A hint of cold weather movement

4th December 2010 – early frost then overcast/calm
Offshore
A group of 5 Shag was the best that the sea could muster.
Grounded Migrants
Two Woodcock were newly arrived.
Diurnal Migration
Some evidence of movement with 42 Skylark, 10 Chaffinch, 5 Brambling, 2 Siskin and a Meadow Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
A further wildfowl influx saw 550 Teal and 11 Shoveler seen. The Long-tailed Duck remains amongst 30 Goldeneye and 21 Red-breasted Merganser. The Brent Goose flock increased to 110 pale-bellied birds and the 28 Barnacle Geese remain. Waders included 5 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Merlin, a Short-eared Owl and 60 Twite remain.
Ringing
Amongst the Brent Goose flock were several colour-ringed birds, including N4WW which was ringed at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland on 16th October 2007 and has been seen on Walney Island each winter since.
Images
Woodcock and Brambling – the good autumn passage for this species continues.