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.
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.
