Lucky for some.......

Great White Egret, Black throated Diver and 3 Great Northern Divers passed Whitburn Obs this morning. My Obs year list was in the doldrums and yesterdays sea watch had been less than inspiring but from the off today had a different feel. It was a bit dark and dank but visibility was ok and i had full cloud cover. By the time the crab sandwich boys arrived id had three species of diver and a good supporting act so by this January's standards a cracking watch. Hoggie had hardly sat down and hadn't had time to ask if the tide was coming in when i called a Glaucous Gull going south close inshore (3 more needed for the record) even Walter with bins only got great views.
 Pink Floyd and Unlucky Dave arrived just as i called ten Brents going north, things were really starting to happen. I saw two Ducks coming north and called them as Scaup then had second thoughts as they headed toward us, couldn't quite nail them but they came closer and blow me over they landed in front of the Obs. As it often proves my first call was the right one.
Pink Floyd called a large skein of Pinks going north then a close Peregrine, phew we were breathless.
At 11.30 i decided to call it a day and headed off crab sandwich in hand (thanks Wal) id just reached the south east corner of  Shearwater when i stopped to ring the wife and i heard shouting, the guys were all on the Obs mound beckoning me. As i got closer Walter shouted run, well if you knew me you would know that I'm crocked and i don't do running, at this stage i didn't know what the bird was. As i got on top of the mound Unlucky Dave gave me directions and i saw the Great White Egret flying south fairly close in. I wont be able to walk for days but it was worth it thanks guys.
I later learnt that Unlucky Dave who really now needs to be called Lucky Dave, called a Little Egret flying south Hoggie got on it and realised it was Great White Egret and the rest as they say....
This is what we saw in order of appearance

Tuesday 17th January 08.00-12.00 SSW1-2 cloud 8/8

Black h Gull 3n 7s
Cormorant 2n 6s
Fulmar 15n 6s
Guillemot 31n
Red th Diver 51n 9s
Common Scoter 58n 7s
Porpoise  3+
Curlew 101s
Shelduck 23n
Black th Diver 1n
Scan Herring Gull 1n
Common Gull 6n 4s
Razorbill 1n
Turnstone 8n 9s
Shag 10n 1s
Kittiwake 1n
Goldeneye 1n
Gannet 3n
Great Northern Diver 3n
Eider 3n 1s
Grey Heron 2n 1s
Glaucous Gull 1s juv 09.30

Brent Goose 10n (2 pb rest db)
Scaup 2n 1st w drakes

Pink footed Goose 180n
Bar tailed Godwit 1s
Peregrine 1n male
Great White Egret 1s 11.39