A pan-European group attended the walk on Thursday evening. A Swedish couple showed me their photos of Great Grey Owls taken during a recent invasion in Sweden while we waited for the group to assemble - very jealous! A German couple of "returning birdwatchers" - getting back into it after several years and 5 locals met at the gate in a gloomy but not wet evening.
As we walked along the clouds parted and the sun shone onto the birds. Gannets were flying past, a surprise female Eider was found walking along the cliff top at Henry's Scorth and the auks , Kittewakes and Fulmars performed. Puffins were found fairly easily, including a pair almost at the cliff top heads and bills peeking out of the vegetation allowing close photos. A total of at least 12 Puffins were counted.
A pair of Herring Gulls were seen eating kittewake eggs, and a pair of Great Black - backed Gulls were cruising along the base of the cliffs. Some guillemot chicks were found - difficult to see hidden beneath the adult.
Everyone enjoyed the scene, and got great views of all the birds
Mark