Monday 11 September 2017

Black Guillemot leads the way

Early start whilst there was still some tide and before the 'N' word applied to the wind, although later events saw a few Leach's Petrels still on the move even after the wind went WNW.  The best day at the obs since the spring tern-fest on 30th April.

Leach's Petrel - 17 different birds I am aware of from about 0630 to 1800, with many observer gaps - there did not seem to be any backtracking further out, leading to duplication  - virtually all of them were along the tideline or even over the mud
Gannet - one in and one freshly dead alongside the old sandworks
Common Scoter - flock of 22 on sea
Eider - at least 70 scattered around on sea - the vast majority female/imms
Wigeon - flock of 9 out (first of autumn)
Little Gull - juv out, usual ad on outfalls
Common Tern - ad H2 outfall late afternoon
Arctic Tern - 2 ads with the above late afternoon, but soon disappeared
Black Guillemot - Ad still in sp located by JR very close inshore just north of Heysham 2 outfall - seemed to be feeding happily and not distressed
Guillemot - one in harbour
Kittiwake - First of the day were 10 behind lunchtime IOM ferry (5 x 1CY), at least 6 (3 x 1CY) still around outfalls/harbour early evening
Shag - 1CY out early evening
Med Gull - at least 27 (mostly on Red Nab at 1800hrs) with at least 7 1CY
Wheatear - 4
Grey Wagtail - 1 SE
Meadow Pipit - c15 SE

Grey Seal