A ring tailed Hen Harrier went south late into our sea watch today, an Obs tick for me my second in five days following the Red-necked Phal at the weekend. It was the first recorded from the Obs in four years since one was seen on the 13th September 2013...so not such an unlucky number after all. Stoney was in the house and we both expected a rough ride on blasting westerlies, when do they ever get the weather forecast right these days. As it turned out conditions were good once the early rain stopped and birds started moving. We made up for yesterday's lack of Skuas with a good day haul, add in a few Pinks and Ducks and good light, perfect. Did i mention our first Great northern of the winter and shed loads of Red throats...
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Wednesday 13th September 06.10-10.30 WSW3 6/8 rain clearing
Common Gull 2n 20s
Black h Gull 57n 108s
GBBGull 75n 83s
Gannet 354n 275s
Fulmar 13n 14s
Meadow Pipit 5s
Red th Diver 5n 39s
Pintail 6n
Eider 2n 2s
Sandwich Tern 61n 5s
Common Scoter 7n 4s
Pom Skua 2n
Bonxie 1n 3s
Arctic Skua 8n 4s
Manx Shearwater 1s
Great northern Diver 1s
Common Tern 9n
Curlew 1n
Grey Wagtail 1s
Teal 2n 11s
Sand Martin 1s
Swallow 3s
Pink-footed Goose 25s
Wigeon 3n
Redshank 5s
Swift 1s
Hen Harrier 1s ringtail 10.10
Sadly i didn't manage to video today's bird but did try so here is some old footage from my local patch of a bird coming into roost not great quality tho
