The calm before the storm?

Seawatching at Whitburn this morning. Nothing rare, but plenty happening and good to see plenty of Arctic Skua. A Merlin shooting through on the walk down to the Obs was a good start.

Arctic Skua    16n  10s
Shag    2n
Common Scoter    31n  51s
Manx Shearwater    3n  5s
Teal    4n  18s
Arctic Tern    3n  3s
Red-throated Diver    2s
Common Tern    166n   40s
Knot    21s
Bonxie    1n
Sandwich Tern    13n  23s
Sparrowhawk    1n
Golden Plover    8s
Greenshank    1s
Oystercatcher    1s
Wheatear    1 on wall
Eider    2n
Turnstone    2s

Next down to Whitburn Steel where The Wood Sandpiper Failed to show. Did get some excellent close views of Knot, Sanderling and Dunlin. 2 Wheatear were on the beach.



Knot

 

 

Wheatear

 

A walk around The country park failed to turn up any migrants so headed for Boldon Flats. Just as I arrived I got news of a Gull-billed Tern heading south past St. Mary's. A mad dash back to the Obs, but unfortunately the bird failed to show. Some compensation were 2 Roseate Tern heading south and a young Peregrine heading out to sea.

 

Another go at Boldon Flats was more successful with 2 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 14 Ruff.

 

Shibdon was superb tonight with 3 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 10 Shoveler along with 400+ Lapwing and 200+ Redshank. As the light was fading a Little Egret dropped in.

 

Four of the Common Sandpiper

 

Green Sandpiper

 

Little Egret