Worthing, Brooklands Park, Adur Estuary, Shoreham Harbour and Burpham

I started the New Year with a half-hour watch from the garden. A Buzzard flying east just a few minutes after sunrise was most unexpected and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared in a neighbouring garden.

 

After dithering for a while about where to go birding, I opted for Brooklands Park, which turned out to be a pretty good decision. A male Kingfisher was offering superb views along the stream and was proving popular with birders and members of the general public. A Cetti's Warbler called there, too. Crucially, the drake Pochard remained on the lake, along with eight Teal and two Little Grebes. Two pairs of Mute Swans were on the lake, along with a lone adult male and three of last year's young, so there's bound to be some conflict over the next few weeks. A female Stonechat was feeding near the boardwalk. Looking offshore was where it got interesting. It was hardly bustling with birds but after the sea being so dead for so long, it was refreshing to actually see some birds out there. A feeding Great Northern Diver made my day, while four Shovelers, 11 Wigeon, 13 Red-throated Divers, 30 Gannets and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers were also seen. 20 Dunlin flew along the beach.

   

The flowing tide at the Adur Estuary RSPB reserve produced the wintering Greenshank and Curlew, along with a good many Snipe, Redshank and Lapwing. 20 Oystercatchers, a Reed Bunting and a Grey Heron were also present. Nipping around to the Shoreham Sailing Club was rewarded with close views of the wintering Black Redstart, while round on the wooden jetty by the fort were two Purple Sandpipers, with four Turnstones on the harbour arms.

   

A late plod around Burpham and The Burgh then produced the 10 adult Bewick's Swans, two astronomically distant Cattle Egrets, a Marsh Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl, three Red Kites, a few Buzzards, 10 Grey Partridges, three Red-legged Partridges, a Raven and a Fieldfare.

 

Brooklands Park, Ashdown Forest, Adur Estuary

A visit to Brooklands Park this morning saw me notch up my 100th species within the Worthing 10km circle during Lockdown #2, the faithful drake Pochard who is back for another lonely winter on the otherwise Aythya-free zone that is the Brooklands lake. Two Chiffchaffs and eight Goldcrests were in the bushes. Two Little Grebes, five Teal and the family of Mute Swans were also present. I learned that the smallest cygnet, which I'd presumed to have perished, was actually taken into care and ended up being released in London.

I had business in Crowborough so stopped at Wren's Warren in the Ashdown Forest for a quick walk afterwards, though I had nothing of note besides 11 Lesser Redpolls.

On the way I popped in to the Adur Estuary toll bridge and was delighted to find that there is now a permanent coffee and cake stall in the parking area. I scanned through the gulls and waders - cappuccino and brownie in hand - and counted two Grey Plovers, two Oystercatchers, 105 Lapwings, 19 Dunlin, 11 Redshank, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Great Black-backed Gulls, two Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail.

Cissbury Ring and Adur Estuary

 A circuit of Cissbury Ring this morning produced two Marsh Tits and four Bullfinches (these being new for my Lockdown#2 list), as well as four Mistle Thrushes, four Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, a Raven, six redpolls, three Siskins, four Bullfinches, 10 Yellowhammers and three Reed Buntings.

 I then called in to the Adur Estuary RSPB reserve for tide. Snipe were being pushed off as the tide flowed, making a total of at least 50 birds, while the Greenshank and a Grey Plover were among 60 or so Redshanks. The single wintering Curlew put in an appearance and was another new lockdown bird for me. A flock of 70 Lapwings settled only for a short while before heading off to an alternative roost site. Two Kingfishers argued while 18 Teal were busy feeding. Singles of Rock Pipit and Grey Heron were also on the reserve.

Shoreham Harbour, Adur Estuary, Goring Gap and Worthing

Two Purple Sandpipers and 17 Turnstones were on view from Shoreham Fort just after high tide this morning. I then moved on to the Adur Estuary, where a Greenshank, nine Snipe, two Grey Plovers, 15 Teal, 25 Redshanks, a Little Egret, four Grey Herons and two Mute Swans were on the RSPB reserve. A couple of Mediterranean Gulls were the highlight of a brief subsequent visit to Goring Gap. A Coal Tit visited my feeders at home, where a Goldcrest was calling.

Worthing, Cissbury Ring and Adur Estuary

 Vismig from my garden in the first part of the morning produced two Ravens giving a cronk or two - a garden tick!, a late Swift, at least 11 Crossbills,240 Siskins, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Yellow Wagtails, 37 Meadow Pipits, 35 House Martins, a Sand Martin and six Swallows. A Chiffchaff was in the garden.

 I met with up Paul Goodman at Cissbury Ring, where highlights included a Hobby, a male Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Mistle Thrush, 17 Siskins, a Grey Wagtail, 41 House Martins, 27 Swallows and a Red Kite.

