Excellent ringing year draws to a close

31st December 2014 – overcast/rain later SSE3/4
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea produced 14 Common Scoter, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Shag and a Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
The overwintering Chiffchaff remains in residence.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Long-tailed Duck continues to linger amongst 32 Goldeneye. Waders included 8 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit,
Miscellaneous
Additional sightings included 40 Twite.
Ringing
As usual a quiet end to the year saw just 83 birds of 9 species handled. Individual totals were as follows (recaptures in brackets). Goldfinch 4 (39), Blackbird 3 (11), Chaffinch 2, Reed Bunting 2 (2), Robin 1 (5), House Sparrow 1 (5), Song Thrush 1 (1), Chiffchaff 1 (1), Dunnock (4). However, the year saw an above average 3364 birds of 46 species ringed – a total only surpassed by the 3463 of 50 species ringed in 2011.

Further Shag influx

29th December 2014 – bright and sunny, early frost/calm
Offshore
Another dawn check over the calm sea revealed a flock of 30 Shag along with a Great Northern Diver and 6 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A few Redwing and Fieldfare were further evidence of small scale cold weather movement.
Diurnal Migration
A further 140 Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Miscellaneous
Additional sightings included 200 Twite, 2 Raven, 2 Water Rail and a Little Owl.

Shag influx

27th December 2014 – overcast/showers/calm
Offshore
A dawn check over a calm sea revealed a gathering of 27 Shag, 5 Red-throated Diver and a huge raft of 5400 Eider.
Grounded Migrants
Two Redwing provided further evidence of cold weather movement.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 6 Whooper Swan headed south.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Long-tailed Duck and 42 Barnacle Geese remain. Waders included 3000 Knot and 4 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Additional sightings included 9 Twite and a Merlin. At least 8 Tree Sparrow continue to winter.

Pink-footed Geese head back north!

26th December 2014 – overcast/showers S1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 15 Shag along with 16 Common Scoter and 10 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A hint of cold weather movement saw an increase in the Blackbird population along with 23 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 600 Pink-footed Geese headed north in four flocks.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 42 Barnacle Goose flock remain and 154 pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged. The female Long-tailed Duck continues in residence amongst 26 Goldeneye. Waders included 4 Greenshank and single Woodcock and Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Additional sightings included 3 Raven and a Water Rail.

Brent Geese continue to build

24th December 2014 – bright and sunny W6
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 173 pale-bellied birds and waders included 33 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A total of 51 Little Egret gathered along the eastern shore.
Ringing
At least 4 colour-ringed birds were amongst the Brent Goose flock.

Slavonian Grebe and Kemp's Ridley Turtle

21st December 2014 – overcast with showers SW/6
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0900-1000) revealed 11 Shag, 11 Common Scoter, 7 Kittiwake and single Red-throated Diver and Razorbill. A Slavonian Grebe joined the Great Northern Diver in the relatively sheltered waters along the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
A few Redwing were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 42 Barnacle Geese remain in residence along with the Long-tailed Duck and 159 pale-bellied Brent Geese. Waders included 4000 Knot and 7 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 51 Little Egret remain and 14 Tree Sparrows continue to winter.
Reptiles
A Kemp’s Ridley Turtle, which is critically endangered and the rarest sea turtle in the world, was found washed up on the island. It usually occurs around the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and The Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the USA. Around 30 Kemp's Ridley Turtles had been stranded on British and Irish beaches in the past, though the majority were recorded in the South West and Wales.

Great Northern Diver

20th December 2014 – sunshine and showers WNW5/6
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0900-1000) revealed just 6 Kittiwake and 3 Common Scoter. However, a check of the eastern shore at high tide revealed that the Great Northern Diver was still present.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 42 Barnacle Geese remain in residence along with the Long-tailed Duck and 78 pale-bellied Brent Geese. Two Whooper Swan called in and waders included 2500 Knot and 7 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The overwintering Chiffchaff remained and 20 Twite were logged .
Ringing
The Brent Goose flock contained at least four colour-ringed birds.

Overwintering Chiffchaff!

19th December 2014 – sunshine and showers W5/6
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed just a handful of Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 42 Barnacle Geese remain in residence along with the Long-tailed Duck. Waders included 6 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Chiffchaff appears to be overwintering and 14 Twite were logged .
Ringing
The Barnacle Goose flock contained a bird previously ringed at Caerlaverock on the Solway Firth.

Winter fare

13th December 2014 – sunny spells NW1/2/3/4
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains while 18 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Red-throated Diver, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Shag and a Kittiwake were also logged.
Grounded Migrants
A handful of Redwing were newly arrived.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 235 Pink-footed Geese headed north in two flocks.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 42 Barnacle Goose flock remain and 80 dark-bellied Brent Geese were logged while at least one Long-tailed Duck remains in residence. Waders included Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance, the Twite flock again held 200 birds and unusually at least 10 Tree Sparrow are wintering on the island.
Ringing
The Brent Goose flock held at least two colour-ringed birds.

Great Northern Diver lingers

12th December 2014 – sunny spells W5/6
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains along the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Barnacle Goose flock has increased to 42 birds and 18 pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged while the 2 Long-tailed Duck remain in residence.
Miscellaneous
At least 51 Little Egret gathered in a pre roost flock and 2 Peregrine were logged.
Ringing
The Barnacle Goose flock now holds 7 colour-ringed birds – details of which are awaited.

Pochard finally makes year list!

7th December 2014 – sunshine and showers W5/6
Offshore
Early morning sightings (0815-0915) produced 11 Red-throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter, 5 Pochard, 3 Razorbill and a Gannet. Later in the day a Great Northern Diver sheltered off the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 170 pale-bellied birds and waders included 1200 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
A group of 40 Twite and a Raven were the best of the rest.

Little Auk and Pomarine Skua

6th December 2014 – overcast/light showers SE3 then SW3/4
Offshore
High tide observations revealed a juvenile Pomarine Skua chasing Herring Gulls and 3 Shag while the falling tide (1245-1445) added a Little Auk amongst 86 Kittiwake, 55 Razorbill, 45 Common Scoter, 15 Red-throated Diver and 12 Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds, perhaps a hint of cold weather movement, involved 3 Song Thrush and a Robin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Both Long-tailed Duck put in an appearance and the 37 Barnacle Geese remain. The Brent Goose flock held 144 pale-bellied birds and waders included 3000 Knot, 260 Sanderling, 8 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A pre-roost gathering of 71 Little Egret was noted and 200 Twite were logged. Additional sightings included 2 Water Rail along with Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

Quick visit

5th December 2014 – heavy hail showers N2/3
Offshore
A single Shag was logged off the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 37 Barnacle Geese and female Long-tailed Duck remain in residence and a Greenshank was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
The Little Egrets remain prominent along the eastern shore.