8th February 2015 – overcast/fog//calm
Grounded Migrants
February often provides some early evidence of some passerine movement and although visibility was much reduced by dense fog all day there were hints of migration. There was an increase in both Blackbird and Song Thrush numbers and a group of 16 Siskin were logged.
Brent Goose origins revealed
7th February 2015 – overcast/calm
Offshore
An early morning check of the calm sea revealed 19 Red-throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter and 3 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
Two flocks of Pink-footed Geese totalling 130 birds flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 183 pale-bellied and 20 dark-bellied Brent Geese and additional wildfowl included 85 Pintail. Wader sightings included a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A small flock of 10 Twite and single Merlin and Little Owl were the best of the rest.
Ringing
The Brent Goose flock contained at least one colour-ringed bird, initial enquires show that it had initially been ringed in Iceland during its spring migration.
Offshore
An early morning check of the calm sea revealed 19 Red-throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter and 3 Shag.
Diurnal Migration
Two flocks of Pink-footed Geese totalling 130 birds flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 183 pale-bellied and 20 dark-bellied Brent Geese and additional wildfowl included 85 Pintail. Wader sightings included a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A small flock of 10 Twite and single Merlin and Little Owl were the best of the rest.
Ringing
The Brent Goose flock contained at least one colour-ringed bird, initial enquires show that it had initially been ringed in Iceland during its spring migration.
High numbers of Brent Geese
6th February 2015 – overcast/calm
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea revealed 3 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 206 pale-bellied Brent Geese, the 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 female Scaup continue to linger and additional wildfowl included 76 Pintail and 3 Shoveler. Wader sightings were led by 8000 Knot, 3 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A small group of Tree Sparrows continue to winter, 70 Twite were recorded and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea revealed 3 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 206 pale-bellied Brent Geese, the 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 female Scaup continue to linger and additional wildfowl included 76 Pintail and 3 Shoveler. Wader sightings were led by 8000 Knot, 3 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A small group of Tree Sparrows continue to winter, 70 Twite were recorded and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.
Pomarine Skua
19th January 2015 – bright and frosty/calm
Offshore
An evening check over the sea revealed a juvenile Pomarine Skua moving out of Morecambe Bay along with 22 Shag, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Razorbill and a Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence.
Miscellaneous
At least 100 Twite flock remain and both Barn Owl and Little Owl hunted at dusk..
Offshore
An evening check over the sea revealed a juvenile Pomarine Skua moving out of Morecambe Bay along with 22 Shag, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Razorbill and a Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence.
Miscellaneous
At least 100 Twite flock remain and both Barn Owl and Little Owl hunted at dusk..
Snow Bunting
18th January 2015 – early fog and frost E1/2
Offshore
A check over the sea as the fog cleared produced 10 Shag and 4 Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
Groups of 44 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Whooper Swan headed south and a Snow Bunting flew over.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence and waders included 8 Greenshank, 5 Purple Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was flushed out into the open by the frosty conditions.
Offshore
A check over the sea as the fog cleared produced 10 Shag and 4 Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
Groups of 44 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Whooper Swan headed south and a Snow Bunting flew over.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence and waders included 8 Greenshank, 5 Purple Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was flushed out into the open by the frosty conditions.
Winter specialities remain
17th January 2015 – sunshine and hail W5/6
Offshore
A check over the sea produced 12 Shag, 10 Kittiwake, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence amongst 33 Goldeneye and waders included 2200 Knot, 10 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
At least 32 Little Egret remain and the Twite flock held 100 birds.
Offshore
A check over the sea produced 12 Shag, 10 Kittiwake, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck and 2 Scaup remain in residence amongst 33 Goldeneye and waders included 2200 Knot, 10 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
At least 32 Little Egret remain and the Twite flock held 100 birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
16th January 2015 – sunshine and snow showers NW5/6
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 45 Barnacle Geese dropped in. The 2 Long-tailed Duck remain in residence amongst 26 Goldeneye and were joined by 2 female Scaup. Waders included 2 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite were logged and a Little Owl sheltered from the wind.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 45 Barnacle Geese dropped in. The 2 Long-tailed Duck remain in residence amongst 26 Goldeneye and were joined by 2 female Scaup. Waders included 2 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite were logged and a Little Owl sheltered from the wind.
Bird Racing
11th January 2015 – overcast W7/8 rain later
Offshore
The sea provided little other than 7 Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck continue in residence and waders included Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The observatory again competed in the annual Cumbria Winter Bird Race and notwithstanding gale force winds and then a monsoon managed to amass 97 species, of which, 52 were seen on the island.
Offshore
The sea provided little other than 7 Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck continue in residence and waders included Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Jack Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The observatory again competed in the annual Cumbria Winter Bird Race and notwithstanding gale force winds and then a monsoon managed to amass 97 species, of which, 52 were seen on the island.
Long-tailed Ducks see in the New Year
4th January 2015 – overcast SE2
Offshore
A check over the sea produced 10 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and single Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning saw 4 Redwing grounded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck remain in residence amongst 31 Goldeneye and waders included 6 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
At least 40 Little Egret remain and the Twite flock held 220 birds. Unusual wintering birds included 20 Tree Sparrow and a Grey Wagtail.
Offshore
A check over the sea produced 10 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and single Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning saw 4 Redwing grounded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Long-tailed Duck remain in residence amongst 31 Goldeneye and waders included 6 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
At least 40 Little Egret remain and the Twite flock held 220 birds. Unusual wintering birds included 20 Tree Sparrow and a Grey Wagtail.
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