Caspian Gull or not in the Shoreham area (28 January-07 February 2026)

Wednesday 28 January 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: Little Grebe, 105 Lapwing, 2 Grey Plover, 83 Dunlin, the adult Little and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, Skylark heard, Chiffchaff and Rock Pipit.

Thursday 29 January 2026. Widewater, 08:10-09:40 in mod SE: Brent Goose 22E, Common Scoter 4E, Red-breasted Merganser male and female E then W, Kittiwake 2E:6W, Razorbill 5E:2W: 4 on sea, auk sp. 7E, Red-throated Diver 5E:35W, Black-throated Diver 1E, Fulmar 1E:1W (crossed paths) and Gannet 25+ offshore. Widewater lagoon-Lancing Beach Green with Megan and Otis: just 20 Mute Swans, red-head Goosander, 4 Little Grebes, Moorhen and 7 Coot.

red-head Goosander on Widewater

Friday 30 January 2026. Stock Dove in our garden. Adur, very wet afternoon low tide with Otis: 2 Little Grebes, 108 Lapwing, 200+ Black-headed and 540 Common Gulls, a classic first-winter Caspian Gull and another first-winter with seemingly minor imperfections (some barring on greater coverts and rather coarse mantle plumage which might have been due to it being rather wet).

first-winter Caspian Gull on the Adur. Phone-scoped in heavy rain, My usual camera is in for repair (water damage) and the old backup inexplicably switched to 'macro' mode after 2 images. I had taken a small camera for emergency use with my scope but its battery only managed 3 images before dying).

it had a colour ring (green R|C) from a mixed colony in the Netherlands

it looked like a classic to me with a black bill, sloping forehead, clean white head and underparts, greyish mantle, brown unbarred coverts, thin white edges to tertials, black primaries and long pale flesh legs. Despite all that it came back as a hybrid Herring x Caspian Gull ringed as a chick at Bataviahaven, Lelystad, Flevoland, Netherlands on 31 May 2025. It rather dents my confidence in identifying even what seem to me rather obvious Caspian Gulls

also in the flock was another first-winter Caspian Gull contender (front right) that looked good structurally but with courser plumage which I put down to it being wet although I'm not sure that explained the barring on its outer greater coverts

Saturday 31 January 2026. Widewater seawatch 08:10-09:10, clear, bright, mod S: Teal 10E, Common Scoter 4E,  Red-breasted Merganser 5E? (very distant), Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Kittiwake  8E:17W (3 juvs), Guillemot 1W, Razorbill 5E:59W:16 on sea, Red-throated Diver 14E:7W, diver sp. 5E:1W and Gannet 26W. On lagoon: red-head Goosander, 11 Little Grebes, Moorhen, 7 Coot. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker. Adur, late afternoon low tide: Little Grebe, 96 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean, 300 Black-headed and 250 Common Gulls. Also better views of yesterdays imperfect first-winter Caspian Gull. With better views (it not being wet for a start) it appeared to have more imperfections than I'd previously noticed and might be best referred to as what some are calling 'Cactus' Gulls (cachinnans x argentatus). Thanks to Dave Cooper and Matt Palmer for comments.

yesterday's Caspian contender not looking quite so convincing in better weather with a full set of barred greater coverts on its right side. Back up camera no longer on macro!

Sunday 01 February 2026. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk with Megan and Otis: 3 Turnstones on the West Arm and a Red-throated Diver on the sea. Sullington Way: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets in their favoured tree late afternoon.

Monday 02 February 2026. Southwick Canal with Megan and Otis: nothing of note. We had intended crossing the lock gates to walk to the harbour's Eastern Arm but first the small lock was closed to us then just as it was opening the large lock closed to pedestrians. Memories of being stuck on the way home from work for 10-15 minutes in poor weather made us divert to Southwick Canal. We were level with the Power Station by the time the lock gates opened.

