Wednesday 15 February 2017

15th February, 2017 Beachy Head Overcast with sunny periods mild SSE-S 3

Sea-watched from 07.30-10.00. Much activity with large numbers of Auks on the move, and Red-throated Divers and Brent Geese in fairly good numbers. Difficult to record an accurate number of Auks as at one time as they were virtually coming through non-stop, with the main passage during the first hour of light. I estimated 2,000 Auks although this was probably an under estimate and both Guillemots and Razorbills were involved. I tried hard to pick out a Puffin but with no joy. A single Velvet Scoter was my first for the year.
A visit to the Old Trapping Area produced just 1 migrant Song Thrush.

Red-throated Diver 130 (110E and 20 on the sea)
Great-crested Grebe 3 on the sea
Gannet 35E
Brent Goose 315E
Wigeon 8 E
Common Scoter 14E
Velvet Scoter 1 E
Curlew 1
Kittiwake 85 E
Auk Sp An estimate of 2,000 E with both Guillemots and Razorbills identified although with the large flocks involved it was extremely difficult to accurately estimate yet alone identify.



Brent Geese on the move.