Sea Watching

Berry Head, Devon 

I had the day off especially to do some sea watching. I was tempted to venture to Porthgwarra (wish I had now as good counts of Great Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater). However, I still had an enjoyable time with great company at Berry Head. It was slow going but a trickle of Manx Shearwater and Balearic Shearwater was a welcome site. As was a Pomerine Jaeger, a few Parastic Jaeger and a Great Skua. Lots af Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet to make up the supporting cast. Also great amount of Harbour Porpoise sightings. 

A lovely couple from Stockport were on holiday and by chance ended up on Berry Head. It was a great pleasure getting them on to a number of lifers (Manx Shearwater Balearic Shearwater, Pomerine Jaeger,  Parasitic Jaeger and Harbour Porpoise). It was amazing to see the joy on their faces and made me think of all the times I've had those "get in there!" Moments. All too few and far between these days. But equally nice to see the true meaning of enjoying birdwatching. 

All in all a great day out. As Berry head always is.

A Bit Of A Sea Watch

Otterton, Devon

I had a super quick look off the coastal path near the Sewage works this afternoon. Rather quite at first with only a few Northern Gannet and a raft of Common Scoter to keep my occupied. Then I picked up a lonely Balearic Shearwater going west. Not too shabby I thought. 

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

This lovely Holly Blue kept me company for around 15 minutes. 

Holly Blue

Holly Blue

Sea Watch Let Down By Large Shearwaters

Porthgwarra, Cornwall 
Me and my mate Pete headed off early in the hope of sea watching heaven. We arrived in good time and I headed up to the head whilst Pete staked out the cove. There was a large ensemble of expectant birders and I had already seen a report en route that Berry head and seen a large Shearwater Species. All set for a good watch I thought. It started off well with 3 Great Skua in close succession, a couple of Balearic Shearwater and a Single Sooty Shearwater. Decent numbers of Manx Shearwater went through and a close European Storm Petrel. All good so far I thought. I was wrong, it started to get quieter by the minute, whilst Berry Head had 2 Long-tailed Jaeger and another large Shearwater species. One species was added to the day with a Parasitic Jaeger. Let’s say there were a number of birders left wanting.

Balearic Shearwater

Exmouth sea front, Devon 
I had I quick look after work and got a dark phase Parasitic Skua. Not much else on offer so I had another go this evening. A number of Sandwich Term about but too distant to see if anything else was in the mix. Best bird by far was a Balearic Shearwater. It was a little way out and I had to battle the on coming wind but just enough to get a positive ID.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
I then saw the report of 2 Wood Sandpiper. So it seemed rude not to have a quick look. No sign of the birds and the best on offer was a sleepy Green Sandpiper.

Common Eider

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
Not deterred by the poor quality of species from reports I had read from Berry Head this morning, I decided to give sea watching a quick go from the raised beach huts after work. It was initially very quiet and even with the sheltered position, very hard going. A few species finally gave themselves away in the form of a single and brief Balearic Shearwater and 2 Common Eider. And that as they say was that!

Common Eider (Males)

Not Quite 2,500 But Still A Great

Berry Head, Brixham, Devon
Me and my mate were planning on going to Porthgwarra today but my daughter was ill this morning. She went to school but I didn’t want to venture 2 and half hours away in case the school called to say “come and get her”. So we opted for a closer venue and Berry Head seemed the best option. As it happens the call never came so I was most aggrieved to see a report of 1,500 Great Shearwater at Porthgwarra. That’s a spectacle you don’t get to witness that often. I’ve since seen that the total was over 2,500 plus a possible Band-runped Storm Petrel. Now that’s a total slap across the chops!

I'm trying to be positive though as I did managed a single Great Shearwater at Berry Head, so all was not lost. The time spent on site was rather productive. Around 10 Great Skua and 8 Parasitic Jaeger on offer, with some very close in sightings. 2 Red Phalarope popped up a few times but the views were very brief. Balearic Shearwater numbers were in the region of 50 birds whilst we were on site and there was a single Manx Shearwater. Theres was 1 possible Sooty Shearwater. A distant bird that was rather long winged to be a Balearic Shearwater but I just couldn’t clinch it 100% and the view was ever so short. I still haven’t seen a European Storm Petrel this year and typically one was seen after I left.

One of the Parasitic Jaeger’s to me looked like a potential Pomarine Jaeger. See the second photo. What made me thnk with this bird was the fact that the breast band went all around, where as it should stop on a Parasitic. Not a complete clincher though as this can be misleading on both species but I also felt tha the birds flight was more relaxed, steady and strong.I guess that the jury will stay out on this one.

Also an unidentifiable small Skua. Size pointed to Long-tailed Jaeger but again, far too distant to clinch a positive ID.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
Later in the afternoon I had a very quick look from the raised beach huts. Not a great deal on offer except circa 25 Common Scoter.

