Mill Hill and Old Lodge (13 April)

Wednesday 13th. I visited Mill Hill hoping there might be some migrants about. A Willow Warbler by the car park was encouraging but that was pretty much it, until I reached the conifer copse where a Brambling was calling. Later Megan and I walked around Old Lodge seeing all the hoped for specialities - Redstart, Wood Lark, Cuckoo and Tree Pipit. Roger, Bob and Keith pointed out a Redpoll I would probably have overlooked. A Mandarin flying over was unexpected and we saw a Dartford warbler on the way home. A very enjoyable visit, pity it takes us an hour to drive there.

Brambling at Mill Hill

Worthing from Mill Hill

South Downs from Old Lodge

Redstart at Old Lodge

Tree Pipit

Dartford Warbler

Tuesday 12th. The demolition of Southlands Hospital continues ...

Monday 11th. A Wheatear on the Pitch and Put course near Hove Lagoon as I was cycling home.

enjoyable Seaford seawatch (10 April)

Sunday 10th. With a south easterly wind forecast I arrived at Seaford at 06:20, just after Jon King, and we squeezed through the barriers at Splash Point to join Liam. Other observers arrived including Matt who had little to report from Seaford Head where he had spent the first hour of daylight. Jon and I stayed 6 hours although a couple more Brent flocks kept me there to 12:40. Highlight of our watch was a Manx Shearwater picked up by Matt initially heading west before turning left and some close terns. The Manx was my first for 4 years (!!) and the closest I have seen past Seaford. I also logged 12 Red-throated, 5 Black-throated and 3 unidentified divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, just 4 Gannets, 324 Brent, 5 Teal, 6 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 2 Eider, 788 Common and 2 immature Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Oystercatcher, Grey plover, Sanderling, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Arctic and a Great Skua, 13 Mediterranean and 4 Little Gulls, 365 Sandwich, 37 Commic, 27 Arctic and 18 Common Terns and 7 auks. I also saw two Swallows coming in. Very enjoyable and at times birds were passing almost too quickly to note down.

Saturday 9th. Thinking heavy overnight rain might have grounded some migrants I visited Mill Hill but the only likely new arrivals seen during an hour of walking around were 3 Willow Warblers. A distant Cetti's Warbler was heard and 2 Buzzards, 2 Jays and a Yellowhammer seen. Later Megan and I visited Pulborough RSPB seeing a Sparrowhawk over our road as we left. A nice walk but juvenile Peregrine, 2 Swallows, Nuthatch, Jay and 2 Bullfinches were the best we saw.

Willow Warbler at Mill Hill, my first of the year

juvenile peregrine at Pulborough

Thursday 7th. From 07:00-08:00 at Shoreham Harbour 3 Sandwich Terns flew east and two Sandwich Terns and a Common Scoter west, dire!  Five Great Crested Grebes on the sea the highlight. An early evening low-tide visit to the Adur produced few gulls and nothing else.

Rampion platform

Wednesday 6th. From 07:00-08:30 at Shoreham Harbour in a strong westerly I saw Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmars, 10 Brent Geese, and 9 Sandwich Terns flying east and 2 purple sandpipers with 14 Turnstone below the wooden jetty. At low tide (late afternoon) on the Adur about 600 gulls were loafing around. most were Herring and included a North Thames bird (F3NT) I had seen previously this winter.

pilot boat going out in a choppy sea

North Thames Herring Gull F3NT

Monday 4th. A Peregrine on Southwick Power Station and a Sparrowhawk over Holmbush.

first signs of spring (27 March-3 April).

Sunday 3 April. Seawatching from Shoreham Harbour from 06:30-08:30 had just about enough passing to keep one's interest. Mostly it was ones, twos or threes so totals were not large. I saw 4 Red-throated Divers (and one unidentified), 8 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 55 Common Scoter, 5 Little Gulls (3 adults) and 17 Sandwich Terns. All were flying East while 24 Turnstones were in the harbour as was a Normandy colour-ringed Greater Black-backed Gull that unfortunately flew before I could read it. Later Megan and I walked up to the Burgh seeing Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, 3 Grey Partridges, Yellowhammer, a Reed and 20 Corn Buntings and 11 Hares. At low tide a new North Thames Herring Gull was on the Adur and a Chiffchaff in the bushes there. 

