5th May, 2016 Beachy Head Fine sunny and warm E-SE 3

Another day for sea-watching from 06.00-12.30 (my eyes couldn't take any more) and were joined by 8 other birders including Tony Quinn and Mike Nolan. A much better watch than yesterday with the highlights being 7 Pomarine Skuas and 5 superb summer plumage Black-throated Divers.

Black-throated Diver 5 s/p E
Gannet 135 E
Brent Geese 25 E
Shelduck 5 E
Common Scoter 190 E
Hobby 1 in off the sea (see picture below)
Avocet 1 E with 5 Shelduck
Grey Plover 1 E
Sanderling 3 E
Dunlin 3 E
Bar-tailed Godwit 25 E
Redshank 1 E
Pomarine Skua 7 E (3@ 10.20 landed on the sea and departed at 11.10 and 4 @ 11.45)
Arctic Skua 6 E
Bonxie 1 E
Mediterranean Gull 1 ad E
Little Gull 14 E (several 1stW birds)
Black-headed Gull 90 E
Kittiwake c650 E
Sandwich Tern 92 E
Commic Tern 285 E
Little Tern 10 E
Auk Sp. 9 E

Hobby arriving in off the sea at Birling

Odd looking sailing boat off Birling

A further sea-watch by RB, RDME and LP from 17.15-20.00

Pomarine Skua 15 E

Arctic Skua 3 E

Gannet 9 E

Sandwich Tern 11 E

Commic Tern 34 E

Black Tern 3 E

Brent Goose 12 E

Shelduck 2 E

Whimbrel 2 E

Bar-tailed Godwit 5 E

Swallow 15 in

Swift 1 in