Another week around Shoreham (02-08 March)

Monday 08 March. I seawatched from Widewater for 90 minutes seeing just 20 Brent Geese, an adult Mediterranean Gull and an unidentified and a Red-throated Diver flying east. I met Megan and Cookie at Harbour Way and we walked along to Emerald Quay and back along the boardwalk to the Fort. A Chiffchaff was in one of the gardens, presumably newly arrived, and a Black Redstart on the Fort. At low tide I visited the Adur walking up to check the Cuckoos Corner gull roost. Only about 200 gulls were present but they did include 2 adult Mediterraneans, one with a colour-ring. Also on the Adur were 2 Shelduck, a Little Grebe, 12 Ringed Plover and 16 Dunlin.

Black Redstart on Shoreham Fort

presumably the Sailing Club bird

Mediterranean Gull at Cuckoos Corner

it landed and was joined by a second

which, when it came out of the river, showed off its colour-ring 

it was ringed as a chick at De Kreupel Island, Enkhuizen, Ijsselmeer, Noord-Holland in June 2016 and has been seen at Minsmere in June 2018, Icklesham in late March/early April 2019, Total, Antwerpen in July 2019, Copt Point, Folkestone in November 2019; Icklesham in late February/mid March 2020 and Copt Point again in late October 2020

a particularly smart Common Gull stealing the limelight

Sunday 07 March. Megan and I took Cookie up to Mill Hill. I recorded 26 species in just under 90 minutes, the best being Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Redwings and a Mistle Thrush.

Mistle Thrush and a few small insects at Mill Hill

Saturday 06 March. Another disappointing seawatch from Widewater. This time it was very clear and whatever was moving was a long way out. David Buckingham being present for most of it made little difference to the end result. I saw 23 Brent Geese, 4 presumed Common Scoter, a Kittiwake, 4 distant auks, 9 divers (5 identified as Red-throated), a Fulmar and 15-20 Gannets. After Widewater we met at Harbour Way seeing the Black Redstart in Shoreham Sailing Club and presumably the same on Shoreham Fort when we walked around. We again met on the Adur seeing 3 Grey Plover, 29 Turnstones and 8 Dunlin. I walked up to Cuckoos Corner seeing 4 Mediterranean Gulls amongst about 300 Commons. One had a colour-ring as did a Herring Gull (from North Thames). Megan had some pea sticks for the allotment to collect from near Pulborough and we took Cookie for a walk around Rackham on the way home seeing a Coal and 3 Long-tailed Tits. It is a long time since I've thought it a good place for woodland birds.

Black Redstart at Shoreham Sailing Club

presumably the same bird on Shoreham Fort fewer than ten minutes later

Mediterranean Gull ALJY in the roost near Cuckoos Corner

a German bird

it was ringed as male chick in June 2013 at Pionierinsel Lühe, on the west bank of the Elbe, north of Hamburg and seen there and at nearby Grünendeich in July 2013, back at Pionierinsel Lühe in April 2015; on the East Frisian Island of Minsener Oog in July 2017; Pionierinsel Lühe in April 2019; Schillighafen (on the coast south of Minsener Oog) in August 2020 and at Hooksiel (north of Wilhelmshaven) in September 2020

Friday 05 March. Not feeling very energetic Megan and I took Cookie to the Adur only seeing 3 Grey Plovers and 4 Dunlin of note.

Thursday 04 March. I seawatched from Widewater in poor visibility seeing 52 Brent Geese, a Kittiwake and 2 Red-throated Divers flying east. Ten Great Crested Grebes were on the sea and a Knot along the tideline, before being flushed over towards the saltings by dog walkers. Megan and Cookie joined me to walk along the sand (it was a decent low tide) without seeing anything else. I stopped at the Adur seeing the Knot, Avocet, 3 Dunlin and 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls opposite the airport. Walking up to Cuckoos Corner was more productive with about 800 Common Gulls including 2 with colour-rings and 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls some of which were different from those by the airport.

Avocet on the Adur

Mediterranean Gull near the airport

Mediterranean Gulls at Cuckoos Corner

Common Gull JC786 at Cuckoos Corner

it was ringed as chick in July 2018 at Søndre Krægan, Lindesnes, Vest-Agder, Norway and has not been reported since

Common Gull X73P at Cuckoos Corner

it was ringed as breeding adult in May 2013 at a colony at Gräbendorfer See near Cottbus, SE of Berlin

Knot on the Adur

Wednesday 03 March. An hour seawatching from Widewater in poor visibility was more than enough for me with 2 Brent Geese flying west to show for it. Returning home I took Megan and Cookie to Brooklands which wasn't much clearer/better. We saw 19 Teal, 2 Little Grebes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Tuesday 02 March. I seawatched from Widewater seeing 10 Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-throated Divers. The Avocet was still on the Adur with a Grey Plover and 3 Dunlin. I met Megan and Cookie art Mill Hill which was also very quiet with a Jay, 2 Sky Larks, 3 Chaffinches and 3 Greenfinches best.

poor visibility at Widewater

Avocet on the Adur

Jay on Mill Hill