26th October 2018

A day of strong north-westerly winds which produced some good movements at sea, the highlight being a Leach’s Storm-petrel close inshore and south early afternoon. Pomarine Skuas were passing in good numbers, with four in the morning and 23 in the afternoon, when other records included three Red-breasted Mergansers, a Goosander, 30 Red-throated Divers, 2 Manx Shearwaters, five Woodcocks, a Mediterranean Gull, five Bonxies, two Arctic Skuas and a Kestrel in off (just evading a Poms’s attempts to drown it). 

The dark-bellied Brent remains faithful to the Brigg area, where 17 Purple Sandpipers and 65 Oystercatrchers were among waders, while the bay held 65 Teal, 38 Wigeon, 25 Common Scoters, eight Goldeneye (and four in off), five Great Crested Grebes and 15 Red-throated Divers. At the Gap, additional records included four Goosander south, two adult Med Gulls, four Bonxies, 105 Skylarks 230 Fieldfares and 30 Redwings on the move.