An unexpected new Filey bird, a “Cory’s Shearwater” that flew past on 9th July stood out because of its unusual white patch on its right wing, a result of feather loss. This feature enabled it to be tracked up the east coast to Scotland, where it was found in the Firth of Forth on 9th August. It has now been identified as a Scopoli’s Shearwater, only the 3rd for Britain (the first was in 2004). Scopoli’s Shearwater breed in the Mediterranean, and is closely related to the Atlantic Cory’s Shearwater. Our gun sea-watchers have been rewarded again for their many hours gazing out to sea, though somewhat belatedly!
