Devon Sooty & Balearic Shearwater passage records blown away!
4 September 2009
Ivan Lakin, Kevin Rylands, Mark Darlaston, Mike Langman and Tom Bragg were fortunate to witness a unique event off Berry Head on 2 September. During the day a fast-moving Atlantic depression (the rermains of ex-hurricane Danny) swept into the English Channel on a perfect trajectory for a good seawatch, bringing with it poor visibility and strong winds swinging from SW-SE and then SW-W all during the early afternoon and evening before clearing.
Initially, shearwaters were moving in small numbers when Ivan and Kevin arrived at 07:15, with passage still light at 08:30 when Mark arrived. But as the main weather front approached, the intensity of shearwater passage rapidly increased, with birds moving south out of Lyme Bay ahead of the poor weather.
From around 09:00 there was a surge of Balearics, with over 100 in front of the depression, followed by a dramatic increase in numbers of Sooty Shearwaters from 11:00, also moving ahead of the poor weather, which really kicked in at around 13:00. In fact, one scan alone of Sooty Shearwaters around midday broke the previous Devon record count of 89!
The numbers of Balearics steadily increased and soon surpassed the previous county record of 109. Two possible Yelkouan Shearwaters were also seen, one with a group of Balearic Shearwaters.
As the front moved over Lyme Bay, the rain arrived (2.3 cm recorded in Torbay!). Sooty Shearwaters were still moving through but, during the worst of the weather, rafts could be seen gathering on the sea, including a group of 37. Each time the weather cleared a little these groups moved off and more could be seen heading south, often in large groups further out in the bay. Mike and Tom had arrived by this time to witness this incredible spectacle.
By 19:30 the count of Sooty Shearwaters had reached 582, six times the previous record for a day count, while the Balearic Shearwater total reached 145, a third more than the previous day record! Five very soggy seawatchers returned home very happy!
Sooty Shearwaters – New Zealand – © Mark Darlaston