15th April, 2015 Beachy Head Fine sunny and warm with sea-mist SW 0-1

With the continuation of the fine warm weather, we sea-watched from 06.30-08.30 and although movement was on the slow side, highlights were a single Velvet Scoter and 5 Little Gulls.
We then covered the Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge and then walked the Cliff Path to check the downland slope for migrants looking into the Hollow and the Rides and finally Belle Tout wood. Migrant numbers were much reduced with Blackcap just marginally being the commonest migrant and a male Common Redstart proved the highlight.

Red-throated Diver 2 E
Great-crested Grebe 1 E
Gannet 20 E
Brent Goose 29 E
Gadwall 4 E
Shoveler 3 E
Common Scoter 182 E
Velvet Scoter 1 E
Red-breasted Merganser 3 E
Curlew 1 E
Whimbrel 12 E
Bonxie 1 E
Arctic Skua 1 E
Black-headed Gull 12 E
Mediterranean Gull 2 E
Little Gull 5 E
Sandwich Tern 60 E
Common Tern 1 E

Swallow 1
Redstart 1 male
Blackcap 10
Willow Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 7
Long-tailed Tit 1
Yellowhammer 1 in the Old Trapping Area and then departed W

Brimstone 4
Dotted Bee-fly 1

Chiffchaff in the Old Trapping Area

Chiffchaff along the Cliff Path.

 

 

Two of today's Blackcaps