Long-tailed Ducks remain

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.

Long-tailed Ducks

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.

Great Northern Diver remains

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.

Unprecedented Jack Snipe influx and White Wagtail

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.

Winter fare

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.

Damp again

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.

Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot

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.

Damp and dreary

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.

Hooded Crow sees in New Year

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.