2nd April, 2016 Beachy Head Fine with haze warm S- SE 1-2

At long last a proper sea-watch which we did from 06.45-10.30. We only had time to cover Shooters Bottom, Old Trapping Area and Hotel Garden, although Bob and others had covered the other areas on the Headland.
Good passage of Kittiwakes with several parties of Little Gulls and another fine Black-throated Diver.
Firecrests were showing well today in strong sunlight but otherwise migrants were thin on the ground. A Red Kite flew W along the cliffs.

Red-throated Diver 47 E
Black-throated Diver 1 E in s/p
Great-crested Grebe 1 on the sea
Gannet 15E & 5W
Brent Goose 424 E
Common Scoter 347E
Velvet Scoter 1E
Red-breasted Merganser 8E
Red Kite 1W @ 12.35
Peregrine 1 (attacked the Red Kite)
Arctic Skua 1 d/p E
Mediterranean Gull 3 E
Little Gull 27E 
Common Gull 27E
Kittiwake 390 E (probably under-recorded)
Sandwich Tern 205 E
Common Tern 9E
Auk Sp. 6E
Alba Wagtail 2 N
Wheatear 2 (at long last)
Blackcap 1 (per RDME)
Chiffchaff 3
Firecrest 7 (4 Shooters Bottom, 2 Hotel Garden, 1 Old Trapping Area)

Brent Geese moving past Birling

Red Kited over the Headland in haze

A selection of today's Firecrests taken in strong sunlight.

 

 

 

An unusual view from the rear!!

Firecrests at Beachy