Friday 18 April 2003

18th April 2003 Beachy 6.00am – 1.45pm. Cold moderate E wind. Clear skies

Red-throated Diver 1E
Gannet c.5
Cormorant c.12
Canada Goose 1W
Shoveler 4E
Scoter c.20E
Merganser c.10E
Kestrel c.2
Pheasant c.5
Whimbrel 4 briefly on beach
Arctic Skua 2E
Black-headed Gull c.25E
Sandwich Tern c.10E
Common Tern c.15E
Razorbill 1 thrown into the boot of my car by a fisherman – JFC took it back to the beach where it swam out to sea before returning towards the beach and hauling itself onto a rock exposed by the tide. Ringed.
Cuckoo 2
Wryneck 1 found in Chat Vale. First seen in flight with pointed wings and long tail apparent and Shrike-like flight. Black stripe extending from nape down center of mantle. Throat buff but appeared quite dull. Barred underparts.
Swallow c.10
House Martin c.5
Meadow Pipit c.5 mobbing one of the Cuckoos in Cow Gap
White Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail c.4
Stonechat c.5
Mistle Thrush 1 Burgess Hill
Blackcap 1 male
Whitethroat c.5
Chiffchaff h
Firecrest 1 singing male high-pitched series of calls
Linnet c.30
Redpoll 1
Goldfinch c.15