Wednesday, 26th February 2014

Offshore:

4 Pintails west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 45 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers west, 6 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 3 Kittiwakes west, 52 Little Gulls west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others

1 Scaup, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 100 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Stonechat

Tuesday, 25th February 2014

A nice sunny morning produced a trickle of migration before the wind picked up. The bird of the day was a Glaucous Gull flying into the bay and the drake Long-tailed Duck reappeared.

Offshore

8 Shelducks east, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 44 Common Scoters west, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Glaucous Gull east , 3 Kittiwakes west, 21 Little Gulls west, 1 Razorbill west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

2 Skylarks north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail north-east, 4 Alba Wagtails north-east, 2 Meadow Pipits north, 1 Chaffinch east and 14 Siskins east.

 Meadow Pipit

Skylark

Grounded Migrants 

3 Stonechats.

 Stonechat

Others

1 Buzzard, 65 Golden Plovers, 130 Grey Plovers, 2,500 Knots, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat and 5 Rock Pipits.

 Med. Gull

Monday, 24th February 2014

Offshore

2 Pintails west, 14 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 3 Great Crested Grebes west, 4 Kittiwakes west, 8 Little Gulls west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Skylark north-east, 1 Alba Wagtail north-east, 3 Chaffinch east and 2 Siskins east.

Others:

7 Goldeneyes, 1 Peregrine, 2 Water Rails, 3,000 Knot, 120 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 225 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Knot (above & below)

Sunday, 23rd February 2014

Offshore

14 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 31 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

6 Goldeneyes, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Peregrine, 140 Grey Plovers, 2,500 Knot, 400 Dunlins, 7 Jack Snipes, 29 Snipe, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 28 Bar-tailed Godwits, 5 Stock Doves, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Water Pipit, 50 Linnet and 17 Twite.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Saturday, 22nd February 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 17 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 2 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot and 2 Auk sp. west.

 

 Shelducks

 

 Red-breasted Mergansers

Visible Migration

1 Alba Wagtail north and 1 Siskin east.

Others:

5 Goldeneyes, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 34 Ringed Plovers, 70 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 62 Black-tailed Godwits, 225 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechats and 17 Twite.

 

 Turnstone

 

 Stonechat

 

 Goldeneyes

Friday, 21st February 2014

Offshore 

25 Common Scoters, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 5 Great Crested Grebes west, 3 Kittiwakes west, 9 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

27 Woodpigeons east, 4 Jackdaws east and 2 Alba Wagtails north.

Others

2 Pintails, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 215 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 75 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 46 Bar-tailed Godwits, 250 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Turnstone

Thursday, 20th February 2014

Offshore

29 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 2 Little Gulls west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others

8 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 36 Ringed Plovers, 73 Grey Plovers, 700 Knot, 80 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 6 Rock Pipits.

 

 Sanderlings and Dunlin

Wednesday, 19th February 2014

Offshore 

30 Common Scoters west, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west & 1 on the sea, 2 Great Crested Grebes west & 1 on the sea, 1 Little Gull west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

58 Pink-footed Geese north and 2 Skylarks north.

Others 

400 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 40 Ringed Plovers, 300 Golden Plovers, 600 Lapwings, 118 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 14 Snipe, 1 Med. Gull, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 Lapwings

 Sanderlings

Dunlin

Tuesday, 18th February 2014

For a change it was a sunny start to the day with light winds and this resulted in a trickle of visible migration first thing.

Offshore

120 Common Scoters, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 15 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Great Crested Grebes west & 1 on the sea, 1 Kittiwake west, 3 Little Gulls, 1 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill west and 16 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

175 Pink-footed Geese north, 124 Woodpigeons east, 10 Jackdaws east, 2 Rooks east and 1 Chaffinch east.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Others

7 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 38 Ringed Plovers, 300 Golden Plovers, 140 Sanderlings, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 2 Ravens, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and 9 Rock Pipits.

 

 Goldeneye

 

 Peregrine

Monday, 17th February 2014

Offshore

35 Common Scoters, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Gulls and 1 Guillemot.

 

 Little Gulls

Red-breasted Mergansers

Others:

1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 38 Ringed Plovers, 140 Grey Plovers, 1,800 Knot, 80 Sanderlings, 700 Dunlins, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Sunday, 16th February 2014

The bird of the weekend was a 2CY Iceland Gull found in the late afternoon amongst the vast numbers of Gulls feeding on the starfish wreck.

