23/03/2015 First Sea-watch of the Year

Thursday 23rd April 2015 Splash Point, Cuckmere Haven and Birling Gap    I joined Paul and the Splash Point regulars for my first seawatch of 2015 - a 0615 start in cold and overcast conditions! Very slow at the start, the only birds of note up to 08.00 being 3 Arctic Skuas (2 light, 1 dark phase) flying E at 06.19, 3 Velvet Scoter that landed on the sea for a while with 6 Common Scoter before continuing up Channel, and 7 Whimbrel. A walk down the Cuckmere, with Paul, to the sea failed to find yesterday's Spoonbill though there were 7 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin and a Barnacle Goose. After Paul departed I made the short journey to Horseshoe Plantation, near Birling Gap, to look for the Wryneck that had been reported there.  About 100 metres east of Belle Tout Wood I saw Phillip W, a fellow BUBO lister, who had located the bird and for several minutes I enjoyed spectacular, close views of this lovely visitor out in the open, feeding in the short grass. Wryneck Library picture   An eventful morning with some excellent sightings!     Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List: Arctic Skua   (189) Velvet Scoter   (190) Common Tern   (191) Whitethroat   (192) Wryneck   (193)