- Common Scoter - 65 east
- Great-northern Diver - 1 east
- Grey Plover - 1 east
- Bar-tailed Godwit - 12 east
- Whimbrel - 9 east
- Arctic Skua - 1 pale phase east
- Mediterranean Gull - 1 (2nd summer) east
- Sandwich Tern - 18 east
- Commic Tern - 92 east
- Black Tern - 6 east at 09:10
Other birds recorded were Peregrine and Kestrel both flying across from the Isle of Wight, up to six Little Tern fishing offshore and three Sanderling on the beach.
Bar-tailed Godwit, part of flock of six overhead at the watch point - Hurst Spit
Bar-tailed Godwit, part of flock of six overhead at the watch point - Hurst Spit
Black Tern from the seawatch point - West High Down on the Isle of Wight is beyond
Black Tern (same flock as above) - Hurst Spit
On 7th May the wind was forecast to be south-east and given that seawatchers at Dungeness had recorded 121 Pomarine Skua yesterday I was hopeful for at least one at Hurst this morning. I arrived at 06:30 and was the first birder at the seawatch point at the base of the spit. A flock of 11 Commic Tern flew east and then another eight within 15 minutes and I was quite optimistic. A fog bank offshore obscured the Needles and it was easy to imagine a flock of Pomarine Skua emerging from the gloom. More birders arrived, I watched and waited until 11:00 but there was no Pomarine Skua and it was time to head for home. The mornings totals were:
- Common Scoter - 36 east
- Whimbrel - 14 east
- Commic Tern - 108 east
- Arctic Tern - 3 east over the spit seven with Common Tern
- Sandwich Tern - 15 east
- Arctic Skua - 1 pale phase 08:00 on sea and then flew west
- Bonxie - 1 east 10:00
The Arctic Tern were giving a distinctive 'pic' call which I have not heard from Common Tern before and Alan Lewis said this was a good way of picking them out from Common Terns when the calls can be heard, the 'pic' call can be heard here. In addition, there were three Sanderling and a handful of Dunlin knocking around. Plus the usual fishing Little Tern and Sandwich Tern. All in all a little disappointing
Whimbrel - This flock of five was heard singing as they approached the beach
Whimbrel - Same flock as above
Arctic Skua - pale phase bird
Arctic Skua - pale phase bird (same as above)
Sandwich Tern
