Post Hurricane Seabird Passage North Anglesey 21-22nd October

Its been a wild couple of days off the North Anglesey coast, but the gale force winds have brought an impressive passage of sea birds and some impressive cetacean sightings.

On the morning of the 21st past Point Lynas were 1 Long Tailed Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua, 1 Fulmar and 3 Manx Shearwaters amongst moderate numbers of commoner seabirds.
In the afternoon past Cemlyn were impressive numbers of Gannets, many passing over the Trwyn, 600 moved west in two hours along with 400 Kittiwake. 4 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 15 Manx Shearwater. A single Leach's Petrel was seen late afternoon. (With Ken, Pat, Jane and Reg)

On the 22nd, at Point Lynas seabirds were moving past in large numbers from first light as the wind had subsided overnight. At times it was impossible to keep up with the numbers, or take your eyes from your binoculars. After the first hour, birds decreased and moved further out but odd scarcities continued to pass to 10.30. Three hours seawatching produced 10-12,000 Auks (90% Razorbills), 3000 Kittiwake, 500 Gannet, 600 Black-headed Gull, 5 Med Gulls, 1 Little Auk, 10 Red Throated Diver, 4 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 50 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 R.B. Merganser. Reg had similar numbers past Cemlyn.

Past North Stack Ken recorded single Sooty, Balearic and Manx Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 5 Red Throated Diver, 5 Med Gulls and a Whooper Swan with smaller numbers of auks and Kittiwakes.

On both days, Risso's Dolphin have been showing well from Point Lynas early morning, giving great views leaping and tail slapping in the rough seas.

The wind seems to have gone back round to the south-west now!