Sunday 17 May 2020

Four well spaced seawatchers looking in slightly different directions at different heights above sea level

The first time this has ever happened here!   Sorting the records out was not easy as the skuas were obviously not heading overland and indeed most would have been missed by all observers had they done so as they obviously went in prior to start of play.  I think this is fair assessment:

Pomarine Skua - two LM ads heading out wave-hugging at 0740 and seemingly heading for Walney.  Distant LM in low as other observers watching a close Arctic at 0810!  LM picked up in the sky circling between the wooden jetty and Piel Castle, then it dropped and flew low out.  Presumably four different birds 
Arctic Skua - at least eight 6 light, 2 dark as often seems to be the ratio in second half of May
Gannet - 13-14
Manx Shearwater - 2
Common Scoter - probably about 150 in then out (assuming some of the same not doing the hokey cokey)
Kittiwake - 156 out including flock of 124 - most unusual this late in the spring
Raz/Guille - c145
Guillemot - 17
Razorbill - 4
Sandwich Tern - c25
Red-throated Diver - 8
Diver spp (distant) - 1