Sunday 9 October 2016

You make me feel like dancing......

3 LEO's and a Brambling from Whitburn Obs today brought my Obs year list to an unbelievable 178. Could 180 be on the cards......with Glaucous Gull and Lap Bunt still needed and a few more besides.
Magic and Saint Mark joined me, Hoggie even came in earlier than usual. It was good light and the birds just kept coming, LEO's were on our mind,  no not Sayer the Owls. They seemed to be coming in up and down the east coast and we were due..

We got news of a LEO trapped and ran off to see it released (video later) ive never seen one in the hand before thanks Kieran, but it was from the Obs i needed one for my list
Mark had an Owl south yesterday while we looking at the Pallas's Warbler but its id was uncertain. Today he called 2 coming south high up but this time we nailed them as Long Eared, and a text from Sir Ian got us a 3rd out the back of the obs just as a Brambling flew past calling.....
Yes i could have danced with joy Leo....

This is what we saw in order of appearance

Sunday 9th October 06.55-11.35 NNE2 cloud 7/8

Common Gull 58n 33s
Red th Diver 6n 16s
Black h Gull 80n 46s
Common Scoter 38n 14s
Cormorant 3n 34s
Bonxie 5n 4s
Wigeon 39n 13s
Eider 2s
Sooty Shearwater 8n Manxie 5n 1s
Med Gull 2n 1s ads
Skylark 1 in/off
Fulmar 1n 1s
Brent Goose 1n db
Red br Merganser 2n
Balearic Shearwater 1s
Shoveler 1n
Redwing 21s
Goldeneye 1n 2s
Teal 3n 3s
Mallard 1n 3s
Redshank 7s
Sandwich Tern 1n
Snow Bunting 2n
Tufted Duck 1n 1s
Arctic Skua 1n 1s
Grey Heron 1s
Puffin 1s
Shag 1s
Pintail 1s
Knot 1n
LEOwl 2s 1w
Long tailed Duck 2n
Velvet Scoter 1n
Brambling 1s