Almost 10,000 seabirds were logged today between 08.00 and 14.00. Leading the way were Auks, with 6,800 west and 200 east. Gannets came in with 1675 west, while Kittiwakes totalled 955 west. There was a pause in the passage for about an hour around mid-day, when c.1200 birds were feeding/resting off the Point, conservatively estimated at 6-700 Auks, 400 Gannets and 100 Kittiwakes. Passage of Gannets and Auks resumed again, but Kittiwakes had tailed off by this time. The Auks were coming too thick and fast to try and identify, but the majority appeared to be Razorbills. Variety was provided by single Black- and Red-throated Divers, (+ 3 unidentified Divers), 4 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 29 Fulmars, an unseasonal Manx Shearwater, and 7 Med Gulls. It would be churlish to complain after such a spectacle, but the absence of any Skuas was a bit of a surprise!
Had to end the seawatch to do the WeBS count which produced 63 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlews, 4 Redshank, Grey Plover, Knot, 9 Turnstones and 2 Purple Sandpipers. The Water Pipit is still in Horseley Cove.
(No time to check the Village area, but last friday (14th), still 400 Lapwings, 120 Golden Plover, 100 Fieldfare and 120 Redwing),
