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• Main Authors: Berry Head, Seawatch Sw, Mark Darlaston
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Berry Head; Common tern; Long-tailed Skua; Stercorarius longicaudus; Sterna hirundo; Xema sabini
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.544.100; http://www.seawatch-sw.org/downloads/Berry_Head_2008_MD.pdf

unsettled summer contributed to ideal seawatching conditions on many days. Good numbers of Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus (the main target species) were seen, with over 700 birds recorded and a mean passage rate of 2.5 birds/hr. Passage occurred in three main peaks, the first being notable as it appeared earlier than usual. The main peak occurred in late August, following strong southerly-biased winds, when a record day passage count for Devon of 109 birds was recorded. The data have reconfirmed Berry Head as an important site for monitoring this species in UK waters. In early July, the earliest Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis for 2008 in UK and Irish waters was seen, and later in the month there was a large movement of Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea. The passage of Cory’s was a site record, and there were other site records for Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus in early July and Common Tern Sterna hirundo in early August. During the autumn, the watch period was notable for Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus and particularly Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini, with both these Devon rarities making it into double figures. Observations have also shown interesting trends for different species in relation to morning and afternoon sightings. This may be of interest to any seawatchers with a morning or afternoon preference. 2