Tuesday 03 February 2026. Shoreham Harbour East Arm with Otis: Great Crested Grebe on sea, 2 Purple Sandpipers (one on East Arm, one below wooden jetty, 13 Turnstones, 51 Razorbills, 17 auk sp, 20 Gannets and 6 Cormorants. Shoreham College: Jay. Sullington Way: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets in their favoured tree late afternoon

Scottish trawlers returning to Shoreham Harbour

The Cornelis-GertJan passing the wooden jetty where it disturbed one of the two Purple Sandpipers there causing it to fly onto the East Arm

Purple Sandpiper on the East Arm of Shoreham Harbour

Wednesday 04 February 2026. Rackham Woods, brief scan of Amberley Wild Brooks and Parham Park with Megan and Otis: 2 Egyptian Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 20+ Pintail, 500+ Lapwing, very distant White-tailed Eagle sat in a tree, 2 Red Kites, 7 Buzzards, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jay, Coal Tit, Nuthatch heard, Treecreeper, Redwing and 4 Goldfinches.

Thursday 05 February 2026. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Goldcrest. No sign of any parakeets late afternoon.

Friday 06 February 2016. Adur with Megan and Otis: Little Grebe, 110 Lapwing, 2 Grey Plover, adult Mediterranean, 34 Great and 6 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Jay, Skylark heard singing (thanks to new hearing aids, still couldn't see it though), 2 Meadow Pipits and a Goldfinch. With camera mended I took Otis to look for the parakeets, both were present above the Sullington Way bus stop late afternoon.

Lord Derby's Parakeet keeping an eye on Otis and me as we loitered at Sullington Wat bus stop

Ring-necked Parakeet companion

Saturday 07 February 2016. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: 15 Moorhens, 60 Coot, Kestrel, Jay heard, Coal and Long-tailed Tits and 2 Chaffinches. Sullington Way: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets in their favoured tree late afternoon.

both parakeets

Local White-fronted Geese and my first Adur Little Gull (12-27 January 2026)

Monday 12 January 2026. Widewater seawatch 08:20-09:20, mod SW:  Brent Goose 1E, Goosander 1E (red-head), Great Crested Grebe 1E:12W, Razorbill 2W:1 on sea, auk sp. 5W, Red-throated Diver 7W, diver sp. 12W, Gannet 3W. Widewater/Lancing Beach Green with Megan and Otis: 34 Mute Swans, red-head Goosander (considered different as the lagoon bird was seen before and immediately after that flying west), Moorhen, 8 Coot, 7 Little Grebes, Oystercatcher, 21 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstones, 90 Dunlin, Kingfisher and Kestrel. Middle Road with Otis: female Lord Derby's Parakeet.

Goosander on Widewater

        

Kingfisher on Widewater

Lord Derby's Parakeet above Sullington Road bus stop

Tuesday 13 January 2026. Downslink, Henfield-West Mill in the rain with Otis: a loose flock of 50+ Canada, 76 Greylag and 51 White-fronted Geese, 15 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 40+ Wigeon, 30 Mallard, 10 Pintail, 50 Teal, 530 Lapwing, Grey Heron, 4 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 20 Blackbirds, 30 Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch and Bullfinch heard.

 some of the White-fronted Geese from the Downslink

Wednesday 14 January 2026. Dacres Gardens to Bramber Castle with Megan and Otis: Common Sandpiper, 2 Buzzards, 6 Redwings, Chaffinch, 3 Linnets and a Goldfinch.

Friday 16 January 2026. No Man's Land figure of 8 circuit with David Buckingham and Otis: Red-legged Partridge, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Tawny Owl, Kestrel, Raven, 200+ Fieldfares, Redwing, 12 Chaffinches, 30 Linnets, 40 Corn Buntings and 8 Yellowhammers. Old Toll Bridge River Adur at low tide: 94 Lapwing, 300+ Common (no rings) and a first-winter Caspian Gull. I was not careful enough putting a half-filled water bottle into my bag which had my camera in it not in its usual drybag. A slight leak caused the camera to die [repair estimate £600]. No recognizable Caspian Gull photos although I tried digiscoping with minimal success.