A visit to the Adur Estuary in the late afteroon produced two Kingfishers, 17 Lapwings, four Redshanks, a Grey Wagtail, eight Swallows and a Little Egret.

Adur Estuary

I probably left it a bit late with the tide for some waders - it end up being a particularly high tide - but did see a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, three Snipe, two Ringed Plovers, 10 Oystercatchers, 30 Turnstones (mostly roosting on a boat), eight Dunlin and 36 Redshanks. Non-wader interest included two Yellow Wagtails on the main rec field with 20 Pied Wagtails, two unsettled Kingfishers, five Wigeon, four Teal, 17 Siskins and four Meadow Pipits overhead, 18 Swallows, a Sparrowhawk, 11 Little Egrets and four Grey Herons.

Goring Gap and Adur Estuary

Vismig from the beach at Goring Gap recorded 105+ Siskins, 35 Yellow Wagtails, nine Grey Wagtails, seven Knot, five Sand Martins, two House Martins, 23 Swallows and 20 Meadow Pipits in just over three hours. Three adult Mute Swans just off the beach were unusual, while a Whinchat and two Wheatears moved through. Further waders included seven Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, nine Turnstones and six Dunlin. It was interesting to watch a Stock Dove drinking sea water on the beach.

The Adur Estuary at high tide produced three Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, two Greenshanks, 20 Lapwings, 28 Redshanks, a Dunlin, two Sandwich Terns, four Grey Herons and five Little Egrets.

Goring Gap and Adur Estuary

Goring Gap was dead this morning, with 48 Little Egrets on the beach, a Sandwich Tern west and not a migrant of any description during my walk.

Hearing Phil was in Sussex, I suggested we meet up on the Adur Estuary for a quick look, where we saw a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 69 Ringed Plovers, 22 Dunlin, two Redshanks, 11 Oystercatchers, 19 Great Black-backed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and five Little Egrets.

Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Brooklands Park, Pagham Harbour and Worthing

As I cycled past Widewater, four Little Egrets included three juveniles, while a pair of Mute Swans had a youngster.

Little Egret at Widewater Lagoon

The Adur Estuary was a bit of a fail as the footpath on the west side was closed. A Whimbrel, four Oystercatchers, a Sparrowhawk and three Little Egrets were the sole highlights before I bailed out to go elsewhere.

Cycling back home late morning, I saw a fair few gulls were on the lake at Brooklands so stopped, thinking surely today I'd find a juvenile Yellow-leg. Alas, no. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls was as good as it got. A Grey Heron and two Reed Warblers were around the edge of the lake.

I stopped on Worthing beach, where another Little Egret flew past.

Then it was Pagham Harbour. Busy scenes at Church Norton included one sought-after Roseate Tern - a new county bird for me - along with 40 Little Terns and over 100 Sandwich Terns but only a small handful of Common Terns. 40 or so Mediterranean Gulls included a juvenile, while waders comprised two Common Sandpipers, 85 Dunlin, four Whimbrel, a few Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher, and about 20 each of Curlew and Redshank.

adult Roseate Tern at Pagham Harbour

At the North Wall, Phil and I had a Spotted Redshank just moulting out of summer dress, as well as around 60 Black-tailed Godwits, a couple more Common Terns, seven Teal, another Whimbrel, a few Lapwings and a couple of Sedge and Reed Warblers.

Spotted Redshank at Pagham Harbour

Black-tailed Godwit at Pagham Harbour

Common Tern at Pagham Harbour

In the evening, the adult female Peregrine was back along my road in Worthing.

Beeding Hill and Adur Estuary

I set off on my bike at about 4.30am and enjoyed a slow and steady cycle along the seafront then up the River Adur to Beeding Hill. About half way, my handlebar started coming loose and required constant readjustment. Thankfully I made it to the foot of Beeding Hill so I decided to worry about seeing the Red-foot, not about the eight miles I'd be walking my bike back home. Walking up the hill, I was greeted by the sight of Matt Eade and Mark Leitch at the car park. Mark had apparently driven past me earlier and on hearing my cycling woes donated to me his allen key set and this turned out to save my day, so thanks Mark!

To my relief the 2cy male Red-footed Falcon was immediately on view when we reached the right spot and hunted continuously, hovering alongside a Kestrel and a couple of Buzzards, throughout the hour or so I stayed. A couple of times it briefly alighted on the fence line. What a bird for the local area! Aside from a few Corn Buntings, a Stonechat, a Swallow and a Yellowhammer there was little else.

2cy male Red-footed Falcon at Beeding Hill

2cy male Red-footed Falcon at Beeding Hill

Cycling back along the Adur produced five Little Egrets, a Cetti's Warbler, an Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron, four Swifts and seven Mute Swans.

