Brief dog walk along Spittal beach on a grey morning. Significant movement of birds offshore, notably Guillemot. Between 10:30 and 10:45 am, in excess of a 400 birds were estimated to pass – the vast majority were flying south but many were swimming on the sea or flying north. By the time I left the beach (11:20 am), the passage had dwindled but was still probably something like 15 per minute. I have no idea how many were passing before 10:30. Also present: Red-throated Diver – 6 birds on sea and 2 flying north; Shag – approximately 30 which were well inshore; Gannet – 20 flying south (8 adults). Also two Kittiwake
TBr (Tom Brewis)