8th April, 2017 Beachy Head Sea-fog otherwise fine sunny and warm. SE 0-1

A very foggy drive over to Beachy but as we arrived at Newhaven the fog had lifted over the land but still out to sea. With a very light SE wind, we sea-watched from 06.25-10.25 but with poor visibility out to sea. Generally a disappointing sea-watch considering the conditions, and we were joined by RE, RKH and R. But.
LP was covering the Headland and we all covered most of the sites. A small arrival of Willow Warblers and a Red Kite moved E at 11.55.

Red-throated Diver 3 (2E and 1 on the sea)
Great-crested Grebe 2 E
Gannet 9 E
Brent Goose 114 E
Shelduck 9 E
Teal 8 E
Shoveler 5 E
Common Scoter 185 E
Red-breasted Merganser 2 E
Red Kite 1 E over top fields @ 11.55
Common Buzzard 4
Kestrel 1 male
Peregrine 2
Whimbrel 1 E (our first for the year)
Arctic Skua 1 l/p E
Mediterranean Gull 6 E
Black-headed Gull 38 E (mainly immature birds)
Herring Gull 230 feeding off Birling
Kittiwake 173 E
Sandwich Tern 122 E
Tawny Owl 1
Swallow 2
Alba Wagtail 2 overhead
Song Thrush 4 singing
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 14
Willow Warbler 30+
Raven 2

Brimstone 1
Small White 1

Adder 1(per LP)

 

Small party of Common Scoter passing Birling
(at least it adds some colour to the blog)

Brimstone at Belle Tout