Around Shoreham (14-18 December)

Friday 18 December. I took Cookie to the Adur for the (early) morning low tide. We saw 110 Lapwings, 60 Great Black-backed, 500 Herring, a first-winter Yellow-legged and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Two colour-ringed gulls were seen - a new Norwegian Great Black-back and a returning North Thames Herring. To be continued.

Norwegian colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull on the Adur

J7UE was ringed as chick on Valløyholmen, Mandal, Vest-Agder, Norway in July 2006 and has been seen at various sites in Vest-Agder in June 2011, May 2013, June 2014, August 2015, July 2019 and July 2020 but this is the first report away from Norway

North Thames Herring Gull Z9HT on the Adur. It was ringed as a first-year at Rainham in Nobvember 2013, seen at Beddingham in May 2014, on the Adur in April 2016, April and December 2017 and Southwick in August 2020

the Lesser Black-backed Gull appeared to be ringed above the knee, the only scheme I could find that does this is a Dutch one but it rings on the left leg. The ring being unreadable to me 

first-winter Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Thursday 17 December. Megan and I took cookie to Lancing Ring and Steepdown. We saw 32 Sky Larks, 8 Redwings, 18 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, a Greenfinch, 3 Linnets and 19 Corn Buntings. On the way home a Sparrowhawk flew over the A27 by the Adur fly-over.

Corn Bunting on Steepdown

Wednesday 16 December. I seawatched from behind a hut at Widewater from 08:30-10:00 sheltering as best I could from the strong SSE wind. I saw Mute Swan (1 pair + 1 youngster on the lagoon), Common Scoter (1W), Red-breasted Merganser (1E), Brent Goose (115E in 6 flocks), Great Crested Grebe (2 o/s), Turnstone (9 o/b), Sanderling (3 o/b), Kittiwake (11E:1W), auk sp. (1E:15W), Guillemot (1E), Razorbill (2E:1W:1 o/b), Red-throated Diver (2E:2W) and Gannet (20E:2W). A quick look at Shoreham Fort produced nothing, waves splashing up onto the wooden jetty were probably preventing waders roosting there. I spent the hour before high tide overlooking the Adur Saltings. It was a big tide that came rushing in flooding most of the saltings and pushing some of the waders off. I saw 2 Mute Swans, 51 Teal, 50+ Lapwings, Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, 34 Common Snipe, 49 Redshank, Greenshank and Reed Bunting. 

Greenshank on the Adur Saltings

Greenshank and Common Snipe

Common Snipe on the Adur Saltings

giving decent views on a high tide

Curlew and Grey Plover on the Adur Saltings

the second Curlew

Tuesday 15 December. I took Cookie up to Beeding Hill and we spent 2.5 hours walking the 'triangle', east along Monarchs Way, north up to Truleigh Hill and back via Room Bottom/Beeding Quarry. My expectations were low at this time of year so an adult male Hen Harrier flying east almost over my head half-way up to Truleigh Hill was a brilliant surprise. Unfortunately it was gone all too quickly as it dipped over into the next valley and was lost to view before my camera would focus on it. The valley was mostly hidden and 10-15 minutes of scanning failed to produce another sighting. Other birds seen on our walk were 2 Kestrels, 700 Jackdaws, 2 Ravens, 48 Sky Larks, 2 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, 3 Stonechats, 28 Meadow Pipits, a male Bullfinch, a single Linnet, just 4 Goldfinches, 19 Corn Buntings and 7 Yellowhammers.

bath time - Corn Buntings on Beeding Hill

male Stonechat on Beeding Hill

Yellowhammers at Truleigh Hill

Ravens at Beeding Hill

Monday 14 December. Megan and I took Cookie up to Mill Hill mid morning and along Southwick Canal in the afternoon. The former was virtually birdless with 2 Grey Wagtails and 4 Greenfinches at the latter.