29th November 2009 - rain NE4/5/6
Offshore
Sightings were limited to 40 Common Scoter and 5 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Just 3 Song Thrush and a Blackbird showed any semblance of newly arrived grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
Four skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 390 birds and 3 groups of Whooper Swan totalling 19 birds headed south through the rain along with a solitary Woodpigeon.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 105-pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
Just 3 Little Egret were seen.
Usual late autumn fare
28th November 2009 - bright and sunny/calm
Offshore
The flock of 3000 Common Scoter continue to linger and additional sightings included 12 Red-throated Diver and 5 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A late Chiffchaff was logged and newly arrived thrushes involved 6 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A further 325 Pink-footed Geese and 3 Whooper Swan flew south while single Grey Wagtail and Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 3 Greenshank remain.
Miscellaneous
A mobile flock of 50 Twite were recorded and Stonechat were especially prominent with 14 birds logged. At least 12 Little Egret remain and 2 Water Rail called.
Moths
The first snow appeared on the Lakeland Fells and appropriately a Winter Moth was attracted to the Robinson Trap overnight - the first island record for 10 years.
Offshore
The flock of 3000 Common Scoter continue to linger and additional sightings included 12 Red-throated Diver and 5 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A late Chiffchaff was logged and newly arrived thrushes involved 6 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A further 325 Pink-footed Geese and 3 Whooper Swan flew south while single Grey Wagtail and Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 3 Greenshank remain.
Miscellaneous
A mobile flock of 50 Twite were recorded and Stonechat were especially prominent with 14 birds logged. At least 12 Little Egret remain and 2 Water Rail called.
Moths
The first snow appeared on the Lakeland Fells and appropriately a Winter Moth was attracted to the Robinson Trap overnight - the first island record for 10 years.
Image
Winter Moth
Common Scoter continue to linger
27th November 2009 - overcast/heavy showers W3/4
Offshore
Although some dispersal is evident with the improvement in the weather conditions at least 2000 Common Scoter continue to linger, otherwise sightings were limited to small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Kittiwake and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A Mistle Thrush and 3 Song Thrush were considered new arrivals.
Miscellaneous
A Little Owl braved the showers.
Offshore
Although some dispersal is evident with the improvement in the weather conditions at least 2000 Common Scoter continue to linger, otherwise sightings were limited to small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Kittiwake and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A Mistle Thrush and 3 Song Thrush were considered new arrivals.
Miscellaneous
A Little Owl braved the showers.
Leach's Petrel belatedly added to year list
26th November 2009 – overcast/heavy showers WSW4/5/6
Offshore
After the mountainous seas and 60mph winds of yesterday that made observations impossible the day dawned relatively tranquil with just a fresh WSW wind. Observations on the falling tide (0845-1045) were led by a Leach’s Petrel – the first of the year, and 3 Great Skua along with 184 Eider, 80 Kittiwake, 16 Red-throated Diver, 10 Razorbill, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail and single Guillemot and Shag. In addition, the large flock of 3000+ Common Scoter continues in residence although the rough seas hampered viewing.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Woodpigeon headed south and battled their way out to sea.
Offshore
After the mountainous seas and 60mph winds of yesterday that made observations impossible the day dawned relatively tranquil with just a fresh WSW wind. Observations on the falling tide (0845-1045) were led by a Leach’s Petrel – the first of the year, and 3 Great Skua along with 184 Eider, 80 Kittiwake, 16 Red-throated Diver, 10 Razorbill, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail and single Guillemot and Shag. In addition, the large flock of 3000+ Common Scoter continues in residence although the rough seas hampered viewing.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Woodpigeon headed south and battled their way out to sea.
Little of note
24th November 2009 - overcast/mist/murk SW5/6/7/8
Offshore
The large flock of Common Scoter were presumably still present but beyond the range of visibility today and sightings in increasingly poor conditions were limited to a late Gannet and small numbers of Common Scoter, Razorbill and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A Fieldfare was surprisingly logged considering the conditions.
Diurnal Migration
A single Whooper Swan battled south against the gale, autumn totals for this species are so far much reduced on recent years.
Miscellaneous
Finches included 50 Goldfinch and 50 Twite and just 5 Little Egret were evident at low tide.
Offshore
The large flock of Common Scoter were presumably still present but beyond the range of visibility today and sightings in increasingly poor conditions were limited to a late Gannet and small numbers of Common Scoter, Razorbill and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A Fieldfare was surprisingly logged considering the conditions.
Diurnal Migration
A single Whooper Swan battled south against the gale, autumn totals for this species are so far much reduced on recent years.
Miscellaneous
Finches included 50 Goldfinch and 50 Twite and just 5 Little Egret were evident at low tide.
