North Sea Thread (1 Viewer)

markspirito · Oct 24, 2017

Its a pity you cannot set a sound recorder up somewhere overnight, we could have fun on here deciphering the various calls heard on migration, but I see electronic equipment is just not on and not worth getting the sack over !

Mark

Gander · Oct 24, 2017

In at 54

Another platform tick this morning when a small group of Chaffinch flew in. They look a little different from the ones I'm used to back home. The pinkish breast looks a different shade, and they strike me as slightly bigger, but they are definitely Chaffinch.

Down on the Cellar Deck something stirred when I walked through. My view was heavily obstructed, but I got the movement and general size. I'm thinking another Sparrowhawk or possibly the one that was here a few days ago.

A few Starling and Redwing still coming through.

The 2017 List Updated
1. Herring Gull
2. Great Black-Backed Gull
3. Glaucous Gull
4. Iceland Gull
5. Fulmar
6. Kittiwake
7. Long-Tailed Duck
8. Common Scoter
9. Gannet
10. Guillemot
11. Greylag Goose
12. Collared Dove
13. Goldcrest
14. Woodpigeon.
15. Peregrine
16. Sparrowhawk
17. Blackbird
18. Common Gull
19. Pied Wagtail
20. Yellowhammer*
21. Goldfinch
22. Siskin
23. Robin
24. Rock Pipit
25. Ruff (d)*
26. Golden Plover
27. Swallow
28. House Martin
29. Chiffchaff
30. Blackcap
31. Willow Warbler
32. Kestrel
33. Carrion Crow
34. Hooded Crow
35. Balearic Shearwater
36. Lesser Black-Backed Gull
37. Shag
38. Razorbill
39. Black-Headed Gull
40. Great Skua
41. Arctic Skua
42. Meadow Pipit
43. Grey Heron
44. Common Eider
45. Cormorant
46. Grey Phalarope
47. Song Thrush
48. Redwing
49. Wheatear
50. Starling
51. Brambling
52. Great Tit
53. Grey Wagtail
54. Chaffinch

markspirito · Oct 24, 2017

Maybe Hawfinch could be your next Platform tick !!?

Gander · Oct 24, 2017

markspirito said:
Maybe Hawfinch could be your next Platform tick !!?

That would be nice. :t:

Gander · Oct 25, 2017

No further sightings of the hawk on the Cellar Deck, but I found a dead Starling there, with its breast and neck stripped to the bone. This morning, before sun up, I found a small influx of Redwing, also on the Cellar Deck. I counted about ten, with a few unidentifiable birds circling the platform. I also found a single Brambling. Later in the morning I noticed an increase in Gannet activity off the platform, with at least twelve birds being visible at the same time. In among them was a Great Skua, although it was more interested in harrassing our resident gulls than it was the Gannets.

Heading up the stairs at lunch time, I watched a single Starling coming in to the platform. It landed on a handrail about six feet from me. I crept slowly away so as not to disturb its well earned rest.

Gander · Oct 27, 2017

Wind is whipping in from the west again, and the bird tap has been shut off with only the odd Starling arriving. When I think of Starlings, I always associate them with big flocks, but they don't seem to head across the North Sea in those big flocks. They always seem to make the crossing in dribs and drabs.

Sunday/Monday we have strong north easterlies forcast. Probably my last chance of getting a Fieldfare, or anything new for that matter.

I spotted a Sparrowhawk again yesterday. I think my sightings of this species over the last couple of weeks has consisted of two or three birds, with each hanging around for a while, but it is impossible to be sure. There has certainly been a big increase in Sparrowhawk sightings here this year. I've just been told by another worker that there were two present together while I was off.

Gander · Oct 29, 2017

Tagged Gull Info

Gander said:
Yesterday afternoon I found a GBBG with a difference (see photo). The difference was that it had a tag. I’ve traced the number to a Norwegian project and have forwarded the information to them. All of their birds are tagged in the south of Norway, so this bird has moved pretty much due west.

