With late news last night of a Black-browed Albatross off the Devon coast during the evening, we decided to sea-watch just in case it was still in the Channel. We met up with RAB and sea-watched from 06.05-08.45 but unfortunately no further news on the Albatross from any of the western sea-watching sites.
We then covered Birling lane, Belle Tout wood, Shooters Bottom, and the Old Trapping Area but the area was very quiet and quite worrying of the very low numbers of Common Whitethroats present with only a couple could be found in Shooters and only odd other birds were seen in other areas visited. Also only 4 Fulmars were seen on the sea-watch there is usually 12 present resting on the sea off Birling.
Gannet 38 E
Fulmar just 4 resting on the sea off Birling
Little Egret 5
Common Scoter 376 E
Kestrel 1 male
Peregrine 1
Arctic Skua 1 @ 06.20 (RAB)
Mediterranean Gull 4 E (2 ad's & 2 2ndcy-interesting plumage and I can't recall seeing this plumage before)
Kittiwake c45 E
Sandwich Tern 25 E
Auk Sp 1 E
Razorbill 1 E
Swift 3
Green Woodpecker 1
Common Whitethroat Only 7 seen in the areas visited.
Common Blue butterfly 9
Small Heath 1
