Groundhog day.....

White-billed Diver won star bird on our sea watch at Whitburn Obs today. Maybe we should rename the Obs WBD City....it is for sure the best east coast site to see this sought after sea watching mega. @middy-birding called a high distant Diver coming north, although we didn't realise it yet The Prof had struck gold again. It took forever to come north and needed its i.d.sorting but eventually we nailed it as it came up to straight out. I was late with my video camera and missed the bird but thankfully a couple of the guys got decent photos, it helps with the description...So its my old video again sorry

We did promise our Northumberland sea watching friends another good bird soon at Tim's party and we came up with the goods. So in return can we have a Ross's Gull please, tomorrow will do

I expected more folk in the Obs on our first northerly of the year but not many ventured out in the cold. It was good to see Hoggie back sea watching after being under the weather recently and he got his just deserts

We saw some great birds but of note was the first Blue Fulmar Magic Mark called or should i say Black Fulmar. Its upper parts were black but underwing and belly still showed a lot of white..I've never seen anything like it
This is what we saw in order of appearance

Saturday 6th January 07.40-12.30 NNE5-6 4/8

Black h Gull 15s
Fulmar 715n   yes 715
Common Gull 52n 688n
Guillemot
Curlew 142n
Kittiwake 60n
Red th Diver 7n 14s
Gannet 47n
Great Northern Diver 1n
Razorbill 9n
GBBGull 90n
Eider 4n 4s
Goldeneye 3n
Scan Herring Gull 1s
Blue Fulmar 4n
Lapwing 45n
Common Scoter 5s
Kestrel 1n
Porpoise 1n
Shelduck 9n
Med Gull 2n 2s ads
Cormorant 2n 2s
Velvet Scoter 4n
Manx Shearwater 1n
Bonxie 1n 1s
Golden Plover 15n
Shag 2n
White-billed Diver 1n ad 10.30ish till 10.45