Saturday 17 September 2011

Morning seawatch off Ness Point

It was nice to see so many friends seawatching off Ness point this morning. Sadly, the hoped- for Shearwater passage didn't materialise, the only candidate was a probable Sooty Shearwater shearing the waves spotted by Andrew E right on the horizon way out flying north at 9.10am.
Up to 50 Gannets seen most flying south today. Also groups of Teal, 15, 18, 8 flew south and 5 Wigeon also flew south. Whilst flying north were 3 singleton Red- throated Divers. Chris M picked one out flying towards us and we were treated to views of a fine summer- plumaged Red- throated Diver on the sea in full breeding plumage complete with grey head and neck and brick- red throat swimming south and constantly diving too on the sea, just a third of the way out.
groups of 4, 8, 15, 3 Dunlin flew south and an Oystercatcher fed at the end of the finger.
A Chiff- Chaff flew in off the sea and dived calling into the tamarisk bushes bordering birds eye. A look around Gunton Warren this afternoon failed to reveal any migrants although 3 Small Copper butterflies seen.
The young Lesser Black- backed Gull was on next door's roof (east) again today, it kept calling its thin wheezing plaintiff call again!

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