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.

Worthing and Cissbury Ring

I started the day with a couple of hours vismigging from the garden. Four redpolls, five Siskins, 165 Goldfinches, a Linnet, five Chaffinches, a Meadow Pipit and 95 Woodpigeons flew east, while seven Pied/White Wagtails mostly flew west. A Grey Wagtail and a Common Gull flew north, while a local Peregrine headed over too.

Next up was Cissbury Ring, where I soon located a Dartford Warbler - one of the two or three birds found there yesterday - a little way south of the trig point. It was a pretty vocal and showy individual, and my first in the local area. Other highlights included three Ravens, a Reed Bunting, four Yellowhammers, a Stonechat, nine Meadow Pipits, a Redwing, two Mistle Thrushes and eight Skylarks.

Cissbury Ring

The first bird caught was a juvenile Woodpigeon, while setting the western nets. After getting a feel for the day after an initial roundand hearing some redpolls flying over, I stuck the Lesser Redpoll tape on by the F nets. This soon produced two Lesser Redpolls, followed by another on the next round. This used to be a staple species at my initial ringing training ground of Leith Hill but I've handled very few since so I was delighted. All were adults, and two were lovely pink males. Of the 19 birds caught in total, it was nice to catch two November Blackcaps (one a retrap) and a Chiffchaff, while four Goldcrests (two retraps) were more obviously late autumn fare. Often underrated, an adult male Chaffinch was another pleasing catch.

It was obvious that birds were seizing the chance to move after the relentless brisk southwesterlies with so much rain over the last couple of weeks. Being so clear, I was mainly hearing calls without being able to count flocks, and obviously I was ringing, but a couple each of Brambling, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer flew over, along with a single Golden Plover, a small flock of Crossbills and a trickle of redpolls, Siskins, Chaffinches, Skylarks, Pied/White Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Linnets. A male and a female Peregrine tussled directly overhead, the male at least giving that fantastic gull-like chatter. Later, one of them was in pursuit of a flock of Woodpigeons, another species that was moving in good numbers today. Two Ravens came and went throughout the morning and towards the end there were singles of Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel.

Goring Gap and Cissbury Ring

I clocked a first-winter Caspian Gull in the southeastern field late morning. It flew off and was replaced by a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull. A Knot on the beach was notable and overhead there was a Golden Plover, a Yellow Wagtail, 87 Siskins, a redpoll, four Grey Wagtails and 65 Meadow Pipits. Two Wheatears and five Stonechats were on the ground and just off the beach was a flock of six Teal with two Wigeon. A flock of 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew west at distance. Further waders included three Sanderlings, eight Dunlin, 24 Ringed Plovers, 33 Turnstones and three Oystercatchers. An adult Sandwich Tern was also on the beach, with five Little Egrets. A Sparrowhawk and a juvenile Kestrel toured the fields. 45 Swallows and 40 House Martins flew through and two Goldcrests were heard in the bushes.

 

 A very quick - failed - twitch to Cissbury Ring for the Bookers' Yellow-browed Warbler did produce two Spotted Flycatchers.

Cissbury Ring

 A steady morning's ringing with Val and Finch produced, alongside the continued torrent of Blackcaps, some variety in the nets, including a Marsh Tit, a Bullfinch and two Song Thrushes. Overhead passage involved my first Redwing of the autumn, seven Crossbills, at least eight redpolls, 12 Siskins, 30 Meadow Pipits, 50 House Martins, three Swallows and five Pied/White Wagtails. Three Ravens and a Sparrowhawk also flew over, a Mistle Thrush errupted from the trees and a male Stonechat was unusual below our ringing station.

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.

Cissbury Ring

The morning's ringing on the north scarp was quieter today, with Val, Finch and special guest Linda, mainly due to a drop in the number of Blackcaps. Our catch did have some good variety, though, kicking off with a Spotted Flycatcher, followed by our first Goldcrest of the autumn and finishing with six from the cloud of around 300 House Martins ending up in one of the nets. A redpoll sp flew over, along with 20 or so Siskins, at least 15 Meadow Pipits, two Grey Wagtails and a Raven. A Tawny Owl was vocal when we arrived.

Ferring Rife, Cissbury Ring and Worthing

 A very quick check of just a short section of Ferring Rife first thing produced two Yellow Wagtails, three Little Egrets and two Meadow Pipits.

