WE joined RDME for a sea-watch 05.40-09.10 and were joined by RHC. We left at 08.00.
Red Throated Diver 10 E
Black Throated Diver 1 E
Diver Sp. 4 E
Manx Shearwater 1 E
Gannet 98 E & 31 W
Brent Goose 33 E
Pochard 3 E
Common Scoter 337 E
Red Breasted Merganser 2 E
Whimbrel 4 E
Arctic Skua 37 E including a superb eye-catching variant with white marginal and lesser coverts resulting in a white leading edge to the inner arm of the upper forewing. Whilst new to us it is a recognised variant found in as many as 2% of birds from Atlantic islands (Olsen & Larsson 1997).
Bonxie 76 E
Sandwich Tern 94 E
Commic Tern 129 E
Little Tern 2 E
Auk Sp. 3 E
Swallow 2 in off the sea.
RHC carried out a further sea-watch 09.40-10.40:
Common Scoter 20
Arctic Skua 6
Bonxie 16
Mediterranean Gull 6
Little Gull 2
Commic Tern 50
Also 50 Bar Tailed Godwits E over cliffs seen by MEC.
An evening sea-watch was carried out by RDME from 17.00-18.00 hrs in sunny conditions SW 4: Also checked Belle Tout wood:
Gannet 5 E & 7 W
Mediterranean Gull 4 adults E
Black Headed Gull 75+
Arctic Skua 5
Bonxie 2
