Monday 20 August 2012

Bridges of Ross 20th August 2012

Time: 06:30-10:30 & 15:00-19:00
Weather: F2-3 SW-S, dry, bright & warm (am). F3-4 SW-S, sunny, warm & hazy (pm).
Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Keith Langdon, Mikey Hoit, Dave Farrow, Reg Land, Simon Woodhouse, Dave Andrews, Alan Clewes & Dan Pointon.

Balearic Shearwater: 2
Sooty Shearwater: 32
Manx Shearwater: 855+
Fulmar: 720+
Storm Petrel: 155
Kittiwake: 97 incl. 32 juvs
Common Scoter: 14 (11 males + 3 females)
Great Skua (Bonxie): 8
Pomarine Skua: 4 pale phase (3 adults & 1 subadult)
Arctic Skua: 35
Sandwich Tern: 3
Arctic Tern: 9
Razorbill: 50
Guillemot: 12
Puffin: 8
Black Guillemot: 1 juv.

Whimbrel:16
Black-tailed Godwit: 9
Dunlin: 27
Sanderling: 5
Ringed Plover: 1
Knot: 2

Chough: 2
Merlin: 1 chasing passerines at the seawatch site.

Common Seal: 1 close offshore for much of the afternoon.
Bottlenose Dolphin: 6+ in the evening.
Common Dolphin: 10+ in the afternoon.
Leatherback Turtle: Three sightings at 06:45, 17:42 & 18:50.

As in previous days, most sightings in the morning & generally quiet in the afternoon but a surprise run of skuas during the evening session included a few combos such as 1 Bonxie, 3 Arctics & 2 Poms (full spoons!) in quick succession. Some superb views of Leatherback Turtles today which may again steal the ‘Bird of the Day’ award...closely followed by a couple of manky immature Glaucous Gulls which spiced up the post-breakfast wander around Kilbaha village!!! Ah no, they're lovely really.

2nd cal-year Glaucous Gull  © Niall Keogh
3rd cal-year Glaucous Gull  © Niall Keogh
The Great Glaucous Gull Twitch of 2012  © Niall Keogh

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