What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Richard Tarleton]

Boat trip out to the Celtic Deep yesterday, to look for seabirds and cetaceans - hundreds of dolphins, seabirds galore, but the high point was when our skipper spotted a distant trawler and headed for it. It was attended by thousands of seabirds, from gannets to storm petrels, and in their midst, to our great joy, was a great shearwater.



This legendary bird breeds only on Tristan da Cunha and its dependency Gough Island in the S Atlantic, and undertakes a remarkable clockwise migration around the N Atlantic in their winter - passing UK coasts southbound in our autumn, where a lucky few birders see them each year. Nothing, for me, captures the mystery and drama of seabirds, and birdwatching, than a sighting like this - my path crossing, on the face of our planet, with that of this long distance migrant, out on the high seas....

[vinteuil]

... lovely!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_shearwater

Makes me want to visit the Tristan da Cunha group - if only to try to see the Inaccessible Rail -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaccessible_Island

[Vox Humana]

Boat trip out to the Celtic Deep yesterday, to look for seabirds and cetaceans - hundreds of dolphins, seabirds galore, but the high point was when our skipper spotted a distant trawler and headed for it. It was attended by thousands of seabirds, from gannets to storm petrels, and in their midst, to our great joy, was a great shearwater.

This legendary bird breeds only on Tristan da Cunha and its dependency Gough Island in the S Atlantic, and undertakes a remarkable clockwise migration around the N Atlantic in their winter - passing UK coasts southbound in our autumn, where a lucky few birders see them each year. Nothing, for me, captures the mystery and drama of seabirds, and birdwatching, than a sighting like this - my path crossing, on the face of our planet, with that of this long distance migrant, out on the high seas....

Good one, Richard! I was thinking of going down to St Ives (Cornwall) tomorrow, but that now looks a non-starter. The wind isn't forecast to veer any more than due west and too late in the day anyway. Pendeen might be worth a punt though: I'm sure there will be some good birds there.

[Vox Humana]

I'm currently staying near Brandon, Co. Kerry. Undergoing enforced enjoyment on the beach today I resorted to my telescope and was delighted to find a Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver just offshore, both still in breeding plumage. There was a supporting cast of 50+ Common Scoters, Gannets and four Razorbills. Yesterday another beach nearer our lodging had loads of Sandwich Terns and these attracted a Great Skua and a dark-phase Arctic Skua.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm currently staying near Brandon, Co. Kerry.

No chance of nipping over to Cape Clear, vh?

I've had to withdraw from another "pelagic" trip tomorrow owing to a hospital appt - conditions look idyllic, a shame.

[Vox Humana]

Sadly not, Richard. I did try Galley Head in last Friday's big blow, but the heavens opened and I never even made it to the tip. A shame, as even from way back with my bins I could see Gannets and Manxies piling through in their hundreds and one large shearwater - most likely Cory's from the wing set. Today has been spent dipping on Semipalmated Sandpiper at Blennerville, but there were loads of Curlew Sandpipers amongst the Dunlin, plus the usual Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Curlews and good numbers of Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits. Little Egrets seem common here as in England.

(Dipping = Birding jargon for failing to see.)

[Vox Humana]

I've had to withdraw from another "pelagic" trip tomorrow owing to a hospital appt - conditions look idyllic, a shame.

That's a shame. As you say, the conditions for the next two or three days look good for pelagics. The sea was very quiet off Brandon Head this morning, but the birds are out there somewhere!

[Vox Humana]

Bit of a north-west wind early this morning - not really a blow, more of a wheeze really - but it pushed a few seabirds past Brandon Point: loads of Gannets and Razorbills/Guillemots, 200+ Manx Shearwaters, 25 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua and a Storm Petrel. Also a Peregrine with prey (an auk?) and, around the point, 4 Chough, 2 Ravens and 2 Hooded Crows. All in 90 minutes, which was all I could give it.

[Richard Tarleton]

This is all too painful, having had to scratch on the pelagic yesterday - so far I haven't heard what was seen, probably for the best

[Vox Humana]

I'm also feeling pained now I've learnt that a Wilson's Petrel flew past at midday!

[Richard Tarleton]

For the benefit of our non-seawatching colleagues - most people on the forum I'd guess - Wilson's petrel is another species of the southern oceans which we see in autumn. One seabird species that does not seem to be in any danger

Nice article on seawatching in Bill Oddie's "Gripping Yarns", a perfect loo-side book.

Definition of To grip off (or grip): To see a bird which another birder missed and to tell them you've seen it.

[doversoul1]

Mystery Bird

Back in spring, we noticed a bird call that had not been heard around here before. I first thought it was something mechanical someone installed but the call moved about, so I assumed it was a living bird. The call is very distinct; if you blow a penny-whistle in the water, it will probably sound very similar to it. Can anyone enlighten me as to what the bird is/might be? There seems to be only one bird (at least only one calling bird), and as it’s still here, it’s probably not a summer residence. I have not been able to spot/seen the bird.

[Richard Tarleton]

Back in spring, we noticed a bird call that had not been heard around here before. I first thought it was something mechanical someone installed but the call moved about, so I assumed it was a living bird. The call is very distinct; if you blow a penny-whistle in the water, it will probably sound very similar to it. Can anyone enlighten me as to what the bird is/might be? There seems to be only one bird (at least only one calling bird), and as it’s still here, it’s probably not a summer residence. I have not been able to spot/seen the bird.

Does this suggest a bubbling or gurgling sound, dover? I'm trying to imagine that. Can you tell what habitat it's operating in? Intermittent or regular? Pitch? Phrasing?

I do like mystery bird challenges

[doversoul1]

Does this suggest a bubbling or gurgling sound, dover? I'm trying to imagine that. Can you tell what habitat it's operating in? Intermittent or regular? Pitch? Phrasing?

I do like mystery bird challenges

The nearest I have heard the call is somewhere in my garden, quite high up in the tree. The leaves are still too thick to spot the bird. The call often comes from the direction of the neighbouring field, so it is quite loud. The best I can describe the pitch is somewhere between that of collar doves and robins. It is a bubbling/gurgling sound but quite a pretty one*. A call lasts something like a normal person’s one breath without changing the ‘phrase’. The call does not come regularly or at any particular time of the day, and it can be a couple of repeats up to several. Does this help?

I thought you might

*muffled trills may be closer

[Richard Tarleton]

Hmmm, struggling with this one! You'll just have to stake it out, dover, when all the leaves have blown off.....
Not the call of the mistle thrush, by any chance? Perhaps a drier sound than you are describing.