Bridges of Ross 27th August 2013

Time: 06:30-11:30 & 13:30-18:00

Weather: F2-3 W-NW (am) & F2 W turning F3 N (pm), mild, dry & good visibility.

Observers: Niall T. Keogh, Dan Pointon, Alan Clewes, Geoff Clewes, Alan Lewis, Dave Cooper, John Cooper, Victor Caschera, Neal Warnock, Malcolm Goodman, Andy Clifton et al. 

Balearic Shearwater: 2

Sooty Shearwater: 148

Manx Shearwater: 2,070 West in 4 hrs (am) & c.800 West in 4 hrs (pm)

Storm Petrel: 2

Common Scoter: 11

Great Skua (Bonxie): 7

Pomarine Skua: 1 pale  

Arctic Skua: 10

Sandwich Tern: 35 

Arctic Tern: 3

Puffin: 2

Common Gull: 1 adult

Dunlin: 16

Sanderling: 1

Peregrine: 1

Kestrel: 1

Wheatear: 1

Chough:2

Bottlenose Dolphin: 6+

Common Dolphin: 5+

Ocean Sunfish: 2

A continuous trickle of mid-close range Manx in the morning with the occassional Sooty kept the spirits up, in the hopes of a repeat of last years Barolo. Alas it was not to be. The afternoon session was pretty quiet to say the least. Highlights of the day were a pale Pom Skua & a Balearic Shear both at very close range.