Friday 12 January 2018

Goring/Ferring

Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes increased slightly this morning, with 32 and 14 noted respectively. Otherwise, there was little action at sea other than five Red-throated Divers (including three settled quite close in), a Razorbill and a flock of 21 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Waders included 50 Grey Plovers, 26 Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 90 Sanderlings, 180 Dunlin, 81 Turnstones and 64 Oystercatchers. 12 Mediterranean Gulls (10 adults and two second-winters) were in the fields. A Kestrel was my first for Goring Gap, all three wintering Stonechats remained and other sightings included a Skylark, a Fieldfare, 11 Redwings, 25 Pied Wagtails, two Green Woodpeckers and 20 Greenfinches.

Ferring Rife added a Buzzard (patch tick), two more Stonechats, 10 Meadow Pipits, a Skylark, a Little Egret, two Grey Herons, three Moorhens, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Grey Wagtails - one, I reckon an adult female, was bearing a BTO ring but despite trying to photograph it from many angles I don't think I got the full code, though there are definitely two '4's! I do wonder where it was ringed...

adult female Grey Wagtail with BTO ring
Red-throated Divers
2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull
Kestrel