High pressure to the west of Ireland resulted in promising seawatch conditions that included a northerly airflow down the North Sea. Rewards were instant and a ‘pterodroma petrel’ flew slowly north past the Fog Station from 0935-0940hrs; photographs show a solid breastband associated with Soft-plumaged Petrel. The same individual was then tracked heading north along the English North-east coast including Long Nab at 1157hrs, Whitburn at 1618hrs and Bamburgh at 1905hrs. Unfortunately the headland couldn’t claim two mega seabirds on the same day and there was no sign of the Black-browed Albatross. Additional seawatch highlights included a Red-throated Diver, a Blue Fulmar, 30 Manx Shearwaters, a leucistic Gannet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Sandwich Terns, three Bonxies and three Pomarine Skuas all flying north.
