earlier in Shoreham)
Other than that not alot, 16 Red-throated Diver, 20 BrentGeese , 10 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar moved offshore a few Meadow Pipits north. GM
A half-hour seawatch from George V Avenue first thing in the morning produced 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Common Scoters, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Red-throated Divers, four Gannets, two Great Crested Grebes and four Sandwich Terns DKC
The regular Iceland Gull dropped into the roost again at mid-day and a visiting birder noted that a 3rd cy bird had been present earlier before heading west (quite possibly the same bird that was seen earlier in Shoreham)
Other than that not alot, 16 Red-throated Diver, 20 BrentGeese , 10 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar moved offshore a few Meadow Pipits north. GM
A half-hour seawatch from George V Avenue first thing in the morning produced 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Common Scoters, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Red-throated Divers, four Gannets, two Great Crested Grebes and four Sandwich Terns DKC
28th March 2018
GORING GAP
A brief call in at the Gap this morning to check the gulls drew a complete blank. Just as I was leaving 2 Mute Swans flew directly over the gap. GJ
Using Animal track, I have received data on some of the colour-ringed Sanderlings I recorded on the morning of the 26th. 3 are Farlington captured/ringed birds and a couple of Dutch ringed birds, our records being the first time they have been recorded in the UK according to the data below. Apologies for the quality of the screen shots but hopefully will be of interest to someone! NB
A brief call in at the Gap this morning to check the gulls drew a complete blank. Just as I was leaving 2 Mute Swans flew directly over the gap. GJ
Using Animal track, I have received data on some of the colour-ringed Sanderlings I recorded on the morning of the 26th. 3 are Farlington captured/ringed birds and a couple of Dutch ringed birds, our records being the first time they have been recorded in the UK according to the data below. Apologies for the quality of the screen shots but hopefully will be of interest to someone! NB
27th March 2018
Goring Gap
A damp morning with a gloomy outlook at the gap with poor visibility at sea meant most effort was spent on the land this morning. Upto 3 Firecrest's performed well by the pumping station including a cracking male bird. A Blackcap was singing and a Chiff-chaff was also feeding up in the area. Meadow Pipits were arriving in off and Skylarks were pairing up with at least 4 pairs seen. 2 Stock Doves, 7 Brent Geese east and 5 Mediterranean Gulls included 3 adults and 2 1st winters.
The early morning gull roost included 5 Greater black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser black-backed Gulls, the birds soon departed west and only record shots in the gloom were obtained but was certainly an interesting individual NB/GM
The Iceland Gull arrived again into the fields just before mid-day and was still around mid-afternoon GM/GJ/NB/DM/BFF
A damp morning with a gloomy outlook at the gap with poor visibility at sea meant most effort was spent on the land this morning. Upto 3 Firecrest's performed well by the pumping station including a cracking male bird. A Blackcap was singing and a Chiff-chaff was also feeding up in the area. Meadow Pipits were arriving in off and Skylarks were pairing up with at least 4 pairs seen. 2 Stock Doves, 7 Brent Geese east and 5 Mediterranean Gulls included 3 adults and 2 1st winters.
The early morning gull roost included 5 Greater black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser black-backed Gulls, the birds soon departed west and only record shots in the gloom were obtained but was certainly an interesting individual NB/GM
The Iceland Gull arrived again into the fields just before mid-day and was still around mid-afternoon GM/GJ/NB/DM/BFF
Firecrest - NB
Iceland Gull - 'coming for me' - NB
Iceland Gull - in northern fields - BFF
Lesser black-backed Gull - NB - this bird is thought to be a 'intermedius' bird
25th & 26th March 2018
Goring Gap
Late news for the 25th - four Canada Geese were briefly on the sea at the Gap at 0830 but flew off out to sea heading east. About 20 mins later they returned flying NW over the Gap! A smart male Wheatear was on the fence at the 'rough' field - CH
The Iceland Gull was seen again today at the gap, found in the roadside fields in the afternoon. GM/LH/MH
A check throughout the morning produced very little in terms of passage on the sea but 62 Great-crested Grebes and 32 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted on the sea, whilst 143 Sanderling gathered on the beach (7 birds had coloured rings/flag combinations) which were all recorded and 21 Turnstone and just a single Ringed Plover remained. Local quality arrived in the form of 3 Ravens which flew east over the beach, the fine weather brought out the plane/drone flyers en-masse so the roosts yet again never got going on the fields. NB
The warm spring sunshine was enjoyed by the raptors with 3 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite over the Salvington area and Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admirals were on the wing
Late news for the 25th - four Canada Geese were briefly on the sea at the Gap at 0830 but flew off out to sea heading east. About 20 mins later they returned flying NW over the Gap! A smart male Wheatear was on the fence at the 'rough' field - CH
The Iceland Gull was seen again today at the gap, found in the roadside fields in the afternoon. GM/LH/MH
A check throughout the morning produced very little in terms of passage on the sea but 62 Great-crested Grebes and 32 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted on the sea, whilst 143 Sanderling gathered on the beach (7 birds had coloured rings/flag combinations) which were all recorded and 21 Turnstone and just a single Ringed Plover remained. Local quality arrived in the form of 3 Ravens which flew east over the beach, the fine weather brought out the plane/drone flyers en-masse so the roosts yet again never got going on the fields. NB
The warm spring sunshine was enjoyed by the raptors with 3 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite over the Salvington area and Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admirals were on the wing
Ringed Plover and Sanderling at Goring Gap - (photos NB)
CISSBURY RING
An early morning walk around Cissbury Ring produced 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 1 Sparrowhawk. The arable fields held 1 adult Mediterranean Gull in with a mixed flock of Common and Black-headed Gulls. Also 2 Yellowhammers were seen as well as a Chiffchaff heard singing. 2 Brimstones were also on the wing and a lovely close view of a Hare. BDJ
24th March 2018
Goring Gap
The Iceland Gull was present again in the fields at Goring Gap (various sources)
There was little obvious movement this morning but a good variety of birds were resting on the sea for varying lengths of time, including 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Red-throated Divers, 6 Common Scoters, 9 Shovelers, 2 Wigeon, 16+ Great Crested Grebes and 15+ Red-Breasted Mergansers. 4 Pintail, 2 Wigeon, 6 Shelducks, 2 Curlews and a Black-tailed Godwit (my first here) flew east. 2 Sandwichn Terns, 1 Curlew and 2 Mute Swans flew west. Wader numbers appear to have reduced now although the usual species were present.
Keeping with the duck theme, a drake Mandarin touched down very briefly at Patching Pond before flying off again. Tufted Duck numbers have reduced to 2 from a high of 9 a week or so ago. RS
Along the Greensward from Ferring to Kingston and at 1215 a massive flock of some 600 Brent Geese passed east followed a little later by another 130. I gather they were later seen passing Seaford. Also a Wheatear on the beach there CH
Along the Greensward from Ferring to Kingston and at 1215 a massive flock of some 600 Brent Geese passed east followed a little later by another 130. I gather they were later seen passing Seaford. Also a Wheatear on the beach there CH
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