A Dream Realised

 In the right place at the right time. What more can you say, only I have spent hours and days through lockdown looking out over the North Sea. It has been to me the place beyond. But now it takes on a new meaning as against all the odds I turn up a Albert. For those who need to be introduced a BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS. 

Things have been challenging with my wife only being out of hospital in the last few days. I asked her if I could go out and promised I would be on my mobile. I had seen numerous birds most flying North. They where BRENT GEESE 14, COMMON SCOTER 23, GANNET 19 with inter and full plumage as well as young birds flying as families. GUILIMOT 1, MALLARD 1, RED THROATED DIVER, 4, SANDWICH TERN 11, SHAG 1.

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS

Date: 28/09/2010   Time:  15:41 till 15:45  Scope:  Hawk 40x

I had been scanning the sea as a sea watch, looking strait out on about half zoom when I caught sight of an odd white bird flying low to the water with a following breeze. it just did not look right. All gannets had been flying in the opposite direction. It was large and its flight pattern caught my attention. It was well outside anything I had watched ever, so I continued to train the scope on it. It turned and I have never seen a sea bird with such a narrow long wing. Lets remember that this bird was well out, just this side of what I call the North Holm. Which in real terms must be 2 miles out to sea. It was flying South and had not reached the red buoy as yet.  It was low to the water and was not flying direct but seemingly working its way zig zag in profile. As it turned again it could be seen again, this narrow wing and white head shone well in the bright sunlight, the first for days. I had no means of judging its size as it was a lone bird, but to me it was big. Like nothing I had ever seen before. I tried to gain a photograph, but there was no such chance and even a vid failed. I went back to the scope and immediately saw how the wings dropped as it glided along.  The bird was near the Holm buoy by now and I watched it as it moved on, passing Ness Point and even to the mouth of Lowestoft harbour. It was that big and could be seen well in the sunlight.

I sat back and pondered my thoughts as I had logged it in my mind as BBA. But I was not absolute about what I had seen as views were not A1. But I was 60% sure of the sighting. I had watched it for about four minuets and by the time I had put it out on WhatsApp through Clubbers Nature News it was 15:45 with it out by 15:47 As the following "Possible Black Browed Alba heading South off Lowestoft now. 2 miles off. Dropped wings hanging very close to water. No company with it.

It seems that it was seen by (Donna Dean) Southwold 16:20pm heading past Sizewell 16:50pm. Then Thorpeness 17:15 hrs and last seen being lost to view heading South 17:25 hrs. (Justin Zantboer)