Dull old morning with the wind veering northerly and increasing in strength, temperature dropping & precipitation increasing. The gloom was lifted by perseverance starring out to sea with a Velvet Scoter heading north not far offshore and a fine male Goosander heading south. Also noted southbound 29 Red-throated Diver, 14 Common Scoter, 5 Brent,4 Shelduck, 4 Common Gull, 4 Kitts, 3 Black-headed Gull & Tufted Duck with northbound 16 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throats 2 Brent plus 2 Turnstone along the beach which are probably local wintering birds. At least 5 more Red-throats were just offshore fishing. 1,826 Cormorants went out fishing in the half-light first thing. None of the die hard observers here this morning has the enthusiasm to walk around the reserve in these conditions to confirm that there is not a lot out there - and who can blame them !