Friday 23 May 2014

Seawatch - 23rd of May 2014

Weather: Steady F6 from NE. Overcast but thankfully no rain. Seawatch total of two hours.

Count totals:

  • Fulmar: 4 north
  • Manx Shearwater: 9 north
  • Gannet: 75 north & 9 south
  • Commic Tern: 24 north
  • Black Guillemot: 3 flying south
  • Guillemot: 4 north
  • Razorbill/Guillemot: 86 north and 16 flying south
  • Unidentified small waders: 8 north

On the islands:

  • Maiden Rock: Washed over by waves so no birds present.
  • Clare Rock: As above.
  • Lamb Island: 16 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 47 adult and 4 immature Cormorants, as well as 31 Shag.
  • The Muglins: 7 Herring Gulls and 3 Cormorants despite being washed over by waves.
  • Dalkey Island: 3 Cormorant, plus Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Jackdaw and Starling.

Not quite as good as Monday's seawatch! Despite the seemingly ideal conditions of strong onshore winds, there were surprisingly few seabirds offshore. The commonest birds noted were Gannet and auks, but I think this may be due to the fact that they are relatively easily spotted despite a shaking scope and large wave troughs. Other than a small flock of unidentified small waders (possibly Dunlin and Ringed Plovers), nothing unusual present offshore.

Unfortunately strong north-easterly winds are the worst possible conditions for nesting terns on the east coast of Ireland. The small colony on Maiden Rock haven't started nesting just yet. Hopefully the terns on Rockabill and especially Kilcoole won't be too badly affected.

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