I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky...

Craster. The north end of my patch shows the rocky shores typical of our coast here.

I have managed to fit in a few short seawatches over this Bank Holiday with not a lot to show for it really. Although the wind was from the NNW, there must be very few birds, other than the breeders of course, in the North Sea.

Yesterday, an hour from 08.45am had  -

Bonxie 2 ad N, big brutes together.
Roseate Tern 2
Teal 134 N
Common Scoter 1 N
Wigeon 10 N
Tufted Duck 3 N
Whimbrel 2 N

While another check from 4pm - 4.30pm was dead with only 5 Knot and 4 Dunlin going into the notebook.

This morning I ventured out for a 7am start. As you can see from my top photo the light was poor for viewing But a few more birds were on the go, but it was still a bit frustrating -

Gannet 50 N per minute, the whole north sea population seemed to pass.
Kittiwake 10 N per minute.
Manx Shearwater 2N
A possible Arctic Skua chased a bird on the horizon, but the more I think about this, the more I think the predator was a Peregrine, and not a skua at all!  Its behaviour was different with none of the twists and turns, just high flights and steep stoops. Shape looked right for Peregrine too, but it was too distant to call so we'll chalk that down to experience.
Carrion Crow ( yes thats right) 1 N at about half a mile range?

Back home 2 Wheatears were on the main road fence this morning.

Maybe this strengthening wind will have an effect by Thrusday? Hope so....

135. Bonxie
136. Wigeon