30th January 2024 – sunny spells SW1/2
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 55 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Woodcock and 2 Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow and 60 Twite were the best of the rest.
Other sightings
A Small-spotted Catshark was seen.
28th January 2024 – overcast SE3/5
Miscellaneous
The 2023 Report has been published and is now available, details are shown in the side bar.
27th January 2024 – sunny spells SSW2/3
Offshore
Remaining quiet over the sea (0800-0900) with just 37 Common Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Shag logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Woodcock and 3 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
At least 9 Water Pipit and a White Wagtail were amongst 15 Rock Pipit. The Hooded Crow remains and 2 Barn Owl hunted at dawn. Single Water Rail, Merlin, Buzzard and 31 Twite were the best of the rest.
26th January 2024 – bright and sunny W4/6 gusting to 48mph overnight
Offshore
Quiet over the sea (0800-0900) with just 38 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 6 Shoveler and 2 Goosander.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 31 Twite and 4 Raven were the best of the rest.
24th January 2024 – overcast/murky W5/6 gusting to 57mph overnight
Offshore
Observations over a still wild sea (0830-0930) produced just 11 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and a Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Shoveler and 9 dark-bellied Brent Geese were seen. Waders included 1,000 Knot, 900 Dunlin, 20 Turnstone and 6 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
22nd January 2024 – sunny spells WSW5/8 gusting to 66mph overnight
Offshore
Observations over a wild sea (0830-0930) produced 16 Kittiwake, 9 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Little Gull, 2 Fulmar and 2 Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
Four Shoveler were seen.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
19th January 2024 – sun and showers W4/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0830-0930) produced 50 Common Scoter, 44 Red-throated Diver, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Kittiwake, 3 Shag, 2 Velvet Scoter, 2 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill. The eastern shore added 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shag and a Little Grebe – the latter presumably displaced by the recent freeze.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved a single Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included another Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains 3 Raven were the best of the rest.
18th January 2024 – bright and frosty/calm
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced a Great Northern Diver and 5 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 4 Song Thrush and the main recording area held an above average wintering population of 23 Robin and 10 Wren.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Golden Plover, 30 Snipe, 5 Greenshank and 2 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and single Peregrine and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
17th January 2024 – bright and frosty/calm
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced just 14 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Red-throated Diver and 3 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 5 Redwing and a Fieldfare. Although going missing (silent) for several weeks, two Cetti’s Warbler continue to winter along with a Goldcrest.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 5 Woodcock and a Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 4 Sparrowhawk and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.
Mammals
A Grey Squirrel was seen.
13th January 2024 – overcast/drizzle at times WNW2/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 102 Common Scoter, 34 Red-throated Diver, 21 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Great Crested Gebe, 3 Shag and a Razorbill.
Diurnal Migration
A Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1100 Golden Plover and 120 Snipe.
Miscellaneous
At least 10 Water Pipit were in the flooded fields at Biggar over the tide. The Hooded Crow remains and raptors included the lingering Buzzard.
12th January 2024 – overcast V1
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 7823 Eider, 343 Common Scoter, 34 Red-throated Diver, 21 Red-breasted Merganser and single Great Northern Diver and Long-tailed Duck.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 50 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held a record 571 light-bellied and 3 dark-bellied birds and waders included 4000 Knot.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Water Pipit were amongst 9 Rock Pipit and a White Wagtail amongst 22 Pied Wagtail in the flooded fields at Biggar over the tide. The Hooded Crow remains and a total of 77 Twite were logged. Raptors included single Buzzard and Merlin.
Mammals
Another Otter put in an appearance.
11th January 2024 – sunny spells NNE1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 227 Common Scoter, 21 Red-throated Diver, 16 Red-breasted Merganser and 34 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 105 Pink-footed Geese and 5 Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 531 light-bellied birds and waders included 23 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Greenshank, 6 Woodcock, 4 Jack Snipe and the regularly returning leucistic Curlew.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 51 Twite were logged and raptors involved Merlin, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. The Hooded Crow continues in residence.
Mammals
The Otter put in another appearance.
10th January 2024 – sun and showers N1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 752 Common Scoter, 103 Red-throated Diver, 48 Red-breasted Merganser, 37 Shag, 26 Razorbill, 6 Guillemot, 2 Long-tailed Duck and a Great Crested Grebe.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 100 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 8 Greenshank, 3 Purple Sandpiper and 3 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl and single Peregrine were seen and and a check of the island’s sparse ‘woodland’ added 19 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 2 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Mammals
A Grey Squirrel was logged.
8th January 2024 – sunny spells ENE1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0815-0915) produced 110 Common Scoter, 35 Shag, 32 Red-throated Diver, 14 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Razorbill and 2 Long-tailed Duck.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 150 Pink-footed Geese and a Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a further 2 Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
Single Raven and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Mammals
At least 4 Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
7th January 2024 – bright and sunny V1
Offshore
The Great Northern Diver remains amongst 6000 Eider.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes were limited to a single Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 290 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 6 Greenshank.
Mammals
The Otter put in an appearance.
6th January 2024 – bright and sunny V1
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes were limited to a single Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 410 Pink-footed Geese and 4 Whooper Swan flew through along with 8 Siskin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included an unprecedented 23 Jack Snipe, 23 Snipe and 4 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
Single Buzzard and Water Rail were logged and an overwintering White Wagtail was the second unprecedented sighting of the day.
5th January 2024 – sun and showers/calm then NW2/3
Offshore
Two Shag were off the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 3 Redwing and a Fieldfare. Several Goldcrest are overwintering.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 315 Pink-footed Geese and 6 Whooper Swan flew through along with 7 Siskin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 16 Greenshank and 3 Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 3 Barn Owl, 2 Water Rail and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
4th January 2024 – overcast/rain at times SW2/3
Offshore
The eastern shore held 10 Shag and 7 Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 200 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2630 Knot, 900 Redshank, 345 Dunlin, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit and 8 Greenshank. A total of 277 light-bellied Brent Geese were along the east shore at low tide.
3rd January 2024 – heavy rain clearing then sunny spells V1
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 45 Common Scoter, 24 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shag and single Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 12 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
2nd January 2024 – overcast/murky/showers then rain SSE2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 2000 Eider, 14 Common Scoter, 6 Shag and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes involved 3 Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 40 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included several family groups of light-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Shoveler.
1st January 2024 – sunny spells/rain later V2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 100 Common Scoter, 14 Kittiwake, 6 Shag and 2 Red-throated Diver. The eastern shore added a further 4 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes involved 2 Fieldfare and single Coal Tit and Goldcrest were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 70 Pink-footed Geese and a Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 9 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
