Devon Visit 21/3/17 Slapton Sands - Terns, Gannets & Porpoise

A trip down to Devon and the beautiful area of Slapton Sands to hopefully get a sighting of the Humpback Whale that has been seen on numerous occasions in the area. 

A beautiful sunny day but with a very cold strong wind but at least we had brilliant visibility looking out to sea.  So good to see plenty of Gannets feeding out to sea, amazing watching them dive from a height into the sea like torpedos that beak must be lethal! Good views also of Porpoises as they fished below the Gannets. Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants and Herring Gulls also on the sea and to our delight our first Sandwich Terns of the year fishing along the sea edge for sand eels.

From the hide on the Ley side there wasn't too much on the lake apart from Coots, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, Great black backed Gulls, a Little Grebe and Sand Martins skimming across the water.

Along the Sandy rocky path we spotted 2 Wheatears another first for the year. We spent a good few hours sea watching and looking for the Humpback but alas the whale did not show. However we were highly entertained by the scanning and watching all the other wildlife, very relaxing and the time quickly passed.

Before the day was out we took a quick stop to Labrador Bay for the Cirl Buntings.  The skies quickly blackened but between two very heavy showers we were able to spot just 2 Cirls, a nice end to the day.  So tempted to return to Slapton again soon if the Whale is still around.

    Gannet flying across the sea with such ease

               

   Like a glider taking advantage of the air currents 

                

               

                  

             

               

    Porpoise, one of many seen today. Must be rich fishing grounds 

                

                   Where there is a Porpoise there are usually Gannets

               

   A tiny dorsal fin this is all you usually see of a Porpoise 

               

   Sandwich Tern so very elegant as it fishes over the waves

               

                

   Characteristic dive of the Tern

               

   Like a bullet into the waves - fishing for sand eels

                

   Great to see the return of these birds from South Africa

               

   Labrador Bay near Torquay just before the downpour 

               

   Cirl Bunting, only 2 seen between the very heavy showers!

               

North Berwick and Bass Rock 14/4/15 Gannets, Eiders, etc

Our journey took us east of Edinburgh to North Berwick the home of the Scottish Seabird Centre.  A very windy and blustery day but some blue skies to be seen.  The North Berwick coastline is beautiful and the magnificence of seeing Bass Rock covered in Gannets is jaw dropping! The Rock is covered in Gannets, a 150,000 of them! wow!

A walk along the shore towards the Seabird Centre and on the rocks we spotted Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover. Further out to sea were groups of Eiders and Gannets. Closer to the Centre we had great views of Eiders displaying complete with their haunting 'whooo' call! The males in fantastic colours. Also from the centre area we were able to watch hundreds of Gannets fairly close, fly overhead and across the sea. Great to see them dive but this time collecting seaweed presumably for their nests back on Bass Rock.  A few Terns (common I think) were also heard and seen flying by.   As the tide went out we had some great views of a Redshank and Turnstones on the rocks very near the Seabird Centre. The Centre by the way is a great place for coffee and a light lunch whilst you ponder what you have seen plus the staff are friendly and helpful. All in all a fantastic day in a beautiful place!

   Bass Rock - the White dots are Gannets!

               

                   Gannets Galore

   Ringed Plover hiding in the seaweed and sheltered from the very strong wind

           

                Eiders - fine looking males and one female!

    The chase!

               

                   Eider in flight over a moody sea!

   Majestic Gannet

                

                    Nesting material

    Eider in his prime!

               

                  Redshank - the legs look redder in the North of the country!

 

    Well balanced Redshank

                

                   Turnstone - amazing the size of the pebbles these little birds turn over

    The beautiful sands of North Berwick