Arctic Skua - the pale phased individual that went through today - Adam Huttly (photographed off Rustington)
The forecast was good but arrived a little later than I planned to but was surprised to see the shelter empty and the only observer up until a little later when I was joined by JD and JN. A brisk ESE and morning high tide produced a decent sea-watch this morning, although trying to stay warm in the shelter was a challenge the birds were passing through reguarly to keep you there! Birds were also passing through much closer this morning and although we dont get the numbers that Selsey to the west and Seaford to the east, you get a nice selection and highlights included a nice pale phased Arctic Skua that went through and a Great Skua very early on as did 3 Garganey and 2 Arctic Terns that were close enough to be scrutinised and confirmed, just a single Little Gull which lingered for a while before heading east a good passage of Common Scoter too, the larger flocks were distant but no Velvet Scoter for us, but some were seen further east at Seaford/Dungeness..totals below up until 9am when JN took over the count - all east unless stated NB/JD/JN
Great-crested Grebe x 2 (offshore)
Shoveler x 1
Garganey x 3
Teal x 2
Shelduck x 1
Common Scoter x 216
Cormorant x 12
Gannet x 119E 3W
Arctic Skua x 1 pale phased
Great Skua x 1
Fulmar x 6E 1W
Black-headed Gull x 7
Little Gull x 1
Curlew x 1
Whimbrel x 7
Sandwich Tern x 32
Arctic Tern x 2
Common Tern x 1
Sanderling x 2
Grey Plover x 12
Swallow x 1 (in off)
FERRING :
I did a seawatch on Ferring block this morning from 1115-1200 and 1215-1300 with the following seen in a fresh ESE wind:
Gannet 3E; Cormorant 4E; Brent Goose 32 E; Common Scoter 2E; Med Gull
one E; Sandwich Tern 23E; Bonxie one E; Whimbrel 32E including two that
flew inland NE; Bar-tailed Godwit one on beach; Turnstone 62 flew along
the shore in groups - moving feeding sites I guess; Sanderling 45 on beach.
Visibility was poor after the first 1/2 mile. i.e no horizon CH
