Cuckmere Haven 9-10/5/16

Yesterday after work I went down Splash Point for three hours but in a much improved E wind, little was moving, possibly down to the series of rain showers in the channel, with each one passing producing a small movement of birds. Afterwards a trek down the Cuckmere produced a few expected Waders for the time of year.

Splash Point 13.30-16.30 Wind E2:

Great Skua - 1
Grey Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 1
Common Scoter - 39
Gannet - 11
Sandwich Tern - 4
Commic Tern - 18
Sanderling - 47
Little Tern - 4
Ringed Plover - 1 with Sanderling flock
Diver sp. - 1

Today I gave seawatching a miss which was a mistake as Terns and a few Skuas were recorded past Dungeness in the afternoon once the murky conditions had ceased. Seaford Head felt rare and despite plenty of Subalpines being in the country, I couldn't dig one out, or anything for that matter. A small group of Fox cubs were very cute and provided the non-avain highlight. The Cuckmere after produced the same stuff as yesterday with the following seen:

Bar-tailed Godwit - 2
Whimbrel - 5
Ringed Plover - 2
Wheatear - 1

 the pair of Stonechats by the scrape have already produced 3 fledglings. Hopefully a second brood is on the cards

Bar-tailed Godwits along the Cuckmere River