Saturday 19th January 2019

Offshore prior to this months litter pick southbound 45 Kitts, 9 Red-throated Diver & 3 Guillemot with northbound 13 Red-throats plus a Guilley on the sea. The 2 Stonechat were by Manor Terrace car park but if this blog is getting a bit repetitive for you to read then think of the poor sod writing it, let alone trying to take a daily photo !

Friday 18th January 2019

A very short time looking out to sea produced a handful of Red-throated Diver heading north. 2 Brent flew south whilst having a brief walk around the site on which the pair of Stonechat were still at the far end. A Woodcock was disturbed in the observatory compound late morning.

January Litter Pick

Litter pick this Saturday 19th January 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements. Further information on www.lbo.org.uk events page.

Thursday 17th January 2019

1,800 Cormorants went out fishing first thing. Offshore southbound 7 Red-throated Diver & 2 Guillemot with northbound 58 Red-throats, 4 Guillemot & Oyk plus a Marsh Harrier coming in off then up the river plus a Fulmar heading down river back to the open sea where it belongs at this time of the year. On site 3 Ringed Plover & 3 Turnstone on the beach and point, 2 Stonechat at the north end plus a single Linnet.

Wednesday 16th January 2019

A Shag come in off and headed up river just as it was getting light even before 1,952 Cormorant headed out to go fishing. Offshore southbound 14 Knot, 3 Guillemot, 2 Shelduck & Great-crested Grebe with northbound Gannet, Oyk & Red-throat plus at least 33 Kitts following shipping or heading south.

Spent a couple of hours surveying the main Fort complex for hibernating Butterflies & Moths which revealed a handful of Peacock butterflies and the Herald plus this hibernating bat which we were not expecting (hopefully an assortment of photographs should reveal its identity - this one taken from underneath looking upwards). Evening update - Apparently it is a Daubenton's bat.

Tuesday 15th January 2019

2,100 Cormorants went out fishing early on. Offshore southbound 4 Shelduck, 3 Guillemot, 3 Red-throated Diver,1 Brent & 1 Great-crested Grebe with northbound 34 Red-throats & an Oyk plus a Guilly on the sea offshore. A walk around the reserve warmed ones toes up but the binoculars could have been left behind.

Monday 14th January 2019

No Coverage.

Sunday 13th January 2019

1,780 Cormorants headed out fishing first thing. Offshore and in the estuary good numbers of gulls including 68 Kitts. Next to nothing moving with southbound 11 Common Scoter, Guillemot & Red-throated Diver with northbound 2 Brent, Oyk & Red-throat.