31st December 2010 – overcast/calm
Offshore
A quick check over the calm sea produced 220 Eider and a group of 10 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes included 17 Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
A Snow Bunting flew through amongst a few Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included 4 Short-eared Owl, Common Buzzard and Merlin. At least 3 Little Egret remain.
Ringing
December is traditionally a quiet month for the observatory with few passerines on the move, however despite the weather limiting opportunities; this year has continued the theme of record breaking monthly totals with 140 birds of 11 species trapped and ringed, easily surpassing the previous best of 79 in 1995. Individual species totals involved Brambling (47), Linnet (28), Goldfinch (14), Blackbird (10), House Sparrow (8), Greenfinch (8), Starling (7), Woodcock (6), Chaffinch (6), Song Thrush (4) and Robin (2). The number of Brambling was especially remarkable; previous to 2010 the observatory had only trapped and ringed 9 individuals on the island.
Moths
An emergence of Winter Moths was evident with 13 individuals seen.
If visiting the island over the Christmas and New Year break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Raptors still to the fore
30th December 2010 – overcast/calm
Offshore
A check over the calm sea produced 200 Eider, 35 Common Scoter, 16 Shag, 9 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Crested Grebe.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes included 22 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing and a single Woodcock was seen.
Diurnal Migration
Two skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 175 birds headed south.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard and Merlin. At least 3 Little Egret and 100 Twite were logged.
If visiting the island over the Christmas and New Year break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Offshore
A check over the calm sea produced 200 Eider, 35 Common Scoter, 16 Shag, 9 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Crested Grebe.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes included 22 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing and a single Woodcock was seen.
Diurnal Migration
Two skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 175 birds headed south.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard and Merlin. At least 3 Little Egret and 100 Twite were logged.
If visiting the island over the Christmas and New Year break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Water Pipit reappears
29th December 2010 – overcast/drizzle ESE1/2
Rarities
The rapid thaw sees the recently frozen fields now waterlogged and a Water Pipit took advantage of the conditions to once again feed in the horse paddocks around Biggar.
Grounded Migrants
At least 3 Woodcock remain.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2500 Knot and 2 Greenshank while 8 Shoveler were seen.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to remain prominent with Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel all seen. At least 5 Little Egret have survived the freeze and 95 Twite were logged.
Ringing
The flock of Twite held birds previously ringed at Machrihanish and Heysham.
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Rarities
The rapid thaw sees the recently frozen fields now waterlogged and a Water Pipit took advantage of the conditions to once again feed in the horse paddocks around Biggar.
Grounded Migrants
At least 3 Woodcock remain.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2500 Knot and 2 Greenshank while 8 Shoveler were seen.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to remain prominent with Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel all seen. At least 5 Little Egret have survived the freeze and 95 Twite were logged.
Ringing
The flock of Twite held birds previously ringed at Machrihanish and Heysham.
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Thaw sets in
28th December 2010 – overcast/drizzle SE1/2
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese attracted a flock of 56 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Greenshank was the best of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to remain prominent with Hen Harrier and Common Buzzard seen. At least 2 Little Egret have survived the freeze.
Ringing
The flock of dark-bellied Brent Geese held three colour-ringed individuals that had previously been ringed at Terschelling, The Netherlands on 17th May 2006.
If visiting the island over the Christmas and New Year break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese attracted a flock of 56 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Greenshank was the best of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to remain prominent with Hen Harrier and Common Buzzard seen. At least 2 Little Egret have survived the freeze.
Ringing
The flock of dark-bellied Brent Geese held three colour-ringed individuals that had previously been ringed at Terschelling, The Netherlands on 17th May 2006.
If visiting the island over the Christmas and New Year break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the recent severe weather has had a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which were beginning to struggle and now need to replenish fat reserves.
Winter maintains its icy grip
26th December 2010 – overcast and frosty/lying snow SE1/2
Grounded Migrants
Just how many Woodcock have passed through the island during this spell of cold weather can only be speculated but a Hen Harrier flushed 4 from a small area in 10 minutes and 2 additional birds were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 113 pale-bellied birds and the long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese remain but just 2 Greenshank were found.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to be prevalent with 3 Hen Harrier, 3 Merlin Common Buzzard, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all logged. A total of 182 Twite were seen.
Ringing
The Twite flock again held birds previously ringed at Heysham (2), Duddon Estuary (2) and Machrihanish.
Images
Dawn breaks over the island and Golden Plover struggle to survive the frost and snow
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the continuing severe freeze is now beginning to have a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which are now starting to struggle to survive as temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day.
Grounded Migrants
Just how many Woodcock have passed through the island during this spell of cold weather can only be speculated but a Hen Harrier flushed 4 from a small area in 10 minutes and 2 additional birds were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 113 pale-bellied birds and the long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese remain but just 2 Greenshank were found.
Miscellaneous
Raptors continue to be prevalent with 3 Hen Harrier, 3 Merlin Common Buzzard, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all logged. A total of 182 Twite were seen.