Widewater Lagoon and Adur Estuary

A Little Egret and two Mute Swans were at Widewater as I cycled through. The Adur Estuary offered a 2cy Mediterranean Gull, an Oystercatcher (carrying a worm to the Ricardo buildings), two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Mute Swans, two Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Cetti's Warbler, two Reed Warblers (including a typically out-of-place June migrant), a Meadow Pipit and four Skylarks. Just beyond the A27 bridge I added 11 House Martins, a Sedge Warbler, four Swallows, another Reed Warbler, two Reed Buntings, another Grey Heron and another Little Egret.

Somehow I managed to totally balls up the logistics of the day - which involved an emergency trip to IKEA in Croydon - such that I couldn't make it to Beeding Hill for the local Red-footed Falcon.

West Worthing, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Upper Adur and Upper Beeding

The male Peregrine was vocal and showy in West Worthing early this morning.

Cycling alongside Widewater Lagoon, I saw a 2cy Mediterranean Gull and four Sandwich Terns offshore.

The Adur Estuary had a Shelduck, a Yellow Wagtail, a Whimbrel, two Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron, two Little Egrets, a Swift, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Cetti's Warbler, a Swallow, a Meadow Pipit, a Skylark and a Mistle Thrush.

drake Shelduck on the Adur Estuary

Between the A27 and Upper Beeding, I walked along the Adur and noted another Cetti's Warbler, two Red Kites, two Greylags, four Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats three Little Egrets, three Swifts, four Mute Swans, 15 Mallards, six Swallows, six Skylarks, a Bullfinch and a Reed Bunting.

Sedge Warbler at Coombes

A Cuckoo, presumably the same as my last visit, was belting out its song at Upper Beeding, where there was also a male Stonechat, a Reed Bunting, four Mute Swan, a Canada Goose, six House Martins, a Little Egret, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Kestrel and four Swifts.

On the way back past the RSPB reserve in the lower estuary, I was delighted with a flock of four Common Sandpipers eventually settling on a spot to roost during the very high tide.

Common Sandpipers on the RSPB reserve at the Adur Estuary

Two Little Egrets were on the Widewater on my return home.

Brooklands Park, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Upper Adur, Upper Beeding and West Worthing

In a quick look offshore at Brooklands I saw only a Gannet and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Around the park itself it was pleasing to see the family of Mute Swans first reported the other day, with all seven 'ugly ducklings' present and correct and looking adorable. There was also a family of Coots with five young. One of these was picked on a few times by the male but was later seen being fed. Hopefully they'll cope! Singles of Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow were hawking the duck-feeding area and I found a female Blackbird in the final stages of nest-building. Other sightings included two Mallard broods (five and 10), a Grey Heron, two Cetti's Warblers, two Willow Warblers and three Reed Warblers.

Mute Swan family at Brooklands Park

Coot family at Brooklands Park

At Widewater Lagoon the long-staying Whimbrel was still showing well and I heard a Dunlin. Two Little Egrets and two Mute Swans - including a 2cy - were also seen.

Whimbrel at Widewater Lagoon

The lower Adur Estuary offered five Whimbrel, 12 Turnstones, six Oystercatchers, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Skylark and a Whitethroat.

Whimbrel on the Adur Estuary

Along the stretch of the Adur between the A27 bridge and Botolphs I logged five Swifts, nnother Whimbrel, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, three House Martins, 11 Whitethroats, a Reed Bunting, two Grey Herons, 11 Mallards, a Canada Goose, two Little Egrets, two Buzzards, six Swallows, three House Martins and six Skylarks.

Whimbrel on the upper Adur

At Upper Beeding I heard a Cuckoo by the flood relief pool, where there were nine Greylags (four of which were young goslings), two Canada Geese, two Moorhens, a Mute Swan and three Mallards. A House Martin and a Kestrel were over the meadow on the south side of the village, where there was a singing Reed Bunting.

West Worthing, Brooklands Park, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Upper Adur and Steyning

A home one of the Magpies nesting next door was collecting mud from beneath the leak in our pond filter.

Two Whimbrel flew along the beach at Brooklands Park.

At Widewater Lagoon, another Whimbrel was showing nicely with a female Bar-tailed Godwit, while an additional individual of the former species was heard, along with at least one Mediterranean Gull. A Little Egret shared the lagoon.

Bar-tailed Godwit (left) and Whimbrel at Widewater Lagoon

female Bar-tailed Godwit at Widewater Lagoon

Whimbrel at Widewater Lagoon

On the Adur Estuary we had three Little Egrets, two more Whimbrel, a Shelduck and two Oystercatchers.

North of the A27 bridge we heard two singing Lesser Whitethroats as we cycled along, and passed a Little Egret, a Yellowhammer and a Swallow.

