Mid-March is that frustrating “no-man’s-land” time between winter and spring, but there were nevertheless a few interesting sightings. The rarest bird was probably a fine drake Green-winged Teal on the Salt Pool, Rye Hbr, on 19th where a drake Garganey was present the following day. There were several sightings of Garganey migrating east offshore on 18th : a drake was spotted following a group of Common Scoter off Selsey Bill and an evidently fast-moving pair was noted (in order of appearance) at Goring Gap, Worthing and Splash Point (Seaford).
Up to four Slavonian Grebes were on the sea at Church Norton on 21st and 22nd.
There was an interesting inland record of 13 Brent Geese on Arlington Res on 17th. Eleven Russian White-fronted Geese were counted at Pulborough Brooks on 16th although numbers had dropped to just two by 22nd. The three birds at Pagham Hbr remained throughout the week and two were at Chichester GP on 21st.
A probable Black Kite was seen circling over Rye Hbr on 20th and Hen Harriers (male and ringtails) continued to be seen around Amberley. A ringtail was seen again further east at Beeding Brooks on 17th and a male was migrating overhead at Shinewater (Eastbourne) on 20th (photo attached).
The pair of Glossy Ibis was still present in and around the Combe Valley CP (observed on 16th-18th) and two mobile Common Cranes were seen or heard in various locations on 20th , namely Pagham Hbr, Small Dole, Peacehaven, Wadhurst, Brighton and Beachy Head.
A Kittiwake was inland at Weir Wood Res on 20th and a 3cy Caspian Gull was at Shinewater on the same day.
A female Ring Ouzel was at Shooters Bottom (Beachy Head) until 21st and on that day a male was found at Mill Hill (Shoreham).
There were records of Water Pipit again at Pulborough Brooks (16th-17th) and from Down Level (Hailsham) on 17th. A Siberian Chiffchaff was discovered by the river Adur at Cuckoo Corner (Shoreham) on 16th and a Serin was at Selsey Bill on 19th (the earliest record ever at the site, and the second in March).
