Water Pipits perform

28th February 2009 - overcast some drizzle S3

Rarities

Four Water Pipits were amongst 18 Rock Pipit and 30 Meadow Pipit feeding in flooded cattle fields and horse paddocks along Biggar Bank.

Offshore

Remaining quiet over the sea (0815-0915) with sightings limited to 10 Razorbill and single Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Kittiwake.

Wildfowl and Waders

At least 100 pale-bellied Brent Geese remain and 2 Gadwall were recorded.

Miscellaneous

Two Merlin were seen but just 3 Little Egret were logged.

Image

A record shot of one of the Water Pipit.

Mediterranean Gull headlines

27th February 2009 - early drizzle then sunny spells W4
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 120 pale-bellied birds and a single dark-bellied individual. Waders included 3000 Knot and 15 Bar-tailed Godwit - the latter an increasingly uncommon bird on the island.
Miscellaneous
A round 17 Little Egret were logged and 10 Rock Pipit with flushed by the high tide. However, highlight of the day involved a first-winter Mediterranean Gull feeding amongst Black-headed Gulls on the falling tide.

Brent Geese finally allow close scrutiny

22nd February 2009 - early drizzle then sunny W4/5
Offshore
A quiet morning (0830-0930) with just 18 Red-breasted Merganser, 16 Common Scoter and 4 Red-throated Diver seen.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 100 Brent Geese (98 pale, 2 dark) contained four colour-ringed individuals including HIWW, but there was no sign of Heart 3L (see opposite). Waders included 3000 Knot, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 5 Little Egret remain and a pre-roost gathering of 50 Magpie was seen. It's not that long ago that the Magpie waas considered a rare bird on the island!

A hat-trick of hybrids!

21st February 2009 - sunny spells SW4
Offshore
Morning observations (0830-1000) produced 33 Red-breasted Merganser, 27 Common Scoter, 18 Shag, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill and 2 Gannet.
Diurnal Migration
A hint of movement with 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail and a Greenfinch logged. A couple of Raven were perhaps more likely to be local wandering birds.
Miscellaneous
A trio of hybrids were logged, the ever present Barnacle x Emperor Goose, a territorial Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull and a huge brown "Lanner-type" falcon.

A hint of spring

20th February 2008 - misty start then sunny spells/calm
Offshore
Just 3 Red-throated Diver were of note.
Diurnal Migration
Two skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 210 birds headed north while 3 Greenfinch and 2 Song Thrush appeared to be on passage.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 37 Purple Sandpiper and 3 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret remain and both Peregrine and Merlin were seen. A build up in the number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (500+ present rather than the small numbers that remain through the winter) fuels speculation that spring is just around the corner.

WeBS count takes precedence

15th February 2009 - overcast W2/3
Offshore
Again disappointingly quiet offshore, early morning sightings (0830-0930) produced just 3 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Kittiwake.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 45 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Grounded Migrants
The only obvious migrant was a single Fieldfare.
Wildfowl and Waders
Highlights of the monthly WeBS count included 7500 Knot, 4710 Oystercatcher, 1300 Redshank, 930 Curlew, 760 Golden Plover, 670 Dunlin, 670 Wigeon, 255 Grey Plover, 205 Turnstone, 6 Greenshank and 5 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A total of 90 Twite included two colour-ringed birds, also seen were Little Egret, Little Owl and Merlin.
Mammals
A few Grey Seal and a single Hare were seen.

Iceland Gull bonus

14th February 2008 - overcast/murky/drizzle at times SE2
Offshore
Disappointingly quiet over the sea (0800-0900) with just 10 Common Scoter, 10 Razorbill and 3 Red-throated Diver logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 114 pale-bellied Brent Geese continue to linger and waders included 12 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Jack Snipe and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A first-winter Iceland Gull put in an all too brief appearance, at least 5 Little Egret and 80 Twite remain.
Image
Record shot of the Iceland Gull.

