Another winters day!

30th November 2023 – bright and frosty NE1/3
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 17 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Buzzard hunted the island and the Hooded Crow remains.

Winter birding

29th November 2023 – bright and frosty/calm
Offshore
A check of the calm sea revealed 120 Common Scoter, 41 Red-throated Diver, 18 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 60 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 460 Dunlin, 300 Lapwing and 100 Knot.
Miscellaneous
Three Sparrowhawk were seen and 5 Bullfinch and 2 Jay were the best of the rest.

Hooded Crow brace

28th November 2023 – bright and frosty/calm
Offshore
The eastern shore provided 10 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Guillemot and single Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver at high tide.
Grounded Migrants
The 2 Cetti’s Warbler remain and single Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 42 Pink-footed Geese and 4 Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 500 Knot, 42 Grey Plover, 11 Greenshank and 3 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
Two Hooded Crow were recorded along with two hybrids. A small flock of 12 Twite and single Merlin, Peregrine and Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Great Northern Diver and Scaup

26th November 2023 – overcast E2/3
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0815-0915) produced 276 Common Scoter, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Shag, 6 Red-throated Diver, 6 Razorbill, 4 Guillemot and single Great Northern Diver and Scaup.
Grounded Migrants
Single Fieldfare and Goldcrest were newly arrived.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 335 light-bellied Brent Geese and 160 Pintail.
Miscellaneous
Just 2 Twite were amongst 30 Linnet and the Hooded Crow remains.

Cetti’s remain

25th November 2023 – bright and frosty/calm
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 5 Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing. The 2 Cetti’s Warbler remain and 2 Goldcrest were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 223 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Whooper Swan, 4 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Stock Dove flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Four Woodcock were logged.
Miscellaneous
Two Merlin and 2 Peregrine were the best of the rest.

Waxwings arrive

24th November 2023 – bright and sunny N4/3
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea produced 46 Razorbill, 25 Guillemot, 18 Common Scoter, 14 Red-throated Diver, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A group of five Waxwing put in an appearance and additional sightings included 30 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest and single Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 660 Woodpigeon, 9 Whooper Swan and 9 Siskin flew through.
Miscellaneous
The Marsh Harrier remains.

Reasonable seawatch

22nd November 2023 – overcast/showers WSW3/4
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0830-1030) revealed 52 Common Scoter, 52 Razorbill, 16 Guillemot, 12 Red-throated Diver, 8 Scaup, 5 Kittiwake, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Gannet and a Little Gull.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Cetti’s remains and Woodcock arrive

21st November 2023 – bright and sunny N1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 2000 Eider, 13 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Shag, 8 Common Scoter, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver.
Grounded Migrants
At least one Cetti’s Warbler remains and a single Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrest were seen amongst 43 Long-tailed Tit.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 190 Pink-footed Goose, 185 Woodpigeon, 10 Whooper Swan, 3 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Four Woodcock were logged and 8 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
Four Raven were seen and a Water Rail was squealed. Raptors involved 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and single Merlin and Peregrine.

Another Little Gull

17th November 2023 – early rain E2
Offshore
Although a Little Gull was logged the sea was generally quiet.
Grounded Migrants
Single Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck remains.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow continues in residence.