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)