Skuas

Berry Head, Devon 

I had the day off so I headed to Torbay in the hope of a decent seawatch. I knew there was little chance of Wednesdays spectacular show of Great Shearwater but having not picked up any Skua species I hoped this place would deliver. And deliver it did with 5 Parasitic Jaeger. One reasonably close in and a very close in Great Skua harassing a Black-legged Kittiwake. A supporting cast of 8 Common Scoter was welcome also.

Parasitic Jaeger

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I braved the wet weather for one and a half hours at the cliffs near the Sewage works. A constant stream of Manx Shearwater, totalling circa 500 birds. 3 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 European Storm Petrel was a lucky spot as it popped into my scope view while track some Manx Shearwater. Around 30 Common Murre some on the sea and some in flight. 10 Common Scoter bobbed around and 10 Black-legged Kittiwake battled their way west. 

Sooty Shearwater

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I wasn't going to go out today as I had been frantic at work and was feeling like I wanted to be a couch potato. Then, at about 6pm. I had the sudden urge that this evening was going to be good. So I dragged my tired carcas off the sofa and headed to the coastal path near the Sewage works. I used to seawatch Orcombe Point with some degree of success but a few years ago I started here and have found it more productive for Shearwater passage but have struggled with Skua species.

No sooner had I pointed my scope at the sea, I was watching 4 Manx Shearwater passing by. OK, I thought, Worth getting out for. Within 10 minutes I had seen 30 Manx Shearwater. Then out of the gloom, I picked out a Sooty Shearwater. It battled its way west into the strong south westerly winds.  At on point it came in close enough to appreciate it before heading further out into the gloomy bay.  On the sea were 10 Common Scoter and there were a few Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet lurking about.

After that the Manx Shearwater passage really picked up with birds close in and distant as did the Black-legged Kittiwake of which I totalled 70 birds. At one point, I was tracking some Manx Shearwater and Black-legged Kittiwake, when a Parasitic Jaeger started hassling the latter. It chased one for a few moments before finally settling on the sea. Unfortunately, way too distant for my phone to scope abilities. An unidentified Auk species flew by just after this as did a Common Loon.

I stayed for a further 30 minutes or so and I was so pleased I did. The Manx Shearwater passage continued and I ended on 132 birds. But to top off a great evening, a Pomarine Jaeger popped into my scope as I was scanning. It always remained distant and I soon lost it. 

A very productive visit and goes to show, you should always go with your gut instinct. Well, it worked this time at least!

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.

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.

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

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.

Wave Watching

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
With conditions still primed for some sea watching I had a pre and after work session from the Maer Rocks area. In the morning (06:45 - 07:20) I seem to have missed the Shearwater, Skua and Auk action as Berry Head seemed to be the place (as ever) to be. I did however see descent numbers of Sandwich Tern and my first Arctic Tern. The after work session (16:30 - 17:10) was slightly better with c30 Manx Shearwater appearing out of the gloom, 2 Common Scoter a Velvet Scoter and an unidentifiable Skua species. I’m pretty sure the Skua was an Parasitic Jaeger but it was rather distant and in the gloom so it was very difficult to get a positive ID even in the scope. Also on Mear Rocks were 3 Purple Sandpiper and a Ruddy Turnstone.