Pheasant at the burgh - not as well hidden as it thinks

North Thames Herring Gull Z9HT

Saturday 2nd April. A fresh SE wind had birds moving up channel and waking at 05:45 I decided to head to Seaford rather than trying Shoreham. Between 06:45-11:15 I saw 51 Divers of which one was identified as Black-throated and 33 Red-throated, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 426 Brent Geese, 316 Common Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, Arctic skua, 4 Mediterranean and 42 Little Gulls and 226 Sandwich and 4 Common Terns. highlight of the morning was a close Velvet Scoter that I failed to see. Watching from above Splash Point took some getting used to and was not a success although later trying from the car park wasn't ideal either with increasing numbers of by-passers interrupting viewing. Squeezing around the new fence at splash Point of sitting on the beach would seem better options for the future. I called in at Newhaven Tidemills on my way home. There was hardly any water in it at all but the Spotted Redshank was present near the bridge. An afternoon walk around Mill Hill with Megan was almost birdless.

Brent passing Seaford, my first 'busy' seawatch this spring even if variety might have been a bit better

Spotted Redshank at Newhaven Tidemills

showing first signs of summer plumage

very gooey mud

Friday 1st April. Dreaming again

unusual bird seen on a seawatch ... if only!

Thursday 31st March. A Peregrine was on Southwick Power Station on my way to work and a brief stop at Brighton Pavilion Gardens produced the two Firecrests and a Chiffchaff. I hoped for more crests in a lunchtime walk in Stanmer Park but had to settle for Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and Jay. Cycling home a Wheatear was on Southwick Beach.

Wednesday 30th March. Cycling home through central Brighton a male Pheasant was on the side of the road just before St James Street. It looked rather bewildered as did the one or two passers-by who actually noticed it.

Herring Gull A4AH and mate at Sussex University

I've been seeing this bird regularly since 2009. It was ringed at the University in April 2007 when already an adult

Central Brighton street scene with Brighton/Palace Pier straight ahead

an unusual visitor looking somewhat lost

Tuesday 29th March. A single Sandwich Tern flew East at Shoreham Harbour where 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the wooden jetty and a Chiffchaff by the Fort. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew North up the Adur and a Raven and 2 Bullfinches were seen at Mill Hill. In the afternoon Megan and I walked along the river bank and to Botolphs. Slim pickings continue.

after the storm on Shoreham Beach

Raven over Mill Hill

early Small Tortoishell on the Adur riverbank

 Monday 28th March. A morning at Pulborough made a nice change, especially as Gordon Beck had found an American Wigeon there the previous evening. I also saw Firecrest (thanks to Nick Bond), 15 Sand Martins, Swallow and male Bullfinch but the lack of waders was disappointing. As was me a few days later thinking I had deleted the few distant images I had taken of the American Wigeon before copying them to my PC. I had, just not saved them where I thought. Old age, memory loss, it is downhill all the way from here ...

American Wigeon and companion (and Goldfinch)

very nice find for Gordon

Sunday 27th March. 95 Brent Geese, 2 Common Scoter and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew east during an hours seawatch at Shoreham Harbour. Two Jays were in the 'crest bushes' at New Salts Farm so it was no surprise there were no crests there. Megan, Vanessa and I visited Uppark fortunately being inside for most of the heavy showers. We stopped at Ivy Lake on the way back, seeing 12 Sand Martins and a Swallow, and had a walk around Chichester where a pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling.

view from Shoreham Fort

glad I wasn't out there

Shoreham area (21-26 March)

Saturday 26th. A cold hour at Shoreham Fort but at least there was some movement on the sea. Not much but 44 Brent Geese, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich terns and single Gannet and Fulmar flew east between 7-8am. An hour on the Adur revealed two colour-ringed Herring Gulls and a one-footed Mediterranean Gull that probably had been.

Brent Geese on the move off Shoreham Harbour

Herring Gull J0LT on the Adur. My fourth sighting of this bird on the Adur since November. 

North Thames Herring Gull N5MT. I'd not recorded it before.

one-footed Mediterranean Gull on the Adur

it has a metal ring on its right leg so it seems likely that a colour-ring was fitted on its left. Might it have contributed to the loss of its foot, being more likely to get tangled in fishing-line or attract a biting fish?

a smart bird as always

Friday 25th. Fed up with seeing nothing along the coast Megan and I walked up to Truleigh Hill and were rewarded with two Wheatears and a Raven.

one of two Wheatears near the Rampion pipeline access track at Truleigh Hill. the first Wheatear of the year is always eagerly awaited and usually greatly appreciated although closer views would have been nice ..,

Thursday 24th. Not working but a morning visit to the dentist in Hove allowed me a leisurely cycle checking the beaches for Wheaters. None were seen, the two Peregrines around the Power Station the only noteworthy sighting.

Wednesday 23rd. A Peregrine was on the Power Station and 14 Brent Geese flew west. 

Tuesday 22nd. Two Peregrines were on the Power Station.

Monday 21st. A flock of about 300 Brent Geese flew east at about 07:35 at I was cycling past the King Alfred. A Peregrine was on the Power Station and 2 Ringed Plover on the beach.

