Seawatch - 29th of May

Weather: A cold F2-3 wind blowing from the north in overcast conditions. Visibility was good (10km). Total seawatch time of 2 hours.

Count totals:

• Red-throated Diver: 1 flew south
• Fulmar: 1 north & 3 south
• Manx Shearwater: 20 north
• Gannet: 77 north & 39 south
• Common Scoter: 24 north & 120 south
• Unidentified small waders: 7 north
• Oystercatcher: 11 flew south
• Kittiwake: 153 north & 7 south
• Black Guillemot: 1 south
• Razorbill/Guillemot: 265 north & 20 south
• Razorbill: 1 south
• Guillemot: 2 north

On the islands:

•  Maiden Rock: 22 Arctic/Common Tern, 3 Shag, 2 Cormorant
• Clare Rock: 12 Herring Gull, 3 Cormorant, 2 Great BB Gulls
• Lamb Island: 16 Herring Gull, 7 Cormorant, 3 Great BB Gull, 19 Arctic Tern
• Dalkey Island: 17 Great BB Gull, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Oystercatcher, 3 Raven, 1 Shag, 1 Shelduck, 4 Herring Gull, Hooded Crow
• The Muglins: 16 Herring Gull, 4 Great BB Gull, 19 Shag, 13 Cormorant, 2 Kittiwake
• Coliemore Harbour: Black Guillemot

Other Wildlife: 45 Grey Seals loafing on Dalkey Island with one one Maiden Rock

A locally high count of Common Scoter (144) was the highlight of the seawatch - strangely they were all heading south rather than north as would be expected at this time of year! It seems likely that these birds and the Red-throated Diver are probably non-breeders undertaking local feeding movements.

On Dalkey Island, a Feral Pigeon flew around the Martello Tower several times, twice deliberately flying into the stone walls before heading off in a northerly direction. Very strange...