Sunday 6 November 2011

HEATH SECURES FIRST SHAG IN NOVEMBER.

With a barren 10 months, Heathy managed to break his duck today with his first authentic Shag of the year.  The more experienced amongst us had managed this much, much earlier in the year.   Arriving at about 6.15 a.m. this morning Marc had been waiting in his car.  He was like a child almost anticipating a trip to Euro Disney and he was not disappointed.  Chris Hindle was slightly behind us but sprinted up the hill like a F1 driver to secure pole position.  In the next 4 hours we were not let down with some excellent sightings and a few unexpected birds.  I managed to get a massive 6 year ticks which has taken me into the 170's.  Today's numbers : - Common Scoter 18, Brent Geese c250, GREAT SKUA 12, Gannet c50, an incredible 135 LITTLE GULLS, c50 Cormorant, Red Breasted Merganser 15, Shelduck c60.  In about a 15 minute spell we recorded 1 BLACK THROATED DIVER, 2 Red Throated Diver and 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET, which was a new Reculver bird for me, and a RAZORBILL.  Duck were represented by Teal, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, 4 Eider.  About c800 Lapwing flew through.  About 10.0 a.m. we recorded a LITTLE AUK which allowed us reasonable scope views and we finished the session with 2 Arctic Skua and a close juvenile POMARINE SKUA.  Excellent session and I left for home with Heathy beaming contently to himself.

2 comments:

  1. Ive lasted 10 months waiting for this, Phil's experience says it all. He was shagged out early in the year, peaked to early!!!!! Us youngsters can go all year!

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  2. Good to see Arthur Miller (who!) humour still lives on.

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