2255 Pink footed Geese went south past Whitburn Obs by 11.30 today. Other highlights included Whooper Swans, Garganey, and Med Gull, not a bad mornings sea watch. I was joined by Magic and Saint Mark we were discussing what the day might bring and we all thought Swans and Geese would be nice...we couldn't have predicted a County record day passage of Pink feet. There are not many more uplifting sights in birding than a skein of Pinks going overhead calling
Yesterday afternoon i met up with Saint Mark to try and boost my Obs year list. We saw Buzzard Short eared Owl and Jack Snipe. Today the Garganey south put my Obs year list on 158, only three short of last years total. It was down to magic Mark he called the Duck going south and when it landed on the sea was able to nail its id. I might pop back later.....
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Sunday 12th October 06.50-11.30 W1-2 bright sun calm sea
Black h Gull 74n 87s
Meadow Pipit 27s
Common Tern 14n 4s
Common Scoter 23n 7s
Red th Diver 18n 20s
Little Gull 7s
Wigeon 1n 3s
Lapwing 85s
Eider 9n
Curlew 1n 1s
Common Gull 5n 44s
Greylag Goose 11s
Canada Goose 23s
Velvet Scoter 1s
Pied Wagtail 2s
Turnstone 1n 3s
Redshank 3s
Grey Heron 4n 1s
Redpoll 1 in off
Teal 3n 1s
Whooper Swan 13s
Arctic Skua 1n
Reed Bunting 2s
Manxie 4n
Pink footed Goose 2255s (a new obs day record)
Shag 14s
Garganey 1s
Arctic Tern 1n 1s
Med Gull 1s ad
porpoise 2
Jay 1n
Red br Merganser 1n1s
Brent Goose 1s pb
Puffin 1 on the sea
Grey Wagtail 1s
Coal and Long tailed Tits were in the bust next to the Obs