I have now received some info (see below) on the tagged gull I spotted on the 14th. Although originating in Norway, it looks like it has spent most of its life in Peterhead.

CR-Code Black ring with white code: JU331 LBM;RBNW(JU331)
Ringing Centre Stavanger Museum (Norway) Ring number 3038231
Species Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Sex Unknown Age Pullus

Date Place Coordinates Observers Days/km/°
23.06 2014 Kalvøysundbråttene, Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway 58°32'14"N 008°59'37"E Lome, Carsten -

02.11 2014 Buchanhaven Shore, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'41"N 001°46'42"W Grant, Douglas 132/644/264

09.03 2015 Peterhead Harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 259/644/264

24.03 2015 Peterhead Harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 274/644/264

05.05 2015 Peterhead Harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 316/644/264

21.06 2015 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°31'00"N 001°48'12"W Grant, Douglas 363/646/264

25.07 2015 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°31'00"N 001°48'12"W Grant, Douglas 397/646/264

23.08 2015 Peterhead Harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 426/644/264

20.03 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°31'01"N 001°47'48"W Grant, Douglas 636/645/264

14.05 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'59"N 001°48'01"W Grant, Douglas 691/646/264

03.06 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'59"N 001°48'01"W Grant, Douglas 711/646/264

25.06 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'59"N 001°48'01"W Grant, Douglas 733/646/264

01.07 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'59"N 001°48'01"W Grant, Douglas 739/646/264

19.08 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°31'01"N 001°47'48"W Grant, Douglas 788/645/264

14.10 2016 Peterhead harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 844/644/264

22.10 2016 Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'59"N 001°48'01"W Duncan, Raymond 852/646/264

03.01 2017 Peterhead Harbour, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'08"N 001°46'20"W Grant, Douglas 925/644/264

21.01 2017 Buchanhaven Shore, Peterhead, Grampian Region, Great Britain 57°30'41"N 001°46'42"W Grant, Douglas 943/644/264

14.10 2017 Tartan Alpha platform, North Sea (offshore), North Sea 58°21'11"N 000°04'25"E Williams, Paul 1209/520/271

Gander · Oct 30, 2017

Tagged Herring Gull

Another tagged gull found today. This time a Herring Gull.

Tagging info received was

17.12 2011 Liavatnet, Nyborg, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway 60°28'23"N 005°20'13"E

It was noted that bird was 4th cycle when tagged. Does that make it eleven years old???

MTem · Oct 30, 2017

Gander said:
Another tagged gull found today. This time a Herring Gull.

Tagging info received was

17.12 2011 Liavatnet, Nyborg, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway 60°28'23"N 005°20'13"E

It was noted that bird was 4th cycle when tagged. Does that make it eleven years old???

Yes it does. Not that old for a large gull. Many are recorded in their twenties, a few in their thirties and the oldest HG record I could find was 49. Apparently she laid eggs in 42 of those years!
Mick

Gander · Oct 30, 2017

MTem said:
Yes it does. Not that old for a large gull. Many are recorded in their twenties, a few in their thirties and the oldest HG record I could find was 49. Apparently she laid eggs in 42 of those years!
Mick

I'd never have thought that. It's a lot of years for a bird that lives in such a harsh environment. :t:

Andrew Whitehouse · Oct 30, 2017

Gander said:
I'd never have thought that. It's a lot of years for a bird that lives in such a harsh environment. :t:

It's got a long time to go to catch up with this bird:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4181803/Oldest-bird-has-clocked-up-five-million-miles.html

Gander · Nov 10, 2017

Reports received of a large movement of Thrush types and Starling.

Hopefully, that will be the Fieldfare on their way.

Gander · Nov 24, 2017

I've been back onboard from Tuesday, but there has been very little to report. Herring Gull has been the dominant bird, with GBBG also present in strength. A few Kittiwakes have been present. Outside of that, a Blackbird on Tuesday, and a Gannet and Glaucous Gull today have been the only other birds spotted.

