432 Bonxies passed Whitburn Obs in 10.3 hours a new day record count. A fitting highlight to a fantastic sea watch. The number of observers packed into the Obs was also a record with 17 at one time. We had many highlights not least Grey Phalarope, Leach's Petrel, and 5 Long tailed Skuas. The observers were too numerous to mention but thanks to all who contributed including Aide the ringer for his info on birds moving north past Ryhope
This is what we saw in order of appearance as usual, read em and weep if you didn't make it in
Friday 11th October 06.55-17.15 NE 3-4 mostly good cloud cover except for a couple of hours
Common Scoter 464n 15s
Grey Heron 3n 1s
Black h Gull circa 145n
Sooty Shearwater148n
Manxie 161n
Fulmar 460n
Wigeon 392n 51s
Red th Diver 38n 10s
Red br Merganser 4n
Bonxie 432n..........yes 432n
Goldeneye 17n 3s
Arctic Skua 5n
Mallard 13n
Teal 72n
Velvet Scoter 20n 3s
Long tailed Duck 3n
Brent Goose pb 26n
Knot 1n
Blue Fulmar 14n
Shoveler 25n (all in 1 flock)
Tufted Duck 7n
Pom Skua 11n
Great northern Diver 6n
Shag 5n 29s
Pintail 1n
Eider 10n 2s
Snipe 1n
Little Gull 1n
Arctic Tern 1s
Scaup 6n
Long tailed Skua 5n
Bar t Godwit 2n
Grey Phalarope 1n 10.50
Pochard 6n
Brent Goose db 2n
Balearic Shearwater 1n
Leach's Petrel 1n 16.05
phew that's got to be sea watch of the year...............so far
