2nd April, 2018 Beachy Head Overcast with rain at times cool S-SE 1

We joined KG and AR and sea-watched from 06.30-11.30. Very enjoyable sea-watch and our best so far this year. Good numbers of Scoters and Divers moving with 3 s/p Black-necked Grebes close in on the sea, other highlights included 5 Garganey, and 5 Velvet Scoters and thanks to Kris's sharp eyes 42 Little Gulls were seen a long way out.
We then covered Shooters Bottom, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge and Belle Tout wood. Very few migrants seen but did include 3 Firecrests.
With the on-set of more rain we headed for home with myself having very tired eyes after the long sea-watch.

Red-throated Diver 102 E
Great-crested Grebe 1 on the sea
Black-necked Grebe 3 s/p on the sea
Gannet 15 E (including 1 very dark immature bird)
Brent Goose 287 E
Shelduck 15 E
Teal 4 E
Pintail 11 E
Garganey 5 E (parties of 3 and 2 and both parties moving with Scoters)
Shoveler 2 E
Eider 5 E
Common Scoter 1,442 E
Velvet Scoter 5 E
Red-breasted Merganser 6 E
Peregrine pair over Shooters Bottom
Bar-tailed Godwit 2 E
Arctic Skua 5 E
Mediterranean Gull 2 E
Little Gull 42 E
Kittiwake c40 E
Sandwich 208 E
Commic Tern 7 E
Auk Sp. 2 E
Wheatear 1 Birling
Chiffchaff 4
Firecrest 3 (2 Hotel Garden and 1 B/T wood)

2-3 Harbour Porpoises off Birling

Late news from yesterday, RAB visited Warren Hill valley and had a single Mistle Thrush and 4 Wheatears.