No, dear reader, not an Arcot experience, but three year ticks (although my pride has been severely dented by the Whitburn Crew's tally today and the Church Point Gang's too). Nonetheless, it's all relative and I have had a great morning.
Waking to a Sacha Distel moment, I did not recall precipitation being on the meteorolgical radar this week, so after sorting the dog (not a euphemism) and getting unpleasantly damp, I toed-and-froed about birding and eventually opted to go.
Off to Snab, no let up in the rain, but an ebbing tide meant some shelter on the rocks on the lower south side (sounds like and area of New York).
Tick One - 7:50 and a drake Velvet Scoter N. Not too far out either, you could see the whites of its eyes (or rather the white behind its eyes and of course, the white wing bars). Bring on 197.
Tick Two - 08:10 and after several distant dark shearwaters, a Sooty close in and N.
Tick Three - 08:27 with a Grey Plover N.
I lost count of the northbound Gannets, and the Fulmars and Kittiwakes too. Three Manxies together (N) at 9 bells and a Great Skua (S) made it a crackin' couple of very wet hours (on to my second 'waterproof'). Cresswell, Druridge and East Chev were dead.
Bring on tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment