22nd April, 2019 Beachy Head Misty out to sea, Overcast becoming sunny and hot Wind light and variable

We joined RAB and sea-watched from 05.40-12.40 and were joined during the watch by KG, AR, LP and CB. A superb watch in misty conditions and by far our best watch so far this year. Many thanks to the other observers and especially KG with his sharp eyes for picking out many of the more distant birds. Many highlights, but our favourite must be the 17 Pomarine Skuas, a number with excellent spoons.
LP had a brief look at some of the sites on the Headland but this area seamed very quiet.

Red-throated Diver 12 E
Black-throated Diver 8 E all in summer plumage
Gannet c20 E
Shag 1 ad E (our first for the year)
Little Egret 1 Birling beach
Brent Goose 175 E
Shelduck 17 (9E)
Teal 6 E
Mallard 4 E
Shoveler 4 E
Common Scoter 1,187 E
Velvet Scoter 9 E
Red-breasted Merganser 3 E
Common Buzzard 2
Peregrine 2 hunting out to sea
Oystercatcher 1 E
Avocet 5 E (4 @ 07.10 and 1 @ 08.20)
Knot 8 E
Dunlin 1 E
Bar-tailed Godwit 281 E
Whimbrel 67 E
Curlew 6  E
Redshank 7 E
Pomarine Skua 17 E (1 @ 10.03, 6 @10.07, 1 @ 10.18, 3 @ 10.27, 3 @ 10.53 and 3 @ 11.17.)
Arctic Skua 24 E
Great Skua 10 E
Mediterranean Gull 146 E
Black-headed Gull 155 E
Common Gull 48 E
Sandwich Tern 100 E
Swallow 5 in off the sea
Yellow Wagtail 1 in off the sea

RAB carried out an evening sea-watch from 17.35-19.35
Diver Sp. 1E
Brent Geese 28E
Common Scoter 9 E
Bar-tailed Godwit 2 E
Whimbrel 7 E
Common Gull 20 E
Black-headed Gull 68 E
Mediterranean Gull 6 E
Sandwich Tern 28 E
Little Tern 5 E

,As we arrived this morning at dawn in poor light this 

Common Buzzard was stood in the field at Birling