FULMAR
2011: Recorded from 1/1 (with 12 mainly W), until 19/9 (1). Not seen again until 26/11 when 5 had returned off Birling. Upto 10 loafing on the sea during the Spring. On the 28/12 21E & 9W. Per B.H.Log.
(Fulmars are usually present from early January to after the breeding season and then they depart and are not recorded again until the end of the year or even into the early part of the following year. I did keep a special watch from them this Autumn to see if they are now present all year, but this was not the case).
GANNET
2011: Recorded virtually throughout the year. On the 23/1 120 were feeding, on the 1/2 151 moved W, 2/4 128 E, 18/6 150 off Birling, 10/10 200 of which 170 moved E, & 24/10 222 E with 150 E on the 23/12. Per B.H.Log.
(A rather average year, with no major movements recorded, although looking through past records, movements very rarely total 500 on a day.)
CORMORANT
2011: During Jan & Feb, record numbers were recorded: 2/1 91 including 67 on the sea off Birling, 19/1 31 W, 29/1 130 flew in from the East and landed on the sea off Birling in one raft. 30/1 11 E & 52 W, 8/2 70 including a flock of 50 on the sea. Otherwise numbers were normal usually 10 or less although 27 W on the 30/7. Per B.H.Log.
(The numbers seen in January & February were exceptional ).
SHAG
2011: 18/4 2 W. From the 27/7 to 8/9 recorded on 12 dates and all were immature birds. A total of 35 bird-days with a daily maximum of 9 on the 7/8 of which 8 flew W. Per B.H.Log.
(This Autumn was good for shags but not exceptional, in 1970 a party of 12 spent a week off Birling in May).
