Saturday 12th January 2013

Strengthening south-easterly breeze & a bit parky. 2 Poms south together was not really expected as Poms have been non-existent so far this winter. c.1000 gulls are behind the boats at that range which is to far out to work out what's going so this may be why the Poms have appeared. 30 Kitts nearer in but probably more further out. On the move going south 20 Brents, 7 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, Greylag, Common Scoter, Goldeneye & Red-throated Diver plus going north 14 Brents, 8 Red-throats, Guillemot, Gannet & Great-crested Grebe. A walk around the site was precisely that - a walk, although for those of you who like your Med Gulls a goodly gang are loitering around the View Point car park or waiting for scraps from fishermen. A new Greenfinch trapped in the helli was the 1st bird to be ringed this year which is fairly indicative of the number of new birds on site this year.

Friday 11th January 2012

A cold spell is slowly creeping closer towards us across the continent resulting in a bit of action here this morning. Going south 191 Shelduck, 133 Brents, 36 Wigeon, 15 Greylags, 7 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, Velvet Scoter & a fine drake Goosander plus going north 30 Wigeon, 19 Red-throated Divers, 7 Eider, 5 Brent, 3 Gannet, 2 Shelduck & 2 Pintail. The Greylags were in two flocks of 7 & 8 with speculation as to whether they are feral locals or wild birds moving ahead of the colder conditions. In the land bird department 5 Redwing flew south with another 6 plus 2 Fieldfare on site, all of which are new in and as it is colder abroad than here at the moment they may have crossed the north sea overnight.

Thursday 10th January 2012

40 Common Scoter & 6 Wigeon north, 5 Shelduck & 2 Brent south is not exactly riveting stuff and then the fog rolled in from inland at 0850hrs so that was that. Also noted 2 Greylags that came in from inland before going north then changing their minds to go south.These will be a local pair searching for potential new nesting sites to colonise (or pollute depending on your opinions of feral Greylags). A single Mute Swan low of the observatory roof then inland up river is also quite likely looking for an unmanned water body to take up residence on. A mild spell then some birds minds turn to spring but with a colder spell due this weekend might just cool there ardour.

Wednesday 9th January 2013

2 Porpoise offshore again this morning - you can't beat the sight of some blubbery things to liven up the morning. Nice calm sea with the following going back & forth: Red-throated Diver 13N 6S 3 offshore, Shelduck 7N 6S, Brents 8S, Common Scoter 6N, Ringed Plover 1S, Guillimot 1S & Gannet 1N plus a few Cormorants. 7 Turnstone & a Sanderling were near the point plus a Polish colour ringed Med Gull that last put in an appearance here in March 2010 - many of the colour ringed Meds we see are returning birds it just goes a while between sightings on occasions.

Tuesday 8th January 2013

Two Velvet Scoter flew north at 0821. A few other bits 'n bobs moving south offshore including 40 Knot, 24 Shelduck, 21 Common Scoter, 4 Wigeon, 3 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Brents & a Red-breasted Merganser plus a handful of Red-throated Divers & Cormorants going back & forth as per usual. A Guillemot was sat just offshore but landbird wise it's down to basics that live here. Couple of records after this was written worth a mention are a drake Goosander south at 1405hrs plus a 1st winter Little Gull offshore.

Monday 7th January 2013

Dull, mild and drizzley sort of morning but with a bit of action offshore when we weren't really expecting any - but what do we know ? Going south 313 Shelduck, 253 Wigeon, 16 Red-throated Divers, 15 Teal, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Oyk, Mallard & Curlew. I can appreciate that the Shellies are still returning from an extended autumn break moulting off the German Bight but there is no real reason for the Wigeon & Teal to be moving in such mild conditions.  Normally winter movements of dabbling duck here are strictly linked to cold weather conditions somewhere in Europe - but who knows what's normal these days. It just goes to prove if you think it's going to be crap & don't bother looking you can miss things happening.

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th January 2013

No coverage as your blogger was attending the AGM of the Bird Observatories Council at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory over the weekend & it would appear that if anyone else was on site it was so exciting that they have not left me any records. For those interested in the Bird Observatories Council there is a link on the home page of www.lbo.org.uk which in turn can also link you to all the other bird observatories.