Goring Gap and West Worthing

A brisk SSE/southerly breeze saw me down at the Gap again for dawn for another decent seawatch. I was joined for the last hour or so by Gareth. A flurry of terns included my first eight Little Terns of the year, as well as my first 2019 Arctic Terns, at least three among 58 'Commics', which included at least 24 Commons. Skuas came through at a gentle pace, with 20 Bonxies and 12 Arctic Skuas but no Poms. Two Manx Shearwaters were great to see, as was a flock of seven Velvet Scoters. Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits were down, with 21 and 22 respectively, though two of the latter honoured the beach with their presence. My first Swift of the year tracked east offshore, and other highlights included 218 Common Scoters, four Fulmars, 206 Gannets, six Red-throated Divers, 29 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, five Guillemots/Razorbills, 44 Mediterranean Gulls and eight Common Gulls.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Back home in West Worthing, singles of Swallow and Meadow Pipit flew over.