Thursday 1st January 2026

Cold start to the new year with an unpleasant wind chill. On the move southbound 2 Marsh Harrier who have decided it's getting colder & maybe wise to move to milder climes. Apart from these southbound 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shelduck, 2 Common Scoter & 2 Mallard with northbound 11 Brent & 11 Red-throats.

Wednesday 31st December 2025

 

221 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. 3 Ringo & Turnstone on the beach.

Tuesday 30th December 2025

 

Conscious of the fact that a lot fewer House Sparrows were using the nest boxes on the cottage this year they have been inspected ready for the 2026 breeding season. Only eight of the boxes have been used this year. In 2024 c.30 pairs nested at the cottage & in the Fort. In 2025 its down to 8 pairs at the cottage & none known in the Fort. Numbers have plummeted & shown some signs of recovery on previous occasions this century but it is doubted that this species vast numbers and there ubiquitous presence around humans, many of us remember from last century, will ever be seen again. What a downer !

6 Redwing early morning were the first for a while. Otherwise a bit samey. Southbound 37 Red-throated Diver & northbound 3 Red-throats & 2 Brent were as good as it got offshore with a walk around the reserve producing the same birds in the same places.

Monday 29th December 2025

 

Calm overcast morning. 2 Ringed Plover, Rock Pipit, Sanderling & Turnstone on the beach/point area, single Lapwing on the reserve & a Fulmar flew over heading out to sea.

Sunday 28th December 2025

Dull morning although on the plus side the debilitating wind chill has abated. 277 Cormorant went out fishing early on, 4 Med Gulls is the highest count for a while, Rock Pipit & Turnstone are still with us.

Saturday 27th December 2025

 

Wind chill is getting tedious. Thousands of dead Bristlenose Starfish + assorted other species washed up along the tideline at the moment. 309 Cormorant went out fishing early on but very few other sightings this morning.

Friday 26th December 2025

 

229 Cormorant headed out fishing plus 152 in from the south & 109 in from the north to the feeding grounds. Offshore movements restricted to southbound 16 Brent, 7 Red-throated Diver & 4 Shelduck with northbound 14 Brent, 7 Kitts & 4 Red-throats. Chaffinch is quite possibly the female seen sporadically in recent days.

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch.