Pec Sand but no Skimmer: Bridges of Ross 30th August 2012

Time: 06:50-09:00 & 12:15-19:00

Weather: F4-5 N, clear, sunny & dry (am). F3 NNW, sunny, hazy & dry (pm). Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Alan Clewes, Neal Warnock, Andy Clifton, Malcolm Goodman, Geoff Clewes, John Cooper, Dave Cooper, Chris Jones, Rob Innes, Des Higgins et al.

Sooty Shearwater: 9
Manx Shearwater: c.400
Fulmar: c.500
‘Blue’ Fulmar: 1 intermediate
Storm Petrel: 1
Common Scoter: 2 females
Red-throated Diver: 1 summer plumage
Great Skua (Bonxie): 11
Arctic Skua: 6
Kittiwake: 82 incl. 15 juvs.
Arctic Tern: 2
Sandwich Tern: 3

Light-bellied Brent Goose: 42 
Wigeon: 4
Teal: c.30
Whimbrel: 2
Common Gull: 1 adult & 3 juvs.

Common Dolphin: 15+ feeding in the evening.

Northerly winds are a real migration killer at The Bridges so needless to say the passage today was dire. News of a Black Skimmer seen heading south past Annagh Head, Co. Mayo at 10am had us back out on the headland this afternoon in the vain hope of it making its way past us...which it didn’t! A shout out to the finder, Tom Cooney (Bull Island local patch birder) is most definitely in order. What an awesome record!

The evening here at Loop was livened up by the finding of a fresh juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on the beach directly in front of The Lighthouse Inn at Kilbaha by Chris Jones & Rob Innes whilst they were enjoying a pint of Guinness & a nice bowl of seafood chowder. West coast birding in style! A cracking bird & hopefully a sign of more to come.

Juv. Pectoral Sandpiper © Chris Jones

Dunlin & Pectoral Sandpiper © Niall Keogh