4th January 2009 - overcast then sunny/calm
Offshore
Continued calm seas produced 20 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Razorbill and 2 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A southbound flock of 120 Pink-footed Geese contained a single Barnacle Goose.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Greenshank, 2 Jack Snipe and a Purple Sandpiper whilst a flock of 6000 Knot was impressive. Wildfowl were led by 3 Gadwall, 20 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a single dark-bellied Brent Goose.
Miscellaneous
A Raven was logged and a Barn Owl continued to hunt the island. At least 5 Little Egret remain and 3 Red-legged Partridge and a solitary Grey Partridge were seen.
A team representing Walney Bird Observatory again contested the annual Great Cumbrian Winter Bird Race. Beginning on Walney at first light the team accumulated 68 species before leaving the island and going on to reach 108 species before reaching the finishing line at Kendal. Apart from the highlights above, the total contained the usual winter suspects including Scaup, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Kingfisher. However, Skylark, Rock Pipit, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were amongst the species missed.
Perhaps of interest, the team scored at a rate of 0.9 species/mile travelled before having to dash to the finishing line.