Large numbers of Gulls feeding on Starfish (above & below)

 

 

Offshore 

63 Eiders, 44 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Shag east, 2 Great Crested Grebes west & 1 east, 10 Kittiwakes west, 14 Little Gulls west, 3 Guillemots east, 1 Razorbill west & 1 on the sea and 11 Auk sp. west.

Little Gulls

 

 Kittiwake

Others 

265 Wigeon, 350 Teal, 1 Buzzard, 46 Ringed Plovers, 155 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Jack Snipes, 38 Snipe, 600 Redshanks, 315 Turnstones, 5 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 2CY Iceland Gull, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Water Pipit, 11 Rock Pipits and 14 Twite.

 

 Stonechat

 

 Med Gull

Iceland Gull (slightly obscured - centre)

Saturday, 15th February 2014

Offshore 

3 Teals west, 1 Velvet Scoter west, 37 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Fulmar west, 4 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Great Skua west, 13 Kittiwakes west, 21 Little Gulls west, 1 Razorbill and 3 Auk sp. west.

Little Gulls

 

 Kittiwake

Others

10 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 39 Ringed Plovers, 135 Grey Plovers, 2,000 Knot, 100 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 600 Dunlins, 28 Black-tailed Godwits, 220 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtails.

Stonechat

Friday, 14th February 2014

Offshore 

23 Common Scoters west, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 8 Red-throated Divers west & 2 east, 9 Great Crested Grebes west, 5 Kittiwakes west, 11 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot west, 1 Razorbill and 6 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull

Others

 270 Wigeons, 6 Goldeneyes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 42 Ringed Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 130 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 43 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Black-tailed Godwit

Thursday, 13th February 2014

After the overnight hurricane strength winds all eyes were on the sea today. There was a good passage of birds moving west out of the bay from first light. The winds peaked at 94 mph at 1910 last night and were averaging around 73 mph; this caused much structural damage around the peninsular.

Offshore

7 Wigeons west, 5 Teal west, 362 Common Scoters west, 18 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 31 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Fulmars west, 1 2CY Shag, 1 Great Skua loitering offshore, 91 Kittiwakes west, 156 Little Gulls west, 4 Guillemots west & 1 on the sea, 3 Razorbills west & 2 on the sea and 24 Auk sp. west.

 

 Wigeons

 

 Little Gulls

Others 

2 Goldeneyes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Peregrine, 185 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 175 Sanderlings, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 600 Dunlins, 200 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 1 Stonechat.

Wednesday, 12th February 2014

Offshore

17 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 22 Red-throated Divers west, 4 Great Crested Grebes west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 7 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot west, 1 Razorbill and 5 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull

Others 

9 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 44 Ringed Plovers, 145 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 250 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and 35 Linnets.

 

 Lapwings

Tuesday, 11th February 2014

Offshore

2 Teal west, 1 Scaup west, 25 Common Scoters west, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers west & 2 east, 6 Great Crested Grebes west, 18 Kittiwakes west, 39 Little Gulls west, 1 Guillemot east & 1 on the sea, 1 Razorbill west & 1 on the sea - (this last bird had a lucky escape as it was picked up off the water twice by a Great Black-backed Gull!) and 4 Auk sp. west & 2 east.

 

Little Gull

Others

4 Pintails, 5 Goldeneyes, 1 Peregrine, 43 Ringed Plovers, 125 Golden Plovers, 118 Grey Plovers, 2,000 Knot, 170 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 adult Kittiwake on the river by the tip, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 1 Snow Bunting.

Stonechat

 

 Snow Bunting

Monday, 10th February 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 18 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-throated Divers west & 5 on the sea, 4 Great Crested Grebes west & 3 on the sea, 2 Little Gulls west, 1 Razorbill and 3 Auk sp. west.

 

 Shelducks

 

 Little Gulls

Visible Migration 

122 Pink-footed Geese north.

Others

2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 250 Golden Plovers, 250 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 800 Dunlins, 2 Ruff, 2 Woodcocks, 44 Black-tailed Godwits, 115 Bar-tailed Godwits, 600 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Raven, 5 Rock Pipits, 27 Goldfinch and 9 Twite.

 

 Stonechat

 

 Buzzard and Raven

Sunday, 9th February 2014

Offshore 

13 Wigeon west, 17 Pintails west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 28 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Fulmars west, 5 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Great Skua west, 45 Kittiwakes west, 88 Little Gulls west, 3 Guillemots west, 7 Razorbills west and 7 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull (above & below)

Great Skua

Others

4 Shovelers, 8 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 43 Ringed Plovers, 800 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Jack Snipes, 34 Snipe, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Water Pipit, 51 Linnets, 12 Twite and 1 Snow Bunting.