Great Skua  

Parasitic Jaeger or Pomarine Jaeger?

Parasitic Jaeger 

Balearic Shearwater  

Great Skua  

Great Skua

Great Skua

Quiet Sea Watching

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had 2 very brief sea watching sessions from the raised beach hut area. Conditions seemed good but both viewings were very quiet. The best offering on this mornings attempt was an Auk, which felt like Common Murre but too distant to tell. Also a decent number of Northern Gannet knocking about. Matt Knott and his mate Nick seemed to fare slightly better with 1 confirmed Balearic Shearwater and possibly a few more.

After work wasn’t much better with the highlights being 7 Common Scoter, a few Sandwich Tern and Northern Gannet.

My Porthgwarra trip is now confirmed for Thursday due to work commitments. It looks like the winds will still be favourable. It can’t be much worse than today anyway!

Berry Head Sea Watching

Berry Head, Brixham, Devon
I had a few hours sea watching today. I went with my mate who at present is unable to make the trek back up the quarry. So I spent an hour from the headland and an hour from the sea watching site. On the headland conditions where awful but down on the sea watching area was more productive. On arriving a cracking Sooty Shearwater showed incredibly close. 4 Balearic Shearwater and a couple of Manx Shearwater also came through. 1 Great Skua and 3 Parasitic Jaeger put in an appearance but a few more Parasitic Jaeger were called out but I failed to get on them in the gloom. A European Storm Petrel was called and lost as soon as called. Frustrating but that’s the nature of that species. It is hard to pick out a Starling size bird in gloomy conditions at distance. Supporting cast were a couple of Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull, Several Northern Fulmar, a raft of Black-legged Kittiwake and a number of Northern Gannet. No photos today due to weather conditions. I got rather wet is an understatement and a warm cuppa in the cafe was very welcome.

Not Quite Porthgwarra

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I was itching to get out and do some sea watching but was busy all day until early evening. I popped up to my favoured view point and hoped for the best. There were a number of Northern Gannet around and several Northern Fulmar. After about a quarter of an hour a group of 4 Manx Shearwater came through heading west. Over the next 30 minutes a few more groups came through and one held a Balearic Shearwater. I held on until the light faded in the hope of a Sooty Shearwater or Great Shearwater (one reported off Berry Head) with no avail. So not the quality of Porthgwarra as I ended with 1 Balearic Shearwater and 15 Manx Shearwater. I am busy again tomorrow (on what could potentially be a great sea watching day) but I am getting up at first light to try again for a few hours. Here's hoping for a Cory's Shearwater.... you've got to dream big!

Northern Gannet

Not Too Shabby

Berry Head, Brixham, Torbay
I had a day off today so I thought I would visit Berry Head for a change of scenery. Porthgwarra (as always) stole the limelight but a sea watch from the headland produced Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater (looks like another one went through after I left), Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Kestrel and Common Whitethroat. However that action was overshadowed by the amount of Short-beaked Common Dolphins in the area.Several Pods were seen and some at rather close range. The largest pod contained around 40 individuals. I would guess (as some pods were probably already seen) around 70 individuals in total. I decided on the headland (rather than the sea watching site) to open up Butterfly options. It paid off as there were Wall, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue on offer.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin  

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Short-beaked Common Dolphin   

Wall

Red Admiral   

Speckled Wood    

Northern Fulmar  

Chudliegh Knighton Heath, Devon 
I had a quick stop off here on route to my next venue. Strangely I’ve never visited this reserve but I enjoyed the pools (that are very quick to get to). Dragonflies on offer here were, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. I was gutted that the later wouldn’t sit still for a portrait! The best bird on offer was a solitary Male and a few female Yellowhammer. 

Small Red Damselfly  

Yarner Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon
I done a walk from the car park up to the top hide area. Birds here were, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bullfinch (Male) and Grey Wagtail. 

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I finished off with a quick stroll around the point. Not much action apart from a Male Peregrine Falcon that drifted along the coastal path. I came across a micro Moth which I at present have got no idea on the identification. 

Peregrine Falcon (Male)

Unidentified micro Moth

Lots of Shearwaters

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
As the conditions seemed perfect I decided to do a quick sea watch session once the kids were settled for the night. As soon as I set up the scope it was obvious that there was a lot of passage going on. Within a few minutes I had already counted 40 Manx Shearwater heading west. As I scoped the birds just didn’t seem to stop streaming through. One group came close in near the large bouy that the Terns rest on and I could make out a Balearic Shearwater. Try as I might I couldn’t even muster one of my crappy pictures. I stayed until the light was no longer any good (around 8:15pm) and had counted c 280 - 290 Manx Shearwater. Also of note were a group of Common Scoter close in and several Sandwich Tern on the previously mentioned bouy.

Manx Shearwater 

Sandwich Tern