With a northerly gale blowing overnight and all day, Micky and I arrived at the seawatching hut just before sunrise, full of hope and expectation. However, seven hours later we left somewhat disappointed. A very heavy sea was dramatic to watch over, but the numbers of birds were generally disappointing. A nice movement of Sooty Shearwaters was the highlight with a total of 60 recorded, the highest count for the current year. However, other interest was a bit limited with the best of the rest being two Velvet Scoter, a female Goldeneye, seven Manx Shearwaters, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Barnacle Goose and just seven Bonxies (4 south, 3 north) and three Arctic Skuas. Why the numbers of skuas were so low is a mystery to me!
Some sense of the atmosphere of the day can perhaps be gleaned from the photos below.
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| I was sure glad not to be on this ferry as it headed north past the Nab! |
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| Flock of Common Scoter with a single Velvet |
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| View of Burniston Bay south towards Scarborough |
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