Goring Gap, Widewater Lagoon, Brooklands Park and Patching

 There was little going on at Goring Gap other than four Dark-bellied Brent Geese and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, plus three Great Crested Grebes offshore. Moved on to Widewater, where c110 Dunlin were roosting on the beach along with 30 or so Ringed Plovers. A Kingfisher made a brief appearance over the lagoon and a Sparrowhawk flew through the adjacent gardens. Five Little Grebes and four Mute Swans were present.  Next up was Brooklands Park, where the highlight of the day came in the form of a Lapwing overhead, being harassed by two Peregrines. Three Chiffchaffs were heard calling and the Pochard was on the lake, along with a Little Grebe. The new pair of Mute Swans was still present but there was no immediate sign of the resident adult female and only two of her offspring seemed to remain. Checking in at Patching sewage works finally, there were three Chiffchaffs and a Grey Wagtail around the filter beds, and a Red Kite flew over. Five Redwings flew from the trees. A final check of Goring Gap revealed an increase to five Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Highdown and Widewater Lagoon

I cycled up to Highdown early this morning to find a concerned couple crouching over a very unwell Hedgehog. I made the arrangements over the phone between the RSPCA and the vet for the animal to be taken in and the couple very kindly drove it in to Worthing. I doubt it stood much of a chance - it had either been run over or mauled by a dog - but it was the best we could do.

My first two Tree Pipits of the autumn buzzed high overhead, unseen in the clear skies, while on the ground there were just singles of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. 45 Swallows were made up by a couple of main groups, one of which was clouding around a Sparrowhawk. The wooded area held a brood of Goldcrests, a couple of Treecreepers and a Nuthatch, while the grassland was charmed by around 60 Goldfinches, with smaller numbers of Linnets and Greenfinches thrown in. A young Buzzard cried in the distance and an adult was noted, while a Kestrel and a Canada Goose were among other birds heard.

I visited Widewater later on, hoping the Mandarins reported yesterday would still be present but I could not find them. A Little Egret, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and the pair of Mute Swans with their one juvenile were present.

Widewater Lagoon

I managed to get to Widewater in the afternoon to follow up a report of a Wood Sandpiper seen much earlier in the day. Alas, there was no sign but four Dunlin in breeding nick were good to see. The Mute Swan pair with their juvenile were still present, as was a Little Egret.

 

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.

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.

Goring Gap, Worthing, Widewater Lagoon and Lancing

I assumed the rain wouldn't be as bad as forecast, which is usually the case, so headed to Goring Gap but as it happened I got absolutely drenched in the process. The few birds seen included three Sanderlings, five Turnstones, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Swallow, a Mallard, three Sandwich Terns and three 'Commic Terns'.

At home the singing Stock Dove was heard again.

A cycle to Widewater Lagoon late in the day saw the Bar-tailed Godwit and the Whimbrel both still showing well, along with two Oystercatchers, three Little Egrets, a Mute Swan and about five Mallards. Offshore were four Sandwich Terns and two Gannets.

On the beach at Lancing on the way home, Ingrid spotted a lovely female Wheatear by the cycle path.

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

Ferring Rife, Coombes and Widewater Lagoon

Ferring Rife first thing produced two Water Rails (heard), 12 Greenfinches, three female Stonechats, a Kestrel and two Grey Herons.

Ingrid and I went for a walk along the Adur between Coombes and Botolphs but soon aborted due to a series of sharp showers, only noting eight Redshanks and a Meadow Pipit in the short amount of time we were there.

We moved on to Widewater, which we figured would be less muddy, where seven Red-breasted Mergansers showed well, along with three Little Egrets and a Little Grebe.

adult (left) and 2cy drake Red-breasted Mergansers at Widewater Lagoon

Shoreham Fort and Widewater Lagoon

I visited Shoreham Fort this morning, at last catching up with the three Purple Sandpipers on the wooden jetty, along with at least five Turnstones.

Purple Sandpipers at Shoreham

Seeing as I was in the area, I stopped at Widewater Lagoon, walking to the west end and back to the car. Highlights included a Kingfisher, an adult drake Red-breasted Merganser which showed very well as it 'snorkled', seven Little Grebes, seven Mute Swans, a female Stonechat and two Redshanks.

adult drake Red-breasted Merganser on Widewater Lagoon

West Worthing, Widewater Lagoon and Cissbury Ring

My first Redwing of the season, a little overdue, was heard over my garden this morning but with clear skies and a strong breeze it was no surprise that my attempt at vismig otherwise fell a bit flat, with four Pied/White Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits and three Goldfinches moving. A Goldcrest and a Coal Tit were calling next door and a Common Gull overhead was a fairly uncommon sight from the patio.

I took Ingrid to Widewater so she could go for a dog-walk with a friend from Brighton and I went off to look for birds for half an hour. A Kingfisher alighted for a few minutes on a little boat at the back of someone's house, and a fine adult female Sparrowhawk was doing the rounds of the waterside gardens while a Kestrel hovered nearby. Two Teal, five Mute Swans and five Little Egrets were on the water and the beach had a Turnstone. I also noted a Grey Wagtail, four Linnets, a House Martin and six Meadow Pipits.

With the windy conditions, a long to-do list and man-flu recovery still underway, I'd otherwise written off the day for birding but it was a busy day on the pager and I wondered whether I should have got out and done something purposeful for the first few hours of the morning. In the afternoon, loads of Ring Ouzel reports came through from Sussex and I figured there simply had to be some at Cissbury Ring, so went for a quick look. All small birds seen were diving straight into deep cover but grilling the yew trees revealed two Mistle Thrushes. Deflated, I headed back to the car - though I was cheered on the way by bumping into Nick and Claire - I figured they'd find some ouzels shortly after I went, and of course they did! All I noted otherwise was a couple of Kestrels and Blackcaps, and a Goldcrest.

Brooklands Park, Goring Gap, Adur Estuary and Widewater Lagoon

The weather was horrendous but with loads of displaced Grey Phalaropes reported around southern Britain recently I thought the lake at Brooklands Park was surely worth a check. There were no phalaropes to be seen but I did note three Sand Martins, a Swallow, 90 House Martins, a Little Grebe, a Grey Wagtail and four Teal. Two Kingfishers in chase were the highlight though. Once the rain eased off I took myself to Goring Gap, where a short vigil around midday produced five Wheatears, 43 Meadow Pipits, 524 House Martins, a Chiffchaff, two Swallows, three Sandwich Terns, a Gannet, two Common Gulls, a Goldcrest and a Skylark.

En route to picking Ingrid up in Brighton, I paid the Adur Estuary another brief visit. There wasn't as much around as the other day but I did note a Little Egret, five Oystercatchers, two Lapwings, 25 Ringed Plovers, seven Dunlin, eight House Martins, a Kestrel and a Meadow Pipit among others. Calling in at Widewater Lagoon, another new site for me, I noted 16 House Martins, two Little Egrets, five Little Grebes and three Meadow Pipits.