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Seawatch Sunday

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We continued one of our traditions by staging this event on the August Bank Holiday Sunday at Flamborough. It was a warm, dry day, although a chill northerly wind took the edge off the early morning temperatures. The cliff top beside Flamborough Fog Station was already packed with dedicated sea-watchers when volunteers from the Group arrived at 11.00 am. 

Visibility was very good, perhaps the best we have ever enjoyed for this event and the sea appeared fairly calm. With the breeding season over, many of the cliff's familiar birds, such as the guillemots, razorbills and puffins, had departed. A few herring gulls, kittiwakes and fulmars lingered and a constant stream of gannets were observed, heading for Bempton Cliffs.

At this time of year, however, and especially in favourable on shore winds, attention turns to some of the oceanic wanderers which make their way along this coast. This is skua and shearwater time. However, seeing them from land can be a long and lonely experience. On the worst days very little can be seen from dawn until dusk. Today, however, we were rewarded with views, albeit distant at times, of Manx and sooty shearwater; Arctic, great and Pomerine skua. The latter gave me a full set of skuas this year, and I haven't had to go anywhere near a boat to do it, thank goodness!

A steady stream of sandwich terns and kittiwakes provided the skuas with all the excuses they needed to launch their aerial attacks with a number of chases being observed. 

The day's highlights also included two wheatears at the Fog Station. An impressive show by birds of prey included kestrel, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, peregrine falcon and possibly a merlin. Many of these were taking an interest in two flocks of linnets, probably totalling 80 birds. A few flocks of swallows were, worryingly, seen heading north. To sea we also saw at least three red-throated divers, eider and common scoter. While scanning for skuas and shearwaters, both seals and porpoises were picked out, although only distantly. 

The event attracted over 500 visitors, many of whom were able to gain their first sightings of the birds through the telescopes provided by Group members. At times the sea could appear very empty but a steady movement of some of the commoner species helped fill the gaps while the skuas and shearwaters were absent. Group members were also able to talk to visitors about other bird watching issues and distributed a number of leaflets. Our thanks to all those members who assisted throughout the day.