Monday 11 September 2017

Mwnt seawatch 6.30 - 12.00

Highlights of this morning's seawatch from Mwnt included 35 Arctic Skuas (inc 7 pale), 13 Bonxies, 1 (juv) Long-tailed Skua, 4 Leach's Petrels, 26 Sandwich, 5 Arctic and 12 Commic Terns, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Golden Plover and 36 Common Scoter. There was a steady passage of Manxies, Gannets, auks and Fulmars. Kittiwakes were also fairly steady until about 10.00 when the wind veered around to the north-west and the flood gates opened. I (like John)reckon there were c. 100 kits a minute passing for about 1.5 hours, making a rough guestimate of c. 9,000 kits. At times the sea was literally covered with them, all heading south!