East Coast Sea Watch and Pelagic

It was the August bank holiday and we had decided that we would go to Flamborough on the Sunday before our pelagic on the Monday from Staithes.

Neil picked me up at around 10am on the Sunday and we were off. This trip had been planned for sometime so we decided that we were staying overnight ready for the boat trip on Monday.

We arrived at the lighthouse at Flamborough just before 12 so we decided to do some birding in the bay brambles infront of the lighthouse before going to do some sea watching. We saw Goldfinches and a couple of Stonechats so after a short time we decided to move on to the Sea watching hide.

We entered the sea watching hide and was very suprised to find no one was in it so we had the whole hide to ourselves. We started scanning the sea and i managed to pick up a couple of divers flying south at quite close range which i identified them to be Red Throated Divers which i have seen multiple times before then after a while i managed to pick up a Shearwater in my scope which was a Sooty Shearwater so i was giving Neil directions of which direction the bird was flying which was proving difficult as there wasnt much in the sea to use but he managed to get onto this dark Shearwater soon enough we had a couple more Sooties whilst sea watching one which was quite close in as they go lol and Neil found a couple of Skuas which we identified as Arctic Skuas and then Neil picked up a Manx Shearwater which is smaller than the Sooty and has a white belly and dark wings. After a couple of hours we decided to go to Bempton Cliffs to see if anything had been seen there as Neil needed Puffin for his year list. We pulled into the carpark and spoke to the wardens to be told the Puffins had all left the cliffs so we took a steady walk down to the cliffs enroute seeing some Tree Sparrows which was a new bird for Neils list we got to the cliffs and had a quick look we got Gannet Fulmar and Kittiwake and lots of Auks so we decided then to give an old friend who birds at Long Nab Burniston Nick Addey a message to say we were on our way Nick is a very experienced Birder and a fellow blade too so is always good to catch up with him.

Gannet

Gannet

We arrived at Long Nab at around 1645 and made our way to the Bird Observatory which was only a short walk along the cliff this picture is looking back down the coast towards Scarborough.

We were greeted by Nick and went into the obs and started setting up our telescopes and we spent the next couple of hours seawatching and chatting about how poor the Blades were and we were picking up birds like Common Tern Sarnie Terns Gannets and Nick picked up a Manx Shearwater which was closer in than the Flamborough bird so that was good we saw a couple of Med Gulls which flew past and a Yellow Legged Gull which was a Juvenile Nick is very experienced so he picked theses birds up very quickly and pointed out the feature to myself and Neil which was very helpful. At 1915 we decided to make a move to our Hotel for the night so we all left the obs after a very nice cup of tea what Nick kindly made us so we walked back to the car park and said our goodbyes and we were on our way.

Long Nab Obs

We arrived at our hotel at 2020 and checked in at Grinkle Park Hotel went to our room dropped our bags off then went for a drink in the bar.

I had a Guiness and Neil a glass of wine £22 quid wow i picked my jaw up amd we sat down and chatted about what a great day we had and was hoping for tomorrow.

Grinkle Park Hotel

We woke at 0630 and freshened up and we went for breakfast at 0720 as we had to be at the harbour at Staithes for 0830. We both opted for the full english which was very nice all local produce and very welcome as we would be on the boat for 5 hours.

On the way to Staithes we had a lovely Barn Owl in the early morning sunshine which i always love to see.

We pulled into the car park and made our way a short distance to the harbour to meet our guide for the Pelagic Jono Leadley.

Staithes Harbour

This was the view what met us wow blue sky what a lovely meeting place. Jono came over and introduced himself to us and we were just waiting for a couple of people so i decided to start birding early i picked up a Shag flying south and a Red Throated Diver flying north and there were Kittiwakes and Fulmar flying round.

We boarded the boat and set off we were going to go 5 miles out to sea from Staithes. Jono had said it was pretty rough sailing on Saturday but they had a good time and they had a Great Shearwater which is a very rare bird so we were hoping it would still be there.

After a short time i picked up a Shearwater in flight very close to the boat which was a Manx Shearwater which showed very well so that was great.

Me and Neil

We travelled a bit further out and there was Gannets and Auks on the sea and flying around when Jono found a Puffin which Neil was very happy to see as it was a year tick for him but it was a young bird and didnt have the bright beak but still nice. After a short time someone spotted a Minke Whale which i had never seen before which was a fabulous sight amazing views we then went on further and saw more Minke Whales and Jono picked up an Arctic Skua which is always nice to see and then a Bonxie flew past the boat at close range and then we started to see a few Sooty Shearwaters o the sea and in flight this was great.

Sooty Shearwater

Jono then pointed out some feeding Gannets which is good as if there is fish there is Birds and Whales. After a while we pulled up close to where the Great Shearwater was seen on Saturday but there wasnt many birds there so we moved a bit further on where there were Sea birds feeding we pulled up and there was a flock of Fulmar Sooties and a couple of Gannets. I started checking the flock and i noticed a Shearwater to the right hand side of the flock which was different white belly and dark on top i shouted out Great Shearwater Jono and Neil asked me where so i told them and pretty quickly everyone was on this amazing bird we watched this bird for about 20 minutes and i was in shock when the Skipper of the boat brought out Coffee and Cake and it was Lemon cake my favourite.

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

So after a coffee and 2 pieces of lemon cake we decided to head back to look for more Whales and hopefully some Dolphins. We had been travelling a short time when Jono picked up a skua myself and Neil got on to it and was watching it it was a Pomarine Skua a new bird for my year list and Neils we ended up seeing a couple of more Minkies but sadly no Dolphins.

We arrived back on dry land shortly before 1500 hours and wow what a trip heres a list of what we saw

16 Minkie Whales

4 Arctic Skua

3 Bonxies

Fulmars

Gannets

Sandwich Terns

Common Terns

2 Puffins

Guillemots

Razorbills

1 Manx Shearwaters

50 plus Sooty Shearwaters

1 Great Shearwater

It truly had been a fabulous couple of days meeting some great people and some amazing birds and seeing them at such close range is awesome i would recommend anyone to go on a pelagic if you want to see these sea birds at close range and see the Minkie Whales too.

Justin