31st January 2019 - Goring Gap, Littlehampton, Shoreham Harbour, Widewater Lagoon and Brooklands

I started the day at Goring Gap and met up with Nick. We had a seawatch off the beach and hoped for some movement of birds up or down the channel moving ahead of the forecasted snow later in the day. Offshore there were 100+ Great Crested Grebes and several Red-breasted Mergansers although counting them was near impossible due to how choppy the sea was. Further out there was a feeding frenzy near the wind turbines however due to the light it made viewing very difficult and the best we managed were a few Gannets. We also had a single Red-throated Diver east as well as a single Fulmar with the latter being my first off the Gap for 2019. In the roost field there were a few Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Skylark.

We decided after to go and have a look at Littlehampton at the mouth of the River Arun however when we got there the tide was unfortunately still a bit too high for any real numbers of gulls. Only birds we saw here were a few Turnstone and Oystercatcher as well as Black-headed and Herring Gulls.

After Littlehampton we headed back to Worthing and tried the fishing boats where there was a few more gulls however these only consisted of Great Black-backed and Herring. On the greensward opposite Alinora Avenue there was 2 Mediterranean Gulls. We decided to call it a day after the fishing boats and Nick headed home. I decided to press on and try Shoreham Harbour, Widewater Lagoon and Brooklands.

Shoreham Harbour was disappointing with no sign of the Black Redstart or any Purple Sandpipers although i didn't try very hard. Widewater Lagoon was partially frozen (first time I have seen this) and the Eastern lagoon had very few birds just 3 Mute Swans, 2 Mallard and a single Redshank. There was also a few House Sparrows around the bushes in the car park.

On my way to Brooklands from Widewater Lagoon there was a flock of c200 Starlings at New Salts Farm by Shoreham Airport. A quick dash around Brooklands didn't produce much but there was a single Pochard and Teal. As well as 3 Mute Swans and several Coots and Moorhens.

On my way home I had another quick look at Goring Gap but this only produced 2 Stock Doves and several Common Gulls in the roost field.