Tuesday 21st February 2012

3 Goldeneye north with 7 Oyks & a Great-crested Grebe south plus a handful of Cormorants & Red-throated Divers coming and going. Pair of Peregrines perched on the nearest dock cranes as the tall new ones are in use. Sanderling on the beach and a Purp on the point. A Skylark went south with another on the reserve. Pond maintenance completed this morning with it, all being well, holding water (which is more than can be said for the waders i was lent to complete the job which did not hold water !). Later in the afternoon a new adult male Blackbird in fine fettle was trapped in the helli - springs coming.

Monday 20th February 2012

An Iceland Gull in near adult plumage followed one of the fishing boats in just before mid day as it was gutting close inshore. This is probably only the 11th of its kind to be recorded here. On the move offshore 28 Common Scoter, 5 Pintail, 4 Shelduck, 2 Teal & a Great-crested Grebe south plus 38 Red-throated Divers north. A Greenfinch trapped was the first new one of the year.

Sunday 19th February 2012

An hour staring out to sea in glorious sunny conditions produced a drake Goldeneye plus a group of 4 Goosanders (2 drakes + 2 redheads) together - the number of records we have of Goosander at this time of the year you can count on one hand. The only other birds on the move were 3 Red-throated Divers north, 2 Brent south & seagulls. 4 Snow Bunts were on the aggregate yard beach, 2 Sanderling on the river bank and singles of Dunlin & Ringed Plover were attempting to roost on the beach near the point at high tide.

Saturday 18th February 2012

6 Oyks, 5 Brents, 4 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Great-crests, 1 Dunlin south 5 Brent, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great-crest, 1 Shelduck north. 2 Sanderling still on the beach with the Purp flying south along the shore to the point as the tide came up.

Friday 17th February 2012

Mild morning with the last few remnants of snow almost disappeared. Bird wise a handful of Brents & Shelduck went back & forth with singles of Skylark going both north & south. Apart from that it's the usual birds in the usual places.

February Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 18th February 0930hrs start. For further info please see the Events page on http://www.lbo.org.uk/

Thursday 16th February 2012

Signs of early spring passage with 5 Skylarks north & 1 south. Although it is difficult to get ones head round the concept of spring movements at this time of the year it is not uncommon for Skylarks to contemplate returning to the breeding grounds this early in the season. A flock of 24 Barnacle Geese south offshore will probably be birds that have been wintering in Britain making their way back to the Low Countries. Also on the move offshore 11 Brent north 5 south, 6 Shelduck, 3 Dunlin & a Great-crested Grebe south. A couple of Robins singing is good to hear as they have been a bit on the quiet side during the recent cold spell which has undoubtedly thinned a few of them out. Finally 2 Sanderling still on the beach & a Snow Bunting flew over the obs.