Saturday 30th January 2021

Wet 'n windy although the onshore strong breeze would have been responsible for delivering an adult Little Gull feeding amongst the gulls offshore for a while. When the Stenna Britannica went out at least 135 Kitts pulled in behind it which is the highest count of the winter so far (although only one first-winter bird noted). Whilst gull watching 28 Brent & a Fulmar went south plus a flock of 16 Common Scoter north although the poor vis & rain reduced observations to not to far out. If there is anything out on the reserve then some other hero is going to have to find it in this weather.

Friday 29th January 2021

Still no sign of The Clangers, Soup Dragon or Iron Chicken despite the fact that I have been looking for them for over 50 years.

Glorious clear start and a pleasant morning to walk around the site which produced nothing different from recent days apart from 2 Mallard heading south. On the beach Ringo, Sanderling & Turnstone plus at least 41 Kitts following shipping movements.

Thursday 28th January 2021

Thoroughly miserable start with fine drizzle & fog giving way to a westerly breeze. 5 Redwing dropping in were unexpected as was a Fulmar flying around over the back beach in the fog when it should be out to sea. The 2 Purps were yards outside the recording area on the groyne just north of the fishing club hut, 2 Ringos on the foreshore think spring is coming and time to check the breeding sites are still here & 2 Turnstone were scavenging the tideline opposite the Butts.

Wednesday 27th January 2021

Dull, murky morning. 2 Purps on the riverbank wall, 2 Sanderling on the beach plus 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit along the groynes on the Butts. 

Tuesday 26th January 2021

 A Jackdaw heading north & 2 Chaffinch by the observatory were both firsts of their kind for the year. Tad early in the year for Jackdaw migration to get going. Chaffinch has always been here in very low numbers in the winter but with numbers declining nationally in the past decade one can but hope that they don't end up going the same way as Greeny's. 1.5 hours watching gulls behind shipping also returned southbound 3 Shelduck & 2 Common Scoter plus northbound 5 Red-throated Diver which just confirms that very little is on the move offshore presently. Finally 2 Purps were on the groynes opposite the fishing club hut by Manor Terrace car park.

Monday 25th January 2021

Cold, frosty morning. 655 Cormorant headed out fishing at stupid o'clock as dawn gets earlier. No effort was put into starring out to sea into bright sunshine. A Sanderling was on the beach briefly & a walk around the reserve basically produced the usual birds in the usual places.

Sunday 24th January 2021

Pre dawn.

Dull cold morning. 5 Lapwing were shifted off the reserve by the first jogger of the day as was a Sanderling on the tideline. On site a Rock Pipit on the point, Turnstone on the beach & Purp on a groyne at the north end opposite the fishing club hut. Offshore southbound 30 Red-throated Diver, Guillemot & Shelduck with northbound 37 Red-throats & 4 Brent.

A Songie in the helli was one originally ringed last January & not recorded since is presumably one that just comes here for the winter which is a phenomena we have noted in the past.

Some nice photos of one of our Herring Gulls in Holland yesterday is on this Dutch website - 

https://oudeversie.waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/206303858