first cory's of the year

Three cory's shearwaters past Galley this evening were a welcome sight, and brought up 100 for the patch year list.  25 common scoter west and a steady trickle of manx shearwaters were the only other signs of movement.

poms

Four pomarine skuas were the highlight past Galley this evening, with 16 common scoter, 1 storm petrel and 2 puffins.

the seawatching starts here....

Hooray, its July! A lunchtime seawatch produced 1 bonxie, 2 arctic skuas, 5 storm petrels and a few common scoter.  I gave it a lash this evening, but could only muster another 5 storm petrels and an arctic skua for my year list (99).

early doors for a swatch

Tried a seawatch this morning but there was little in the way of any passage, with 5 storm petrels the best of it (98). Two puffins also flew west.

patch tick!

A little bleary at 6.00am this morning but still able to notice first a collared dove and then a cattle egret fly past the window - patch tick! The egret later reappeared in a pine tree by Kilkeran Lake and showed off and on through the afternoon - full summer plumage too - nice! (97).