Languid

An early start guiding for Yorkshire Coast Nature on Friday, the sun rose over the waves in the east just after we steamed out of Staithes Harbour. 

It took a while to get light enough to discern the shapes of passing birds, but we soon realised there was a lot of activity with Red-throated Divers passing south, and small flocks of Common Scoter and Teal heading north, heading for the Tees Bay. After a while, we picked up our first Minke Whale, in amongst a throng of Gannets, though it played hard to get and we soon lost it. Out at five miles, I donned the rubber gloves and started to chum with dead Pollack and Mackerel off the stern, which soon attracted a bunch of gulls and a few Fulmars. Several Sooty Shearwaters cruised in to check out what was going on, followed by a solitary Manx. We headed back in, adding eight Shelduck to our list, along with a couple each of Arctic and Great Skuas. After lunch, we headed back out and after failing to find some reported Bottlenose Dolphins, we sailed towards the earlier area where we'd seen whales. All was quiet off Kettleness, until I suddenly noticed a Cory's Shearwater in the wake, alongside a couple of young Herring Gulls. This large shear had appeared out of nowhere.  I yelled 'CORY'S SHEARWATER!' and dived into the cabin to grab my camera. 

 

The bird languidly slid up the wake, and sheared, bow-winged right past our starboard side, giving great views to all on board. Fortunately, there were several birders on board all of whom appreciated this southern wanderer. Despite appearing to make no effort, it soon outpaced us as Sean sped to keep up with it. We slowed and watched the bird of the day cruise into the distance, leaving me elated and the clients bemused by my excitement. This is the first Cory's I have had in eight years of doing these trips, and only the third we've had as a collective, so it was a rare moment.