A Short Solstice Seawatch

A morning piece of business can be convenient or vexing, depending on the birding.


I wasn't expecting that much at Hope's Nose this morning, hoping yes, but not expecting. I'd time for two hours sitting in the rain sipping coffee and watching soggy gulls, so why not?


Well, it certainly did rain - divers! 25 of them, not at all bad for the limited time.

What am I saying? 'not at all bad'? Bladdy brilliant!! :D


The SWBCM was in operation, though the high tide and swell was cutting the slick up a bit, and about a hundred Kittiwakes were in attendence. About 90/hr were passing by further out, as well. Gannets were the chief movers, with more than 200/hr, while auks [majority Razorbills] at more than 150/hr, weren't far off. The female Eider is still hanging around; she showed up and mixed with the Kitts [chasing a couple off, too!] while a few Gannets were fishing right off the Nose, which in a brief moment of clear weather made for quite a sight!
A few Fulmars, a couple of Curlew, and a Bonxie also came by, but the best of the also-rans were right at the start and out in the murk; white secondaries blazing - 3 Velvet Scoter. :)

The Rockits were clearly bored - with no fishers or birders about [lightweights! ;) ] - I was the only interesting thing and they amused themselves by seeing how close they could sidle up to me before I tried to look at them.. The boldest one [which was definitely not a littoralis type, as they don't exist, do they?] was rewarded with bits of low-flying fruityoaty bar, which it seemed to quite enjoy. :)




Later on I had time for a quick look at the Real Living Coast, where a lone Purple Sand defied the crashing waves!