Sunday 23 April 2017

Seaford seawatch (23 April 2017)

Sunday 23 April. A slow starting but eventually excellent seawatch from Splash Point. I was ther with others, most notably on the jetty John King, Derek Barber and Matt Eade, from 05:30 until 15:00 when I (and others) had to leave for various family commitments.

During the morning the light SE wind moved around to south then SW. I saw:

Red-throated Diver 8E, Gannet 40E:2W, Great White Egret 1E (08:05), Grey Heron 1 in, Brent Goose 11E, Pintail 2E, Teal 2E, Shoveler 2E, Eider 1 male E, Common Scoter 259E, Red-breasred Merganser 1E, Sanderling `1E, Dunlin 3E, Whimbrel 62E:2W, Bar-tailed Godwit 13E, Great Skua 17E, Arctic Skua 11E, Pomarine Skua 18E, Mediterranean Gull 528E, Little Gull 10E, Black-headed Gull 24E, Sandwich Tern 66E:2W, Common Tern 2E, Commic Tern 43E, Guillemot 1W, Razorbill 2E, auk sp.7E, Swallow 1` in, Linnet 5E.

The Pomarine Skuas were 2@ 13:28 (presumably those seen passing Selsey at 12:08), 6 at 13:35, 1 @ 13:37, 4 @ 14:05 and 5 @ 14:40.

The Mediterranean Gulls included flocks of 34, 29, 36 and two of 20. Most were small groups of adults flying in pairs but they also included 14 first-summers and 5 second-summers.
a flock of 8 Mediterranean Gulls passing Splash Point, Seaford
Saturday 22 April. A colour-ringed Norwegan Great Black-backed Gull was read on the Adur. A ringed North Thames Herring Gull was also present but flew before it could be read.
Norwegan Great Black-backed Gull JC590
Lesser Black-backed Gulls, second year birds can often look quite striking

Friday 21 April
. A walk from Mill Hill to Beeding Hill, Thundersbarrow and Southwick Hill while my car was being serviced produced 2 Red Kites, 2 Peregrines, 27 Sky Larks, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Wheatears, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Yellowhammers and 9 Corn Buntings.

where is a Great Spotted Cuckoo when you want one?
Red Kite over Mill Hill


Thursday 20 April. 5 Sandwich Terns flew East along Southwick Beach as I was cycling to work. 

Wednesday 19 April. A Wheatear was seen on Southwick Beach as I cycled to work.

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