Cory's, 4 Sooty and 106 Manx Shearwaters passed Whitburn Obs by 11.30 this morning bringing to 5 the species of Shearwater seen this weekend. Magic Mark predicts a Great next week to add o our haul while he is off to California. Stoney was in the house as well and Sir Ian, Hoggie and Walter joined us.
It was a hot and cold watch with frantic movement early on with Terns, Kittiwakes and Manxies passing close inshore. Then it would go quiet at times as fronts moved through. As you will see the number of species and birds was impressive and once again we were surprised that so few observers were in on a NNW wind.
Hoggie called the Cory's as it passed by a large ship all but one of us managed to get on it as it headed south, but quickly the mist and fog hid its line from further detection. Hoggie was teased as to its identity but of course in his well known manner said 'it couldn't have been nowt else'. Great find Peter, thanks
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Sunday 4th September 06.00-11.30 NNW4 cloud 8/8
Curlew 11n
Fulmar 172n
Common Tern 376n 64s
Gannet 1941n 72s
Shelduck 4n 2s
Sandwich Tern 24n 12s
Shag 3n 2s
Roseate Tern 7n (2 juvs) 1s
Manxie 97n 12s
Black h Gull 72n 13s
Arctic Tern 9n 2s
Teal 832n 58s
Common Scoter 21n 11s
Sooty Shearwater 4n
Arctic Skua2n 4s
Ringed Plover 1n 1s
Common Gull 3s
Eider 2n
Bonxie 2n
Puffin 2n
Turnstone 5n 1s
Pintail 8n
Whimbrel 1s
Red th Diver 3n 8s
Porpoise 1n
Sparrowhawk 1n
LBBGull 1s
Oystercatcher 5s
Tufted Duck 2n
Wigeon 20n
Red br Merganser 1n
Goldeneye 2n
Knot 3n
Long tailed Skua 1s juv 09.25
Velvet Scoter 1n
Cory's Shearwater 1s 10.05
Grey Heron 1n 2s
Ruff 1n
Redshank 3n 1s
Golden Plover 1n
Dunlin 1s
Black tailed Godwit 17s
