North Sea Thread (1 Viewer)

[Gander]

Over the last few days, we have had a surge in Great Black-backed Gull numbers. There are now well over 500 sat on or around the platform. Herring gulls are also just starting to increase in numbers. Groups of Kittiwake and Common Gull have been passing through. Gannets and Fulmar are regularly seen passing by in small numbers.
On Monday, after the Sprawk spot, I found a Wheatear up at the Helideck, and a Great Skua was also seen. Yesterday and today, a Guillemot has been seen bobbing about amongst the GBBGs.
Looking at the weather forecast, I'm hopeful that the predicted easterlies on Thursday into Friday will bring some migrants my way.

 

[Gander]

Over the last few days, we have had a surge in Great Black-backed Gull numbers. There are now well over 500 sat on or around the platform. Herring gulls are also just starting to increase in numbers. Groups of Kittiwake and Common Gull have been passing through. Gannets and Fulmar are regularly seen passing by in small numbers.
On Monday, after the Sprawk spot, I found a Wheatear up at the Helideck, and a Great Skua was also seen. Yesterday and today, a Guillemot has been seen bobbing about amongst the GBBGs.
Looking at the weather forecast, I'm hopeful that the predicted easterlies on Thursday into Friday will bring some migrants my way.

 

[Gander]

A couple of mystery birds seen today. Initially, I thought they were Great Skua. They were bobbing about at distance, amongst the GBBGs. When I looked at the photos later, I realised they were not Bonxie. I've put the attached photos up on the Bird ID Q&A pages. Only suggestion so far has been Sooty Shearwater, but I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

A couple of mystery birds seen today. Initially, I thought they were Great Skua. They were bobbing about at distance, amongst the GBBGs. When I looked at the photos later, I realised they were not Bonxie. I've put the attached photos up on the Bird ID Q&A pages. Only suggestion so far has been Sooty Shearwater, but I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

Definitely shearwaters and they look fine for Sooties to me (the paleness of their fronts is presumably down to reflected light). There have been good numbers in the North Sea too.

 

[Gander]

Patch Tick

While considerations are under way on the Shearwaters, I have a few other things to report.

The easterlies do seem to have got things on the move. During the night, there was a flock of small birds reported, but unidentifiable. Today, there have been several pipits around. As far as I can tell, they are all Meadow Pipits. Late this afternoon, the white butt of another Wheatear flashed past me.

Star of the show today though is a new bird to the platform. It may be relatively common onshore, but it has made my day. I was called to the Cellar Deck during the afternoon, to the report of a duck among the risers. To be honest, I assumed it was going to be a Guillemot, as that is what most "duck" reports turn out to be. I found nothing, but a short while later, I was call again by the same reporter, who told me the duck was present again. I was quicker getting there this time, and sure enough, there was a duck. Not just any old duck, but a fine Gadwall, that has never been seen in these waters before.

29. Gadwall
30. Meadow Pipit

 

[Gander]

There is a large movement of Passerines moving through at the moment. East coast should be becoming interesting over the next few days. A lot of birds I have not been able to identify, and of the ones I have seen enough of to ID, most are pipits. This morning, I have also found a Pied Wagtail and a Pied Flycatcher.

Particularly pleased with the flycatcher, as that is my third year running in finding one.

31. Pied Flycatcher
32. Pied Wagtail

 

[Gander]

I contacted the former recorder for the North Sea Bird Club concerning the Gadwall, as I could not find any record of one in the annual reports that I have available to me. It turns out that in the 40 year history of the club, up to 2019, they have only had one reported, and that was in 1991.

A true North Sea mega!

 

[Gander]

It has been fairly quiet since Friday, until yesterday afternoon. I missed all the action myself, but the scaffolders reported a Sparrowhawk coming in low off the sea, and a couple of wagtails strutting about on one of the decks. The final bird they reported though, is new to the platform. An Oystercatcher was seen on one of the decks at close quarters.

I'll need to update the platform master list soon. I think we are now around the 93 species mark.

33. Oystercatcher*

 

[Gander]

A group of six Heron reported to me yesterday, then at lunchtime, a Sparrowhawk was observed taking another unidentified bird out of the air. This morning, I had a close encounter with the Sparrowhawk on the Cellar Deck, as it zoomed over my head. Close enough to get me to duck!

A Pied Wagtail seen down on the Spider Deck. And two Cormorants are present just off the platform.

Still hundreds of GBBG! The place stinks!

 

[Gander]

One of yesterday's Cormorants.

 

[Gander]

Super Pod
This morning, we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of White-beaked Dolphins. I have seen the odd pod in the past, but I've never seen anything like this!

 

[delia todd]

WOW!!!

Not much else to be said Paul!!! That will live with you for years lad.

 

[Gander]

Day of the Raptors

I got a call this morning reporting a Sparrowhawk, seen from the Skid Deck area. I was not keen on investigating, as it has gone wet and windy, but I hauled myself out anyway, and started to climb the external stairs. I had not gone very far, when a raptor came into sight off the north face of the platform. This was no Sparrowhawk though! As I froze and watched, the bird headed towards me, then landed on a steel beam about thirty feet from my position, making ID easy. Our first Peregrine of the year! Sadly, no camera to hand.

Later in the morning, I received another report. This time it was stated that there were two Sparrowhawks off the north face. I headed out again, wondering if there were now two Peregrines. I found the Peregrine again, at distance, but I also found two Kestrels.

There are individual Passerines passing by, but I've not got enough of any of them to give a positive ID, apart from one Swallow.

Finally, I headed down to the Cellar Deck, where I found my fourth raptor of the day in the shape of a real Sparrowhawk.

34. Peregrine

 

[delia todd]

Interesting Paul. Just making me think really. I've never associated any of these raptors with migration.

Do these raptors actually migrate do you think, or do they follow the passerines as they head out to sea, then hang around the rig because they reckon they've a good hunting spot, where they can catch tired birds coming in?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Interesting Paul. Just making me think really. I've never associated any of these raptors with migration.

Do these raptors actually migrate do you think, or do they follow the passerines as they head out to sea, then hang around the rig because they reckon they've a good hunting spot, where they can catch tired birds coming in?

Northern birds are migratory, especially Sparrowhawks - a trickle of birds south over my land every day at this time of year. Almost all my Kestrel records (which is not many) are also autumn migrants.

Just to say, do enjoy this thread - very nice insight to the daily action on this unique birding locality

 

[delia todd]

Thanks Jos.

.... and yes, it is a great thread this one, isn't it.

 

[Gander]

I think all three raptor species I saw yesterday migrate. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel we get several sightings of every year. Peregrines we get most years, but only a sighting or two.
They can tend to stay onboard for a two or three days, especially if there are passerines about.

The Peregrine was still around yesterday afternoon, and seen trying to take one of the Kestrels.

 

[delia todd]

Thanks for that Paul.

 

[Gander]

If you look at the dolphin photos on post #711, you will notice a Fast Rescue Craft, that was alongside the platform on stand-by duty. I have managed to get hold of the photos/screenshots that the crew took.

Gives another perspective.

 

[delia todd]

Oooh! Thanks Paul - they got some great images too, didn't they.