Saturday 28th January 2017

Turnstone investigating the scraps near a dead Kittiwake on the tideline. A first winter Glaucous Gull performed well this morning following a container ship into the port behind the observatory then tagging behind the Stenna Britannica as it went out. 1,360 Cormorant went out fishing early on, flock of 25 Teal, 5 Brent and a Red-throated Diver went south offshore & a Rock Pipit was along the riverbank.

Friday 27th January 2017

Fairly predictable late January morning. As nothing of note it could be one of those blogs when no birds get mentioned but at least on the plus side at least it isn't brass monkey weather this morning !

Thursday 26th January 2017

Cold onshore breeze. Purple Sand in its usual spot along the riverbank plus the Rock Pipit in the same area before moving to the beach by the point. A Fieldfare was heard calling early on when 1,500 Cormorants went out to sea fishing.

Wednesday 25th January 2017

Thick fog which is just starting to thin but going to play with seagulls with some bread in the car parks so about to abandon ship. Only two records of Starling on site so far this year and very few records last December makes a flock of 250 presumably disorientated in the fog notable. A Curlew on the back beach was also presumably lost in the fog. The Purple Sandpiper is again on its favoured ledge along the riverbank but that's your lot.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch

Tuesday 24th January 2017

Tame Purp back again along the river bank on the falling tide again this morning. From it's habits it is suspected that this bird has been in the area since last autumn but it's appearances are extremely erratic and unpredictable although not long after the tide starts falling seems to be the best bet. 2 Turnstone also noted.

Late news for yesterday is of 2 Glaucous Gull in the afternoon reported on some of the bird information services in the evening but no idea who saw them.

Monday 23rd January 2017

Its the time of year for loitering in car parks with bags of bread. Med Gull EL45108 is one of the most gluttonous bolshie brazen birds that visits but it quickly fills up so one has to be quick on the draw. Black-headed Gull EP74903 behind it is also a car park addict. Two other Black-headed Gull rings also nailed with these two in Manor Terrace in about 40 minutes effort early afternoon which is pleasing as it can be frustrating when the main visitors to bread thrown out of the car window is Black Labradors ! Apart from 2,410 Cormorants heading out early dawn a walk around the site on another hard frosty morning just produced the resident wintering birds.

2017 BIRD OBSERVATORIES COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

The 2017 Bird Observatories Council newsletter covering 2016 can be found here  https://goo.gl/2Kqdju

Sunday 22nd January 2017

3,100 Cormorants went out mostly in one extended flock from 0732 to 0738 on a glorious sunny frosty morning. A Fieldfare is today's migrant but in this bright sunshine no effort put into staring out to sea but, nevertheless, 2 Red-breasted Merganser were seen flying south.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch