Good golly Miss Molly

The first pelagic trip organised by the newly formed North West Seawatching Association took place yesterday aboard the good ship 'Miss Molly'. She sailed from West Kirby to Beaumaris (Anglesey) with a motley crew including 'El Presidente' and skipper Conlin (who now has more honourary titles than an African dictator), First Mate Woollen, Seaman Staines, Statler & Waldorf.

Skipper

1st mate

Fortified by 'Bob the plumbers' excellent work in the galley (bacon, egg, beans & fried bread) we set off in a virtually windless calm. Sea birds were scarce but we did see numerous auks off both the Orme heads and Puffin Island, Anglesey. Suprisingly we saw only 1 Arctic Skua and very few Gannets. Common, Little & Sandwich Terns were also seen in low numbers.

Guillemots with single Razorbill

Bridled Guillemot
Puffins off Puffin Island - at least 7 seen on the sea here.
Visible migration was hampered at one stage by a dense blanket of seafog rolling in off the Great Orme but we were fully prepared for such eventualities and repared to the cabin to drink yet another mug of tea.

Arriving 7 hours later in good spirits at Beaumaris we had time for a quick pint before getting the train back to Chester. Miss Molly will remain at Anglesey for a couple of weeks before the crew sail her back again.

Two views of the Great Orme not normally seen by birders.

I'm off to Ternife tomorrow where apart from a bit of R & R on the beach I'll be trying for the various endemics. Hopefully there will be some good pics to post when I'm back.