Saturday 28th December 2019

Dull bleak start to the day at the moment with even 2,010 Cormorants heading out fishing late on parade. Offshore observations punctuated by the litter pick commitments so obviously more on the move than logged with sightings before & afterwards up to mid-day producing southbound 248 Teal, 167 Brent, 164 Wigeon, 80 Shelduck, 37 Common Gull, 14 Pintail, 10 Red-throated Diver, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Curlew, 2 Eider, Common Scoter, Gadwal, Goosander, Oyk, Kitt & Ringed Plover with northbound 17 Wigeon & 5 Red-throated Diver plus a Bonxie offshore mid-day. A Great-crested Grebe & Shag were in the river behind the observatory & Purp on the point.

Friday 27th December 2019

1,925 Cormorants headed out fishing first thing. An hour and a half seawatch produced 35 Brent, 25 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 2 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver & Shelduck with northbound 13 Brent, 10 Red-throats, 7 Wigeon & Teal. On the point 3 Purps & Rock Pipit.

Xmas Litter Pick

Litter pick this Saturday 28th December 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 26th December 2019

An increasing SSE wind then rain from 1030 hrs. Up to then 2,350 Cormorants headed out to sea fishing early on with southbound 24 Brent, 17 Common Scoter, 7 Common Gull, 6 Red-throated Diver, Curlew & Wigeon plus northbound 28 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throats, 9 Brent, 2 Gannet & Oyk plus 18 Kitts offshore. Cold 'n wet so abandon ship !

Wednesday 25th December 2019

Foxy loxy sunning itself this morning.

A Chiffchaff was the first of its kind this month. Southbound passerines were 5 Linnet, 5 Mipit & 3 Skylark. Offshore southbound 24 Common Gull, 8 Red-throated Diver, 3 Brent &  2 Pintail with northbound 27 Brent, 20 Red-throats & 8 Common Scoter. 2 Purps & Rock Pipit were on the point. 1,320 Cormorant went out to sea fishing (almost none yesterday so maybe some disturbance at the roost ?). 2 Collared Dove are the first we have seen this month which is a tad concerning as they have normally started nesting attempts by now.

Tuesday 24th December 2019

Bit same old same old. 2 Purps on the point, Stonechat on the Butts, southbound single Goldfinch & Mipit. Offshore in brief seawatch southbound 6 Brent, 5 Shelduck & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Brent & 2 Red-throats plus a handful of Kitts behind boats.

Monday 23rd December 2019

2,325 Cormorants went out fishing early on. Although one would like to think that autumn passerine migration is done & dusted by now there are always a few stragglers with southbound 6 Mipit, 3 Goldfinch & 3 Skylark plus an early morning Fieldfare. Offshore movements barely worth a mention although once the sun comes up not much effort put in. A good walk around the site produced 22 Ringed Plover attempting to roost at high tide, 2 Purps on the point, Stonechat on the Butts plus the wintering locals in the usual places  Its the time of the year for report writing when one realises that Feral Pigeon recording has been neglected, once again, this year so 40 counted in their favourite haunt along View Point Road made the morning feel scientifically worthwhile (or maybe not !).

Sunday 22nd December 2019

Another deluge overnight with light rain or drizzle all morning. Offshore southbound 11 Brent, 7 Common Gull, 6 Shelduck, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Oyk, Curlew & Gannet with northbound 49 Red-throats, 8 Brent & 5 Common Scoter plus a couple of Red-throats & a Great-crested Grebe sat on the sea. 6 Ringos, 2 Dunlin & Turnstone were at the point high tide. The days will now start getting longer and things can only get better. Late news - Snow Bunting near the point early afternoon.