Tuesday 31st December 2013

Only the sixth site record of Storm Petrel was totally unexpected this morning as it drifted north, loitering as it went, not to far offshore at 0945ish. When you consider that one of the previous site records was of two dead at the lighthouse, that used to exist here, was way back in 1883 then you can appreciate what a major Landguard rarity this is. What was presumably yesterdays Great-northern Diver was also knocking about over the observatory and then south just offshore. 11 Gannets were following shipping and a Bonxie was loitering offshore on & off during the morning. On the move going south at least 1,336 Kitts but with many turning around following shipping then it's a tad difficult to work out how many are actually offshore. Also south bound 108 Cormorant, 19 Wigeon, 12 Guillemot, 10 Brent, 6 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 2 Mallard, 2 Teal, 2 Pintail, Goldeneye, Common Scoter, Oystercatcher & Grey Plover plus going north 8 Guillemot, 2 Brent, Gannet, Red-throated Diver & Shelduck. The 2 Fulmar are the first for ages and included a "blueish" one - but then again Fulmar go out to sea in the autumn to feed and moult only reappearing later in the winter.