Monday 22 August 2011

Strumble - Marsh Harrier

A seawatch from 0630 to 1430 (wdigbirder for the first 3 hrs, jointly, and then Ray W for the last 2.5 hrs) wind varied between NNE and NNW, force 2 to occasional 4.

Common Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 9
Med Gull - 3 (Juv)
Bonxie - 6
Arctic Skua - 5 (4D one P)
Common Scoter - 39
Cormorant - 26
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Peregrine - 1
Kestrel - 1
Chough - 1
Marsh Harrier 1 (Juv)

The Marsh Harrier came in off the sea from a northerly direction, to be met and harried for a few seconds by the peregrine; the very dark colouration suggested a juvenile on dispersal. A juvenile Great Crested Grebe passed flying East. A total of 46 Raven congregated over the Head and, at 1215 hrs, for about 10 minutes, there was a strong and constant movement of Swallows and House Martins in off the sea from Ireland. Several hundred Kittiwake forming large feeding flocks with other gulls, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets, were present from early until dispersing at around 1200 hrs. Wdigbirder had 10 to 15 Common Dolphin beyond the tide race.