Poor timing on my part meant we couldn't stay at Steyning Downland very long so dipped Nightingale again but a Cetti's Warbler was vocal and another Swallow skimmed overhead.

West Worthing, Brooklands Park, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Steyning Rifle Range and The Downs

An uneventful watch at home featured the Blackcap, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Jackdaw and mating Herring Gulls (the same pair that were at it yesterday), while a Magpie was chasing Feral Pigeons.

A cycle late in the day saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Brooklands Park then at Widewater the Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Egret and two Sandwich Terns. Near the rifle range at Steyning, I found a Cetti's Warbler, a Swallow and a Willow Warbler. On the downs between Steyning and Sompting in the evening I heard two Barn Owls and two Tawny Owls and saw a Whitethroat, a Grey Partridge and a Buzzard.

Black-tailed Godwit at Widewater Lagoon

Grey Partridge on the downs

Adur Estuary

It was a finer morning than the last few days but still there was a rather stiff breeze! All the same, I enjoyed my visit to the lower Adur. Waders included the Greenshank, a Snipe, over 80 Lapwings, three Grey Plovers, two Curlew and 13 Redshanks. Other birds included four Teal, three Mute Swans, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine distantly on Lancing College, a Cetti's Warbler, a Rock Pipit, three Skylarks, a male Stonechat and nine Reed Buntings.

Greenshank

Grey Plovers

Redshanks

Peregrine on Lancing College

Long Furlong, Upper Beeding and Adur Estuary

Long Furlong is another area I've been meaning to explore for a fair while. The hum of the busy single carriageway road is hard to escape but it's an interesting and neglected section of the downs in ornithological terms. Seven Red Kites included birds feeding on the ground alongside a flock of 600 or so Starlings. One or two of the five Corn Buntings were in song and a Chiffchaff was calling from the garden of one of the cottages. A Raven cronked softly as it flew overhead and other birds included four Yellowhammers, five Buzzards, six Meadow Pipits, a flyover Cormorant, two Kestrels, two Green Woodpeckers and a scattering of lively Skylarks.

Red Kite at Long Furlong

Still feeling the exploratory spirit, I followed up some interesting and apparently fairly new habitat on the northeast side of Upper Beeding. A small wetland was created only three years ago as flood relief by a landowner with an interest in birds and wildlife, as explained to me by a cheery local called Rod. You'd believe it's a new and purposefully constructed nature reserve and it will be interesting to see how it develops. Birds included a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, two Egyptian Geese, four Greylag Geese, seven Canada Geese, four Cormorants, a Sparrowhawk, two Mallards and two Moorhens.

I was going to check the gulls at Goring Gap around midday but the number of larids on the Adur as I drove over the A27 flyover tempted me to stop there instead. Aside from the four locally common species, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was the only reward, however... 35 Lapwings, three Redshanks, a Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting were also noted during my brief visit.

Adur Estuary and Finsbury Park

In a really enjoyable couple of hours along the lower Adur in fine weather this morning, I caught up with the wintering Whimbrel and Greenshank, as well as two Curlew, a Kingfisher, a Rock Pipit, 15+ Reed Buntings, 13 Ringed Plovers, three Grey Plovers, 11 Oystercatchers, 12 Redshanks, 80+ Lapwings, five Teal, two Stonechats, four Meadow Pipits, 20 Linnets and four Skylarks.

Greenshank at Adur Estuary

Reed Buntings at Adur Estuary

Rock Pipit at Adur Estuary

Rock Pipit and Reed Buntings at Adur Estuary

A trip to London included lunch at Finsbury Park, where birds included four Mistle Thrushes, two Nuthatches, a Redwing, three Pochards, two Egyptian Geese and 42 Tufted Ducks.

Goring Gap and Adur Estuary

An early morning visit to Goring Gap was aborted after about 40 minutes. There was simply nothing moving offshore. Flocks of Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone and Ringed Plover were moving along the beach and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen but that really was about it. I returned briefly at lunchtime but today there was no Caspian Gull to be seen, though a Lesser Black-backed Gull was noteworthy, and I counted 49 Common Gulls.

Mid-afternoon, a visit to the Adur Estuary was quiet. The tide level was not ideal for waders. Birds included 11 Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, two Turnstones, in excess of 600 Starlings, 15 Skylarks, a Reed Bunting and a Meadow Pipit.

Adur Estuary

A visit during the rising tide this morning produced a Rock Pipit, a Snipe, two Grey Plovers, 20 Teal, a Cetti's Warbler, a Little Grebe, 60 Linnets, six Skylarks, two Stonechats, two Grey Wagtails, a Reed Bunting, 15 Redshanks, 85 Lapwings, a Little Egret, five Grey Herons, two Mute Swans, five Common Gulls, three Song Thrushes, three Meadow Pipits and a Buzzard.

Lapwings