SEAWATCHING - DAY 2

Weather: Force: 7 / 8 Westerly, Squally showers early on: clearing later.

The first big storm of autumn proved productive as the forecast was correct and Wirral was hit with a force 8 Westerly gale. Whilst big numbers were not recorded a good variety of species were logged across all the Wirral Sea Watching locations. With the wind backing off tomorrow it may be a chance for some further Sea Watching in less severe conditions. Sea watching started from early morning and the following highlights were recorded.

Red throated Diver (3 – Hoylake)

Storm Petrel ( 1 -New Brighton)

Leaches Petrel (8-New Brighton, 8 Hoylake, 20+ Hilbre)

Arctic Tern (4 New Brighton)

Black Tern (1 New Brighton, 1 Hilbre)

Long tailed Skua (2 Hilbre, 1 pale juv Hoylake)

Bonxie (Hilbre)

Little Gull (2- 1^st winter, Hoylake, 1 New Brighton)

A windswept  North Wirral coast, hit by storm force 8 westerlies

Part of a flock of 277 Grey Plover facing into the storm during one of several squalls.

In addition, the resident Yellow legged Gull was on Hoylake beach near the old toilet block and many hundreds of waders were on the shore at Hoylake, including a flock of 277 Grey Plover.

                                                                    (AMC, SRW KD)