Local birding around Shoreham (21-30 November)

Tuesday 21 November. Dacres Gardens/Coombes/Botolphs with Cookie: Common Sandpiper 1, Kestrel 1, Stonechat 2, Pied Wagtail 18.

Common Sandpiper on the Adur just north of Downslink bridge

Wednesday 22 November. Harbour Way/Boardwalk/Shoreham Fort/Harbour with Megan and Cookie: Eider 1, Black Redstart 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Rock Pipit 1.

Black Redstart on a roof by Sussex Wharf

Rock Pipit at Shoreham Fort

Thursday 23 November. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 2, Song Thrush 1, Goldfinch 2.

Friday 24 November. No Man's Land/Lychpole Bottom/South Downs Way with David Buckingham and Cookie (shooting at NML caused a change of route): Grey Partridge 7, Red-legged Partridge 2, Stock Dove 120, Woodcock 1 (DB only), Red Kite 2, Buzzard 3, Kestrel 2, Raven 1, Skylark 5, Goldcrest 1, Song Thrush 4, Fieldfare 13, Stonechat 3, Pied Wagtail 20, Meadow Pipit 15, Linnet 95, Goldfinch 20, Corn Bunting 3, Yellowhammer 3, Hare 1.

Saturday 25 November. Adur Saltings with Megan and Cookie: Turnstone 30+, Redshank 35+, Greenshank 1.

Sunday 26 November. Beeding Hill triangle with David Buckingham and Cookie: Red Kite 1, Buzzard 2, Kestrel 2, Peregrine 2, Skylark 200+, Long-tailed Tit 3, Goldcrest 2, Redwing 1, Fieldfare 1, Stonechat 5 pairs, Linnet 60, Goldfinch 35, Corn Bunting 1, Yellowhammer 3.

Monday 27 November. Harbour Way/Adur Ferry Bridge/Boardwalk/Fort with Megan and Cookie: Teal 33, Eider 1, Turnstone 6, Purple Sandpiper 1, Common Snipe 55+, Meadow Pipit 2, Rock Pipit 1. 

Purple Sandpiper with Turnstone: high tide at Shoreham Fort

Tuesday 28 November. No Man's Land with Cookie (no shooting today): Red-legged Partridge 4, Stock Dove 400+, Red Kite 3, Buzzard 4, Kestrel 2, Jay 1, Skylark 15, Redwing 3, Fieldfare 15, Stonechat 7, Chaffinch 3, Linnet 45, Goldfinch 16, Corn Bunting 5, Yellowhammer 3, Reed Bunting 5.

Corn Bunting at No Man's Land

Wednesday 29 November. Brief walk along the Adur at high tide with Megan and Cookie: Brent Goose 2, Lapwing 64, Grey Plover 1. The rest of the day packing ...

Thursday 30 November. Brief walk around Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Great Spotted Woodpecker h, Green Woodpecker h, Blue Tit 2, Blackbird 8, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 2, Fieldfare 1. No finches at all.

Sussex and a lingering Sabine's Gull (12-20 November)

Sunday 12 November. Norman's Bay: Brent Goose 30, Great Crested Grebe 1, Turnstone 30, Grey Phalarope 1, Sabine's Gull 1 juvenile, Little Gull 3+, Mediterranean Gull 1 second-winter. West Rise Marsh (rather flooded): Common Snipe 2, Yellow-legged Gull 2 adults, Water Rail heard, Cetti's Warbler heard, Water Pipit 4. Birling and Belle Tout: Sparrowhawk 1, Goldcrest 3, Song Thrush 1, Stonechat 2, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 12. Cuckmere (west side): Brent Goose 6, Barnacle Goose 1, Great Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull 2, Long-tailed Tit 7, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 3.

juvenile Sabine's Gull at Norman's Bay

Sabine's and Little Gull at Norman's Bay

Little Gull at Norman's Bay

Sabine's Gull and Grey Phalarope at Norman's Bay

Grey Phalarope at Norman's Bay

Demolition preparations at Birling Gap due to coastal erosion

The National Trust Cafe has been moved to the right of the shop

Monday 13 November. Widewater 07:25-08:25: Brent Goose 22W, Little Grebe 1, Coot 1, Turnstone 3, Little Gull 1 adult E, Mediterranean Gull 1 adult E. Shoreham Harbour: Eider 1 immature male. Mill Hill with Cookie: Merlin 1, Skylark 2, Goldcrest 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Chaffinch 2.

Eider in Shoreham Harbour

Tuesday 14 November. Adur Saltings at high tide with Cookie: Brent Goose 4, Lapwing 10+39 on airport, Teal 15, Grey Plover 3, Common Snipe 21, Dunlin 1, Redshank 23, Greenshank 1, Skylark 9, Meadow Pipit 5, Goldfinch 13, Reed Bunting 1.

Wednesday 15 November. Steyning Round Hill/No Man's Land with Cookie: Red-legged Partridge 2 heard, Sparrowhawk 2, Red Kite 2, Buzzard 5, Kestrel 1, Merlin 1, Raven 2, Skylark 12, Fieldfare 7, Stonechat 12, Chaffinch 2, Linnet 55, Goldfinch 90, Corn Bunting 3, Yellowhammer 1, Reed Bunting 1. Crown Road: Sparrowhawk 1.

Stonechat near Steyning Round Hill

Thursday 16 November. Southwick Canal and Shoreham Harbour (east side) with Cookie: Eider 1 immature male, Turnstone 9, Sandwich Tern 1.

Eider in Shoreham Harbour

Friday 17 November. Widewater 09:10-10:10 with Cookie: Mute Swan 24 (3 pairs with 8, 3 & 3 cygnets and 4 adults), Little Grebe 11, Coot 1, Stonechat 2 (male and female), Grey Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 1. Rackham Mill with David Buckingham: White-fronted Goose 3, Canada & Greylag Goose, Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing many, Egyptian Goose 2, Pintail 4, Black-tailed Godwit 76, Red Kite 2, Buzzard 3, Green Woodpecker 1, Long-tailed Tit 8, Goldcrest 7, Firecrest 1. Sherwood Rough with David Buckingham: Great Spotted Woodpecker 3, Jay 1, Coal Tit 1, Fieldfare 8, Redwing 50+, Mistle Thrush 1, Stonechat 1 male, Chaffinch 12, Brambling 13, Hawfinch 3, Greenfinch 3, Redpoll 2, Goldfinch 15, Siskin 10, Crossbill heard (DB). An enjoyable day rather spoiled by my misjudging a gap and knocking my wing mirror off on the corner of a stationary lorry a mile short of home.

Stonechat at Widewater

Hawfinch and Brambling at Sherwood Rough

Sunday 19 November. Lancing Ring towards Steepdown with Megan and Cookie: Skylark 10, Fieldfare 3, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 20, Corn Bunting 2.

Monday 20 November. Adur circuit with Megan and Cookie: Egyptian Goose 4, Lapwing 41, Grey Plover 2, Ringed Plover 4, Dunlin 32, Redshank 8, Great Black-backed Gull 78, Kingfisher 1, Meadow Pipit 1.

Egyptian Geese on the Adur

Kingfisher from the Norfolk Bridge

Panattoni construction on the airfield