West Sussex (21 March-05 April 2024)

Thursday 21 March. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 2, Chiffchaff 2, Stonechat 1 male, Goldfinch 6. Widewater: Wheatear 10 on beach (mostly males), Meadow Pipit 1. Adur: Curlew 1, Common Gull 120.

Wheatears at Widewater

Friday 22 March. Shoreham Fort: Eider 1 immature male, Great Crested Grebe 1 in harbour, Oystercatcher 3, Turnstone 1, Purple Sandpiper 1, Cormorant 1 adult sinensis, Raven 1. Park Avenue: Lord Derby's Parakeet 1 female (male Ring-necked not seen).

Continental Cormorant at Shoreham Fort, a striking bird

immature drake Eider in Shoreham Harbour

Purple Sandpiper on the wooden jetty at Shoreham Fort

Saturday 23 March. Southwick Canal with Cookie. Raven 1. 

Sunday 24 March. Lancing Ring with Megan and Cookie: Stock Dove 2, Buzzard 1, Kestrel 1, Skylark 6+, Chiffchaff 3, Corn Bunting 5.

Monday 25 March. Widewater 06:50-09:20: Brent Goose 205E, Common Scoter 9E, Great Crested Grebe 1, Oystercatcher 1E, Mediterranean Gull 1 adult E, Sandwich Tern 8E, Red-throated Diver 3E & 1 on sea, Gannet 9 off-shore.

Brent Geese passing Widewater

Tuesday 26 March. Shoreham Fort with Cookie 09:30-11:00: Brent Goose 77E, Common Scoter 108E, Eider 1 immature male, Great Crested Grebe 1 in harbour, Turnstone 8, Sandwich Tern 1 E, Great Northern Diver 1 on sea, Red-throated Diver 7E & 2on sea, Gannet 4E. Cormorant 1 adult sinensis, Raven 1. Crown Road: 5 Stock Doves on our lawn.

the striking Continental Cormorant still at Shoreham Harbour

Wednesday 27 March. Widewater 07:10-09:15: Brent Goose 38E, Teal 2E, Common Scoter 22E, Great Crested Grebe 3 on sea, Oystercatcher 1E, Mediterranean Gull 2 adults E, Sandwich Tern 1E, Arctic Skua 1E (dark morph), Red-throated Diver 4E, diver sp. 3E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 5E. Adur: Mediterranean Gull 1 second-summer, Cormorant 1 adult sinensis. Sullington Way: both Lord Derby's and Ring-necked Parakeets.

second-summer Mediterranean Gull on the Adur

Thursday 28 March. Brooklands with Megan and Cookie: Goldeneye 1 female, Cetti's Warbler 2 heard, Chiffchaff heard.

Goldeneye at Brooklands

Friday 29 March. Widewater 06:55-08:30: Brent Goose 80E, Common Scoter 42E, Red-breasted Merganser 2E (male and female), Great Crested Grebe 1W & 1 on sea, Little Gull 1 close juvenile E, Mediterranean Gull 14E (10 adults & 4 second-summers), Sandwich Tern 1E, Arctic Skua 1E (dark morph), Red-throated Diver 4E, diver sp. 3E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 5E.

Saturday 30 March. Widewater 06:25-08:35: Brent Goose 44E, Canada Goose 2E, Mute Swan 14 juveniles W, Egyptian Goose 3E, Common Scoter 39E, Great Crested Grebe 4E and 5 on sea, Turnstone 11 on beach, Mediterranean Gull 6E (4 adults & 2 second-summers), Sandwich Tern 9E, Red-throated Diver 2E, Cormorant 1 adult sinensis, Wheatear 1 female on the beach. Rackham with Megan, Nessa, Chris & Cookie: Shoveler 20+, Wigeon 30+, Teal 10+, White-tailed Eagle 1 distant sub-adult (Solent hopper), Buzzard 2, Coal Tit 2, Nuthatch heard.

Sunday 31 March. Widewater 07:25 BST-09:25: Brent Goose 10E, Canada Goose 4 drifted E, Common Scoter 173E, Great Crested Grebe 1E & 1 on sea, Curlew 1W, Turnstone 11 on beach, Kittiwake 1E, Mediterranean Gull 2E (adults), Sandwich Tern 21E, Red-throated Diver 2E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 2E, Wheatear 1 on beach, Meadow Pipit 8E. Mill Hill: Buzzard 1, Peregrine 1 overhead & 1 on chimney, Skylark 3, Chiffchaff 4, Song Thrush 2, Robin 10, Linnet 3, Goldfinch 5.

Canada Geese passing Widewater

Monday 01 April. Widewater 07:20-09:20: Common Scoter 32E, Great Crested Grebe 1E & 1 on sea, Mediterranean Gull 2E (adults), Sandwich Tern 4E:1W, Red-throated Diver 3E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 3, Kestrel 1. 

Rampion

Tuesday 02 April. Mill Hill with Cookie: Buzzard 1, Peregrine 1 on chimney, Skylark 4, Chiffchaff 1, Mistle Thrush 1, Linnet 2, Goldfinch 3.

Linnet on Mill Hill

Wednesday 03 April. Rackham (two visits): Shoveler 30+, Gadwall, Wigeon 120+, Teal 100+, Red Kite 1, Green Woodpecker 1 heard, Merlin 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 1 heard, Coal Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, Nuthatch 1. TQ0310 South Downs Farmland Bird Survey: Grey Partridge 3, Red-legged Partridge 4, Stock Dove 27, Woodpigeon 70, Red Kite 3, White-tailed Eagle 1 (near adult Solent hopper), Buzzard 2, Raven 1, Skylark 4, Chiffchaff 1, Chaffinch 6, Linnet 25, Goldfinch 2.

Hare near the Burgh

near adult White-tailed Eagle near the Burgh

Thursday 04 April. Widewater 07:00-08:30: Brent Goose 35E, Turnstone 7 on beach, Bar-tailed Godwit 1W, Sandwich Tern 4E, diver sp. 1W, Fulmar 3W, Gannet 3W. Mill Hill: Skylark 3, Long-tailed Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1.

Friday 05 April. Middle Road: Stock Dove 2 in garden, Lord Derby's and Ring-necked Parakeet pair Sullington Way.

Cookie on Mill Hill

Peregrine over Mill Hill