For the sleep-deprived the sound of rain lashing on the window as dawn broke was very welcome but this invitation for a lie-in probably resulted in the loss of a fair few birds from the day-list: by the time the comfortable slumber was over Kittiwakes were already moving in quantity and the day-long seawatch that ensued was unexpectedly rewarding considering the general unpleasantness of proceedings, with wind-blown drizzle and spray a constant impediment.
Kittiwakes moved throughout with the logged total of 1700 certainly a minimum since there were prolonged periods of reduced visibility when they simply couldn't be adequately resolved to accurately count; 33
Common Scoter, 10
Sooty Shearwaters, 5
Fulmars, 3
Arctic Skuas and singles of
Red-throated Diver,
Manx Shearwater,
Long-tailed Duck and
Pomarine Skua made up the best of the rest. The only reports from elsewhere were of a
Goldcrest (bizarrely, in song from time to time!) at Southwell, a
Cetti's Warbler at Castletown, 11
Common Scoter and 2
Wigeon through off Chesil Cove, a
Great Northern Diver over Ferrybridge and 5
Bar-tailed Godwits and a
Redshank settled there.
Migrant moths continued to feature, with 30
Rusty-dot Pearl, 10
Turnip, 5
Rush Veneer, 2
Dark Sword Grass and singles of
Diamond-back and
Silver Y making up the overnight tally from the Obs garden moth-traps.
The Great Northern Diver over Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:
