12th April, 2015 Beachy Head Sunny clear and cool W-SW 2-3

At long last no sea-mist and we sea-watched from 06.55-08.55. Still a reasonable sea-passage with good numbers of Kittiwakes on the move and we had several year ticks. We covered the majority of the sites on the Headland and just a scattering of new migrants in the area. The Ring Ouzel which has greyish markings on the head and nape, was again showing well also 2 Greenland Wheatears and our first Whitethroat of the year was seen by David and Brenda

Red-thraoted Diver 2 E
Manx Shearwater 1E@ 07.28
Gannet 18 E
Brent Geese 192 E (including a flock of c100 flying high over the Headland cutting off the corner).
Pale-bellied Brent Goose 1 (present in the high flying flock over the Headland).
Common Scoter 101 E
Velvet Scoter 1 E
Red-breasted Merganser 3 E
Kittiwake 693 E
Mediterranean Gull 16 E (11 Adults and 5 1st W's)
Black-headed Gull 17 E
Sandwich Tern 74 E
Little Tern 2 E
Guillemot 2E
Auk Sp 20 E
Kestrel 1
Red-legged Partridge 2
Yellow Wagtail 1
White Wagtail 4
Wheatear 3 (including 2 Greenland types race leucorhoa)
Ring Ouzel 1 male (with greyish markings on the head and nape) still present.
Blackcap 1
Common Whitethroat 1 (seen by DC and BK)
Willow Warbler 6
Chiffchaff 8
Raven 3

Bee-fly 1

 

Pair of Greenland Wheatears race leucorhoa resting at Birling

(showing the strong colouration on the underparts which is typical of this race)

Brent Geese passing Birling

Part of the large flock flying high up over the Headland 

cutting of the flight around the Headland

 

 

 

Pair of Red-legged Partridges near Birling.

(You don't appreciate the colouration and markings on this species)

 

 

 

Male Ring Ouzel showing greyish markings on the head and nape.

Bee-fly in Shooters Bottom