5 May 2014 Beachy Head Fine and sunny SE 1-2

We joined RDME and Nigel Taylor and sea-watched from 05.45-16.45. RHC, RKH and RES joined us for some of the time. It started rather slowly, but the pace quickened just before 9.00 am when the first Pomarine Skua flew past. It then turned into a record day for Poms with a total of 125 E recorded and this compares with our previous largest daily total of 102 E on the 7 May 1981. Also another good passage of Black-throated Divers many in superb summer plumage.

Red-throated Diver 12E
Black-throated Diver 17E, 1 on sea ex.
Diver sp. 10E
Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea
Little Egret 3E
Gannet 15E
Shag 2E
Brent 8E
Shelduck 7E
Scoter 990E
Pintail 2E
Bonxie 1 at 7.31am
Pomarine Skua 125E
Arctic Skua 26E
Mediterranean Gull 1E first-summer
Black-headed Gull 263E
Little Gull 5E
Sandwich Tern 276E
Commic Tern 858E
Black Tern 7E
Little Tern 39E
Guillemot 6E
Razorbill 1E
Auk sp. 49E
Curlew 1E
Whimbrel 20E
Bar-tailed Godwit 17E
Knot 1E
Common Sandpiper 1E
Sanderling 11E
Swallow 3 in off
alba Wagtail 1 in off

Some digiscoped images taken by David Cooper of some

of the Pomarine Skuas seen today

Good numbers of Black-headed Gulls were moving today.

 

Two Little Egrets flying past Birling

 

Sandwich Terns passing Birling with some taking the opportunity

to fish whilst moving past.

 

Nearly a thousand Scoters passed Birling today.

 

 

First winter Little Gull passing Birling

 

Two Whimbrel moving past Birling