A day that had been on my radar all week with full on south easterly winds forecast for all along the channel, and thankfully it didn't disappoint with plenty of variety, and some significant numbers involved with certain species, though once again Brent Geese numbers were very low. The wind was particularly strong for the first few hours, but when it dropped by late morning, the Terns moved in force, that included a surprisingly high number of Common Terns. A flock of Avocets and Eider were my personal favourites for the session, though watching the mixed Tern flocks was great to see.
Towards the end of the eight hours the passage eased off somewhat and I reluctantly left, however knowing I was only 45 Sandwich Terns off from the thousand mark, I may have stayed another half hour.
A Splash Point first for me was purchasing a new telescope, courtesy of David Williams who had noticed my cry for help for sometime now. No more complaining from me now on this matter.
Totals between 06.00 - 14.30 Wind SE F4-2:
Common Scoter - 1273
Gannet - 464
Sandwich Tern - 955
Arctic Skua - 30 (only 1 light phase)
Red-throated Diver - 32
Teal - 27
Brent Geese - 26
Avocet - 9
Sanderling - 3
Black-throated Diver - 3
Shoveler - 2
Commic Tern - 387 (those that were identified were all Common)
Curlew - 2
Red-breasted Merganser - 10
Great Skua - 7
Great Crested Grebe - 10
Velvet Scoter - 3
Eider - 6
Little Gull - 21
Grey Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1
Towards the end of the eight hours the passage eased off somewhat and I reluctantly left, however knowing I was only 45 Sandwich Terns off from the thousand mark, I may have stayed another half hour.
A Splash Point first for me was purchasing a new telescope, courtesy of David Williams who had noticed my cry for help for sometime now. No more complaining from me now on this matter.
Totals between 06.00 - 14.30 Wind SE F4-2:
Common Scoter - 1273
Gannet - 464
Sandwich Tern - 955
Arctic Skua - 30 (only 1 light phase)
Red-throated Diver - 32
Teal - 27
Brent Geese - 26
Avocet - 9
Sanderling - 3
Black-throated Diver - 3
Shoveler - 2
Commic Tern - 387 (those that were identified were all Common)
Curlew - 2
Red-breasted Merganser - 10
Great Skua - 7
Great Crested Grebe - 10
Velvet Scoter - 3
Eider - 6
Little Gull - 21
Grey Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1
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| Avocets just off the Point |
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| Arctic Skua |
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Velvet Scoters - this trio were tracked
all along the Sussex coastline from Selsey eastwards.
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