A thick frost was a surprise as were the virtually calm conditions on leaving home. However, we joined Roger Haggar, Al and Kris and were soon joined by Ron seawatching at Birling in a stiff cold easterly wind. A steady movement of Sandwich Terns and Common Scoter persisted all morning, a few flocks of Brent passed along the tideline with variety provided by a few Teal, Shoveler, Pintail, Eider, Arctic Skuas and Sanderling and some quality in the form of a couple of Little Gulls, a couple of summer-plumaged Black-throated Divers and a close Manx Shearwater that flew east at 8.54am. Laurence arrived having covered Chat Vale to Birling on foot with news of two male Common Redstarts. We checked Chat Vale, the Old Trapping Area, the Hotel Garden and the Birling area in a now strong easterly wind but we didn't see a single Phyllosc today and the sole Swallow doesn't make a Summer!
Red-throated Diver 4 E
Black-throated Diver 2 E s/p
Gannet 6 E
Manx Shearwater 1 E at 8.54am
Brent Geese 202 E
Eider 3 E
Common Scoter 805 E
Pintail 2E, 1W
Shoveler 5 E
Teal 7 E
Arctic Skua 7 E all dark
Kittiwake 280 E
Common Gull 10 E
Mediterranean Gull 5 E ad
Black-headed Gull 15 E
Little Gull 2 E
Sandwich Tern 385 E
Commic Tern 67E
Sanderling 2 E
Auk sp. 1E, 1W
alba Wagtail 3 in off
Carrion Crow 2 in off
Swallow 1
Common Redstart 2
Male Common Redstart at Birling
