31st December 2020 - Goring Gap

A quiet end of year visit to Goring Gap produced 15 Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 38 Dunlin, three Skylarksand two Pied Wagtails in the roost field. On the beach, a Redshank was roosting on the groynes. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the eastern most plantation along with three Goldcrests and a Greenfinch.

30th December 2020 - Climping Beach and Goring Gap

A morning walk from the car park at Climping to the mouth of the River Arun and back produced ca.100 Dunlin, 44 Ringed Plover, 38 Turnstone, three Sanderling, four Oystercatcher and 23 Grey Plover. Offshore was very quiet with just a single Gannet, a Red-throated Diver and six Mediterranean Gulls noted. Passerines included a Stonechat, eight Meadow Pipits, five Pied Wagtails, seven Greenfinches, two Linnets and a flyover Grey Wagtail.

Late afternoon in the roost field at Goring Gap were up to c1500 gulls. They comprised mainly of Common and Black-headed Gulls. Much to my surprise, I could only find two Mediterranean Gulls amongst them.

29th December 2020 - Brooklands

The drake Pochard was still present on the lake this morning along with eight Mute Swans, nine Teal, two Little Grebes and 14 Moorhens. In the stream near the sewage works was a Grey Heron. On the beach was eight Turnstone. Offshore was two Slavonian Grebes, three Great Crested Grebes and 22 Red-breasted Mergansers whilst two Red-throated Divers and four Auk Sp. headed W and three Common Scoters headed E. Others birds noted around the park included a Kestrel, a Jay, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, six Pied Wagtails and a Reed Bunting. 

28th December 2020 - Goring-by-Sea

A short walk this morning from home down to Sea Lane and through the L-Shaped road at Goring Gap produced a 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull off Goring Greensward. Five Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Oystercatchers flew E. Of note in the roost field at Goring Gap were 12 Ringed Plovers and two Mediterranean Gulls. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in the Holm Oak plantation. Pretty quiet but just nice to get some fresh air!

17th December 2020 - Brooklands and Goring-by-Sea

I met up with a socially distanced David and Beni at Brooklands. Highlights from our walk included the drake Pochard, along with a Little Grebe, five Teal and the family of Mute Swans. Along the stream was a Kingfisher, while other birds included a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Redwing and a Meadow Pipit.

Mid-afternoon produced a shock when a Rose-ringed Parakeet flew over my flat mid-afternoon in Goring, a nice uber patch tick. 

16th December 2020 - Reigate Park, Surrey

I ventured up to Surrey mid-afternoon for the female Ring-necked Duck. The bird gave excellent views, however the weather wasn't up to much. 

Female Ring-necked Duck, Reigate Park, Surrey

12th December 2020 - Burpham

At Burpham this morning there were just 12 White-fronted Geese and no sign of the two Pink-footed Geese below St Mary's Church. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still present at the sewage works. Also noted a male Marsh Harrier and two Red Kites.

11th December 2020 - Burpham

The Siberian Chiffchaff was still present in the morning at Burpham Sewage Works. It was constantly feeding on insects along the right hand fence line and at times gave good views. Whilst I was watching the bird, 50+ RussianWhite-fronted Geese dropped in on the water meadows below St Mary's Church.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Burpham Sewage Works, West Sussex

10th December 2020 - Sovereign Harbour and Arlington Reservoir

The female-type Velvet Scoter at Sovereign Harbour was still present in the morning in the inner harbour and gave excellent views. A real treat to see this species so well rather than a fly-by on a seawatch or sat distantly offshore. Just gone lunchtime the Black-throated Diver was still present at Arlington Reservoir and at times gave good views although the bird was very active and spent most of its time feeding, never staying up for long.

