Mostly seawatching from the wrong place or at the wrong time (24-30 April)

Friday 30 April. I seawatched from Splash Point, Seaford from 06:00-09:00 in a light NE wind. Flying east were 15 Brent Geese, 9 Shelduck, 97 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Whimbrel, a superbly red Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Little and a Mediterranean Gull, 46 Sandwich Terns, a Great and 2 dark morph Arctic Skuas, a few distant auks and 46 Gannets. A Sanderling, 2 (a pair of?) distant Little Ringed Plovers, 2 separate Hobbys, a Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail came in although the latter was only heard. With no other terns seen the draw of the Rottingdean Hoopoe proved too much of a temptation and I left, perhaps earlier than I normally would. The Hoopoe was on view in the sheep field along  Bazehill Road when I arrived and I spent a pleasant hour watching it and catching up with old friends. Meanwhile the wind slipped around towards the SE, how I hate it when it does that in the middle of the day. The seawatch improved although I didn't return, I've missed worse this week.

got something

Thursday 29 April. Two hours on the beach at Widewater from 06:20 produced 30 distant Common Scoter, 7 Whimbrel, a Dunlin, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 53 Sandwich Terns, a Red-throated Diver, 18 Gannets and a Little Egret flying east. Two separate adult Mediterranean Gulls flew west and a Whimbrel was on the lagoon's island. Later Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill where I saw Sky Lark, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 4 Linnets and the Yellowhammer. A Lesser Whitethroat was also heard.

Yellowhammer on Mill Hill

Wednesday 28 April. With moderate northerly winds forecast more northerly I again seawatched from Widewater rather than driving to Seaford. It turned out to be a big mistake as 5000 Commic Terns were recorded flying east there during the morning. Between 06:25-08:25 I saw none, a flock of 29 Brent Geese, 21 Whimbrel, 20 Black-headed, 11 Medterranean and 12 Common Gulls, 65 Sandwich Terns, 8 Gannets and a Swallow. I gave up and returned home to take Megan and Cookie to Dacre Gardens. From there we walked up to Beeding and back seeing 2 Red-legged Partridges, Sparrowhawk, 6 Swallows, Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, a male Grey Wagtail and 2 Linnets.

Mediterranean Gulls passing Widewater

the eleven seen comprised four pairs and three first-summers

Pied Wagtail at Widewater

male Grey Wagtail near Beeding

Tuesday 27 April. I seawatched from Widewater from 06:25-08:45 in light NE winds seeing Great Crested Grebe, Grey Plover, 22 Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 61 Black-headed and 35 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Sandwich Terns, a Fulmar, 6 Gannets and 2 Swallows. Megan and I then took Cookie to Lancing Ring and walked around Steepdown. I saw 2 distant Red-legged Partridges, 14 Sky Larks, 2 Swallows, 8 Whitethroats, male Stonechat, female Wheatear, 12 Linnets and 6 Corn Buntings. A Lesser Whitethroat was also heard.

Corn Bunting at Steepdown

pink super moon

Monday 26 April. I seawatched from Widewater from 06:30-08:30 in light to moderate NE winds seeing 5 Mallard, the pair of Eider (present for their 6th day), 2 Oystercatchers, 27 Whimbrel, 35 Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Black-headed and 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 27 Sandwich Terns, 6 Fulmars, 45 Gannets and 4 Swallows. Megan and I then took Cookie to Woods Mill and walked out to the Downslink. I saw 7 Swifts, 10 Lapwings, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, Buzzard, 4 Sky Larks, Nightingale (with another heard), 2 Swallows, 12 House Martins, Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, Reed Warbler, 6 Linnets and 3 Reed Buntings. We also heard distant Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat.

Eider off Widewater on what was their sixth and final day

Sunday 25 April. I seawatched at Splash Point, Seaford from 05:55-10:55 in moderate NE winds but it was fairly quiet. I saw Gadwall, 5 Teal, 34 Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, a Collared Dove (probably my first ever 'in off' record). 3 Oystercatchers, 6 Grey Plover, 90 Whimbrel, 190 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 41 Sandwich and 40 Commic Terns (those identified split 10 Common and 8 Arctic), 4 Red-throated and 2 superb Black-throated Divers, 50 Fulmars, 40+ Gannets, a Peregrine and 2 Swallows. A low tide visit to the Adur with Cookie produced just 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Little Egrets.

Rock Pipit at Splash Point

Saturday 24 April. A combination of factors (not expecting it to be much good in a continuing NE wind, having seen a Pom the previous day, and a late morning appointment for my second Covid vaccination) meant I seawatched from Widewater rather than Seaford. As it turned out it was a mistake. Widewater from 06:00-09:00 in moderate E winds was OK but Seaford was much better. I saw 12 Shelduck, 820 Common Scoter, the pair of Eider (present for their 4th day), 8 Oystercatchers, 80 Whimbrel, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin, Greenshank, 2 Kittiwakes, 7 Little, an adult Mediterranean and 30 Common Gulls, 88 Sandwich and 30 Commic Terns (24 of the latter identified as Arctics), 2 divers (1 definitely Red-throated), 10 Fulmars, 2 distant Manx Shearwaters, 63 Gannets and a Swallow. On the way home I met Megan and Cookie for a quick circuit of the Adur which produced a Little Grebe, 2 Swallows and a Reed Bunting. I returned to Shoreham Beach from 16:45-17:45 in a attempt to catch up with 3-4 Pomarine Skuas seen off Selsey earlier in the afternoon but the presumably passed too far out and all I saw were 11 Sandwich Terns, 3 Fulmars and 8 Gannets. I'm not a fan of afternoon seawatching on sunny days.