First Gannet of the year

30th January 2022 – bright start/calm then overcast SSW4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) over the sea revealed 59 Red-throated Diver, 34 Common Scoter, 26 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Razorbill, 10 Shag, 2 Guillemot and the first Gannet of the year.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 190 Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Miscellaneous
Two Water Rail were seen and the single Buzzard and Barn Owl remain.

Water Rail added to year list

28th January 2022 – overcast SW1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations (0830-0930) over the sea revealed 36 Common Scoter, 30 Red-throated Diver, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Razorbill and 3 Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A group of 23 Redwing were logged.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was new for the year and single Buzzard and Barn Owl were recorded.
Information
The 2021 Annual Report has just been released.

Hooded Crow and Buzzard still in residence

27th January 2022 – sunny spells W3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0830-0930) over the sea revealed 42 Common Scoter, 25 Red-throated Diver, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Kittiwake and 6 Razorbill.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow and Buzzard are still in residence.

Hooded Crow still in residence

26th January 2022 – overcast/murky SW2
Offshore
Early morning observations (0830-0930) over the sea revealed 114 Common Scoter, 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Red-throated Diver, 2 Razorbill and 2 Kittiwake.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Ringing
A colour-ringed Cormorant had originally been ringed as a pullus at Puffin Island, Wales on 18th June 2011 and has been sighted on the island a number of times since.

Buzzard continues to linger

24th January 2022 – overcast SE2
Wildfowl and Waders
A Jack Snipe was amongst a few Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The Buzzard continues to linger and a Barn Owl was hunting early morning.

Ringed Brent Goose

23rd January 2022 – overcast SW2
Diurnal Migration
A total of 730 Pink-footed Geese headed north early morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock remains scattered across the island and waders included 3 Greenshank.
Ringing
One of the Brent Geese had originally been ringed at Dundrum Bay, Northern Ireland on 31st January 2017 and has been sighted on the island a number of times since.

Great Spotted Woodpecker brings up the first 100

22nd January 2022 – overcast/drizzle at times W2
Offshore
Early morning observations over the sea (0830-0930) produced 105 Common Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill and a Guillemot.
Miscellaneous
The Buzzard and Hooded Crow continue to linger and a Great Spotted Woodpecker amongst 5 Tree Sparrow, 4 Jay and 2 Long-tailed Tit brought up the first 100 species for the year.
Local News
Another trip off the island produced the long-staying Spoonbill on the Duddon Estuary at Dunnerholme.

Small Redwing movement

21st January 2022 – overcast WNW3
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-0930) revealed 153 Common Scoter, 10 Razorbill, 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Guillemot and a Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A group of 14 Redwing were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock was again fragmented with numerous small flocks scattered across the island.

Buzzard remains

19th January 2022 – bright and sunny NW3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-0930) revealed 31 Common Scoter, 29 Shag, 12 Razorbill, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Kittiwake and a Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Geese flock held 308 light-bellied and 35 dark-bellied birds and waders involved: 3410 Knot, 1867 Oystercatcher, 1398 Dunlin, 1000 Golden Plover, 888 Redshank, 863 Curlew, 623 Lapwing, 309 Sanderling, 270 Grey Plover, 246 Turnstone, 85 Ringed Plover, 29 Snipe, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshank and 2 Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow and Buzzard remain in residence.

Red-necked Grebe remains

17th January 2022 – overcast NW1/2
Offshore
The Red-necked Grebe remains offshore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The largest group of light-bellied Brent Geese held 102 birds and 18 Goldeneye were logged and waders included 2000 Knot and 5 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains in residence and both Merlin and Peregrine were recorded.

Pink-footed Geese begin to head north

16th January 2022 – overcast WNW2/3
Diurnal Migration
A total of 470 Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Wildfowl and Waders
There are at least 11 Greenshank wintering on the island.
Miscellaneous
Around 30 Little Egret remain on along the eastern shore and additional sightings included 14 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Tree Sparrow and single Barn Owl and Coal Tit.

Buzzard surprise

15th January 2022 – overcast E1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea (0930-0930) revealed 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Common Scoter and 23 Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 45 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 90 light-bellied and 20 dark-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Buzzard was a surprise.

Red-necked Grebe reappears offshore

14th January 2022 – overcast/calm
Offshore
The overcast skies and calm seas allowed and early morning check over the mouth of Morecambe Bay. Sightings were led by a Red-necked Grebe drifting slowly out of the bay on the ebbing tide but also included 5630 Eider, 103 Common Scoter, 82 Red-throated Diver, 62 Red-breasted Merganser, 43 Shag, 24 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Razorbill and single Guillemot and Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 5000 Knot, 280 Sanderling and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Single Hooded Crow and Peregrine were the best of the rest.

North End visit

13th January 2022 – sunny spells W2
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 70 Ringed Plover, 23 Sanderling and 3 Greenshank
Miscellaneous
An overwintering Goldcrest, 2 Raven, 2 Jay and a Barn Owl were the best of the rest.
Local News
An off-island trip to Cavendish Dock found the Red-necked Grebe showing well.

Shag congregation

12th January 2022 – sunny spells W2
Offshore
The sea remained generally quiet with sightings (0830-0930) limited to 20 Shag, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and a Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock was scattered in small flocks spread across the island – perhaps the result of diminishing food sources. Also seen were 4 Shoveler
Miscellaneous
A flock of 50 Twite, 4 Raven and single Hooded Crow and Barn Owl were the best of the rest.

Jack Snipe double

11th January 2022 – misty start then sunny spells/calm
Grounded Migrants
A Mistle Thrush suggested evidence of movement.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included: 6000 Knot, 3 Greenshank and 2 Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
Additional sightings involved 50 Twite, 7 Stonechat and a Peregrine.

Hooded Crow still in residence

9th January 2022 – sun and showers W3/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0830-0930) revealed just 20 Common Scoter, 9 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow continues in residence.

Water Pipits reappear with the high tides

4th January 2022 – bright and sunny NNW4/5
Rarities
At least 2 Water Pipit were amongst 19 Rock Pipit feeding in the flooded fields in the vicinity of Biggar over the high tide.
Offshore
Still quiet over the sea with just 9 Common Scoter, 4 Shag and 3 Red-throated Diver logged.
Grounded Migrants
Thrushes involved 6 Redwing and single Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 160 Turnstone, 24 Purple Sandpiper and single Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A total of 80 species were recorded and additional sightings included 15 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Twite, 4 Jay, 2 Tree Sparrow and single Barn Owl, Hooded Crow and Peregrine.

Twite numbers build

3rd January 2022 – overcast/showers WSW5/6
Offshore
Remaining quiet over the sea with just 8 Common Scoter, 7 Kittiwake and a Red-throated Diver logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 350 light-bellied Brent Geese and 55 Pintail while waders included 4000 Knot, 150 Snipe, 75 Grey Plover and 27 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Grounded Migrants
A Mistle Thrush was logged.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl and 102 Twite were the best of the rest.

Brambling surprise

2nd January 2022 – sunny spells SSW3/4
Diurnal Migration
A Brambling was a surprise at this time of the year, usually just seen on passage.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 54 light-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Shoveler while 2 Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
At least 50 Little Egret were along the eastern shore while the Hooded Crow and 11 Rock Pipit were the best of the rest.

Hooded Crow sees in New Year

1st January 2022 – misty/murky S3/4
Offshore
Just 3 Red-throated Diver were of note.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 120 light-bellied Brent Geese, 220 Teal, 85 Pintail and 15 Goldeneye.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow saw in the New Year and a Tree Sparrow visited an island feeding station. Nine Twite and a Peregrine were the best of the rest.