18th February, 2017 Beachy Head and Lower Cuckmere Misty out to sea otherwise sunny and mild S-SE 1

We sea-watched from 07.00-09.00 in misty conditions. RE joined us for some of the time and then he covered Birling lane, Birling to Belle Tout loop. Just small numbers of Red-throated Divers moving also Brent Geese.

Red-throated Diver 29 (22E and 7 on sea)
Great-crested Grebe 4 on the sea
Gannet 40 E
Brent Goose 240 E
Wigeon 7 E
Pintail 3 E
Common Scoter 6 E
Red-breasted Merganser 3 E
Curlew 4
Kittiwake 20 E
Auk Sp. 45E
Guillemot 41 E
Razorbill 5 E
Green Woodpecker 1
Rock Pipit 1
Stonechat 2
Song Thrush 2

More Brents on the move past Birling

On our way home, we walked half way down the Lower Cuckmere in the hope of photographing the White-fronted Geese. The sun had now come fully out and although the geese were still present we were having to look into the sun. We didn't attempt to look for the Twite.

Brent Goose 1

Cackling Goose 4

Barnacle Goose 9

Canada x Barnacle hybrid 5

Grey-lag 2

White-fronted Goose c30

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult

 

White-fronted Geese in the Lower Cuckmere