Surveys, sunshine and beaches

Been a while since I posted anything so thought it about time to update.
I don't do garden birds really but I do keep an eye on the feeders. A male Blackcap has been a regular visitor throughout Jan and Feb , and now through most of March.  He's an elegant bird to watch and can be quite feisty, seeing off the Blue Tits in no uncertain terms.  A good number of Goldfinches have consistently been at the sunflower hearts, and there have even been a pair of Greenfinches. It's taken until 16th March for the first Chiffchaff to be heard singing from the garden.  Pride of place though has to go to the Firecrest I found making it's way through the Privet hedge on 3rd Mar. This was a first for the garden.
Probably the highlight of my February WeBS count at Newhaven was a Common seal loafing around close to the river bank. I also managed 2 kingfishers that day, always guaranteed to brighten up the survey.  March's WeBS count by contrast was fairly quiet, the most interesting observations being a pair of copulating Kestrels, a sparrowhawk being mobbed by the local HGs and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers.
Sadly, what the beaches have yielded is a lot of dead seabirds. On 4th Mar the beach immediately West of Brighton marina had 2 razorbills, 1 Guillemot, 2 unidentifiable auks and 1 Kittiwake. On 17th Mar at West beach, Newhaven, there were 7 razorbills, 5 guillemots, 3 unidentifiable auks and 1 Hg.
Some unseasonably high temperatures and sunny weather has really got the birds singing. During the first BBS training session at Pulborough on 15th Mar i listened to a Nuthatch singing, the first time i can recall hearing it's song, and a very beautiful one it is too.  I'll listen out for it again to see if I can get a sound recording next time. Loads of butterflies (Brimstones, small tortoiseshell and a peacock on the beach yesterday) and a sun - bathing Adder have helped to make Spring special this year.