Thursday 21 November 2013

skua surprise

Long tailed Skua, 2 Poms and 11 Bonxies passed Whitburn Obs 13.00-15.35pm. Sadly work got in the way of sea watching today, so i wasn't able to get in the Obs till this afternoon and missed the Little Auks but still managed to see 3 species of Skua including a stunning juvenile bird so i was glad i made the effort.Add to that 3 Great northern Divers and a Glaucous Gull and you can feel the quality. Magic Mark and Pink Floyd were in from first light and put in a mega shift and the day totals were outstanding
This is what i saw on my afternoon watch in order of appearance

Thursday 21st November 13.00-15.35 NW2-3 rain at times

Long tailed Duck 1n 1s
Eider 227n
Long tailed Skua 1n juv close inshore
Bonxie 11n
Common Scoter 10n 123s
Red th Diver 5n 3s
Mallard 31n 2s
Cormorant 4n
Velvet Scoter 3s
Great northern Diver 1n 2s
Goldeneye 4n
Pom Skua 2s
Wigeon 20n
Shelduck 3n
Shag 1n
Teal 6n 2s
Glaucous Gull 1n juv