White-beaked and Bottlenose Dolphins passed Whitburn Obs by 09.30 today add in 2 close Roseate Terns and you've got a good sea watch. It was a light northerly not encouraging birds to move but giving a calm sea which helped us find the Cetaceans.
I picked up the distant White-beaked and Magic Mark confirmed the id, they were spread out over a large area and our estimate of 30 is probably a bit low. Then the Sheriff called more closer Dolphins which were Bottlenose. It was the usual pod of about a dozen and the youngster couldn't resist breaching. Lets hope they all hang around for the summer. Saint Mark was basking in the glory of getting Glossy Ibis on his garden list, it just shows its never safe to leave the Obs
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Sunday 29th May 04.50-09.30 N1-2 full cloud cover calm sea
Sandwich Tern 16n 433s
Puffin 128n 19s
Gannet 97n 22s
Common Scoter 49n 18s
Common Gull 3n 12s
Common Tern 13n 13s
Red th Diver 3n 2s
Arctic Tern 22n 17s
Shag 2s
Tufted Duck 2n 2s
Manxie 11n
LBBGull 4n
Dunlin 1n
Shelduck 8s
Canada Goose 5n
06.30 30+ White0beaked Dolphin south till 06.50
Porpoise 1n
Kestrel 1s
Roseate Tern 2n
Black h Gull 1s
Little Tern 2s
08.15 12 ish Bottlenose Dolphin south till 08.30
Red br Merganser 1s
Grey Heron 1n
