The good days don't happen very often but today was one of them. I've spent most of the day at Chapel Pt and whereas numbers were not very high the species diversity was. The highlights were undoubtedly the Leach's Petrels one of which stayed around the point all afternoon and was still there when I laft at 19:00. It suffered attack from Arctic Tern, Arctic Skua and a BH Gull. Also right up there was the juv pale phase Long tailed Skua which ( to those who understand these things ) was at first thought to be a Kittywake, whilst still in bad light, such is the difference from Arctic Skua. At least 2 juv Roseate Terns passed still showing quite dark backs. I love Arctic Terns, especially fast moving family groups in rough seas, and today was a feast of Arctic Terns. And of course the Sooties and the Manxies - what a day.
Red T Diver - 2 Fulmar - 27 Sooty Shearwater - 10 Manx Shearwater - 8 Leach's Petrel - 3 Gannet - stopped counting at 200 - moving all the time Shag - 2 Cormorant - 3 Common Scoter - 7 Pomarine Skua - 3 Arctic Skua - 61 Long -tailed Skua - 1 juv Great Skua - 4 Med Gull - 1ad 1juv Little Gull - 6 Sandwich Tern - 22 Roseate Tern - 2 juvs - with a group of other Terns and may have been 1 more Common Tern - 38 Arctic Tern - 42 Commic Tern - 40+ Guillemot - 3 Puffin - 1 Auk sp - 5
Will it be as good tomorrow??
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