Moved islands today, back at sea tomorrow.

Came across this juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper (without much in the way of semi-palmations?) in Horta Harbour.

North of Faial- 'Fea's' Petrel!

'FEA'S PETREL' today- couldn't get a photo because I fell to pieces as it flew past- almost set my hair on fire with my cigarette and knocked my self in my face with my lens. They are big! Up to 95cm wing span. This is the 26th record of 'Fea's' for Azorean waters and the first one Simon and I have seen. Also 3-4 Sooty Shearwater, 20+ Great Shearwater, 3 Manx Shearwater, 30+ Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, 1 Turtle (someone tell me the species please), 1 Pilot Whale and overall a brilliant day at sea. The waters are deep this side of Faial- lots more activity overall than on the banks.

Azores Bank

20+ Great Shearwater, 200+ Cory's Shearwater and lost our bag of chum to a shark.

Blue Shark on Princess Alice Bank

In addition to the birds the chum also brought in 2 Blue Sharks (video here by Simon), 40+ Spotted Dolphin and we also hooked a White Marlin but it got away.

Princess Alice Bank- The Azores

Eleven hours at sea today checking Princess Alice Bank- about 50 miles south of Faial.

70-80 Wilsons Petrel and 1 adult Long-tailed Skua.

Chum ingredients.

On the way out and back about 10+ Great Shearwater and 500+ Cory's Shearwater.

25+ Common Tern at Porto Pim yesterday with two Knot, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Turnstone.

Looking interesting for Nearctic Vagrancy

Yanks in Iceland, Ireland and Scotland is my predicition by early next week. I reckon mainly waders but also some passerines too with these lower level winds. Will be interesting to see if an influx of nearctic migrants arrive on the Azores (as 'shrapnal') even though the track of these depressions is rather far north. Worth keeping an eye on this chap, Olof, who is located at the epicentre of WP nearctic landbird vagrancy, Corvo, for the entire autumn: ttp://www.corvo2009.blogspot.com/

Beddington Farmlands autumn waders

Checked out the sludge lagoons this evening- one Wood Sandpiper, three juvenile Dunlin and one juvenile Little Stint. Also 2 Green Sandpiper and 1 Snipe