Local Birding - lockdown round up 3

Obviously this is a very difficult time for all of us in so many ways. With the current government guidelines in place to try and reduce the spread of corona virus, I am now doing all my birding on foot from the flat within sensible walking distance whilst adhering to social distancing measures. I am lucky because Goring Gap and Ferring Rife are a short walk from my front door. New places visited last week included Patching Pond and Patching Hill. 

Highlights from the past week include:

• Arctic Skua - One flew east at Goring Gap on 17 April 2020 and three flew east on 18 April 2020
• Arctic Tern - One flew east at Goring Gap on 18 April 2020
• Bar-tailed Godwit - One on the beach at Goring Gap on 19 April 2020
• Bullfinch - Two at Highdown Hill on 16 April 2020
• Buzzard - Four over the flat on 19 April 2020
• Egyptian Goose -  Two flew east over Ferring on 19 April 2020
• Great Northern Diver - One flew east at Goring Gap on 17 April 2020
• Great Skua -  One offshore and three flew east at Goring Gap on 17 April 2020
• Grey Heron - Two flew east over Goring Gap on 17 April 2020
• Grey Partridge - Two at Highdown Hill on 14 April 2020
• Lesser Whitethroat - Singing male at Highdown Hill on 15 April 2020
• Little Tern - Four flew east off Goring Gap on 17 April 2020
• Marsh Tit- Seen regularly on visits to Highdown Hill and also pair observed carrying food at Patching Hill
• Raven - One at Patching Hill on 15 April 2020
• Sedge Warbler - Two at North Goring Gap on 16 April 2020
• Whinchat - Two at Goring Gap on 18 April 2020

My lockdown list now stands at 111 species. 

1 of 2 Whinchat at Goring Gap on 18 April 2020

Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach at Goring Gap on 19 April 2020

Local Birding - Lockdown round up 2

Obviously this is a very difficult time for all of us in so many ways. With the current government guidelines in place to try and reduce the spread of corona virus, I am now doing all my birding on foot from the flat within sensible walking distance whilst adhering to social distancing measures. I am lucky because Goring Gap and Ferring Rife are a short walk from my front door and a little further is George V Avenue which is a good location to conduct a seawatch. Since my last 'lockdown round up' I have also noticed that Highdown Hill is a short walk from my flat so have have added this as a place to go for my permitted daily exercise. 

Highlights from the past week include:

• Bullfinch - One at Highdown Hill on 8 April 2020
• Common Buzzard - Two flew east over the flat on 9 April 2020
• Egyptian Goose - Three flew south through Goring Gap and headed out to sea on 7 April 2020. My first site record of this species! 
• Marsh Tit - Four encountered in the wood at Highdown Hill on 8 April 2020
• Mute Swan - Two drifted east off Ferring Beach on 7 April 2020
• Red Kite - One flew east over Compton Avenue on 9 April 2020 at 10:02am
• Reed Bunting - A female along Ferring Rife on 9 April 2020
• Sedge Warbler - two singing males encountered along Ferring Rife. The first on the 6 April 2020 and the second on the 10 April 2020
• Siskin - One flew west at Goring Gap on 11 April 2020
• Swallow - 10 seen over the last week with my first of the year at Ferring Rife on 7 April 2020
• Wheatear - Four encountered over the last week. One in the horse paddocks at Ferring Rife on 10 April 2020 and three at Goring Gap on 11 April 2020
• Whitethroat - Two at the pumping station at Goring Gap on 10 April 2020
• White Wagtail - One on the football pitches below Highdown Hill on 8 April 2020 and another encountered in the horse paddocks along Ferring Rife on 10 April 2020
• Willow Warbler - 12 encountered along Ferring Rife on 6 April 2020
• Yellowhammer - Four encountered at Highdown Hill on 8 April 2020
• Yellow Wagtail - One flew north over Goring Gap on 10 April 2020

My lockdown list now moves to exactly 100 species. 

1 of 2 Common Buzzard over the flat on 9 April 2020, Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex

Local birding - lockdown round up

Obviously this is a very difficult time for all of us in so many ways. With the current government guidelines in place to try and reduce the spread of corona virus, I am now doing all my birding on foot from the flat within sensible walking distance whilst adhering to social distancing measures. I am lucky because Goring Gap and Ferring Rife are a short walk from my front door and a little further is George V Avenue which is a good location to conduct a seawatch.

Birding highlights since lockdown have included:

• Arctic Tern - 4 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Avocet - 1 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April
• Blackcap - Singing male in communal gardens off flat balcony on 28 March 2020
• Black Redstart - female-type at Goring Gap pumping station on 1 April
• Coal Tit - 1 at the northern end of Sea Lane, Ferring on 31 March 2020
• Common Buzzard - 1 flew over the flat being harassed by gulls on 26th March 2020
• Common Snipe - 1 along Ferring Rife on 31 March 2020
• Firecrest - Max count of 3 along Ilex Way at northern end of Goring Gap
• Gadwall - 3 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Great Black-backed Gull - White colour-ringed bird (P:32A) on warehouse roof opposite flat on 3rd April 2020 (viewed from flat window and currently awaiting details)
• Little Gull - 22 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Peregrine - 1 on high rise building in Durrington on 26 March 2020 (viewed from kitchen window)
• Sanderling - 6 on the beach at Goring Gap on 31 March 2020
• Shoveler - 25 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Teal - 4 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Treecreeper - 1 in eastern plantation at Goring Gap on 3 April 2020
• Velvet Scoter - 7 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April
• Wheatear - Male on beach at George V Avenue on 5 April 2020
• Wigeon - 1 flew east off George V Avenue on 5 April 2020

My lockdown list now moves to 70 species.

Female-type Black Redstart, Goring Gap, West Sussex (01/04/2020)

Colour-ringed (P:32A) Great Black-backed Gull, Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex (03/04/20)