27th January 2025 – overcast/rain then showers E6/8
Offshore
The sea provided 112 light-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Shag, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Common Scoter, 6 Red-throated Diver, 3 Razorbill and a Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 3 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall, a Black-tailed Godwit was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains while 2 Raven and a Peregrine were the best of the rest.
Ringing
The pair of Brent Geese ringed at Stang Bay on the northern end of Axel Heiburg Island, Canada on 2nd August 2014 have returned for another winter.
19th January 2025 – overcast SE1/2
Offshore
The sea provided 10 Red-throated Diver, 10 Shag, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Common Scoter.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 530 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 8 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and the island “woodland” held 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay and single Treecreeper and Goldcrest.
17th January 2025 – overcast ESE2/4
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains and additional sightings included 58 Common Scoter, 31 Red-throated Diver, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 28 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 5 Barnacle Geese and 2 Goosander while 5 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank and a Jack Snipe were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
At least three Water Rail remain.
15th January 2025 – sunny spells S1/3
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 5 Barnacle Geese and 9 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
At least two Water Rail remain.
14th January 2025 – sunny spells SSE3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 27 Shag, 8 Kittiwake, 6 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Scaup.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Shoveler were seen.
Miscellaneous
At least one Water Rail remains and finch flocks included 40 Linnet and 30 Greenfinch.
12th January 2025 – overcast/mist/murk/rain later S2/3
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains and 10 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Kittiwake and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A Redwing was seen.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 345 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 35 Twite were logged and at least 2 Water Rail remain.
10th January 2025 – early frost/sunny spells SE1/2
Offshore
A check of a calm sea at dawn revealed a congregation of 50 Shag along with 7,000 Eider, 25 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Fieldfare was seen.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 345 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 4 Shoveler and 12 Greenshank were logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Water Rail remain.
8th January 2025 – overcast/mist/murk E2
Offshore
Four Shag were logged.
Grounded Migrants
Five Redwing and 4 Fieldfare were seen.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 10 Barnacle Geese remain and 3 Shoveler and 2 Woodcock were logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains along with 40 Twite, 3 Water Rail and a Peregrine.
7th January 2025 – sunny spells NW5/7
Offshore
Just 11 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Common Scoter were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Shoveler was logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 2 Raven were logged.
6th January 2025 – overcast/frost/lying snow ESE2/3
Offshore
Two Great Northern Diver remain amongst 17 Shag and 5 Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 443 light-bellied birds and additional wildfowl included 1,374 Wigeon, 688 Teal, 261 Pintail, 162 Shelduck, 138 Mallard, 55 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Barnacle Goose, 2 Shoveler and a Goosander. Waders included 2,048 Oystercatcher, 1,442 Dunlin, 796 Redshank, 681 Curlew, 305 Golden Plover, 112 Lapwing, 107 Turnstone, 74 Grey Plover, 41 Snipe, 22 Sanderling, 9 Greenshank and a Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow and 2 Water Rail remain.
5th January 2025 bright and frosty/cold N1/2
Offshore
At least one Great Northern Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Dunlin and 8 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The island’s “woodland” hosted 15 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Coal Tit and single Firecrest and Treecreeper. The Hooded Crow and 2 Water Rail remain.
4th January 2025 bright and frosty/cold N2/4
Offshore
At least one Great Northern Diver remains amongst 10 Shag and 5 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Redwing was new in.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock included 20 dark-bellied birds, also seen were a Goosander and 2 Shoveler. Waders included 11 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Greenshank and 6 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow and 35 Twite remain along with 2 Merlin. A Water Pipit was amongst 16 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit and single Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtail. At least one Cetti’s Warbler remains. The island’s “woodland” hosted 16 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Jay, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Goldcrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3rd January 2025 bright and frosty/cold NNW4/6
Offshore
The 2 Great Northern Diver remain.
Wildfowl and Waders
There are now 12 Barnacle Geese and a Goosander was logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow and 35 Twite were the best of the rest.
1st January 2025 sunny spells NW4/7
Offshore
There are now 2 Great Northern Diver present.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 10 Barnacle Geese were newly arrived.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and 35 Twite were the best of the rest.