Ringing
The Twite flock again held birds previously ringed at Heysham (2), Duddon Estuary (2) and Machrihanish.
Images
Dawn breaks over the island and Golden Plover struggle to survive the frost and snow
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the continuing severe freeze is now beginning to have a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which are now starting to struggle to survive as temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day.
Refugees from the cold
24th December 2010 – bright and frosty/lying snow N1
Grounded Migrants
An influx of Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Linnet was apparent and further refugees from the continued severe weather involved 6 Fieldfare, 3 Brambling, 2 Woodcock and a Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock increased to 125 pale-bellied birds and the long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese attracted a dark-bellied Brent Goose. A female Scaup and 2 Pochard were newly arrived and 100 Pintail were among1650 Wigeon. A total of 10 Greenshank were found amongst 370 Redshank.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 160 Twite remain and raptors included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Barn Owl and a Common Buzzard. No Little Egret were seen over the high tide period for the first time since early autumn - perhaps they have all now departed for warmer climes.
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the continuing severe freeze is now beginning to have a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which are now starting to struggle to survive as temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day.
Grounded Migrants
An influx of Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Linnet was apparent and further refugees from the continued severe weather involved 6 Fieldfare, 3 Brambling, 2 Woodcock and a Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock increased to 125 pale-bellied birds and the long-staying group of 35 Barnacle Geese attracted a dark-bellied Brent Goose. A female Scaup and 2 Pochard were newly arrived and 100 Pintail were among1650 Wigeon. A total of 10 Greenshank were found amongst 370 Redshank.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 160 Twite remain and raptors included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Barn Owl and a Common Buzzard. No Little Egret were seen over the high tide period for the first time since early autumn - perhaps they have all now departed for warmer climes.
If visiting the island over the Christmas break please try to avoid disturbance to roosting and feeding birds, the continuing severe freeze is now beginning to have a very noticeable affect, especially amongst wildfowl and waders which are now starting to struggle to survive as temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day.
Pink-footed Geese on the move
19th December 2010 – bright and frosty/lying snow NE1
Offshore
An early morning scan over the sea yielded just small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Shag, Common Scoter and Kitiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A small influx of Song Thrush was evident.
Diurnal Migration
The first hour after dawn saw 17 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 2140 birds heading north. A few passerines were also on the move with 23 Skylark and single Rock Pipit and Siskin logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
A check on the flocks of wild geese wintering on the island revealed an increase with 121 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 35 Barnacle Geese found. At least 5 Greenshank remain and a flock of 2600 Dunlin fed on the edge of the ebbing tide.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 ringtail Hen Harriers remain and the lingering Common Buzzard found the view from the catching box of the heligoland trap to its liking. Additional raptors included Merlin, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl and Little Owl. Also seen were a flock of 160 Twite and 2 Little Egret.
Ringing
The Twite flock held birds previously ringed at Machrihanish, Heysham and the Duddon Estuary.
Images
Common Buzzard and Hen Harrier.
Offshore
An early morning scan over the sea yielded just small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Shag, Common Scoter and Kitiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A small influx of Song Thrush was evident.
Diurnal Migration
The first hour after dawn saw 17 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 2140 birds heading north. A few passerines were also on the move with 23 Skylark and single Rock Pipit and Siskin logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
A check on the flocks of wild geese wintering on the island revealed an increase with 121 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 35 Barnacle Geese found. At least 5 Greenshank remain and a flock of 2600 Dunlin fed on the edge of the ebbing tide.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 ringtail Hen Harriers remain and the lingering Common Buzzard found the view from the catching box of the heligoland trap to its liking. Additional raptors included Merlin, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl and Little Owl. Also seen were a flock of 160 Twite and 2 Little Egret.
Ringing
The Twite flock held birds previously ringed at Machrihanish, Heysham and the Duddon Estuary.
Images
Common Buzzard and Hen Harrier.
Walney turns into the Tundra overnight!
18th December 2010 - snow and frost NE1/2
Miscellaneous
A snowy wasteland greeted observers early morning and ringtail Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl were hunting over the island.
Images
A couple of wintery scenes
Miscellaneous
A snowy wasteland greeted observers early morning and ringtail Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl were hunting over the island.
Images
A couple of wintery scenes
Frost and snow returns
17th December 2010 – overcast/snow showers/cold/calm
Grounded Migrants
A further 2 Woodcock were the only evidence of newly arrived grounded birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
A pair of Gadwall and 8 Shoveler were amongst 400 Teal and the Long-tailed Duck remains among 30 Goldeneye. At least 3 Greenshank continue to sit out the freeze,
Miscellaneous
Two ringtail Hen Harrier and a Common Buzzard were seen and several Little Egret are still along the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
A further 2 Woodcock were the only evidence of newly arrived grounded birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
A pair of Gadwall and 8 Shoveler were amongst 400 Teal and the Long-tailed Duck remains among 30 Goldeneye. At least 3 Greenshank continue to sit out the freeze,
Miscellaneous
Two ringtail Hen Harrier and a Common Buzzard were seen and several Little Egret are still along the eastern shore.
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