Monday 6th January 2020

870 Cormorants went out fishing first thing - are the counts lower recently due to culling at the roost, disturbance at the roost or just less fish offshore. Certainly less gulls offshore recently so it could be that the fish shoals at the sandbanks have moved. Offshore southbound 7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Shelduck, 2 Brent, 2 Guillemot & 2 Wigeon with northbound 8 Red-throats, 2 Brent, Common Scoter & Oyk plus 17 Kitts & 4 Red-throats loitering. Purp on the point so not a lot to offer one on the reserve in these benign weather conditions although at least 4 different Med Gulls around and about presently.

Sunday 5th January 2020

Following a good dose of rain this winter the Butts pond is as full as it gets. In 2019, as a result of the drought in 2018, the damselfly & dragonfly populations were decimated with a lot fewer frogs & spawn also apparent. Hopefully this spring will see an improvement in the situation.

A mere 427 Cormorant went out fishing this morning. Southbound 11 Common Gull, 9 Red-throated Diver, 4 Brent, 3 Oyk, 1 Common Scoter & 1 Curlew with northbound 20 Red-throated Diver, 2 Brent, 2 Common Scoter & Oyk. On the point Purple Sandpiper & Rock Pipit. Single Fieldfare is todays migrant.

Saturday 4th January 2020

1,210 Cormorant went out fishing early. on. Rock Pipit on the point & Stonechat on the Butts. Very limited offshore observations with northbound 5 Brent, 3 Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver.

Friday 3rd January 2020

Wet miserable morning greatly enlivened by a gaggle of 31 Bean Geese heading south and out to sea. Never managed a Bean Goose photo on the blog before & considering the conditions lucky to manage anything at all but being birders taking a photo is only an afterthought in proceedings once the geese were identified. Apart from this sighting rain & poor vis resulted in few records with southbound 7 Brent, 5 Common Gull, Oyk & Red-breasted Merganser with northbound 8 Brent, Fulmar & Oyk. We don't get many mid-winter Fulmar sightings, with some years none at all.

Thursday 2nd January 2020

Dull old morning. 1,270 Cormorants went out fishing. Southbound 4 Wigeon, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Teal, 2 Common Gull, Curlew, Oyk & Shelduck with northbound 7 Red-throats & 2 Shelduck. Rock Pipit on the point & Stonechat on the Butts.

MEMBERSHIP 2020

Members are reminded that membership renewals for 2020 are now due. New members who wish to support the work of the observatory are also welcome. Membership form on www.lbo.org.uk

Link:    https://www.lbo.org.uk/membership/

Wednesday 1st January 2020

Is this Magpie parliament sorting out their affairs for the new year talking any more sense than our lot will in 2020 ?

Glorious calm start until the cloud & poor vis rolled in mid-morning. 1,110 Cormorants headed out fishing early on. Very few offshore movements noted with southbound 13 Black-headed Gull, 9 Wigeon, 8 Brent, 6 Shelduck, 3 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver & Oyk with northbound 4 Brent. 2 Purps & Rock Pipit on the point. Today's migrant is a Fieldfare.