Spring Os (12-16 April)

Friday 16 April. I took Cookie to the Beeding Hill car park and we spent just over three hours walking the 'Beeding Hill triangle' anticlockwise (as we usually do). I saw Red-legged Partridge, 7 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, 2 Peregrines, 33 Sky Larks, 2 Swallows, Stonechat, 11 Meadow Pipits, 12 Goldfinches and single Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. I'd hoped for more migrants, either arrived or grounded by the cold north wind. Back home with news the Wilmington Ring Ousels were present for a fourth(?) day I decided to go over and spent two hours there seeing at least 7 and probably 8 (5 males and 2, probably 3 females) although most were rather skittish. Also there was a Stonechat.

juvenile Peregrine on a pylon by the Monarch's Way

Green Woodpecker on Truleigh Hill

Ring Ouzels on Wilmington Hill

Stonechat on Wilmington Hill

Thursday 15 April. I seawatched from Widewater from 06:30-08:30 in a cold light NE wind. Flying east I saw just 3 Scoter, 32 Mediterranean Gulls, 13 Sandwich Terns and 6 Gannets. All but two of the Mediterranean Gulls were adults and included a flock of 20. Later around the Adur with Megan and Coookie I saw 2 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel, Grey Heron, 5 Little Egrets, Sky Lark, Chiffchaff and Greenfinch.

Great Black-backed Gull with a crab it had dived on in the surf

Mediterranean Gulls on the move, there are few finer sights on a spring seawatch

Wednesday 14 April. I seawatched from Widewater from 06:30-09:00 in a cold light N veering NE wind. I saw just 2 Brent Geese, 16 distant Scoter, a Grey Plover, 11 Whimbrel, 34 mostly adult Mediterranean Gulls, 19 Sandwich Terns, 3 unidentified divers and 3 Gannets. Most were flying east. 17 Turnstone were feeding on  the rocks while a Sparrowhawk and 2 male Wheatears were briefly on the nearest groyne. I met Megan and Cookie at Harbour Way (2 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls looking settled on a warehouse roof opposite). We walked to the Adur Ferry Bridge where a Swallow flew north and back along the boardwalk to the Fort. There several Wall Lizards were sunning themselves but the only bird seen was a pristine male Wheatear - very smart.

Wall Lizards at Shoreham Fort

Wheatear at Shoreham Fort

Tuesday 13 April. I seawatched from Widewater from 06:30-08:30 before dropping my car off for its MOT. It was hazy with a cold light N wind. 58 Brent Geese, 64 distant Scoter, 23 Mediterranean Gulls, 28 Sandwich Terns and 5 Gannets flew east and a Gadwall and 2 Fulmars west. Best of all 2 Wheatears were on the rocks, a male arriving while I was there. Later Megan took Cookie and me to Mill Hill where we saw 4 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap and Yellowhammer.

Wheatear at Widewater

Chaffinch at Mill Hill

Monday 12 April. I took Cookie to Woods Mill and we walked across to the Downslink, Stretham Bridge and the pool below Wyckham Wood. Despite some light sleet before we left home we were not expecting almost blizzard conditions along West Mill. Needless to say we encountered no Nightingales, neither on the way back in much improved weather although someone we met had heard one in the intervening period. Soon after we joined it we saw a pair of Garganey in a channel running west from the Downlink, presumably one the two pairs that had been seen erratically on Wyckham Pool during the previous 10 days. On arriving there we were told none had been seen that morning. We returned the way we'd come, failing to see the Garganey in a brief look. As well as the Garganey we saw 9 Greylag Geese, 6 Lapwings, Common Snipe, Little Egret, Buzzard, Peregrine, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Swallows, Blackcap, 5 Meadow Pipits and single Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.

less than ideal conditions for Nightingales at West Mill

Garganey from the Downslink

and there was one ...