With the stormy seas, a howling gale, lots of whitebait and the prospect of seeing a Great Shearwater, I drove down to the Bill this afternoon to see if I could see this scarce sea bird. Sadly it didn't show this afternoon, but along with several other bird watchers we saw Manx Shearwaters, at least 20 Balearic Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrel, 15 Gannets, 5 Cormorant, 2 Arctic Skuas and dozens of gulls mainly Herring Gull, with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls.
The Skuas were harassing the gulls, shearwaters and even the Gannets in the hope that they would give up the their food they'd caught. Its no wonder they're called the pirates of the sea.
Around the Lighthouse were 130 Starlings Light-keepers house. Also seen 2 Carrion Crow, a House Sparrow and a lone Swallow.
Birds Recorded were:5 Manx Shearwater, 20+ Balearic Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrel, 15 Gannets, 5 Cormorant, 2 Arctic Skuas, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 130 Starlings, 2 Carrion Crows, 1 Swallow and 1 House Sparrow.
Here are a few images from this afternoon. Not the best due to the sea spray.
A melee of gulls as they feed on whitebait pushed up to the surface by larger fish.
In amongst the gulls were......
......Gannets.........
.........Balearic Shearwaters......
....and at least 2 Arctic Skuas.
Closer to the Bill these Herring Gulls fly off to join the frenzy.
On the roof of Light-keepers house.......
........were 130 Starlings.....
.......with juveniles outnumbering the adults 3:1.