Thursday 25 February 2016

STRUMBLE HEAD SEAWATCHING REPORT 2015.


STRUMBLE HEAD SEAWATCHING REPORT 2015.

Observers.

A.Rogers,R.Stonier,C.Grayell,R.H.Davies,S.Berry,G.H.Rees,C.Benson &  SeaTrust Team,R.Wilkinson,C.Hurford,R.Liford,P.K.Grennard,P.Murray,S.Murray,E.Pugh,B.Gibbs,P.Mahiques,M.Jones,J.Faithfull,M.Locke,D.Astins,W.James ,Chris Jones,Clive Jones, Ceri Jones,M.Hipkin. Apologies to anyone I’ve missed or if I unfortunately don’t know your name.

Rarity description species sightings are all included & are of course subject to future acceptance by the relevant committees.

During the year 85 separate day or part of day watches recorded a total of 55 species of bird into the seawatching records, 5 species of Cetacean & Ocean Sunfish.

SYSTEMATIC LIST.

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna

Two records of 2 on 23rd January & the same number on 14th May.                                                  

WIGEON Anas penelope                                                                              

Lower count than 2014 with just 14 recorded max 8 on 23rd August.

COMMON TEAL Anas crecca                                                                                 

A total of 30 passed max 25 on 23rd August.

 MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos                                                        

 A single bird on 23rd August was the only record for the year.

SHOVELER Anas clypeata                                                        

 A single bird passed on 21st September.

COMMON EIDER  Somateria mollissima

Three birds passed, 2 on 8th September & 1 on 11th December.

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra                                          

Passage recorded off Strumble Head 2354 birds, max. monthly totals during summer/ autumn were: 

July        Aug        Sept       Oct         Nov       

 42        603        1251         99        161 

Maximum day count  was 312 birds ( 251 Males & 60 Fem/imm ). The age/sex ratio for the year was 1995 Adult Males & 359 Female/immatures.

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca                                 

Three birds on 12th September was the only record. 

RED – THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata                         

A total of 135 birds passed during the whole year, 22 between 8th  January & 10th  March max. 12 on 10th February. A further 113 birds then passed between 4th  September & 23rd December max. 35 on 11th December.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica                          

A good year with a total of 20 birds recorded max 15 on 11th December.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer                                    

A total of 39 recorded max. 23 on 11th December.

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis                                                 

Maximum day count at was 250 on 13th November.

CORY’S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomeda                    

A single bird on 19th July was the only record.

GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus gravis                               

Single birds on 8th & 19th July were the only records for the year, the 8th July record being the earliest county record.

SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus                                

                            Aug            Sept            

Strumble Head    5              10          

Another poor year with only 16 recorded, with a single on 19th July making up the total.

 

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus                          

First record for the year on 10th January & last recorded on 20th November.


BAROLO SHEARWATER Puffinus baroli


Undoubtedly the bird of the year, came past at 16.35 on 31st August. 

                                               

BALEARIC SHEARWATER Puffinus mauretanicus 

                                  Aug               Sept                 Oct

Strumble Head           28                  63                    8

A single bird also recorded on 7th November.

STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus                                          

Only 5 recorded this year, 4 in August & a single in September.

LEACH’S PETREL Oceanodroma leucorhoa         

Eleven birds recorded, a single on 21st October, 9 on 21st November & another single on 11th December.

GANNET Morus bassana                                                                                  

Recorded throughout the year.

CORMORANT Phalococorax carbo                                                             

 No large movements recorded this year.

SHAG Phalocrococorax aristotelis                                                  .

Recorded throughout the year.

HERON Ardea cinerea                                                                            

A total of 3 birds passed  this year 2 in August & 1 in September.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus

A single bird passed on 6th August, then 2 on 11th December.

OYSTERCATCHER Haemotapus ostralegus

A movement of 25 birds on 18th August was considered to be the only migration observed & not the local birds.

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula

A total of 7 birds, 4 on 16th November & 3 on 21st November.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola

A total of six passed, a single on 31st August & 5 on 22nd September.

KNOT Calidris canutus

Largest passage for many years, 138 passed max 80 on 30th August.

SANDERLING Calidris alba

Passage similar to 2014 with 31 passing, max 10 on 5th September.

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferrugina

A single bird on 30th August.

DUNLIN Calidris alpina

A good increase on last year with a passage of 279 birds, max 79 on 30th August.

BLACK TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa

A better year with 62 recorded, max 31 on 3rd September.

BAR TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica

Quite a low count with only 11 recorded, 10 in August & a single in September.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus

Numbers down again in 2015 with just 96 recorded, max 30 on 23rd August.

CURLEW Numenius arquata

Only 5 birds recorded.

REDSHANK Tringa totanus

A slightly better count of 12 birds recorded in 2015, max 7 on 23rd September.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres

A total of 34 birds recorded, max 9 on 29th August.

GREY PHALAROPE Phalaropus fulicarius                               

A total of 10 recorded, 7 on 31st August, a single on 5th September & 2 on 21st November.