Shoreham area and Sherwood Rough (08-19 February 2026)

Sunday 08 February 2026. Widewater seawatch 07:45-09:15, light SE, clear and cold: Eider 1E (male), Common Scoter 1E, Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Kittiwake 2E:1W, Razorbill 3E, Red-throated Diver 35E:5W:8 on sea, diver sp. 4E (1 thought likely Black-throated), Fulmar 1E, Gannet 7E:1W. Harbour Way: Black-headed Gull T13H. Shoreham Harbour/Fort with Megan and Otis: Purple Sandpiper and Rock Pipit.

Purple Sandpiper at the base of the Western Arm of Shoreham Harbour

Black-headed Gull T13H at Harbour Way, a bird I'd previously seen here in February 2022. It was ringed in Poland in April 2020 when it was an adult and seen there in April 2021 and elsewhere in Poland in June and July 2025

Monday 09 February 2026. Cissbury with Megan and Otis: Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, 8 Skylarks, single Linnet and male Yellowhammer. Sullington Way before dusk with Otis: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets.

Lord Derby's Parakeet above Sullington Way

Tuesday 10 February 2026. Adur Toll Bridge to Widewater with Otis: 5 Coot, 8 Little Grebes, 101 Lapwings, 2 Grey and 17 Ringed Plover, 37 Dunlin, 25 Turnstones, Greenshank and 250 Black-headed, 2 adult Mediterranean, 130 Common and 850 Herring Gulls. Sullington Way before dusk with Otis: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets.

Wednesday 11 February 2026. Widewater seawatch 08:00-09:30, mod/strong WSW, viz < Rampion: Pintail 1 prob. E, Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Oystercatcher 2E, Ringed Plover 4E, Dunlin 8E, Guillemot 1W, Razorbill 1E:6W, Red-throated Diver 2E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 2W, Shag 1E, Cormorant 4 offshore. 

Thursday 12 February 2026. Shoreham Harbour (East side, breakwater closed) with Otis. 6 Cormorants.

Friday 13 February 2026. Adur with Otis: Little Grebe, 5 Oystercatchers, 60+ Lapwings, 3 Grey Plover, Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, Common Sandpiper (from Toll Bridge), 6 Redshank, 250+ Black-headed and 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Sullington Way before dusk with Otis: female Lord Derby's on its own.

Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls on the Adur

nice to have my camera back - Dunnock by the Adur

Saturday 14 February 2026. Mile Oak/Truleigh Hill circuit with Otis: 28 species including 100+ Stock Doves, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 20+ Skylarks, 2 Song Thrushes, Redwing, 4 Stonechats, 15 Meadow Pipits and a flock of 450+ Linnets in set-aside/supplementary feeding. Sullington Way before dusk with Otis: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets. Crown Road: 1000+ Starlings flying E to roost.

large Linnet flock at Perching Manor Farm set-aside

countable part of the Linnet flock (195 birds here)

more of the Linnet flock

Ring-necked Parakeet above Sullington Way

Sunday 15 February 2026. Sullington Way before dusk with Otis: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets.

Monday 16 February 2026. Adur/Saltings at high tide with Megan and Otis: 25 Teal, single Little and Great Crested Grebes (latter opposite airport), 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 150 Common Snipe and 40+ Redshank.

Tuesday 17 February 2026. Sherwood Rough with RP, 11:10-15:00, noisy & muddy due to forestry work: 4 Stock Doves, 3 Buzzards, Kestrel, 2 Chaffinches, 8 Hawfinches, 3 Linnets and Crossbill and Siskin heard. Rackham Watchpoint with RP: 2 Egyptian Geese, 50+ Pintail, 100+ Teal, 500+ Lapwing, 4 Great Egrets, 2 White-tailed Eagles (adult & immature) and Coal Tit heard.

Wednesday 18 February 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: Little and Great Crested Grebes, 95 Lapwing, 2 Grey Plover and a Dunlin.

Thursday 19 February 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Buzzard, Green Woodpecker heard, 5 vocal Skylarks, 2 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwings and 9 Goldfinches. The Herdwicks had been moved on since our last visit.