With strong NE winds, Dick Lorand and I had a great seawatch between 0900 & 1200hrs yesterday, with 31 species being recorded.
Apart from a Leach's petrel moving south just beyond the breakers, another petrel seen very briefly as it dipped into a trough between the waves and single Fulmars north and south, a northerly passage of ducks was main highlight.
Common Scoter were moving north in flocks of up to 180, with over 1,800 being recorded and a further 200 on the sea. With them was the odd Velvet Scoter, but these tended to be lone birds moving north with a total of 19 north and 1 south.
Eider Ducks were also moving north with 13 being counted in small groups and a further 2 south.
Other ducks moving north include 2 Long-taile Ducks, 2 Goldeneye and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst 4 Goosanders flew south.
Auks were also quite active, with a total of 11 Auk species north and south, 25 Guillemots north and south and a single Puffin south.
3 adult Little Gulls flew south together, whilst 14 Kittiwakes were recorded north and south.
8 Bonxies flew south mainly as individuals, but with 1 group of 3.
At home off Brickyard Lane in the late afternoon, duck movement was still progressing, with 6 Eider, 6 Pintail and c40 Common Scoter counted in about 40 minutes.
Regards, Cliff
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