A busy working week since getting back from the States on Sunday night - two days surveying on opposing banks of the Humber (see last post), and the last three days leading our YCN Pelagic trips out of Staithes, at the very opposite extreme of the county.
Conditions haven't been ideal (although by no means awful), and cetaceans are as yet thin on the ground (despite best efforts, naturally) - although we did have Harbour Porpoises on all three trips, including some great close views. However, seabirds are always good value at this time of year, and we had some fine experiences with them out on the rolling ocean.
Common Scoters were northbound on the move in big numbers, with 484 today and a mammoth 1178 yesterday; Arctic and Great Skuas gave good views, while all three commoner terns put in appearances, as did Med Gull, migrating waders including Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlins, all the auks (with many young 'uns), many Fulmars and Gannets (right by the boat), and arguably the stars of the show, Manx Shearwaters
They featured heavily on all three days, but today was particularly special - we had at least 70 in total, often around the boat, both on the sea and cruising around us, giving stunning and very close views. I'm back on the boat next weekend - more to follow.
