Sightings January 2010

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1st The Snow Bunting continues its stay into the New Year. A party of 15 Teal and a Great Skua flew west whilst 650 Red-throated Divers flew east during the morning. Two Woodcocks, a Black Redstart and a Chiffchaff were seen in the trapping area.
2nd The Snow Bunting was still present whilst a Little Egret flew over the area. Two Woodcocks were found in the bushes and Black Redstarts were seen in the trapping area and on the power station wall.
3rd A Sooty Shearwater flew east and the Snow Bunting was still present.
4th A juvenile/first-winter Glaucous Gull was seen at the fishing boats in the later afternoon where the Snow Bunting was also still present, usually with a small flock of Skylarks.

Snow Bunting
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5th A very cold (-7.8C) night and snow during the afternoon but little sign of any real cold weather movement. A Black-throated Diver along with 170 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua were of note offshore and the Snow Bunting was still at the fishing boats.
6th Despite the continuing wintry weather there was very little to be seen. The Snow Bunting was still present and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen offshore.
7th Continuing very cold (-4Covernight)  and some snow resulted in 38 Wigeon, two Snipe and a few Lapwings, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Redwings arriving.

There was no sign of the Snow Bunting.

8th Another day of severe wintry weather and some signs of movement with 50 Wigeon, two Pintail and a Tufted Duck passing by. There were a few Redwings in the area and the Snow Bunting re-appeared on the beach at the fishing boats.
9th The worst day of the winter so far with a strong, bitterly cold north-east wind and snow falling for much of the day. There was a noticeable increase in the numbers of birds sheltering from the weather with seven Snipe, at least ten Woodcocks, a Curlew and a Redshank, 25 Blackbirds, 11 Fieldfares, ten Song Thrushes, 110 Redwings and two Firecrests in the trapping and moat areas. The Snow Bunting was still on the beach.

It remains fairly quiet offshore with just an adult Mediterranean Gull of note.
10th More cold with sleet showers throughout the day resulted in a large movement of birds offshore and good numbers of birds on the ground. Seawatching produced seven Gadwall, a Velvet Scoter, a Goldeneye, eight Red-breasted Mergansers, 483 Red-throated Divers, 652 Gannets, two Mediterranean Gulls, 94 Kittiwakes and 750 Guillemots, mostly passing east. Of note on the land were four Snipe, seven Woodcocks, ten Fieldfares, 200 Redwings and a Firecrest and a flock of eight Smew flew over the area and out to sea.

Brent Goose
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11th Slightly milder today and with no snow or sleet. Thrushes continue to arrive with another 200 Redwings, 12 Fieldfares and 30 Blackbirds in the area along with two Firecrests at the southern end of the trapping area. One Woodcock and a Redshank were also seen and the Snow Bunting was back at the fishing boats.

The sea was quieter than yesterday but 350 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver flew east and 450 Great Crested Grebes were sitting offshore.
12th There were two Woodcocks, two Snipe and 140 Redwings in the trapping area. A Gadwall, 76 Wigeon, 260 Red-throated Divers, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 1600 auks sp flew east.
13th More snow overnight and throughout the morning resulted in five Woodcock, 150 Redwings and 66 Fieldfares being seen in the area. It was very quiet offshore.
14th A morning seawatch produced 95 Red-throated Divers, 80 Gannets, two drake Goosanders, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 2020 auks sp., all flying east.
15th A bright morning for a change once the early fog had cleared produced a small movement of birds with 23 Skylarks, 12 Fieldfares, 70 Redwings. 30 Blackbirds and 100 Linnets of note whilst a Firecrest was seen in the trapping area. The Snow Bunting also reappeared at the fishing boats. 

Red-throated Divers (344) and auks sp, mostly Guillemots, (2570) flew east during two hours of seawatching. Two Goosanders were also seen and an adult Mediterranean Gull was lingering offshore.
16th A thoroughly miserable day produced good numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks and a Black-throated Diver flew east.
17th A bright and sunny day for a change. A few Redwings were still in the area and the Snow Bunting was seen again at the fishing boats.
18th Thick fog for much of the day prevented any serious coverage but the Snow Bunting was still in situ at the fishing boats.
19th Very little to be seen. The Snow Bunting remains at the fishing boats.
20th Another miserable day and little to be seen except for the Snow Bunting which remains at the fishing boats. A Shag also flew west.
21st A surprisingly good day. The highlight was a Bittern which flew out of the trapping area, circled around and eventually came very low over the Observatory before landing back in the trapping area. A Woodcock was also flushed and two Firecrests were feeding at the Long Pits. The Snow Bunting was still at the fishing boats.

Offshore, a very early easterly movement of Brent Geese occurred with 400 birds passing through during the morning whilst 200 Great Crested Grebes and 500 Guillemots were feeding in the calm waters off the boats.

22nd A return to wet and windy weather produced more Guillemots and small numbers of Razorbills offshore. The Snow Bunting was still at the fishing boats.
23rd Another pretty miserable day making observations fairly difficult. The highlights were an adult Caspian Gull seen at the Patch in the morning, two Firecrests in the trapping area and the Snow Bunting still at the fishing boats. There were 400 Guillemots feeding offshore and 60 Razorbills flew west.
24th A handful of wildfowl flew east including 60 Brent Goose, 28 Wigeon and 15 Teal and the Snow Bunting was seen again.
25th A Black-throated Diver was feeding offshore during the morning and the Snow Bunting remains on the beach near the fishing boats. Large numbers of Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots were also feeding offshore.
26th A Great Skua, 200 Gannets and large numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills were offshore again whilst a few Fieldfares were seen on the land. A male Black Redstart was also seen behind the Patch hide and the Snow Bunting was still near the fishing boats.