Hooded Crow residency continues

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.