Waiting for Spring

20 March. Still very quiet, 07:10-08.40, at Shoreham Fort as the cold northerlies continue. No Wheatears and two Sandwich Terns flying east the only evidence spring might be approaching. Two Rock Pipits looked interesting and three Purple Sandpipiers and 20 Turnstone were roosting at high tide. Later Megan and I walked around Cissbury Ring which, perhaps not unexpectedly, was almost birdless with Chiffchaff heard, 3 Greenfinches and a Yellowhammer.

distant sunshine from Shoreham Harbour

nicer there than over here

roosting Purple Sandpipers

Turnstone and prey

Black-headed Gull in almost full summer plumage

North Thames Herring Gull D1NT by the Lifeboat Station, not one I've recorded before

Rock Pipit on Shoreham Harbour, the darker of two seen

note the extensive white outer-tail feathers

not something normally expected in petrosus

wind turbine platforms from Cissbury

19 March. Very quiet at Shoreham Fort as the cold northerlies continue and the first Wheatear fails to appear. During 08:00-09:10 four Purple Sandpipers on the wooden jetty, two very distant Common Scoter, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and a Gannet were pretty much all I noted. A Peregrine was on the lighting gantry just west of the Power Station. Recent sightings suggest they might be breeding on the flat roof there. 

Rampion offshore windfarm construction progressing rapidly, no Brent Geese passing ...

two bases visible each side of the vessel, already about a dozen have been put down

18 March. A day off and an hour at Shoreham Fort where a Goldcrest and 9 Meadow Pipits came in off the sea - hard work for them in the cold northerly wind. Passage was restricted to 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 31 Black-headed Gulls flying east while 5 Brent Geese seemed content sitting on the sea. One Purple Sandpiper was on the wooden jetty and a Peregrine on the corner of the Power Station. Two Chiffchaffs were at Widewater, one singing, although I gather they had been around for a few days. Later at low tide the gulls on the Adur included North Thames Herring Gulls AU9T and P3GT, I had seen both there in mid November. 

Fisheries Patrol Vessel leaving Shoreham Harbour in a hurry. note plastic Eagle Owl in  the rigging.

White-winged Crow at Widewater

 

Herring Gull AU9T.  First seen on the Adur in March 2013, it was my 7th sighting of this bird. It had been ringed as a first-winter at Rainham in December 2011

Herring Gull P3GT. Well travelled around South East England, since bring ringed as a second-calendar year in March 2014 it has been recorded at Beddington, London Wetland Centre, Dungeness, River Adur (by me) and Beddington again.

17 March. A Peregrine on on the corner of Shoreham Power Station on my way home.

16 March. Megan and I visited Boxgrove and the Trundle. We saw a Coal Tit and 4 Buzzards. Two Buzzards were at Mill Hill on our return while a bird appearing to show some Rough-legged features - white rump and tail with dark terminal bar - was over the A27 near Eartham. Megan was driving and it wasn't somewhere we could have stopped, besides only van drivers claim rare raptors from the A27.

demolition of Southlands Hospital

sad when it is at the top of our road and both our children were born there

Megan looking south west from the Trundle trig point. The Isle of Wight was obscured by murk.

14 March. Two Peregrines on the corner of Shoreham Power Station on my way home.

12 March.  Thick fog over the Adur and poor visibility at Shoreham Fort with the fog bank to the west not clearing during the hour I attempted a seawatch.  Only 2 Brent Geese and 14 Black-headed Gulls made it through the fog but a Black Redstart singing briefly from the Fort railings, the Glaucous Gull on the western beach and a Grey Wagtail arriving on the harbour wall made the visit worthwhile. Quite a change in the afternoon with bright sunshine and a Greenshank by the Houseboats.

Black Redstart on the railings of Shoreham Fort

it was singing rather half-heartedly

the first-winter Glaucous Gull on the beach to the west of Shoreham Harbour

after 20 minutes of so it flew off west into the fog

it was later seen back at goring gap before flying out to sea

11 March. Tide not quite so low and nothing of note amongst the gulls on Southwick Beach but the Glaucous Gull was on the inner arm of Shoreham Harbour.

10 March. Nice to be going home in daylight and with the tide low there were plenty of gulls on exposed mud to look at. They including an adult Mediterranean on Southwick Beach and the first-winter Glaucous Gull on Kingston Beach.

9 March. Still on Mexico time and not enjoying the cold weather! Megan and I walked around Steepdown seeing 15 Sky Larks, Yellowhammer and 40 Corn Buntings. Late afternoon 5 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin with the Short-eared Owl somewhat distantly flying around the rough ground west of the Airfield.