Little Gull

19th December 2013 – sunshine and showers SW5
Offshore
A check of the sea on the rising tide(0930-1030) produced an adult Little Gull along with 60 Kittiwake and 5 Common Scoter.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 150 pale-bellied birds and 23 Pintail and 5 Shoveler were logged.
Miscellaneous
Small numbers of Twite remain in evidence.

Black Brant reappears

17th December 2013 – overcast/rain later SW6/7/8
Rarities
The Black Brant reappeared, it was feeding in Piel Harbour amongst 60 dark-bellied Brent Geese early morning.
Offshore
A check of the sea on the rising tide produced 12 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and Scaup remain and 156 pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged. Waders included 20 Purple Sandpiper and 12 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 25 Twite were logged.

Winter Doldrums

16th December 2013 – overcast/rain later SW6/7/8
Offshore
A check of the sea on the high tide provided just 7 Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Diver and single Common Scoter and Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl highlights involved 107 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 54 Pintail.
Miscellaneous
At least 32 Little Egret are still to be found in the area.

Long-tailed Duck and Mediterranean Gull

14th December 2013 – overcast/rain later SW6/7/8
Offshore
A check of the sea on the rising tide was rather unproductive with just 8 Shag, 4 Guillemot, 3 Kittiwake, 3 Red-throated Diver and 2 Common Scoter logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl highlights included a female/immature Long-tailed Duck and a first-winter drake Scaup while 13 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
An adult Mediterranean Gull proved to be the best of the rest.
Ringing
The colour-ringed Knot seen on the island on 28th November 2013 had been ringed at Griend, Terschellling, The Netherlands on 8th October 2013.
Moths
A Winter Moth was the first moth attracted to the moth trap for six weeks!.

Winter fare

1st December 2013 – overcast NW1
Offshore
A check of the sea on the rising tide revealed 20 Red-throated Diver, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Kittiwake, 4 Common Scoter and 3 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A Mistle Thrush suggested that small-scale movement was still occurring.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 158 pale-bellied birds and additional wildfowl included 57 Pintail.
Miscellaneous
At least 14 Little Egret were along the eastern shore and additional sightings included 50 Twite and 2 Raven.
Ringing
A steady trickle of finches bolstered the November ringing total to 154 birds of 16 species which included the 2000th bird to be ringed in 2013. Individual species totals were as follows Goldfinch (60), Chaffinch (26), Greenfinch (18), Blackbird (12), Song Thrush (9), Tree Sparrow (5), House Sparrow (5), Wren (4), Goldcrest (3), Blackcap (3), Dunnock (3), Robin (2), Fieldfare (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Redwing (1) and Brambling (1).

Black Brant

30th November 2013 – bright and sunny NW1
Rarities
An adult Black Brant was amongst the Brent Goose flock feeding off Snab Point on the rising tide, presumably the same bird seen in the area earlier in the year.
Offshore
A check of the sea on the falling tide revealed a Great Northern Diver amongst 15 Red-throated Diver along with 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Guillemot, 2 Common Scoter and single Scaup and Shag .
Grounded Migrants
The trickle of finches is still in evidence with Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch all still in evidence.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 150 pale-bellied and 60 dark-bellied birds. A first-winter drake Scaup was also logged along with 7 Shoveler and 8 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Little Egret, Raven and Twite were the best of the rest.
Ringing
We await with interest the ringing details of a colour-ringed Knot that was seen.