Welcome Storm Brian and with High Water at 8:37am it was off to Chesil Cove for the sea birds and the waves. Well I got both and thanks to Ian for spotting a petrel making its way down towards us and to John Down for identifying it as a Leach's. What a dainty bird and an extremely difficult bird to pick up in the huge waves that were crashing in. It must have taken me a good 5 minutes before I finally picked it up.
Other highlights were 3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 1 female Common Scoter, a very brief view of a Merlin making its way along Chesil bank before dropping down onto the other side, 2 Great Skua, 12+ Kittiwake, 1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot and a Wheatear. The latter nearly crashed into the wall we were standing next to.
A very sad sight was a gull, presumably a Black-headed Gull that somehow got swamped by a wave and dragged into the sea.
There was also a possible sighting of a Long-tailed Skua, sadly not by me!
This mornings photos and video.
Storm Brian at Chesil Cove. What was interesting though, was that even though High Water was at 8:35am, the biggest waves came as the tide ebbed up to 2 hours later.
Powerful waves hit Chesil Beach.
All's calm.....
....before the next wave comes crashing in.
The highest waves....
......appeared as the tide ebbed away.
An adult Great Black-backed Gull...
.......searches the shore-line for a meal.
Two Mediterranean Gulls also in close.
And another....
And this one showing its very dark legs.
An adult winter Herring Gull, seems to have its on eye on me!
A record shot of a female Common Scoter scooting through.
A Manx Shearwater in close to the shore-line. Try as I could the Leach's Petrel evaded my camera.
Birds Recorded were: 3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Leach's Petrel, 8+ Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, 1 female Common Scoter, Merlin, 2 Great Skua, a possible Long-tailed Skua, Black-headed Gull, 4 Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 12+ Kittiwake, 1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail and a Wheatear.