Neill and Bazzo picked me up at an ungodly hour this morning and we headed for Formby Point for a seawatch from 7.30am to 10.15am.
My head was still boiled from drinking the vino I meant to use for sugar ropes to catch moths last night (to my credit, I didn't eat the sugar or string), but it was a gorgeous cool morning with superb visibility.
Stonechat family in the Tobacco Dump dunes still and Swallows bombing south along the beach, while offshore, many birds were feeding or circling the bay.
Manx Shearwater 488
Gannet 500+
Fulmar 3
Great Crested Grebe 4
Arctic Skua 3
Sandwich Tern 150
Common Tern 95
Little Tern 1
Kittiwake 1
Common Scoter 280+
Guillemot 4
Harbour Porpoise 2 + 1
Grey Seal 4
Undoubtedly, given the circular action of the Manxies in the bay this morning, I will have double counted a good few (same with the Gannets), but they were the stars of the show, cruising through in pulses close in and far out - wonderful birds.
Nice to see some skuas mooching about again too - but why do they have to land on the sea whenever you're trying to grill them?
Good tactics for surprising passing terns, but downright bad manners when a chap is trying to enjoy the finer points of their id.
Bazzo had a single Swift heading south over the sea.
Back at Dempsey Towers, Speckled Wood and Holly Blues feeding on the hebe and abelia and a single Raven flapping along to the south at 5.15pm.
This nice pulse of warm air from the south looks good for mothing - and is it too late for a few Yellow Winged Darters in the slacks maybe?
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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I had two Swifts this morning over Birkdale. About 8 o'clock.
What time you get the porps John? take it there were two together then one later or somewhere else.
Thanks
Dave
Porpoise thesis coming along slowly.
I had an Old Lady ON MY FRIDGE DOOR! on 11 July in York Avenue, Crosby. Photo to prove it!
Hi Dave, Neill had a single animal early on, about 8.30am, while I had two together over the tide (10am-ish)...all three at usual range, within 100yds or so of the surf.