Saturday 5th September

Some sightings seen down by Frenchman's Rocks today by Peter..

Peter emailed his birds seen down around Frenchman's Rocks today,

"A quick note to let you know I did an hour's seawatch this morning 8 - 9 

am. It was "quantity rather than quality" - but a lot happening and 

being there on my own it was difficult to watch and count the birds 

coming close by and far out to sea at the same time. I think more, in 

terms of numbers and species may have materialised with an extra pair of 

eyes or two. I would have stayed longer, but I was borrowing Pia's car 

(mine still in the garage).

Results: Gannet - c.275 feeding around Frenchman's Rocks - all other 

birds going east: . Fulmar - 41; Manx Shearwater - 705; European Storm 

Petrel - 1; Arctic Skua - 2 dark phase; Great Skua - 5; Auk sp. - 16; 

Kittiwake - 143; Common Scoter - 11 (single group); Brent Goose - 3. 

(Plus the usual resident Shags, but no other gulls except a single 

juvenile/1W Herring Gull."

Meanwhile Jim Dickson had forwarded on this set of birds through from Angus Murray. The actual birds themselves were seen by John Sweeney and as far as I can make out were seen mostly yesterday...

"per John Sweeney a 2 hr afternoon seawatch Frenchman's Rocks. Islay 1 juv. Sabine's gull, 1 Leach's Petrel,  3 Stormies, 450 Manxies, 5 Bonxie, 17 Pb Brent geese, all going south.

In addition he had a Pomarine Skua in a late morning watch past there too"