Roll on Thailand

The past seven days have been typically quiet, not just for Gulls but everything else. Last Thursday a third-winter Caspian Gull was at Newhaven Harbour west arm but seen in rubbish light, and despite looking near identical to the Cuckmere bird from the 7th December, it wasn't until near darkness when the bird decided to fly revealing absolutely no features.

On Sunday I walked the field below Tideway School, Newhaven where in past winters has seen a good congregation of Buntings and Finches, and today thankfully saw no different, with the following totals seen:

Corn Bunting - 70
Linnet - 50
Skylark - 60
Reed Bunting - 5

Also there were up to 20 Fulmars flying around the cliffs.

A couple of seawatches has also been desperate, with the following seen on Monday in an hour:

Brent Geese - 80
Red-throated Diver - 4
Razorbill - 6
Gannet - 15
Wigeon - 3
Kittiwake - 45

Also on Monday I couldn't find the Crane in the Cuckmere that was seen the day before, though Grey Heron may have been the answer here, and despite a couple of very large groups of Gulls, I could only find an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The Gull roost at Arlington was also pointless.

I'm off to Thailand on Monday for three weeks with Ian & Jake where hopefully daily postings (without photos until I get back) will be able to appear. All the optics are packed so that's it until next week.

a distant third-winter Caspian Gull on Newhaven West Arm

another look at one of these next week will be very much appreciated.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Pak Thale, Thailand in Dec. 2013 along

with Red-necked Stints and Lesser Sand Plovers.