Despite the benign conditions, Bazzo and I still went for a seawatch off Formby Point today, on site at the Tobacco Dump from 9am to 12pm.
Very pleasant in the light breeze, with some sunny intervals. Visibility was superb.
Birds offshore pretty much all the time and even a surprise appearance of a juv Marsh Harrier, which came in off the horizon and plugged steadily shorewards, before heading inland over our heads.
Glad it made it - the bird looked pretty tired, and at times skimmed the waves, before gaining height nearer the coast.
Bazzo picked it up at about 9.40am miles out,and it didn't make landfall till 10.10am.
Steady trickle of Swallows too today.
Little Gull 1
Kittiwake 1
Marsh Harrier (juv) 1
Common Tern 180
Sandwich Tern 250
Arctic Tern 15
Little Tern 1
Gannet 320
Manx Shearwater 176
Common Scoter 135
Cormorant 200+
A good movement of terns, and plenty of Gannets fishing offshore.
While there were a fair few Manxies out there, most were towards the horizon, occasionally joining feeding flocks of Gannets, but at least three groups of 6-12 birds came in close enough for reasonable views.
Red Admiral and Common Blues with Gatekeeper and Peacocks n Large Whites in the vast stingyness of the Tobacco Dump nettlebed.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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