2,362 Cormorants went out almost on mass this morning and then a big cheer as the sun came out to give us a rarity in recent days - clear blue skies which is enough to improve anyone's mood after the dull, damp dreary and frankly depressing weather conditions of recent days. Offshore southbound 6 Red-throated Diver & a Brent with northbound 11 Red-throats & 4 Brent plus at least 4 Red-throats on the sea. On site 19 Linnet, 9 Greenfinch, 3 Fieldfare, 3 Mipit, Bullfinch & a Skylark heading south. Last century Linnet were almost unknown here in mid-winter but how times have changed with climatic amelioration. January Bullfinch records are as rare as hens teeth in recent times with this one being the first since 1993 - back in the 1980's up to 1988 Bullfinch were noted regularly in the mid-winter period but this is just another example of the present status of a once common species in the British countryside. Finally the Purple Sandpiper reappeared along the river bank for the first time this year (bet it hasn't been far away).