Pintail and Wigeon over the Brigg (Mark Pearson)
Strong northerlies for much of the day dictated almost all attentions were paid to the sea, and good coverage was rewarded with some impressive counts. (Note that the following tallies avoid duplication by taking the highest counts from The Brigg and the Gap – for full counts see Trektellen). Sooty Shearwaters totalled 274 north for the day, the best count for some years, while a total of four Balearic Shearwaters – two individuals past the Brigg this morning, and two together past the Gap this evening – and 102 Manx Shearwaters north were also logged.
Wigeon, Teal and Pintail heading north (Mark Pearson)
At least three Long-tailed Skuas were recorded off this afternoon, including one north and two feeding off the Brigg (with presumably one of these seen feeding in the bay shortly afterwards), and final totals of Arctic and Great Skuas totalled 34 and 14 respectively. Wildfowl were again on the move in big numbers, with over 700 Wigeon and 500 Teal northbound, as well as 870 Teal roosting in the bay this evening. A duo of male Velvet Scoters were likely responsible for various reports in both directions, while of various other ducks noted, Pintail were again pleasingly prevalent with at least 40 through. 54 pale-bellied and two dark-bellied Brent Geese constituted the first significant number this season, and Black Tern headed south off the Gap.
Velvet Scoters (Mark Pearson)
Waders were on the move in small numbers, the best of which were two Curlew Sandpipers close and north past the Brigg this afternoon, with four Grey Plovers doing likewise. 12 Song Thrushes, 15 Goldcrest and a Treecreeper were in Church Ravine this evening. (MJP, MR, CA, JS, BP, KC, NC, WS).