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North Sea Thread (1 Viewer)

Gander

Well-known member
Last minute bird.

Due to the high winds, and accompanying trigger lightening that we had on Tuesday, from whichever storm (Ciara?) that was that passed through, I had to stay an extra day on the platform.

Yesterday morning however, the winds were down, and despite an initial short delay for more trigger lightening, my chopper home was soon on its way. I headed up to the waiting area under the helideck, arriving there before anyone else. With three weeks of very few birds behind me, I was not actually looking for anything. Leaning on a handrail and looking south, my eye was attracted to a Kittiwake passing close in below me, but almost instantly, a bird that was flying behind the Kittiwake really grabbed my attention. Finally, a White-winged Gull!

A juvenile Iceland Gull in my last unscheduled minutes onboard. Almost made the delay worth it.

The bird did not linger,, but just casually flew west towards Scotland. I'm guessing it had been blown out to sea by Tuesday's storm, and was now making its way back. A very welcome sighting though, whatever its origination/destination. :t:

2020 List

1. Great Black-Backed Gull
2. Carrion Crow
3. Herring Gull
4. Kittiwake
5. Fulmar
6. Shag
7. Gannet
8. Iceland Gull
 

Gander

Well-known member
For my first few days back onboard, the only sightings were of Kittiwake, and only one per day for the first couple of days. Yesterday, I managed to catch up with our resident crow, that is fast approaching its first anniversary of dwelling on the platform. There was also a GBBG and a Fulmar seen, to add to another solo Kittiwake.

This morning has seen new arrivals with two Guillemot fishing under the flare stack.

2020 List

1. Great Black-Backed Gull
2. Carrion Crow
3. Herring Gull
4. Kittiwake
5. Fulmar
6. Shag
7. Gannet
8. Iceland Gull
9. Guillemot

Edit - Three small birds reported to me as flying out of skip yesterday evening. First sign of migration movement.
 
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Pete58

Well-known member
3rd March offshore Kristiansund after an easterly gale 50+ Glaucous Gull (mainly adults with a few 1st W). Never seen these numbers before. Only 3 left the following day. Prior to this it had been 2 weeks with a few Kitts.
 

Gander

Well-known member
3rd March offshore Kristiansund after an easterly gale 50+ Glaucous Gull (mainly adults with a few 1st W). Never seen these numbers before. Only 3 left the following day. Prior to this it had been 2 weeks with a few Kitts.

No Glaucous here sadly, although I had my second Iceland Gull of the year this morning. Outside of that, it has been a few Kittiwakes along with visits by both Herring and GBB Gulls. And of course; one resident Carrion Crow.
 

Gander

Well-known member
At this time of year, I'm usually knee deep in migrating birds out here. This year? Nothing!

Even the crow has gone!!

Arriving on Tuesday, all I've had is a handful of the more common seabirds, with two exceptions.

Having been told when I arrived that our resident crow had moved on, I was surprised that afternoon to see two crows flying about. I don't think they included our resident though, and they also have appeared to have moved on.

The other excepion was a glimpse of a flock of, what I took to be ducks. They were flying fast and low over the water, but disappeared from sight around the corner of the platform before I could get a monocular on them. If I was to guess, I'd say Common Scoter.

Missing an ID when pickings are already slim, just adds to a growing frustration following several poor migration seasons out here for me, and what has been a very poor start to the year anyway. I can't even blame the weather this year, as we've had light westerlies. I just don't understand where the birds are? Maybe in self isolation, and not making non essential journeys. ;)

Last time I was offshore on these dates during a year, I was getting Wagtails, Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Woodcock, Snipe, Pipits, Long-eared Owl, Short-Eared Owl, Sparrowhawk etc.

It will only take one good bird to cheer me up, but it's getting harder, and harder to believe it's going to happen.

Prior to me arriving there were a few birds seen passing through, but with only Woodpigeon and Starling being identified.

2020 List

1. Great Black-Backed Gull
2. Carrion Crow
3. Herring Gull
4. Kittiwake
5. Fulmar
6. Shag
7. Gannet
8. Iceland Gull
9. Guillemot
10. Woodpigeon*
11. Starling*
 

Gander

Well-known member
Not exactly a flood of birds, but following yesterday mornings Golden Plover, I found a Chiffchaff in the afternoon, and have just seen a Pied Wagtail up on the Skid Deck.

Things still slow, but moving in the right direction. :t:

13. Chiffchaff
14. Pied Wagtail
 

Gander

Well-known member
I was a little concerned when I first saw the Golden Plover up on the Helideck. My understanding is that GPs pass over at altitude, and rarely drop on to platforms unless there is something wrong with them. The fact that the GP was still there for a second day, yesterday, confirmed to me that it was not going to go any further. Today I removed its now lifeless form from the deck.

