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4 Sept 2009

A clean sweep with a Sooty.

Expectations were high with 30 -40 knot westerlies blowing off the N Wirral coast and a full compliment of Wirral seawatchers were out and joined by luminaries from the opposite side of the Mersey. Birders as far afield as Manchester had ventured out for the day to experience a good blow on the Wirral. We weren't disappointed! The mouth of the Mersey was the unusual location for my first Cheshire Sooty Shearwater - a bird that lingered for a good hour allowing the assembled throng to feast their eyes on this local rarity. Manx Shearwater, Leach's Petrel, Fulmar, Bonxie and Kittiwake all put in an appearance but after missing at least 2 Sabines Gulls Mark Turner & I decided t ojoin Frank & Allan at the Gunsites only to get a call saying an adult Sabines was showing well at Perch Rock just off the breakwater!!! Bollocks. Off we shot leaving Graham Jones to find a juvenile Long-tailed Skua as is bombed past through the surf. Double bollocks.

Unbelievably we 'twitched' an adult Sabines - it was still showing well and I braved a sand blasting by walking down the beach for these shots.
A cracking days seawatching and a Cheshire lifer as well. Unfortunately we missed the Balearic found by one of the Seafroth  crew earlier in the day but theres always tomorrow.........

2 comments :

Jason said...

Fantastic shots Phil, by all accounts it was a great day to be seawatching in the NW. I cant believe theres a Wilsons Petrel today, darn. Good luck.

Phil Woollen. said...

Missed the Wilson's as we were on Hilbre but Allan Conlin twitched it and got on to it from the NewBrighton side. Fantastic couple of days but we missed the Long-tailed Skua that shot through yesterday.