Monday, 19th February 2018

On 7th February 2018 IG observed a male Tufted Duck with a nasal saddle (see picture below) on one of the pools. 

 Tufted Duck with nasal saddle.

A quick check on European colour-ring Birding lead us to believe that this bird might have come from Portugal. We contacted David Rodrigues at PT - Ducks and the bird had indeed come from Portugal! 

It was marked at São Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve, Portugal (see Google Earth image below), which is about 1528 km from the Obs! 

Click to enlarge

The Tufted was ringed as a juvenile male (Euring code 3) on 9th March 2016, and was resighted locally until 16th November 2016. David Rodrigues re-sighted it from 24th January 2017 until 8th March 2017 at Vela Lagoon, Portugal. It was re-sighted at Ormsgill Reservoir, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria on 26th May 2017, and was re-sighted and photographed at the same site in Cumbria on 8th January 2018, where it remained at the same site for four days. When it turned up at the Obs on 7th February 2018 it remained for that day only and hasn't been subsequently re-sighted at any of the pools within the Obs recording area. It will be interesting to see where and when it turns up next!

This is the bird after it was ringed (image courtesy of PT - Ducks)

Sunday, 18th February 2018

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 4 Wigeons east, 6 Common Scoters, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west and 1 Great Crested Grebe east.

Visible Migration

138 Pink-footed Geese north, 11 Wood Pigeons east, 5 Skylarks east, 1 Mistle Thrush east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 2 Siskins east and 1 Snow Bunting east.

Others:

100 Wigeons, 4 Gadwalls, 2 Goldeneyes, 2 Little Egrets, 280 Lapwings, 118 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Turnstones, 180 Dunlins, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Merlin, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Stonechats and 17 Twite.

 

 Pochard

Saturday, 17th February 2018

Offshore:

32 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Others 

130 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little Egret, 250 Lapwings, 27 Ringed Plovers, 48 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 75 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Snipe, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 1 Siskin.

 

 Med. Gull

Friday, 16th February 2018

Offshore 

11 Common Scoters west, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes east and 3 Auk sp. west.

Others 

140 Wigeons, 55 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 300 Lapwings, 28 Ringed Plovers, 58 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 74 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats, 14 Twite and 1 Siskin.

 

 Buzzard

Thursday, 15th February 2018

Offshore 

2 Teal west, 17 Common Scoters west, 1 Goldeneye east, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west, 9 Auk sp. west and 6 Kittiwakes west.

Others

125 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 60 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Water Rail, 225 Lapwings, 33 Ringed Plovers, 83 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 300 Knots, 125 Sanderlings, 140 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Merlin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 5 Rock Pipits.

 

 Curlew

Wednesday, 14th February 2018

Offshore 

11 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 1 Guillemot west,  7 Auk sp. west and 3 Kittiwakes west.

Others

115 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 70 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 325 Lapwings, 31 Ringed Plovers, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 85 Sanderlings, 140 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Purple Sandpiper

Tuesday, 13th February 2018

Offshore 

24 Common Scoters west, 2 Goldeneyes east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west, 10 Auk sp. west and 5 Kittiwakes west.

Others:

100 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 45 Teal, 5 Goldeneyes, 2 Little Egrets, 300 Lapwings, 31 Ringed Plovers, 28 Black-tailed Godwits, 165 Turnstones, 70 Sanderlings, 180 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Merlin, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Goldeneye

Monday, 12th February 2018

Offshore:

18 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 6 Auk sp. west and 3 Kittiwakes west.

Others

120 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 70 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 300 Lapwings, 29 Ringed Plovers, 175 Black-tailed Godwits, 215 Turnstones, 75 Sanderlings, 90 Dunlins, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 22 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Common Gull

Sunday, 11th February 2018

Offshore:

43 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Razorbill west, 6 Auk sp. west and 7 Kittiwakes west & 1 east.

Others 

115 Wigeons, 4 Gadwalls, 4 Shovelers, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 330 Lapwings, 23 Ringed Plovers, 112 Black-tailed Godwits, 180 Turnstones, 56 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 90 Dunlins, 36 Snipe, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Water Pipit.

 

 Stonechat

Saturday, 10th February 2018

Offshore

1 Teal east, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Others

115 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 55 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 370 Lapwings, 27 Ringed Plovers, 74 Black-tailed Godwits, 185 Turnstones, 62 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 330 Redshanks, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Great Black-backed Gull

Friday, 9th February 2018

Offshore 

33 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west, 8 Auk sp. west and 8 Kittiwakes west.

