Saturday 16th February 2013

Flat calm, which is a rare event at this time of the year. A Curlew went out then north could well be a spring migrant as this species turns up on the breeding grounds from mid-Feb. A Skylark in off the sea & inland is obviously a migrant but what on earth a Green Woodpecker that turned up late morning is doing here at this time of the year is difficult to explain.

Friday 15th February 2013

With a warm front coming through yesterday followed by milder conditions there was a bit more of interest this morning in the passerine department with. 6 Linnet, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Mipit, 1 Skylark south + 2 Skylark, 1 Reed Bunting north and 14 Linnets, 11 Mipits & a Skylark on site. Is this spring passage or just birds relocating following the colder weather - make your own mind up ? Either way they are on the move. Staring out to sea not ideal with the currant bun in your eyes with the only records 9 Brent & a Greylag south. The Butts pond has never been this full and must be 3 to 4 feet fuller than 12 months ago.

Thursday 14th February 2013

Wet & windy. Very low tide revealed the most extensive sand bars out to sea in front of the obs that we have ever seen. Poor visibility with 4 Shelduck & a Red-breasted Merganser south the only sightings noted.

Wednesday 13th February 2013

11 Siskins south, 2 Skylarks on the reserve & what is presumably yesterdays Fieldfare still with us are today's migrants. Spring migration for Skylarks often starts in mid-Feb but with the cold snap still with us & plenty of snow cover inland it's difficult to know whether these two are spring migrants or refugees from the cold. Looking offshore fairly tedious although 2 Wigeon & a Shelduck went south and 15 Brent flew out to sea from inland. Finally a dead Guillemot was on the tide line that was extremely thin & had presumably starved to death.

Tuesday 12th February 2013

A Fieldfare is the only bird of note. Will members & friends please note the combination lock code has changed. If you do not recieve a text or e.mail in the next couple of days notifying you of the change it's because i do not have your up to date details. Please drop me an e.mail if you are a member & i can let you have the new code. If you are not a member please consider becoming one - details on www.lbo.org.uk

Monday 11th February 2013

Cold easterly with sleet & snow showers is not conducive to an enjoyable time. 9 Wigeon south is the only movement although c2,000 gulls feeding close enough to look through, although 1,500 of them are Herrings. The pair of Peregrines performing over the fort was the mornings highlight. Spent a couple of hours picking up rubbish in the obs compound grovelling into the parts not normally reached. Amongst the expected wind blown items a fine selection of items that had been lobbed into the compound including various alcohol containers, tins, dog pooh in bags & a knife that may be of a nefarious origin but is brand new from Ikea so has been added to the kitchen stock. Rooting around the bushes a sparrowhawk was disturbed plucking a male Blacky so that's one less to count this spring & plenty of fresh fox diggings at their dens including a dried and dessicated fox cub that has been evicted from under one of the buildings. It's amazing what one can find to waffle about when there's no birds to talk about !

Sunday 10th February 2013

Cold SE breeze with rain then drizzle making it not very pleasant at all. A Fulmar going north was the first of the year but apart from that starring out to sea was fairly tedious with just 11 Teal & a Great-crested Grebe south, 2 Dunlin north plus a dozen Red-throated Divers and Cormorants coming and going. Roll on spring !