Sunday 1 March 2015

In like a lion.....

Black throated Diver and a Med Gull passed Whitburn Obs by 11 this morning. Saint Mark was back for more along with Stevie Thunder and Boy Wonder, Stoney was in the house. Alas masses of sea watching expertise could not make a roaring westerly on the 1st of March into much of a sea watch. We did manage some quality and a probable Phalarope north spotted by Stevie was the one that got away as its id could not be nailed down. Conversation swung between cricket, Bean Goose race id in flight, and whether Steely was pushed or jumped
This is what we saw in order of appearance

Sunday 1st March 06.30-11.00 W4 then SW broken cloud good sharp visibility

Black h Gull 2n 90s
Common Gull 8n 32s
Curlew 4n 2s
Eider 3n 3s
Kittiwake 2n 3s
Rock Pipit 3s
Red th Diver 6n 3s
Gannet 3n 11s
Med Gull 1s ad
Common Scoter 2s
Porpoise 1n 1s
Black th Diver 1n
Goosander 1s
Ringed Plover 8n
Phalarope sp north at 9am distant but felt by those that saw it better than me as a probable, i got on it late
Red br Merganser 2n
Turnstone 4n
Auks circa 700 per hour south the vast majority being Guillemots