Blue Fulmar etc....Scarborough,Sunday 13th July 2014.

Today saw me heading north to my favourite area in the country,Scarborough, to take part in an organised pelagic trip off this stunning coast line along with 22 other assorted photographers and birders.The trip was again organised by Nick Addey with his 'Chum' assistant Micky Mcnaghten aboard the Queensferry.We planned to travel out approx 3 miles and then start baiting the area to see what would be drawn in by the foul smelling mix of fish offal and oil,popcorn and bread cakes.Not before long we were joined by the first of about 12 Fulmar coming in to check out the fast food on offer and then a cracking Blue morph bird flew in and buzzed the boat before settling on the water further away feeding in the slick.After a while it became more bolder giving point blank views,down to thirty or forty feet.It was apparent that this bird was distinctly smaller than our nominate local birds and certainly darker,particularly more so in flight.This bird has been mooted since as possibly being of the race 'Minor' which originates from the high arctic area of Baffin Island and Northern Greenland,so was a long way from home and what was it doing in the North Sea at this time of year.Other passage and local seabirds recorded included 100+ Common Scoter,2 Juvenile Puffins,a few rafts of Guillemots and Razorbills,the former with newly fledged chicks and several Gannets joining in the feeding melee around the boat.A handful of distant Manx Shearwaters also passed by north and south and 2 Common and five Sandwich Tern hugged the coastal waters.Not many sea mammals were recorded today apart from a couple of Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal....i WILL get that Minke one day.Another great day in this part of the world despite the dull conditions and a big thanks to the lads for organising the trip.