A 3rd for the patch

Nothing much doing in a saunter round Shite Lane late morning, with 2 wheatears the only proof of migration.  Was outside on the phone to de langer early afternoon when a grey plover flew over calling away - excellent, cheers fella! Only my 3rd ever on patch, with 2 in the same week back in Sept '07 - its been a while (123) !

big shears at last!

The SW blow continued this morning, with conditions looking really good first thing. It was a slow enough start, but 2 great shearwaters (122) west were worth the wait, especially the second bird which took its time ambling past nice and close - was beginning to think I wouldn't get one this year they've been so thin on the ground.  Managed another 10 or so sooty shearwaters, 6 bonxies and 1 arctic skua in the 2 hours, plus some storm petrels too - all good!

a slight improvement

A rather surprising good SW blow came on this afternoon - surprised Windfinder anyway. Got 3 hours in at Galley but failed on the (hoped for) large shear front. Did rack up 12 bonxies, 7 sooty shearwaters, 1 balearic shearwater, 1 common tern, 1 arctic tern, and c. 5 storm petrels though, which was a bit more variety than of late.

still nothing doing at sea

Tried another hour of seawatching this evening in a promising south-westerly & occasional drizzle. The first five minutes was quite promising, with a single bonxie and sooty shearwater west, but the rest of the hour was pants! Got another bonxie right at the death, but I was bored stupid by then! No immediate improvement in the offing according to windfinder either - ho hum!  

green sand

Struck lucky this evening with a fine green sandpiper over the lake (121). Didn't see it as it was getting pretty dark, but it called 4 times before disappearing. A common sandpiper was also calling - waders are beginning to move!