Bonxies, Great Northern and Ice!

After a fortnight of hot sunny days in India, it was a real shock to return to the freezing cold weather. A short seawatch from the beach late in the afternoon of Friday the 15th, turned up two unexpected Bonxies (Great Skuas) flying back and forth on the horizon. Another good record to start the year was a Great Northern Diver heading north. On the sea we watched two Red-throated Divers, just offshore.

Saturday the 16th at first light, I crunched along the icy puddles of Wellington Parade, and spent the morning walking just under 6 miles arond Walmer and Kingsdown. A total of 41 species were seen with the best being 2 wintering Chiffchaffs, a winter plumage Guillemot sitting on the sea just off the beach and a single Rock Pipit. It was also nice to find a flock of 5 Yellowhammers and a single Reed Bunting. The sea was calm and in the winter sunshine we watched 50 plus Gannets feeding 150 yeards offshore.