North Sea Thread (1 Viewer)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Ahhh, the light dawns. A hybrid. I've already been mugged by a hybrid duck in Fife this month, so I really should have considered that.

Yellow Wagtail is full of intergrades e.g. 'Channel Wagtail', which is a mix of flavissima and flava. They're often quite striking and interesting birds.

 

[Gander]

I am currently on the platform that I have been making occasional visits to over the last year or so. About half an hour or so ago, I spotted a bird flying in towards the structure just above sea level. I managed to grab a pair of binoculars from the control room, and was able to confirm a Purple Sandpiper picking its way through the seaweed coated steelwork in the splash zone.

Purple Sandpiper is, maybe surprisingly, an offshore first for me, as I've never seen one at my usual platform 150 miles north of here.

 

[Gander]

Back on my usual platform over the weekend. Very little about, but pleased to see a Great Skua going past. First one I've seen since they were devastated by Avian Flu.

 

[Gander]

I have not really bothered with a platform list for this year, but a quick skim through my posts puts the total at about 15, with a new entry today of Common Gull. 15 is not a lot, but not bad considering my infrequent and short visits. Hoping to be back fulltime in September/October, so looking forward to a proper list for 2025.

 

[Gander]

Last weekend was disappointing, with only a homing pigeon beyond the usual seabirds. However, today has been pretty good. A couple of Goldfinch, a Cormorant, a couple of Pied Wagtail, 13 Herons, a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine. Bird of tghe day however goes to my first live offshore Yellow-browed Warbler.

The downside of today has been the finding of over 50 dead GBBG juveniles. Pretty sure they are AF victims.

 

[Gander]

As I mentioned in my last post, there were over fifty dead juvenile GBBGs found last Sunday. This year had looked like the worst of Avian Flu was over, but this past weekend's findings seem to show that if anything, things have got worse. Last year, during the autumn, we had a steady flow of dead and dying birds, with maybe half a dozen found after any 3 week period. This week, we have easily surpassed the previous year's total in just one week. That is a devastating blow to the GBBG population, remembering we are just one platform of many, with the probability that many AF victims will have gone to the sea. I have to say that I am a little shocked by what I saw. Walking across decks littered with dead birds is something I will never forget. And, just to emphasise, all but two birds were juveniles born this year.
The bird pictured was the only tagged bird that I found. It originated on a Norwegian island (Kyrkjeholmen) approx 412 km NE of our location. It was born on 21/06/24.

 

[delia todd]

This really is devastating news Paul. I'm sorry you've had to witness this..

Very sad.