Honestly I really hadn't expected the wind to stay so strong today, but it meant another hour seawatching from Ainsdale just after high tide, from 3.45-4.45pm.
The number of Manx Shearwaters offshore was nothing short of remarkable - I counted 755 in an hour (some doubtless double counted), and down the coast at the Tobacco Dump, Bazzo had gone into meltdown, having seawatched all afternoon (see comment on previous entry).
"The horizon is boiling with Manxies" and "Passing a fixed point here at 5+ per second!" were just two of the texts I got from him as the massive flock fed and zoomed about.
God knows how many were in Liverpool Bay this afternoon...with Ainsdale not sticking out as much as Formby Point, I'm sure I missed quite a few, but I do know that a 'scope south revealed hoards of little black dots on the swell south of the rig, part of a huge raft of Manxies with birds arriving and leaving it all the time.
Most were a long way out off Ainsdale, but there were a few other goodies too, including a dark phase Arctic Skua harrying terns.
Manx Shearwater 755
Common Scoter 30
Kittiwake 1
Arctic Skua 1
Gannet 22
Arctic Tern 6
Sandwich Tern 50
Common Tern 25
I thought the wind was meant to drop, but I do know the tides go very pants after today, so I guess that's the end of it till next week.
Quickly looked at the Sands Lake on the way home, and while it was quiet apart from the usual (Little Grebe, Tufties etc) a young Black headed Gull threw a number of interesting shapes as it preened.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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So, farewell then Mount Baker. Bulldozed into oblivion.