5th March, 2018 Beachy Head Overcast with odd sunny periods murky at sea SSE 1-2 increasing to 4

We had an enjoyable sea-watch from 06.40-08.55 with a reasonable passage of Red-throated Divers with the highlight being a single Black-throated Diver which came along with a party of 15 Red-throats. We then covered Old Trapping Area, Shooters Bottom and Belle Tout wood but the Headland seemed very quiet with very few birds seen.

Red-throated Diver 118 (112 E and 6 on the sea)
Black-throated Diver 1in partial s/p E with 15 Red-throats
Great-crested Grebe 9 (1 E and 8 on the sea)
Fulmar 8
Gannet 17 E
Brent Goose 110 E
Eider 2 drakes E @ 08.30
Common Scoter 19 E
Peregrine 1 over Shooters Bottom
Red-legged Partridge 2 near Belle Tout wood
Curlew 1 in over the cliffs at Shooters Bottom and headed high inland.
Mediterranean Gull 5 (4 adults in s/p E and 1 ad landed on the sea)
Common Gull just 20 Birling area
Kittiwake 49E
Auk Sp. 5 E
Rock Pipit 2

Some late news, RE in Whitbread Hollow had 1-2 Water Rails calling on the 21/2 and flushed a Woodcock on the 24/2.

Brent Geese moving past Birling