More From The Nose

So I went back after the rain.

Actually, it was a fair while after the rain, as all the sun and lighter winds didn't seem too promising. The evening passage seemed possible, though, and I figured 'eh, what the hell'



This was a good call.


The low sun lit the passing birds beautifully, and there was enough wind - wandering between WSW and NW - to get them moving. The evening passage doesn't always happen, but when it does, you can get a truly lovely and almost civilised seawatch. I say 'almost', as it was a bit nippy. Hmm, not quite Summer yet.

In the hour and a half until it got dark, I had 270 Manxies south, a Balearic north, a Puffin, a flock of mixed Dunlin and Sanderling trying to rest on the Lead Stone [20+, with 17 splitting off and flying north], only 2 Swallows in/off, but oh yes, there were the terns..

A Sarnie was the first bird in my scope, then much later a group of them messing about on of the wreck buoys caught my eye. In the area were some other terns; 2 glorious Roseate Terns with all the streamers headed by northwards, followed by a Little Tern, with at least one Commic Tern also out there...    Bingo.

Also Gannets and Kittiwakes and Fulmars in unspectacular numbers.



As it has been a long while since I put an 'orrible gull up, here's one which plonked down on the Lead Stone [plus a Herring]

Uuurrrrgh...

As to what exactly it is.. [Other than ghastly, which is a given.] Well, answers on a postcard.




Also of note was the Albatros which came gliding out of the Bay...




This [as you may note from the spelling] was a cruise ship, not anything seizure-inducing.
 See?

 Definitely a gull on its logo, though...

And finally, yet again I have delayed posting about the main thing I got up to. This will involve piccies and mostly not of birds. Though there were some crackers.. :)


Be Seeing You..