Paul and I had a first visit for the season. Following a bit of a slow start it turned out pretty good. Luke was already there when we arrived, Chris arrived soon after and David arrived later but timed his arrival perfectly, both Luke and David and others remained after we left at midday.
After a few terns and half dozen storm petrels it really got going at 8am when a visiting birder called out a Cory's sheawater, fairly close as well and in perfect light, giving everyone leisurely views as it lumbered by, superb. Lots of waders moving today especially Whimbrel as they seem to do this time of year, with several flocks of 25 passing, totals reaching in excess of 150. c60 Ringed plover, c25 Black-tailed godwits, 4 Dunlin and a Sanderling. Manx shearwaters and kittiwakes were passing all morning, a few gathering in loose feeding flocks along with some gulls. It's always worth checking these aggregations as they do draw in passing birds. Luke then announced he'd found a Cory's among a feeding flock and as we homed in soon realised there was a second bird in the feeding group. For over 30 minutes we were able to watch these constantly repositioning themselves with arcing swoops to rejoin the main area of feeding activity as whatever they were attracted to drifted in the tidal flow. A Sooty shearwater splashed down to see what the attraction was before continuing on and then a sparkling adult Sabine's gull came by, this was soon followed by 2 more adult Sabs in a closer feeding group. The only Arctic skua of the morning flew through to add to the variety. And to put the icing on the cake a 4th Cory's appeared just as we were heading off. Magic. Common dolphin showing regularly with occasional porpoises.
