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. Five of the 70
Black-headed Gulls were juveniles - my first fledged of the year. Later, a juvenile
Red Kite drifted north over the fields and I encountered two Painted Ladies.
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| Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Goring Gap, including the first juvenile of the year (centre) |
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| juvenile Red Kite over Goring Gap |
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| adult Common Gull at Goring Gap |
From my West Worthing garden in the afternoon I watched three juvenile
Goldfinches begging an adult for food.
