Today was always earmarked as the day we launched the Seawatch Observatory Appeal on our website – clearly the seabirds agreed and proved just why Flamborough justifies such a facility.
Before reading further, could I please ask you to kindly help us fund the construction of our observatory building. Once in situ, it will secure seabird monitoring moving forward and the data obtained from studies will help conserve our threatened species. Click here for further details and how you can help…. FBO SEAWATCH OBSERVATORY APPEAL
The weather consisted of light north-westerly winds and sunny skies. Seawatching was again the order of the day and was undoubtedly the year’s best by a considerable distance. Good numbers of wildfowl flew north including three Shelduck, 277 Wigeon, 223 Teal, 11 Pintail, two Shoveler, a Tufted Duck and 133 Common Scoters. A total of 81 Red-throated Divers flew south, a Storm Petrel headed north, whilst 138 Manx Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters and 68 Sooty Shearwaters headed in the same direction. No fewer than four Sabine’s Gulls were also recorded, with two adults and two juveniles flying north; a juvenile that flew south was presumed to be one of the same. All four skuas were recorded including 68 Bonxies, 38 Arctic Skuas, 21 Pomarine Skuas (all bar one adults) and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua.
Large flocks of duck also gathered off Hartendale, with 220 Teal, 80 Wigeon and two Shoveler present in the afternoon. Passerine interest included a Redwing near the Lighthouse and a Hawfinch in off the sea at Bay Brambles.
