Brownstown Head Seatrack Update

Waterford based seabird volunteer, Paul Walsh, has sent on some of his Brownstown Head totals from the previous three Seatrack Target Weekend surveys so far this year. Although some surveys can be very quiet given that they are often conducted in conditions that are far from ideal (in terms of seawatching),  the benefits of sticking it out for the cause often materialise in the form of nice local movements of certain species or even a long awaited patch tick as shown by Paul's results below. 

For more Waterford info, check out the excellent Waterford Birds website with sections of interest on seawatching & pelagics which can be found here & here.

So best of luck to Paul & all the rest of the Seatrack volunteers who will be out recording from their respective headlands this weekend. There may well be some 'decent' winds along the west coast depending on what way the tail-end of Irene blows through.

Brownstown Head towers & lookout hut (Paul Walsh)

TARGET WEEKEND THREE

Brownstown Head 21st August 2011

Time: 07:00-09:00

Weather: F2 SW, vis good to excellent, mainly sunny, no rain

Observer: Paul Walsh

Manx Shearwater: 114 E, 199 W

Fulmar: 13 E, 22 W

Gannet: 290 E, 251 W

Kittiwake: 4 E, 21 W

Sandwich Tern: 14 E, 205 W

Commic Tern: 2 W

Razorbill: 1 W

Guillemot: 2 on sea

Large auk sp: 1 W

"A quiet morning, even by Brownstown-fair-weather standards, with not a scarcity or cetacean in sight. Minor highlight was a good westward movement of Sandwich Terns, especially (148) from 07:30 to 08:30."

TARGET WEEKEND TWO

Brownstown Head 6th August 2011

Time: 06:50-09:50

Weather: F1 SW, vis excellent, mainly dry (very occasional drops of light drizzle)

Observer: Paul Walsh

Manx Shearwater: 134 E, 54 W

Fulmar: 6 E, 20 W

Gannet: 301 E, 107 W

Common Scoter: 4 E

Whimbrel: 3 W

Kittiwake: 28 E, 37 W

Sandwich Tern: 26 E, 28 W

Razorbill: 2 E

Guillemot: 1 on sea

Large auk sp: 2 W 

Black Guillemot: 2 E (adult & juv separately)


Porpoise: 1 feeding


Pretty quiet!

TARGET WEEKEND ONE

Brownstown Head 23rd July 2011

Time: 06:45-10:45

Weather: F1-2 NW, vis excellent, dry

Observer: Paul Walsh

Cory's Shearwater: 2 W @ 08:55 & 08:57 (then joined up)

Manx Shearwater: 720 E, 60W & 60+ feeding/rafting

Storm Petrel: 1 W

Fulmar: 5 E, 3 W

Gannet: 117 E, 67 W

Great Northern Diver: 3 E together @ 09:44 (then an immature on sea next day)

Common Scoter: 3 E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1 W

Pomarine Skua: 1 2nd/3rd-summer W

Arctic Skua:  1 E

Great Skua: 1 E

Mediterranean Gull: 1 juv W @ 07:30

Kittiwake: 68 E, 76 W

Roseate Tern: 2 adults E @ 07:26

Sandwich Tern: 38 E, 68 W

Razorbill: 3 E, 1 W

Guillemot: 1 E

Large auk sp: 2 E

Porpoise: 1 W

"For a calm morning, not a bad seawatch for Brownstown, including site-tick of Cory's Shearwater (only been waiting 34 years!). Roseate Terns, 2nd-ever Med Gull for Brownstown, an unseasonal GND flock, 3 skua species & Barwit site-year tick were other highlights of a diverse species list."