Sad though it is, it has been a privilege to see such a beautifully marked bird at such close quarters.

On a more upbeat note, I found a couple of Meadow Pipits at first light. They were feeding on something in the thin layer of green seaweed that coats the platform legs. Life goes on!

15. Meadow Pipit
 

Gander

Well-known member
Steady Trickle

I'd say we were up into steady trickle territory right now. Yesterday I noted a a few birds, but only got glimpses that did not allow any kind of ID. Also, yesterday, I received a few reports of Swallows, and one of a possible House Martin. I've accepted the Swallow IDs, but the description of the HM wasn't good enough for it to make the list.

First light this morning saw me checking out the Cellar Deck. There were Meadow Pipits back on the legs, but more excitingly, they had been joined by a pair of Wheatear. Both Pipits and Wheatears were feeding in the same way on something in the green seaweed that coats the legs and structure in the splash zone. Typically they sit on the skirt around the legs (see photo) before throwing themselves up against the legs in a wild flutter, while pecking away at whatever morsels are crawling about down there.

Also seen at the same time as the Wheatear was a Willow Warbler. Last year, neither Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler made the list due to ID problems. I was getting glimpses of the warblers, but never enough for a definite ID. I am quite pleased to have got both this year.

16. Swallow
17. Wheatear
18. Willow Warbler
 

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Gander

Well-known member
Birds continuing to come through today. Mainly "Willow Wren", I think, although I've only been sure enough to ID a second Chiffchaff (see photo).

I also found a Robin had joined the Wheatear down on the Spider Deck. The Wheatear are up to 4 present now.

A Carrion Crow seen. I wouldn't have thought it was our previous resident, but it is possible that it has started platform hopping.

Changes with the seabirds also. Today there were over 40 Fulmar present, instead of the odd passing one or two. And yesterday, I was seeing groups of Gannets for the first time this year, again, instead of the odd one or two birds.

And finally, it's not been a good day for fish under the platform (see photo).

19. Robin
 

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Gander

Well-known member
It seems to be a little bit quieter today. Sun is still shining though, and winds, although from the east, are fairly light.

The Wheatear are still down on the Spider Deck, along with a Chiffchaff. Yesterday afternoon, I had a close encounter with a striking male Wheatear that came up to the lower south walkway, and landed about 10 ft in front of me. We both stood there for a good half a minute, just watching each other.

Also yesterday, I finally got eyes on a couple of the Swallows that have been coming through.
 

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Gander

Well-known member
There was no sign of the Wheatears yesterday, so hopefully they are now in Norway. Robins were reported to me, and also possible Martins, but I'm not confident enough in the descriptions given to list them.

On the Pipe Deck yesterday, I was trying to get a better look at a very furtive small bird that was flitting about, when I flushed a very fresh looking Collared Dove. I never got near my target bird, but Collared Dove makes the list as our 20th species of the year.

20. Collared Dove
 

Gander

Well-known member
It has been over a week since my last report, mainly because there has not been much to report. Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers continued to trickle through, along with Meadow Pipits. Another Carrion Crow turned up, however, it was Saturday (2nd) before I received a report of something new to this year's list. A male Blackcap was spotted on the Skid Deck.

21. Blackcap*

This afternoon though, I was directed to a bird seen on the skirt of our NE leg. Reaching the given location, I was delighted to find a Puffin sat there. Only my second offshore Puffin in thirty years!

22. Puffin
 

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PYRTLE

Old Berkshire Boy
Smart bird, the Puffin, the Wheatear looks bright enough for a " Greenland" and how I miss fish and chips.
All the best.
 

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Scotland
Oh!! How wonderful to have him on the rig Paul.

Nice one lad.
 

Gander

Well-known member
I left the platform on Tuesday morning, just as fresh birds were moving in. Three Carrion Crows were evident, but there were also several small birds up on the South crane boom. As, I was under the helideck, all dressed up and waiting on my flying taxi, I was, frustratingly, unable to investigate.
 

Pete58

Well-known member
3 weeks offshore on Ekofisk in May. Only 2 passerines seen, a dead Blackcap and a Wheatear which did not look much better. Probably the most unproductive May I have ever spent offshore. A real shocker. looks as though it was not much better on land.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
3 weeks offshore on Ekofisk in May. Only 2 passerines seen, a dead Blackcap and a Wheatear which did not look much better. Probably the most unproductive May I have ever spent offshore. A real shocker. looks as though it was not much better on land.

Sounds grim Pete. Very few landbird migrants around Aberdeen during May.
 

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