Iceland Gull and 6 Velvet Scoter passed Whitburn Obs by 11.30 on a morning that saw the return of Little Auks and Stevie Thunder. You watch and hope for an Iceland Gull and then they are like buses, two different birds in two days, fantastic!. I was joined by Magic and Saint Mark, Stevie Thunder was a year tick and Stoney was in the house.We debated the age of the Iceland Gull that went south close inshore, was it juv/1st winter or 2nd winter......
With Stevie back in the Obs the conversation topics were many and varied including devices for recording bird song when you are out having a stroll to the best sites to see Laurel Pigeon, Japanese Cormarants being the least interesting. How did we ever find time to look at the birds you are asking
This is what we saw in order of appearance
Sunday 18th January 07.45-11.30 WNW2
Black h Gull 25n 28s
Common Gull 8n 44s
Red th Diver 24n 5s
Scan Herring Gull 3s
Cormorant3n 6s
Gannet 9n 5s
Eider 1n 3s
Velvet Scoter 6n 6s
Guillemot 14n
Iceland Gull 1s juv 08.40
Common Scoter 7n 2s
Curlew 1n 3s
Purple Sandpiper 1s
Porpoise 6
Razorbill 3n 1s
Shelduck 1n
Little Auk 3n 1s
Great northern Diver 1s
