Great northern Diver and Common Sandpiper were the star birds passed Whitburn by 10 o'clock this morning. I was joined by Saint Mark, Stevie Thunder and Pink Floyd at various times during the watch. I only recorded 2 species of bird in the first hour 2 Dunlin and 2 Gannets due to the thick fog. I could here Terns but didn't see any for ages, the fog did clear from time to time and we were all pleased we gave it a go. Common Sandpiper was a welcome year tick as they are never easy on a sea watch. Late in the watch Stevie called a big diver coming north and we all watched open mouthed as a magnificent Great northern Diver went north in sum plum at just the right height and distance. It was the best bird of the day, but don't mention the Crane...
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Saturday 7th May NNE2 fog and mist
Kittiwake 2600n
Dunlin 10n
Gannet 69n 6s
Common Gull 5n 3s
Black h Gull 2n
Sand Martin 1s
LBBGull 5n 1s
Shag 1n
Puffin 12n
Eider 1s
Sandwich Tern 29n 20s
Red th Diver 3n
Swallow 7s
Common Tern 2n 4s
Common Scoter 1n
Arctic Tern 2n
Common Sandpiper 1n
Tree Sparrow 4s
Manxie 4n
Golden Plover 1s
Turnstone 6n
Ringed Plover 1n
Great n Diver 1n