Others

130 Wigeons, 3 Gadwalls, 60 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Water Rail, 360 Lapwings, 28 Ringed Plovers, 72 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 67 Sanderlings, 60 Dunlins, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Med. Gull

Thursday, 8th February 2018

Offshore

8 Red-breasted Mergansers and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Others 

140 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little Egret, 430 Lapwings, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Turnstones, 165 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Med. Gull, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Wednesday, 7th February 2018

Offshore 

45 Common Scoters, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Guillemot.

Others

3 Gadwalls, 115 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little Egret, 600 Lapwings, 460 Black-tailed Godwits, 175 Turnstones, 415 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl, 1 Merlin, 1 Raven, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 28 Twite.

 

 Gadwall

 

 Little Egret

Tuesday, 6th February 2018

Offshore

2 Teal east, 12 Common Scoters west, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Others

170 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 65 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little Egret, 480 Lapwings, 26 Ringed Plovers, 138 Black-tailed Godwits, 165 Turnstones, 63 Sanderlings, 230 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Siskin.

 

 Little Grebe

Monday, 5th February 2018

Offshore 

2 Shelducks east, 19 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Crested Grebes.

Others

215 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 90 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Bittern, 600 Lapwings, 11 Golden Plovers, 330 Black-tailed Godwits, 165 Turnstones, 325 Dunlins, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Merlin, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Pied Wagtail

Sunday, 4th February 2018

Offshore 

39 Common Scoters west, 2 Goldeneyes east, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Auk sp. west.

Others 

300 Pink-footed Geese, 175 Wigeons, 4 Gadwalls, 2 Shovelers, 4 Goldeneyes, 1 Water Rail, 600  Lapwings, 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Turnstones, 70 Sanderlings, 80 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Stonechats and 17 Twite.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Saturday, 3rd February 2018

Offshore 

26 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others:

220 Pink-footed Geese, 208 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 83 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 330 Lapwings, 31 Ringed Plovers, 48 Black-tailed Godwits, 175 Turnstones, 90 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Buzzard

Friday, 2nd February 2018

Offshore 

12 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Razorbill west, 1 Guillemot west, 32 Auk sp. west, 17 Kittiwakes west and 2 Little Gulls west.

Others:

175 Wigeons, 80 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 350 Lapwings, 27 Ringed Plovers, 132 Black-tailed Godwits, 185 Turnstones, 80 Sanderlings, 125 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Jack Snipes, 115 Snipe, 1 Merlin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 8 Rock Pipits.

 

 Dunlin

Thursday, 1st february 2018

Offshore 

3 Pintails west, 11 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Guillemot west, 8 Auk sp. west and 12 Kittiwakes west.

Others 

280 Pink-footed Geese, 215 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 85 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 500 Lapwings, 28 Ringed Plovers, 275 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Turnstones, 90 Sanderlings, 160 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Stonechat

Wednesday, 31st January 2018

Offshore

1 Teal west, 17 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 9 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west, 7 Auk sp. west, 18 Kittiwakes west and 2 Little Gulls west.

Others 

185 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 4 Shovelers, 5 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 650 Lapwings, 30 Ringed Plovers, 130 Black-tailed Godwits, 55 Bar-tailed Godwits, 210 Turnstones, 700 Knots, 95 Sanderlings, 75 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Jack Snipes, 60 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, 7 Rock Pipits, 40 Linnets and 7 Twite.

 Lapwings

Tuesday, 30th January 2018

Offshore 

52 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Others

175 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 115 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Water Rail, 1000 Lapwings, 23 Golden Plovers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 525 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Turnstones, 67 Sanderlings, 130 Dunlins, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Stonechats and 2 Grey Wagtails.

 

 Greenshank

Monday, 29th January 2018

Offshore 

80 Common Scoters, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

2 Whooper Swans, 320 Pink-footed Geese, 215 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 100 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 600 Lapwings, 31 Golden Plovers, 400 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Turnstones, 140 Dunlins, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail and 5 Rock Pipits.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Teal

Sunday, 28th January 2018

Offshore 

4 Wigeons west, 1 Shoveler west, 13 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west and 2 Great Crested Grebes west.

Others

215 Wigeons, 4 Gadwalls, 80 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, 1 Water Rail, 450 Lapwings, 26 Golden Plovers, 28 Ringed Plovers, 260 Black-tailed Godwits, 190 Turnstones, 130 Sanderlings, 50 Dunlins, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 425 Redshanks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Stonechats and 40 Linnets.

 

 Greenshank

 

 Stonechat

Saturday, 27th January 2018

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 2 Teal east, 18 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 1 Great Crested Grebe west.

Others:

315 Pink-footed Geese, 160 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 420 Lapwings, 54 Grey Plovers, 31 Ringed Plovers, 39 Black-tailed Godwits, 145 Turnstones, 400 Knots, 108 Sanderlings, 63 Dunlins, 1 Jack Snipe, 52 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 6 Rock Pipits.

 

 Great Black-backed Gull