Water Pipits star

13th February 2009 - overcast/calm
Rarities
Two Water Pipits fed alongside 10 Rock Pipit and 40 Meadow Pipit in a flooded cattle field along Biggar Bank.
Offshore
Calm seas revealed 60 Red-breasted Merganser, 26 Red-throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter, 5 Razorbill, 3 Guillemot and a Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 114 pale-bellied birds and a single Greenshank was logged.
Miscellaneous
A total of 14 Little Egret continue to roam along the eastern shore, also seen were 92 Twite, 2 Merlin and a Peregrine.
Mammals
A single Harbour Porpoise was logged.

Geese on the move

8th February 2009 - overcast/snow by evening SE3
Offshore
At least 12 Shag remain scattered along the western shore.
Grounded Migrants
A solitary Fieldfare was the only bird to trouble the scorers.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 1020 Pink-footed Geese headed northwards early morning while a skein of 16 Barnacle Geese flew south.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 111 pale-bellied birds, also seen were 14 Goldeneye, 12 Shoveler, 6 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a female Scaup.
Miscellaneous
Island oddities turned up during Winter Atlas fieldwork included 2 Coal Tit and single Grey Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker. At least 4 Little Egret merged into the snow late afternoon and a flock of 80 Twite contained at least one colour-ringed bird.

A cold and relatively uneventful day

7th February 2009 - bright and frosty N3
Offshore
Morning observations (0930-1030) produced 32 Red-breasted Merganser, 16 Red-throated Diver, 16 Razorbill and single Shag and Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 114 pale-bellied birds and a single dark-bellied individual. Waders included 3100 Dunlin - the highest count so far this winter.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret remain along the eastern shore and 2 Little Owl were seen.

Treecreeper provides a surprise

6th February 2009 - bright and frosty N2/3
Offshore
Remaining quiet over the sea with just 6 Common Scoter, 4 Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver logged.
Grounded Migrants
A slight increase in cold weather movement produced 28 Fieldfare and 11 Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A party of 6 Whooper Swan flew south and 36 Fieldfare flew north providing further evidence of cold weather displacement.
Miscellaneous
Although almost annual as a passage migrant the record of a Treecreeper was unprecedented at this time of the year. At least 3 Little Egret continue to endure the freeze.

Common Buzzard steals the limelight

5th February 2009 - overcast/cold NE2/3
Offshore
Two Red-throated Diver were the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
A single Fieldfare was further evidence of cold weather displacement.
Diurnal Migration
A Common Buzzard drifted northeast and a flock of 50 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The four Gadwall and at least one Greenshank remain in residence.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret remain.

Typical cold weather activity

4th February 2009 - overcast E2/1
Offshore
A quick look over the sea revealed 31 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Shag, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver and 3 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Four Fieldfare were further obvious refugees from the cold weather while Song Thrush numbers appear to have increased.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 110 Pink-footed Geese flew south.
Wildfowl and Waders
The four Gadwall remain and waders included 5000 Knot, 3 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite put in a brief appearance.

First Redwing of the year

3rd February 2009 - bright and frosty E4/5
Offshore
A particularly unproductive morning (0930-1000) with just 5 Razorbill, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck and a Red-breasted Merganser flying past.
Grounded Migrants
A group of 12 Redwing and 11 Fieldfare were presumably refugees from the snow further inland.
Miscellaneous
Just 2 Little Egret were logged.

Low key activity

2nd February 2009 - snow showers/cold NE4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0900-1000) produced 15 Razorbill, 8 Red-throated Diver, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Guillemot, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Goldeneye.
Diurnal Migration
Three Whooper Swan flew south.

Snow Bunting new for the year

1st February 2009 - overcast E5/6
Offshore
Morning observations (0930-1030) produced 72 Razorbill, 4 Shelduck, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and single Goldeneye and Guillemot.
Diurnal Migration
A single Whooper Swan and 140 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 109 pale-bellied birds and a single dark-bellied bird. Other sightings included 4 Gadwall and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Snow Bunting feeding along the western shore proved to be the days highlight. Also seen were 2 Raven and single Merlin and Peregrine while at least 6 Little Egret remain.
Mammals
A single Hare was logged and several Grey Seal were seen.