Whilst driving down the Cuckmere valley around 1,000 Black-headed Gulls were seen and there was an adult Mediterranean Gull flying amongst them. On arriving at a cold and breezy Birling there was a first-summer Mediterranean Gull amongst Black-headed Gulls in the newly ploughed field where a couple of Pied Wagtails were also present. A short seawatch proved deadly although a Grey Heron arrived in off the sea. The first-summer Mediterranean Gull was replaced by a white-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull. Walking the lane revealed the Song Thrush and 2 Black Redstarts were still present and a Chiffchaff flew past us with it or another then heard in song in the copse at the top of the lane. A walk of the Belle Tout loop proved very quiet apart from a few Meadow Pipits having arrived on territory. We saw Ron at Belle Tout wood who had seen no more migrants than ourselves.
Red-throated Diver 1 E
Grey Heron 1 in off sea
Gannet 3 E
Common Scoter 1 W
Common Buzzard 2
Mediterranean Gull 3
Pied Wagtail 2
Stonechat 5
Black Redstart 2
Chiffchaff 1-2
First-summer Mediterranean Gull at Birling
Grey Heron arriving in off the sea at Birling
Adult Mediterranean Gull at Birling
Song Thrush at Birling
Being brown and buff nothing looks at odds with it being a British Song Thrush
Being brown and buff nothing looks at odds with it being a British Song Thrush
Meadow Pipit back on territory at Birling
the first parachuting display of the Spring was seen today
