Friday 1 February 2019

Goring Gap and Ferring Rife

Off Goring Gap this morning were six Dark-bellied Brent Geese, five Red-throated Divers, 21 Red-breasted Mergansers, 27 Great Crested Grebes, a Kittiwake, 114 Gannets and 80 Razorbills/Guillemots. On the beach at Goring Gap was a Redshank and 27 Grey Plovers, along with a few Dunlin, Sanderling and Turnstone. 17 Ringed Plovers were in the roost field, along with an adult Mediterranean Gull, 45 Common Gulls (just one 2CY) and 20 Skylarks. The female Stonechat was in the rough patch.

Grey Plovers and Dunlin on a snowy beach at Goring Gap

Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls at Goring Gap

Skylark at Goring Gap

I teamed up with Gareth for a walk along Ferring Rife, where we clocked nine Golden Plovers and 35 Lapwings apparently freshly arrived, looking for somewhere to pitch down. Also noted was a Snipe, three Chiffchaffs, two Reed Buntings, five Meadow Pipits, a male Stonechat, eight Moorhens, a Buzzard, a Grey Heron and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers.


Lapwings over Ferring Rife

Golden Plovers over Ferring Rife

Grey Heron at Ferring Rife