Only other thing of note was a tagged GBBG today. It originated from SvinØya, HerØy, MØre og Romsdal, Norway. Tagged as a chick on 01/08/12, this is the first time its been recorded since.

The gull count jumped up quite a bit today. Herring Gulls went up from about 300+ to 600+, and GBBG went up from 50-80 to 100+. With those numbers, I should find a few more tags yet, although most of the birds are sitting on the water.

Gander · Nov 29, 2017

White-Wings

Bird count has been pretty static since Friday, with the Herring Gull flock at about 600+ until yesterday when it rose to 750+. GBBG count at 100+ each day. Most days I've had a few Kittiwakes and the odd Gannet.

Today, there has been a change though. The wind has swung around and is now charging out of the north. The Herring gull flock has more than halved, but we now have white-winged gulls showing. At first light this morning we had an Iceland Gull (first of this winter) in close. A couple of hours later, we also had a couple of Glaucous Gulls turn up, also in close.

Photos are not great in poor light, but give a nice comparison of shape in 1 & 2.

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 29, 2017

Gander said:
Bird count has been pretty static since Friday, with the Herring Gull flock at about 600+ until yesterday when it rose to 750+. GBBG count at 100+ each day. Most days I've had a few Kittiwakes and the odd Gannet.

Today, there has been a change though. The wind has swung around and is now charging out of the north. The Herring gull flock has more than halved, but we now have white-winged gulls showing. At first light this morning we had an Iceland Gull (first of this winter) in close. A couple of hours later, we also had a couple of Glaucous Gulls turn up, also in close.

Photos are not great in poor light, but give a nice comparison of shape in 1 & 2.

Excellent - was hoping these would start coming in on these northerlies. Will have to get out for a look along the coast here soon.

Gander · Nov 30, 2017

Andrew Whitehouse said:
Excellent - was hoping these would start coming in on these northerlies. Will have to get out for a look along the coast here soon.

Make sure you wear some thermals. It's a raw feeling wind at the moment. :t:

Only one Glaucous present today.

lostinjapan · Dec 4, 2017

Nice to read about someone posting their observations in the N Sea. I regularly work on vessels in the N Sea, having done a lot of survey in the Central North Sea.

I've been lucky enough to have a few goodies this year from boats I've been on, though some was in the Norwegian Sector, but highlights have been Little Bunting, White-billed Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-backed Shrike, Pomarine Skua, Glaucous Gull and Sooty Shearwater.

Good luck in 2018

.

Gander · Dec 5, 2017

lostinjapan said:
Nice to read about someone posting their observations in the N Sea. I regularly work on vessels in the N Sea, having done a lot of survey in the Central North Sea.

I've been lucky enough to have a few goodies this year from boats I've been on, though some was in the Norwegian Sector, but highlights have been Little Bunting, White-billed Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-backed Shrike, Pomarine Skua, Glaucous Gull and Sooty Shearwater.

Good luck in 2018 .

That is a nice little list. :t:

If you don't send them in already, I'm sure the NSBC would love to receive any reports (also the excellent photos). Also, I'd be delighted to see any reports from others on this thread.

All the best for 2018.

Gander · Dec 6, 2017

The slow crawl to the end of the year continues. Nothing but gulls since Thursday, with a single Iceland Gull being the only stand out spot. Even the gulls took a dip in numbers over the weekend, with one count being down to only ten birds. The flock number is now back up to about 400 with Herring Gull outnumbering GBBG three to one. A few Kittiwake still about (4 today).

There is a big storm rolling in over the next few days, with winds predicted to be over 100 mph blowing towards us from Shetland, so hopefully it will bring a few birds in with it.

Ross's Gull would be nice, but I'd settle for a King Eider.

Gander · Dec 7, 2017

Storm Caroline

Storm Caroline now rocking and rolling outside. Huge sea and 100+ mph gusts.

Gulls can count themselves today!

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