Splash Point & Rye Harbour 26/4/14

A somewhat slow start to the seawatch this morning until 8am when out of nowhere over 2000 Terns surged through in just 25 minutes, among other species in this time period. A memorable experience for all concerned. Good number of other species kept us busy during the time spent there. Most birds showed well for a change, especially the Skuas.

When I thought my day was complete, a Kentish Plover was found at Rye Harbour, so I dashed over there and had very distant, but satisfactory views.

Splash Point 05.45-11.00:

Pomarine Skua - 2 (plus 1 probable)
Arctic Skua - 12 including some very close inshore
Great Skua - 21 including some very close inshore
Black Tern - 10
Little Tern - 4+
Arctic Tern - 300 (certainly more than this)
Commic Tern - 2000
Sandwich Tern - 57
Eider - 4 west
Whimbrel - 61
Bar-tailed Godwit - 396
Dunlin - 28
Ringed Plover - 2
Curlew - 6
Red-throated Diver - 16
Black-throated Diver - 4+
Little Gull - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 2
Brent Geese - 117
Common Scoter - 158 (vastly under counted)

Rye Harbour:

KENTISH PLOVER - 1 on flat beach
Little Stint - 1
Little Tern - 5

 Great Skua

dark phase Arctic Skuas passing east

Arctic Terns