Thursday 18 April 2013

18th April 2013

Weather: SW 8, 8/8 cloud, vis 8 miles

Overnight gale force south-westerlies with gusts peaking at 62 knots brought early morning sea watchers to monitor the ebbing tide.  It was immediately apparent that there were many birds on the move at sea with good counts of 250 Gannet, 250 Razorbills, 40 Guillemots and 45 Red-throated Divers made during the first few hours of daylight.

Highlights on the sea included 7 Fulmars, 2 drake Eiders, the first 3 Arctic Terns of the year (along with 60 Sandwich and 25 Common) and the first 4 Manx Shearwaters of the year.  After an early distant skua spp, later in the morning at about 1130am a single Pomarine Skua flew menacingly along the tide line.

Despite the strong winds a couple of Swallows and a single Sand Martin were watched battling across the sea and a single Goldcrest sheltered down the East Side of the main island.

[DB, CJW, PSW + PLN et al]

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