Good seawatch this morning from Formby Point - although the wind was decreasing and there was only a little rain, the blow the night before had ensured there were plenty of birds in the bay - especially terns.
Bazzo had been watching for 40 minutes already by the time I got down at 9.25am.
He'd had Puffin (a VERY good bird for Formby Point, and still a description species for Lancs) and an Arctic Skua before I arrived.
Such is life.
A constant stream of terns went by, particularly good numbers of Common Terns, but three Little Terns were nicer still.
Consequently we had between 7 and 9 Arctic Skuas up until 12.10pm.
Two dark phase birds were harrying terns over the surf right in front of us - stunninng views of the pirates, their rate of acceleration was breathtaking.
Others were further out, as was a single big, mean Bonxie.
Plenty of Gannets feeding in the bay, but only a small pulse of Manx Shearwaters early on.
Gannet 100
Manx Shearwater 15
Fulmar 2
Arctic Tern 110
Sandwich Tern 80
Common Tern 250
Little Tern 3
Cormorant 5
Kittiwake 4 (Baz had a flock of 9 or so earlier on too)
Common Scoter 150
Bonxie 1
Arctic Skua 7-9
LBB 52
Great Crested Grebe 3
plus Black Headed Gull, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oycs etc - and Bazzo's Puffin.
The seawatching gods are smiling on us this year.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Bazzo wrote...
Force five north westerly Monday - looks promising for a seawatch.
Posted by: Bazzo | July 29, 2007 6:04 PM