Bridges of Ross 29th August 2013

Time: 06:30-11:30 & 12:20-19:15

Weather: F2-3 W, overcast, dry & good visibility (some sea mist in early evening).

Observers: Niall T. Keogh, Alan Clewes, Geoff Clewes, Dave Cooper, John Cooper, Victor Caschera, Neal Warnock, Malcolm Goodman, Andy Clifton, 'Er' Neill Hunt, 'Mickey Boy' Mike Stocker, Paul 'Trops' Thomason et al. 

Great Shearwater: 3  

Balearic Shearwater: 6 

Sooty Shearwater: 140  

Manx Shearwater: 2,850 West in 4 hrs (am) 

Leach's Petrel: 4

Storm Petrel: 6  

Common Scoter: 1 

Great Skua (Bonxie): 13

Pomarine Skua: 5 

Arctic Skua: 28 

Sabine's Gull: 1 adult

Arctic Tern: 96 
Black Tern: 3 
Puffin: 4

Whimbrel: 1

Redshank: 3

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1

Peregrine: 1

Chough: 2

Bottlenose Dolphin 10-12

Common Dolphin: 5+

Common Seal: 1

Ocean Sunfish: three separate sightings of breaching individual(s)

A light-moderate Westerly produced a nice mixed bag of species this morning, reminding us what a 'proper' seawatch from here can be like! Migrating flocks of Arctic Terns with Black Terns in association were particularly good as were close views of Balearic Shearwaters & Pomarine Skuas. A very quiet afternoon followed up by a few nice sightings in the eve. One Great Shearwater at mid range was the closest we've had over the past week.

Weather forecast looking promising for tomorrow. Fingers crossed!