Water Pipit reappears

29th January 2017 – early heavy showers SE3
Rarities
A Water Pipit was amongst 31 Rock Pipit and 10 Meadow Pipit feeding in the flooded horse paddocks along Biggar Bank over the high tide.
Offshore
A check of the sea (0800-0900) provided 10 Shag, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver and 2 Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock again breaks previous records with 354 pale-bellied and 88 dark-bellied birds logged. The 3 female Scaup remain and waders included 8 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.

Brent Geese continue to increase

28th January 2017 – overcast/misty/murky/rain SW3
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 318 pale-bellied and 88 dark-bellied birds and three Scaup and 70 Barnacle Geese remain. Waders included 7 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
At least 43 Little Egret remain scattered around the island.

Pink-footed Geese on the move

21st January 2017 – bright and sunny E2
Offshore
The sea provided 12 Razorbill and 4 Common Scoter.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 325 Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 8000 Kont and a Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was the best of the rest.

Scaup hat-trick

20th January 2017 – sunny spells S1
Offshore
Two Shag frequented the sheltered eastern shore over the high tide.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 40 Barnacle Geese and 3 female Scaup while 2500 Knot and a Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was logged and a Stock Dove was unusual.

Slavonian Grebe

15th January 2017 – sun and showers NW3/4
Offshore
A Slavonian Grebe frequented the sheltered eastern shore over the high tide.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held a record 356 pale-bellied birds. Waders included 3000 Knot.
Miscellaneous
Only 5 Rock Pipit could be located as the high tide inundated the island’s salt marshes.

Woodcock and overwintering Chiffchaff

14th January 2017 – sun and showers NW3/4
Offshore
Another quiet day over the sea with just 11 Shag, 3 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Diver logged.
Grounded Migrants
A solitary Fieldfare was recorded.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 20 Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 305 pale-bellied and 27 dark-bellied birds and a least one Scaup and 50 Barnacle Geese remain. Single Jack Snipe and Woodcock were amongst 230 Snipe. A group of 10 Purple Sandpiper were seen.
Miscellaneous
A walk through some of the island’s “woodland” produced 6 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, a single Jay and an overwintering Chiffchaff. A Tree Sparrow attended a garden feeder and at least 2 Merlin and a Barn Owl hunted the island.

Goosander and Barnacle Geese

13th January 2017 – sun and showers NW7/8/9/10
Offshore
Only 3 Shag could be located in the high seas.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl were led by a redhead Goosander, 2 Scaup, 23 Shoveler and 72 Barnacle Geese. A Black-tailed Godwit and 10 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Only 5 Twite were logged.

Hen Harrier continues to linger

11th January 2017 – sun and showers W6/7/8
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 23 Shoveler were recorded.
Miscellaneous
The ringtail Hen Harrier continues to linger and a Merlin was logged.

Spoonbill

10th January 2017 – sun and showers W4/5
Miscellaneous
A first-winter Spoonbill was reported on the Bird Information Services.

Raptors to the fore

9th January 2017 – rain at first then showers SW3/4
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Knot.
Miscellaneous
Raptors involved 2 Peregrine and a Merlin harrying the wader flocks.

Hen Harrier remains

8th January 2017 – sunny spells/calm
Offshore
A group of 6 Shag were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 6 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The ringtail Hen Harrier remains.

Hen Harrier

6th January 2017 – sunny spells SE2/3
Miscellaneous
A ringtail Hen Harrier was the first bird reported in 2017!.