The Safari took Frank for a drag this morning, need a
wheelbarrow! No Patch 1 visit as is now the norm! Its a battle of wills we've more or less lost!
On the drive to work we kept an eye out for the blackbird in
the unusual place – still no takers!
The tide was on the rise and a blustery breeze was coming
off the sea so it was straight out onto Patch 2.
Superb!!!
As soon as we put eye to eyepiece two Manx Shearwaters (156, 58) barreled past along the horizon with a number of Kittiwakes. The
Kittiwakes kept coming and coming at all ranges from fairly close in, almost
close enough to pick out their yellow bills, to the horizon; they were like
Wildebeest on the Serengeti. We didn’t count anything this morning we were too
awestruck by the Attenboroughesque spectacle that was happing right in front of
our very eyes.
What did we have?...It was more a case of what didn’t we
have!
There were Gannets aplenty including our first immature of
the year, at least 10 Manx Shearwaters, just how many auks?
A fair few Sandwich Terns went by along with two ‘Commic’
Terns that can’t be added to the year
list but later in the morning we learnt that four Arctic Terns had gone past
not far to the north of us, flocks of Common Scoters bumbled about here and
there in their own inimitable fashion...anyone know where we’re going...ohh OK
we’ll head off this way for a bit then turn round.... A Red Throated Diver,
like the auks, bucked the trend and headed southwards against the
Kittiwake/Gannet ‘traffic’. Another Patch 2 tick, and one which seems a long
time coming, a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers (59) was quickly followed by
another pair...buses spring to mind
Flocks of waders sped southwards aiming for their estuarine
roost site as the tide got higher but yet another Patch 2 tick bucked the trend
when two Ringed Plovers (60) shot through north-bound close inshore.
At sea the Kittiwake-fest continued but we failed to find
any Little Gulls nor were there any Arctic Skuas tagging along.
Sadly we had a desk to drive and couldn’t stay out any
longer but to help our decision regarding leaving the mother of all black
clouds was heading swiftly in our direction.
Could hardly wait until lunchtime came around.
Lunchtime did eventually arrive but the first scan of the
dropping tide showed that activity had subsided significantly.
A few Gannets carved their way through the deep troughs and
two Great Crested Grebes in full sum plum looked rather incongruous amongst the
rolling breakers.
Before too long an Arctic Tern (157, 61) bright ‘Daz’ white
came past with two more hot on its heels (should that be tail streamers?).
The Gannets continued to pass, mostly aiming south this time
and there were a handful of Kittiwakes but it had become pretty slow.
A pair of Eider whizzed past and we found a winter plumaged
Guillemot just behind the surf.
Not quite as exciting as we had hoped but we still managed
to add another species to the year list...Monika 165 v 157 The Safari - so we’ve
still got a bit of catching up to do.but there’s a long way to go yet and
anything could happen!
Where to next? More of the same thrills n spills wouldn't go amiss in the morning.
In the meantime let us know what is rivaling Wildebeests for sheer numbers in your outback.
3 comments:
2 Little Gulls reported locally (inland) up here today, Dave. Not by me though, i hasten to add.
Your avian Wildebeest experience sounds terrific Dave, what a days sightings that was. I must join you sometime so you can show me what's flying by out there, that's if the birds are in bins range as I've not got a scope.
What's going on with Frank, is it just the early mornings he's objecting to?
The Battle of Wills begins hey. Frank vs Dave....
Have you tried an early morning Treat....Works for us down under.
Maybe because its cold dark and windy that time of day when normal people are asleep....
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