Gulls, Shrike and Harriers (11-22 November 2025)

Tuesday 11 November 2025. River Adur (Toll Bridge to Saltings) with Otis: 46 Lapwings, 2 Grey Plover, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, Greenshank, 111 Great and 11 Lesser Black-backed and an adult Yellow-legged Gull, Jay, 6 Skylarks, 2 Meadow Pipits and 2 Goldfinches.

adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Greenshank on the Adur Saltings at low tide

Wednesday 12 November 2025. River Adur (Toll Bridge to Dog's Trust) with Megan and Otis: 49 Lapwings, 2 Grey Plover, 26 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin and 70 Great Black-backed Gulls. Middle Road: Sparrowhawk over at dusk.

Thursday 13 November 2025. Beeding Brooks with Otis: 5 Canada Geese, Kestrel, Great Grey Shrike, 20 Fieldfares and 2 Meadow Pipits. River Adur (Toll Bridge to Dog's Trust) with Otis: 48 Lapwings, 49 Ringed Plover and 17 Dunlin.

Great Grey Shrike by the Adur at Beeding Brooks

Fieldfare at Beeding Brooks

Friday 14 November 2025. Widewater with Otis, 09:15-11:30, light SSE, rain: 30 Mute Swans, 2 Teal, red-head Goosander, 12 Little Grebes and a Kingfisher on the lagoon. 09:30-11:00 seawatch: Kittiwake 4E (one a juvenile), Mediterranean Gull 1 adult E, Sandwich Tern 1E, Great Skua 1 offshore then E, Razorbill 9 on sea, unidentified auk 1E and Gannet 3E. Adur with Otis 11:45-14:00, dull and wet: 49 Lapwings, 3 Grey Plover, 47 Ringed Plover, 19 Dunlin and amongst 500+ gulls 116 Great Black-backs and a first-winter Caspian Gull.

first-winter Caspian Gull on the River Adur

Saturday 15 November 2025. River Adur (Toll Bridge to Widewater) with Otis, 09:45-14:45, very light wind, fog slowly clearing: 44 Lapwings, 55 Ringed Plover, 17 Dunlin, Kestrel, Chiffchaff heard, 6 Meadow Pipits and 11 Goldfinches along the river and 30 Mute Swans, the red-head Goosander, 3 Coot, 13 Little Grebes and 1-2 Kingfishers at Widewater.

Kingfisher at Widewater

red-head Goosander at Widewater

another sighting of the leucistic or very faded Herring Gull

Sunday 16 November 2025. Brooklands with Otis: adult Mediterranean Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Coal Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Goldcrests. River Adur at low tide: 3 adult Mediterranean, 131 Great Black-backed and the adult Yellow-legged Gull and 1000+ Starlings (flying E in 3 flocks).

adult Mediterranean Gull at Brooklands

Great Black-backed gull 40T on the Adur. It was ringed when a chick in Le Havre, Normandie, FRANCE in June 2015 and has been reported from Boulogner, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE in April 2016, on the Adur twice in November 2015 and Le Havre in June 2022, April and June 2023, April 2024 and 20 June 2025.

adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Monday 17 November 2025. Buckingham Park: 3 Jays. River Adur at low tide: 24 Ringed Plover, 29 Dunlin and 88 Great Black-backed and the adult Yellow-legged Gull.

this gull caught my eye as a potential second-winter Caspian but it didn't do a lot before disappearing

adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Tuesday 18 November 2025. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 09:15-11:45, just 19 species including 3 Kestrels, 2 Peregrines, 2 Skylarks, 8 Stonechats, 3 Chaffinches, 18 Goldfinches and a Corn Bunting. Sherwood Rough with RP: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Coal Tit, 2 Firecrests, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Nuthatches, Hawfinch and Crossbill (heard). Black Rabbit/Arundel WWT riverbank, 15:30-17:00, with RP: Water Rail (heard), 31 Cattle a Great and a Little Egret, 5 Marsh and 2 Hen Harriers (including an adult male), Tawny Owl (heard), Peregrine, Cetti's Warbler (heard) and 80 Linnets.

Stonechats along the Monarch's Way

male Hen Harrier coming into roost at Arundel WWT (photo: Richard Phillips)

ring-tailed Hen Harrier coming into roost at Arundel WWT (photo: Richard Phillips) - note we'd changed viewing position 

Wednesday 19 November 2025. River Adur before low tide: 7 Ringed Plover, Curlew, 6 Dunlin, 600+ Black-headed, adult Mediterranean, 26 Great Black-backed and the Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Meadow Pipits.

Thursday 20 November 2025. Widewater: 33 Mute and the Black Swan, red-head Goosander, 4 Coot, 16 Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe on the sea and a Kingfisher.

Friday 21 November 2025. Stump Bottom/No Mans Land eastern circuit, 09:10-12:50, with Otis. 31 species seen including 8 Red-legged Partridges, 6 Stock Doves, Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 3 Skylarks, Chiffchaff, Fieldfare, 2 Redwings, 4 Stonechats, 7 Robins, 7 Meadow Pipits, Chaffinch, 200+ Linnets, 35 Goldfinches and 9 Corn and 5 Reed Buntings.

the most colourful of five Reed Bunting seen at Stump Bottom

Saturday 22 November 2025. Widewater, 08:00-09:30, mostly seawatching in mod/strong SW and decent visibility: Brent Goose 1W, Eider 1w male W, Common Scoter 1E,  Great Crested Grebe 5E:1W, Kittiwake 2W, Mediterranean Gull 2 adults W, Razorbill 1E:16W, unidentified auk 1E:6W, Red-throated Diver 2E:1 on sea, Great Northern Diver 1E, Gannet 2E:1W and Cormorant 19E. Also Brent Goose, 33 Mute and the Black Swan, 5 Coot, 8+ Little Grebe and a Meadow Pipit on/by the lagoon. Southwick Canal with Megan and Otis: Peregrine on Power Station chimney.

Peregrine on Southwick Power Station chimney

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)