Caspian Gull at Widewater and the first Wheatear (09-11 March)

Sunday 09 March. A disappointing seawatch at Widewater from 06:45-07:45 produced just 2 Common Scoter flying east, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea and 8 Gannets offshore. I walked along the beach to Brooklands seeing 10 Ringed Plover and 24 Dunlin but no early Wheatear or, when there, any sign of yesterday's Caspian Gull. Megan picked me up and we went to Worthing for a couple of hours. On the way back Megan dropped me at Widewater where I joined Richard Allen who had just found a first-winter Caspian Gull on the eastern island. Expecting it to be yesterday's bird close examination revealed it to be a different, slightly less distinctive individual. After about 10 minutes, and for no apparent reason, it flew high east, doubled back and disappeared off to the west. Later the female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets were feeding on buds at St Nicholas & St Mary School car park.

similar to the Brooklands bird but with more worn tertials and median coverts and more patterned scapulars (see Richard's comparison below)

focusing issues as it flew off east

better as it circled around before flying directly away

Caspian Gull comparison produced by Richard Allen although I think the Widewater bird looks a bit dingier than it did in field (see also above images)

Monday 10 March. Harbour Way/Boardwalk and Shoreham Fort with Megan and Otis: distant views of Eider and Raven. I'd only been home 10 minutes when a Wheatear was found at the Fort. How annoying not to have seen it! I returned that afternoon and after several circuits of the Fort finally saw the Wheatear. It was my earliest in Sussex by two days although 10 March matched one I'd seen in Hampshire in 1983 and a day later than my earliest, on the Isle of Wight on 9 March 1977. All were males. I also had better views of the male Eider and Raven. 

the first spring Wheatear is always rather special, even when one doesn't find it

Tuesday 11 March. Mile Oak/Truleigh Hill/Thundersbarrow circuit with Frank and Otis: Grey Partridge and Common Snipe (flushed from beside the track by Otis), 2 Buzzards, 5 Skylarks, Meadow Pipit and 45 Corn Buntings. It was good to go birding with Frank Lambert again but a mostly dull morning with a strong wind didn't help us.