Well the Devon Balearic Shearwater record goes again!, with
383 passing SW off Start Point. At one point over 400 was looking on the cards, but the watch was hampered by sun glare from 12:00-14:00 so likely many birds were missed. With other posts from yesterday still indicating circulation of birds further up in Lyme Bay, it is likely that this record breaking run involves far more birds than this peak passage count. Interesting to note, at last passage picked up further down the English Channel from Cornish sites, with 125 past Rame, 86 (in 3 hrs) Bass Point (Lizard) and 202 past Gwennap Head.
Can I also just say how useful this blog has been for building up a picture of this unique event, please keep posting any Balearic sightings.
Update of yesterdays Start Point totals, 06:45-19:00, all SW:
383 Balearic Shearwater, 1148 Manx shearwater,
14 Sooty Shearwater, 22
European Storm-petrel, 37 Fulmar, 9 Arctic Skua, 25 Razorbill, 23 Guillemot, 19 Auk Sp (razorbill/guillemot), 5
Arctic Tern, 32 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, 19 'Commic' Tern, 20 Common Scoter, 81 Kittiwake & 400+ Gannet. Also 1 Turnstone, Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper.
Mark D, Adele R, and Mike L
Arctic Tern (ad)