Saturday 17 January 2026. Widewater, 08:10-09:20, light/mod SE: Brent Goose 43E, Common Scoter 3E, redhead Goosander, 7 Coot and 7 Little Grebe on lagoon, Great Crested Grebe on sea, Oystercatcher 3W, Kittiwake 1E:1W (adults), Razorbill 2W, auk sp. 3W, Red-throated Diver 25E:8W, diver sp. 1E:2W and Gannet 4W. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk with Megan and Otis: 2 Purple Sandpipers. Adur at low tide with Otis: 92 Lapwing, Dunlin and Grey Heron. Few gulls, none of note.

House Sparrow in our front garden, camera working somewhat after a night in the airing cupboard

Common and Black-headed Gulls on the Adur, a final flurry before the camera died completely

Sunday 18 January 2026. Middle Road/Sullington Way: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets.

Monday 19 January 2026. Lancing Ring/Steepdown with Megan and Otis: Kestrel, Jay, 8 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Linnet, 20 Corn and 2 Reed Buntings. Middle Road/Sullington Way: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets.

Lancing College and Southwick Power Station

Tuesday 20 January 2026. Widewater, 07:55-09:25, mod SSE, very bright: Brent Goose 119E (9 groups), Goosander on lagoon, Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Kittiwake 9E:27W (included a single first-winter), Little Gull 1E (adult), Razorbill 51E:24W, auk sp. 45E:22W, Red-throated Diver 1E:13W, diver sp. 3W, Fulmar 1E and Gannet 44 offshore. Circumnavigation of Southwick Canal with Otis: noting of any note at all.

Thursday 22 January 2026. Adur circuit with Megan and Otis: 10+ Teal, 65 Lapwing, 3 Grey Plover, Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats (male and female on saltings opposite the Waterfront) and a Rock Pipit (my 100th species seen this year, all locally).

Rock Pipit on the Adur, west side. It would be interesting to see this bird in a couple of month's time as it didn't look as smudgy below as most Rock Pipits do

Saturday 24 January 2026. Crown Road: A Red Kite seen flying E from our back window. Five Ways/Room Bottom/Truleigh Centre/Perching Manor Farm/Sussex Ornithological Society Event: Red Kite, Kestrel, 5 Skylarks, 4 Redwings, 2 Stonechats, 8 Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch, 5 Corn Buntings. A very interesting talk by the Farm Manager on the history of the farm (now in its 4th generation) and steps taken to support wildlife and Downland landscape although I embarrassed myself loosing my balance and having to be rescued by the very helpful farm owner in her 4x4. Very nice to learn about an area I've wandered around many times in recent years and see some of it off footpath. Two years ago I asked Megan to look out for a walking pole in the charity shop where she volunteers, to assist my climbing up Pirre Ridge in Darien. It proved very useful especially descending near vertical trails but I never imagined I'd be using it on the South Downs, let alone still being unbalanced and in need of rescue. Fortunately an hour later I was pretty much back to normal although was very grateful for a lift home from Chris Corrigan while Adrian Thomas drove my car from the Five Ways (Beeding Hill NT) car park to the Truleigh Centre were it was safer left overnight. All rather concerning.

flooding on Beeding Brooks

Sunday 25 January 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis, after going to the Truleigh Centre to collect my car. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine (on chimney), Skylark heard, 3 Redwings and 2 Song Thrushes.

Tuesday 27 January 2026. Adur with Otis, mid-afternoon on a rising tide: 65+ Lapwing, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Redshank and the adult Little Gull. The latter the first I've actually seen on the Adur rather than flying by along the beach, something I'd bemoaned in my 'Gulls on the Adur' SDOS presentation (see here) before Christmas. Despite no camera and a travel scope without a tripod, as I wasn't expecting any gulls to look through, I surprised myself getting some identifiable digiscoped images by resting the scope on one knee while sitting by the SSSI sign.

adult Little Gull on the Adur

Staying local (01-11 January 2026)

