23rd December 2021 – overcast/mizzle E1/2
Grounded Migrants
Two Redwing were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 55 Pink-footed Geese flew over.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow and a roosting Barn Owl were the best of the rest.
Mammals
Sadly an Otter was found to be a road casualty, hopefully it was not island’s breeding female.
Red-necked Grebe
21st December 2021 – overcast SE1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea (0830-0930) revealed a Red-necked Grebe feeding offshore along with 20 Common Scoter, 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shag and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A Stock Dove continued the excellent run of sightings for this species through the autumn.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Black-tailed Godwit while 4 Shoveler were logged.
Offshore
A check of the sea (0830-0930) revealed a Red-necked Grebe feeding offshore along with 20 Common Scoter, 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shag and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A Stock Dove continued the excellent run of sightings for this species through the autumn.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Black-tailed Godwit while 4 Shoveler were logged.
Purple Sandpiper increase
20th December 2021 – overcast/mist/SE1
Grounded Migrants
Single Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush were recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Groups of 20 Pink-footed Geese and 9 Siskin moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 21 Purple Sandpiper were logged.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Grounded Migrants
Single Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush were recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Groups of 20 Pink-footed Geese and 9 Siskin moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 21 Purple Sandpiper were logged.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Late movement
16th December 2021 – overcast/mist/calm
Grounded
A total of 16 Redwing were recorded.
Diurnal Migration
A late Grey Wagtail moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 110 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A group of 45 Twite and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Grounded
A total of 16 Redwing were recorded.
Diurnal Migration
A late Grey Wagtail moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 110 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A group of 45 Twite and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Post-roost Shag congregation
13th December 2021 – overcast/calm
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-0930) produced 33 Shag, 26 Brent Goose, 3 Red-throated Diver and 3 Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
Three Greenshank were logged.
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-0930) produced 33 Shag, 26 Brent Goose, 3 Red-throated Diver and 3 Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
Three Greenshank were logged.
Scoters and divers
11th December 2021 – overcast/showers the rain S2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0800-1000) produced 625 Common Scoter, 50 Red-throated Diver, 9 Brent Goose, 4 Razorbill and 3 Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
A single Black-tailed Godwit was seen.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0800-1000) produced 625 Common Scoter, 50 Red-throated Diver, 9 Brent Goose, 4 Razorbill and 3 Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
A single Black-tailed Godwit was seen.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
High tides and Water Pipits
7th December 2021 – rain at times ESE6/7 gusting to 54mph
Rarities
Two Water Pipits were amongst 6 Rock Pipit feeding in the flooded horse paddocks at Biggar at high tide.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 230 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite, the long-staying Hooded Crow and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Rarities
Two Water Pipits were amongst 6 Rock Pipit feeding in the flooded horse paddocks at Biggar at high tide.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 230 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite, the long-staying Hooded Crow and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Hooded Crow and Twite
6th December 2021 – early rain clearing to showers WNW3/4
Grounded Migrants
Four Redwing were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 160 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
Four Twite were seen and single Merlin and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Grounded Migrants
Four Redwing were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 160 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
Four Twite were seen and single Merlin and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Twite increase
5th December 2021 – bright and sunny N2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea revealed 69 Common Scoter and 6 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Siskin flew over.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 301 light-bellied birds with 1,266 Wigeon, 458 Teal, 314 Shelduck and single Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose also seen. Waders included 3,144 Dunlin, 1,494 Knot, 714 Golden Plover, 711 Curlew, 607 Lapwing, 403 Turnstone 93 Snipe, 7 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A total of 100 Twite were logged and single Merlin, Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
Offshore
Observations over the sea revealed 69 Common Scoter and 6 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Siskin flew over.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 301 light-bellied birds with 1,266 Wigeon, 458 Teal, 314 Shelduck and single Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose also seen. Waders included 3,144 Dunlin, 1,494 Knot, 714 Golden Plover, 711 Curlew, 607 Lapwing, 403 Turnstone 93 Snipe, 7 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A total of 100 Twite were logged and single Merlin, Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
Velvet Scoter
3rd December 2021 – overcast NW3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0845-0945) produced 60 Razorbill, 33 Common Scoter, 18 Red-throated Diver, 12 Shag, 10 Kittiwake, 3 Guillemot and single Velvet Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a single Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 351 light-bellied and 2 dark-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0845-0945) produced 60 Razorbill, 33 Common Scoter, 18 Red-throated Diver, 12 Shag, 10 Kittiwake, 3 Guillemot and single Velvet Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a single Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 351 light-bellied and 2 dark-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.
Winter Gannets
1st December 2021 – sun and showers NW4/5/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-1030) produced 19 Shag, 9 Kittiwake, 9 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter, 3 Gannet and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Ringing
A colour ringed Brent Goose had previously been ringed at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland on 16th October 2007 and has been seen at Walney every winter since.
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-1030) produced 19 Shag, 9 Kittiwake, 9 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter, 3 Gannet and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Ringing
A colour ringed Brent Goose had previously been ringed at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland on 16th October 2007 and has been seen at Walney every winter since.
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