Velvet Scoter, Sovereign Harbour, East Sussex

8th December 2020 - Dungeness, Scotney and Pett Level

After working on nearby Romney Marsh, I headed to Dungeness after work. I headed to Dennis's Hide first where I found a Great White Egret and a female Goldeneye. I headed back towards Boulderwall Farm and headed along the public footpath towards New Diggings. Instantly, I found the Black-throated Diver and had some really nice views. Next stop was Scotney Gravel Pits, where the Scaup was performing nicely just off the S bends on the Sussex side of the pit. I then headed off to Pett Level where I found a Tundra Bean Goose nestled amongst some Greylag Geese. Other birds of note included an excellent count of 92 Russian White-fronted Geese and a Marsh Harrier.

Black-throated Diver, Dungeness RSPB, Kent

Tundra Bean Goose, Pett Level, East Sussex

6th December 2020 - Sidlesham

Order of the morning was to visit Sidlesham to look for the Richard's Pipit. Soon after first light it was feeding in the field south of Churchfarm Lane, Sidlesham viewed looking SW from the ruined barn. It gave reasonable views but it was very difficult to photograph, a Sussex tick for me. Afterwards we found 27 Cattle Egrets but there was no sign of the Glossy Ibis at Marsh Farm.

5th December 2020 - Petworth Park

A quick circuit of the main lake in Petworth Park dodging the showers late morning turned up a pair of vocal Egyptian Geese prospecting for a nest-site at the top of a tall tree, a pair of Gadwall, three Shoveler, 11 Pochard and a Stonechat. Four Black Swans and another Egyptian Goose on Benbow Pond, near Midhurst.

4th December 2020 - Around Arundel

After yesterday’s dreadful weather, it was a must to venture out today and I headed to Arundel, completing a circular walk taking in Swanbourne Lake, Hiorne Tower, Mill Stream and Flood Meadows (see route below).

Swanbourne Lake held four Mandarin (three drakes and a female), 68 Gadwall, 57 Tufted Duck, two Little Grebes, two Mute Swans, a Great Black-backed Gull and 14 Common Gulls. Surprisingly there was just one Pochard (drake) on the lake and two Shoveler passed overhead. The woodland and scrub surrounding the lake was quiet and the clear highlight was a Firecrest. Also noted were three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves, three Bullfinches, a Coal Tit and ca.10 Goldcrests.

I climbed the very steep bank up towards the Hiorne Tower at the northern end of the lake but it was very quiet for birds. Not helped by a very loud shoot going on. Noted however was a Kestrel, a Mistle Thrush, two Song Thrush and a Redwing.

Next stop was the Mill Stream where I found two Firecrests, two Nuthatches and a Bullfinch. The flood meadows to the south held a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, ca.150 Starlings and flock of ca.50 Fieldfares. Walking back north along the river bank towards the Black Rabbit I found two Buzzards, two Stonechats, three Reed Buntings, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail.

The best was yet to come and I found 35+ Russian White-fronted Geese to the south of the pub with ca.100 Greylag Geese. An enjoyable walk recording 52 species in total.

Route followed around Arundel 

3rd December 2020 - Goring Gap

A truly miserable day on the south coast here in Worthing with horizontal rain being the feature of the day. Around lunchtime things improved, well bird wise anyway when Garry Messenbird found a 1w Caspian Gull early afternoon in roost field at Goring Gap. The bird gave excellent views before it flew to the northern fields and became more distant, it was still present at 13:16 when I left site. I was particularly pleased to catch up with this bird given I had missed the previous four this year at the Gap. 

1w Caspian Gull, Goring Gap, West Sussex

1st December 2020 - In search of White-fronted Geese

 I went in search of White-fronted Geese this afternoon in the Arun Valley. I started my search at Amberley Wildbrooks where there had been a complete clear out of birds. The only birds present was 150 Lapwing. Presumably the clear out is linked to wild fowling?

Next stop was Burpham, again another blank only four Mute Swans to report from here. Feeling frustrated I finished the afternoon at the Black Rabbit Pub where things improved. I noted: potentially up to 11 (?) Marsh Harriers although it was hard to distinguish whether they were different birds or not in poor light, a Kingfisher, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, two Grey Herons, two Egyptian Geese and a Little Egret.