Unexpected Passage

After watching the rugby this morning, enough said I went to the ARC. Walking the track to Hanson a couple of small flocks of Redwing passed over. From the empty hide only 3 Grey Plovers, 3 Dunlin, 8 Snipe, 7 Little Egrets and the Goosander. Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal numbers are still building. The track to the Water Tower held 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and a large mixed Tit flock. Also 3 more small parties of Redwing flew over and 2 Marsh harriers were hunting.

With a north westerly blowing i was not expecting much on the sea as i drove down the concrete road to The Point. TG and DW were already watching and told me that 100 Bonxies had already passed.

I watched from c13.30-17.00when the passage appeared to die completely in that time i recorded:

Great Skua: 91

Arctic Skua: 31

Pomarine Skua: 1

Kittiwake: 194

Meditteranean Gull: 3

Balearic Shearwater: 1

Common Scoter: 16

Wigeon: 8

Teal: 3

Merlin: 1 in off

Marsh Harrier: 1 in off

Gannets : No count but numerous

Auk sp: No count but numerous

Common and Sandwich Tern: a few of each

Grey Seal:1

Harbour Porpoise: c10

A very good and most unexpected sea watch.





Brent Geese, Bonxie and Guillemot

Balearic Shearwater