Monday, September 14, 2009

Mecca...

Tonight I clocked off work an hour early to join the assembled masses on Church Point, Newbiggin. I was once a true regular here but since migrating north, I only visit once or twice a year. Now I like to think of myself as 'an old hand'...no remarks out there please...

Between 4pm and 6pm in a light N3 in ideal viewing dull overcast conditions, we had -

Manx Shearwater 113 N
Arctic Skua 7
Mediterranean Gull 3, 2fw and a 2w
Whimbrel 1 S
Arctic Tern 1 ad N
Red throated Diver 2 on the sea
Bonxie 5 N
Sabine's Gull 1 ad summer N, oh yes, a cracker. Later seen at Druridge by Ipin.
Common Scoter 16 N
Scaup 1 drake N with Common Scoter.
Red necked Grebe 1 in partial summer plumage on the sea close in.
Teal 11 N
Sooty Shearwater 1 N
Puffin 6+ N

Comiserations to RF who missed the Sabine's TWICE in two hours. The call of 'Large shearwater' went up too just as I was scoping the Sabine's, but no one could clinch its id as it was too far north ...


A good way to spend two hours I think...

8 comments:

Northumbrian Birding said...

Hi Stewart,You must not have heard me confirm the large shearwater as definitley a Cory's,cracking days seawatch

Brian

Alan Tilmouth said...

Roger got onto Sab's tonight as two more one adult one juvenile were lingering with kittiwake on sea.

Anonymous said...

No better way than to spend 2 hours, Stewart. Brill stuff.

Martin Kitching said...

You left just a bit too soon for the Little Auk...

Blyth Birder said...

A thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours yesterday morning and evening.

Warren Baker said...

Buggered if I could tell a Wigeon from a Pigeon if they were out at sea!! An alien enviroment for me. :-)

Seaside Observers said...

was an excellent days watching

Stewart said...

Brian - Sorry Brian...
AT - Phew....
Dean - Yes, I do like seawatching...
Martin - I see that. A few been seen now..I'll get a few thousand in November hopefully!
BB - Here here.
Warren - Wigeons are the ones that look like ducks :)
SO - Yep...

Cheers all...