Local stuff!

Spent the last few mornings strolling a few local sites, very little to suggest that spring was on it's way, on Monday (18th March) gave Climping a good search and produced very little, normally a good spot for Wheatear but none found today, several Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipit's in off and Skylark's singing gave some hope of something to be found, 12 Sanderling were probably the pick of the bunch. A quick check at Goring produced a female Stonechat, not seen one here all winter so maybe a migrant? 6 Siskin's were also found in a housing estate in Angmering whilst dropping Jo off to work, not sure what it is called but it's the new estate near Worthing Rugby club?

 

The following day at Shoreham and Widewater was equally disappointing, small numbers of Meadow Pipit's arriving again raised hopes of finding some grounded passerines, not helped with the gravel extraction work taking place at Shoreham Fort at the moment.

 



A better mornings birding was had at Brooklands Park on the 20th, the weather had a wintry feel about it and so did the birding! A large gathering of Black-headed Gulls amounted to 104 birds roosting on the green, 3 Redwings and a Brambling at the north end of the park were un-expected but welcome finds, 2 Little Grebes were extremley tame in the sluice channel, some good habitat here, just wonder how often it is watched especially early morning? Moving onto Widewater, 5 Teal were on the east lagoon aswell as 2 Redshank and a Little Egret, offshore a hours sea-watch produced my first Sandwich Tern's of the year, both singles heading east as were Brent Geese, 104 counted in 4 seperate flocks, also noted was a small passage east of Common and Black-headed Gulls whilst at least 3 Great-crested Grebes were offshore..alas..no Wheatears