Balearic

An excellent seawatch from Whitburn this morning. A slow start and the first hour hampered by the sun, but some excellent birds went past and a bit of cloud cover made viewing better. Stars of the show were my first Balearic Shearwater of the year and an adult Pomarine Skua, both heading north.

05.55 - 09.30

Common Tern    17n   16s
Sandwich Tern    50n   101s
Common Scoter    62n   7s
Roseate Tern    2s
Arctic Tern    7n  6s
Balearic Shearwater    1n
Swift    3s
Red-throated Diver    1 on sea (summer plumage)
Arctic Skua    1s
Ringed Plover    1s
Shag    1n
Pomarine Skua    1n
Whimbrel    8s
Tufted Duck    1s
Teal    4n   20s
Velvet Scoter    1n
Porpoise 1n

Delaying going to South Gare for the White-rumped Sandpiper proved a mistake. By the time I got there the tide was out and the birds scattered. Three hours getting sand-blasted by a gale force wind proved fruitless, only for the bird to reappear just after I got home. I did see 100+ Dunlin, 100+ Sanderling, 50+ Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Tern.

Sanderling