I then spent the morning at Cissbury Ring where the highlight was swarming House Martins, including some landing in the bushes - overall there were well over 400. Another redpoll sp flew over and other highlights included five Redstarts, three Spotted Flycatchers, two Wheatears, a Tree Pipit, two Stonechats, two Marsh Tits, 60 Siskins, six Yellowhammers, two Skylarks, 20 Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs, two Swallows, a Sparrowhawk and five Jays.

At home in West Worthing, a Chiffchaff was around the garden and 40 Swallows were hawking overhead in the evening.

Cissbury Ring and Thorney Island

A busy ringing session at Cissbury with Val and Pete saw us process 116 birds, including seven Siskins, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest, 79 Blackcaps, two Bullfinches, a Magpie and 17 Chiffchaffs. A redpoll sp overhead was my first of the autumn and the true Siskin count was hard to estimate as flocks were stopping and moving through but was certainly over 150. A Grass Snake was a surprise along one of the paths. I also noted a Marsh Tit, two Ravens, a Grey Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipits, a few House Martins and Swallows, a Whitethroat, and a male Tawny Owl hooting just before dawn.

I dipped the Pallid Harrier again at Thorney Island in the late afternoon, noting a Greenshank, five Yellow Wagtails, a Kingfisher, a Sandwich Tern, a Curlew, 15 Lapwings, two Little Grebes, etc.

Cissbury Ring

 It was a busy morning's ringing with Val and Finch, as well as Cyndey visiting from the SDOS group. The morning was defined by Siskins, which have been pushing along the coast in decent numbers for a few days now. We succeeded in temping 12  - of the 150 or so that moved through - down into one of the mist nets, the first to be ringed at Cissbury this century! Typically for the time of year, Blackcaps made up most of the numbers, with 85 processed. A Garden Warbler, three Whitethroats, a Bullfinch, 12 Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler were among the other birds trapped. As well as the Siskins, overhead a Tree Pipit, two Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, several House Martins and Swallows and a Raven flew through.

Worthing, Cissbury Ring and Brooklands Park

A Sparrowhawk greeted me on the roof of a neighbouring house at home in Worthing first thing this morning, just after a Siskin flew over my garden.

This morning's walk at Cissbury Ring was hugely enjoyable, with 52 species noted, including a nice variety of migrants. There were nine each of Redstart, Tree Pipit and Spotted Flycatcher, as well as four Crossbills, two Whinchats, three Firecrests, four Yellow Wagtails, at least 57 Siskins, 10 Wheatears, 50 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 60 House Martins, 80 Swallows, 12 Chiffchaffs, five Whitethroats and 26 Meadow Pipits. Just as I ended a thoroughly satisfying morning of migrants, I was blown away to see a beaming leucistic Blackcap along the same fenceline as eight of the Spotted Flycatchers and two of the Redstarts. Surely the most start plumage abnormality I've seen in a passerine, it was a gorgeous little thing.

Resident birds included a roosting Tawny Owl in a bush, betrayed by mobbing passerines, as well as two Ravens, a Marsh Tit, a Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, three Kestrels, four Green Woodpeckers, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, two Bullfinches, two Yellowhammers and six Stonechats.

At lunchtime, I set off for Tide Mills to see the Wryneck but ended up parked, along with hundreds of others, in the A27 Southwick Hill tunnel for over an hour due to an accident. When the traffic was finally cleared, I'd run out of time to make the outing comfortably to turned round and checked in to Brooklands Park. The adult female Mute Swan was with her four surviving juveniles, four Chiffchaffs were with a tit flock along the treatment works access road and eight Cormorants was quite a high count for the lake, but otherwise it was quiet. However, a juvenile Shelduck flying west over the sea was unexpected.

Cissbury Ring

Today's ringing session with Val, Pete and Mya was the site's busiest this year, with Blackcaps making the bulk of the numbers. By the time we'd counted nine flyover Tree Pipits, I suggested it was worth a shot putting the tape by the most open net and lo, the next net round saw two further birds, in the net by the player! A Marsh Tit was another good catch. Other birds included a Yellow Wagtail and two Red Kites overhead, a Willow Warbler, 20 Swallows, two Ravens, a Tawny Owl and a Sparrowhawk.

Cissbury Ring

This morning's ringing session with Val and Pete was much quieter than last time. A Garden Warbler, a small number of Willow Warblers and a couple of Bullfinches were the 'best' birds caught. Two Ravens, a Sparrowhawk and a Red Kite flew over, and there was a group of young Yellowhammers back towards the car park.

