57 Manxies into strong W wind off Gullane in an hour Sunday afternoon, plus a couple of Scaup dropping on to sea and showing nicely for a few minutes (full count). Not managing to squeeze in much time for birding at present, no doubt would have been a good total of Manxies coming into the Forth today, and chance of other seabirds. [Aside - sea-watching has always had the edge even on gulling or atlas for me, you just can't beat the spectacle of shearwaters doing what they do best into a strong wind, towering and skimming the waves.]Only "breeding" record of note was a pair of Shelduck again near Drem pools - seen a few times now in recent years but never any young and presumably they are subject to predator pressures?
Wind strengthened to a force 8 gale on Monday, fantastic views out into Forth with many seabirds going west; main species was Fulmar with a constant flow way out at mid-channel, also a few Gannets and auks well offshore; many gulls closer to shore, mainly Herring and few LBB and Common Gull; terns all battling past close in, mainly Common but a few Arctic, one of which gave up after 5 minutes struggling to progress past Cockenzie harbour and appeared to blow away inland over Seton harbour; another 1-3 Arctic Tern off Ferny Ness.
For Fulmars, even the gulls, they clearly relish these wild conditions and seem to be in their element, using the wind (and hiding in the troughs of the waves) to move quite rapidly in the other direction!Final sight was a crow which I spotted literally lying on the ground, beak into the wind, so as not to be blown away.
Tuesday - reduced winds, still Fulmar, Gannet, auks passing west off Cockenzie harbour, group 5 Manx and still several terns over the sea, most looked like Arctics but some well offshore.
Wednesday and wind dropped further - a single Quail was singing in the field by Longniddry Main Street, south of the Lorne Bridge, in the early hours.
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