Sea Harrier

Back to Whitburn again this morning. A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifting south, far out to sea, was the star bird today. Although it wasn't manic this morning there was plenty going past despite the light southerly and the clear blue sky.

0650-1100

Red-throated Diver    12n  20s
Puffin    4n
Manx Shearwater    7n  5s
Sandwich Tern    16s
Common Tern    45n  17s
Little Gull    200n  59s
Arctic Skua    2n
Common Scoter    88n
Red-necked Grebe    2n  1s
Pomarine Skua    1s
Golden Plover    3s
Arctic Tern    4s
Meadow Pipit    49s
Grey Wagtail    2s
Red-breasted Merganser    3s
Pink-footed Goose    150s
Bonxie    1s
Marsh Harrier    1s
Great Northern Diver    1n
Wigeon    1n
Sooty Shearwater    1n
Teal    1n  4s
Swallow    1s

Also 4 Skua sp. south together which were probably 2 Long-tailed and 2 Arctic, but too distant to be sure.

Back in Gateshead there were 6 Ruff and 3 Dunlin. On Thursday there were 21 Shoveler here, the biggest count for years.

Ruff