Thursday 01 January 2026. Widewater (seawatching 8:30-09:15): Great Crested Grebe 4W, Kittiwake 60W, Guillemot 4W, Razorbill 1320W, auk sp. 600W, Gannet 560 offshore feeding frenzy and 34 Mute Swans, 5 Teal, 7 Coot and 6 Little Grebes on the lagoon. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk with Megan and Otis: 7 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper. River Adur: 2 Brent Geese, Kingfisher, Peregrine and 200 Black-headed, an adult Mediterranean, 490 Common, 46 Great Black-backed, 400 Herring, an adult Yellow-legged and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The Common Gulls were mostly roosting between the A27 and Cuckoos Corner and included German bird A39P.

Purple Sandpiper at Shoreham Harbour (west side)

Mediterranean Gull on the Adur near Cuckoos Corner

Common Gull A39P in the gull roost near Cuckoos Corner, a German ringed bird (history awaited)

Friday 02 January 2926. Widewater (mostly seawatching 07:50-09:00): Great Crested Grebe 5W, Kittiwake 116W, Guillemot 4W, Razorbill 62W, auk sp. 350W, Gannet 110W and 6 divers E including single Red-throated and Black-throated. Old Toll Bridge to Cuckoos Corner and back with Otis: Stock Dove, Water Rail heard, Little Grebe, 2 Common Sandpipers, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker heard, 4 Skylarks, Goldcrest, Redwing, 2 Song Thrushes and 2 Stonechats.

Common Sandpiper on the Adur at Dacres Gardens

perfect full moon

Saturday 03 January 2026. Widewater (mostly seawatching, 08:25-09:30): Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Kittiwake 1W, Guillemot 1W, Razorbill 25W & 80 on sea, auk sp. 125W, Gannet 525 offshore feeding frenzy and 30+ Mute Swans, 9 Teal, 7 Coot and 7 Little Grebes on the lagoon. Worthing Pier with Megan and Otis: 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea and 7 Turnstones.

Gannets off Widewater

Sunday 04 January 2026. Adur Rec, mostly frozen Widewater and Adur Saltings with Otis: 180 Teal, red-head Goosander, 8 Coot, Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, 20+ Common Snipe, Greenshank, 55 Redshank, 2 Razorbills on the sea, 30+ Gannets offshore, Kingfisher and Chaffinch.

fourth time lucky with the Widewater red-head Goosander

it wasn't particularly co-operative

Monday 05 January 2026. Adur (highish tide) with Megan and Otis: 8 Lapwing, 2 Grey Plover and a Peregrine.

the white-headed Grey Plover giving better than usual views on the Adur

Tuesday 06 January 2026. Tottington Woods and nearby with Otis: Stock Dove, 17 Lapwing flying high SW, female Goshawk flew east out of wood, 3 Buzzards, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay heard, 5 Long-tailed, 20 Blue and 2 Great Tits, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Nuthatches, 15 Blackbirds, 25 Redwings, single Song and Mistle Thrushes, 12 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, Bullfinch heard and 4 Goldfinches.

Little Owl

Wednesday 07 January 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: 80+ Coot, 2 Little Grebes, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Coal, 6 Blue and 8 Great Tits, Goldcrest and 2 Chaffinches.

Friday 08 January 2026. Widewater with Otis, 09:30-11:10, cold NNW wind and rain: Common Scoter 1 landed on sea, Goosander 1 on lagoon, Little Grebe 6 on lagoon, Great Crested Grebe 7 on sea:1W, Razorbill 5E:1o/s, Red-throated Diver 5E:1W:6o/s, Gannet 11 offshore.

Goosander on Widewater

Red-throated Divers on the sea off Widewater

Saturday 10 January 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: male Pheasant, Skylark, Goldcrest, 6 Blackbirds, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Wrens, 7 Robins, male Chaffinch, 2 Linnets and 8 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 5 Goldfinches.

Sunday 11 January 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: 7 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 30+ Lapwings, 2 Grey and 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 77 Great and 7 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.