I was joined by Ian Jones for a patrol of the patch, starting with the Gap. Things started well with a
Redstart by the blocked road, followed by an eastbound and very vocal
Golden Plover. However, the real highlight came with a
Nuthatch at Ilex Avenue - a mega patch bird and a tick for me! 10
Yellow Wagtails flew over and a
Wheatear was in the fields, along with six
Skylarks. Four
Whitethroats were in the bushes while further fly-throughs included three
Sand Martins and 45
Swallows. 33
Little Egrets flew along the shore, seven
Sandwich Terns were milling around and waders included 10
Oystercatchers, 64
Ringed Plovers and 56
Turnstones. A glance offshore revealed just a single
Gannet. Two
Mediterranean Gulls, a
Lesser Black-backed Gull and five
Common Gulls were noted. A
Kestrel was a notable bird for the Gap and a
Sparrowhawk flew over. The
Treecreeper was in the Plantation; a
Jackdaw and three
Coal Tits were logged.
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| Nuthatch along Ilex Avenue |
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| Oystercatchers on the beach at Goring Gap |
Extending the walk to Ferring Rife, we added four
Wheatears, 36
Linnets, a grounded
Grey Wagtail, six
Buzzards, 12
Moorhens, another
Lesser Black-backed Gull, a
Sand Martin, 22
Swallows, four
Jackdaws and a
Kestrel of note. A Painted Lady was along the beach.
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| juvenile Buzzard over Ferring Rife |
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| male Wheatear at Ferring Rife |
