Saturday 15 September 2012

Seatrack @ Bridges of Ross 15th Sept 2012

Time: 07:00-11:00 (Seatrack survey) & 14:30-19:00
Weather: F3-4 W, overcast & some spells of misty rain (am). F3-4 W, overcast, excellent vis & dry (pm).
Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Jason McManus, Gordon McAdam & Mark Gibson.

Balearic Shearwater: 1
Sooty Shearwater: 87
Manx Shearwater: c.700
Fulmar: 89 (am)
Gannet: 363 incl. 3 juvs. (am)
Leach’s Petrel: 13
Common Scoter: 3 males
Light-bellied Brent Goose: 39
Red-throated Diver: 3 summer plumage & 1 juv.
Great Northern Diver: 1 winter plumage
Great Skua (Bonxie): 23
Pomarine Skua: 1 dark phase adult
Arctic Skua: 17
Long-tailed Skua: 2 juvs. (Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh & Jason McManus)
Kittiwake: 23 incl. 10 juvs.
Arctic Tern: 9
Sandwich Tern: 12
Grey Phalarope: 2
Puffin: 5
Guillemot: 485 (am)
Razorbill: 166 (am)
Auk sp: 135 (am)

Whimbrel: 1
Snipe: 1
Common Gull: 1 adult
Chough: 2

A similar rate of passage to previous days with skuas stealing the show yet again. The full spooned, dark phase adult Pomarine this morning was most welcome. A rare sight before October. This bird was contrasted in the evening by a fantastic ivory coloured juv. Long-tailed Skua which passed by at very close range. Tiny, fresh, scaly & pale. Stunning.

Dark phase Arctic Skuas © Niall Keogh
Juvenile Bonxie © Niall Keogh
Sooty Shearwater © Niall Keogh
Leach's Petrel © Niall Keogh

Juvenile Long-tailed Skua © Niall Keogh

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