Cissbury Ring and Brooklands Park

Two Redstarts were the highlight of my morning at Cissbury Ring. The first was an elusive female, the second a smart adult male, giving away its presence with its hu-iting, like a forceful and unrelenting Willow Warbler. It even gave two brief bursts of song. At least one Crossbill heard flying over was followed later by a group of three high up; I'm recording these here pretty much every time, despite the lack of suitable habitat. Truly out-of-place was a silent Green Sandpiper which flew over quite low (perhaps having been disturbed from the Lychpole dewpond a couple of miles away?). Other flyovers included a Tree Pipit and a juvenile Red Kite. Back on the ground, at least two Spotted Flycatchers were mobile and warblers were made up of three Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Willow Warblers, six Whitethroats, seven Blackcaps and two Chiffchaffs. Eight Bullfinches, three Yellowhammers, two Mistle Thrushes and four Meadow Pipits were also around.

Brooklands Park offered little in the way of gulls besides three Lesser Black-backs (two juveniles). For the second time running, only the female Mute Swan accompanied the six surviving offspring, and I learned that the cob has recently died, as I had begun to fear. Singles of Cetti's Warbler and Reed Warbler were by the boardwalk, while the lake hosted two Grey Herons and six Cormorants.

Cissbury Ring

An enjoyable session at Cissbury this morning with Pete and Val produced 44 species. The ringing was our best day so far this year in terms of number and variety. The highlights in the nets were a Spotted Flycatcher, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and four Garden Warblers, while Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff also featured in small numbers. A flock of 10 Crossbills flew over towards the end of the session but the highlight was a juvenile Cuckoo showing well on a nearby fenceline, guzzling a fair few big caterpillars. A Marsh Tit, three Yellowhammers, two Red Kites, two Ravens, 10 House Martins, seven Swallows, a Treecreeper and two Bullfinches were among other observations.

Cissbury Ring and Worthing

My first ringing session for months, with Val and Pete, was rewarded with a gorgeous Nightingale in the nets; the first that I've actually laid eyes on locally. Five Willow Warblers were also caught, several Crossbills and two Meadow Pipits flew over, a Raven was seen in the distance and the walk back to the car park produced a male Wheatear.





At home, a Sparrowhawk flew over the garden and the usual two Peregrines were nearby.

Cissbury Ring

I decided against a dawn start today and went back to bed for a bit. Once it warmed up, I cycled to Cissbury Ring, where six Stonechats included my first juvenile of the year. Four Yellowhammers showed nicely and another highlight was two Buzzards spinning with locked talons, a dramatic sight quite low above me. I counted 20 Whitethroats, and five Swallows were seen. Two Firecrests were nearby.

Stonechat

male Yellowhammer

male Yellowhammer

Cissbury Ring and West Worthing

A walk around Cissbury this morning featured three Lesser Whitethroats, 26 Whitethroats, a Mistle Thrush, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Kestrel, three Swallows, two Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Stonechats, a Meadow Pipit, a Bullfinch and 10 Yellowhammers.

Later in the morning, seawatching from Grand Avenue for an hour produced just two Great Crested Grebes, 11 Sandwich Terns, a Gannet and 10 Black-headed Gulls.

Worthing, Findon and Cissbury Ring

Two Sand Martins low east over the garden first thing were my first of the year and a Blackcap was singing.

A short seawatch from the end of Grand Avenue produced 23 Whimbrel, four Shovelers, two Shelducks, 30 Sandwich Terns, a Gannet, 19 Mediterranean Gulls and a Swallow, while 18 Linnets flew east along the beach.

female Red-breasted Merganser off West Worthing

Sandwich Tern off West Worthing

Two Firecrests were singing in Findon as I passed through, with a Yellowhammer there too.

There were very few migrants at Cissbury Ring but I logged two Mistle Thrushes, a Willow Warbler, five Whitethroats, three Stonechats, five Yellowhammers, three Meadow Pipits, a male Kestrel and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

2cy Mistle Thrush with food at Cissbury Ring

West Worthing, High Barn and Cissbury Ring

Observatios at home included a Peregrine, a Blackcap, a Coal Tit and two Great Black-backed Gulls.

Passing through the High Barn Golf Course area on my way to Cissbury was productive, with my first Willow Warbler of the year heard singing and five Firecrests (potentially three territories) located. A Redwing, five Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs and a Yellowhammer were among the other birds there.

Firecrest at High Barn

Cissbury itself delivered my first Wheatear of the year, a male, along with a Peregrine, 21 Meadow Pipits, five Yellowhammers, nine Skylarks and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

male Wheatear (left) with male Yellowhammer at Cissbury Ring