Saturday 17th December 2011

Glorious sunny day with a frosty start. A Redwing & a Skylark were new in but the reserve is, otherwise, predictable. 2 Goldies went south in addition to the handful on site. Offshore 11 Wigeon, 10 Brents, 5 Shelduck, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throats & a Dunlin south. Finally Pom Skua & Black-throated Diver seen mid-day.

Friday 16th December 2011

Cold, wet & windy. Pom Skua offshore & a Lapwing went south. All a bit grim.

Thursday 15th December 2011

3/4 hr sea watching 0810 to 0855 produced Cormorants, Seagulls, a Merganser & a Dunlin plus 2 cold feet ! Nowt else of note to report.

Wednesday 14th December 2011

19 Pintail & a Merg south offshore but not a lot else of note. 2 Snow Bunts flying around early on with a Purp on the point & at least 10 Turnstone along the riverbank. Nowt else to report.

Tuesday 13th December 2011

Windy, but not a lot happening. Of note this am was a Whooper Swan going south offshore. Also on the move 13 Pintail, 11 Common Scoter, 5 Wigeon, 2 Eider, Great-crested Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Barwit, Dunlin & a Guillemot. The local pair of Peregrines put in an appearance, 10 Turnstone were on the beach's & 5 Med Gulls in the view point car park (including yesterdays rescued youngster that seems to be bearing no ill effects from its ordeal).

Monday 12th December 2011

Spent the bulk of the morning with grounds maintenance then stalking & catching a 1st winter Med Gull that had taken a fishing hook with squid on it and was dragging around a fishing trace complete with a 5 ounce weight attached. Fortunately when caught the hook and barb was in the birds tongue so it could be extracted (with some effort - but no blood !). Despite it's traumatic experience it seems ok. Only observations of note this am were a Little Egret south, Guillemot offshore, Great-crested Grebe in the river & a Snow Bunting in the old aggregate yard. Batten down the hatches now for the gale forecast for tonight.

Sunday 11th December 2011

Dreary old morning degenerating into drizzle from mid-morning. Highlights offshore were 41 Common Scoter, 5 Shoveler, 2 Gadwal, Goldeneye & Guillemot going south plus the usual Cormorants & Red-throats coming and going plus a Black-throated diver on then south.