Arc Of A (Red-throated) Diver *

 *   "Arc of a diver effortlessly..."    Arc Of A Diver by Steve Winwood  1980

 A walk around Ulrome and Barmston this morning was enjoyed in ideal conditions, warm, calm and dry. My two target birds were Grey Partridge and Ringed Plover, neither of which I have managed to see yet this year.

My musical inspiration was provided by a Red-throated Diver, seen just off the beach, that was feeding for about 20 minutes and showing very well. I watched it diving and the album title track of Steve Winwood's Arc Of A Diver came to mind as it gracefully and effortlessly disappeared under water.

Red-throated Diver looking good pre-dive

Arc of a diver

Also off shore were lots of auks again - primarily Razorbills. A few Sandwich Terns were feeding and being chased by gulls when they were successful at catching fish.

Sandwich Tern

a sea-going mugging in progress, but a lot to learn from skuas

One of many Razorbill

All the fields have been harvested now (apart from a single bean field - see 8 August post) and this makes it much easier to see the wildlife that otherwise would be obscurred from view. I was therefore happy to see target bird #1 - Grey Partridge in a stubble field.

Distant and cropped, but a Grey Partridge

The fields were playing host to lots of gulls as usual, including about 90 Common Gulls. They are a nice looking bird and much under valued.

Common Gull

Just off the beach the upturned basket that marks the end of the breakwater was graced with a Cormorant drying its wings. A classic pose 😀👍

A Cormorant drying out from too much beer last night

Along the beach the tide was going out so I checked along the tide line for my target bird #2 - Ringed Plover. I got 2 of them along with Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin so a good tally of birds for the morning in the end.

Ringed Plover on Ulrome beach