In the eye of the deep low pressure system, the day’s weather was full of contrast: heavy, early morning rain gave way to sunny intervals, light winds and muggy conditions, before northerly winds and heavy showers established late afternoon.
Over the last three days, perhaps the seawatching feature has been the high numbers of terns present, including significant proportions of juveniles. While there wasn’t an all day watch today, over the course of 8.25 hours 969 Sandwich Terns (730 north, 239 south) represented the largest daily total for well over a decade. In addition, 251 Common Terns flew north, along with 87 Arctic Terns. A sub-adult Pomarine Skua re-orientated back north in the evening, with a Bonxie and 11 Arctic Skuas also logged. Other notable records included 469 Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers, a Sooty Shearwater and 52 Manx Shearwaters all moving north. Two juvenile Caspian Gulls lingered off the Seawatch Observatory once again.
Thornwick Pools attracted three Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank; a Green Sandpiper also visited a temporary flash on Croft’s Hill. Sightings from the Old Fall circuit included a Little Egret, two Whimbrel, a juvenile Cuckoo and seven Willow Warblers. Another Green Sandpiper was located along Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton.
