Shearwaters and Skuas

I was out early with SH this morning for a sea watch at Church point, Newbiggin.
When we got there a line of birders were already set out and already a Balearic Shearwater had been past!

In the two hours we were there a steady stream of Gannets, probably around 100 flew north, usually in groups of 5.
Auks were also heading north in good numbers and a few Guillemots stayed on the water.
Wigeon, Teal and Common Scoter were also heading north in tight groups.
Two Common Scoter were amongst the Eider flock just off the rocks and three Red Throated Diver went north.

A Juvenile Med Gull was flying over our heads and a Wheatear was moving around the rocks.
Apart from the usual passage of wildfowl a female Goosander flew past just over the rocks and a Velvet Scoter went north also quite close.
A Grey Seal was just off the rocks and another further out looked as if it took a swipe at a passing Guillemot.

Once the wind started to pick up a distant Balearic Shearwater went past but I couldn’t see it with just bins.
A Manx Shearwater flew north half way out and a Great Skua- Lifer, went over distantly.
I got better views of another Great Skua later on, we saw 9 Arctic Skuas in total.

In what must be some kind of Newbiggin record the third Balearic Shearwater-Lifer, of the morning flew past and this time it was close enough for me to get a good view.
I watched it skim over the waves until it disappeared past the caravans to the left.

Not long after this Steve got a call saying that a Marsh Harrier was at West Hartford.
Before we left for West Hartford a very distant Sooty Shearwater- Lifer, went past just in time for me to see it turn around in mid air just above the horizon.

By the time we had gotten to West Hartford via accidentally entering a bike race in Newbiggin, the Marsh harrier had moved on.