KarenWoolley
Well-known member
Southeasterly forecast for the morning..........................I wonder what I'll be doing!
Well I did go seawatching in the morning …………….......... Eventually!
I got up 'eagerly' at 5.30 but the visibility outside was dire and I decided it wouldn’t be much better (if not worse) on the coast , so I postponed. The rain had abated a little by late morning and I couldn’t hold back any longer, so off to the Yacht Club it was. I watched from 11: 00 – 12:00 and it was pretty uneventful, with only a smattering of birds. Only 6 Gannet!!
6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Kittiwake and 4 Razorbill all west and a flock of 17 Common Scoter, east.
This afternoon unperturbed by the poor show earlier and encouraged by the more southerly wind (actually I don’t need much encouragement) I set off to the shelter.
Ian M joined me after a few minutes and stayed for around an hour. This watch lasted from 16:10 – 18:10. The notable feature being a massive movement of Gannets (my biggest I’m sure).
Totals were Gannet 79W/4E, Auk Sp.7, Common Scoter /2, Kittiwake 7, Dunlin 9, Sandwich Tern 3, Oystercatcher 1, and Manx Shearwater 6/1 and also 2 on sea??
I saw two birds sat on the sea and at first glance I thought Auks, due to them being black and white and around that kind of size, but they had thinner bills and their heads were black and white, a black cap and white checks and throat. I think they were Manxies but I’ve never seen one swimming before, only distant flight views. Does this sound right?
No Skuas for me today ………………… Ah well, more reason for plenty of seawatching tomorrow, which can’t be bad.|=)|
Winds forecast due south! .........Oh!!....... That's another reason!!
Gav and Steve - I like the new look avatars featuring your good selves, they make mine look 'as dull as staring out to sea'
I will be following this trend shortly, with an interesting action shot of myself!!!