Seabirds dominate sightings
23rd November 2009 - overcast WSW4/5
Offshore
A Great Northern Diver was close inshore and at least 2 Velvet Scoter were again in the large flock of Common Scoter which, although high seas made numbers difficult to assess, contained at least 3000 birds. Other sightings (0815-0915 & 0945-1145) were led by 2 Great Skua, a dark phase Arctic Skua and a late Gannet amongst 44 Kittiwake, 33 Pintail, 10 Razorbill and 2 Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 110 pale-bellied birds with disturbance, or the lack of it, elsewhere in Morecambe Bay accounting fot the widely fluctuating daily totals.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and the usual scattering of Little Egret were the pick of the remaining sightings.
Offshore
A Great Northern Diver was close inshore and at least 2 Velvet Scoter were again in the large flock of Common Scoter which, although high seas made numbers difficult to assess, contained at least 3000 birds. Other sightings (0815-0915 & 0945-1145) were led by 2 Great Skua, a dark phase Arctic Skua and a late Gannet amongst 44 Kittiwake, 33 Pintail, 10 Razorbill and 2 Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 110 pale-bellied birds with disturbance, or the lack of it, elsewhere in Morecambe Bay accounting fot the widely fluctuating daily totals.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and the usual scattering of Little Egret were the pick of the remaining sightings.
WeBS Count Weekend
22nd November 2009 - heavy thundery showers SSW5/6/7/8
Offshore
Observations provided 22 Common Scoter, 16 Kittiwake, 6 Razorbill, 3 Guillemot and 3 Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 40 pale-bellied birds and 17 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were logged. The monthly WeBS count was carried out in traditionally awful conditions and island totals included: 8200 Oystercatcher, 2311 Dunlin, 1498 Redshank, 1015 Curlew, 982 Lapwing, 960 Golden Plover, 859 Wigeon, 508 Shelduck, 488 Knot, 359 Eider, 344 Sanderling, 311 Teal, 190 Turnstone and 181 Grey Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 27 Little Egret continue to roam the eastern shore of the island and a Water Rail was seen. Several Peregrine and Merlin were logged.
Offshore
Observations provided 22 Common Scoter, 16 Kittiwake, 6 Razorbill, 3 Guillemot and 3 Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock contained 40 pale-bellied birds and 17 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were logged. The monthly WeBS count was carried out in traditionally awful conditions and island totals included: 8200 Oystercatcher, 2311 Dunlin, 1498 Redshank, 1015 Curlew, 982 Lapwing, 960 Golden Plover, 859 Wigeon, 508 Shelduck, 488 Knot, 359 Eider, 344 Sanderling, 311 Teal, 190 Turnstone and 181 Grey Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 27 Little Egret continue to roam the eastern shore of the island and a Water Rail was seen. Several Peregrine and Merlin were logged.
Slavonian Grebe and Velvet Scoter
21st November 2009 - rain SE4/5/6
Offshore
A huge flock of 6000 Common Scoter contained at least 2 Velvet Scoter. Also seen (0830-0930) were an adult Little Gull and small numbers of Kittiwake, Red-throated Diver, Guillemot and Razorbill. Further interest was provided at high tide when a Slavonian Grebe was found sheltering along the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock continues to increase steadily with 117 birds seen while 6 Shoveler were logged. Waders included 6 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Just 5 Little Egret were seen in the inhospitable conditions and other sightings included 70 Twite and several Peregrine and Merlin.
Offshore
A huge flock of 6000 Common Scoter contained at least 2 Velvet Scoter. Also seen (0830-0930) were an adult Little Gull and small numbers of Kittiwake, Red-throated Diver, Guillemot and Razorbill. Further interest was provided at high tide when a Slavonian Grebe was found sheltering along the eastern shore.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock continues to increase steadily with 117 birds seen while 6 Shoveler were logged. Waders included 6 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Just 5 Little Egret were seen in the inhospitable conditions and other sightings included 70 Twite and several Peregrine and Merlin.
Water Pipits and Little Egrets
20th November 2009 - bright and sunny SW5/6
Rarities
Although mobile and wide ranging, at least 3 Water Pipit were again in the now heavily water logged fields along Biggar Bank over the high tide.
Offshore
Small numbers of Kittiwake were logged over the sea at high tide.
Miscellaneous
Today's pre-roost gathering contained 27 Little Egret and three small groups of Twite totalled 44 birds. A day-flying Barn Owl took advantage of some respite in the weather.
Images
A couple of the Water Pipit fields!
Rarities
Although mobile and wide ranging, at least 3 Water Pipit were again in the now heavily water logged fields along Biggar Bank over the high tide.
Offshore
Small numbers of Kittiwake were logged over the sea at high tide.
Miscellaneous
Today's pre-roost gathering contained 27 Little Egret and three small groups of Twite totalled 44 birds. A day-flying Barn Owl took advantage of some respite in the weather.
Images
A couple of the Water Pipit fields!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)