uninspiring Shoreham (30 March-01 April 32013)

Seriously lacking in enthusiasm due to the constant cold north-easterlies I didn't venture further than Shoreham Harbour and the Adur.

Monday 1 April 2013.  Shoreham Harbour seawatch from 06.55-09.25, mostly in the company of Dick Eyre-Walker.  Just about enough was going past to keep one's interest despite lengthy periods with very little.  Passage noted was distant diver 3E & 3W, Brent Goose 64E (with another 45 seen by Dick before I arrived), Shelduck 1E, Mallard 2E, Gadwall 7E & 2 on sea, Pintail 19E, Shoveler 3E, Common Scoter 8E & 50+ on sea, Red-breasted Merganser 2E, small wader 2E, Curlew 4E, Sandwich Tern 40E & 21 roosting in the harbour and Razorbill 4E.  Also 2 Purple Sandpipers seen from the end of the West Arm on the exposed rocks half way along the east side of the East Arm.  Rock Pipit heard but not seen.

Gadwall on the sea off Shoreham Harbour

 It was little change on the Adur with the Shelduck still present as well as the two North Thames colour-ringed Herring Gulls from yesterday.  36 Lesser Black-backs was an increase although there were few Black-headed Gulls and no Meds.

Shelduck still sleeping on the Adur

2 North Thames colour-ringed Herring Gulls on the Adur.  Only once having seen the same CR gull on the Adur on consecutive days, and that a Norwegian Greater Black-back, what odds the two North Thames CR gulls seen today would be the same as the two seen yesterday?

AU9T

KT4T

It is rare that I'm almost glad to be going back to work but with an unchanging forecast I almost am.

Sunday 31 March 2013.  Shoreham Harbour seawatch 07:00-08:30 BST.   Great Crested Grebe just 2 on sea, Brent Goose 41E, Common Scoter 30 on sea, Peregrine 2 on the Power Station chimney, Mediterranean Gull 3 adults E, Black-headed Gull 114E, Sanwich Tern 14E and 6 on the beach inside the harbour.  Shelduck still on the Adur at low tide and two North Thames Herring Gulls.

Shelduck still on the Adur and sleeping again

Herring Gull KT4T

it was first ringed at Pitsea, Essex on 5Mrch 2011 and was first seen on the Adur a week later.  I've also seen it in December 2011, March and July 2012 and January 2013 while it was at Aldburgh, Suffolk in April 2012.

Herring Gull AU9T

Birds walking out of shot is a common problem with shutter delay when digiscoping.  AU9T is not one I've recorded before although AW9T was on the Adur in April 2012, having been ringed at Rainham on 11 February that year.   HW9T was also ringed at Rainham on 11 February 2012 and appeared on the Adur on 19 February 2012.

Saturday 30 March 2013.  Shoreham Harbour seawatch 06:35-08:05 GMT.  Diver sp. 1E, Great Crested grebe 14 on sea, Gannet 20E, Common Scoter 70 on sea, Red-breasted Merganser 1E, Sandwich Tern 36E plus c65 roosting in a tight group on Southwick Beach with another c20 very distantly roosting on Portslade Beach.  Shelduck still on the Adur at low tide but few gulls and nothing of note picked out amongst them.  Too cold to venture out again.

Shelduck still on the Adur and not always asleep ...