The truth of all birding is that at times that birds will be seen that go unidentified, we go with a shake of the head and we go to learn another day. Or we hope we do as we go on annoyingly frustrated as ever. The main element of ID failure is the limitations that you have to endure. Ie the length of the viewing time, the conditions at the time all limit a conclusion. I must say that on this brief encounter limitations where set well against me.
The facts are that the two birds where past me before I was able to catch site of them. Added to this the birds where flying North which was opposite to all other sightings. Add to this rain and buffeting wind and you can understand the limitations.
So let's tidy things up and what did I see. I like to go with first impression and imediatly what sprung to mind was LEACHES STORM PETREL. But what threw me was that both birds where very dark brown nigh on black with no white visible either above rump or underside of the same. It real terms they were the size of a blackbird with out being dumpy and of slimmer appearance not being so thick set. Flew nothing like a little auk and no confusion. Wing shape definitive being narrow long and carpal joint defined with swing back. The wing however had no grey v across on either bird. Legs seemed to hang as in SP but, with haphazard flight about two meters above water. Fluttering as much as flying not dissimilar to a swallow but larger.
On arrival at home I turned to "Flight Identification of European Sea Birds" Of real interest was the birds "jizz" which explains the birds flight as drunk, which fits like a glove with LEACHES STORM PETREL
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