Autumn slipping away in West Sussex (01-10 November 2025)

Monday 03 November 2025. Widewater: 30 Mute Swans (1 juvenile), 14 Teal, 7 Little Grebes, 2 Coot, 3 Turnstones and 2 Gannets W. Adur (Toll Bridge-Rec) with Megan and Otis, highish tide:3 Little Egrets, 2 Kingfishers, Jay heard, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler heard, 2 Meadow and a Rock Pipit and 3 Goldfinches. 

Tuesday 04 November 2025. Thorney Island (Deeps-Marker Point) with RP: 1400 Brent Geese, 50 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 80 Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 30 Teal, Tufted Duck, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Little and 2 Great Crested Grebes, Oystercatcher, 80 Lapwing, 3 Grey and 300+ Golden Plover, 3 Curlew, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 12 Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns, Cattle, Great and 6 Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk, male and female/juv Marsh Harriers, Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats, Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow and 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Greenfinches, 8 Linnets and a Snow Bunting. Adur (Toll Bridge-Cuckoos Corner) at dusk: adult Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher and Stonechat.

Oystercatcher at Marker Point, Thorney. On seeing us it flew 10m and landed on the sea, not the behaviour of a well bird

Grey Plover at Thorney Deeps

Snow Bunting at Thorney Deeps. The previous day it had been seen on the sea wall so there was a certain amount of disappointment at distant views but relief that it was still present after several hours of not finding it

unhelpful view of an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur at dusk

Wednesday 05 November 2025. Widewater 07:15-08:45, light/mod SSE: 30 Mute Swans, 14 Teal and 10 Little Grebe on the lagoon, 7 Turnstones on the beach, offshore Common Scoter 6E, Razorbill 1W and Gannet 4. Adur (Toll Bridge-Dacres Gardens) with Otis: 8 Egyptian Geese, Little Grebe, 5 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 3 Little Egrets, Skylark, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, 28 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Reed Buntings. Brooklands with RP and Otis: 2 Little Grebes, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Pallas's Leaf Warbler (excellent find for BJ & PJ), Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrests, 6+ Goldcrests, Treecreeper, Chaffinch and Siskin heard.

Common Sandpipers hitching a ride upriver with the rising tide

Egyptian Geese over the Adur

not the goose one hopes to see flying over at this time of year

Thursday 06 November 2025. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: 3 Little Grebe, 14 Ringed Plover (on the beach), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, 4 Goldfinches and Redpoll heard. Buckingham Park with Otis: a Brambling and 12 Goldfinches.

Friday 07 November 2025. Shoreham Fort with Otis: 5 Ringed Plover and 3 Turnstones on the beach, Purple Sandpipier and Rock Pipit on the harbour (wooden jetty and west arm respectively) and offshore Brent Goose 27W, Razorbill 13E and unidentified auks 8E:7W. Southwick Canal with Otis: nothing. 

Rock Pipit on Shoreham Harbour 

Saturday 08 November 2025. Mill Hill 07:35-10:45, latterly with Megan and Otis: flying west 57 Stock Doves and 105 Woodpigeons, Merlin flying NW, 6 Skylarks, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Goldcrests, Song Thrush, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinches and a Goldfinch heard. Coronation Green/Town Quay: Grey Plover, Dunlin and 8 Redshank.

Sunday 09 November 2025. Dacres Gardens/Bramber circuit with Megan and Otis: Red-head Goosander, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, male Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipits and 9 Goldfinches.

Goosander on the Adur at Dacres Gardens

Monday 10 November 2025. Widewater 07:40-10:40, moderate SSW, poor viz, heavy showers: 33 Mute Swans, red-head Goosander, 10 Little Grebes, 2 Coot  and a Kingfisher on the lagoon, 2 Meadow Pipits on the beach and offshore Common Scoter (4E), Great Crested Grebe (1W:1 on sea), Kittiwake (1W), Red-throated Diver (1W) and Gannet (9E:17W). Brooklands (north section), 11:00-13:30, heavy showers: Sparrowhawk, 4+ Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Firecrests and 6 Goldcrests.

Meadow Pipit at Widewater

Goosander on the island on Widewater (considered different from the Adur bird)