Atlas

First proper Atlas outing today - Kettleness without the Kettle (the point itself is in a different square, and is the only land in that square). Wind was a bit strong to be honest but if I don't get on with this I won't get it done - I've six squares to do. Very little on the railway line, Blackbird total was 8. No Robins, no Dunnock - not so many weeks ago these two species were everywhere. There was a bit of a westerly big gull thing going on, more of a trickle than a movement though. Eventually I got down into the under-cliff which was sheltered and started seeing some birds. 24 Snow Buntings flew over my head and went off out on to the point. I managed a bit of a seawatch from the sheltered side of the Kettle and found 4 Red-throated Divers, 5 Guillemots and a Lesser Black-backed Gull (very uncommon here).

After weeks without Fulmars, one last week, there were 7 sitting on the breeding cliff. 2 Stonechats, 3 or so Rock Pipits. Not a bad do in the end.

Drove around to Runswick Bay to meet the gang and photographed a rather smart Red-breasted Merganser while I waited for them to appear. Then we went to the pub.

Always a bit of a tricky balancing act small children and pub. The Royal Hotel at Runswick is welcoming to those of us with small offspring, the clientele generally tolerant and the beer excellent. Once the J2Os and the food arrived the threat of small person riot was ameliorated and a kind of relaxation was achieved.



A tromp along the beach recorded Grey Wagtail x2 and a maybe Chiffchaff called once from near the boat pound but I couldn't entice it out with any amount of pishing.